Lobuche East Peak Climbing
A 20-day climb to the summit of Lobuche East (6,119m), a technically demanding trekking peak near the Khumbu Glacier, combining the classic Everest Base Camp trail with a genuine mountaineering summit push.
- Duration 20 Days
- Difficulty Strenuous
- Group Size 12 People
- Max Altitude 6119m
- Region Everest
Overview
Lobuche East (6,119m) sits close to the Khumbu Glacier and is one of Nepal's most popular NMA trekking peaks, offering sweeping views of Everest, Lhotse, Ama Dablam, and the Lhotse Face from its summit. The mountain has two summits — Lobuche Far East and the higher Lobuche East — and its standard route up the Southeast Ridge was first climbed on April 25, 1984, by Laurence Nielson and Ang Gyalzen Sherpa.
Genuinely more technical than Island Peak or Mera Peak, Lobuche East is best suited to climbers with some prior high-altitude or basic mountaineering experience. The route follows the classic Everest Base Camp trail through Namche Bazaar, Tengboche, Pangboche, and Dingboche, with acclimatization excursions to Gorak Shep and Kala Patthar, before branching to Lobuche East Base Camp for the climbing period.
The summit push crosses moraine and steepening snow slabs to a high camp near a hidden lake, then a fixed-rope section up a roughly 50-degree snow wall onto the Southeast Ridge at around 5,700m. From there, the route follows the ridge around seracs to the summit, with a notable, sometimes rappelled descent between the false and true summits. This is a teahouse trek for the approach, with camping arrangements at base camp and high camp for the climb itself.
Itinerary
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Day 1 Arrival in Kathmandu
Arrive at Tribhuvan International Airport and transfer to the hotel.
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Day 2 Preparation in Kathmandu
A day for briefings, equipment shopping, and last-minute formalities at the Department of Tourism.
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Day 3 Fly to Lukla & Trek to Phakding
Fly from Kathmandu to Lukla (35 minutes), or in peak months drive to Manthali/Ramechhap and take a shorter flight, then trek down to Phakding.
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Day 4 Trek to Namche Bazaar
Trek along the Dudh Koshi River and through Sagarmatha National Park to Namche Bazaar.
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Day 5 Acclimatization Day at Namche & Hike to Everest View Hotel
Rest day with a hike to the famous Everest View Hotel for a first glimpse of Everest, plus time to explore the Hillary and Sherpa museums in Namche.
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Day 6 Trek to Tengboche
Trek to Tengboche and visit its Buddhist monastery, the most active in the Everest region.
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Day 7 Trek to Dingboche
Trek to Dingboche, with views of Ama Dablam and Lhotse along the way.
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Day 8 Acclimatization Day at Dingboche & Hike to Nangkartshang Peak
Rest day with an optional hike up Nangkartshang Peak (5,080m) for panoramic views of Makalu, Lhotse, and the Dingboche valley.
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Day 9 Trek to Lobuche
Trek from Dingboche to the village of Lobuche, close to the Khumbu Glacier.
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Day 10 Trek to Gorak Shep
A short trek to Gorak Shep, with time to explore around Everest Base Camp.
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Day 11 Hike Kala Patthar & Trek back to Lobuche
Morning acclimatization hike to Kala Patthar (5,554m) for classic views of Everest, then trek back down to Lobuche.
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Day 12 Trek to Lobuche East Base Camp
A short trek from Lobuche village to Lobuche East Base Camp, the staging point for the climb.
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Day 13 Climb to High Camp
Climb from Base Camp to High Camp (5,400m), with final preparation for the summit push.
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Day 14 Summit Lobuche East
An early start for the summit push, crossing steepening snow slabs and a fixed-rope headwall to the Southeast Ridge and on to the summit of Lobuche East (6,119m), before returning to Base Camp.
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Day 15 Trek to Dingboche
Descend from Lobuche East Base Camp back to Dingboche.
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Day 16 Trek to Namche Bazaar
Continue the descent back to Namche Bazaar.
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Day 17 Trek to Lukla
A final trekking day back down the Dudh Koshi valley to Lukla.
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Day 18 Fly to Kathmandu
A short, scenic flight from Lukla back to Kathmandu.
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Day 19 Leisure Day & Farewell Dinner
A leisure day for shopping in Kathmandu, followed by a farewell celebration dinner with a cultural program in the evening.
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Day 20 Final Departure
Transfer to the airport for departure.
Cost Details
What’s Included
- Camping accommodation at advanced base camp with professional kitchen setup
- Farewell dinner with cultural show in Kathmandu
- Three nights hotel accommodation in Kathmandu (category as requested, tourist to 5-star)
- Satellite phone provided to the Sherpa guide for communication and safety
- Kathmandu–Lukla–Kathmandu return flights for climbing members and Sherpa guides
- North Face tents at advanced base camp and high camp with comfortable mattresses
- High-altitude climbing food, gas, and stoves for boiling water and heating food
- All required surface transportation during the trek
- Airport pick-up and drop-off, international and domestic, with a Bonny Himalaya representative for easy identification
- Teahouse accommodation (except chain hotels) during the trek
- Chef and cook assistant at advanced base camp during the ascent
- Experienced, government-authorized licensed high-altitude trekking and climbing Sherpa guide
- Regular weather updates during the climbing period
- Wages, equipment, and insurance (medical, accidental, evacuation) for all trekking and climbing staff
- Support for departure information, flight reconfirmation, and visa extension
- Lobuche East Peak climbing permit (NMA-issued), Everest National Park entry permit, TIMS permit, and Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality Permit
- All government taxes, official charges, and VAT
- Breakfast, lunch, and dinner with tea/coffee throughout the trek
- 20 kg personal climbing equipment allowance per person, carried by porter/yak/mule
- First aid medical kit for the group and staff
- Related trekking maps
- Bonny Himalaya T-shirt/pashmina and brochure as a farewell gift
- Dynamic and static ropes, ice screws, snow bars, rock pitons, and carabiners for route fixing and safety
What’s Excluded
- International flight ticket to/from Nepal and Nepal tourist visa fees
- Personal trekking/climbing gear, laundry, tips, mobile bills, internet, and satellite phone usage
- Any services not listed under Cost Includes
- Lunch and dinner in Kathmandu (except the farewell dinner)
- Snacks, packed food, energy drinks, soft drinks, alcohol, cigarettes, and chocolates during trekking
- Personal travel insurance covering emergency rescue, treatment, hospitalization, and medical tests
- Tips for guides, Sherpa, porters, and staff
- Costs due to natural disasters, political disturbances, strikes, or changes in government regulations
- Extra porter/helper beyond the package allocation
Highlights
- A quieter, more secluded peak: Less crowded than Island Peak, with a comparatively reasonable permit cost.
- Views of Everest, Lhotse, and Ama Dablam: Summit and ridge panoramas across the Khumbu's most famous peaks.
- Everest Base Camp region acclimatization: Optional excursions to Gorak Shep and Kala Patthar (5,554m) along the way.
- Tengboche Monastery: The Everest region's most active Buddhist monastery, visited en route.
- Full climbing support: Professional Sherpa guides fixing ropes on the technical upper sections.
- A genuinely technical trekking peak: Fixed ropes, a 50-degree snow wall, and real ridge exposure make this more demanding than Island Peak.
Essential Information
Spring (April–May) and autumn (September–November) are the two climbing windows for Lobuche East, offering the most stable weather for both the trekking approach and the technical summit push.
Lobuche East is considered more challenging than Island Peak or Mera Peak, with steeper sections up to 45–55° (occasionally 60°), some rock mixed with snow, and longer fixed-rope sections. Prior experience on an easier trekking peak (such as Island Peak or Mera Peak) is recommended, though not strictly required with proper guidance — Bonny Himalaya's climbing Sherpa guides fix ropes on all technical sections.
Hotel accommodation in Kathmandu (category as requested, tourist to 5-star). Teahouse accommodation along the classic Everest Base Camp trail, with camping at advanced base camp and high camp for the climbing period.
Full board meals included throughout — clean, fresh breakfast, lunch, and dinner with tea/coffee during the trek, with a professional kitchen setup at advanced base camp.
- TIMS Card: Trekkers' Information Management System card
- Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality Permit (Trek Card): Local government permit, obtained in Lukla or Monjo
- Sagarmatha (Everest) National Park Entry Permit: Required to enter the national park, checked at the Monjo gate
- Lobuche East Peak Climbing Permit: NMA-issued, priced by season, per climber
- Trekking poles: Recommended for the approach trek
- Sleeping bag: Cold-rated bag for base camp and high camp
- Down jacket: Insulated jacket plus thermal base layers and warm gloves
- Headlamp: Essential for the pre-dawn summit push
- Personal kit: Personal medicines, altitude medication as advised by a doctor, sunscreen, and toiletries
- Mountaineering boots: Insulated, crampon-compatible boots for the summit push
- Climbing hardware: Harness, crampons, ice axe, and ascender for the fixed-rope sections
Lobuche East's summit at 6,119m follows extensive high-altitude acclimatization along the Everest Base Camp trail, including optional hikes to Gorak Shep (5,170m) and Kala Patthar (5,554m). Watch for headache, nausea, and dizziness as early symptoms of altitude sickness, and take altitude medication only as advised by a doctor.
