At 8,848.86 m, Everest is the highest point on earth and the mountain every serious climber eventually measures themselves against. This 65-day expedition follows the classic South Col and Southeast Ridge — the line first climbed by Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary in 1953 — approached from the Nepal side through the Khumbu.
We run this climb as a fully supported expedition from our own Kathmandu office. You arrive for briefing, permits and final gear checks, fly to Lukla, then trek through Namche Bazaar, Tengboche and Dingboche to Everest Base Camp at 5,364 m, gaining height slowly and deliberately. Base Camp becomes home for several weeks while you complete acclimatisation rotations: through the Khumbu Icefall to Camp I and Camp II, up the Lhotse Face to Camp III, and on towards the South Col at just under 8,000 m.
When the forecast opens a settled weather window, you move up for the summit push with your personal climbing Sherpa and supplementary oxygen, leaving the South Col around midnight to reach the top after sunrise. After the summit you descend to Base Camp, trek out to Lukla and fly back to Kathmandu.
Why climb Everest with The Everest Holiday
- 1:1 climbing Sherpa ratio — a dedicated, summit-experienced partner with you on the mountain.
- Nepali-owned and Nepali-led. Three generations of our family have worked these trails; nothing is subcontracted to a foreign reseller.
- Fully equipped Base Camp with heated dining dome, dedicated cook team, fresh food, power and communications.
- Generous oxygen allocation with modern masks and regulators, plus stocked high camps.
- Daily mountain-specific forecasting so your summit window is chosen on data, not guesswork.
- All royalty, permit and liaison paperwork handled in-house.
Who this expedition is for
This is a technically challenging, high-commitment climb. We ask for previous experience above 7,000 m — an 8,000 m peak such as Manaslu or Cho Oyu is ideal preparation — along with confidence on fixed lines with jumar and descender, competence in crampons on steep snow and ice, and excellent all-round fitness. Talk to us about your climbing history and we will build a realistic preparation plan with you.
How we run this expedition
| How we run it | |
|---|---|
| Lead guides | IFMGA/NNMGA-certified mountain guides |
| Climbing Sherpa | One-to-one; a personal climbing Sherpa for each member |
| Oxygen | Our own supply, five to six bottles per climber as standard, more on request |
| High camps | Our own tents, kitchen and camp equipment on the mountain |
| Route | SPCC Icefall Doctors and the season's rope-fixing team keep the route to the summit |
| Weather | Dedicated forecasting; we commit on the window, never on a schedule |
| Base camp | Heated dining, communications and medical cover; every staff member fully insured |
Everest South Col Expedition at a glance
| Duration | About 60 to 65 days, Kathmandu to Kathmandu |
|---|---|
| Summit | Everest, 8,849 m, by the South Col and Southeast Ridge |
| Region | The Nepal side, through the Khumbu and Sagarmatha National Park |
| Season | Spring; arrive late March or April, summit in a mid-to-late-May window |
| Guides | IFMGA/NNMGA-certified, with a one-to-one climbing Sherpa |
| Support | Our own high camps, camp equipment and oxygen supply |
| Permits | Everest climbing royalty, Sagarmatha National Park and the Khumbu Rural Municipality fee; a licensed guide and a registered team are mandatory |
| Price | Quoted individually; contact us for an itemised quotation |
Best time to climb Everest
| Season | Months | What it is like | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | late March to May | The Everest season; teams reach Base Camp in April and summit in a mid-to-late-May weather window | The season |
| Autumn | September to November | Occasionally attempted, colder and windier, very few teams | Rare |
| Winter | December to February | Extreme cold and wind; specialist attempts only | Not offered |
| Monsoon | June to August | Snow and cloud; the mountain is left alone | Closed |
Permits and royalty
Nepal's spring Everest climbing royalty (currently USD 15,000 per climber), Sagarmatha National Park entry and the Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality fee all apply per climber, and under the current rules a licensed guide and a registered team are mandatory. We hold the operating licences and file the permit for you. The exact royalty and the expedition fees are confirmed with the Department of Tourism when we file, and are set out in your quotation.
Cost and dates
Every Everest expedition is quoted individually, because the final figure depends on your oxygen allocation, the level of personal Sherpa support you want, and whether you join our full-service or base-camp-service option. Contact us for a detailed, itemised quotation — we will send a full cost breakdown with no hidden extras.