Introduction - KE Adventure Travel...beneath Khang Karpo’s south face. We will make our ascent via the mountain’s west ridge in a single long day. Khang Karpo’s summit is a fantastic

Introduction

On the border of Tibet lies Khang Karpo. It’s remote, wild, and has only seen two previous ascents, makingit the perfect objective for a pioneering Nepal expedition.

The principal objective of this exciting expedition is to climb Khang Karpo (6646m), a shapely peak which has seenonly a couple of ascents. We have been in contact with the first ascensionists (Squash Falconer and her team) andhave recruited IFMGA Guide Tshering Pemba, one of the Rolwaling Sherpas involved in that first ascent, to be ourguide.

One hundred kilometres east-north-east from Kathmandu, the beautiful Rolwaling Valley runs alongside theborder with Tibet, separated from that territory by a rugged crest of high peaks including Gauri Shankar (7135m).The valley is sparsely inhabited with most of its Sherpa population living in the villages of Beding and Na Gaon, 3days’ walk from the nearest road. Above Na Gaon the valley is increasingly spectacular with glaciated valleysheading off to the north, to the east and to the south. It is unspoiled and sees relatively few foreign visitors eachseason. During the first week of the trip, we will trek into the valley, meet the local people, visit the amazing glaciallake of Tsho Rolpa and set up camp beneath Yalung Ri (5630m). Climbing this splendid little trekking peak willboosts our fitness and acclimatisation and provide us with a great overview of the Rolwaling including the strikingKhang Karpo at the head of the Ripimo Valley. Dropping back to the main valley, we will trek up to a basecamp onthe Ripimo Glacier and spend an acclimatisation day there before proceeding to our high camp on the glacierbeneath Khang Karpo’s south face. We will make our ascent via the mountain’s west ridge in a single long day.Khang Karpo’s summit is a fantastic viewpoint which encompasses at least six 8000 metre peaks including, just 40kilometres away to the east, Mount Everest. This is an exciting opportunity to take part in a real mountaineeringexpedition, to get off the beaten track in Nepal, and to have the chance to reach a summit that seen only 2previous ascents.

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Is this holiday for you?

Trekking in to the Rolwaling Valley and on the approach to the basecamp areas for each of our objective peaks wewill mostly follow established and reasonably straightforward trails. Above basecamp on Yalung Ri and on the final2 days of the approach to Khang Karpo we will encounter more challenging terrain; loose scree, unconsolidatedboulder-fields and snow-covered and crevassed glacier. This is a high-level itinerary in a reasonably remote areaand is suitable for those with a good level of fitness, a familiarity with trekking above 5000 metres and (for theascent of Khang Karpo) appropriate Alpine or Scottish Winter mountaineering experience.

The climbing on Yalung Ri is straightforward on generally low angled snow slopes which reach a maximum of 45degrees inclination in a couple of sections. High up, the ridge is reasonably exposed and in some conditions therecan be rock steps to overcome. Throughout the ascent we will be using crampons and a single ice-axe and movingas one or more roped parties. The guides may use fixed rope to safeguard a couple of sections of the climb andyou will be provided with a jumar (ascender) to clip into this rope.

PAGE 2 KHANG KARPO AND THE ROLWALING VALLEY

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On Khang Karpo there is an initial steep couloir to reach the west ridge. Once established on this long and quitecomplicated ridge, the climbing is almost entirely on snow and at a general inclination of around 45 degrees withsome steeper sections to overcome. Rope will be fixed on the initial steep couloir and on steep, exposed sectionsof the upper ridge. Crampons, a single ice-axe and a jumar will again be used. For the climb on Khang Karpo youshould have experience of climbing Alpine routes of Grade PD+ or AD and/or Scottish Winter Climbs of Grade ll orlll.

Holiday Itinerary

Day 1: Meet at the group hotel in Kathmandu. Transfers from Kathmandu Airport are provided.

Meet at the group hotel in Kathmandu. Transfers from Kathmandu Airport are provided. Depending on your arrivaltime, you may have the opportunity to explore the immediate vicinity of the hotel and get acclimatised to thisbustling city. Alternatively, you may prefer to recover from your journey by relaxing beside the hotel pool. KE LandOnly package services begin with the evening meal. Your guide will take dinner with you and will provide aninformal briefing about the days ahead.

ACCOMMODATIONHOTEL WITHSWIMMING POOL

MEALS D

Day 2: Drive to Chetchet and trek to Simigaon (1997m).

After an early breakfast at the hotel we set off on the long drive up into the Rolwaling region. We pass throughDhulikhel and from there follow the Arniko Highway (the old road into Tibet), turning off before Lamosangu anddiverting again at Charikot northwards into the valley of the Tama Kosi River. Arriving at Chetchet (1450m) in thelate afternoon we will cross the river on a suspension bridge and get the kinks out of our legs with a short trekuphill on stone steps to our overnight lodge at Simigaon (2000m) a pretty village set amongst terraced green fields.

ACCOMMODATIONLODGE ASCENT 600M DISTANCE 3KM MEALS BLD

DESCENT 50M TIME 2 HRSTREKKING HOURS

Day 3: Trek via Kyalche to Dongang (2800m) beside the Rolwaling Khola.

The trail from Simigaon heads right from the lodge and contours through rhododendron forest towards the river.There's a little bit of undulation before we reach the river and the suspension bridge leading to Riku Village. Wedon't cross the bridge, but stay on the south side of the river, gaining height steadily to Surmuche where we stopfor lunch. There are lots of stone steps on this section of trail and we climb away from the river for a couple ofhours to Kyalche where there is a single lodge. From here, it's a short descent to the village of Dongang, where weare once again beside the river. We stay in one of the two lodges at Dongang (2800m).


DESCENT 100M TIME 6 - 7 HRSTREKKING HOURS

Day 4: Cross the Rolwaling Khola and trek to Beding (3650m).



From Dongang the trail stays close to the river on its south side, gaining height quite gradually over the first 3 anda half kilometres until we reach a small, steel box-section bridge which takes us across the river. There's a sharpascent immediately after crossing the bridge which leads up to Thangdingma which is a convenient place to stopfor a lunch at the small teashop. Beyond Thangdingma the terrain changes dramatically, it is drier, more barrenand there are fewer trees. Our route continues close to the river and we pass through Nyamare, the villagecompletely destroyed by 2015 earthquake. We will get our first views of Gauri Shankar (7145m) today at the headof the tributary Themlung Khola. There are scattered houses in this part of the valley and after crossing a woodenbridge over another tributary we reach a 'kani' gateway at Changmi Kha where the biggest tree in the Rolwalingvalley is located. We overnight at a lodge in the Sherpa village of Beding (3650m) the main Sherpa settlement in thevalley.



Day 5: An acclimatisation day in Beding.

Before proceeding further into the Rolwaling Valley we need to give some consideration to our acclimatisation andBeding is a great place to spend a day. There is no need to do too much, although there are lots of opportunitiesfor short walks and exploration. There is a small monastery built into the cliffs above the village at an elevation ofaround 4000 metres and this makes a great objective for the day. The resident monks don't see too many visitorsand they will be happy to show us around. We spend a second night at our Beding lodge.



Day 6: A short and easy trek to Na Gaon (4200m).

This is a straightforward and yet spectacular day of trekking, as we continue the process of altitude acclimatisation.Trekking above Beding the valley opens out and the trail cuts across pleasant grazing areas with no trees apartfrom a few scrubby junipers. We will pass a huge boulder bedecked with prayer flags and sporting a colourfulpainting of the Guru Rimpoche. Our situation becomes increasingly impressive with snow peaks in every directionand numerous waterfalls cascading down the valley sides. We will reach Na Goan, the highest settlement in thevalley, by late morning and have lunch at our lodge. The afternoon is free.

ACCOMMODATIONLODGE ASCENT 600M DISTANCE 6KM DESCENT 50M

TIME 3 HRSTREKKING HOURS

Day 7: A day at Na Gaon with an acclimatisation walk to the lake of Tsho Rolpa (4580m).

With its maze of small fields, Na Gaon occupies a dramatic location surrounded by high peaks. Whilst we couldvery easily spend a day at leisure here, there is a great hike up to the glacial lake of Tsho Rolpa (4580m) that willhelp us with our acclimatisation and provide us with amazing mountain views. The trail from Na heads eastwardsup the valley, crossing to the south side of the Rolwaling Khola and keeping to that side of the river for an hourbefore recrossing to the north side. The trail steepens and we get our first view of Parchemo (6275m) which risesabove the eastern end of the lake. Then, after around 2 hours, we reach a viewpoint just above the lake with great



views of many of the peaks of the Rolwaling Himal. The trail that we can see crossing the scree slopes on the southside of the lake leads across the Tesi Lapcha into the Khumbu. But, that's not for us today, and we return moreeasily to our lodge in Na Gaon.



Day 8: Trek to Yalung Basecamp (4985m).

As we continue our preparation for the ascent of Khang Karpo, we will today make our approach to the trekkingpeak Yalung Ri (5630m) which is situated due south of Na Gaon. Today's short but steep trek will take us up to thecamping place known as Yalung Basecamp (4985m). The route follows the first part of the approach to Tsho Rolpa(which we did yesterday) before cutting up the south side of the valley towards the rarely-crossed pass of theYalung La. The views of the Rolwaling Himal are increasingly impressive as we gain height and we can once againsee Parchemo at the head of the valley and beyond that Cho Oyu (8201m) some 35 kilometres away in theKhumbu. There is a small porter shelter at Yalung Basecamp which was built by the local IFMGA Guides. Theobvious, wedge-shaped Yalung Ri rises above us towards the west. This is our first camping night of the expedition.

ACCOMMODATIONCAMPING ASCENT 850M DISTANCE 5KM MEALS BLD


Day 9: Climb Yalung Ri (5630m) and trek to Grasslands Camp (4700m) beside Dudh Pokhari.

We will have a basic tea and porridge breakfast and a pre-dawn start from camp, setting off with the assistance ofour headtorches. The ascent of Yalung Ri is initially across scree and moraine and we will take our time. After anhour and a half, as it starts to get properly light, we will reach the edge of the glacier that sits on the mountain.Here, we will stop, take a break, fit our crampons to our boots and rope up for the straightforward ascent acrossan open snowslope and then an airy, but never too steep, snow ridge to the prayer-flagged summit. Enjoyableclimbing with fantastic views. We should get to the top by mid to late morning and back to basecamp in time forlunch in the early afternoon. We will then make the steep descent back to the Rolwaling Khola and cross below thewestern end of Tsho Rolpa to enter the valley of the Ripimo Glacier. Here, we follow a trail which runs through theablation valley beside the glacier and set up our camp near the small and sacred lake known as Dudh Pokhariwhere there are a number of prayer-flagged shrines.


DESCENT 1285M TIME 9 - 10 HRSCLIMBING /TREKKING HOURS

Day 10: Trek up to basecamp on the Ripimo Glacier (5300m).

Continuing our approach to Khang Karpo, we hike up the west side of the Ripimo Glacier on a scant trail used onlyoccasionally by shepherds from Na Gaon. Across the other side of the glacier the west face of Tsoboche (6689m)rises up impressively. After a short morning's walk we reach the last of the ruined stone shelters at the placeknown as Drangnak which overlooks the glacier. We will have lunch here and then continue, firstly on the lateralmoraine of the Ripimo Glacier and then heading out onto the glacier itself. We make our way carefully across loose



moraine material and patches of bare ice to a level area of scree and moraine where we set up our basecamp atan elevation of around 5300 metres. This is an amazing situation with peaks on all sides and we can see ourobjective, Khang Karpo (6646m), ahead of us.



Day 11: A rest and acclimatisation day at Khang Karpo Basecamp.

This is a useful day of preparation for our guides and Sherpas who will go ahead to check out the approach toKhang Karpo. The peak has only been climbed once (as far as we know) and the conditions on the mountain willinevitably have changed since it was climbed in late 2016. Meanwhile the group will spend a day resting andacclimatising at basecamp. This is also an opportunity to check climbing gear before moving up into the world ofice and snow tomorrow.

ACCOMMODATIONCAMPING MEALS BLD

Day 12: Trek to Khang Karpo High Camp (5700m).

Khang Karpo is one of a number of peaks on a dramatic ridge that separates the Ripimo Glacier from theDrolambu Glacier. To reach our high camp below the peak we have to trek up onto a tributary glacier that joins theRipimo Glacier from the east. This smaller glacier is snow-covered and crevassed and we rope up for the short andtechnically straightforward ascent (avoiding the crevasses) to a broad and level expanse of ice directly beneathKhang Karpo at an elevation of 5700 metres. This is a stunning location surrounded by peaks including KhangKarpo and its northerly neighbour Rolwaling Kang (6664m). We have lunch at camp, make our final preparations,make sure to drink lots and settle down for an early night. The Sherpas make take the opportunity in the afternoonto fix a line up to the summit ridge on the peak.



Day 13: Summit Khang Karpo (6646m) and descend to High Camp.

We will have a 2am start for what will be undoubtedly be a very long day on the mountain. Roped up and followingthe guides we will trek across to the base of the peak. There is an abrupt change of angle as we follow our fixedline up a steep couloir to reach the low point on the ridge between Khang Karpo and Rolwaling Kang. Once we areestablished on the ridge there is still a long way to go. Khang Karpo's north ridge is never too technical but thereare short steep sections to overcome and the first ascensionists reported that there were a number of snowbridges to negotiate. It is likely to take us at least 8 or 9 hour to reach the summit. Close to the border with Tibet,this is one of the finest viewpoints imaginable with views of at least six of Nepal's 8000 metre peaks - Everest,Makalu, Cho Oyu etc.. Returning by the same route, we will aim to be back in camp before dark.


DESCENT 1200M TIME 14 - 16 HRSCLIMBING HOURS



Day 14: A spare or contingency day.

This is a quite complicated and challenging itinerary and it make sense to factor in a spare day in case we have losttime during the first part of the trip, or as a contingency against poor weather on the scheduled summit day.

ACCOMMODATIONCAMPING MEALS BLD

Day 15: Descend to the Ripimo Glacier and cross it to Glacier Camp (5000m).

The camping place that we used on Day 10 (Glacier Camp) is not too far away 'as the crow flies', but we have somereasonably complicated terrain to cross on the way and we will rope up again before setting off down into thevalley. We pass the site of our basecamp at 5300 metres and continue across the rubble of the Ripimo Glacier toreach the relative comfort of our off-glacier campsite. We will aim to get to camp in time for a late lunch and willleave the afternoon free as a contingency in case we've been held up during the morning's trek.



Day 16: Trek back down to Na Gaon (4280m) in the Rolwaling Valley.

No rush this morning, as we set off back down the valley on the pleasant ablation valley trail above the glacier. Wepass through rough pasture areas with lots of pretty wild flowers and pay our respects again as we pass theshrines at Dudh Pokhari. We are now so well acclimatised that, as we reach the main Rolwaling Valley and continueto lose height, the trekking starts to feel almost effortless. We should reach our lodge accommodation in Na Gaonin time for a late lunch. Afternoon free.



Day 17: Trek via Beding to Dongang (2800m).

We have a longer day today in terms of distance covered, trekking easily downhill beside the Rolwaling Khola. Aftera couple of leisurely hours we reach Beding and for the next 2 or 3 kilometres we pass several more hamlets andisolated farms. The route stays on the north side of the river as far as the bridge just beyond Thangdingma. Wemay choose to stop for lunch at Thangdingma before crossing the river and completing our day's walk to the 2lodges at Dongang.



Day 18: Trek to Gongar (1450m) beside the Tama Kosi.

We are back in the forest for much of today's walk as we skirt above the Rolwaling Khola, passing the isolatedlodge at Kalche and descend via several long sections of stone steps towards Simigaon. From here, there's a final



steep descent to the bridge over the Tama Kosi. We cross the river and end our day's trek at our lodgeaccommodation either in Chetchet or nearby Gongar (1450m).



Day 19: Drive back to Kathmandu where we check in at the group hotel.

After an early breakfast at the lodge, we board our vehicle for the approximately 8-hour journey back toKathmandu. We arrive in Kathmandu in the middle of the afternoon, check in at the group hotel and have some torelax and freshen-up before heading out to one of the Thamel restaurants for a celebratory dinner.

ACCOMMODATIONHOTEL WITHSWIMMING POOL

MEALS BLD

Day 20: Departure day. Kathmandu Airport transfers provided.

KE Land Only package services end after breakfast. Transfers to Kathmandu Airport are provided. To extend yourholiday in Nepal, why not pre-book a day's sightseeing tour in the Kathmandu Valley, or a multi-day excursion tothe wildlife reserve at Chitwan. Contact our office for details.

MEALS B

Holiday Information

What's Included

• An IFMGA qualified Nepalese mountain guide• A KE mountain leader• A team of climbing Sherpas• A trek crew including guide cook and porters• Kathmandu Airport transfers• All land transport required by the itinerary• All accommodation as described• All meals• FREE sleeping bag down jacket and climbing gear hire is available for this holiday on request

What's Not Included

• Travel Insurance• Nepalese Visa• Tips for porters and other trek staff• Miscellaneous expenses - drinks and souvenirs etc



Joining Arrangements & Transfers

Airport transfers are provided for all clients. You will be met on arrival at Kathmandu Airport by a KE representativeand taken to your hotel. Land Only clients, please note that we require your flight details in order to arrange yourairport transfers. Please forward this information at your earliest convenience. Hotel contact details and anemergency number will be provided with your booking confirmation.

Meal Plan

All meals are provided throughout the holiday from dinner on Day 1 to breakfast on Day 20 of the Land Onlyitinerary. This applies whether you are staying in a city hotel, a lodge on trek or while camping.

Food & Water

It is not recommended to drink untreated water from the taps. If you are on a trekking or cycling holiday, water issupplied to fill up your individual bottles. This will be boiled, filtered or provided in large jerry cans or 5 litre bottles.Additionally you should take purification tablets or a filter bottle (such as a Water-To-Go bottle) to treat your waterwhen in towns or where water is not supplied. We do not encourage the purchasing of single use plastic bottles.

In the lodges you can expect to eat Nepali dishes, such as the excellent staple of dal bhat, as well as dishes withmore of an international feel, like pizza. Breakfast will usually be porridge, eggs, bread and a hot drink, lunch willbe a simple meal with a hot drink taken at a tea house or prepared by our trek crew on the trail. Occasionallyclients will be asked to carry a packed lunch if there is no suitable place to prepare lunch along the way. Dinner willbe 3 courses consisting of soup, main meal and a simple pudding. At some of the tea houses it may be possible toorder additional dishes and/or snacks and if you think you may want to do this, you should budget accordingly.Boiled drinking water will be provided at breakfast, lunch and dinner. Some of the lodges and tea-houses may sellsnacks, chocolate bars, soft drinks and even beer. The food served at our camps on the approach to Yalung Ri andKhang Karpo will be simple and nourishing dishes prepared by our highly trained trek cooks. The emphasis is onproviding a high-carbohydrate and largely vegetarian diet, which we have found to be easily digestible at highaltitude. In Kathmandu we take our meals in local restaurants.

Special Diets

Whilst we can cater for vegetarians, albeit sometimes with a more limited choice, we cannot provide special diets.Due to the nature of the trips that we operate and the countries in which we operate them, it can be very hard(and sometimes impossible) to cater for a wide range of dietary choices and you may have to supplement your dietwith food/snacks from home. If you have specific dietary requirements please do speak to our sales team andthey will be able to advise you whether or not we will be able to offer your specific choice. Please note that we areunable to provide separate menus and cannot accept liability for any problems arising from special dietaryrequirements or intolerances.

Accommodation

In Kathmandu we use comfortable 4 and 5 star accommodation including the Shangri-La Hotel. Located in theheart of the city, this hotel offers a range of first-class facilities including a pleasant tree-shaded garden areacomplete with swimming pool. Whilst on trek there are 9 nights in lodges and 8 nights in tents. Accommodation isgenerally arranged on a twin sharing basis and if you are travelling by yourself you will paired up with anothersingle traveller of the same sex. Please note that at one or two of the lodges there may only be multi-beddedrooms. Nepalese trekking lodges are simple, friendly and atmospheric. They generally have heated dining areaswhich are often attractively decorated. Bedrooms are, however, basic and unheated with wooden beds and foam



mattress. You will need a sleeping bag. The lodges have shared washing and toilet facilities. Some lodges havesolar powered showers (charged at $4 - $5 per shower) and battery charging facilities (also charged at a rate perhour). For the 2 nights in Kathmandu single rooms are available at supplementary cost. We can offer single tentoccupancy at supplementary cost , but it is not possible to arrange single room occupancy in the lodges. Additionalhotel nights in Kathmandu can be pre-booked.

Group Leader & Support Staff

The group will be accompanied by an IFMGA qualified Nepalese mountain guide and an experienced KE mountainleader. They will be assisted by a strong team of high altitude Sherpas.

Altitude

This holiday involves going to very high altitude. During the course of your trip you will be spending at least onenight above 4000 metres and/or trekking to 5000 metres or above. This is not something that you should worryabout; the human body is quite capable of adapting to a very wide range of altitudes, but it is important that wefollow some simple rules in order to acclimatise successfully. Before coming on this holiday you should read theadvice on trekking at high altitude. Unless you have previous experience of trekking above 4000 metres you shouldconsult one of our trekking experts before embarking on this holiday. On this trip we carry a portable altitudechamber (PAC-bag) and/or bottled oxygen for use in emergencies.

Spending Money

Approximately £250 (or equivalent in US dollars, Euros etc) changed into local currency, should be allowed formiscellaneous expenses including porter and trek crew tips, drinks, snacks etc. It is not necessary to obtain localcurrency prior to departure. Sterling, US Dollars and Euros are equally acceptable for exchange in Nepal. Werecommend that you carry your travel money in the form of cash, since you will exchange the majority of this onthe day of your arrival in Kathmandu. If you prefer not to carry all of your spending money in cash, it is possible towithdraw money from ATMs in Kathmandu using your debit or credit card. During the trek it is possible to buysnacks, chocolate, soft drinks and beer on some days only. Please be aware that since everything has to be carriedup from the nearest road, these items become more expensive as you gain altitude.

Guidance On Tipping

Tipping is the accepted way of saying thank you for good service. Normally the porters and any other trek staff aregiven their tips at the end of the trek and this is best done as a group. Your Western tour leader and the NepaliGuide will advise the group on an appropriate level of tipping. Most groups will hand out the tips with a bit ofceremony (or sometimes a party) on the last evening, to mark the end of the holiday. As a guide, we recommendthat each group member contributes around £100 (in rupees) to these tips. At the end of their trek many peoplealso like to donate various items of equipment to the porters and trek staff who work so hard to make the trip asuccess. Boots, gloves, hats, scarves and even socks are always warmly received by the porters, whilst technicalclothing and equipment such as head-torches and trekking poles are highly prized by the Sherpa team. Your tourleader will make arrangements for a fair distribution (possibly by raffle) amongst the trek crew. Please note thatyou will have the opportunity to tip your Western tour leader and Nepali Guide separately during dinner on thefinal evening of the holiday.

Beat The Jet Lag

Our holidays are normally designed with minimal 'down time' at the start of the trip, but having a day or two at thebeginning will have the additional benefit of allowing you time to get over the stress of a long journey or travelling



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across time zones, leaving you refreshed and ready for your holiday. We can easily arrange for you to haveadditional nights and airport transfers.

Free KE Gift

A free KE trek bag is available on this holiday

Made of tough Cordura fabric, our 80 litre trek bags are specially designed, with strong zips and webbing straps, towithstand the rigours of being transported whilst on your trip. Trek bags also make it easier for our local staff toidentify and gather baggage quickly at airports and hotels.

If you have travelled with us before and already have a KE trek bag, we’d like to make a special request. We aretrying to make every area of KE the most sustainable it can be, so if your existing KE trek bag has plenty of life leftin it, we’d be very grateful if you didn’t automatically order a new one for every holiday you book. Thanks inadvance for helping us with our commitment to responsible travel.

You can request a Trek bag once your booking has been confirmed by emailing us at [email protected] note delivery outside of the UK will be charged. Postage charges are: Europe £6 / America £16 / Rest ofworld £22.

Baggage Allowance

For this holiday you should take one piece of luggage (which should be a soft bag such as the KE Trek Bag) and adaypack. Your baggage on trek will be carried by porters and/or pack-animals. Your personal mountaineeringequipment (boots, axe, crampons etc) will be carried in one or two communal bags. You should give these items ofequipment to your trek leader in Kathmandu and they will be packed away until needed. It is possible to leaveclothes or other items not required on trek at the group hotel. For international flights please check your baggageallowance with your airline.

Group Size & Holiday Status

For each holiday there is a minimum number of participants required to enable it to go ahead. Once the minimumnumber is reached, the trip status will change from 'Available' to 'Guaranteed to run'. You can check the trip statusfor each departure in ‘Dates and Prices’ table. Other than in exceptional circumstances, we will not cancel a triponce it has achieved this guaranteed to run status and so you are free to proceed with your international flightbooking and other travel arrangements.

Recommended Outdoor Retailers

Many of the Equipment items listed above are available from Cotswold Outdoor - our'Official Recommended Outdoor Retailer'. When you book a holiday with KE you will receive15% discount voucher from Cotswold Outdoor and other retailers.>> Find out more

Travel Insurance

It is an essential condition of joining a holiday with KE Adventure Travel that you have a valid travel insurancepolicy to cover the cost of medical treatment and to protect the value of your holiday in the event of cancellation.When taking out insurance please ensure the policy you choose covers you for the activities and altitude includedin your itinerary.



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For appropriate insurance cover we recommend Campbell Irvine Direct. Please go to our Travel Insurance page forfurther information and to get a quote.

General Information

Passport & Visas

A passport with 6 months remaining validity at the end of your stay is generally required for visits to countriesoutside the EU. The information that we provide is for UK passport holders. Please check the relevant embassy orconsulate for other nationalities. It is your responsibility to ensure that you have the correct travel documents andvisas for your holiday. Visa requirements and charges are subject to change without notice. If you are travellingoutside the EU you should have at least 2 blank pages in your passport for each country that you visit.

Visa Nepal

All nationalities require a visa and this can be obtained on arrival at Kathmandu Airport. The visa process isautomated and this includes having your photograph taken. The visa fee is $30 for 15 days, $50 for 30 days, $125for 90 days. The visa is FREE for children under 10 years. The visa allows multiple re-entry. Payment must be madein cash and USD, GBP or Euros are accepted. Whilst these are not now needed for the visa process, we recommendthat you travel with at least 2 spare passport photographs.

You can avoid the queue for the first stage of the visa process on arrival at Kathmandu Airport by printing off thisapplication form and completing it before you travel (you will need to attach one passport photograph to thisform). If you travel with this form you can go directly to the cashier to pay for your visa.

TREKKING PERMITS – WHAT DO WE NEED FROM YOU ?For treks in the Everest region – EBL, EVL, EHW, ELL - we need your passport details and we need you to take withyou to Nepal 2 passport photographs. You will hand these over to your local leader on Day 1.

For treks in the Annapurna region – ASL, ACL, UAT, ANL, KRT and for the Gosainkund and Langtang Trek - GLT – weneed your passport details and we need to send through to Nepal ahead of your departure a scan of a passport-style photograph of yourself. Please send this to us once your holiday is guaranteed.

For these Conservation Area treks and other treks requiring Special Permits – KAN, DLG, NAP – we need to sendthrough to Nepal ahead of your departure a scan of a passport-style photograph of yourself and a scan of theinformation pages of your passport. Please send these to us once your holiday is guaranteed. On arrival inKathmandu you may still be required to provide your passport (with your visa) for presentation at the NepalTourism Board. If this does happen, your passport will be returned to you by your tour leader at dinner.

For those trips requiring Climbing Permits – MER, IPC, CTL, SBP, PXKK - we need to send to Nepal ahead of yourdeparture, a scan of a passport-style photograph of yourself and a scan of the information pages of your passport.Please send these to us once your holiday is guaranteed. On arrival in Kathmandu you may still be required toprovide your passport (with your visa) for presentation at the Nepal Tourism Board. If this does happen, yourpassport will be returned to you by your tour leader at dinner.



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Health & Vaccinations

Severe Allergies

If you have a severe allergy please inform the KE office before you travel. We will do all we can to help, but wecannot guarantee an allergy free environment on KE trips. You will need to carry your own treatment for theallergy with you, as 'adrenaline auto-injectors' are not carried as standard by KE leaders and staff. You shouldinform your leader on arrival of your allergy, and let them know where you keep your adrenaline pen.

VaccinationsYou should contact your doctor or travel clinic to check whether you require any specific vaccinations or otherpreventive measures. You should be up to date with routine courses and boosters as recommended in the UK e.g.diphtheria-tetanus-polio and measles-mumps-rubella, along with hepatitis A and typhoid.

Malarial prophylaxis is not usually required for trips in the mountains, however if you are visiting rural and remotelow lying areas then they might be necessary. On holidays to more remote areas you should also have a dentistcheck up. A good online resource is Travel Health Pro.

Currency

The unit of currency in Nepal is the Nepalese Rupee.

Electricity Supply & Plug

We recommend you check if you require an adaptor for your electrical items at:

http://www.worldstandards.eu/electricity/plugs-and-sockets/

Preparing For Your Holiday

This is a tough trekking and climbing itinerary at high elevation. You will need to be in good shape and used tospending long days in the hills. You will be walking for 7 or 8 hours on many days, with longer days including asummit day on Khang Karpo that could be as long as 12 or 14 hours. The best preparation for this trip is regularhiking in mountain or hill country. If this is not possible, we suggest that you adopt a weekly exercise regime andgradually increase your work rate as you get nearer to departure. Running, cycling and swimming are all good fordeveloping better stamina. Whatever your preparation, before departure, we suggest that you try to fit in anumber of long walks in hilly country.

Climate

The post-monsoon season of October to November is one of the best times for trekking in Nepal. During thisseason it is neither too hot in the foothills nor too cold at higher elevations. Post-monsoon the skies are generallyclear and the weather is settled. Daytime temperatures will vary from approximately 25ºC in Kathmandu toapproximately 14ºC at 3000 metres and approximately 3ºC at 5000m. The ‘real feel’ temperature in the middle ofthe day will be warmer than this. At night in the rarefied air the temperatures plummet. You can expect toexperience overnight temperatures below freezing once above approximately 4200 metres and at the high campon Khang Karpo the night time temperatures may drop as low as –25ºC. Extended periods of rain or snow areunlikely outside of the monsoon period but short lived storms can and do occur. It is very important that you areequipped and prepared for these extremely low temperatures.



http://travelhealthpro.org.uk/country-information/

http://www.worldstandards.eu/electricity/plugs-and-sockets/

Travel Aware

As a reputable tour operator, KE supports the British Foreign & Commonwealth Offices' ‘Travel Aware’ campaignto enable British citizens to prepare for their journeys overseas. The 'Travel Aware' website provides a single,authoritative source of advice for all kinds of travellers and we recommend that prior to travel, all KE clients visitthe official UK Government website at travelaware.campaign.gov.uk and read the FCO Travel Advice for theirchosen destination. North Americans can also check out the U.S. Department of State website:www.travel.state.gov for essential travel advice and tips.

KE treat the safety and security of all clients as the most important aspect of any trip we organise. We would notrun any trip that we did not consider reasonably safe. Should the FCO advise against travel for any reason, we willcontact everyone booked to travel to discuss the situation. We receive regular updates direct from the FCO andare in constant touch with our contacts on the ground. If you have any questions about government travel advice,please call our office.

Single Use Plastic

KE do not encourage the use of single use plastic items. We are ensuring that our agents all over the world areworking together to reduce the problem and educate those around them. We are leading by example in our KEoffice by reducing our plastic use. We have pledged to AITO’s Project Protect that 70% of our agents stop usingsingle use plastic bottles.

Books

• Trekking and Climbing in Nepal. Steve Razzetti.• Kathmandu and the Kingdom of Nepal. Prakash Raj.• Adventure Treks Nepal. Bill O’Connor.

Maps

Schneider Trekking Maps - Rolwaling Himal (Gaurishankar). 1:50,000

This is an excellent map if you can find a copy.

Newgrove Consultants - Rolwaling and Everest. 1:100,000

Available from Stanfords (www.stanfords.co.uk). Basic trekking map.

Flight Information

Flight Inclusive Or Land Only?

On our website we display a UK Flight inclusive package price and Land only package price for the majority of ourholidays.

Flight Inclusive Notes

The FLIGHT INCLUSIVE dates and prices are based on UK flights from London to Kathmandu. Outbound flights willusually depart from the UK in the evening, arriving mid-afternoon on the following day (Day 1 of the Land Onlyitinerary). Return flights will depart Kathmandu usually in the morning of the last day of the itinerary, arriving in theUK later the same day. Regional departures and/or alternative carriers are available on request.



https://travelaware.campaign.gov.uk/

https://travelaware.campaign.gov.uk/

http://www.travel.state.gov

https://www.stanfords.co.uk

To avoid paying more for your flight, we recommend that you book as early as possible, especially during peaktimes as there are only a limited number of seats available at the advertised price. If we are unable to secure seatsat the price shown, or you have requested regional departures, we will contact you with an alternative quote. Weare also able to quote for premium, business and first class seats. Please be aware that you may be asked to payfor your flights in advance of your final holiday balance. Remember if you book a package including flights with KEyou will benefit from full financial protection.

Land Only Notes

The LAND ONLY dates and prices are for the itinerary joining in Kathmandu on the dates shown above. For clientsmaking their own flight arrangements, Kathmandu Airport is the most convenient for transfers to the group hotel.Please refer to Joining Arrangements & Transfers for further details.

Flights SHOULD NOT be booked until you have received your booking confirmation and the departure is shownabove as either Guaranteed or Limited Availability.

Why Choose KE Adventure Travel?

Why Choose KE Adventure Travel?

Adventure Travel Insurance

It is a condition of joining any of our trips that you are insured against medical and personal accident risks (toinclude repatriation costs, air ambulance and helicopter rescue services). We also strongly recommend that youtake out holiday cancellation insurance, as all deposits paid are non-refundable. Please ensure that your insurer isaware of your KE Adventure itinerary and can agree to cover the activities being undertaken. You will then need toadvise us of your policy details and complete an Insurance Declaration Form.

CAMPBELL IRVINE DIRECT travel insurance is available to EU residents and will cover the majority of KE Adventureholidays. It has been designed to provide cover for activities normally excluded by other insurers such as trekking,mountain biking and climbing. Please note that certain activities may attract a higher premium. In addition‘Campbell Irvine Direct’ cannot provide cover for KE climbing trips above 6000m. Cover for these can be obtainedthrough either the British Mountaineering Council (BMC) or Snowcard.

TRAVELEX is a USA based insurer offering travel insurance, which can be used by US citizens and US residents only.KE recommends the "Travelex Select" package for our holidays. If your holiday involves using mountaineeringequipment (ropes, harness or crampons), for climbing or glacial travel, you should consider the "Adventure PlusPak" optional upgrade on the Travelex Select Plan. Please refer to the 'Description of Coverage' for a summary ofthe terms, conditions, exclusions and limitations of the applicable Protection Plan. This policy will also cover KEclimbing trips above 6000m.

Operating since 1984, KE Adventure Travel has some of the most experienced staff in the business, with theproven ability to set up and operate a worldwide programme of adventures. Everyone has adventure travel atheart and joins at least one trip a year. It is this depth of experience that makes KE stand out from other adventuretravel operators. When you contact KE, by phone or e-mail, or visit our office, you will find the help and advice youneed, from someone who has actually done the trip and can give you the benefit of their first-hand experience.

KE can guarantee the very best in trip support, excellent food, a good standard of hotel and other accommodation,plus the back up of one of the most respected companies in the business. Client satisfaction is at the top of ouragenda and almost 50% of our bookings each year come from repeat business. If you are looking for adventurethen look no further than KE.



We hope that this trip notes has answered most of your questions.

Please feel free to contact us and speak to one of our experts.

Group Tour Leaders

All of our holidays are accompanied by an experienced leader, some of whom have worked with KE groups formany years. Many are professional guides and instructors with an unrivalled knowledge of the areas in which theywork. In many parts of the world, we recruit local guides with appropriate training and experience. In addition tohaving the technical skills to ensure your safety, KE expects its leaders to be active members of the group. Aleader should be fun to travel with and ready to share with you their enthusiasm for adventure travel and theirknowledge of the area. Alongside the group leader, there will be a local support crew, which could be just a driver,or a complete team of guides, drivers, porters, mule-herders and cooks. The hard work of our support crews, alongwith the fascinating insight they can offer into their local culture, is integral to providing you with the very bestadventure travel experience.

Sustainable Tourism

Since we ran our first trip in 1984, we have been committed keeping the world's most beautiful places pristine byminimising our environmental impact. Recognising the fragility of the world's wilderness environments, we keepour groups small and operate according to a ‘Mountain Code’, which is provided to all groups, trek leaders, agentsand staff. We make sure that our local staff are well treated and well paid, we respect indigenous cultures, takecare to protect the environment of the places we visit and take every opportunity to make a positive contributionwherever we travel. Our philosophy of 'leaving nothing but footprints' has been integral to KE's approach rightfrom the start over 30 years ago. In recognition of our efforts we are proud to have achieved the highest award of5 Stars for Sustainable Tourism by AITO.

We continue to travel responsibly, and more information on our policy, practice, and specific projects can be foundat www.keadventure.com, and on the website of our partner charity the Juniper Trust: www.junipertrust.co.uk. KE'sMountain Code is issued to our staff, trek leaders and overseas agents, and we recommend it to our clients, too!

Booking Your Holiday

The easiest way to make your booking is online. You will need to pay a deposit at the time of booking. This isnormally £200 but for some holidays with special permit fees or internal flights, this may be more. The amount ofdeposit required for an individual holiday is given on the dates and prices page of the holiday. Late bookings willrequire full payment. We cannot confirm any booking until we receive your fully completed booking form.



https://www.junipertrust.co.uk

Equipment List

The following checklist should help you with your packing. Use your own experience and judgement to determinewhat to bring with you but please ensure you have all of the mandatory items. As a general rule, you should alwaystry to keep the weight of your equipment to a minimum. Please make sure you have read the section on baggageallowance in the trip notes. It is possible to leave clothes or other items not required on trek at the group hotel.

You Must Bring The Following Items:• Hiking boots• Mountaineering boots - see ‘Mountaineering Equipment’• Snow gaiters• Good quality (Gore-Tex) overtrousers• Fleece jacket• Good quality (Gore-Tex) mountain jacket with hood• Duvet jacket (down or man-made fibre)*• Down trousers/pants (optional)• Sunhat• Warm hat and thermal balaclava• Good quality wrap-around sunglasses or glacier glasses• Ski goggles (optional)• Thin gloves• Warm and insulating gloves or mittens• Daypack minimum 40 litres• Headtorch and spare batteries• Sun protection (including total bloc for lips, nose etc.)• Water bottles 1 Litre (x2) (we encourage re-filling water bottles rather than single use plastic)• Water purification tablets• Dry bags(s) for daypack/kitbag contents (to ensure they keep dry)• Sleeping bag comfort rated down to minus 20 C*• Sleeping bag liner• Basic First Aid Kit including: A broad spectrum antibiotic, antiseptic cream, throat lozenges, diarrhoea treatment

(Imodium), altitude (Diamox), painkillers, plasters (band-aids) and blister treatment, and re-hydration salts(Dioralite).

Mountaineering Equipment• Mountaineering double boots - see below• Ice axe *• Crampons (that fit your boots!)*• Mountaineering or climbing harness*• 2 x Karabiners (screwgate)**• Ascender or Jumar (provided)• Descender (rappelling device) **• Prussik loop **• Climbing helmet*



Packing Checklist:• Trekking trousers• Baselayer shirts• Baselayer leggings• T-shirts or similar• Washbag and toiletries• Antibacterial handwash• Small trek towel• Small padlock (to lock trek bag)• Travel clothes• Trekking poles (recommended)• Scarf or buff• Trainers for camp use• Pee bottle• Swimwear (for the hotel pool in Kathmandu)• Insect repellant – (DEET)• Camera• Penknife (remember to pack all sharp objects in hold baggage)• Basic repair kit (gaffer tape, sewing thread and needle etc)

Notes*FREE sleeping bag, down jacket and climbing gear hire is included in your KE holiday booking on request.

Equipment hire: Please make all requests at least 4 weeks prior to the trip departure date. Items marked ** areprovided with hire of a harness and not available for individual hire. All equipment is issued in Kathmandu. Pleaseremember to allow room in your trek bag for these items during travel to the start of your trek. During the trekyour mountaineering equipment including double-boots will be carried separately in communal equipment bags.

Crampon hire: We provide Grivel G12 Crampons which are classic 12 point crampons designed for generalmountaineering. They are fully adjustable and essentially, one size fits all. However if you have boots bigger thansize 11 (47) you will need to purchase and take with you Grivel extender bars. Or take your own crampons.

Cultural sensitivity: The Nepalese are still traditional and conservative in the way they dress. Therefore to avoidembarrassment on both sides we recommend that you respect this and do not wear revealing clothing orsleeveless tops while visiting Nepal. Shorts are acceptable, but they should reach to just above the knee and bemodest and for women it is preferable to wear trousers or a long skirt.

Camping mattress: For the several nights camping, foam type camping mattresses are provided. You may wish tobring your own Thermarest-type mattress for extra comfort, but this is optional.

Mountaineering boots: Climbing at altitudes around 6500 metres, the temperatures can be very cold (as low asminus 30 degrees centigrade). Standard leather mountaineering boots are really not suitable for these cold, highaltitude conditions. Double boots with insulated inners (eg. Scarpa Vega HA, Scarpa Omega IT, La Sportiva Spantik,Boreal G1 light), are the best to keep your feet warm at altitude in these extremely low temperatures. Also, you cansleep in the removable inner boots to ensure warm toes in the morning! You must make sure that you are suitablyequipped for these extremely low temperatures.



Gear Advisor• PHD specialise in cold weather equipment, from the world’s lightest right up to the most protective for Everest

or the Poles. It’s a large range. So to help you choose what you need to keep you warm, PHD have listed the gearthat is appropriate for this expedition. Click on this link: http://www.phdesigns.co.uk/gearadviser/destination.php?destinations_id=12

• Needle Sports is the English Lake District's foremost specialist climbing shop supplying mountaineering, rock,ice, alpine and expedition equipment worldwide. Internationally recognised as among the very best of the UK'stop technical climbing gear retailers. They have a good range of equipment appropriate for this trip and offerknowledgeable advice both on their website and in store.

Please note: This document was downloaded on 14 Nov 2019, and the trip is subject to change.



http://www.phdesigns.co.uk/gearadviser/destination.php?destinations_id=12

http://www.phdesigns.co.uk/gearadviser/destination.php?destinations_id=12

Documents

Introduction - KE Adventure Travel...beneath Khang Karpo’s south face. We will make our ascent via the mountain’s west ridge in a single long day. Khang Karpo’s summit is a fantastic