Peak ID ‘ABIM” as per the website; https://nepalhimalpeakprofile.org; Abi peak (also called Cholo or Kangsung Peak) having 6097m/20000ft elevation from the sea level is an attractive mountain to climb. Situated between the two famous valleys in the Everest Region; Everest B. C. and the Gokyo; therefore many high Himalayan expedition parties such as Mt. Everest expedition or Lhotse, Nuptse, Pumori etc consider this peak as the training peak for its slops and ridges on the summit-route require technical climbing and the entire climbing process helps to acclimatize.
Although this peak is famous among the mountaineers and the climbing hasn’t been done that often. Some unverified websites claim that the first ‘climbing permit’ was issued only in 2002 by the NMA. We’re not quite sure about that nor are there any other reliable sources for fact-checking. Anyway we; Alpine Exodus had the first climbing group on this peak in 2007; a group of duo veteran climbers from Spain who had successfully climbed in Sept in that year.
So, Alpine Exodus is one of the pioneers on this peak climbing organizing.
Getting in there to its Base Camp is not difficult and often combined with the Everest Base Camp trek that requires __ 2 weeks time for the complete trip. And after the climbing, return to Namche-Lukla through the Gokyo Lake route will be a complete itinerary.
From Thagna or Dragnak to the Abi peak base camp is 4-5hrs journey to the north. Base camp is set at 5290m and high camp isn’t really require, yet the summit day will be a long tiring hiking which makes to arrive to Thangna after the summit.
Itinerary
Airport reception and transfer to Hotel in Thamel. Room check-in and do the trek sign up. It’s the time to bring at your notice of all the permits and the flight tickets as well as get time to note down if needed anything. Also please pass on your travel insurance and related information. It’s important for in-case of emergency later on the trekking.
Settle up all payments and dues while getting last minute q&a, does & don’ts etc. Then it’s a free time for strolling around or just rest at the hotel.
A day in the city before entering into the remote mountain. It’s a good opportunity to add up if any supply is running short. Kathmandu is the last good place to purchase everything. Also on this day you will be visiting Kathmandu’s tourists’ attraction places; the old palaces, ancient part of the town etc. So, there will be a guided tour, probably starting from Bhaktapur and cover up as many places as possible in Patan, Hanuman Dhoka, Swyambhunath, Boudhanath, Pashupatinath etc
There will be welcome dinner this day in one of the typical Nepalese restaurants in Thamel in which your guide also is participated along with a representative of Alpine Exodus.
Today’s trail relatively easier along the bank of Dudh Koshi (river). Thado Koshi makes an iconic glimpsing view of Kusum Kangaroo snow summit at lunch time.
Normally on this entire course lunch time is made around 11 to 12 and we tend to follow this for until we reach to EBC and back Lukla. In the morning around 6:30 to 7 is the wake up and time to grab the first cup of hot tea. Until 8, lunch is expected to be done and shortly the team is to hit the trail.
Early start and arrive early to the lodge is a good way – we suggest. So, normally 3-4hrs before lunch and 2-3 hrs after lunch – that is how the trekking time is divided for an ideal trek-day. And in this way, there will be always time to visit the village attraction such as the monastery or museum etc or just stroll around the lodge area before dinner. This actually is better than reach to the lodge, room check in and rest – type or routine is supposed to be not that healthier especially when we get on the higher elevations such as above 3500m.
For breakfast & dinner, the guide will provide you the food menu so you could order or ask the guide to order as you like. You may make an order of a soup and main course with hot drink (milk tea or black etc). But mostly lunch is ordered by the guide, of course taking your advices. He tends to make it sort of cooking quickly and same item for all members & with hot drinks.
This will be followed for trek ahead. Yet, please know that it’s not strict rule that you MUST, these are just advices we would suggest and in the past we had this kind of arrangement and we found everything so nicely arranged, our clients happy!
O/N at Everest Eco Home or similar lodge|full board.
A remarkable day as it has many interesting places to trek through including many Sherpa villages & smaller towns, viewpoints, beautiful hanging bridges over the Dudh Koshi and so on. Before arriving to Namche town, on a clear day, you could experience the first sight of Mt. Everest. Until lunch time, the trail is relatively easier and flat, but after goes steep up for 2-3 hrs to the town of Namche.
O/N at Hotel Tibet or similar lodge|full board.
I would suggest you to make a visit of the Furte village (on the way to Thame) and then go to north direction to Syangboche. Keeping the Khumjung village to be visited on the way back from Phortse, arrive to Hotel Everest View area for coffee and then go back to Hotel in Namche. This is a 3-4 hrs hiking.
O/N at the same hotel|full board.
And the very place has wonderful close up views of the snow mountains from Amadablam – Khangteiga – Thamserku – Tawache to the summit view of Nuptche, Everest, Lhotse etc. which is truly the 360 degree! For the night stay we go (20 min more) further to Divoche (3790m) – it is warmer place and the site of good lodges + a nunnery for your strolling around time.
O/N at River Paradise Lodge or similar |full board.
Every step you move on brings you higher elevation, but there’s no really steeper trail today. It’s a long inclined trail full of amazing views of snow mountains, villages, potato fields, hills, river beds etc. Lunch break is made at Somare on the base of Tawache mountain.
O/N at Mountain Paradise Lodge or similar |full board.
The suggested program is to visit Chhukung (4750m) walking for 3 to 4hrs on easy paces to there and may be an hour plus on the return. Chhukung located amazingly close to the Nuptse-Lhotse wall and has all 4 directions snowcapped mountains at stone throw distance!
Another exciting day full of views and adventurous walking. Different snow summits start to appear from the Everest Base Camp valley. Today’s lunch spot is not that very much established point, yet hot drinks and snacks – no problem. After a quick receiving of those we continue to the famous Thukla Pass – a site of memorials. Interested could see the memorial of famous mountaineers from around the world. Many Nepalese, Russians, Japanese, Koreans and so on. Scott Fisher from the ill-fated of 1996 Mt. Everest expedition is one of the highly seen one. If you like, you may spend sometime around here. The views are amazing too, so certainly few minutes for photos!
After this site, an easier trail for an hour to an hour half to Lobuche village.
Room check in, short rest & after your hot drink, time to strolling around. The slope below Lobuche peak for 40-45minute gives amazing trek high sleep low opportunity!
O/N at Oxygen Lodge or similar |full board.
It’s a lunch-camp today. For an hour & quarter or so, there’ll be the leveled trail. After you up for Lobuche pass and then it begins the glacial sections. This is pretty rough and tiring trail, but short and has tremendous views, different than the ones we normally have. Khumbu glacier on your right below the valley and across the soaring of giant snow peaks.
Arrive to Gorakshep, room check in followed by lunch and then time to go to the Everest Base Camp (5380m) site. The hike takes 3 to 4 hrs (8-9km both ways) more for go & return!
Starting earlier in the morning for Kalapatthar slope gives chance to see the sunrise from the top of it over the Mt. Everest. That will be a lovely vista! So, if possible try to capture it. Kalapatthar will be the highest point you would be on this trip. And this place will be the one that provides finest views of Mt. Everest without technical climbing. So, we definitely encourage to our clients make a push for this remarkable achievement. After breakfast retracing begins, so go back to Lobuche and futher to Dzongla.
This is one of the most adventurous days. We begin with earlier breakfast – around 5am. Get our lunch packed on a box. Simple lunch but is to be good amount. After Dzongla to Thagna, there’s no place for tea break or lunch stop.
In the beginning, we walk for 40-45 min on a flat area seeing the uphill trail to the pass in the front. Uphill ascending begins after the small stream crossing. It’s really adventurous trail, walking along the rock steps and slab trail below a huge canyon – of course a full of unique views including an ages old pile of snow. This can be felt being very old and blue in color only when there’s no fresh snow covering this section. The pass is 3-5hrs hiking distance from the lodge.
The pass is awesome! It has fantastic views of both sides. Enjoy the success, take photos and probably take your pack lunch here enjoy the superb views.
After descend to Thagna. Overnight at Tashee Lodge or similar/full board.
You will be passing the Ngojumpa Glacier; one of the biggest glaciers in the Himalayas. Unique landscape can be seen, and the Gokyo area has several high altitude fresh water lakes. Good opportunities for taking photos.
Reach to Gokyo for lunch and finish hiking for today.
Enjoy strolling around by the lake, have dinner and good night!
Another exciting day as we’re visiting the Gokyo Ri (5360m/3-4hrs). This is done in the early morning like you did for Kalapatthar. Gokyo Ri has more wider panoramic views – you will feel so as you can enjoy the 4 snow summits of above 8 thousand meters; that are – Mt. Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, Cho Oyu etc in one frame. A rare chance for photographers and photo collectors.
After done here, descend to the lodge, have breakfast and then leisurely descend to Machherma (3-4hrs). Lodge check in and have lunch and stroll around then dinner and good night!
An easy but a longer day – mostly descending; though very good view everywhere and pass beautiful settlements. Later part of the day the views will be repeated of the same you had while going up to Tyangboche.
After Dole, it’s a bit steeper descending to Phortse Tenga and then uphill to Mong La pass for lunch break that has excellent views of the snow mountain, green hills and so on.
Then another 1.5 to 2hrs walk to Khumjung village and another an hour to Namche.
At Namche lodge check in and dinner and good night.
Last day trek! Short and final catching up the sceneries and people and all the vistas. Reach to Lukla and check in at Buddha Lodge. Say good bye to the porters, the guide reconfirms your flight back tickets to Kathmandu (or Ramechhap).
Have farewell dinner and good night…
Hotel transfer and room check in and free time. Get a rest; kill all the tiredness from the Everest area…
Breakfast and wait for transfer to airport on the said time. Happy see off… fly back home…
