1 daysEasy5,364 mEverest Base Camp Helicopter Tour — 1 Day
From / person
$1,680









Duration
16 days
From
$3,200/person
Max Altitude
6,119 m
Difficulty
Extreme
Starts
Lukla (fly from Kathmandu)
Group Size
2–6 People
Stay
Tea House + High Camp
Meals
Breakfast & Dinner
Best Season
Apr–May, Oct–Nov
Airport pick-up and transfer to hotel. Evening welcome dinner with your climbing guide covering the expedition plan, gear check, and permit documentation.
Lobuche East (6,119 m) is a technical trekking peak at the heart of the Khumbu — reached via the classic Everest Base Camp approach and rising directly above the Khumbu Glacier moraine at Lobuche village. The summit is a knife-edge ridge of ice and mixed ground that requires crampon technique, jumar skills, and comfort with exposure. The view from the top — across the entire Khumbu icefall to the west face of Nuptse and the summit pyramid of Everest above — is one of the most dramatic in the Himalaya accessible to non-professional climbers.
The 16-day itinerary includes the full EBC acclimatisation approach (Namche, Tengboche, Dingboche) before branching to Lobuche Base Camp (4,940 m) and High Camp (5,600 m) for the summit bid. The approach trek doubles as acclimatisation — by the time trekkers reach Lobuche village at 4,910 m, they have been above 4,000 m for six days. Our summit success rate on Lobuche East is 74% — the mountain has a sharper technical learning curve than Mera Peak, which is why we recommend it for trekkers with prior technical climbing experience or completion of a basic mountaineering course.
Full climbing gear (crampons, ice axe, harness, jumar, helmet) is included, along with one climbing Sherpa per two trekkers on summit day, base camp and high camp tents, and -20°C sleeping bags.
Both are 6,000 m technical trekking peaks requiring crampon work and jumar technique. Lobuche East has more mixed ground (rock and ice) on the approach to high camp, and the summit ridge is more exposed than Island Peak's headwall. Island Peak's fixed-rope headwall is steeper in places but more direct. Our guides characterise Lobuche as "more committing" — you are farther from the valley floor and the terrain above high camp has less margin for error. For this reason we recommend prior 5,000+ m trekking experience before attempting Lobuche East.
Best seasons: October–November and April–May. Permit: Lobuche East climbing permit (included). Summit altitude: 6,119 m.
Autumn (Sep–Nov)
Best season. Extra day built in for optimal acclimatisation and a strong summit bid.
Spring (Mar–May)
Excellent season — the 16-day schedule gives maximum flexibility for weather windows.
Winter (Dec–Feb)
Not recommended. Extreme cold and high winds.
Monsoon (Jun–Aug)
Not recommended. Heavy snow and poor visibility on upper slopes.
Lobuche East Climbing Permit
USD 250 (Sep–Nov) · USD 125 (other seasons)Arranged by us before departure.
Sagarmatha National Park Permit
USD 30Required for all trekkers in the Khumbu region.
TIMS Card
USD 20Required for all Nepal treks.
Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality Fee
NPR 2,000 (approx USD 15)Local municipality entry fee.
All permits are arranged and included in your package price. Nothing to organise yourself.
A detailed packing list will be sent with your booking confirmation. Gear rental available in Kathmandu and Pokhara.
On the Trail
Your Himalaya Awaits
Private departures on any date, a hand-picked NMA guide, and an itinerary built around you. Tell us your dates — we usually reply within a few hours.
$3,200
/ person · all-inclusive