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Dmytro Horbatov
If you have already climbed Mera Peak, Island Peak, Ojos or Aconcagua, climbing Himlung Himal is the logical next step. This peak will give you your first taste of a genuine Himalayan expedition: above 7,000 metres, with rotation, high-altitude camps and a summit push. All without artificial oxygen. Himlung Himal (7,126 m) – the most accessible 7,000-metre peak in the Himalayas. The route presents no technical difficulties, is protected from avalanches and rockfalls, and boasts a success rate of 70–80 per cent – the highest among mountains of this altitude.
The trek to base camp is an adventure in its own right. The secluded Nar-Phu Valley was cut off from the outside world until 2003, and even now there are no casual tourists here; it is visited almost exclusively by the small numbers of expedition members. In the village of Phu, several hundred Tibetan Khampas live according to a way of life that has remained unchanged for centuries, and snow leopards can still be spotted on the surrounding slopes.
Nepal has introduced a new rule: to obtain an Everest permit, you need a certificate, validated by the Department of Tourism, confirming that you have climbed a Nepalese peak higher than 7,000 metres. Himlung is one of the three main qualifying peaks and the easiest and cheapest way to meet this requirement. For the other eight-thousanders – Manaslu, Cho Oyu – there is no formal requirement, but it is precisely the experience of climbing at 7,000+ metres (overnight stays in high-altitude camps, several rotations, a long summit push) that will give you an understanding of what to expect from higher peaks. If Everest or other 8,000-metre peaks aren’t in your plans just yet, climbing a 7,000-metre peak will remain on your mountaineering CV forever. That’s something to be proud of.
An experienced team leader will look after your safety and comfort from the moment you meet up in Kathmandu until your flight home
Each participant has their own high-altitude Sherpa during the ascent
From the meet-and-greet at the airport to the climb up Himlung and the return to Kathmandu
Two full rotations with overnight stays at 5,450 and 6,000 metres before the summit push. The acclimatisation plan depends on the weather
The summit window includes a safety margin that significantly increases the chances of a successful ascent
We do not cancel or reschedule groups once they have been confirmed. If a consultant has given the go-ahead for you to buy a ticket, you can go ahead and purchase it. The programme will not be cancelled through any fault of our own.
When preparing for a climb, you can make significant savings on equipment purchases. Details on this page.
Meeting in Kathmandu (1,400 m)
As you leave the airport, you’ll be met by a Kuluar team leader or our Nepalese assistant, who will take you to your hotel in Thamel, where the whole group will meet up. In the evening, there’ll be an introductory session and dinner with the team.
Kathmandu: briefing and preparation
Expedition briefing, equipment check by the team leader, buying any last-minute bits and pieces in Thamel (they’ve got everything here – from down jackets to trekking poles), and sorting out the paperwork.
Transfer from Kathmandu to Besisahar (760 m)
We set off westwards in our 4x4s. The road winds through the foothills along the Trishuli River.
Journey time: ≈8 hours
Besisahar → Koto (2,600 m)
The most spectacular drive: a winding 4x4 track climbs almost 2,000 metres through the Marshyangdi River Valley – waterfalls, suspension bridges, and the first six-thousanders on the horizon. But it’s going to be a right bumpy ride.
Journey time: ≈6 hours
Elevation gain: +1,840 m
Trek: Koto → Meta (3,560 m)
We leave civilisation behind: at the checkpoint, we show our permits for the restricted area and enter the Nar-Phu Valley. In places, the path has been carved directly into the rock above the river, surrounded by pine forests and waterfalls. This is the longest day’s walk on the trek.
Duration: ≈7 hours
Elevation gain: +960 m
Meta → Kyang (3,840 m)
The landscape gives way to a Tibetan one: arid plateaus, chortens and mani walls. Kang Guru (6,981 m) and Annapurna II come into view ahead.
Duration: ≈5 hours
Elevation gain: +280 m
Kyang → Phugaon (3,900 m)
We arrive in Phu – a few dozen stone houses, built stone by stone without any cement, and the Tashi Lhakhang monastery overlooking the village. Around 350 Tibetan Khampas live here, following a way of life that dates back hundreds of years. There is no road leading here – just the path we came along.
Duration: ≈4 hours
Elevation gain: +60 m
Acclimatisation day in Phu
A radial hike of 400–500 metres uphill, following the ‘hike high, sleep low’ principle, followed by some rest, a visit to a monastery and a glimpse into village life unlike anything else you’ll find in Nepal.
Phu → Himlung Base Camp (4,900 m)
We’re heading to base camp on the moraine at the foot of the mountain. This will be our home for the next two weeks: a private tent for everyone, a heated dining room, a kitchen stocked with fresh produce, showers, communications facilities and a generator.
Duration: ≈5 hours
Elevation gain: +1,000 m
Acclimatisation rotations
First – training: practising with ascenders and carabiners on an ice wall, oxygen equipment (just in case), and moving along the handrails. Then two rotations. The first: an ascent to Camp 1 (5,450 m) with an overnight stay, followed by the descent. The section from base camp to Camp 1 is mainly moraine without snow. Second rotation: Camp 1 → Camp 2 (6,000 m) with an overnight stay on snow, followed by a descent to base camp. Between ascents, we have recovery days: we eat, sleep, play cards and keep an eye on the forecast. Walking days during the rotations last 6–7 hours, with slopes of up to 30°.
Climbing Himlung Himal
When we spot a window of good weather, we set off: base camp → Camp 2, and the following day Camp 2 → Camp 3 (6,350 m). The summit push begins between 1 and 3 am: by torchlight, we set out onto the final snow and ice slope, which reaches a gradient of 40–50° in the final section – we climb using the handrails, each with our own Sherpa. The summit push takes 10–14 hours and involves a climb of around 800 metres. From the summit, a 360° view: Annapurna, Dhaulagiri, Manaslu and the Tibetan Plateau stretching to the horizon. Descent to Camp 2 or directly to base camp. We have built in a weather reserve day for this window.
Return journey: base camp → Phu → Meta
We pack up camp and, two days later, head down the familiar path – now on our way down, with the summit behind us.
Meta → Koto → Besisahar → Kathmandu
One day on the trail and two days travelling. In Kathmandu – a hot shower, a celebratory dinner and climbing certificates from the Nepalese Ministry of Tourism – the very ones that pave the way to Everest.
A spare day in Kathmandu. Flight home
A day spent buying souvenirs, visiting the Boudhanath stupa or having a coffee in Thamel – and then home.
Visas for Nepal are issued directly at the border; detailed instructions on how to obtain one can be found here. You will need a 90-day visa, which costs 125 dollars.
To take part in the climb, you must not have any of the conditions on this list >>
Next up are climbs of other eight-thousanders, including Everest! Or technically challenging peaks of lesser height.
Allow for ≈ $1,500 in compulsory bonus payments (sherpa summit bonus + tips for the team), plus personal expenses: lunches/dinners in Kathmandu, drinks, internet and showers on the trek – a further $500.
No, climbers ascend Himlung without oxygen – that’s part of the mountain’s value as preparation for 8,000-metre peaks. A spare cylinder with a mask is kept at base camp in case of an emergency.
650 metres higher and considerably longer. The main difference lies not in technical difficulty, but in endurance: two rotations instead of one, an overnight stay at 6,000+, and an ascent day lasting 10–14 hours compared with 9–12 on Mera.
Since 2013, the route has been re-routed to bypass avalanche-prone sections – it was following this change that Himlung became the most popular Nepalese seven-thousander. Each participant has their own Sherpa; there are handrails throughout the upper section; and the team leader has access to weather forecasts from several international sources and satellite communication with partners.
There should be Wi-Fi at base camp, but availability may depend on the weather. Our partners carry mobile phones for emergency communications. Communication between the camps and base camp is carried out via walkie-talkies.
The price depends on the number of participants:
| Number of participants | Value |
|---|---|
| 5 and more | $9900 |
| 4 | $10800 |
| 3 | $11800 |
| 2 | $13500 |
| 1 (individual) | $18900 |
*Please note: it is not part of the consultant’s role to book individual flights for each participant. They provide general recommendations based on their experience and share other participants’ flight details so that you can travel together. Participants are responsible for selecting and purchasing a flight ticket that suits them. If you would like the consultant to book a flight ticket, a hotel or an additional excursion for you, please read the terms and conditions on the page: additional services.
We recommend that you also carry an extra $500–$1,000 with you for unforeseen expenses.
The deposit required to reserve a place is $1,500.
Three months before the start of the trip, $2,500 must be paid into the host organisation’s account in Nepal. The remaining amount must either be paid into the Nepalese partners’ account no later than one month before the start of the trip, or brought to Kathmandu and handed over to the team leader in cash.
Friends! We would really appreciate it if you could collect US dollar notes issued in 2003 or later. Dollars from the 1990s are not accepted in many countries, and we sometimes encounter problems when settling accounts with local partners. Thank you for your understanding, and here’s to lots of new dollars for everyone :)