City Tours & Nepal Extensions
Nepal is one of the world’s most popular destinations. With incredible landscapes and rich culture, once there, it is truly worth seeing as much of the country as you can.
We can seamlessly organise a variety of fantastic customised excursions and extensions for you either prior to, or after your expedition.
Contact Us for any requests you have so we can plan them seamlessly for you
Pre Trip Full Day Kathmandu Cultural Tour
$200 per person
Kathmandu is one of the most exciting, culturally rich cities in the world. Unique, and overflowing with sights, smells, sounds and tastes, it’s both chaotic and charming. A city of true contrast which needs to be experienced to be understood. During our Kathmandu Cultural Tour an English speaking guide will show you the best history and culture the city has to offer.
Paragliding in Pokhara (Annapurna Region)
Take in the spectacular views of the Himalaya whilst paragliding over Lake Pokhara. Nepal offers some of the best flying in the world with low lying valleys, high cold mountains and natural rising thermals that you can share with the hawks! You can fly with world class pilots tandem or stay longer and benefit from the wealth of experience and get your international license in Nepal. Spend a few days at the Lake and truly unwind with a change of scenery.
Trek the Annapurna Circuit or Sanctuary Walk
On a mission to tick off the best treks in the world? Why not take advantage of your fitness and experience the Annapurna region with either the Sanctuary Walk (Slightly shorter and slightly lower altitude) or the Annapurna Circuit (Slightly longer and crosses the 5,416m Thorong La pass into the Mustang region)
Jungle Safari in Chitwan National Park
One of the greatest drawcards of Nepal, Chitwan National Park is a World Heritage Site that protects 932 sq km of forest and grasslands and is arguably the best place in Asia to view wild game including horned rhino, monkeys, deer and over 500 species of bear. If you are lucky you may even spot a leopard, sloth or elephant or even the elusive Bengal tiger!
Visit the Upper Mustang
To trek in the Upper Mustang is a very rare privilege and has only been open to non-Nepali’ for just over 15years. Here you will experience a way of life of true mountain people, who for hundreds of years had very little contact with the rest of Nepal and retained their rich cultural heritage. In many ways, visiting the Upper Mustang is similar to Tibet as geographically it is a part of the Tibetan plateau.
...Summits Today...
The team had a great snow shoe up to the summit of Kozi today. A little wind, cloudy skies and the odd snow shower so they have made the most of the weather window the last few days.
Tomorrow they will do a final bit of training, break camp and return to Guthega.
Cheers
CTSS Team
...Off to the Top of Aus...
Our Aussie Alpine x Kozi Combo climbing team are having a fantastic time in the backcountry.
Yesterday they did a full mountaineering snow school. They started by quarrying snow blocks for wind walls around camp, then moved into the skills with cramponing, self arrest training, fixed line ascension and ended with a knots clinic.
Today they are heading for the summit of Australia and if time permits they will do crevasse rescue clinic this afternoon at camp.
Tomorrow, they will break camp and make their way back to Guthega slipping out of the Park hopefully before the worst of this new weather arrives.
Very happy campers up in the hills.
Cheers
CTSS Team
Single Rooming Teahouse Upgrade
Single rooming option
$1,250 USD
We are happy to organize single rooming accommodations and a tea house upgrade for you throughout the expedition. If you snore or are easily awakened by others that do snore, this might be a great option. We feel that having a single room helps climbers stay healthy and adds a bit of comfort and personal space that can go a long way on a two-month expedition such as this. If you would like a single rooming option please let us know. Please note that tent accommodations at Lobuche high camp and above Everest base camp are double-occupancy.
We stay at some of the nicest teahouses in the Khumbu valley throughout our trek to keep you healthy and to provide you with comfort. Many teahouses offer room upgrades which may include an en suite bathroom with hot shower and more space, whereas our normal rooms generally have a shared bathroom and shower for an added fee. Please note, the single room option and tea house upgrade already comes with the “Everest Executive” option if you have chosen that add-on.
Helicopter Options
Many of our climbers say that one of the best experiences of their entire expedition is taking a helicopter flight back down the Khumbu Valley and getting an aerial view of the trek, the peaks they’ve been climbing and the mighty Himalayan range. It is, without doubt, one of the most scenic, adventurous mountain flights in the world.
Further, while people initially think they will want to undertake the 3 day, 40 mile trek back down the valley, we’ve found that after two long months on the mountain, the draw of civilisation, getting back to family and friends & enjoying that well-deserved beer can be irresistible.
We also have climbers who wish to drop down to lower altitudes part way through the expedition to supercharge their rest and recovery between rotations.
We have a number of options available for you:
One Way Helicopter from Base Camp to Lukla*
$3,000 USD
A helicopter from Everest base camp to Lukla avoids the three day, 40 mile walk back down the valley. From Lukla you will catch a regularly scheduled fixed-wing plane back to Kathmandu either that day or the following.
*or Lukla back to Base Camp mid expedition
One Way Helicopter from Base Camp to Kathmandu*
$5,500 USD
For those that aren’t as price sensitive and who want to get back to Kathmandu and homeward bound as quickly as possible at the end of the expedition, we can arrange a helicopter for you directly from Everest Base Camp to Kathmandu.
*or Kathmandu back to Base Camp mid expedition
One Way Helicopter from Kathmandu to Lukla*
$4000 USD
If the fixed plane schedule does not suit you or the notorious weather in Lukla permits helicopter flights but not fixed-wing departures, you may elect to take a helicopter from Lukla airport back to Kathmandu or vice versa.
IPlease note: If you would like to include a helicopter option in your expedition please let us know BEFORE your trip so we can pre-book your flight in advance and include this in your trip total. If you decide to add a helicopter flight during your expedition we cannot guarantee availability. Further arranging services from the mountain or at short notice attracts an additional service fee of $1000. All helicopter flights need to be paid in advance with no exceptions.
These options do not include Medical, Evacuation and Rescue helicopters which will be organized in liaison with your trip insurer in the event of an emergency – this is another reason why good coverage in your policy is essential.
Everest Family & Friends Options
We welcome you to invite friends and family to join you for all, or part of your Everest expedition.
The benefits are;
– The joy of sharing this once in a lifetime experience with your loved ones
– Lessening the time apart
– Puts family at ease as they get a first hand understanding and empathy of the nature of your expedition and goal
Your friends and family are invited to join us:
Everest Base Camp Trek
$5,495 USD
The Everest Base Camp trek is widely heralded as the best trek in the world and for good reason; it’s beautiful, challenging yet achievable, and incredibly scenic. Roughly 40 miles/70 km you will trek through lush green pastures, blossoming Rhododendron forests and the most spectacular mountain terrain in the world.
The pinnacle of the CTSS EBC trek is Everest base camp proper at 17,600ft/ 5,500m where, being affiliated with an Everest climbing expedition, you are able to enter and spend 2x nights within Base Camp proper, something the vast majority of trekkers never experience. This allows you to get a sense of the Everest base camp scene and community and what goes into an Everest expedition. If you are feeling good you have the added option to scale Kala Pathar the morning you leave base camp for stunning views of the Everest Massif, Lhotse and Nuptse.
Additional Nights at Base Camp:
If friends and family want to stay at base camp longer than 2x night we can add additional nights for $350 per person, per night.
Staying at Base Camp throughout entire expedition:
If family and friends want to stay longer than a week we will need to put them on a Nuptse climbing permit which allows them to stay at base camp throughout the expedition. Please talk to us about this as it is no problem to organise and we often have people stay throughout the expedition as support.
Everest Base Camp Executive Luxury Trek & The Gokyo Extension are also available to family and friends.
This is a sample itinerary only. Your actual daily schedule/departure dates will depend on the Everest program your loved one has chosen and be strategically planned to account for the best weather and summit windows etc. We begin our expedition in Kathmandu, Nepal before flying to Lukla in the Khumbu Valley to trek to Everest Base Camp. Our climb ends in Kathmandu where CTSS will cover one night accommodation. We recommend booking a flexible return airfare.
- Day 1 Team Arrives
- Day 2 KTM Day
- Day 3 Fly to Lukla/Phakding
- Day 4 Trek to Namche
- Day 5 Rest
- Day 6 Trek to Tengboche
- Day 7 Rest
- Day 8 Trek to Pheriche
- Day 9 Rest
- Day 10 Trek to Lobuche Base camp
- Day 11 Acclimatization Trek to Lobuche High Camp
- Day 12 Move to Lobuche High Camp (optional - family and friends are welcome to stay in the better equiped Base Camp if they prefer)
- Day 13 Rest Day
- Day 14 Climbers summit, family & friends rest day
- Day 15 Trek to EBC
- Day 16 Everest Climbing Clinic & Explore BC
- Day 17 Trek to Pheriche
- Day 18 Trek to Namche
- Day 19 Trek to Lukla
- Day 20 Fly Lukla to KTM
- Day 21 Fly Home
- Day 22 Contingency Day
Lobuche East Climb
$6,995 USD
If your family and friends are looking for a little more of a mountaineering experience they are welcome to join you on your acclimatisation climb of Lobuche Peak. Lobuche is a jewel of the Himalaya and arguably offers perhaps the best summit view in the world – taking in the Everest/Lhotse/Nuptse massif, Makalu, Pumori, Ama Dablam, Cho Oyu, Thamserku, and many others.
Lobuche is a good first Himalayan climb, with steep fixed-line climbing on rock, snow, and ice as well as excellent training for taller mountains such as Aconcagua, Ama Dablam, and Manaslu.
To consider an ascent of Lobuche, participants should be familiar with crampon and ice axe technique and have used a harness before. We will run a training refresher at Lobuche base camp before the ascent.
This is a sample itinerary only. Your actual daily schedule/departure dates will depend on the Everest program your loved one has chosen and be strategically planned to account for the best weather and summit windows etc. We begin our expedition in Kathmandu, Nepal before flying to Lukla in the Khumbu Valley to trek to Lobuche. Our climb ends in Kathmandu where CTSS will cover one night accommodation. We recommend booking a flexible return airfare.
- Day 1 Team Arrives
- Day 2 KTM Day
- Day 3 Fly to Lukla/Phakding
- Day 4 Trek to Namche
- Day 5 Rest
- Day 6 Trek to Tengboche
- Day 7 Rest
- Day 8 Trek to Pheriche
- Day 9 Rest
- 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 Lobuche BC
- Day 15 Trek to EBC
- Day 16 Everest Climbing Clinic & Explore BC
- Day 17 Trek to Pheriche
- Day 18 Trek to Namche
- Day 19 Trek to Lukla
- Day 20 Fly Lukla to KTM
- Day 21 Fly Home
- Day 22 Contingency Day
3 Peaks Climb & Trek
$9,995 USD
Mountaineering friends and family may also like to consider our 3-Peaks climb and trek which takes in three legendary peaks of the Khumbu: Lobuche East, Pokalde, and Island Peak – climbs which undoubtedly offer some of the best summit views in the world!
Starting alongside you on Lobuche, they will then accompany you into Everest base camp and enjoy 2 nights living the true Everest experience with the Everest summit team including partaking in our ice climbing clinic on the Khumbu Glacier.
Following their stay at EBC they will split off, trekking over to the remote Pokalde to begin ascending their second Himalayan peak.
Finally they cross into the famed Imja Tse valley for their final ascent of world famous Island Peak.
3-Peak ascent participants should be familiar with crampon and ice axe use. We will run a training refresher at Lobuche base camp before the ascent to dust off any cobwebs.
Itinerary:
This is a sample itinerary only. Your actual daily schedule/departure dates will depend on the Everest program your loved one has chosen and be strategically planned to account for the best weather and summit windows etc. We begin our expedition in Kathmandu, Nepal before flying to Lukla in the Khumbu Valley to trek to the first peak Lobuche. Our climb ends in Kathmandu where CTSS will cover one night accommodation. We recommend booking a flexible return airfare.
- Apr 3 Team Arrives
- Day 1 KTM Day
- Day 2 Fly to Lukla/Phakding
- Day 3 Trek to Namche
- Day 4 Rest
- Day 5 Trek to Tengboche
- Day 6 Rest
- Day 7 Trek to Pheriche
- Day 8 Rest
- Day 9 Trek to Lobuche base camp
- Day 10 Trek to Lobuche High Camp
- Day 11 Move to Lobuche High Camp
- Day 12 Acclimatize
- Day 13 Summit and descend Lobuche BC
- Day 14 Trek to EBC
- Day 15 Rest at EBC - Training
- Day 16 Trek to Lobuche
- Day 17 Trek to Pokalde HC via Kongma La
- Day 18 Climb Pokalde & descend to Chhukung
- Day 19 Trek from Chhukung to Island Peak BC
- Day 20 Climb Island Peak return Chhukung
- Day 21 Trek Chhukung to Pangboche
- Day 22 Pangboche to Namche
- Day 23 Namche to Lukla
- Day 24 Lukla flight to KTM
- Day 25 Fly home
- Day 26 Contingency day
- Day 27 Contingency day
....Snowy Finish...
Our first Alpine Academy has come to a close with a snowy, chilly finish.
Plenty of 'alpine' conditions' to really initiate our team which is excellent training. Their second day they went into Blue Lake battling strong winds and intermittent white outs for a snow anchor course and fixed line ascension and they filled their final day with a full crevasse rescue training session before breaking camp and snow shoeing back to the trailhead.
Scott summed it up nicely for us:
"This Australian Alpine Academy was a terrific course run by Mike Hamill. With his extensive experience as a mountaineer, he was able to provide a very accomodating package tailored to a group with mixed skills and backgrounds. His friendly approach combined with his background conveyed confidence and a safety first mentality from the outset. This course provided a good foundation and structure for those wanting to go beyond the Australian high country to bigger and higher challenges/peaks. Equally, it was a very worthwhile course for those looking to get a solid foundation for safely spending time backcountry in the Australian Alps. The ability to have access to someone with such experience amongst the world's highest mountains, is unprecedented for a course such as this here in Australia. Spending time with Mike and him openly sharing his tips, tricks and approaches was incredibly valuable. A worthwhile course that I'm sure will become well sought after here in Australia."
Cheers
CTSS Team
Lhotse Climb Combo Add-On
Lhotse Climb Add-On
Add On: $19,995 USD
Combining an ascent of Mt. Everest and the 4th highest mountain in the world, Lhotse, is a huge feat! With advancements in oxygen system technology and our rope fixing infrastructure it is now an achievable possibility to tag these 2 X 8000m summits in under 24 hours (given you are already so well acclimatised)
After summiting Mt Everest, you will rest on oxygen at either the South Col or Lhotse high camp (just off the Geneva Spur) for the night before climbing Lhotse’s summit pyramid early the next morning with a Personal Sherpa*. You then drop down to Camp 2 that same day and back to Base Camp the following day.
This adds only a day of extra climbing onto your chosen Mt. Everest program.
If you are goal driven, chasing the 8,000m peaks or simply want to enter the record books of the tiny number of people that have completed this double header feat, we’re happy to help you make this happen by organising and facilitating your Lhotse add on.
*Depending on your program you may be able to secure your private Everest Guide for your Lhotse Ascent too – Private IFMGA Guides attract an additional fee of $5,000 and Private Western Guides attract an additional fee of $10,000.
This is a sample itinerary only. Your actual daily schedule will be strategically planned to account for the best weather and summit windows etc. We begin our expedition in Kathmandu, Nepal, where we obtain our climbing permits before flying to Lukla in the Khumbu Valley to trek to Everest base camp. Our climb ends in Kathmandu. We suggest you book a flexible return airfare.
The Lhotse Add-On itinerary is subject to your chosen Everest program and adds a single day to your itinerary following your Everest summit.
- Apr 3 Team Arrives
- Apr 4 KTM Day
- Apr 5 Fly to Lukla/Phakding
- Apr 6 Trek to Namche
- Apr 7 Rest
- Apr 8 Trek to Tengboche
- Apr 9 Rest
- Apr 10 Trek to Pheriche
- Apr 11 Rest
- Apr 12 Trek to Lobuche base camp
- Apr 13 Trek to Lobuche High Camp
- Apr 14 Move to Lobuche High Camp
- Apr 15 Acclimatize
- Apr 16 Summit and descend Lobuche BC
- Apr 17 Trek to EBC
- Apr 18 Rest at EBC
- Apr 19 Rest at EBC
- Apr 20 Train
- Apr 21 Rest/Pack for first rotation
- Apr 22 Climb to C1
- Apr 23 Climb towards C2
- Apr 24 Descend to base camp
- Apr 25 Rest
- Apr 26 Hike to Pumori
- Apr 27 Rest
- Apr 28 Climb to C1
- Apr 29 Climb to C2
- Apr 30 Climb above C2
- May 1 Climb to C3 and descend to C2
- May 2 Descend to base camp
- May 3 Rest
- May 4 Rest
- May 5 Rest
- May 6 Rest
- May 7 To C1
- May 8 To C2
- May 9 To C3
- May 10 To C4
- May 11 Summit and descend to C2
- May 12 Descend to base camp
- May 13 Rest
- May 14 Pack up base camp
- May 15 Trek to Pheriche
- May 16 Trek to Namche
- May 17 Trek to Lukla
- May 18 Fly to KTM
- May 19 Fly Home
- May 20 Contingency
- May 21 Contingency
- May 22 Contingency
- May 23 Contingency
- May 24 Contingency
Your inclusions and exclusions are based on your chosen Everest program.
In addition to your chosen Everest program; the Lhotse Add On includes:
- Support for a summit attempt on Lhotse following your Everest summit attempt
- Lhotse permit
- Additional Lhotse logistics (high mountain support, weather forecasts, rope fixing fees, food etc)
- Additional oxygen (4 additional bottles – 3x for your use, 1x for your sherpa) for use on Lhotse summit day
- A Personal Sherpa for Lhotse summit day to guide you*
*Please note; as The Lhotse Add On is a separate deviation from your Everest program and therefore your Everest guidance is not included and you will be assigned a Personal Sherpa to assist you. If you do want to continue with your private Everest guidance, or want higher levels of guidance, please contact us for up to date pricing