
challenging
20–21 days
Strong cardiovascular fitness, experience with multi-day trekking and prior high-altitude exposure recommended
A 21-day climb that threads Lukla, Gokyo and the Cho La to reach Lobuche East (6,119 m). This guide outlines the route, culture, and practical preparation for a technical but attainable Himalayan summit.
The morning air at 5,400 meters bites with a crystalline clarity that makes every breath count. You break camp before dawn, headlamp flickering, crampon teeth clicking on ice as the silhouette of Lobuche East slides from shadow into shine. Below, the Khumbu valley widens like a weathered map—stone teahouses, prayer flags snapping like distant applause—while above, Everest, Lhotse and Ama Dablam tower in stacked ridgelines. The climb is less a single summit push than a sequence of adjustments: to altitude, to thin air, to the steady logistics of a 20–21 day alpine mission.

Build rest days and slow ascent—symptoms of altitude sickness can appear quickly above 3,500 m; don’t push through headaches or nausea.
Ice axe, crampons and a harness are required for the summit day; practice on glaciers beforehand if possible.
Flights to and from Lukla are weather-dependent; schedule at least one spare day into your itinerary for cancellations.
Ask before photographing people in villages and follow monastery etiquette—remove hats, speak softly, and walk clockwise around mani walls.
The Khumbu corridor has been a trading and pilgrimage route for centuries; modern climbing history here ties closely to Sherpa guides and the opening of Everest routes.
The region relies on strict waste management and Sagarmatha Park fees; support local initiatives and avoid single-use plastics to reduce impact.
Insulated boots support long summit pushes in sub-zero conditions and accept crampons securely.
spring specific
Necessary for steep snow, ice passages and the summit ridge.
spring specific
High-camp nights are frigid—adequate insulation is essential for recovery.
spring specific
Layering handles daytime sun and sudden high-altitude winds effectively.
spring specific