Lobuche Peak Climbing

Overview

Assorted under the trekking peak by Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA), Lobuche peak is often mentioned along with Mera Peak and Island Peak. Enlisted among the top 5 climbing peaks of Nepal, Lobuche peak is the second most popular trekking peak after Island Peak.

The mountain lies in the Khumbu region and has two prominent peaks, Lobuche East (6145 m) and Lobuche West (6119 m). Similarly, Lobuche east is often used by climbers as a trekking peak whereas Lobuche West is usually used as an expedition peak. Moreover, the climb is fairly easy so, with a little training and proper guidance, it can be easily surmounted.

Likewise, the trails follow the same route as Everest Base Camp Trek so, we pass along many culturally enriched villages, lush vegetation, suspension bridges, and blooming Rhododendron hills. Furthermore, we will experience everything Everest Base Camp Trek has to offer as we ascend both Everest Base camp (55150 m) and Kala Pathhar (5644 m). So, this peak climbing is like killing two birds with a single stone.

The scenic mountain views grasped along the way, religiously significant monasteries, and the soul-stirring view of some of the tallest Himalayas of Everest region from the top of Lobuche peak have increased the fanfare of Lobuche Peak among trekkers. However, Lobuche east peak climbing is considered more by the climbers than Lobuche west peak climbing.

Lobuche east was brought to highlight when Laurence Nielson and Ang Gyalzen Sherpa ascended the peak for the first time on April 24, 1984. On later dates, it was often used as a training peak by the ascenders before mounting even more high Himalayas.

The main appeal of this expedition is the hear-stopping view from both Lobuche west and Lobuche east. The Lobuche west embraces the visitor with majestic and astounding panoramas of the high Himalayas such as Mt.Chola Tse (6440 m), Mt. Tawoche (6494 m), Mt.Ama Dablam (6812 m), Mt.Pokalde (5806 m), Mt.Thamserku (6608 m), and Mt.Kangtega (6782 m).

Similarly, the Lobuche east welcomes us with grand and alluring vistas of the Himalayas such as  Mt.Everest (8848 m), Mt. Makalu (8481 m), Mt.Pumori (7161 m), Ama Dablam (6812 m), Mt. Cho Oyu (8188 m), and Thamserku (6608 m). 

Since the trail overlaps with Everest Trek, the routes are usually overcrowded during the Spring and autumn seasons. In addition to that, we will be granted a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to view the tallest mountain in the world from up close. Not only that, the views perceived from the Kala Pathar and Everest Base Camp are also equally hypnotising and enchanting. Moreover, the climb can be combined with EBC Trek.

Best Time To Climb Lobuche Peak

Like treks, the Spring and Autumn season is considered the prime time to soar high up the Lobuche Peak. From September to November and March to May, the weathers are favourable and suitable, and the skies are clear with a minuscule amount of fog, so the views of the high Himalayas are as clear as crystals. However, the routes may be more overcrowded than in any other season. 

Similarly, the trails expect fewer climbers during the monsoon and winter seasons. The paths are muddy and slippery due to rainfall, and the chances of weather change are very high. The fog hampers the views of astounding vistas of mountains and landscapes. Likewise, the temperature dwindles to minus during winter so we may be prone to cold-related diseases such as frostbite, freezing, etc. So, trekking and climbing in winter is very hazardous.

1. day 1

   Fly from Kathmandu to Lukla (2860 m) and trek to Phakding (2610 m)

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   Flight Hours	35 minutes
   Highest Altitude	2860 m
   Trek Duration	4-5 hours

   We take an early morning flight to Lukla from Kathmandu. A 35-minute flight will grant us an alluring and enchanting view of the Himalayas, like Mt. Everest. After landing in Lukla, we continued our journey to Phakding and spent the night there.

   On our route, we pass through several small settlements and villages, pine forests, and Rhododendron-filled hills. Also, we traverse through rivers and waterfalls of the Khumbu region. We have to walk for 2-3 hours, which is relatively straightforward. We will stay for a night in Phakding.

   • Overnight stay in a lodge

   • Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

2. day 2

   Trek from Phakding to Namche Bazaar (3440 m)

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   Highest Altitude	3440 m
   Trek Duration	5-6 hours

   After an early breakfast, we start our trek towards Namche Bazaar. Enjoying the spellbinding views of the grand Himalayas, waterfalls, and lush green vegetation, we will walk forward to reach the Sagarmatha National Park. We will keep up our hike only after showing our permits and documents to the officials.

   After that, the scenery gets even more alluring because of the exotic floras and fauna inside the national park. Moreover, this trek is also used for the Everest Base Camp trek, so we may meet many trekkers along the way. Finally, after crossing the Hillary Suspension Bridge, we will be welcomed by a famed world village, Namche Bazaar. We will spend the night there.

   • Overnight stay in a lodge

   • Breakfast, Lunch, and DInner

3. day 3

   Acclimatization at Namche Bazaar (3440 m)

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   Highest Altitude	3440 m

   On our third day, we will rest for acclimatization purposes as it is vital to adjust our heart and lungs to higher altitudes to avoid altitude sickness. We will hike towards the nearest viewpoint, called the Syangboche viewpoint, to further adapt our bodies.

   The landscapes and the panoramas of the Himalayas seen from the top will take our breath away. After that, we can indulge in the local culture, taste Sherpas's unique cuisines, and explore the place. This village is also known as a gateway to the Everest region. After wandering around the valley, we will spend our night in a lodge.

    

   • Overnight stay in a lodge

   • Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

4. day 4

   Trek from Namche Bazaar to Tengboche (3867 m)

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   Highest Altitude	3867 m
   Trek Duration	5-6 hours

   As usual, our day commences with a nice cup of tea and breakfast towards Tengboche. Leaving behind monasteries, Chortens, and Gompas, along with a scenic view of the Himalayas, we pass through the Mong-La pass situated at 3975 meters to reach Tengboche. Similarly, the top of the pass allows us to perceive the astounding vistas of the high Himalayas, such as Mount Everest, Lhotse, and Aba Dablam.

   Tengboche carries a religious significance for the Sherpa community because of the Tengboche Monastery, one of the oldest monasteries in the Khumbu region. The paths near the Tengboche are full of prayer flags. Moreover, we get a peek at the Buddhist culture and various rituals practised by the locals. We will stay overnight in this place.

    

   • Overnight stay in a lodge

   • Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

5. day 5

   Trek from Tengboche to Dingboche (4410 m)

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   Highest Altitude	4410 m
   Trek Duration	5-6 hours

   As on any other normal day, we will get up early to observe the beautiful sunrise view from the Tengboche Monastery. After breakfast, we will give continuity to our expedition by indulging in the spellbinding views of mountains, pasturelands, and landscapes. After crossing the Imja River, we will be welcomed by a gorgeous view of an Ama Dablam, agricultural fields and grazing animals.

   • Overnight stay in a lodge

   • Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

6. day 6

   Trek from Dingboche to Lobuche (4930 m)

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   Highest Altitude	4930 m
   Trek Duration	5-6 hours

   As on any other normal day, we will give continuity to our expedition further towards Lobuche. We will cross the steep moraine of the Khumbu glacier and reach Chupki Lara passing where memorials of some of the renowned mountaineers are kept. After that, we will walk further towards our next stop relishing in the beautiful scenic views of the Himalayas like Khumbutse, Lingtren, Pumori and Mahalangur Himal. We will spend our night in a tea house in Lobuche.

   • Overnight stay in a tea house

   • Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

7. day 7

   Trek from Lobuche to Everest Base Camp (5364 m) via Gorak Shep

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   Highest Altitude	5364 m
   Trek Duration	6-7 hours

   After an early breakfast, we will commence our journey towards one of the most popular trekking camps, Everest Base Camp but before that, we have to pass through Gorak Shep. Traversing through the steep paths of the Khumbu glacier, we will reach Gorak Shep. The views from the place are out of the world as we are welcomed by the mountains in all directions including Everest.

   Similarly, we trace our walk further towards base camp but we will explore the Gorak Shep Lake first. Finally, the Everest Base Camp will hug us with mesmerizing views of many high Himalayas such as Nuptse, Khumbuste, and Pumori.

   However, the close-up view of Everest is not accessible from this place. The hike to Everest Base Camp will further provide a boost and experience to mount Lobuche Peak. We will trace our hike back towards Gorak Shep and spend the night there.

   • Overnight stay in a tent

   • Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

8. day 8

   Trek to Kala Patthar (5545 m) back to Lobuche

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   Highest Altitude	5545 m
   Trek Duration	6-7 hours

   As usual, we will start our journey after a healthy breakfast. Enjoying the beautiful sunrise view along the way and observing the vistas of the Himalayas of the Khumbu region we will ascend towards Kala Pathar sitting at an altitude of 5545 meters. We will pass through several viewpoints on our uphill towards the Kala Pathar so, we can snap pictures along the way.

   After soaring to the top, the scenery perceived is something words aren’t enough to portray. The captivating and enthralling view of Mount Everest along with its surrounding mountains will blow our minds away. The Kala Patthar trek will further provide a boost and experience to mount Lobuche Peak later. After that, we descend towards Lobuche to spend our night.

    

   • Overnight stay in a tea house

   • Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

9. day 9

   Trek from Lobuche to Lobuche High Camp ( 5600 m)

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   Highest Altitude	5600 m
   Trek Duration	6-7 hours

   After an early breakfast along with a beautiful sunrise view, we will move towards Lobuche Base Camp. We will walk along the Lobuche Glacier while enjoying the astounding panoramas of Ama Dablam, Cholatse, Pokalde, Thamserku, Kantega, etc. and halt our journey in Lobuche Base Camp. The majority of the climbers will opt to spend the night here but we will head further towards high camp.

   The high camp is located at an altitude of 5600m so, we should keenly focus on our health as well as follow the lead of our guides. Finally, we will settle here and set up a camp for our sleep.

   • Overnight stay in a tent

   • Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

10. day 10

    Acclimatization and Preparation day

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    Highest Altitude	5600 m

    Our 10th day is a free day partitioned for the acclimatization purpose. Since we have ascended the 5500m plus altitude, there is a slight chance of altitude sickness. So, we adjust ourselves in the base camp.

    Furthermore, our guides will brief us about the usage of tools and gears needed to mount the peak and the ways of fixing ropes in glaciers and crevices. They will interpret the possible dangers ahead and train us to use the equipment efficiently.

    • Overnight stay in a tent

    • Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

11. day 11

    Summit the Lobuche Peak (6119 m) and Back to Base Camp (4865 m)

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    Highest Altitude	6119 m
    Trek Duration	9-10 hours

    Today is the day, we have been eagerly waiting for so, we start our climbing early in the morning. Following the lead and abiding by the suggestions of other experienced climbers, we will slowly ascend towards the Lobuche east. The Lobuche east provides more expansive views of mountains than the Island and Mera Peak.

    When we put our foot on the summit of Lobuche Peak, we will be hugged with an outstanding grand view of the Himalayas like Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse, Ama Dablam, Cholatse, Pumori, and other nearby peaks. This is the moment when we will realize that our sweat and struggle along the whole expedition is worthwhile. With a proud heart and a sense of achievement for reaching the summit, we will descend down towards Base camp where we will stay overnight.

    • Overnight stay in a tent

    • Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

12. day 12

    Trek from Lobuche Base Camp to Dingboche (4410 m)

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    Highest Altitude	4410 m
    Trek Duration	5-6 hours

    After a historic accomplishment for us, we trace our way along the same previous route. We will be encompassed with a beautiful breathtaking view of the Himalayas, farmlands, villages, and monasteries along the way. We may opt to celebrate the achievement with the locals and may even try locally prepared alcoholic beverages and cuisines. We will stay overnight in Dingboche.

    • Overnight stay in a tent

    • Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

13. day 13

    Trek from Dingboche to Namche Bazaar (3440 m)

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    Highest Altitude	3440 m
    Trek Duration	5-6 hours

    After an early breakfast, we head back towards Namche Bazaar. We will pass through religiously and culturally enriched Tengboche. The mesmerizing view along the way will become pretty standard up to this day.

    Finally, we will halt and stay overnight at Namche Bazaar. If we have spare time, we can explore the place and buy souvenirs for our loved ones.

    • Overnight stay in a lodge

    • Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

14. day 14

    Trek from Namche Bazaar to Lukla Village (2860 m)

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    Highest Altitude	2860 m
    Trek Duration	7-8 hours

    After an early breakfast, we descend further down towards Lukla, where we will spend the night. We will observe breathtaking views of some of the peaks of the Everest region, such as Cho Oyu, Kongde Peak, etc. We will spend our night in Lukla Village.

    • Overnight stay in a lodge

    • Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

15. day 15

    Fly from Lukla to Kathmandu

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    Flight Hours	35 minutes
    Highest Altitude	1400 m

    After a heartwarming trek and climbing to the beautiful Himalayas, we will catch an early flight to Kathmandu from Lukla. It is just a 35-minute flight, so we have copious spare time. We may explore the Kathmandu Valley as it has a handful of attractions prepared for visitors.

    • Overnight stay in a hotel

    • Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

• Schedule flight tickets for the Kathmandu-Lukla-Kathmandu flight
• Domestic airport transfers and taxes.
• All necessary paperwork and trekking permits (Climbing Permit, National Park permit, Local Area Permit, and TIMS)
• All government and local taxes
• An experienced English-speaking Trekking/expedition Guide (Govt. registered), Cook, and Assistant Climbing Guide (4 trekkers: 1 assistant guide).
• Porters to carry luggage (2 trekkers:1 porter)
• High-quality North Face or Mountain Hardware or similar sleeping tent, kitchen, dining, toilet
• tents, mattresses, and kitchen equipment during the climb
• Full meals (Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner) followed by a cup of Tea/Coffee during the trek and climb.
• Safe Drinking water
• One-hour Trekker's Massage upon completion of the trek
• All mountain accommodation (Last night private room with independent bathroom/hot showers in Kathmandu.)
• A comprehensive medical kit
• Company T-Shirt and Broacher
• Trekking equipment, such as a down-filled sleeping bag and duffel bag
• Farewell dinner in a typical Nepali Restaurant