Expedition Mount Everest Northside - Private

In 2021, K&P launched its Everest Private expedition which proved to be a success. One member, one mountain guide and three Sherpa will tailor-make this expedition to your individual needs and focus entirely on your attempt to reach the top of the world.

Before the expedition, mountain guide legend Kari Kobler will provide all the advice you need for such a feat. Kari has been running Everest expeditions since 2000, and his experience in high-altitude mountaineering is vast and almost unprecedented.

We will adapt our Everest Private expedition to your specifications. Once we know your dates, we will put together your personal itinerary. Your private mountain guide will pick you up at Lhasa airport, take you to Everest and drop you off again at Lhasa airport after the expedition. He will not leave your side!

We commissioned the Swiss Sports Clinic in Bern for the medical monitoring during your preparation, which includes health checks, training plans and pre-acclimatisation in a hypoxic tent at home.

Climbing Mount Everest with a private mountain guide has its price, however, it comes with many advantages. An accomplished mountain guide with vast experience on Mount Everest will look after you from the day you arrive until the day you leave. He will entirely focus on your acclimatization and will start your summit push when you are ready. Being the only member allows you to move at your own speed without having to adapt to a group. At the same time, you can enjoy all the luxuries of the comfortable K&P base camp on the North side of Mount Everest.

On our Everest Private and Everest Express expeditions, we have unlimited oxygen using state-of-the-art systems for all members, mountain guides and Sherpa from ABC. You will have time to acclimatise at your own speed and will not be tied to a group. Your private guide will be with you all the time to look after your well-being.

Day 1 - Day 2: Flight to Chengdu or Chongqing

Scheduled flight to Chengdu or Chongquing, depending on availability of flights and connection flights to Xigatse. Hotel accommodation.

Day 3: Flight from Chengdu or Chongqing to Xigatse

After taking a domestic flight to Xigatse, the second biggest city in Tibet, we visit the Tashilumpo palace, the residence of the Panchen Lama, who ranks second in the hierarchy of Tibetan Buddhism. Accommodation in a comfortable five-star hotel.

Day 4: Xigatse-Everest base camp

We leave early in the morning and drive across the Tibetan plateau via Shegar and the Pang La (5,210m) from where we can enjoy a magnificent view of the high Himalaya: Makalu – Everest – Cho Oyu. Our Nepali and Tibetan team will give us a heartfelt welcome at Everest base camp (5,200m). Tent accommodation.

Day 5 - 6: Base camp – rest days

We make base camp our home and settle down in our private tent (20 m2) featuring a bed, desk, power outlet and Wi-Fi. Now it’s time to find out how we are doing with our pre-acclimatisation. If there are any problems, we will provide our members with our ox-on-demand-system during the night.

Day 7: Acclimatisation walk

We go on a long walk with a light pack to get more acclimatised.

Day 8: Base camp – rest day

We load the yaks with our gear for Advanced Base Camp (ABC). Some of our Sherpa are already up there to set up our camp at 6,400m. We pay a quick visit to the Rongbuk monastery.

Day 9: Intermediate Camp

We first follow the Rongbuk Glacier and continue on the East Rongbuk Glacier. The trek to ABC is probably one of the most spectacular treks in Tibet. As walking the entire 25km to ABC is quite challenging at the beginning of an expedition, we stop for a night at intermediate camp at 5,700m where K&P maintains a camp with a kitchen team for the entire trip.

Day 10: Advanced Basecamp (ABC)

Our comfortable ABC lies at 6,400m at the base of the impressive North Col. Members are given their own two-man tent, while our insulated and heated mess tent with view of the dramatic mountain scenery makes our high altitude stay extremely comfortable. Our satellite system allows us to keep in touch with the rest of the world and receive a daily weather forecast from Switzerland.

Day 11 to 13: Rest days at ABC

Day 14 to 15: North Col (7,000 m)

We climb up the fixed ropes to Camp 1 at the North Col. After two nights up there, we have finished our acclimatisation and should be ready to go for the summit.

Day 16: Descend to ABC

Day 17: We descend to BC where we recover from the hardship of the past week. After a week high up, we will enjoy the comforts of this camp.

Day 18 to 21: Rest days at BC. We look at the daily weather forecast provided by Meteotest Bern and let the kitchen team spoil our palate.

Day 22: Ascend to intermediate Camp

Day 23: Ascend to ABC

Day 24: North Col / Camp 1 (7,000 m)

Day 25: Camp 2 (7,800 m)

From the North Col, we climb up to Camp 2 (7,800m) negotiating the very long and windswept but safe north-east ridge.

Day 26: Camp 3 (8,300 m)

Just above Camp 2, we traverse the north-west face which is moderately difficult. After about five hours, we reach Camp 3 where the Sherpa have already set up our tents.

Day 27: Mt. Everest (8,848 m)

We reach the north ridge via a few easy climbing sections, negotiate the easy First Step with the help of the fixed ropes and climb up the famous ladders of the Second Step to reach 8,600m. If you have made it to this point, you should not have any problems overcoming the Third Step and the summit slope. Once we have enjoyed the breathtaking views on the summit we descend as far as possible.

Days 28 to 31: Spare days

Day 32: Descend to BC

Day 33: Drive to Xigatse and stay in a five-star hotel

Day 34: Flight to Chongqing or Chengdu with connection flight back home.

Day 35: Arrival in your home country

The Profile Check is an integral part of our expedition. Please read it thoroughly and assess your skills and physical condition. Due to the score required for this expedition, your score will indicate whether or not your skills, fitness and mountaineering experience are sufficient to join this expedition. Your registration is a testimony of your physical and technical abilities to participate in this expedition.

Please take note of the following points concerning the procedure of this expedition:

This expedition is demanding and exhausting. The high altitude alone entails several risks.

The members have to be able to move independently and confidently over mixed terrain (snow, ice, rock).

Camaraderie and tolerance are of great importance to us.

You have to be able to recognise your own limits on the mountain and be prepared to, if necessary, abandon the attempt and turn back. You join this expedition at your own responsibility.

The leader of the expedition is responsible for the management of the entire group, and personal support is not one of his/her responsibilities. Nevertheless, every member has to prepared to follow the decisions made by the expedition leader. The decisions are always made in the group’s interest.

The climbing Sherpa support the members during the entire expedition, however, we cannot guarantee that individual wishes will be addressed as the climbing Sherpa are responsible for the well-being of the entire group.

Depending on the circumstances and conditions on the mountain, improvisations and changes to the itinerary might be necessary

Kobler & Partner does not take any liability for accidents, damages or loss of equipment.

Organisation of the entire expedition by K&P

Individual coaching before the expedition by Kari Kobler

Private mountain guide (1:1) who will look after your well-being from arrival in Tibet to departure to your home country

Medical monitoring provided by the Swiss Sports Clinic in Bern (Dr.Urs Hefti) including health check, training plan and dietary consultation

Hypoxic tent with generator for eight weeks for pre-acclimatisation

Monitoring of the pre-acclimatisation by the Swiss Sports Clinic

Single room in five-star hotel in Xigatse

Transfer Xigatse – base camp - Xigatse in a comfortable Toyota Landcruiser

Fees for climbing permits

Special visa for Tibet (you will get this visa in China; the visa for China must be organised in your home country and is not included in the expedition price)

Support for China visa

Full board on the entire trip including drinks

Single room in Chengdu during the stopover

Comfortable and heated single tent with bed, desk, wash facilities and internet at base camp

Single tent at intermediate camp

Single tent at ABC

High altitude gear

Spacious heated dome tent at BC and ABC (6,400m)

Toilet and shower tent at BC and ABC

Sleeping mats at intermediate camp and ABC

Sleeping bag for base camp, ABC and high camps

Radios for every member, mountain guide and Sherpa

Satellite telephone, call charges excluded

Wi-Fi at BC and ABC

Weather forecast from Switzerland

Communication (radio) at base camp, intermediate camp, ABC and high camps

Electricity at base camp and ABC

Luggage transport with yaks all the way to ABC and back

1 rescue sledge

Emergency oxygen on the mountain

Unlimited oxygen support

Large medical kit at base camp, intermediate camp and ABC

Medical kits at high camps

Kitchen: cooks at base camp, intermediate camp, ABC and Camp 1

Private kitchen boy

3 climbing Sherpa including their insurance, food, salary and good gear provided by K&P

Costs for liaison officer

Costs for local tour guide and translator

Costs for obligatory garbage fee

International return flight to/from Chendgu/Chongqing (see section ‘Getting there’)

Domestic return flight Chengdu/Chongqing to Xigatse (see section ‘Getting there’)

Personal insurance

Visa fee for China (approx. 230 CHF)

Postage for hypoxic equipment

Personal medication

Call charges for satellite phone

Individual tips

Summit bonus for Sherpa (approx. 800 US$)

Additional charges that may arise due to possible changes to the itinerary

Maximum oxygen support

During the K&P Everest Express expedition, our members are provided with unlimited oxygen starting at ABC. If oxygen is needed at BC due to slow acclimatisation, we can provide our members with our new ox-on-demand system at base camp.

K&P mountain guides on Everest

Our two UIAGM guides Kari Kobler and Andreas Neuschmid have more than 50 guided Everest expeditions under their belts. You will not find that much combined experience anywhere else in the world.

Three personal Sherpas

During the whole expedition, you will have three personal Sherpa from base camp. They accompany you on your acclimatisation hikes, cook your meals at the high camps and look after your oxygen equipment.

General

In 2000, Kobler & Partner was one of the first western operators to organise and manage expeditions on the north side of Mount Everest. We are now one of the most experienced Everest operators in Europe. Our comfortable and friendly base camp has become a popular meeting point on the North side of Mount Everest.

If you have further question, please check our section 16 Questions and Answers about the Everest Expedition

16 Questions and Answers concerning our Everest Expedition

Which organisation should I choose? A catalogue of questions:

1. Who are Kobler & Partner?

K&P is a Swiss expedition operator set up in 1990 by the UIAGM Mountain Guide Kari Kobler. K&P specialises in organising and managing expeditions to the Seven Summits and other peaks of the big mountain ranges in the world.

How many Everest expeditions have been organised by Kobler & Partner?

Kobler & Partner has run Everest expeditions every year since 2000.

3. How does climbing Everest from the north compare to the south?

This is a tough question to answer. Kobler & Partner prefers the North Col route as it is considered the safer route to the top of the world. Furthermore, the permits in Tibet are limited which means it does not get as busy as the south side in Nepal.

4. What agency does K&P work with in Tibet?

K&P works with the Nepali agency Himalaya Vision. Kari Kobler is the co-owner of Himalaya Vision. In Tibet, K&P co-operates with the Tibet Mountaineering Association (TMA).

5. Who is Kobler & Parter’s expedition leader, respectively mountain guide?

The K&P Mount Everest Express and Private Expeditions are led by UIAGM mountain guide Kari Kobler, who has been running expeditions to Everest since the year 2000. He has climbed Mount Everest six times.

6. How do we get to base camp? Via Kathmandu or Tibet? How many days does it take?

Members of our Express and Private Expeditions will fly directly to Xigatse and drive to base camp from there. Thanks to their pre-acclimatisation, they will arrive at base camp fit and healthy.

7. How large is the team?

We run the expedition with one member.

8. What does the acclimatisation rotation look like?

After arriving at base camp (5,200m), two rest days and an acclimatisation hike to 6,000m, we move to ABC (6,400m). From here, we climb to the North Col/Camp 1 (7,000m) where we spend one night.

9. How do we prepare our meals at the high camps?

The meals at the three high camps are prepared by your personal Sherpa. We have a chef at Camp I at 7,000 m.

10. What does the infrastructure at ABC look like?

ABC at 6,400 m is fully equipped. We have single tents for each member, a heated dome tent where we socialize and eat, a kitchen tent which is run by a chef and kitchen boys, a shower and a toilet tent, Wi-Fi and a satellite phone.

11 How many climbing Sherpas are on the expedition?

We hire three climbing Sherpas per member. All our climbing Sherpas speak English.

Have the Sherpa climbed Everest before?

All our Sherpa have climbed Everest before, some of them as often as 20 times.

13. Oxygen: How many oxygen bottles are available per member?

Our members are provided with unlimited oxygen from ABC.

14. Are there any medical kits above ABC?

Every high camp is stocked with a high-altitude medical kit while every mountain guide carries a medical kit that contains all relevant high-altitude drugs. Every member will get their own emergency medical kit to carry and stock spare oxygen bottles at every high camp for emergencies.

15. Is there a base camp manager, who can be reached round the clock during the summit attempt?

Yes. Our base camp manager is in constant radio contact with the mountain guides and Sherpa and will be reachable round the clock during out summit attempt. The BC manager provides the team with the latest weather report and, in case of emergencies, coordinates any rescue mission.

16. Which weather forecast does K&P use? How often will we get updates?

K&P uses Meteotest Bern in Switzerland who provides us with a very reliable daily weather forecast. Having done this for 21 years, Meteotest is the most experienced weather forecast provider for Mount Everest. A precise and reliable weather forecast is incredibly important for our summit success. During our summit attempt, the BC manager will be in contact with Meteotest around the clock.

Hotel and tent accommodation are indicated in the itinerary. Additional hotel stays not indicated in the itinerary are not included in the expedition price.

International flights are not included in the expedition price. Over the years, Kobler & Partner has built up a very good reputation that goes beyond Swiss borders and has attracted people from all corners of the world. For this reason, it’s best for everyone to arrange their own flights. However, if you need help with booking your flight, we are happy to assist.

K&P can organise the visa for Swiss residents and will charge them separately. All members living outside Switzerland must organise their visa themselves. We will provide you with the necessary documentation in good time.

K&P will organise the Tibet visa which is included in the price. You will receive the necessary documents before the start of the trip. Please make sure that your passport is valid for at least six months beyond the dates of your trip and provide us with all important documents (medical certificates, insurance policies for accident and rescue insurance, colour copy of your passport) at least 60 days before the start of the trip.

Gear list Everest Private

• 2 duffle bags 110 L (water-proof, available from K&P at a discount for members)

  Clothing

  Jackets

  • Down jacket or down suit for expeditions

    Primaloft jacket or light down jacket

    Goretex Jacket

    Softshell Jacket

    Midlayer (fleece sweater or jacket)

    Pants

    Trekking pants, light and long

    Softshell pants for mountaineering

    Goretex pants

    Expedition down pants or down suit

    Baselayers / T-shirts

    T-shirts

    Underwear

    Long-sleeved thermal top

    Thermal tights

    Handwear

    Insolated shell gloves

    Expedition down mittens

    Liner gloves, thin, silk or fleece

    Footwear

    Camp boots (non-technical winter boots or trainers)

    Trekking boots

    High-altitude all in-one boots for 8000m

    Trekking Socks

    Heavyweight socks, thick and warm

    Sleeping

    -30°C down sleeping bag for base camp (available for rent from K&P)

    -40°C down sleeping bag for high camps

    Insulated inflatable sleeping pad

    Down booties (nice to have!)

    Pillow case (stuffed with your down jacket, it makes a nice pillow!)

    Headgear, face and eye protection

    Sunglasses

    Glacier goggles (with nose guard, if possible)

    Ski goggles, high UV-protection (also protects from the wind)

    Buff

    Baseball cap

    Headband

    Beanie, warm

    Balaclava or face mask (wind-stopper or neoprene)

    Sunscreen, SPF 50

    Lipscreen, SPF 50

    Technical Equipment

    Backpack approximately 40 l

    Raincover for backpack

    Climbing harness, light

    Ice axe, light

    Walking poles

    Crampons with anti-balling plates (customised to fit expedition boots)

    2 Carabiners (light, wiregate)

    3 HMS carabiners (light, screwgate)

    Ascender (Jumar)

    Belay device (figure 8 recommended)

    Helmet

    Cord, 5m, 7 mm (for the Jumar system)

    Cord, 5m, 5 mm

    Compression bags for down equipment

    Food utensils, light, for high camps (bowl including cutlery)

    Water bottle with large opening (Nalgene)

    Thermos

    Pee bottle / Plastic bags

    Headlamp (including spare batteries) and a small spare headlamp

    Pocket knife or multi-tool/Leatherman

    Lighter

    Altimeter

    Hand and toe warmers

    Miscellaneous

    Departure letter from K&P (contains the final information)

    Cash for personal use and tips

    Credit card (MasterCard or Visa)

    Passport

    Passport copy

    2 Passport photographs

    Small personal first-aid kit (personal medication / compeed)

    Writing utensils

    Cellphone

    Toiletry bag

    Microfibre travel towel

    Hand sanitizer (50 ml)

    Ear plugs

    Tissues, wet wipes

    Swimwear

    Photographic equipment

    Your K&P mountain guide will provide well-stocked medical kits for base and high camps, radios, GPS, travel books and maps.