Cost . . .

Cost: $33,000 P/P

Please inquire about prices in your local currency. We accept payment in £GBP/ €EUROS/ $AUD

Deposit: $4,000 P/P

2024 Expedition Departures . . .

Autumn 2025

25th August - 5th October (6 spots)

WHAT'S INCLUDED ...

• IFMGA/NNMGA certified Guide leader

• $1000 Individual tip pool. (This is not a summit bonus tip) Tip pool will be fairly distributed among all Namas staff members. (Guides, porters, drivers, hotel security and staff). Guest may personally hand in extra tips to our guides and porters)

• Namas Branded merchandise (Down Jacket, Cap, Buff)

• 1:1 Sherpa/client ratio. Additional Supporting Guides will be allocated based on climbing members number.

• Head chef and kitchen helpers (Helpers increase with the number in climbing team members)

• 2 nights before the expedition and 1 day after the expedition. Hotel in Kathmandu. (Should clients return early from their expedition, clients will be responsible for their extra Kathmandu hotel bookings)

• All trekking and climbing permits (Chinese government climbing permits)

• All internal-local transportation to and from the trekking trail head. Tibet and Kathmandu

• Flights Lhasha - Kathmandu - Lhasha

• Expedition tents, single tents in Base Camps and shared in higher camps Brands Salewa, Mountain Hardwear, Samaya equipment, Kailas

• 4 Oxygen Bottles

• 60 kgs personal weight

• Freezed dried meals during camping days (Chicken, mushroom, vegan options etc)

• Chocolate, energy bars, hydration pills, biscuits, canned foods, nuts

• Burners and expedition equipment

• Walkie-talkie/ Satellite phone

• Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner on trek and expedition days.

• Lodge accommodation during the trek

• Porters per guest

• Arrival pick-up and departure

• Basic First aid kit

• Welcome/Farewell leave Dinner

WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED ...

• Visas and travel insurance

• Summit Bonus Tip ($1200 - $1500 P/P)

• Entertainment and food ( Kathmandu )

• Bottled drinks and beverages

• Evacuation (will be done in your account)

• Tips (Service Charge in Hotel and Restaurants are included)

• Single supplement Charges

• Laundry, Phone services, Personal expenditure transactions

• Optional trips

• Tea breaks, chocolates or other snacks and any meals beside breakfast, lunch and dinner.

• Delay and cancellation because of natural phenomenon

• International flights to Kathmandu

Our Expedition Leaders and Guiding team: . . .

Our selected climbing team members who have been climbing together for the past 8 years will be the backbone of our Everest expedition-leading team. This team will be responsible for strategizing, planning, organization, and climbing Mount Everest. Our team is well known for making the well-being of our client’s number one priority. Our guiding team will have extensive past experience in leading Mount Everest, Makalu, Manaslu, G2, Baruntse, Himlung Himal, Ama Dablam, Annapurna IV , and several other peaks in Nepal and abroad expeditions.

Our guides are certified team professionals who are trained and assessed through the International Federation of Mountain Guides Associations (IFMGA) and the Nepal Mountaineering Association (NNMGA). Highly skilled and competent team members with guiding effectively role are to provide a dedicated level of security to you during the expedition. Our guide's contribution is predominantly around making decisions to keep you safe and healthy and to avoid mishaps. Their experience is based solely on years of first-hand experience on the mountain and leading several expeditions with Namas teams. Our team consists of local members, who have tons of experience and understanding of both worlds bringing in a lot of value when working together, implementing effective strategies, and planning backup contingency plans in case of setbacks during our expedition. These are world-class climbers and guides who are knowledgeable, kind, strong, experienced, respectful, and very proficient. We provide a 1:1 Sherpa/Guide ratio resulting in more support and backup for your summit attempt and therefore a greater safety margin and the chance of success.

This vast amount of organizational and logistical expertise, combined with a commitment to provide the best possible services to ensure safety and success, makes Namas Expedition the premier guiding company in Makalu. All members on the team will have an equal opportunity and dedicated support for safely climbing to the summit and returning to base camp. All our client climbing members enjoying the experience is a high priority, and our climbers can rest assured to have a great time throughout. You should really consider joining our Sherpa dance group, not only are they amazing at guiding and taking care of you but also breaking some amazing dance moves. We might just have a competition.

If you are serious about being successful on an ascent of the world’s fifth highest mountain—and you want an environment that gives you the best chance of attaining that goal in a relaxed team atmosphere or private expedition—then Namas Expedition is a perfect choice. Climbers need to have a solid base of experience and proven climbing skills to qualify for this program. If you are unsure, please feel free to discuss your experience level with us.

BASE CAMP SET UP . . .

Namas HQ stations will be built at Cho-Oyu base camp and at advanced base camp for the duration of the expediton. This will be your home for the next 28 days. So, we will focus on making your stay here a comfortable and adventurous one.

Individual Tents

We provide individual camps for each climbers here so that they have their own personal space, store climbing gears and sleep. We will make your personal sopace as cozy and comfortable.

Guide and Sherpa Team tents

Our Guides and Sherpa team will have their own climbing tents.

Communication/media crew tents

We will have one dedicated media and communication tents set up for all our communication to safely run our expedition. All our radions, phones, solar panels, charging station and any media crew will be stationed here. Our team will be constantly in touch with meterologist and team members in Nepal and abroad to stay updated with the latest weather patters.

GPS will be provided to the team for active tracking of the expedition.

Kitchen/Dining tents

We will have our own Kitchen set up here. Head chef will prepare all the delicacies full of nutrition and taste to help you get the right nutrition.

Shower and toilet

Toilets are setup for all teams members to use. All the human waster are collected in a barrel. They are properly sealed and sent down the valley to be dumped in a proper dumping site.

Showers are also set up for all team members to use. Hot shower is provided with the use of propane gas and members can shower anytime they wish to.

Storage tents

All expedition food supplies, extra gears, O2 supplies are stored here.

SKILLS REQUIRED . . .

Any climbers who is serious and dedicated to climb to the top of the world. You will need your fitness and climbing skills to be able to look after yourself for long hours during the climb according to terrains. Climbing in the "Death Zone" is no easy feat, this is serious climbing. You should be able to take care of yourself even during the though climb session, eating well and staying hydrated from the start of the expedition, making sure your gears are in check and functional during the climb. Your Sherpa expedition leader will guide and motivate you throughout but a lot of the effort lies within your ability to climb and you will be liable to yourself. The more experience you have rock climbing tougher rotes in different types of rock the better it is for you to get familiar with climbing and adjusting during the expeditions.

Majority of the guided expedition in high altitudes mostly depends on climbers Jummaring (Ascending) and Rappeling / Abseiling (Descending) skills.

• Abseiling. This is the simplest yet the one of the most important skills to master. Some multi - pitch abseiling knowledge/experience are also required

• Climbing on different terrains. Slab rocks, vertical rocks. Scrambling on steep terrains.

• Use of Crampons and Ice axe. Winter ice climbing or mountaineering courses are recommended. You should be able to kick step and balance with ice axe on icy slopes to ascend on vertical climb. Ice arrest skills to save your self incase of slips or fall, being comfortable while descending and abseiling on crampons in all the terrains.

• Climbing in Altitude. Your prior experience in climbing should give you a good understanding of your body coping in the altitude. You will be liable to yourself so it is best to build you fitness up to the best level. Our itineraries are designed to be able to help you with proper acclimatisation but you will also have to be aware of your eating pattern and staying properly hydrated.

Previous experience of high altitude several 6000M +, atleast one 7000M+ mountaineering is preferred. Previous climbs such as Baruntse expedition, Himlung Himal Expedition, Annapurna IV, Putha Hiunchuli Expedition, Mt. Nun, Ama Dablam Expedition, Mount Everest, Gashebrum 2, Manaslu can be used as the right experience to quality for Makalu expedition.

ADD'S ON . . .

• Personal Sherpa - $7000

• Extra Oxygen with latest oxygen system X 2 bottle - $2500

EQUIPMENT LIST . . .

Mountain climbing Gears

• Helmet ( Black diamond, Petzel )
• Alpine Ice Axe (65-70cm)
• A mountaineering harness, with adjustable leg loops.
• Carabiners: 3 locking and 6 regular
• Ascender
• Rappel device: ATC or figure 8
• Crampons 12 points

Mountaineering boots

• Mountaineering boots suitable for above 8000m; La Sportiva or equivalent
• Hiking shoes for the trek to base camp with ankle protection
• Thermal mountaineering socks or equivalent: 10 pairs
• Liner socks or equivalent: 15 pairs

Body Layers:

• Expedition suits - North face Himalayan suit or similar
• 10 merino base layers: top / bottom set
• 10 mid layer top: breathable Underwear
• Lightweight Nylon Pants: 2 pair
• Hooded Soft Shell jacket To be worn over other layers
• Soft Shell Guide Pants: Gore Tex and breathable
• Hooded Hard Shell: Gore Tex and breathable
• Hard Shell Pants: Gore Tex and breathable, big enough to wear over your guide trousers
• Insulated Down Jacket with hood: North Face Himalayan parka or equivalent
• Insulated synthetic Pants: Worn primarily when climbing below Camp 2
• Long jones equivalent to Rab’s Polartec or equivalent: 6 pairs

Headgear and Hand wear:

• Wool hat (ski hat)
• Sunhat: To shade your face / neck from the sun on a hot day
• Buff: To protect your neck / face from the sun
• Glacier glasses: Full protection with side covers or wrap around
• Ski goggles: To be worn on higher camps and summit day in the event of high winds
• Lightweight synthetic liner gloves: For wearing on a hot day; 2 pairs
• Soft shell gloves: To wear for moderate cold / wind
• Shell glove with insulated liner: To wear for severe cold / strong wind
• Expedition Mitts for bad weather

Personal Gear:

• Expedition Backpack: 65L pack should be large enough.
• Trekking Backpack: To carry on the trek to base camp. Simple and light.
• Sleeping Bag: Rated to at least -40°F. Goose down or synthetic
• Compression stuff sacks: 3 large ones; for reducing volume of the sleeping bag, down parka, etc., in your pack.
• High Quality sleeping pad (1 for base camp and 1 for high camps): Full length is preferred.
• Closed cell foam pad: To be used in conjunction with the inflating pad for warmth and comfort when sleeping.
• Trekking poles with snow baskets: Adjustable poles
• Cup: Plastic insulated cup for drinking
• Bowl: A plastic bowl for eating dinner or breakfast
• Spoon: Plastic spoon
• Head torch: 1 normal for base camp and 1 with remote battery systems for climbing at night. This will be used whilst climbing at night
• Sunscreen: SPF 50 or above
• Lip balm with sunblock
• Water bottles: 2 wide mouth bottles with 1 litter capacity
• Water bottle parkas (2): fully insulated with zip opening
• Thermos: 1 litre (buy a good ones to keep your water warm for longer hours)
• Pee bottle: 1 litre minimum bottle for convenience at night in the tent
• Toiletry bag: Include toilet paper and hand sanitizer and small towel
• Hand warmers & toe warmers
• Pen Knife or multi tool (optional)
• Camera: bring extra batteries and memory cards
• Personal solar charging system (optional but recommended)
• Travel Clothes
• Duffel bags (2) with locks: To transport equipment
• Base Camp extra Items: Kindle, I pad, smart phone, etc
• Snack food: Please bring a few days of your favourite climbing snack food such as bars, gels, nuts, beef jerky, etc. A variety of salty and sweet is recommended to give you extra energy.
• Small personal first aid kit: Include athletic tape, Band-Aid’s, Ibuprofen, blister care, personal medications, etc
• Medications and Prescriptions: Bring antibiotics (Azithromycin, etc.), and altitude medicine such as Diamox and dexamethasone*

BLOG LINKS . . .

Related blog articles:

Altitude sickness

World’s most dangerous airport, Lukla

$20 BY 2020, a case for our himalayan porters

Mountain climbing gears checklist

When is the best time to plan for Cho-Oyu Expedition? . . .

Last week of August - First week of October

Which route will Namas team choose? I can see the mountain is very steep and exposed, What is your climbing strategy? . . .

Cho Oyu is a extreme high altitude 8000M climbing mountain in the Himalayas (Nepal). We will climb using the fixed rope lines will be setup by our rope fixing team all the way to the summit.

Our stragey will be to use Camp Base Camp 1,2,and 3. climbing through the standard west ridge route. More detailed information on Expedition stragey coloumn above.

How long is a typical day on the mountain?? . . .

Time duration and distance varies from camp to camp, but on normal climbing day can expect an average of 6 - 8 hours climb. Summit attempt days are usually the longest one, as we have to descend down to our chosen camp. (Camp 3 or 2 depending on our overall progress)

What is summit day like? . . .

Summit climb day in Makalu is demanding, climbing from southeast ridge route. We will be mostly climbing through ice and snow steep terrains. Climb will start around midnight taking us around 6-8 hours to get to the summit and another 5-6 hours to camp 2.

Contingency Days during Cho Oyu Expedition? . . .

We have added enough contingency day so that we can plan for other summit windows should there be disturbance in weather patterns or should another window be available. Yes, we would highly recommend return flight to stay flexible as this will give you the opportunity to extend/shorten your departure date.

Guides /Sherpas for Cho Oyu Expedition? Ratio : clients. Qualification and level of English? . . .

On this expedition we aim to have max 8 - 10 climbers accompanies by 1:! ratio guiding members. Additional* charges apply for extra personal guiding members. We believe that Nepalese IFMGA/NNMGA certified guides are more than capable in this day and age and have an moderate to excellent level of English. We are committed to responsible tourism and want to enhance and prioritise local Nepalese leaders first, but if the clients request a western guide personally then we can have that arranged.

Sherpa Guide ratio 1:1. Our Sherpas are NNMGA (Khumbu climbing centre trained/certified ). Personal Sherpa for 1:1 can be arranged who will be solely responsible for the clients but extra additional charges apply. Our Sherpas have an intermediate level of English. Can understand, reply and instruct very well.

How much tips do you suggest for guides and porter teams? Summit tips? . . .

Most of our guest give tips during the end of the trek/climb. Your booking payment already consist a tip pool of $1000. We will fairly distribute the tips among your drivers, assistant guides and porters.

Guest also donates trekking equipments like jackets, trek poles, gloves or hats to porters which is greatly appreciated. Guest can also buy our porters dinner, during the final day of the trek for all their hard work and for making their trek possible

Suggested Additional Summit tips $1000+

What are the skills/prior experience required for this climb? . . .

• Previous high climbing experience needed at least a few 6000M & one 7000M+

• Abseiling. This is the simplest yet the one of the most important skills to master. Some multi - pitch abseiling knowledge/experience are also required

• Climbing on different terrains. Slab rocks, vertical rocks. Scrambling on steep terrains.

• Use of Crampons and Ice axe. Winter ice climbing or mountaineering courses are recommended. You should be able to kick step and balance with ice axe on icy slopes to ascend on vertical climb. Ice arrest skills to save your self incase of slips or fall, being comfortable while descending and abseiling on crampons in all the terrains.

• Climbing in Altitude. Your prior experience in climbing should give you a good understanding of your body coping in the altitude. You will be liable to yourself so it is best to build you fitness up to the best level. Our itineraries are designed to be able to help you with proper acclimatisation but you will also have to be aware of your eating pattern and staying properly hydrated.

How do I know this is the right trip for me? . . .

Any 8000M+ Expedition climb being an extreme climb just at the staring altitude of death zone (8000M) this mountaineering adventure really depends on your ambition to go on a great challenging climbing adventure. Cho-Oyu Expedition is the easiest adn safest 8000M+ expedition and also can also be strategised as your road to Everest expedition climbing experience. To help you clarify if this is the right expedition for you, [our grading][1] system can help you determine if this is the right expedition and if it is the right time to take upon trips of such nature. If you are yet unsure please do contact our team and we will walk you through where you are in your current experience level and guide you into choosing the right expeditions.

How many guides/ Sherpas will be assigned to our group? . . .

For Cho Oyu Expedition 1:1 Sherpa guides are assigned to our group.

How many in a group? . . .

Min 2 - Max 10

Who is this trip for? . . .

Any climbers 18+ with relevant climbing experiences.

Who goes on this Expedition? . . .

Climbers from all over the globe with different backgrounds, interest and mountaineering skill level join our expeditoin. Some climbers even join this expedition after climbing Everest or other higher expedition because all climbs are fundamentally different and challenging.

Can my friends and family join me on the trek into Base Camp? . . .

Yes, it is possible. Please email us about this and give you relevant informations.

Can I contact other climbers to join this expedition? . . .

Yes, we highly encourage that. Maybe its your friend with whom you have been on amazing/challenging adventure trips before, a you met during your other expeditions, a challenge you seek together or any other ideas where you think the other person might enjoy this amazing climb.

Baggage allowance by Namas Expedition team for Cho Oyu Expedition? . . .

We allow 60kgs of personal weight for this expedition.

What fitness/conditioning level is needed for this climb? . . .

You need to be in excellent shape for this climb. Although Cho Oyu climb is supported by Sherpa guides and ropes, due to the extreme altitude nature of the peak, it is critical that you are in the best shape possible. Sherpa support is moderate on this climb, you are expected to be able to carry all of your personal gear needed for the climb. Our Sherpa teams will primarily be responsible for transporting our group gear.

Technical preparation and trainings for Cho Oyu Expedition? . . .

• Basic Bouldering and rope climbing session in your local climbing centre.
• Commitment to regular endurance and strengthening training atleast 6 months to 12 months. For training plans please refer to our training for mountaineering page. (click here)
• Basic Ice climbing course to help you with use of rope climbing, ice axe, crampons and understand the nature of physical demands that the mountain requires.
• Previous experience of 7000M mountaineering. Your adaptability to high altitude and climbing on high steep terrains.

How heavy will my bagpack be? . . .

We will be moving a lot of our personal gears during acclimatisation rotation and safely leave it in our personal tent. This lightens the load and normally your packs are 5-10kgs.

How do you I train for a trip like this? . . .

We have written blog post on training for mountaineering which can give yo a guidance and tips on how long to what type of training you should undertake to train yourself well for challenging mountaineering expeditions.

Training for mountaineering (click here)

If you are a beginner and do not have any previous climbing experience then please go to our "ROAD TO EVEREST" section above in the page. We help you with the basic climbing, slowly and gradually building upto 6000-7000M and then to 8000M and finally prepare for Everest.

What sort of hotels do we stay at in the city? . . .

All Namas expedition team stays at the Hotel Manalsu or Tibet in Kathmandu. Arrivals hotels are only 15 minutes walk from the tourist centre of Thamel. Our chosen hotel provides swimming pool, restaurants, spa and massage near by and plenty of local shops near by to buy souviners.

If you have any personal hotel of your choice please inquire about it avaibility and our team will do our best to accomodate to your choice of hotel.

What are the lodges like? Can I have my own room or tent? . . .

Lodges or tea houses we use during trekking days are local Sherpa tea houses. You will love the cultural ambience of the tea houses. Places we book are kept tidy, clean, modern lodges—the best that are available in each village. They are well-known locations to us and we have a good relationship with the lodge owners. Private rooms can be booked at additional cost. Our standard trips are based on shared rooms, usually twin-share and sometimes triple-share. On the mountain you will share a tent with one, or sometimes two other climbers.

If you would like a personal tent during Expedition days, Base camp personal tent can be arranged. Please do let us know in advance so that our team can make the necessary arrangements.

Will Showers and laundry be available during expedition? . . .

On our trekking days tea houses we stay will offer hot showers and laundry services for a small fee. At the Base Camp we will set up our own shower tents, where showers are available and there will be access to hot water for you to do your clothes washing. Laundry powder is provided.

Is foods included in our expedition fees? . . .

All our expeditions are all-inclusive. Breakfast, lunch and dinner as well as ample hot and cold drinks during trek and expedition days are included. We can cater for vegetarians as well as many other special diets as long as we are informed of this prior to the trip. All of our expeditions provide excellent local and Western food.

What are the food like? . . .

During the trekking days in tea houses mostly foods are prepared according to your choice in the menu. Rice and Lentils (Dal bhat being the famous diet) to pasta, soups, pizza, mash potato, dumplings etc. But during the camping days we provide both cooked and packed/canned food supplies packed from Kathmandu.

Options are limited during camping days. Mostly Rice/lentils/veg/ pasta for cooked foods and freezed dried foods, chocolate/energy bars, biscuits, hydration tablets. We will have varieties of freezed dried foods (chicken, veg, spaghetti etc ) which are specially made for expeditions.

What is the best way to get to Nepal and Tibet? . . .

You will need to search for flights to Kathmandu Tribhuvan Intn'l airport. Regular flights operate into Kathmandu via Bangkok, Doha, Dubai, Trukey, Hong Kong, Singapore and Delhi.

After receiving our visa in Kathmandu we will then fly to Lhasa.

Do I need to get a visa for Nepal and Tibet? . . .

Yes. For most nationalities, a visa can be obtained on-arrival into Kathmandu airport or border entry points or can be issued prior through an Nepalese embassies or consulated abroad. Upon arrival, be sure to have the correct USD amount in cash for your visa application and photos can be take through the kiosk machine available at the airport. Currently, a 40-day visa costs $40 and 90-day visa costs US$100. Please dp make sure that your passport has at least six months validity.

Visa for Tibet/China will be applied once members and in Kathmandu.

Do I need to arrive the day before the trip starts? And when should I book my flight to leave? . . .

We have got you all covered. All our trip programme itinerary already have an arrival day and a departure day built into them. Please plan to arrive at early hours on Day 1 of the itinerary. If you plan to come early and explore Kathmandu then you are welcome as Kathmandy offers tons of culutral experiences. If you would like a 1-2 days tours please do let us know and we can provide suggestions. Namas Nepal representative will meet and pick you up at the airport and the first of many team briefings will take place on the evening of Day One. Please do not book to depart before the scheduled final trip itinerary day. All the details will also be sent on the final email.

When should I book my ticket for Nepal? . . .

We recommeend you to book 90-60 days prior to your trip start date to ensure your trip has met the minimum numbers and will operate. If you see a good deal and want to book your flights, then ensure that you can make changes to your ticket or you run the risk of losing it if we do have to cancel the trip. In such situations, we are usually able to help you book on to an alternate departure, either with us or another operator.

Can I get a cheap ticket online? . . .

Yes, please make sure you have a flexible departure date on your ticket. With the nature of our expedition and the places we do are not straight forward as we due to unforseen cisrumstances we might have to add 1-2 days extras to complete our expedition which will lead to extension of our itinerary. In those circumstances you do not want to end up paying extra for your departures.

Where do we meet? Will I be picked up? . . .

As you arrive in Kathmandu, Namas guide or representative will receive you at the airport with our shuttle car/van. If you are arriving before the scheduled trip start date and want to be receiced at airport then please do let us know in advance and we can make the arrangements to pick you up. Or there are airport taxies to help you.

What if I am arriving early or departing late? . . .

Namas team can make necessary arrangements or recommendations should you want to explore more of Nepal. Please do let us know in advance or even to our team in Nepal to help you with these matter.

Will you provide clothing and expedition equipment list? . . .

Upon Cho Oyu Expedition inquiry and confirmation email we will email you all the necessary documentation needed, including detailed equipment lists. If you have questions you have after reading through our equipment list you can always reach out to us and we can assist you in preparing for the trip as well as recommending and sourcing a range of clothing and equipment suitable for the climb. Our list are prepared with recommendation from our Sherpa climbing team.

Do I really need all the equipment on the equipment list? . . .

Yes, these lists have been carefully prepared and please bring everything on the list!

How heavy will my bagpack be? . . .

We will move our personal gear up the mountain during our acclimatisation rotation and store it in your assigned tents. Normally our packs are 5-10kgs.

Logistical support for Cho Oyu Expedition. Kitchen staffs and porters? . . .

Logistical team during expedition. We will have 1 head chef with 1-2 helpers for small numbers ( 1-4 groups ). And 3-4 ( for 5-8 groups ). Porters numbers also depend on the number of climbers. We allow 60Kgs per client for this expedition and each porter will carry 30kgs per client. So, with the increase in weights per client the no. of porter team increases.

What kind of Tents will we use during Cho Oyu Expedition? Brands/sizes and setups? *. . .

We will use alpine 3/4 season tents from TNF, Mountain Hardwear, and Kailas. Most of our client tents are 2 person tents but a single tent can be provided for any solo climbers joining the team. Although we recommend 2 people in a tent to have company and preserve the natural heat. Head of Sherpa team Sardar will be in charge of all the tent setups. Individual tents are provided in base camp and 2 person will have to share tents as we move to higher camps.

What type of sleeping bag is recommended for Cho Oyu Expedition ? Will extra blankets available if required? . . .

4 season goose downfilled sleeping bag that can handle upto -40C is recommended. This will be clearly stated in your recommended gear list. We suggest buying a sleeping bag big enough to allow you to wear extra clothes in if it is especially cold .

How much weight will we carry on the expedition? . . .

Once we begin our expedition from base camp, our strong Sherpa team that will carry all the team equipment, food and ropes and you will carry all your personal gear. This can weigh around 18–25kg/40–55lb. So you will need to be at your best physical shape in order to climb the mountain with your bagpack load.

Will supplemental oxygen be provided during the expedition? Is this included in our expedition fee? . . .

During Cho Oyu expedition climbers are porvided with 4 bottles of supplemental oxygen and our team also do take oxygen as a medical backup. If you would like to request extra bottles of oxygen then we can make the arrangements upon request. (Extra charges apply) as this is not included in our expedition fees.

What high altitude medication will be available on the expedition? Do we need to take tablets before/ during the trek? . . .

All our guides carry extensive medical kits including various medications for altitude illness. If you have a previous history of altitude illness then please discuss this with us and your physician, otherwise there is no need to take preventative medication before or during your expedition.

You need to bring any medications you regularly use (don’t forget to tell us about them), plus extras. Also bring a small first aid kit including a blister kit and mild headache medication for the normal altitude headaches.

Will there be any access to a satellite phone? If yes then what would be the charges for usage? . . .

Yes, on all our expedition our guides take satellite phones and you are welcome to use these at US$3 per minute. There will be a daily dispatches blog on our Namas adventure website, where your friends and family can follow your progress.

Is there internet throughout the expedition? . . .

Once you get hold of local Nepalese sim card, internet can be accessed even at base camp sometimes. Internet speed wont be as reliable once we go higher but we can expect some internet coverage. We will have our dedicated WIFI in base camp but this will be mostly to stay upto date with our meterologiest team and updates on our expeditions progress.

Will there be any power source for charging batteries, etc. available throughout the expedition? . . .

All our expedition team is equipped with solar panels and battery charging stations. Our first priority wil always be to charge our radios, satellite phones and expedition electrical equipment. There is usually enough power to then charge your personal electrical equipment.

While on trek, tea houses will also have power available with with Asian plugs (needed) and offer recharging for a fee.

What is the best equipment for photography in alpine environments? . . .

As camera technology is changing and getting smaller and better, we recommed light and durable cameras for photography. If you are a serious photographer then you will have your preferences on camera gears but just for enthusiast to record and document your memory mirrorless cameras from SONY, Cannon and small action camera like gopro or insta 360 are recommended. Drone is gaining its popularity but please ask us information for drone use rules and regulation. For safety reason Nepal is very stict with drone use and we do not want it to be a hassle during our expedition days.

What insurance do we need to get? . . .

Insurances are mandatory in all our trips, there is a requirement for each expedition member to have insurance to cover any personal or medical mishaps that may occur before or during the expedition. [Click here for more information on expedition insurance.][2]

Do I need evacuation insurance? . . .

Yes, it is very important and a must. Many of our expeditions are in remote places with no roads and third world medical services. In an unlikely event scenario, we would want you to be evacuated asap and get you the right medical attention.

Who do you recommend for insurance? . . .

Insurances varies on your nationality but there are a handful of insurances that cover most of the countries especially for mountaineering expeditions. [Please click the link here][2], we have a list of recommended insurance providers that we tust and which our clients have previously used.

What is Trip Cancellation Insurance? . . .

For very unknown and unforeseen circumstances you may be forced to cancel their trips for reasons such as family illness, injury to one’s self, business issues, etc. In times like this you want to have a peace of mind protecting your investments on trips, flight tickets. So trip cancellation insurnace should gurantee protection of your money that you have paid for.