If you're an adventurer looking for a challenge that’ll blow your friends' stories out of the water, Kyajo Ri is it.
Confirmed departure on Oct 7, 2025
If you're an adventurer looking for a challenge that’ll blow your friends' stories out of the water, Kyajo Ri is it.
Confirmed departure on Oct 7, 2025
Right on the edge of Tibet, tucked away in Nepal's famous Khumbu Region, is a mountain that’s all thriller, no filler: Kyajo Ri (6,186 m). This is the highest peak looming south of the legendary Namche Bazaar, and the best part? It only opened up to climbers in 2002, so you get all the bragging rights without the traffic jams you see on other mountains.
If you're looking for a legit climbing challenge that’s way off the beaten path, Kyajo Ri is your ticket.
Get ready to tackle a wicked mix of high-alpine ice and solid rock climbing. This isn't just a long walk uphill; it’s a real mountaineering adventure. Your reward? Absolutely jaw-dropping, 360-degree views of the big guys: Everest (8,848 m), Lhotse (8,516 m), Makalu (8,463 m), and Cho Oyu (8,201 m). You'll be staring at an all-star lineup of the world's tallest peaks.
But the summit is only half the story. The journey to base camp is epic on its own. You'll trek through stunning forests, with the roar of massive waterfalls and the chill sound of glacial rivers as your soundtrack. It’s the perfect blend of peaceful hiking and high-stakes climbing.
On your way up, you'll hang out in amazing villages like Phakding, Namche, and Mende, getting a real taste of the legendary Sherpa culture. The warm, welcoming vibes of the local people are something you'll never forget. The trek itself will take you through lush forests of rhododendron and oak, and you'll want to keep your eyes peeled for awesome wildlife like the Himalayan Tahr (it's like a mountain goat on steroids), Musk Deer, and Ghoral. This isn't just a trip; it's a core memory in the making.
Let's be real: a peak like Kyajo Ri is no walk in the park. It's a technical climb that demands you be on your A-game, both physically and mentally. That's why timing is everything. We run these expeditions during the two sweet spots of the year: Spring (March to May) and Fall (October & November), when the weather is most stable and the views are crystal clear.
The17-day adventure kicks off in Kathmandu, where you can soak up the energy exploring ancient UNESCO World Heritage Sites. From there, you'll hop on a wild and scenic flight to the Lukla airstrip—an experience in itself!
That's where the real trek begins. You’ll follow the Dudh Koshi River through gorgeous forests to Phakding and then up to Namche Bazaar, the "Sherpa capital," for some crucial acclimatization. From Namche, it's a steady climb through picturesque villages to Kyajo Ri Base Camp. You’ll have ample amount of time to acclimatize with planned rest days at Base Camp and Camp I to make sure you're feeling strong and ready. At Camp II, our pro crew will give your gear a final check and make sure you're good to go for the summit.
Then, it's go-time. You'll make the summit push in the early morning, bagging the peak before heading back to Camp II for a well-deserved rest. After that, it's all high-fives and downhill trekking back through Base Camp, Namche, and finally to Lukla for a flight back to Kathmandu.
Spots for 2025 and 2026 are up for grabs now.
We can also tweak this trip to fit your schedule, budget, and fitness level. Got questions about the cost or anything else? Hit us up! Let's talk about getting you to the top.
Confirmed deparutre on Oct 7, 2025. Please email us for more information.
The following are the list of services, also defined in the itinerary, included in the package cost for the 17-day Kyajo Ri Peak Climbing Expedition:
Our Kyajo Ri peak climbing trip can also tweaked to fit your schedule, budget, and fitness level.
Planning a climb to over 6,000 meters requires careful preparation. This guide covers the key details you need to know before you go, from physical readiness to what to expect on the mountain.
This expedition is graded as strenuous, and it's a significant step up from a standard high-altitude trek. Here’s what that means for you:
Timing is critical for a safe and successful climb in the Himalayas. We operate this trip during the two main climbing seasons for the best weather conditions.
Your accommodation will change as you gain altitude, moving from comfortable lodges to expedition-style camps.
Food on the trek is designed to be nutritious and high in energy. Expect a mix of traditional Nepali food (like dal bhat - lentil soup with rice), as well as Tibetan and continental dishes like pasta, potatoes, and porridge.
Your safety is the top priority. Our itinerary is specifically designed to minimize the risks associated with high-altitude climbing.
While the company provides all group climbing equipment (ropes, snow bars, etc.), you are responsible for your own personal gear.
Key personal items include:
Success and comfort on your Kyajo Ri Peak Climbing Expedition hinge on proper preparation, and your equipment list is central to this. This comprehensive guide outlines every essential item, from high-performance apparel to specialized trekking tools, ensuring your safety and readiness for the diverse Himalayan environment. We urge you to review this list thoroughly; having the right gear is non-negotiable for an enjoyable and secure adventure.
Sun Hat (Wide-Brimmed or Baseball Cap):
Beanie / Warm Fleece Hat:
Buff / Neck Gaiter / Balaclava:
Headlamp (with extra batteries):
Headband (Optional but useful):
Key Considerations for all Headgear:
Base Layers (Wicking/Thermal Undershirts):
Mid-Layers (Insulating/Fleece Jackets):
Outer Shell (Waterproof & Windproof Jacket):
Down Jacket (or Heavy Synthetic Puffy Jacket):
Key Considerations for Upper Body Protection:
Lightweight Liner Gloves (Fleece or Merino Wool):
Warm Fleece Gloves / Softshell Gloves:
Insulated Mittens (Waterproof/Windproof):
Heavy Duty Gloves (Optional but recommended for very cold sensitive hands or harsher conditions):
Key Considerations for Hand Protection:
Base Layers (Thermal Leggings / Long Underwear):
Trekking Trousers (Durable & Quick-Drying):
Softshell Trousers (Optional but Highly Recommended for Higher Altitudes):
Hardshell / Rain Trousers (Waterproof & Windproof):
Warm Camp Trousers (Optional but adds great comfort):
Key Considerations for Lower Body Protection:
Waterproof Trekking Boots (Mid to High-Cut):
Climbing Boots
Camp Shoes / Lodge Shoes / Sandals:
Trekking Socks:
Gaiters (Optional but Recommended):
Key Considerations for Your Footwear:
Passport:
Nepal Visa:
Airline Tickets / E-tickets:
Travel and Medical Insurance Policy:
Medical Information (Highly Recommended):
Emergency Contact Information:
Credit/Debit Cards & Cash (Nepalese Rupees):
Passport-sized Photographs:
Key Considerations for Your Travel Documents:
Toothbrush & Toothpaste:
Biodegradable Soap / All-in-One Wash:
Dry Shampoo / Cleansing Wipes:
Moisturizer / Lotion:
Lip Balm (with SPF):
Sunscreen (High SPF):
Hand Sanitizer:
Toilet Paper:
Small Quick-Drying Towel (Microfiber):
Personal Medications:
Feminine Hygiene Products (if applicable):
Key Tips for Trekking Toiletries:
Energy Bars / Granola Bars:
Nuts & Seeds:
Dried Fruits:
Trail Mix (DIY or Pre-packaged):
Hard Candies / Gummy Bears / Jelly Beans:
Chocolate (Dark Chocolate Recommended):
Protein Bars / Jerky:
Nut Butter Packets:
Crackers / Biscuits:
Key Considerations for Your Trekking Snacks:
Sleeping bag liner and a Synthetic/Down Sleeping Bag:
Key Considerations for Your Sleeping Bag:
For summer a fleece or silk sleeping liner will be enough till Mende as most teahouses offering warm duvets and if available will also provide an additional (if available).
For winter, we recomment you choose a good quality light sleeping bag that can be compressed down into a small stuff sack.
Depending on how you plan to arrive at Kathmandu, we will arrange for you to rendezvous at your hotel in Thamel. In most cases, you will arrive at Kathmandu via Tribhuvan International Airport where you will meet your guide.
In the evening, you will join for a program briefing with your group members. In case you arrive late at night, you will meet your group members next day at breakfast during which you will also be briefed about your program.
Today, you will embark on a walking tour of two UNESCO heritage sites; the Swayambhunath Stupa and the Kathmandu Durbar Square.
The Swayambhunath Stupa lies atop a hill north-west of Thamel. It is the oldest religious site in Nepal and an important pilgrimage site for both Hindus and Buddhists. The main temple complex overlooks the Kathmandu valley and in the olden days offered clear views of the Kathmandu Durbar Square and the old city of Kathmandu.
Bidding farewell to the sights and sounds at Swayamabhunath, you will head towards the Kathmandu Durbar Square (palace courtyard). The courtyard is a complex of structures of the royal palaces, quadrangles, towers, temples, and monuments of the Malla kings of Kathmandu. Plus, you will also get to visit the palace museum which are now open to visitors. The 2015 Nepal earthquake landed significant damages to the palace but renovations are in full swing. Click this link to know more about Kathmandu Durbar Square.
After Kathmandu Durbar Square, you will head back to your hotel in Thamel via the Asan Market, the traditional bustling market area and a hub of Newari culture where for centuries merchants from India and Tibet, alongside farmers and others, have fared their goods. The market offers everything; from foodstuff and traditional spices to electronics. But keep in mind the narrow streets lined with a mix of old traditional houses with ornately carved doors and window frames, important temples, and modern concrete houses, and a bustling crowd of shoppers.
At Thamel, you will attend a last-minute brief on your Kyajo Ri Peak Climbing Expedition and prepare all required essentials, and in the evening join a group dinner to celebrate your arrival in Nepal.
The day starts early. After a quick tea, you drive to the Kathmandu domestic airport for a scenic flight to Lukla - the gateway to Khumbu. In clear weather, you will have ample views of the Himalayas as you fly over rivers, forests, mountain passes and tiny settlements.
At Lukla, you will be welcomed by majestic views of Mt. Karyolung (6,465 meters), Mt. Khatang (6,776 meters), and Mt. Nupla (5,869 meters), along with the rest of your trek crew. After sorting out your bags, you will begin the day's hike on a gentle undulating trail high above the Duh Koshi river.
On the trail, you will get to interact with the local Sherpa people who are mostly Buddhists. The major attractions of the day include the suspension bridge crossing over the landslide at Ghat, a huge boulder painted with Tibetan scriptures, and a mane wall just before arriving at Phakding - your destination for the day. Also, the gorgeous Mt. Thamserku (6,623 meters) will reveal itself and welcome you to the Himalayas just before you arrive at Phakding.
Another superb day of hiking, you will start the day with a hearty mountain breakfast. The undulating trail can be challenging but equally rewarding. A few minutes out of Phakding, you might see wild honey bee hives high up on mountain cliffs. The trail gets exciting when you reach the landslide crossing at TokTok, and is followed by a small waterfall at Benkar. A river crossing above a suspension bridge after Benkar brings you to the quaint little hamlet of Monjo where you will need to show your National Park permits at a checkpoint. You will then continue to Jorsalle, where you can enjoy local cuisine with views of the famous twin suspension bridge over the Dudh Koshi river.
After lunch, you will cross the suspension bridge and begin a slow grueling climb up a steep trail to Namche. As you climb, during clear weather, you might get a first peek at Everest (8848m), Nuptse (7879m) and Lhotse (8383m) at Top Danda. Once you arrive at the bustling town of Namche, you have the rest of the day at leisure to either explore the town and indulge in luxury - proper coffee and delicious bakery, shop for gears at one of the many stores in town or just call it a day with a book in your lodge.
You will begin your acclimatization routine of gradually climbing high today. In the morning, you can explore the beautiful town of Namche, visit the local museum, and explore the nooks and crannies in search of yourself.
After lunch, you will hike to Khumjung and Khunde, where you can visit the Khumjung Hillary School and the Khunde monastery. Also, we suggest climbing down to the Everest view point for a panoramic sunset over the Himalayas.
You'll leave the Everest Base Camp highway and the crowds in your rearview mirror. Your journey from Namche involves a bit of a grind, climbing up and out of the town’s natural amphitheater. But for every ounce of effort, you get a pound of payoff. As you get higher, you’ll turn around to see Namche spread out below you like a map—it’s an epic sight and the perfect excuse to "stop for a photo."
Once you're up on the ridge, the game completely changes. This is where you'll get those jaw-dropping, postcard-perfect views of the Himalayan heavy hitters. You'll be looking at Ama Dablam looking sharp enough to cut glass, the massive wall of Lhotse, and yes, your first seriously stunning look at the top of the world, Mount Everest herself.
The trail to Mende is a path less traveled. You’ll notice the difference right away. The air gets quieter, the path gets narrower, and you'll trade the trekking crowds for the occasional yak caravan and the sound of prayer flags snapping in the wind. This is the real, unfiltered Khumbu experience. You’ll pass ancient mani stones carved with Buddhist mantras and walk through sparse forests of juniper and birch that smell incredible in the crisp mountain air.
After a few hours of soaking it all in, you'll roll into Mende. This isn't a bustling town; it's a little village perched on the mountainside, a world away from the energy of Namche.
After a chill night in the quiet village of Mende, you'll wake up to crisp mountain air and the feeling that the real adventure is about to kick into high gear. Today’s the day you leave the last traces of village life behind and push deep into the wild, raw beauty of the high Himalayas. This is your journey to Base Camp.
The trail starts with a steady climb, and you’ll quickly notice the world changing around you. You're heading for the tree line, that magical point where the air gets too thin and the earth too rugged for forests to grow. You’ll watch as the last of the hardy birch and juniper trees give way to alpine scrub and tundra, and soon enough, you’ll be trekking through a vast, open landscape of rock and sky.
Let's be honest, this is a big day and a serious climb. With a major altitude gain, your legs and lungs will feel it. But for every bit of grind, the scenery delivers an absolutely epic reward. The views open up into mind-blowing panoramas of the Khumbu’s lesser-known, but equally stunning, peaks. The scale of everything is just immense, and you'll feel like you have this entire remote valley to yourself.
And then you’ll see it.
As you come over a ridge or round a bend in the moraine, Kyajo Ri will come into full view, dominating the skyline ahead. This is the showstopper moment. It’s no longer a distant peak on a map; it's right there—a massive pyramid of rock and ice waiting for you. Seeing your objective up close like this makes all the hard work click into place.
Rolling into Kyajo Ri Base Camp (4,550m) feels like a huge win. This isn't a village; it's your new home, a small collection of tents nestled in a wild, rocky valley. This is your launchpad. The vibe here is completely different—it's all about preparation and anticipation. You've officially finished the trekking portion of your journey. Now, it's time to settle in, drink some tea, and just soak in the incredible fact that you're here, at the foot of your mountain. The climb is about to begin.
Today is all about letting your body catch up to the altitude. At 4,550 meters (14,927 ft), this is your crucial acclimatization day, and it's the perfect mix of active rest and getting psyched for the climb ahead.
While you can definitely kick back and enjoy the epic views right from your tent, the best way to adjust is to follow the classic mountaineer's rule: climb high, sleep low. You’ll stretch your legs on a short hike up a nearby ridge, which will reward you with even more insane, next-level views of the surrounding Himalayan giants.
Meanwhile, your expert Sherpa crew will be busy getting all the technical gear completely dialed in for the ascent. They’ll be sorting ropes, checking harnesses, and laying out all the hardware.
Your only jobs today are to explore a little, drink plenty of water, and soak in the wild beauty of your new backyard. The trek is done. The real climb is just around the corner.
Today’s the day the real climbing begins. After a good night's rest at Base Camp, you'll feel that buzz of excitement and a touch of nerves. This isn't a hike; this is your first actual move up the mountain.
You'll pack your daypack with essentials and, after a solid breakfast start on a challenging push right from the get-go. The terrain gets steeper and more rugged, often involving trekking over moraine, rocky paths, and possibly some patches of snow depending on the conditions. As you gain altitude, you’ll be treated to increasingly vast and mind-blowing views.
Reaching Camp I is a significant milestone. It’s a wilder, more exposed spot than Base Camp, perched on a glacier or a high rocky shelf. Your team will have already set up the tents, so once you arrive, you can drop your gear, catch your breath, and take in the stark, breathtaking landscape. This is serious alpine territory, and you're officially in the thick of it.
This is a contingency day of sorts. Depending upon the weather you can push towards Camp 2 or stay another day at Camp 1 to recuperate.
The climb from Camp I to Camp II is a serious step up, where you'll tackle the steep, technical terrain that guards the upper mountain.
The morning starts with gearing up. You'll get your full kit on: the climbing harness goes over your layers, you'll strap on your crampons, and you'll click your helmet into place. With your ice axe in hand and roped up to your expert guide, you are ready for the vertical world.
The climb begins immediately, heading up steepening snow and ice slopes. The most difficult section of the climb is tackling a steep snow couloir, a narrow gully that serves as the gateway to the upper mountain. Here, the angle kicks up to a challenging 45-50 degrees. You'll be front-pointing—using the front spikes of your crampons to ascend the wall of snow like a ladder. With your ice axe providing balance and security, you'll move methodically up this section. It's a full-body workout at over 18,000 feet, demanding focus with every single move.
Emerging from the couloir, you'll traverse more exposed snowfields to reach Camp II at 5,700 m. The terrain feels like landing on another planet; a wild, exposed perch, a small platform carved out of the mountain's slope with nothing but air and epic Himalayan peaks all around you.
Your alarm goes off at an ungodly hour, sometime after midnight. This is it. You'll force down some tea and food in the freezing, pre-dawn darkness of High Camp. Gearing up is a quiet, focused ritual. Outside the tent, the stars are impossibly bright, and the only sound is the wind and your own breathing. Today, you climb for the summit.
The first few hours are a surreal experience, moving up the mountain by the single beam of your headlamp. The world shrinks to the cone of light in front of you, the crunch of your crampons, and the rhythmic swing of your ice axe. It's a steep, steady grind through the darkness, following the secure line of your guide.
Then, the magic happens. As you gain elevation, the eastern sky begins to glow. The first light hits the Himalayan giants around you, setting the tips of Everest, Lhotse, and Makalu on fire with a brilliant alpenglow. This is the moment that fuels your final push.
With the light comes the day's biggest challenge: the knife-edge summit ridge. You'll navigate a spectacular and highly exposed spine of snow, with insane, heart-stopping drops on either side. This is no-fall territory, where every foot placement and ice axe plant is deliberate. Your focus needs to be laser-sharp as you move carefully across this stunning highway in the sky.
Just below the top, one last obstacle guards the summit: a short, scrappy pitch of mixed rock and ice. It’s a final, vertical puzzle that requires you to use your crampons on rock and your axe for leverage. You’ll pull yourself over this last hurdle and then… there’s nowhere else to go. You’re standing on the summit of Kyajo Ri (6,186m / 20,295 ft).
The feeling is indescribable—a mix of pure exhaustion and total elation. The view is simply ridiculous. You have a 360-degree panorama of the roof of the world, with four of the planet's six tallest peaks laid out before you. It's a moment of absolute awe that you’ll never forget.
But you're only halfway done. The summit is the goal, but safety is the priority, and the descent requires just as much focus. You'll carefully down-climb the ridge and the steepest sections. On the most vertical parts, your guide will set up rappels (abseils) for a safe and controlled descent down the ice and snow you just fought your way up.
Collapsing back into your tent at Camp II hours later has never felt so good. You are utterly spent, but the memory of standing on that summit, with the entire Khumbu at your feet, is already burned into your mind forever.
Following the same trail that you scoured a few days ago, you'll descend to base camp through the long and winding trail.
You'll find yourself back in civilization at Namche Bazar where you can enjoy the luxuries of modern life; including a hot shower and a good cup of coffee.
It's all about the descend as you tackle the undulating trail back to Lukla. This is your final night in the Himalayas and is customarily celebrated with your crew revelling in the experience on the mountains.
You’ll fly back to Kathmandu and drive back to your hotel in Kathmandu. The whole day is at leisure.
In the evening, you're invited to a farewell dinner celebrating your trip in Nepal.
Depending upon your exit plans, with the most probable being your return flight back home, your guide or a representative will accompany you to the Tribhuvan International Airport