Nepal Everest Base Camp Trek
Dates: October 26—November 13, 2024
Cost: $3899 USD per person
More details at: info@himalayajourney.com or call us at (+1) 253-289-9166 (USA/Canada), (+61) 02 8003 5630 (Australia) or (+44) 020 3239 2917 (UK).
Journey Highlights:
- Lectures on Tibetan and Sherpa culture from expert guides from Nepal and the US
- Experiencing Sherpa culture
- Stunning Himalaya Mountain views each day
- Exploring Tengboche, the largest Buddhist monastery in the South Everest Region
- Seeing the Khumbu Glacier
- The amazing panoramic view at Everest Base Camp
- Kala Patthar, offering perhaps the best view anywhere in the Himalaya
This is a journey for people who:
- Want to get the MOST out of a trek through the Everest Region
- Want to trek up to Everest Base Camp with expert guides
- Want to have a trained Wilderness First Responder with them
- Want to learn more about the climbing history of Everest
- Want to trek at a slower pace, allowing for more altitude acclimatization
- Want to have an all-inclusive journey that includes meals, hotels and domestic flights
- Want to make sure that their guides and porters are being paid well and being taken care of
This invite-only journey will begin on October 26, 2024 in Kathmandu, the capital city of Nepal. We will start by staying the night in the elegant Nepali Ghar Hotel. We will have a nice dinner together where each member can introduce themselves. The day after arriving in Kathmandu (October 27), we will finish some of the logistics for our trek in Kathmandu before taking a 1 1/2 hour bus ride to the town of Dhulikhel. There, we will stay at the Himalaya Drishya Hotel.
On October 28, we will get up early to take a 3 hour bus ride to the town of Ramechhap. All flights to the Everest Region of Nepal for the autumn 2024 season will be out of the Ramechhap Airport. We will then take the 20 minute flight from Ramechhap to Lukla, the starting point of the Everest Base Camp Trek. After meeting up with our porters in Lukla, we will begin our epic trek! There will be stunning mountain views along most of the trek. We will take plenty of rests for tea and pictures. From Lukla, we will work our way along the main trekking route to the village of Phakding and up to Namche Bazaar. Namche is the unofficial Sherpa Capital of the Himalaya. Namche sits at the base of Mt Kongde Ri (6187m/20,299 feet) and Mt Thamserku (6608m/21,680 feet). It is one of the most picturesque villages in the world. We will spend two nights exploring Namche and the small villages nearby (or take a rest day and just relax while drinking coffee and eating some of the amazing pastries the village has!).
From Namche, we will enter into the heart of the Himalaya Mountains. We will trek our way up to the Tengboche, home to the most sacred temple in the south Everest region. After a night in Tengboche, we will trek another 4 hours up to Dingboche, elevation 4410m/14,465 feet. To better acclimatize, we will stay two nights in Dingboche. On our full day in this stunning village, you can chose to rest and relax or take a short hike above the village. This entire area is surrounded by towering, glacier covered peaks. Our next destination will be Lobuche. After a night there, we will trek on to Gorak Shep, the last village before Everest Base Camp.
Next, we will trek on to the South Face Everest Base Camp! While in the area, we will make the short, but challenging trek, up to Kala Patthar, a rocky outcrop that is along the south ridge of Mt Pumori, that sits at nearly 5650m/18,535 feet. This high point of our trek offers one of the best panoramic views anywhere in the Himalaya. From here, you can see Everest, the West Shoulder, Nuptse (21st highest) and Changtse (44th highest) along with the Khumbu Glacier. This will be a fantastic day!
After our time in the Everest Base Camp Region, we will begin the trek back to Namche Bazaar and Lukla. Views of the iconic peak of Ama Dablam will be with us for much of this portion. From Lukla, we will make the short flight back to Kathmandu. We have an extra day built into our itinerary in case of any unexpected delays. If we don't need to use that contingency day during the trek, we will either have an extra full day in Namche Bazaar on the trek down or in Kathmandu. Our journey will conclude in Kathmandu on the morning of November 13, 2024. We recommend booking tickets or your journey home no earlier than November 14, with November 15 being an even better option.
This will be a trekking journey and not an overland journey. Besides going to and from the airport, this journey will be completed on foot. Lead Guide Jamin "Lobsang" York is trained as a Wilderness First Responder through the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS). He will be checking on each client throughout the trek to make sure they are healthy, strong and safe. This will be a well-supported trek. Joining Jamin will be two expert, English-speaking, Sherpa trekking guides, along with 6 to 8 porters. You will only need to carry a lightweight day pack containing a coat, snacks, water and your camera/cell phone. The porters will carry other gear and clothing. No technical mountain climbing is required for this trek.
This invite-only trek has a limited number of places and WILL fill quickly. To join this trek, or for more information, contact us at: info@himalayajourney.com or call us at (+1) 253-289-9166 (USA/Canada), (+61) 02 8003 5630 (Australia) or (+44) 020 3239 2917 (UK).
October 2024 Nepal Everest Base Camp Trek
Dates: October 26—November 13, 2024
NOTE: Itinerary subject to change due to weather or other circumstances beyond our control. We have added a contingency day to the trek in case of any unexpected/unlikely weather or other delays.Trekking times listed do not include rest or meal stops.
Day 1 October 26 Arrive in Kathmandu: We will be staying in the comfortable and modern Nepali Ghar Hotel in a central part of Kathmandu's Thamel District. We will have a welcome dinner where we will introduce ourselves.
Day 2 October 27 Prep Day and Drive to Dhulikhel: In the morning after breakfast, we will begin preparing for our trek. After lunch, we will take a 90 minute (approximate) bus ride from Kathmandu to Dhulikhel. There, we will stay at the Himalaya Drishya Resort.
Day 3 October 28 Dhulikhel – Ramechhap — Lukla — Phakding: In the very early morning, we will take a 3 hour bus ride from Dhulikhel to Ramechhap Airport. For the 2024 Everest Season, all flights to Lukla will be out of Ramechhap and not Kathmandu. From Ramechhap, we will then take a 20 minute flight to Lukla. From Lukla, elevation 2860m/9380ft, we will meet up with our porters and begin our Everest adventure! The first leg of our trek will take us to Phakding, elevation 2610m/8560 feet. This section is easy, is mostly downhill and will take approximately 3 hours to complete. The distance from Lukla to Phakding is approximately 8 kilometers / 5 miles.
Day 4 October 29 Phakding — Namche: The trek today will lead us from Phakding up to the village of Namche Bazaar. Namche is the unofficial Sherpa capital, and sits in a stunning cirque surrounded by towering snow-capped peaks. The trek from Phakding to Namche, elevation 3440m/11,285 feet, is difficult and will require 5 to 6 hours of trekking time to reach. Namche is a fascinating place and is the largest village in the Everest Region. We will stay two nights in a comfortable guesthouse in Namche, while both acclimatizing and exploring. The distance from Phakding to Namche is about 11.5 kilometers / 7.2 miles.
Day 5 October 30 Namche Rest Day: After breakfast, we will take a half day trek (about 4 hours) around the Namche region going to the Everest View Hotel. Along the way, we will get a view of Nuptse, Ama Dablam and Everest. We will return to Namche with plenty of time to wander the fun streets of Namche. For those that wish to just rest this day, you can choose to do that too!
Day 6 October 31 Namche —Tengboche: This day we will set out for the monastery village of Tengboche, elevation 3867m/12,687 feet. This section of our trek, is moderately difficult. It will take us between 4 and 4.5 hours to complete the 9.5 kilometer / 6 mile long section. There are spectacular mountain views along the way. In Tengboche, there is the largest Buddhist monastery in the south Everest region. Depending on what time we arrive, we may be able to experience a prayer time by the local monks. In Tengboche, we typically stay at the Hotel Himalayan.
Day 7 November 1 Tengboche — Dingboche: From Tengboche, we will continue up to the picturesque village of Dingboche, elevation 4410m/14,470 feet. This day offers epic views of Ama Dablam, Lhotse and Island Peak. This moderately difficult trekking day will cover 10.5 kilometers / 6.6 miles and will take about 4 to 4.5 hours of trekking time to complete.
Day 8 November 2 Dingboche Rest Day: Today we will take a much earned rest day in Dingboche. The village has amazing mountain views and a few decent coffee and bakeries to spend time at. For those that want to, you can take a short day hike above the village
Day 9 November 3 Dingboche — Lobuche: Lobuche, elevation 4910m/16,100 feet, is the second highest village along the Everest Base Camp Trek. This section of trek continues to offer spectacular views of towering glacier-covered peaks, including Lhotse, the world's 4th highest peak. This section of trek covers 8 kilometers / 5 miles. The first half is relatively easy (but, is anything easy at 4500 meters/14,500 feet?), but the second half is moderately difficult with more elevation gain. From the village of Lobuche, Pumori, rising to over 7100m/23,000 feet can be seen nearby.
Day 10 November 4 Lobuche — Gorak Shep and Kala Patthar: This difficult day will be the hardest of the trek. The distance from Lobuche to Gorak Shep, the last and highest village along the Everest Base Camp Trek, is not particularly far at 4.7 kilometers / 2.9 miles. However, at elevations above 5000 meters / 16,400 feet, the altitude can be challenging. Breathtaking views follow us all along this section of the trek. Once we check into our guesthouse at Gorak Shep, elevation 5125 meters/16,814 feet, we will rest a while and get some lunch.
After a short rest time, we will set out for Kala Patthar. From Gorak Shep, Kala Patthar is a further 2 kilometers / 1.3 miles and an additional 475 meters / 1550 feet of altitude gain. This section is very difficult, however, I promise that the view of the top will be absolutely worth it! The view from the top is regarded as one of the BEST panoramic mountain views on the planet! We will time it to make this 2 1/2 hour climb so that we can watch the sunset on Mt Everest. Everest will look so close that it looks like we can start climbing it right from where we are standing. After watching the sunset, we will hike back down to Gorak Shep, which will take about 30 to 45 minutes.
Day 11 November 5 Gorak Shep — Everest Base Camp—Lobuche: After an early breakfast, we will set out to Everest Base Camp, elevation 5356m/17,600 feet. The distance from Gorak Shep to Everest Base Camp is about 3.7 miles / 2.3 miles. At Everest Base Camp, we will be standing on the infamous Khumbu Glacier, surrounded by the world's highest peaks. From Everest Base Camp, we will trek back down to Lobuche, elevation 4910m/16,105 feet, and begin our journey back to Kathmandu. Today will be a difficult trekking day. The total amount of trekking this day will be around 7 or 8 hours and cover around 12 kilometers / 7.5 miles. After today, you can boast that you have trekked up to Everest Base Camp!
Day 12 November 6 Lobuche — Dingboche: After getting a little bit of a later start, we will trek down to Dingboche, elevation 4410m/14,465. Today’s trek is relatively easy (haha, especially after the previous two days) and will take around 3 hours to complete. This section of trek covers 8 kilometers / 5 miles. We will get great views of Ama Dablam, one of the most iconic peaks in the Himalaya.
Day 13 November 7 Dingboche — Tengboche: In the morning, we will depart Dingboche for Tengboche. In Tengboche, we will visit Tengboche Monastery, the most sacred Buddhist site in the Everest Region. This moderately difficult trekking day will cover 10.5 kilometers / 6.6 miles and will take about 4 to 5 hours of trekking time to complete.
Day 14 November 8 Tengboche – Namche Bazaar: From Tengboche, we will return to the Sherpa capital of Namche Bazaar. Compared to the places we’ve been, Namche will seem like a big city! The trek to Namche is only moderately difficult and will take about 4 hour to complete the 9.5 kilometer / 6 mile long section. We will arrive in Namche with plenty of time to do some souvenir shopping, get a pastry and enjoy the amazing scenery! The elevation of Namche Bazaar is 3440m/11,285 feet.
Day 15 November 9 Namche Bazaar – Phakding: After a later start, we will trek down to the village of Phakding, elevation 2610m/8560 feet. The trek, mostly through evergreen forests, will cover approximately 8 kilometers / 5 miles and will take about 3.5 to 4 hours to complete.
Day 16 November 10 Phakding – Lukla: We will get another later start in the morning and trek the remaining distance back to the village of Lukla, located approximately 8 kilometers / 5 miles. This section of the trek is only moderately difficult and should take about 4 hours to complete.
Day 17 November 11 Lukla – Ramechhap and drive to Kathmandu: In the morning we will take the short flight back to Ramechhap. From there, we will make the 4 1/2 hour drive back to Kathmandu.
Day 18 November 12 Depart Kathmandu: After breakfast, we will say goodbye. You are free to stay in Kathmandu and explore on your own or begin your journey back home.
Day 19: November 13 NOTE: There is a contingency day built into the trek due to any unlikely delays. If this day is not used on the trek, we may include an extra day in Namche Bazaar on the way down, or have an extra night in Dhulikhel or Kathmandu at the end of the journey. We recommend booking your journey back to your home country no earlier than November 14, with November 15 being an even better option.
October 2024 Nepal Everest Base Camp Trek
Dates: October 26 – November 13, 2024
The cost per person is $3899 USD. Send us an email at info@himalayajourney.com to apply for this professionally-guided trek or for any questions you may have.
Included in the price:
- All accommodations, based on double occupancy**
- All meals from dinner on October 26 until breakfast on November 13
- Entrance fees to Tengboche Monastery
- Airport drop-off and pickup for our flight to/from Ramechhap
- Roundtrip flight from Ramechhap to Lukla
- Porters (1 porter for 2 trekkers)++
- Expert Nepali Sherpa and American guides
- Trained Wilderness First Responder
- All trekking permits
- Special extras along the trek!!
**Single room supplement available for the nights in Kathmandu and Dhulikhel, but cannot be guaranteed along the trek. If you would like a single room during the trek, we will do our best to arrange it once we arrive at each village and will let you know what the extra cost is.
++Each porter will carry 20kgs total or 10kg for each person. Taking care of our porters is extremely important to us. If you plan to bring MORE than 10kg along the trek, you will need to pay extra to have your own individual porter.
Everest Base Camp Trek Packing List: Go to this link for a recommended packing list.
Not included in the price:
- Passport and Nepal visa fees (visa can be obtained upon arrival for $50 USD for 30 days)
- International airfare to and from Kathmandu, Nepal
- Transport to and from Kathmandu International Airport
- Travel vaccinations
- Excess baggage fees on flight to/from Lukla
- Travel and rescue insurance (required)
- Travel expenses along the trek, including internet ($2 USD to $5 USD/hour), phone calls, laundry, snacks, beverages, showers ($3 to $5/shower), bottled or boiled water ($1 to $4/liter), battery charging ($3to $6/hour for a device or around $10-$12 for a power bank), additional porters (up to $400 for an extra porter), personal clothing and trekking gear, sleeping bag and other similar items.
- Gratuities to the local guides and porters
- Extra days to the trek caused from delays due to bad weather/Force Majeure/circumstances beyond our control
Each participant will be sent a list of required and recommended clothing and gear for the trek that they will be responsible for.
Accommodations: For the nights in Kathmandu, we will stay at the elegant Nepali Ghar Hotel. Along the trek, we will be staying in guesthouses. Remember, there are NO ROADS in this area. Everything is packed in by porters. Guesthouses in the larger villages of Phakding, Namche and Lobuche are quite nice and comfortable and typically have in-room bathrooms. However, the guesthouses in the smaller villages are VERY BASIC. Most of the time, bathrooms will be shared and not in-room. Showers (which cost extra) will be in a separate area, usually detached from the guesthouse. Though the Everest Region is well-known, Nepal is very much an impoverished, developing nation. Do not expect luxury accommodations along the trek.
Meals: During this trek, we will be eating a combination of Western, Nepali and Sherpa cuisine. Sherpa migrated to Nepal from the Kham region of Tibet about 600 years ago. Their diet is very similar to Tibetans, consisting of momo (vegetarian or meat filled dumplings), yak/beef dishes, potatoes and noodle dishes. Many of the guesthouses along the trek offer both meat and vegetarian options including pizza, sandwiches, soup, curry, lentils, yak burgers, and boiled vegetables. You will be responsible to bring your own snacks for the trek. If you have any food allergies or dietary restrictions, please let us know so we can plan accordingly.
Eligibility: Participants must be in good health and be able to complete this trek on foot. There are no roads in this region and horse riding is NOT an option. This journey will include 12 to 14 days of trekking. Some days are easy and will only take 3 hours of trekking to complete (not including break times). Some days are moderate and will take around 5 hours to complete (not including break times). A few days will be challenging and take over 7 hours to complete (not including break times). Porters are included in the journey price. You will only be carrying a lightweight personal backpack that should only include a coat, gloves, hat, snacks, water and your camera/cell phone. Ascent will be slow and gradual. We purposefully made this itinerary with altitude acclimatization in mind. This trek is not recommended for those who have severe asthma, heart condition, or have no outdoor experience.
Responsible Tourism: Himalaya Journey is a joint Tibetan, Nepali and American venture with all of our staff being from the Himalaya. All of our guides and drivers are local people who have been working in tourism for many years.
Take a moment to read about us and why ethical tourism in the Himalaya is so important to us: Why Use Us?
Jamin “Lobsang” York lived full-time on the Tibetan Plateau for nearly 15 years working in education, community development and tourism. In addition to traveling some 400,000 kilometers overland across Tibet, Jamin has led and arranged hundreds of tours across Tibet and the Himalayan regions of Ladakh (India), Bhutan and Nepal. He has vast trekking experience across the Himalaya in Tibet and Nepal. Jamin’s expert knowledge on Tibetan culture, history and religion has been put to use for The Discovery Channel, Animal Planet, BBC, Frommer’s Travel Guides, Fodor’s Guidebooks, Rough Guides, DK Eyewitness Travel and Lonely Planet Guidebooks. He also also climbed numerous peaks in the Himalaya of Tibet and Nepal, as well as the Cascade Range in the US. Jamin will be giving detailed lectures on Himalayan culture and history throughout this journey and will share personal stories of his 15 years living in the Himalaya Mountains.
Jamin is the owner of Himalaya Journey and serves as the lead guide on professionally-led journeys, treks and photography tours through Tibet, India, Bhutan and Nepal. His goal is to help clients understand, appreciate, and respect the people and cultures they photograph and explore. Jamin is certified as a Wilderness First Responder from NOLS Wilderness Medicine. He is originally from the Seattle area of Washington State in the US.
Independent reviews of Himalaya Journey can be found on our official Facebook Page in the following links:
Himalaya Journey Facebook Reviews
Himalaya Journey Trip Advisor Reviews
I had the good fortune of joining the Kham Adventure in eastern Tibet. The two week journey took us through Tibet's cultural heartland. Lead guides Jamin and Gonkho did a fantastic job in giving us insight into the region and made the entire journey enjoyable. Himalaya Journey is a great travel and adventure outfit! Responsive, considerate and most importantly conscientious and responsible in the areas whey they work. I highly recommend the Kham Journey and would not hesitate to take another trip with them!
Rachna—Thailand—July 2019
10/10 experience with Himalaya Journey! Highly recommend Himalaya Journey whether traveling solo, with a family, or group. I organized a three week group trip from the US to Nepal with Himalaya Journey and will absolutely utilize their services again. Ashok was always quick to respond to questions during planning phase, effortlessly made adjustments to our itinerary based on our goals/needs, and organized a seamless and stress free trip! Highly recommend Himalaya Journey and will definitely utilize their services when I organize my next group trip.
David—USA—June 2019
My experience with Himalaya Journey was absolutely phenomenal. We had a three week trip and after experiencing some unexpected, but necessary, changes to the original trip plan, our guide readjusted our trip without taking away any of the value and quality with the things we did. During this trip, we visited Kathmandu, the historic city of Bhaktapur, Pohkara, and the Chitwan National Park. We also did a five day trek to Annapurna Base Camp in which we were given the best guide on the mountain! Both of our guides were extremely friendly, knowledgeable, and helpful throughout the trip and it was very clear that they wanted nothing but the best for us during our stay in Nepal. I highly recommend traveling with Himalaya Journey, they introduced me to Nepal in the most beautiful way and I cannot wait to go back and visit one day.
Kiana—USA—June 2019
I’m home in London – bleary eyed and a bit jet lagged, but very happy to have been well looked after on my trip - overland from Lhasa to Kathmandu. All the connections, arrangements, permits, guide, driver and fellow travelers were very amiable, and the tour ran like clockwork to a succession of amazing locations…so I’m very pleased.
Very best wishes – I hope that we can do business again sometime.
I absolutely loved this tour and Himalaya Journey. They definitely know what they're doing. Not only did we get to see things that aren't available on most other tours, it was two days longer than most tours. On top of that, they do the tour from Lhasa to Kathmandu, rather than the other way around. This is very important, because coming from Kathmandu, you go from 1,300 meters elevation to the 5,050 high Everest Base Camp in one or two days. This is NOT enough time to acclimate to such high altitudes. Doing the journey from Lhasa provides a gradual climb, with time for the body to adjust. In addition, this is a small group tour (just eight people on ours), so there is a high level of personal and individual interaction. Highly, highly recommended for anyone who has ever dreamed of going to Tibet.
Barbara—USA—April 2019
I just got back from an amazing trip to Tibet and Bhutan, with a quick stop in Nepal in between. I've been to over 90 countries, and this was unquestionably one of the best experiences I've ever had; I can't say enough good things about Jamin York, Ashok Shahi and the whole team at Himalaya Journey.
I should note upfront that I almost always travel independently, and was a bit concerned when I realized in my planning for this trip that you simply can't go to Tibet and Bhutan without the involvement of some sort of tour company. I did a lot of research before settling on Himalaya Journey, and I'm incredibly glad that I did. Jamin worked with me to custom design an itinerary that would get me and my travel partner to all of the places that we most wanted to see in Tibet - and provided loads of helpful input on spots that we might want to add or delete from the trip given our various interests and constraints. When I later decided that I might want to add Bhutan to the trip, Ashok entered the picture and I was able to seamlessly add that country on to my itinerary.
Once we arrived in Tibet, we were delighted to meet Rinzin, our knowledgeable and incredibly diligent guide (as well as our endlessly cheerful driver, Lhapa). As we proceeded from the Lhasa area down to EBC and the Nepali border, any concerns I may have had about a guided tour dissipated; indeed, even if it had been possible, our experience would have been far less satisfying and meaningful absent everything Rinzin brought to the trip. We also were able to observe what our very personalized Tibet experience was like in comparison to the cookie-cutter itineraries of the large group tours we sometimes encountered...reinforcing our appreciation for the approach that Himalaya Journey takes.
When we reached Nepal, any angst regarding that potentially tricky border crossing was completely removed by the Himalaya Journey staff on both sides of the border (Ashok himself came all the way up from Kathmandu to shepherd us across the Himalaya). I then headed on to Bhutan, where I was met by another fantastic team led by Tika, an exceptionally amiable and well-versed guide. Again, it was easy to distinguish between the very personalized experience I was having in Bhutan and the more cookie-cutter itineraries that I would encounter from time to time with larger tour groups. It was clear that the quality and depth of the Himalaya Journey experience was consistent in all three of the countries that I visited despite the fact that the nations themselves are so different.
In sum, I would strongly recommend Himalaya Journey to anyone considering a visit to any of these countries. Namaste and Tashi Delek!
Jamin is incredibly experienced and charismatic. He leads from the heart and speaks from his own, very unique, personal experience. It was important for us to know that our visit was going to benefit the people of Tibet and we were delighted to find out that Jamin cares about that very much. Jamin’s guides, Nyima Dolma and Jamyang in Tibet and Ashok in Kathmandu were also so knowledgable and simply amazing with their kindness and attentiveness. We feel so happy and honoured to have met them.
There were many highlights on this trip, from experiencing the holy city of Lhasa to finally seeing Everest (I’m obsessed with all things Everest) but mostly we loved experiencing people’s kindness and hospitality. I truly can’t wait to travel with Himalaya Journey once again and would recommend travelling with them in a heartbeat.
We miss you Jamin & everyone at Himalaya Journey!
Lucia—Italy—May 2018
Almost without exception, travels have both an objective and certain expectations that need be met for the outcome to be judged successful. For me a ‘journey’ implies somewhat more than this….there is a sense of challenging the unknown, including one’s own inner self. And then if you add to ‘journey’ the word ‘Himalaya’, one of the world’s most majestic and inspiring regions with landscapes that are often beyond belief, then you have something very, very special indeed.
Prior to October 2016 I had travelled solo, with a guide and transportation, on all my journeys, including the Tibetan Autonomous Region (TAR), giving me the flexibility and freedom to stop at will, modify plans and so on. But having vowed to go back to the far west of the TAR (Ngari) to do the kora of Mount Kailash and visit the Guge Kingdom I was faced with exorbitant costs if travelling alone. I knew I had to find an alternative, and that alternative proved to be Himalaya Journey.
I had been in touch with Jamin York, Himalaya Journey’s Owner and Lead Guide, several times previously with general questions about travelling in ‘Greater Tibet’ and so it somehow seemed natural to approach him regarding making my Kailash dream materialize. One thing led to another and by the time 2015 melted into 2016 I was committed to joining Jamin’s small (10 person) group embarking on a 23-day journey in October which would take us across the TAR from Lhasa slowly westwards via Everest and Shishapangma Base Camps to Lake Manasarovar, Mount Kailash and the Guge Kingdom, and then back…a total land journey of around 4,000km.
My initial concerns about being in a group and having to keep to a strict schedule proved groundless. Jamin was only too willing to stop for sudden photo ops—the appearance of a Tibetan fox, a glorious view, a nomad encampment and so on. He also actively encouraged us to explore on our own when the itinerary permitted: in my case that meant spending special moments wandering through the Barkor in Lhasa and watching sunrise on the shore of Manasarovar.Only once were we ‘chivvied’ in any sense, and that was during the Kailash kora on top of the Drolma-la. Jamin, with his vast experience of the mountains, was aware not only of the time constraints that day but more importantly that staying too long at that altitude (5,630m/ around 18,400’) was not to be recommended.
From a practical standpoint, everything throughout the journey was seamlessly arranged: we travelled in a small bus which gave us space to spread out and with a driver whose skills made going over 5,000m+ high passes again and again seem effortless! The hotels and guest houses, especially once we got beyond Lhasa, Gyantse and Shigatse, were always the best available: I had paid a single room supplement, fully expecting to have to share in these remote areas, so I was delighted that there were only two nights on which I could not have some much appreciated privacy. The meals were generally of a high standard, and even in Ngari Jamin managed to rustle something tasty up for us or produce snack bars and packets of instant oatmeal out of his proverbial hat.
What also emerged strongly throughout our journey was Jamin’s love for and commitment to Tibet and its people, not to mention his in-depth knowledge.His assistant on our journey, Nordrup, was himself Tibetan; we frequented Tibetan-owned restaurants, hotels and guesthouses whenever possible; and Jamin, fluent in Tibetan as well as Mandarin, regaled us while we were on the road with both incidents from Tibetan history and his own personal experiences of living there.
It was an unforgettable journey…indeed, although I left Tibet many weeks ago now, my journey is still on-going as I look back at my photos and notebook and try to weave it all into a story on my laptop.
I have the greatest respect and admiration for Jamin both as a person and journey-leader and have no reservations at all in recommending him and his company. Indeed, I hope to join him again in the future on a journey to Ladakh, ‘Little Tibet’: I believe that is the strongest recommendation of all.
Lesley—UK—October 2016
The trip far exceeded my expectations and I will definitely use Himalaya Journey again. I highly recommend Himalaya Journey to others who want to experience this hauntingly beautiful place called Tibet!
Sue—USA—October 2016
I’d have to use a ridiculous number of superlatives to honestly describe the quality of my recent journey with Jamin York and Himalaya Journey. In the interest of being believable, I’ll try to rein it in, but it will be a task I’m not sure I can manage! For me, this was a journey that I (and a couple friends) have spent many years and two failed attempts trying to accomplish. The permits were just not to be had, and we were beginning to feel that the idea must be abandoned. Then we discovered Jamin’s excellent website and, after a number of emails with him, began to feel confident that it could become a reality. I just completed a 23-day journey, led by Jamin and his wonderful guide Ngodup, that not only fulfilled my hope to complete the kora of Mt. Kailash and a visit to the lost Guge Kingdom, but took us across the length of the Tibetan Himalaya from Everest Base Camp to nearly the Indian border in far west Tibet. He even threw in Shishapangma Base Camp at the request of our group.
Each day, every step of the way, revealed such wondrous gifts, some expected and others a complete surprise. This journey, and the itinerary designed by Jamin and Ngodup, had it all, from monasteries and lost citadels, to landscapes beyond imagination: mountains, badlands, sand dunes, vast plateaus, and sacred lakes. And then there were our “Tibet 101” talks: Jamin and Ngodup each have a deep and personal knowledge which was shared each day as we traveled or walked; they taught us so much about the culture, geology, and history of Tibet and its people; and each shared many personal stories as well. Jamin has a heartfelt love for the Tibetan people that was evident in every way. Jamin cares genuinely and deeply about the quality of the experience his journeys provide, and he makes it his responsibility to see that both the physical and emotional needs of his travelers are met. His attention to detail in all matters was clear to see. I have never before joined a group that was not organized by myself, and I have to say that this was a pleasant surprise. I never felt that we were being herded around and there was, for the most part, enough flexibility in the days and the schedule to allow personal time and space.
I imagine that every traveler in our group felt “heard” and “seen” and that his or her unique expectations for this journey had been fulfilled. I can say that for me, the experience was transcendent. I would recommend Jamin’s Himalaya Journey without reservation to anyone wanting to travel in Tibet – or anywhere he offers to travel!
Karla—USA—October 2016
Jamin York leads a fantastic trip beyond the usual (and including!) sites of Lhasa. He takes great pains to preview routes, lodging and restaurants in person and is careful to limit his group to a comfortable ten. His attention to detail has him preparing contingency plans for any circumstance he can think of. His knowledge of the Chinese and Tibetan languages eased our way through the expected and unexpected. Nothing is sugar-coated as the journey can be rough and uncomfortable at times, but if there was comfort in the area, we had it! Jamin also has the uncanny ability to arrange for perfect weather and the tastiest of Tibetan cuisine.
On advance request he added a side trip to Shishapangma Base Camp which ended up being a popular highlight on a stunning day. The extension to the lost citadel of the Guge Kingdom was the holy grail of photographic opportunities. On second thought, most of the trip was like this!
Even though it can be close to impossible to deviate from “The Plan” due to restrictions, Jamin and Nordrup facilitated spontaneous interactions with Tibetans along the way, from the barley harvesters and millers to the nomads and their yaks.
Nancy—USA—October 2016
Our safety, health, and happiness were always a top priority and Jamin is a top notch tour leader in every sense of the word. I can’t imagine a better person in this role!
I took my dream trip to Tibet and Mt. Everest with Jamin and Himalaya Journey this April. From the minute we landed in Lhasa to the birthday banquet in a Tibetan home restaurant on the last day, his staff and friends surrounded us like a big family. He is truly their brother.
The photography time was not just for the magnificent and mystified monasteries. It included Himalaya mountain ranges, glaciers, rivers, and villages, etc. We even stopped by a farming field one time and participated in their plowing and seeding activities.
The Mt. Everest sunrise photo experience was a well thought-out plan. Spending the night before in a nearby Tibetan home and mingling with the entire family was quite an experience. We played hide and seek with the neighboring children on the street. We chatted with village shepherds in the field herding their sheep home and showing off their baby sheep. When we headed out to catch the sunrise, the full moon lit up the entire village.
Jamin is a natural when it comes to telling stories. He preps us on the history, religion, culture and politics of Tibet. But what really connects us to this land and its people are his stories of his Tibetan friends, their struggles and triumphs. We also engaged in questioning and debating with gusto, Sera Monastery monk style, ha, ha, ha.
Ruth—USA/Taiwan—April 2016
I highly recommend travelling with Jamin and his Himalaya Journey team to Tibet. He cares about Tibetans and and he cares about Tibet, a country which has an inherent fascination for many. Jamin has lived in Tibet for many years and has visited the iconic attractions on numerous occasions. He willingly shares his knowledge and insights about their history and cultural significance. Despite his familiarity he brings a fresh approach and willingness to engage. His team are a credit to him, particularly the exuberant Jampa. His staff member Woaber helped me ensure Lhasa has forever a place in my heart and …… our bus driver was safe and considerate. And let’s not forget the energetic Will, assistant guide on this trip. I didn’t expect to eat as well as I did when visiting Tibet nor did I expect to experience the comfort in the hotels that were used. These aspects were of course a pleasant surprise. The memories of this trip from Lhasa to Everest base camp will be long lasting and thought provoking.
Richard—UK—April 2016
I’ve been a follower of Jamin on Instagram since 2013. Initially, it was my mom’s dream to see Mt Everest, but ended up doing this trip on my own because I knew that Jamin was a professional, trust worthy expert on Tibet. I usually never join small group tours, as I always travel on my own. But, joining this journey made me realize that not all group tours are the same after all. I met people on this journey that I will call my friends for life. Jamin is indeed the best travel coordinator that I have ever met. I went to Tibet to just see Mt Everest, but I came back home not just with great photos and videos, but with a person I can always look up to who is making a huge impact in Tibet by promoting and showing it to the world in an ethical way. I also work in the travel industry, but am still quite young. I am not sure if I can ever be quite like Jamin who does this business not just to make money for himself, but to help the Tibetan people in every possible way he can. He is an inspiration. I finally found my hero in this crazy competitive travel industry.
Angely from Access Tours and Travels—Phillippines—April 2016
