Mount Everest, also called Qomolangma Peak, Mount Sagarmāthā, Chajamlungma, Zhumulangma Peak or Mount Chomolungma, is the highest mountain on Earth above sea level, and the highest point on the Earth's continental crust, and stands at a proud 8,848m (29,029ft). In 1856, the Great Trigonometric Survey of India established the first published height of Everest, then known as Peak XV, at 8,840m (29,002ft). In 1865, Everest was given its official English name by the Royal Geographical Society upon recommendation of Andrew Waugh, the British Surveyor General of India at the time. Chomolungma had been in common use by Tibetans for centuries, but Waugh was unable to propose an established local name because Nepal and Tibet were closed to foreigners.

The highest mountain in the world attracts well-experienced mountaineers as well as novice climbers who are willing to pay substantial sums to professional mountain guides to complete a successful climb. The mountain, while not posing substantial technical climbing difficulty on the standard route (other 8,000ers such as K2 or Nanga Parbat are much more difficult), still has many inherent dangers such as altitude sickness, weather and wind. By the end of the 2008 climbing season, there had been 4,102 ascents to the summit by about 2,700 individuals. By the end of 2009 Everest had claimed 216 lives.

The Northeast ridge
The northeast ridge route begins from the north side of Everest in Tibet. Expeditions trek to the Rongbuk Glacier, setting up Base Camp at 5,180m (16,990ft) on a gravel plain just below the glacier. To reach Camp II, climbers ascend the medial moraine of the east Rongbuk Glacier up to the base of Changtse at around 6,100m (20,000ft). Camp III (ABC - Advanced Base Camp) is situated below the North Col at 6,500m (21,300ft). To reach Camp IV on the North Col, climbers ascend the glacier to the foot of the Col where fixed ropes are used to reach the North Col at 7,010m (23,000ft). From the North Col, climbers ascend the rocky north ridge to set up Camp V at around 7,775m (25,500ft). The route crosses the North Face in a diagonal climb to the base of the Yellow Band reaching the site of Camp VI at 8,230m (27,000ft). From Camp VI, climbers make their final summit push. Climbers face a treacherous traverse from the base of the First Step, 27,890ft - 28,000ft, to the crux of the climb, the Second Step, 28,140ft - 28,300ft. Once above the Second Step the inconsequential Third Step is clambered over, 28,510ft - 28,870ft. Once above these steps, the summit pyramid is climbed by means of a snow slope of 50 degrees, to the final summit ridge along which the top is reached.

The Legend of Mallory and Irvine
The northern approach to the mountain was discovered by George Mallory on the first expedition in 1921. It was an exploratory expedition not equipped for a serious attempt to climb the mountain. With Mallory leading (and thus becoming the first European to set foot on Everest's flanks) they climbed the North Col 7,007m (22,989ft). From there, Mallory espied a route to the top, but the party was unprepared for the great task of climbing any further and descended.

The British returned for a 1922 expedition. George Finch climbed using oxygen for the first time. He ascended at a remarkable speed - 950 feet per hour, and reached an altitude of 8,320m (27,300ft), the first time a human climbed higher than 8,000m. This feat was entirely lost on the British climbing establishment — except for its "unsporting" nature. Mallory and Col. Felix Norton made a second unsuccessful attempt. Mallory was faulted for leading a group down from the North Col which got caught in an avalanche. Mallory was pulled down too, but seven native porters were killed.

The next Expedition was in 1924. The initial attempt by Mallory and Bruce, was aborted when weather conditions precluded the establishment of Camp VI. The next attempt was that of Norton and Somervell who climbed without oxygen and in perfect weather, traversing the North Face into the Great Couloir. Norton managed to reach 8,558m (28,077ft), though he ascended only 100ft or so in the last hour. Mallory rustled up oxygen equipment for a last-ditch effort. He chose the young Andrew Irvine as his partner.

On 8 June 1924 George Mallory and Andrew Irvine made an attempt on the summit via the North Col/North Ridge/Northeast Ridge route from which they never returned. On 1 May 1999 the Mallory and Irvine Research Expedition found Mallory's body on the North Face in a snow basin below and to the west of the traditional site of Camp VI. Controversy has raged in the mountaineering community as to whether or not one or both of them reached the summit 29 years before the confirmed ascent (and of course, safe descent) of Everest by Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay in 1953.

The ‘road’ to Everest
Beginning in 2007, China paved a 130km dirt road from Tingri to the base camp to accommodate growing numbers of climbers on the north side of the mountain. Upon completion, China routed the 2008 Olympic Torch Relay over this road and to the summit of Everest, via the North Col route, on the way to the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. A China Telecom cellular tower near the Base Camp provides phone coverage all the way to the summit.

And this is the road we will be travelling on and pitching tent where so many famous mountaineers have pitched theirs ... including George Mallory and Sandy Irvine.

The itinerary

Transportation
During the drive we will be travelling on a 4-wheel drive (Land cruiser or similar), five people to a vehicle including driver. A Chinese Liaison Officer is mandatory for all groups entering China and he will be accommodated in one of the vehicles.

Accommodation
Accommodation will be very simple, in basic Guest Houses, with a cozy room, two to a room, with common bathrooms and toilets. However, hot water will be provided in buckets for freshening up. These lodgings are mainly meant for the mountaineers on their way to the summit of Everest. A place to stop the night for acclimatisation. Facilities have not yet caught up with travellers who are just weekend adventurers! During our days at Everest Base Camp, we will be camping in tents, two to a tent.

Food
The food (vegetarian) will be as found in the hotels we stay in and what we find on the road. It will be vegetarian and the menu will cover rice, mixed vegetables, soup and noodles. You will get a better spread while in Kathmandu though.

Clothing & Accessories
The day time will be pleasant and warm . Afternoons can be windy. Early mornings and evenings will be chilly. Depending on the weather at the time, it might go down to minus 10 degree Celsius at night. Do bring a good sleeping bag, preferably with a fleece inner.

Guide / Escort
A Tibetan / English speaking guide will escort the group throughout the trip.

Photography
As Tibet gets very bright sunlight due to the thin air, taking photographs can be a challenge due to the glare. We recommend you take the advice from the photographic shop while purchasing the film rolls for Tibet. Taking photographs inside monasteries will be charged as per monastery rules. Please ask your guide before taking photographs inside the monastery or elsewhere.

Camera & Films
A 35mm system with interchangeable lens will allow you to get the best shots in most situations. A wide angle (28-35mm) and a telephoto (80-200mm) are very useful. Skylight IB filters will protect your lenses and polarising filters are useful for snows. A brush for cleaning your lens is important and your camera and lens need to be in protective cases.

Medicines
We suggest you to bring your own first aid kit with adequate medication regarding altitude sickness, nausea, dehydration and some painkillers.

Insurance
We highly recommend all guests to be insured against medical, accidents and necessary emergency evacuation, if needed.

Physical Fitness
Before booking for this trip, you should be in sound good health. Do check with your doctor and brief him on the altitudes that you will be travelling to and get his advise given your physical condition.

Visa and documentation
You must be in possession of a valid passport with at least six month validity to obtain a visa. We will require the following details from your Passport (along with a copy of the relevant pages) at the time of booking the trip - full name (as in the Passport, nationality, date of issue, date of expiry, Passport No, date of birth, occupation.

Altitude Sickness
Acute mountain sickness is a frequent problem in the Himalayan region. Download and read the document carefully.

Personal Equipment Checklist
Do not bring things that you will not wear … even though you might think you will! Shorts or lightweight trousers are ideal in the heat of the day along with a T-shirt, long sleeved cotton shirt and a sun hat. During the evenings and at higher altitudes warmer clothing will be needed. Well fitting, comfortable boots are preferred over training shoes. Clothing will be required for both extremes of climate, for hot sun in the day to freezing temperatures at night when camping in the high valleys. We will send you a detailed checklist of things to carry once you book with us.

General considerations when packing
Keep the weight and bulk down to a minimum. Most people tend to bring more clothes than they do actually need. You will only need one change of clothes for Kathmandu. On the main journey it is important to dress in layers. When it is hot you will only be wearing a base layer, when it gets colder you can add to this until you are wearing most of your clothes and your sack is empty!

Minimum group size
We require at least TEN people to make this trip. In case the numbers are lower, the per head costs will be higher. So, do pass the word around among your friends, relations, acquaintances and ask them to sign up for the trip of a lifetime.

How to book
If you are interested in a trip to the base of the top of the world, undertaking one of the finest journeys in the highlands of the Himalayas, book yourself. Once we hear from you, we will let you know all other relevant details like things to carry, how to prepare and the costs.