Three Teams on the Trail: Updates from the Khumbu

It's a big week for Rugged Luxury Expeditions, with three EBC teams on the mountain at different stages of their journey.

Team 1 is deep in the acclimatization phase. Today they hiked from Lobuche Base Camp toward Lobuche High Camp (17,200 to 17,800 ft / 5,250 to 5,450 m), a playful rock scramble that leads up into the snow line. Reaching an elevation similar to Everest Base Camp, it's a key milestone, building both physical adaptation and confidence for the days ahead. This weekend they set out to climb Awi Peak (17,257 ft / 5,260 m), a lesser-known and rarely visited summit away from the main routes with no crowds and a true sense of exploration. On a clear day, views stretch across Everest, Lhotse, and Cho Oyu. Many guests describe it as a highlight of the entire journey.

Team 2 trekked from Tengboche (12,687 ft / 3,867 m) to Pheriche (14,340 ft / 4,371 m) today, climbing above the treeline as forest gave way to alpine tundra. Pheriche is a stone settlement set within a wide, wind-swept valley, deep in the remote high Himalayas, with views of Ama Dablam, Taboche, and Cholatse all around.

Team 3 is just getting started. Today they helicoptered to Lukla (9,383 ft / 2,860 m), passed through the gates of Sagarmatha National Park, and trekked down through blooming rhododendrons and pine forests to the riverside hamlet of Phakding (8,563 ft / 2,610 m). A gentle opener with the full Khumbu Valley ahead of them.

Photos from the Rugged Luxury archives