High Passes Of Everest

Our Clients’ Reviews

Here at Exodus we thrive on feedback from our customers. It's the only way we can ensure our trips continue to be the best they can be. So, for the real tales, twists and turns of the trip you're interested in, look no further than the reviews from our previous travellers. Any feedback collected (Good or bad) from Exodus clients is posted straight onto our website - totally unedited. Read more...

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  Steve Terry

  HIGH PASSES OF EVEREST

  

  Written March 2012

  I hadn't fully understood just how challenging it would be at times. But that just made it even more rewarding. And at 61 it's very exhilirating to find yourself moving through such stunningly beautiful surroundings. Even when it is very cold! 

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  What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

  Getting over the first high pass (the Kongma La) was brilliant - and after that everything else was much easier psychologically. But the best moment for me was putting up prayer flags on the top of Gokyo Ri - on a perfect, cloudless day. With help from our amazing leader, Pasang, we'd had them blessed in Thyangboche monastery. That all added another dimension to the trip for me.

  What did you think of your group leader?

  Pasang was simply remarkable. Professional, calm, decisive, motivating, bubbling with enthusiasm and knowledge - and always there to help with whatever problems arose. I'm sure the other Exodus leaders must get fed up with people singing Pasang's praises. But he is exceptional.

  Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

  If you're going in early March, make sure you're really prepared for it to be potentially very cold.

  Is there anything else you would like to add?

  Having just retired, and lost my beloved wife with whom I'd shared 35 exciting and very happy years, I was tempted to think that the best years of my life were over. But that trek has made me realise that there's a lot more waiting for me, and that I can do almost anything!!

   
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  Peter Koenig

  HIGH PASSES OF EVEREST

  

  Written November 2011

  A great adventure - but everyone on this trip was ill - some seriously. The teahouses / lodges don't care for you like the the cooks do on a camping trip. Some to the lodges didn't even meet third world standards for hygiegne - Gokyo being the worst example. 

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  What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

  To get up close and personnal with Mount Everest. I guess the view from Gokyo Ri was the highlight.

  The guys and girls on the trip were also worth the fare. Some people really suffered on this trip - but everyone rallied round and supported everyone else.

  What did you think of your group leader?

  Pasang was a top man - no one could have done more for us.

  Somehow we caught the last plane out of Kathmandu and the first plane back. Pasang's persuasion and the Exodus buying power saved us from days of delays that other trekkers suffered.

  Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

  Don't stay in teahouses or lodges - find a trek that still offers camping as an option. This was my fifth trek in Nepal - the previous four being camping trips - and I never had any stomach problems. The Cook and his helpers won't poison you - for frear of losing the tip. That might sound a glib comment but it is the truth - whereas some of the owners of teahouses couldn't care less - because by the next morning you'll be on the trail with the shits.

  Is there anything else you would like to add?

  It may well be financial considerations that have made camping treks redundant - but if the teahouses offer unsanitary conditions and an almost guarantee for illness why bother to subject yourself to this - after all this is supposed to be a vacation.

  I have never ever complained before about either Exodus or KE Adventure trips I have been on - you don't trek unless you are prepared to accept something less than 5 star - but the sanitary conditions in some of the teahouses we endured were beyond a joke - and the high level of illness endured by the group confirmed this.

   
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  Susanna Jones

  HIGH PASSES OF EVEREST

  

  Written November 2011

  It was a tough trip but worth it for the spectacular views, the extraordinary variety in the landscape and constant sense of adventure. I thoroughly enjoyed the hiking every day and the guides looked after us well, making sure we all completed the circuit and were allowed to go at whatever pace suited us. 18 days of point-to-point trekking is hard, especially in November when the nights and mornings are freezing and it's hard to get out of the sleeping bag and pack up the kit bag yet again. We had lovely sunny days though and it was always worth it when we got going. 

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  What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

  The views from the tops of the passes and from Gokyo Ri. Reaching Everest Base Camp was a great moment too. To come back to Namche on the way down and look back at the epic journey we'd completed was very satisfying indeed.

  What did you think of your group leader?

  Jangbu was lovely, supportive and inspiring. He was helpful and informative and made every effort to ensure that we all enjoyed the trek and were safe at all times. He and our other guide, Benpa, looked after us as a group and individually. I couldn't have asked for more.

  Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

  It can get boring having the same food every day (the teahouse menus are all pretty much the same) so you might want to take some snacks. Take a really warm sleeping bag. If you don't have a good one, hire an Exodus sleeping bag as it can be freezing at night. Ditto for down jacket. The lighting in the teahouse dining rooms is usually quite low so take a good head torch and spare batteries if you want to read in the evenings. A good supply of wet wipes and hand gel will keep you as clean as you're going to get.

  Is there anything else you would like to add?

  I can't wait to go back there.

   
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  Paul Rayner

  HIGH PASSES OF EVEREST

  

  Written October 2011

  Tough as expected - I'd done the trek before and I'm 65! - and difficult to keep up with the youngsters.  But varied, fantastic environment and views. 

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  What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

  The view from the top of the Renzo La Pass - looking from Cho Oyu to Makalu via Everest and Lhotse, all 8000 metre + peaks, in brilliant sunshine.  Even Everest did not have its usual trail of snowdrift obscuring the top.

  What did you think of your group leader?

  Shailesh was absolutely great - a fund of knowledge about the locality and absolutely sure and sound as a leader.  This was particularly obvious when we got a sudden snowfall before the Cho La Pass and he had to take the difficult decision to back track and go round the (very) long way to Gokyo.  Brilliant fun to be with, and very confidence building.

  Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

  If you think you're fit enough and love the mountains, go for it.  You  will find it tough, and there may be times when you wonder why you came.  But you won't regret it and will look back on it as one of the great experiences of your life.

  Is there anything else you would like to add?

  Am planning to go back to the Himalayas and do another tough trek in 2013!

   
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  Anthony Colmer

  HIGH PASSES OF EVEREST

  

  Written October 2011

  Regardless of the fact that the weather for the first few days out of and last few days back to Lukla were less than the clear weather expected in October/November, this was an amazing journey with views to die for.During the critical 2 weeks between the first and last passes the weather was great and being in amongst these magnificent mountains was a joy. The trek was perhaps the toughest overall that I've done, the nights were very cold and the accommodation left a lot to be desired but hey that all just makes it more special. 

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  What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

  The climb up and view from Gokyo Ri stands out with awesome views of Gokyo Lakes, the Ngozumba Glacier, and  the mighty peaks of Everest, Lotse and Cho Oyu.

  What did you think of your group leader?

  Our leader, Pasang, and his team (Kaji,Kami,Nima) were absolutely first class and a lot of fun too.

  Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

  Go but don't underestimate it.

  Is there anything else you would like to add?

  Allow the leader and guides to win at pool and snooker otherwise you might risk being left on top of a pass.

   
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  Roger Scarth

  HIGH PASSES OF EVEREST

  

  Written October 2011

  An absolutely stunning trek with stunning views, great leaders and a good group of people. The only letdown was the quality of the lodges. 

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  What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

  Reaching the summit of Gorki Ri + Kala Patar - absolutely takes the breath away.

  What did you think of your group leader?

  Absolutely superb  - always very helpful, good knowledge and always cheerful . I couldnt fault him at all and would thoroughly recommend him + his guides

  Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

  Go for it - the views are life changing. take lots of warm clothing

  Is there anything else you would like to add?

  the biggest letdown was the quality of the lodges - I was expecting basic, but some were beyond even basic and the variety  + quality of food was more basic than I expected, but this wouldnt deter me at all and I would thoroughly recommend this to anyone  -SUPERB!!!!

   
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  Colin Booth

  HIGH PASSES OF EVEREST

  

  Written May 2011

  This trip takes in a classic circuit of the Nepalese Himalayas - guaranteed to give you a grand stand view of evey mountain, river, glacier and local cultural location of interest you could possibly be looking for, and even some you weren't! Local information is generously dispensed by Exodus' expert guides who share a love of the area and welcoming strangers, and you can lap it all up at walking pace. 

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  What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

  My first view of Everest was pretty memorable - still can't believe I've been there even now. Entering the 'secret' glacial corridor of the Cho La pass at over 5000m was a humbling experience, as was being checked out at 30 feet by an inquisitive Bearded Vulture (the largest bird in the world) - awesome!

  What did you think of your group leader?

  The group leader (a young chap called Pasang who's maturity and professionalism belied his years) and his team of assistant guides and porters were absolutely first class. On a day-to-day practical level, he efficiently dispatched his duties from making sure everyone's bags were loaded onto yaks to meal ordering and making sure tea was waiting for us at the end of a long day. However, on a more personal basis, he and his team brought the trek to life by explaining the local culture, highlighting key sights of interest and often pointing out all the main summits and their heights. Pasang and his team added colour to the journey that went beyond my expectations of Exodus and made the trip for me.

  Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

  Many people on the trek had problems sleeping due to altitude, digestion issues or other rreasons. I recommend taking a blindfold (which I luckily kept from my flight) plus some good earplugs. Locals are often up in the early ours preparing yaks or making tea and these help shut out any disturbance and maximise your beauty sleep.

  Applying a fungicidal powder to your feet each night helps keep them in good condition over the 18-day trek.

  I was the only one of the group of 13 not to suffer stomach issues on the trek but I'd recommend taking along plenty liquid handwash, being religious about using it, particularly before eating, and also taking along a course of antibiotics (on the advice of your doctor) in case you fall foul of the local bugs. A few people also developed chest infections alongside an annoying dry hacking cough, as it can be very dusty, so I'd also recommend taking along antibiotics for this as well as a box of lozenges.

  The above makes the trek sound like the 'walking dead' but it's not, as long as you look after yourself, I promise!

  Is there anything else you would like to add?

  I had never visited the Himalayas before and I had always had it on my list of 'things to do'. I was looking for an extended time in the mountains, adventure, seeing some famous peaks up close and contact with local life - Exodus delivered in spades

   

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