Awi Peak, Deboche, and Kathmandu: This Week in Rugged Luxury

It's a big week in the Khumbu. Here’s the latest on all of our teams.

Rugged Luxury Team 2 is at Lobuche Base Camp, and overnight, the mountains delivered a fresh skiff of snow which painted the peaks white. Today, the team hiked to around 15,900 ft with Pumori coming into view up the valley, Makalu poking over Baruntse, and Ama Dablam dominating the skyline behind them.

Tomorrow they will climb Awi Peak (17,257 ft / 5,260 m), a lesser-known and rarely visited summit away from the crowds, with no crowds and a true sense of exploration. On a clear day, the panoramic views stretch across Everest, Lhotse, and Cho Oyu. Many guests describe it as a highlight of the entire journey. Everest Base Camp and a champagne arrival follows on Thursday.

Photos courtesy of "Big" Tendi Sherpa

Our private team of trekkers in the Khumbu have reached Deboche (12,533 ft / 3,820 m) and are doing great. Sitting just below Tengboche, these two villages are close neighbors in the shadow of Ama Dablam. It's a peaceful stretch of the valley, surrounded by rhododendron forests, with the most celebrated monastery in the Khumbu just up the trail and the high Himalayas opening up ahead.

Photos courtesy of Fred Alldredge

Back in Kathmandu, Team 1 wrapped their expedition with recovery massages, a delicious team dinner, and just a little more sightseeing to make the most of their time in Nepal. Today, the team took a full UNESCO heritage city tour through the temples and courtyards of the old city, followed by a cultural degustation tasting menu at Dwarika's.

Carved columns, brass statuary, staff in traditional dress, Nepali cuisine served course by course on hand-beaten brass thali.

A fitting end to their journey.

Photos courtesy of Tomi Ceppi