Rugged Luxury Trekkers Lead the Way up the Khumbu Valley
A second Rugged Luxury team has departed Kathmandu and is now moving steadily through the Khumbu Valley toward Everest Base Camp. The group is led by IFMGA Mountain Guide and four-time Everest summiteer Big Tendi, whose experience continues to shape the pace and flow of the journey.
After trekking into Namche Bazaar, the team is spending today acclimatizing and settling into the rhythm of the valley. A visit to Thamo Monastery is on the agenda, offering a quieter cultural counterpoint to the busier trail hubs. Perched above the valley, the monastery remains an important spiritual center for the Sherpa community and a meaningful pause point during acclimatization.
Meanwhile, our first Rugged Luxury team reached Pheriche yesterday following a stop at the renowned Tengboche Monastery. Today has been intentionally unhurried, pairing a short acclimatization hike with rest before the route climbs higher. Clear views of Ama Dablam have accompanied the day, along with the team’s first glimpse of Everest itself.
As both teams continue their progress, you may notice one visual constant along the trail: Rugged Luxury trekkers outfitted in their new expedition jackets, moving confidently through the Khumbu as the landscape opens up around them.
More updates soon as the trail rises and the valley narrows.
Photos from team one courtesy of Nicole Porto and team two from Big Tendi.
