Safe Descent for All Climbers
We are pleased to announce that our entire 2024 Everest team is now off the mountain.
Most flew back to Kathmandu, which means it's now time for a celebratory long and hot shower and, hopefully, a deep and restful night's sleep at low altitude for all of our climbers, guides, and Sherpas.
Darragh and Aga are descending by foot, enjoying the down trek through the Khumbu Valley. This duo is taking the time to process and appreciate all that they have experienced before coming back to civilization.
As a team we now turn out attention to packing up camp, sweeping the mountain of gear, and removing any trace of our expedition from Everest Base Camp and the various high camps along the route. Here at Climbing the Seven Summits, we are firm believers in Leave No Trace (many of our guides ever carry Leave No Trace certifications) and we are proud to uphold these standards on all of our expeditions, Everest included.
Jesse and Tomi on the Hillary Step May 22, no crowds. Photo Credit: Tomi Ceppi
Descent Progress on Everest
22nd May; Good evening from the Himalaya
The team are doing well on their descents. To give you an update on their positions;
Everest Base Camp
- Aga O & Migma Dorjee
- Marc B & Naren
Camp 3 & descending to Camp 2
- Chen (Blake) Li with Abiral
Camp 2
- Riki J & Lhakpa Rangdu
- Ruben S & Pasang Tendi
- Jesse W & Tomi Ceppi
- Darragh & Dawa Jangbu
South Col
- Yinghong H & Jangbu
- Pascale S & Astani
- Chen (Blake) Li
Private 3 Peaks Expedition
Private 3 Peaks Expedition
Contact us for pricing, dates, and availability.
Our 3 Peaks expedition is one of our most popular programs. It offers incredible Himalayan climbing in a relatively condensed timeframe at a great price. It’s one of the best bang-for-buck trips you can take when it comes to climbing hours.
You start your adventure by meeting in Kathmandu, Nepal. Here, you will do thorough gear checks, have team briefings, and pack and organize our gear for the climbs head.
Following our time in Kathmandu, you will fly to Lukla to start the trek. You land at the Hillary runway at roughly 9,000ft/3,000m. From the moment you land in Lukla, you will be at altitude. It’s important to take it easy and let your body adjust to the altitude naturally.
You will love the famed Everest Base Camp trek, which is perhaps the best and most iconic trek in the world and should be on everyone’s bucket list. What makes the beauty and excitement of trekking in this majestic land even better is being part of the lovely and hospitable Sherpa culture. Sherpa are known the world over for their graciousness and generosity.
Enjoy spending time visiting famous cultural and religious sights on our way through this scenic valley in the shadow of the world’s highest mountains. Our slow acclimatization schedule means there is plenty of time to explore landmarks like the famous Tengboche Monastery, where you can stop by to visit a High Lama and receive a blessing, take time to explore the famous Namche Bazaar – the Sherpa capital or have a beer in the world’s highest pub. Passing by countless Tibetan Buddhist stupas and chortens, you will feel the rich culture of Tibetan Buddhism come alive.
We choose to implement a slow acclimatization schedule, not just so you can take in the sights and sounds of the valley but to ensure you enjoy your trek and climbs and feel great throughout.
Altitude isn’t something to be feared; it’s achievable for most people, but it is a process that can’t be rushed. Generic treks that move too quickly often produce disgruntled, unwell people because their bodies struggle to adjust.
You will likely be trekking alongside an actual Everest summit team and climbing your first peak, Lobuche. In fact, Lobuche is such a great, scenic climb (offering similar terrain and climbing to Everest, albeit at a lower altitude) that all of our Everest climbers make the ascent of Lobuche en route to Everest base camp as one of their acclimatization rotations.
From Lobuche, you continue your trek to Everest Base Camp, where you can celebrate with a two night visit to Base Camp Proper, staying at CTSS’ famed camp. Here you will also have the opportunity for additional training and ice climbing in the lower part of the Khumbu icefall and a free day to unwind and explore.
Leaving Base Camp, the action heats up as the climbing continues. Crossing the legendary Khumbu glacier, traverse into the remote Pokalde base camp – an awe-inspiring bowl of Himalayan expanse where you will prepare for and stage your next climb – Pokalde.
Following your ascent of Pokalde, you will cross into the Imja Tse valley for a climb of the world-famous Island Peak, the culmination of your 3 Peaks expedition and the highest altitude climb of the three.
Following your summits, enjoy the descent back down the valley, taking in your achievement in this remarkable corner of the world before flying back to Kathmandu and onward home.
Itinerary
Sample itinerary. CTSS will work with our private climbers to create an ideal climb itinerary that meets their specific needs. Please contact us for more information.
- Day 1: Arrival Day
- Day 2: Kathmandu Day
- Day 3: Fly to Lukla/Phakding
- Day 4: Trek to Namche
- Day 5: Rest Day
- Day 6: Trek to Tengboche
- Day 7: Rest Day
- Day 8: Trek to Pheriche
- Day 9: Rest Day
- Day 10: Trek to Lobuche Base Camp
- Day 11: Trek to Lobuche High Camp
- Day 12: Move to Lobuche High Camp
- Day 13: Acclimatize
- Day 14: Summit and descend to Lobuche Base Camp
- Day 15: Trek to Everest Base Camp
- Day 16: Rest at Everest Base Camp + Training
- Day 17: Trek to Lobuche
- Day 18: Trek to Pokalde High Camp via Kongma La
- Day 19: Climb Pokalde & descend to Chhukung
- Day 20: Trek from Chhukung to Island Peak Base Camp
- Day 21: Climb Island Peak return Chhukung
- Dday 22: Trek Chhukung to Pangboche
- Day 23: Pangboche to Namche
- Day 24: Namche to Lukla
- Day 25: Lukla flight to KTM
- Day 26: Departure Day
- Day 27: Contingency Day
Our expeditions are designed to be fully inclusive, except for some services and items of a personal nature, like flights, gear, and insurance. Here’s a detailed list so you know what to expect.
Included in the 3 Peaks Private Clim
- Leadership, strategy, climbing oversight, including full support for a summit attempt
- Climbing Sherpa to assist with carrying personal gear
- Full expedition logistics, weather forecasts, etc
- Climbing permits for Lobuche, Pokalde & Island Peak
- Training and skills refresher clinics at Lobuche & Everest Base Camp
- Domestic flights to and from Lukla
- In-country transport associated with the program itinerary
- Airport transfers
- Accommodation in Nepal, including hotels and teahouses (single occupancy)
- 2 nights accommodation at Everest Base Camp proper
- Welcome dinner & meals throughout the expedition
- Access to medical and communications gear
- Mountain camp infrastructure and logistics, including tents
- On mountain meals
Excluded from the 3 Peaks Private Climb
- International flights to Kathmandu, Nepal
- Airport arrival or departure taxes
- Associated travel expenses, including Visa, Passport,
- Reciprocity Fees, Vaccination Charges, Excess Baggage
- Optional excursions not included in the itinerary or additional days before or after the scheduled program
- Personal climbing equipment, clothing, toiletries, etc
- Personal sundries including but are not limited to meals while in Kathmandu, personal snacks, specialized high altitude climbing food, alcoholic beverages, laundry services, medical expenses, gratuities, 3rd party internet, email or phone charges, bottled water, specialty coffees
- Sherpa tip pool
- Guide tip (customary but optional)
- Expenses incurred due to events outside CTSS's control, such as delays or interruptions, political events, natural events, or disasters. These may include additional expenses, such as extra hotel nights, resulting from delays.
- Trip insurance policy that includes personal climbing, medical, rescue, evacuation, trip interruption, and trip cancellation insurance
- Unused Contingency Days at the end of your program: CTSS covers one night in the hotel in Kathmandu on your return. If you decide to stay longer in Kathmandu beyond this night, those costs are your responsibility. We highly recommend that you plan to be away from home for the entire duration of the expedition, including contingencies days; you book a flexible return airfare so you can move your flight forward if you don’t use all of the contingency days or push it back as you need.
All prices are in US Dollars.
CTSS requires clients to buy trip insurance for all expeditions. Please see our page on trip insurance and cancellation policy for more information.
All payments once submitted are non-refundable and non-transferable. If balances are not received by specified dates, the client forfeits their place on the program and any prior fees paid.
Everest & Lhotse Summits! 22nd May
Morning 22nd May
Good morning from the Himalaya. We are delighted to announce 100% of our third and final wave of Everest climbers stood on top today, taking our season total to 59 Everest summits!
Everyone who left on the summit bid across the season was successful and showed incredible commitment, care and teamwork. We couldn't be prouder or more delighted to share in the journey with such a prepared, strong group of climbers and staff.
Congratulations to:
- Mr Jesse Willms (Canada)
- Mr Tomas Ceppi (Argentina)
- Mr Chen (Blake) Li (China)
- Ms Yinghong Hu (China)
- Ms Pascale Soubrane (France)
- Mr Jangbu Sherpa (Nepal/USA)
- Mr Abiral Rai (Nepal)
- Mr Nar Bahadur Astani (Nepal)
- Mr Chhedan Bhote (Nepal)
- Mr Tenzi Sherpa (Nepal)
- Mr Dawa Dendi Sherpa - CTSS Sirdar (Nepal)
- Mr Dathanduk Bhote (Nepal)
- Mr Lhakpa Chhetar Sherpa (Nepal)
- Mr Nima Dorjee Sherpa (Nepal)
To top off the morning, we also have a Lhotse summit from Mr Darragh Ó hAodha (Ireland) alongside Dawa Jangbu Sherpa (Nepal). Darragh remarkably completed the Everest/Lhotse double header by summitting Everest yesterday (21st May) and Lhotse today (22nd May)
We are looking forward to celebrating with everyone following their safe descents.
Final Summit Wave in Motion
Evening of 21st May:
Our final summit wave is now underway. Leaving the South Col we have:
- Jesse W & Guide Tomi
- Blake Li & Guide Abiral
- Yinghong Hu & Guide Jangbu
- Pascale S & Guide Astani.
We can expect summits around sunrise on May 22nd local time.
Meanwhile, Darragh O is resting at the South Col after his successful Everest summit; he will set off in a few hours to climb Lhotse and tackle the Everest/Lhotse double. Exciting times for Darragh O!
Yesterday's summiteers did an incredible job and climbed in great style. They are resting at the South Col (Marc B, Riki J, Ruben S) and will drop to Camp 2 tomorrow, except for Aga, who descended back to Camp 2 after her summit with Migma. She will return to Everest Base Camp tomorrow.
A peek at our summit success from 13th May 24! Photo Credit: Josh McDowell
19 Summiteers on Top - 21st of May
Congratulations to the 19 climbers on our 21st May team on their successful summits of Mount Everest! Everyone who left on the summit bid was successful, making our 2nd wave a 100% success rate!
- Mr Marc Baumgartner (USA)
- Mr Ruben Salinas (USA)
- Mr Darragh Ó hAodha (Ireland)
- Ms Aga Olkowicz (Poland)
- Ms Riki Jones (USA)
- Mr Pasang Tendi Sherpa (Little Tendi) on his 17th Everest summit (& his second one for this week! He also summited on the 13th May) (Nepal)
- Mr Chhyan jyanu Bhote on his 17th Everest summit (Nepal)
- Mr Mingma Dorjee Sherpa on his 14th summit (Nepal)
- Mr Kalsang Dorjee Sherpa on his 14th summit (Nepal)
- Mr Lhakpa Rangdu Sherpa on his 13th Everest summit (Nepal)
- Mr Pemba Gylaltsen Sherpa (Pega) on his 8th Everest summit (Nepal)
- Mr Pasang Tendi on his 6th Everest summit (Nepal)
- Mr Narendra Shahi (Nepal) on his 5th Everest summit (Nepal)
- Mr Dawa Jangbu Sherpa (Nepal)
- Mr Tenzin Norbu Bhote (Nepal)
- Mr Pasang Bhote (Nepal)
- Mr Thenjung Bhote (Nepal)
- Mr Pimba Bhote (Nepal)
- Mr Changa Sherpa (Nepal)
Combined our Nepali Sherpa/Guide team must be the most experienced Everest team on the mountain with over 100 Everest summits between them.
Our next wave of summit climbers are also making great progress. They left camp 3 and made great time, rolling into the South Col, 10am local time on the 21st. They will rest there and head out on their summit bids tonight.
At Everest Base Camp we are wishing Ms Phunjo Lama good luck as she attempts to break the female speed record. She will leave approximately 4pm today, aiming to summit the morning of the 22nd May.
2nd Wave Summit Bids Underway
Evening 20th May Nepal Time.
Hello from the Himalayas. We are excited to announce that at 8pm local time Marc B with Guide Naren, Ruben S, Darragh O & Aga O set off from the South Col and are on their way to the summit of Mount Everest. They are aiming to summit at around sunrise on the 21st May. It’s a low wind evening, good weather, and while they will be navigating some traffic they are a small and nimble team extremely well supported by Sherpa and moving well.
We will announce summits once everyone is back to the South Col, please remember no news is good news!
Just below, sleeping on oxygen at Camp 3 are climbers Jesse W with Guide Tomi, Chen (Blake) with Guide Abiral, Yinghong H with Guide Jangbu & Pascale S with Guide Astani. They will head out of Camp 3 approximately 4am, climb to the South Col where they will get some rest. They will start their summit bids at approximately 7-8pm on the 21st May.
Being on a 1:1 Private expedition each of the climbers and guides are able to adjust their schedules and to best suit them as individual climbers.
We are excited for our climbers, stay tuned!
Climbers at Camp 3 - All Eyes on Everest
Evening 19th May Nepal Time:
The team are all snuggled in up at Camp 3, sleeping on oxygen. They did a great job climbing up the Lhotse Face today which was in good condition. The recent dusting of snow stuck and the steps are well kicked in by this point in the season. They will be getting up at 4am to climb up to South Col where they will rest for about 8 hours or so.
They will then get up and aim to depart nice and early from Camp 4 (approx. 7pm local time) to start their summit bids!
Look for CTSS summits on the morning of 21st May.
Everyone made good time and is feeling strong. Weather is on our side with very low winds throughout this summit window period.
Meanwhile our first Everest summit team made is all the way back to Kathmandu yesterday, enjoyed long warm showers and will be on their way home to you all very soon.
Climbers Heading to Camp 3
Morning of the 19th May Nepal Time
Good morning from Nepal! The team are already up and at it having at the base of the Lhotse Face having left Camp 2 nice and early. They have 4-5 hours of climbing ahead of them to reach Camp 3. From Camp 3 they will sleep and climb on oxygen. Their plan is to move to the South Col tomorrow.
The guides have been reporting that everyone is feeling good and moving strongly. They are well positioned for a summit on the 21st with the weather forecast holding strong right through until the 27th May!
We are really excited for the team, they’ve worked so hard for this moment and the days ahead. Wishing them the best of luck!
Photo CTSS Archive
