Pharchamo Peak Climbing

Trip Overview

Trip Itinerary

Dates & Price

Cost Inclusion

Cost Exclusion

Essential Information

Difficulty

Pharchamo peak climbing is considered strenuous due to a longer duration trek/climb in a remote and isolated area that goes above 5500m and you need to sleep at an elevation of 5000m+ for multiple days. Climbers are required to have an excellent physical level. On summit days, you will leave base camp at around 2 am and will only be back to base camp by late afternoon. This grade trip involves the usage of climbing equipment (Harness, Ice Axe, Crampons, Mountaineering Boots, Ascender). Previous experience is essential and we also provide a climbing course at base camp before the actual climb where your guides will teach you the proper way to use the equipment.  

Previous Experience

To partake in the Pharchamo Peak climb, an excellent physical level is required as this trip involves a longer duration of trek/climb. Previous experience of high altitude treks and climbing smaller peaks is of great advantage while climbing a 6000m peaks. While previous experience of trek/climb is a requirement, our carefully planned itinerary allows people without previous experience to join as well. We begin the trip with an acclimatized trek to Rolwaling Valley and afterwards cross the Tashi Laptcha pass before heading to Pharchamo Peak. You should also be both mentally and physically prepared for this trip. A fierce determination, burning desire and teamwork is required. We have allowed ample time for acclimatization and contingency day on our itinerary and there will also be a climbing course at the base camp where your guide will teach you the proper way to use the equipment. 

Meals

All meals are included on the trek and climb from Day 03 to 18 breakfast. We will provide three meals a day (B, L, D) during the trek. The menus in the teahouses are varied, ranging from traditional Nepalese dhal bhat, and Momo (Dumpling) to pizza and apple pie. During the trek, Breakfast and Dinner will be served at the teahouse/lodge where you stay and Lunch will be along the way. For the climbing period, it will be a full camping style. Our kitchen crew will prepare the food for us. In Kathmandu, only breakfast will be provided to give you the maximum flexibility in deciding where what and with whom to eat for lunch and dinner.

If you have any special dietary requirements please let us know in advance and we will be sure to pass your message to your guide. For a gluten-free diet, we highly recommend you bring extra foods, especially for breakfast as your options for breakfast will be limited. Meals worth USD 100-1500 are included on this trip.

Accommodation

Hotel: 4 Nights, Teahouse/Lodge: 10 Nights, Camping: 5 Nights

Kathmandu: 
In Kathmandu, we stay at Kathmandu Guest House, a well-known hotel where many famous celebrities like the Beatles, Ricky Martin, Jeremy Irons and others have stayed. Centrally located in Thamel, the hotel also boasts of a beautiful garden where you can relax and enjoy the greenery. Breakfast will be provided in the hotel, and your accommodation will be on a twin-sharing basis, and if you would like to have a single room, upon request, you are required to pay a single supplement price as stated in the trip costing.
Regardless of whether you're coming back from the mountains or touching base from the airport, come and unwind at the hotel's beautiful garden, request some fine Italian espresso or a chilled Beer, and escape in the memorable surroundings of Kathmandu's most adored guesthouse.

On Trek:
Trekking in the (Everest and Rolwaling area) does not need tremendous logistics in accommodation as there are clean and friendly Lodges along the trail. Rooms are basic, normally just a bed with a pillow and blankets but with a wonderful view from your window.  All the teahouses/lodges have a warm dining room lounge. The rooms are fairly basic. Blankets are generally provided by the teahouse but we will provide a warm sleeping bag to everyone. Bathrooms are mostly shared and toilets are squat type in most places. We will arrange for you and your group to stay in local lodges daily. Please remember that some of them are very basic and a sense of adventure is necessary.

Tented Accommodation:
Your accommodation will be on fully tented camping during the climbing period and for Tashi Laptcha Pass. A tent will be provided for every 2 climbers. If in case of a single by default, then we will provide a single tent without any additional cost. 

Single supplement: 
A single supplement will be charged if someone wishes to have their own room in Kathmandu. Especially when travelling in a group, we will always pair you with someone of the same sex and similar age to share the room with. If in case of a single by default, then clients don’t have to pay for the single supplement. Please note that on the trek, a single supplement is not available due to limited rooms

Weather

The best seasons for Pharchamo Peak Climb are Autumn (from October to the end of November) and Spring (April to May). Temperatures will drop considerably as you ascend higher every day. The nights are cold (between 5C to -5C) and the days are sunny and hot (between 10C to 20C).  Mornings are usually clear, with clouds building up in the afternoon and disappearing at night. Trekking and climbing during the monsoon seasons and winters are not recommended as the visibility is poor and limited whilst upper parts and high passes could be covered with snow.

March, April, October and November are the favoured months. Please choose a date that is convenient for you.

Training

High-altitude treks and climbs especially in the Himalayas are challenging and require you to be in the top physical, emotional, and psychological condition. The more fitter you are, the more enjoyable your trip will be. Training well ahead in advance is recommended and after you have signed up for the trip, we will send you our training booklet which provides essential information on how best to prepare yourself. 

Whilst on the trip before your actual climb, we will conduct a climbing clinic at the base camp where our guides will teach you the required mountaineering skills. 

Group Size

Our emphasis is always on maintaining the small group so that it will be easy to coordinate and cooperate with each other. Our group size is small and we only take up to 12 pax in one group. If you opt to join our ‘fixed departure trip’, you are likely to be joining people from different countries of any age group except minors. The size of the group varies, the minimum no of persons required to operate the trip is 2 and the maximum is 12 people.

Insurance

It’s mandatory and highly recommended to get travel insurance before embarking on any adventurous trips in Nepal. We advise all our clients to get travel insurance that covers up emergency helicopter evacuation that may be needed in case of the occurrence of AMS (Acute Mountain Sickness) or any other reasons in high altitudes where there are no other means of transportation available. It is advisable to review carefully the insurance and its coverages before making the final decision. Carry proof of your insurance with you on the holiday and leave a copy next to your kin. You must ensure that your insurance provides an adequate level of protection and covers you for the activities involved.

More information: Travel Insurance

Guide

Our Guide/Sherpa crews are critical to the success of your climbs that you do with us. We, us professionally trained Sherpa guides & sirdars who are just not hikers & climbers on the mountains but have been trained to perform this task with a lot of common sense & guile.

Kunga Sherpa, Everest summiteer and founder of Highland Expeditions, who has successfully guided and organized over 40 expeditions to 8000m as an expedition sirdar oversees our experienced Sherpa crew that will be with you on the climb.  We ensure that they are confident & experienced. Most of our guides were born in these parts & have relatives living in other parts of the regions where they were born in. We know that locally born staffs are a vital cog in that wheel of sometimes dangerous adventure where anything can happen. At Highland Expeditions, we always make sure that our mountain crews are highly motivated & never compromise.

We provide 1:3 climbing guide to client ratio for maximum support during the summit days. 

Drinking Water

We provide boiled water for drinking purposes on all our treks and climbs. During meal time, you can ask your guide to fill the hot water for you. We strongly discourage the use of single-use plastic bottles such as mineral water on all our trips. Carrying a hot water bottle is highly recommended. 

Baggage

You will only carry your day pack carrying the essential items (Water, Cameras, Extra Fleece, Rain jacket, Sunscreen, Snacks, Valuable Items etc.) that you may need during the walk. The porter will carry the rest of your gear. We provide 1 porter to every 2 participants and we also provide a duffel bag to put your trekking and climbing gears. 

During the summit push, you will only carry the essential items that may be required during the climb. Since we begin our summit push from base camp and retrace back to base camp the same day, you will only carry essential items, leaving everything else at the base camp. There will also be 1 guide for every 3 climbers, who will be glad to assist you if needed. 

Trip Style

Our trips are available on both fixed departure and private basis.

If you are looking for a group to join this trip please check our departures section for availability, dates and price. If you would like to travel independently, or with your friends, families & colleagues you are invited to choose any of the trips at your convenient timeframe for any number of people. If you want to do something that is not included in our trip list, we are ready to tailor a trip to suit your exact requirements. In short, we will make every effort to get you on the trip you want, when you want.

Equipment List

Equipment Checklist

The gear listed below is recommended for this kind of trip. We encourage you to get all equipment listed below for the trip and kindly ensure you check and try every piece of equipment.   You can also buy or hire the same in Kathmandu as they are available in the many trekking shops from branded to local manufacturers in Kathmandu.

Clothing and Footwear

- Long-sleeved shirts
- T-Shirts
- Trousers
- Warm Jackets/Sweater/Pullover
- Waterproof jackets and trousers
- Thermal
- Inner wears
- Undergarments
- Warm socks
- Warm Hat, Gloves (Down) and Bandana/Scarf
- Extra clothes to wear in Kathmandu when you come back from the trek.
- Trekking shoes (Full)
- Snow Gaiter
- Slippers/Flip flops to wear at camp
- Daypack 30-35 litres (To carry your sunblock, water, camera, waterproof jackets and others that you may require while trekking)

Documents

- Passport with visa and validity of 6 months after your trip completion
- 4 copies of passport-size photos for permits and official formalities
- Travel Insurance (Please refer to the general information page for more detail about it)
- Flight tickets
- Credit cards in case of emergencies
- Driving ID or any other ID in case of loss of your passport.

(Please carry the photocopy of all the documents along with you and leave a copy to next of kin)

Others

- Thermarest or similar sleeping mat
- Headlamps with extra batteries
- Sunglasses with UV protection
- Camera with charger or spare batteries
- A pair of trekking poles
- Water bottle one (1) litre
- Laundry bag to keep the dirty clothes
- Large plastic bags to keep the clothes dry
- Padlock
- Binoculars
- Reading materials, notebooks and pens

Toiletries and hygiene

- Quick-drying towel
- Small face towel
- Toothbrush &Toothpaste
- Deodorants, Soap and Shampoo (Smaller bottle)
- Face and body moisturizer, Sunscreen and lip balm
- Hand sanitiser/Antiseptic wipes
- Hygiene products
- Basic first aid kit

The gear listed below will be provided by us for the trek. Down Jacket and Sleeping Bag must be returned after the completion of the trek.

- Down Jacket
- Sleeping bag with liner
- Duffel/Kit Bag
- Group climbing gears

Personal climbing gears:

- Plastic mountaineering boots
- Mountaineering/Climbing Harness
- Helmet
- Ice Axe
- Crampons
- Ascender/Jumar
- Descender/ 8 figure (Rappelling device)
- Screw gate Karabiners (Lock 2/Unlock 2)
- Prusik loop

Which boot is best for peak climbing in Nepal? https://highlandexpeditions.com/best-boots-for-nepal-peak-climbing/

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Reviews

Simon Perkins Dec 10, 2022

An extremely competent team with years of experience and a proven track record that delivered an amazing and unforgettable trip. All backed up with highly efficient administration.