Lhotse Expeditions

Mt. Lhotse Expeditions, with an elevation of 8516 meters, is the fourth highest 8000 meters mountain after Everest, K2 and Kanchenjunga. It is one of the impressive mountains climbed from the western flank known as the west face. Any climbers bound for the South Col on Everest must climb this 1,125 m(3,690ft.) wall of blue glacial ice. This face rises at 40 and 50-degree pitches with the occasional 80-degree bulges. Lhotse and Everest, both mountains, share a climbing route up to 7800 meters. Like Everest, Lhose shares the same camps up to Camp III as Everest, and the climbing route separates for Camp IV after the yellow band. The technical part of climbing Lhotse is the icy and rocky gully known as “Reiss Couloir”-the last part of the summit. Lhotse was first climbed on May 12 1970, by the Swiss Mount Everest/Lhotse Expedition team member Ernst Reiss and Fritz Luchsinger

Brief Itinerary View in full

  • Day 01Arrival in Kathmandu and transfer to Hotel.
  • Day 2-3In Kathmandu for official documentation, equipment check and shopping.
  • Day 04Fly to Lukla and Trek to Phakding at 2840 meters.
  • Day 05Trek to Namche Bazaar at 3446 meters.
  • Day 06An acclimatization day at Namche Bazaar, maximum elevation of 3790 meters.
  • Day 07Trek to Deboche via Tengboche at 3800 meters.
  • Day 08Trek to Pheriche at 4243 meters.
  • Day 09Trek to Lobuche at 4930 meters.
  • Day 10Climb to Lobuche High Camp at 5600 meters.
  • Day 11Ascent Lobuche Peak (6119m), and descent to Lobuche.
  • Day 12Trek to Everest Basecamp at 5300 meters.
  • Day 13-38Climbing period.
  • Day 39Final packing after the Summit and fly by helicopter to Lukla.
  • Day 40Fly to Kathmandu.
  • Day 41Free day in Kathmandu before final departure.
  • Day 42Transfer to the international airport for final departure.

Itinerary Details

  • Day 01 Arrival in Kathmandu and transfer to Hotel.

    Elevation: 1400m/4600ft

    Distance: N/A

    Time Taken: N/A

    Meals: D

    You will be met at the arrival terminal and transferred to the group hotel. The Hotel locates within walking distance of Thamel in Kathmandu. The rest of the day is free to explore the city or can choose to relax.

  • Day 2-3 In Kathmandu for official documentation, equipment check and shopping.

    Elevation: 1400m/4600ft

    Distance: N/A

    Time Taken: N/A

    Meals: B

    We will set these two days aside for us to help you get some last-minute supplies or finalize any official documentation needed for the expedition. Of course, you will be briefed about the program by our team members as well.

  • Day 04 Fly to Lukla and Trek to Phakding at 2840 meters.

    Elevation: 2610m/8562ft

    Distance: 8.5 km/5.3 miles

    Time Taken: 3 hours

    Meals: BLD

    Today, we start our trek! We'll leave the hotel around 2 am and take a 4-hour drive to Ramechhap Airport to catch a flight to Lukla, landing on a narrow runway high above the Dudh Koshi River. Our porters and support staff will wait at Lukla airport to help us start our trek to Phakding. The trekking will be easy since it's mostly downhill through pastoral lands and quaint farms. After hiking for approximately 3-4 hours, we will reach Phakding, where you'll have a warm meal & night.

  • Day 05 Trek to Namche Bazaar at 3446 meters.

    Elevation: 3450m/11318ft

    Distance: 10.5 km/6.5 miles

    Time Taken: 5 hours

    Meals: BLD

    We will begin our Trek again after breakfast, where your guide will give you a short briefing about your day. The walk from Phakding to Namche Bazaar will take you through pine tree forests and glimpses of snow-capped peaks in the distance. After lunch at Monjo, you will walk alongside the yaks as you reach the checkpoint before Monjo, where officials will check your permits and after, you will officially enter Sagarmatha National Park. Next, you will trek through a wooded valley crossing a river on a high suspension bridge called the 'Hillary Bridge'. Right after the bridge is the upward climb towards Namche. About an hour from Namche, you will first view Lhotse and Everest. Finally, you will spend a night at a lodge in Namche.

  • Day 06 An acclimatization day at Namche Bazaar, maximum elevation of 3790 meters.

    Elevation: 3880m/12730ft

    Distance: 2 km/1.24 miles

    Time Taken: 3 hours

    Meals: BLD

    Acclimatizing is crucial before you begin your ascent, and Namche Bazaar is the perfect place. Namche Bazaar is considered the gateway to the Himalayas, and you will see why. Namche Bazaar is a bustling town with monasteries, bakeries, and markets, with the majestic Himalayas as the backdrop. Our guides will help you explore Namche Bazaar, from Sherpa traditions to flora and fauna.

  • Day 07 Trek to Deboche via Tengboche at 3800 meters.

    Elevation: 3860m/12664ft

    Distance: N/A

    Time Taken: 5 hours

    Meals: BLD

    Today you will walk 5/6 hours along the hillside and drop down to Dudh Koshi River at Phungi Thenga before ascending again. Along the way, there is a magnificent Monastery at Tengboche. After, it is a pleasant walk downhill through rhododendron forests to reach Deboche and night in Lodge

  • Day 08 Trek to Pheriche at 4243 meters.

    Elevation: N/A

    Distance: N/A

    Time Taken: N/A

    Meals: BLD

    We walk for 5/6 hours with a magnificent view of the Rhododendron forest and ascend towards Pheriche. We will pass the valley wall and then to Pangboche Village, the most significant settlement of the Sherpas—night in Lodge Pheriche.

  • Day 09 Trek to Lobuche at 4930 meters.

    Elevation: 4930m/16172ft

    Distance: 7.5 km/ 4.7 miles

    Time Taken: 5 hours

    Meals: BLD

    The Trek will gradually become more challenging, gaining High altitude. By trekking on the top of the hill, we will pass Dughla. After crossing Dughla, the trail passes through strewn slopes. We face great peaks as the trail drops to the Khumbu Glacier moraine. Night in Lodge

  • Day 10 Climb to Lobuche High Camp at 5600 meters.

    Elevation: N/A

    Distance: N/A

    Time Taken: N/A

    Meals: BLD

    After early lunch at the teahouse, we start climbing towards Lobuche High camp. After 2 hours trek on the flatter path, the trail gets steeper towards the rocky wall. Finally, after climbing the rocky wall, we reached our overnight camp at 5400 meters.

  • Day 11 Ascent Lobuche Peak (6119m), and descent to Lobuche.

    Elevation: N/A

    Distance: N/A

    Time Taken: N/A

    Meals: BLD

    Today is a tough but the most important day of the whole program. We wake up at 3 am and get prepared for the summit push. After breakfast before 4 am, we start our climb sharp at 4:15 am on the rocky part of the peak. After 2 hours of climbing on the rocky part, we reach the crampon point, where we take a short break to put on crampons and tighten up the harness to steep climb on the snow and the glacier. We climb on the fixed line fixed by your Sherpa or by previous climbing groups. On the way, you encounter some crevasses on your left, but we avoid them and continue climbing. After climbing for another 3-4 hours, we reach the fall summit of Lobuche. After a short cross over the crevasse, we climb for about 10 minutes to reach the Summit of the Lobuche East peak. The area of the top is for about up to 6 climbers. We spend 5-10 minutes on the top taking pictures, and we rest at the fall summit to respect the waiting time of the other climbers. After we summit, we climb and rappel down to high camp. After changing our gears, we trekked to Lobuche. Overnight at the teahouse.

  • Day 12 Trek to Everest Basecamp at 5300 meters.

    Elevation: N/A

    Distance: N/A

    Time Taken: N/A

    Meals: BLD

    We take the trail through the once-vast Gorakshep Lake. First, we pass through rocky dunes, moraine, and streams. Then, you head out on a narrow track a few feet wide and a few hundred meters above the ground. The distance between Lobuche and Gorakshep is 4.5 km, and it will take approximately 2 hours to reach. From Gorakshep, It is about 3.4km to the Base Camp. As you walk across the rocks towards the many prayer flags that mark the spot, you will arrive at Everest Base Camp. It will take approximately 3 hours to reach Everest Base Camp, our home away from home while on the mountain.

  • Day 13-38 Climbing period.

    Elevation: N/A

    Distance: N/A

    Time Taken: N/A

    Meals: BLD

    Puja Ceremony: The Puja ceremony is a crucial tradition followed by the Sherpa and the international climbers before the start of the climbing. It is a religious ceremony in which the climbers ask the mountain for permission to climb and for the safety of all those involved in the expedition. Acclimatization: After the puja, the group leader will begin planning the acclimatization rotation. Acclimatization involves gradually ascending to higher camps to allow the climbers' bodies to adjust to the altitude, a crucial part of the expedition as it helps prevent altitude sickness, which can be severe and potentially life-threatening. The acclimatization rotation usually involves climbing to a higher camp, spending a few days there to rest and adjust, and then descending to a base camp. Rest Days: During the rest days, the climbers will take time to recover and prepare for the final push to the summit. Eating high-energy foods, hydrating, and getting plenty of rest is very important. The climbers need to be in peak physical and mental condition before attempting the summit. Summit Push: Finally, with the best weather window, the group leader will coordinate the final push to the summit, which is a highly coordinated effort involving all climbing team members. The climbers will make their way up the mountain, often roped together for safety, and work together to reach the summit.

  • Day 39 Final packing after the Summit and fly by helicopter to Lukla.

    Elevation: N/A

    Distance: N/A

    Time Taken: N/A

    Meals: BLD

    After the expedition, the trekking route retraces from the base camp to Lukla. Due to the time shortage for the summit attempt and the lengthy expedition period, we fly to Lukla directly from the base camp after doing the final packing.

  • Day 40 Fly to Kathmandu.

    Elevation: N/A

    Distance: N/A

    Time Taken: N/A

    Meals: B

    The flight from Lukla takes 25 minutes to Kathmandu. Depending on your flight time, we provide a transfer from the airport to the Hotel. Back at the Hotel, you will take a proper shower and rest.

  • Day 41 Free day in Kathmandu before final departure.

    Elevation: N/A

    Distance: N/A

    Time Taken: N/A

    Meals: B

    We reserved this day as a weather contingency for flight cancellation or any extra day used during the program. However, if everything goes as the program, this day you can use it for relaxation or sightseeing around Kathmandu. The most popular sightseeing spot is Bhaktapur Durbar Square, Patan Durbar Square, Kathmandu Durbar Square, Swayambhunath, Pashupatinath, and Boudhanath.

  • Day 42 Transfer to the international airport for final departure.

    Elevation: N/A

    Distance: N/A

    Time Taken: N/A

    Meals: B

    Today is the last day of the program; depending on your flight time, we will arrange the transfer to the airport, and your guide will go to see you off. The airport check-in time is 3 hours before flight departure, and the checkout time at the Hotel is noon. If your flight is later in the evening, you can request a late checkout at the hotel reception.

Dates and Prices

2025

Dates Dossier Price Status
12 Apr - 23 Apr
USD 31500 Available

Inclusion

  • Kathmandu Service includes arrival & departure transfers, domestic airport transfers, 5 nights in Kathmandu hotel with breakfast and a welcome dinner
  • Government fee climbing royalty/permit. Includes all the permits charges required to climb Lhotse, including the garbage deposit fee, government liaison officer charges and wages and insurance for at least 1 Climbing Sherpa as required by the Government of Nepal for permit & other miscellaneous costs
  • Trekking service includes all the necessary arrangements required during the trek: i.e. domestic flight/transfers including helicopter from base camp to Lukla, accommodation and three meals a day in local lodges, a trekking guide and portage of personal trekking & climbing gears
  • Basecamp Service includes three-course meals a day and unlimited hot drinks while at basecamp, a required number of kitchen crew with their wages, transfers and insurance, a personal tent, and a common dining tent with a heating system and generator /solar battery charging facilities, toilet tent, shower tent and human waste disposal fees
  • Higher camp Service (C1, C2, C3 & C4), higher camp service beyond the base camp; it includes the necessary number of tents, oxygen set (4 bottles), high food, cooking pots, epi gas, gas stove, walkie-talkie, satellite phone and weather forecast.
  • High Altitude Climbing Sherpa, a personal climbing Sherpa with his equipment, daily wages, load ferry charge, meals, accommodation, oxygen set (3 bottles) if required, flight/transfers and insurance for the expedition duration

Exclusion

  • The expedition price does not include your international airfare, climbing gear, visa fees, evacuation costs, insurance and other personal nature expenses. In addition, the clients are accountable for paying the summit bonus of US$ 1500 and tips (US$ 1500) to personal Sherpa once they reach camp IV and tipping for the kitchen staff, US$ 350 per client.

Key information

Makalu-below-summit

Lhotse Expedition 2023

Imagine Nepal was assigned to fix the rope after Camp II to the summit of Lhotse under the management of the Expedition Operators Association of Nepal (EOA).

On 15 May 2023, the rope fixing team from Imagine Nepal, consisting of Dawa Tenjin Sherpa, Pasang Namgyal Sherpa, and Tamting Sherpa, managed to fix the route to the summit. They were supported by Ngima Nuru Sherpa and Pemba Tamang, who carried the ropes and fixing equipment.

Shortly after the rope fixing was completed, on 16 May, Ms Naila Kiani, accompanied by Pasang Temba Sherpa, and Nadia Azad, accompanied by Pemba Chhiri Sherpa from Imagine Nepal, reached the summit of Lhotse, the fourth highest mountain on earth.

Additionally, on 19 May 2023, Mr. Wang Zhong from China and Lakpa Tenjin Sherpa successfully reached the top of Lhotse. This comes after their successful ascent of Mt. Everest on 13 May 2023.

Hillary Steps

Lhotse Expedition 2021

We’re thrilled to announce that Imagine Nepal team member Dawa Yangzum Sherpa and Phur Galjen Sherpa made the successful ascent of Mt Lhotse at 7:30 am on May 23 2021.

Dawa Yangzum also climbed Mt Annapurna without oxygen. She became the first woman to summit 8000 meters mountain without the use of oxygen. Also, Ms Passang Lhamu Sherpa made the successful ascent of Lhotse.

According to our information, Pema Doma Sherpa-2007, Nima Jangmu Sherpa-2018 and Dawa Yangzum Sherpa-2021 are the only four Nepali women who have summited Lhotse.

Hillary Steps

Lhotse Expedition 2019

On May 4 2019, our Team fixed the route to the Lhotse summit and made the first successful ascent in 2019.

We were happy to have Ms Christina Flampouri-Greece, the First Greece Woman, and Sirbaz Khan-Pakistan, First Pakistan, on Lhotse.

The summiteers list is as follows:

  1. Dawa Gyalje Sherpa-Rolwaling
  2. Kili Pemba Sherpa-Rolwaling
  3. Pemba Chote Sherpa-Thame
  4. Ang Jangbu Sherpa-Thame
  5. Dendi Sherpa-Solukhumbu
  6. Tamting Sherpa-Rolwaling
  7. Dawa Tenzing Sherpa-Rolwaling
  8. Gao Li- China
  9. Mr Li Xiaolin- China
  10. Ms Christina Flampouri-Greece
Hillary Steps

Lhotse Expedition 2018

In a bold move, our Team fixed the route to the top of Mt. Everest and made history by making the first successful ascent on April 29 2018. The summiteers are:

  1. Mr Mingma G
  2. Mr Tamting Sherpa
  3. Mr Kilu (kili) Pemba Sherpa
  4. Ms Nima Jangmu Sherpa
  5. Mr Liu YongZhong -China
  6. Ms Dong Hong Juan -China

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Start Date :
April 12, 2025

End Date :
May 23, 2025

At a Glance

  • Group Size : 2 - 15 Participants
  • 42 days trekking
  • Contact Details
    Dawa Gyaljen Sherpa
    Dawa G Sherpa