Ice Col Trekking
We follow our journey as it emerges out of tranquil pastures and ascends the hidden Arun River valley. Climbing and descending gradually, taking us from villages at 457m to the Khongma Pass at 3,090m, this trail gives us the best possible form of acclimatization. Beyond Num there are no villages. The track climbs all the way to Neghe Kharka, crossing the Barun Khola flowing from Makalu. The route to Sherpani Col (6,135m) involves a sustained period at altitude with some steep slopes, but rewards with powerful views of Makalu (8,463m) to the north and the aptly named Island Peak (6,160m) to the west. This is the realm of the glaciers, surrounded by the unforgettable presence of the world's mightiest mountains and brooding above the towering bulk of Everest itself.
A truly adventurous expedition to a remote and wild region of the Great Himalayas, with full logistic support. This is a journey that seeks a different route, a fresh perspective, and a challenge.
The route from Makalu Base Camp to the Everest region, which we follow, is over Sherpani Col - West Col - Panch Pokhari - Amphu Lapcha. Basically all these passes lie on the three main ridges of Baruntse. The southeast ridge drops down to Sherpani Col at 20,127 ft (6,135m); the south ridge has West Col at 20,154 ft (6,143m), and the west ridge, which ultimately joins Ama Dablam dips down to 19,193 ft (5,850m) at Amphu Lapcha. Amphu Lapcha is probably the most demanding phase with some exposed snow and ice work. You will need plenty of rope and anchors, as there are two long descents to be set up. This can take a long time with porters! It could be 14 hours a day crossing the first two Cols. Our guides know how best to approach this problem and we would suggest you leave it to them. You will need full mountaineering equipment and your party will need to be fit.
Highlights of the Trekking
Crossing over challenging steep slopes Sherpani Col, West Col, Amphu Lapcha La, dramatic scenery of the giant Himalayas including Mt. Everest (8848meters), Mt. Makalu (8463meters) & Mt. Lhotse (8516meters), Panch Pokhari Lake, Makalu Base Camp etc.
Note
All conditions stated in the itinerary are for the visitors who prefer full package programme. At the same time, we also serve you based on your choice. The selection of itineraries and the staff depends on your choice and financial procurement. We have options for any partial visit as per your requirement and financial condition.
Day 01 : Arrive Kathmandu & Transfer to Hotel
Day 02 : Full day guided sightseeing around of the Kathmandu valley.
Day 03 : Flight to Tumlingtar and start trek to Khandbari (1040m – 4hrs). Camp
Day 04 : Trek to Chichila (1,830m) (5/6 hrs). Camp
Day 05 : Trek to Num (1,490m) (5 hrs). Camp
Day 06 : Trek to Seduwa (1,460m) (5/6 hrs). Camp
Day 07 : Trek to Tashi Gaon (2,070m) (5 hrs). Camp
Day 08 : Trek to Kauma (3,470m). Camp
Day 09 : Rest / Exploration day at Kauma. Camp.
Day 10 : Trek to Mumbuk (3,570m) (5 hrs). Camp
Day 11 : Trek to Nhe Kharka (3,000m) (6 hrs). Camp
Day 12 : Trek to Sherson (4,615m) (7 hrs). Camp
Day 13 : Trek to Makalu Base Camp (5,000m) (4/5 hrs). Camp
Day 14 : Explore the Makalu Base Camp.
Day 15 : Trek to Hillary Base Camp.
Day 16 : Trek to High Camp.
Day 17 : Exploration / Rest day.
Day 18 : Heading towards Sherpani Col (20,127 ft / 6,135 m), and Baruntse Base Camp
Day 19 : Trek to West Col (20,154 ft / 6,143 m), cross. Camp
Day 20 : Trek to Panch Pokhari. Camp
Day 21 : To Amphu Lapcha (19,193 ft / 5,850m), cross. Camp
Day 22 : Trek to Chukung (4,730m) (6 hrs). Camp
Day 23 : Trek to Dengboche (4,380m) (5 hrs). Camp
Day 24 : Trek to Tengboche to (3,860m) (4 hrs). Camp
Day 25 : Trek to Namche Bazar (3,440m) (4 hrs). Camp
Day 26 : Rest / Exploration day at Namche. Camp
Day 27 : Trek to Phakding, continue to Lukla (2,840m) (6 hrs). Camp
Day 28 : Flight: Lukla - Kathmandu. Hotel Overnight.
Day 29 : Free day to explore, and enjoy Kathmandu. Hot
Day 30 : Transfer to airport, departure own your own destination.
What is included?
- Hotel accommodation in Kathmandu with breakfast as per the programme.
- Airport / Hotel transfers.
- Three meals in a day (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner) with hot beverage and snacks whilst on trekking.
- Cosy guesthouse or Tented camp accommodation whilst on trekking.
- Makalu Barun National Park, Sagarmatha National Park and Trekker's Information Management System fees.
- All necessary staff with an experienced fluent English speakinglicenced trekking guide, cook and assistant guide (as per the group size).
- Highly experienced trekking porters to carry luggage (1porter per 2 trekkers).
- Staff food, accommodation, clothing, salary & insurance.
- All necessary ground transportation.
- All governmental paperworks and procedures.
- All government and local taxes.
- Satellite phones and Gamow bag.
- Exclusive Medical Kit Bag
- Farewell dinner in Kathmandu at typical Nepali restaurant.
What is not included?
- Visa fee for Nepal.
- International airfares, extra baggage and cargo charges
- Meals and extra night (more than stated in itinerary) accomodation in Kathmandu.
- Personal expenses
- Bar and beverage bills.
- Your Travel and rescue Insurance.
- Rescue & Evacuation costs.
- Your optional and extended trips e.g. sightseeing, rafting etc. (other than the negotiated)
- Gratitude (tip) for staff.
Why us? Is a conscientious question that requires an honest answer of integrity and devotion of the highest standards.
We are what we were from the very beginning: Read on to know us the way we are…
At Unique Adventure International, We do not pretend to be what we are not, ours is a simple ethic, hospitality straight from the heart. When doing trips with us, you will soon find out excellence with us is not just a norm, it’s more a habit.
We have walked the length and breadth of the Himalaya across Nepal, Tibet and Bhutan for over two decades…and still counting, we have enjoyed all of it so much; right to the hilt. We love our mountains and enjoy it so much when we tread its trails with our trekking guests, who also love these mountains as much as us or maybe even more. We have much knowledge of the land and meticulously plan things so our guests get the utmost from their sojourns with us; we know how chaotic it can be for our guests when they organise holidays so far from home…keeping this in mind, we sort out for the long haul and ensure our guests do not only have fun on the way but also get value for money with purposeful journeys. We know and understand that this may probably be a once in a lifetime holiday where you will explore a world not too familiar and its binding for us to make doubly sure you are completely safe throughout the whole course of your expedition when you are in Nepal. With each trip we do with you, we are constantly searching for ways to improve our services so that your expectations of us are met beyond what you could have ever expected on all fronts. We want that you go home with a happy heart and unforgettable memories of an odyssey well done. With Unique Adventure, this is central to all our thoughts when we meet you.
A small business with big ideals…
We are a small outfit with big ideas and we know how complex human nature can be; its only but human to understand your weaknesses and respect your strengths, both of which will be put to the test on the punishing trails of Nepal, but it’s always our mission to understand you and make your journey as calm as possible.
This is the whole reason why we get repeat clients who never seem to get drained with the Himalayas and enjoy the way we guide them throughout the trip…
We know how worrisome it can be when you choose to live life on the edge… so we go the mile to make sure your holidays become more purposeful, more significant…
We do not push you, no matter what the circumstances…
We know you want it slow and easy the moment your plane hits the tarmac in Kathmandu. We understand your instinctive curiosities and ensure you are left alone with enough space to do what we have planned for you – ‘your way’’. You call the shots – it’s your trip – and we provide you enough freedom to make your own decisions in harmony with your group. We help you to become friends and bridge gaps; it’s a matter of pride for us to mention here that we created some of the best friendships where some morphed into lifetime partnerships and this is how things shape out with us when you assemble in our country. And when we are out with you in the country at high elevations, we ensure that our crew leads you in ways comfortable to your body and physical needs.
Our ‘True-to-Life’ practical itineraries…
Our itineraries are meticulously planned and based on the way you see it when your trip commences. Our themes are hands-on and we take you to some difficult but extraordinary places where some would likely pass by. We know you thirst for the unknown and interesting; your search for things that will ignite your emotions and imaginations, seeking for the ‘whys’, how’s and when’s’ into the mountain culture, lifestyles and traditions that you witness in territory you have never been familiar with. We put in a lot of effort to create astonishing one-off experiences which would make great notes for memorable stories to pass down to the coming generations. Each trip we design opens up new avenues to a whole new world that you are not familiar with…and when you discover the answers, it could be a life changing experience you would have never expected.
Trips to match your time frames…
We are flexible in the way we operate our trips based on your exclusive needs. We understand the kind of pressure ridden world you hail from and know you have worked hard for your dream holidays. Our programs are typically designed to give you the most and the best based on your time limitations without any blemishes on the joys that come with your venture.
You could be planning a budget trek or a luxury tour, maybe even a trekking peak; whatever the choice, we give you an extension combo so you have a scintillating mix of history, the outdoors and even jell in a jungle safari into the potpourri so you have varied experiences within the timeframe you’ve chosen. Our website is programmed to give you a host of options to make you smile…
Accommodation: They say Home is where the Hearth is…and yes, the Pillow!!
We are extra wary when arranging your accommodation before you enter our country. We know we’ve got to give you something that’s closest to home. After consulting with you and being twice as sure about what you’re expecting when it comes down to that most important part of life: resting your body and mind at night, we make sure we give you the best accommodating facilities available at a hotel that’s not only comfortable but also a place that is spanking clean with fresh linen and staff who understand your needs and go the length in making sure you feel at home, no matter what the length of your stay with us.
This also includes the sanitized conditions of the food you are served. Even when on the trails, we go the mile to make sure you find a cosy teahouse with no dampness and enough ventilation to keep you healthy and warm with food that’s organic and clean. We know how important the hearth is wherever you stay. With us, be sure that all your personal needs are taken care of well. Ours is the kind of hospitality that comes straight from the heart…
Safety and Security: This is mandatory and imperative…
Our safety and security arrangements for all our inbound guests cross all boundaries; from the moment your jet hits the tarmac at the airport in Kathmandu. This is a process that begins prior to your arrival in Kathmandu, when we design your itinerary based on the program you have chosen. It begins with choosing the right team for you, especially if it’s a trek. We make sure your crew is primed for any contingency when at altitude. We believe in following firm standards with focus on risk assessment knowing mountain climbing is always a risky business despite the excitement it offers. All the planning is done prior to your arrival so you have a carefree, footloose and fancy free journey, without any hassles.
We always advise our guests to go through medical routines in their home countries before embarking on trips above 3000m. We also encourage our guests to get insured before coming to Nepal.
Your entire stay in Nepal is monitored from day one, especially when you are on the mountains. We take nothing for granted, nature can be a monster when least expected. When booking your trip through ‘Unique Adventure, you are not just a client – you are more than all that - you are a parent, a brother/sister, a close colleague – in a word – ‘family’; and all our safety precautions and personalized services are purely based on this relationship.
We Respect and Care for the local folks and Love the Environment we operate in…
We are conscious in the importance of preserving the natural beauty and culture of Nepal, so that future visitors can also enjoy the wonders of this beautiful but fragile environment. We are sensitive and devoted to responsible travel with minimum impact on the environment and local communities. The planet is large enough for everyone to explore and it’s the curiosity of human nature to explore and discover the unknown. We are always careful about the ecosystems that surround us when we are on the mountains, but we don’t let this spoil the spirit for adventure. We seek to enjoy in ways beneficial to others and wish to respect this beauty that God created for us to appreciate; and we want to keep it that way. Equally important, we instruct our crew and travellers to be aware of the values of responsible travel, by: respecting people, cultures and local environments, in creating goodwill; with cross-cultural sharing and experiences; and helping make sustainable development practical, where we put in efforts to give back more than we take.
Our Trekking crews are Principal to the Company…we’re Family…
One paramount issue for trekking companies in Nepal are employees directly connected to guests when trekking in the Himalayas and this is key to any trip conducted anywhere on the Himalayas. Our staffs in general receive fixed monthly salaries and our trekking crews get special rates as defined by the Ministry of Labour in consultation with the Ministry of Tourism - Government of Nepal.
This also includes the provision of Social Security for mountain workers as per government directives. In addition to this, we also provide climbing training to new comers listed on our payroll. All our seasoned guides are well trained in the use and application of First Aid in the event of any unexpected injuries that may occur in the course of the journey when at altitude.
Field Employees are constantly upgraded for personal development, delivered via courses in English, about nature, history, and ongoing training as mountain guides with techniques based on safety precautions...along with this, our mountain crews are insured and covered against any eventualities. The insurance package covers the cost of health care if injured or sick and provides a lifetime gratuity if any employee is physically disabled. We treat our employees as valuable assets. We know their security and happiness is vital to ensure yours throughout your stay in Nepal…
Innovation: We are constantly juggling new Products…
Ours is a constant search for new trails in the great wilderness. We’re always innovating new areas for travel within and around the city limits and out on the mountains. Nepal has so much to offer in her ancient heritage cities and within the vast expanse of her Himalayas. We ceaselessly research new products in order to give our old clients new thrills; this has always been part of our company’s policies for giving more value for money. We know that many of our guests rarely get time to travel and when they do, they’d sure like to make the best of it; besides Nepal, we even cut across borders giving our guests unbelievable historical and cultural highlights of Tibet, Bhutan and India. We even design divine spiritual tours for the holy who’d sure like to hike down footsteps of ancient ancestors along the Mount Kailash Mountains so that they could come face-to-face with the gods. You even get opportunities to stroll down the cobbled stone Squares of Patan and Bhaktapur and slip into the Forbidden Temple of Pashupatinath. Beyond the spiritual of Kailash in Tibet, our programs take you to the highest region on earth, at an elevation of 4,900 meters (16,000 ft). Very much noted as the ‘roof of the world’, Tibet is symbolic of a mesmerizing culture seeped in spirituality and nature. From superb temples and tranquil monasteries to the Yangtze River and adorable Pandas, our products are molded in a way that ensures you experience a whole new world of amazing discoveries that tells you about God’s gift of a wonderful planet we all live in.
‘Please visit our highly informative website for some of the most extensive information on some of the most stimulating holidays ever conceived’. Get friendly with us on: www.uniquetreks.com
We give you Mountain Yoga
The Mountain Yoga we offer on the trail is an earthy, friendly and unassuming space, dedicated to healing and transformation as your mind battles the vagaries of nature while on your journey in the wild. When you decide to holiday on the mountains; it’s like a calling into the high and wild to experience Mother Nature at a higher level and to explore her true beauty. But there’s another calling that wants you to find release from your inner demons. It might be seen as the feeling that there has to be more to life than our day-to-day routines in the machine of modern day society. As you go higher above the tree-lines, our certified yoga guides give you the kind of alignment helpful to your body’s needs when adjusting to the thin air at altitude. They are compassionate, knowledgeable and guide you with postures and breathing exercises that promote physical fitness at higher elevations, keeping the mind calmer, making your self-awareness more acute, and help you get more balanced, while preventing you from having any problems with altitude mountain sickness. Yoga is an ancient practice known for thousands of years to clean out even the deepest mental grooves and rigid mindsets which may hamper your trip and spoil the fun on your trek.
We are the only adventure company in Nepal offering our guests mountain yoga which enhances hassle free trips and keeps our guests safe from common altitude problems.
Our Success Ratio…
We’ve been through it all – the ups and downs have been full and plenty. The series of earthquakes of 2015 affected us bitterly; however, we kept the faith. We knew this was nature at its best and worst. We do not take anything for granted when it’s a tryst with Mother Nature, especially in the wilderness above the tree-lines. We knew we would still need these mountains more than they need us...These mountains teach us so much about life. It was Almighty God that created these mountains with all its stark beauty, but then a natural calamity can be lurking somewhere around the bend, and we must always be aware of the environment - and this comes with respect, consciousness and faith.
Despite the hurdles and hiccups, our Success Ratio has been over 98%, why? Because experience has taught us the hard way to Love God, respect the mountains, to learn from our mistakes, and to always, at all times, be Honest with our Guests…and let God do the rest.