Expedition guides
Practical guides for planning a big mountain: costs, permits, operators, training and the Seven Summits.
Seven Summits
Aconcagua Cost, Permit and Operators (2025–26 Season)
A guided Aconcagua climb costs US$6,299–US$9,950 in published 2026/27 operator fees, typically about US$7,800 on the Normal Route. The park ascent permit…
Carstensz Pyramid: Cost and Access
A guided Carstensz Pyramid (4,884 m) climb costs US$26,000–US$26,900 in published 2026/27 operator fees, typically about US$26,500, mostly because of…
Denali: Cost, Permit and Operators (2027)
A guided Denali West Buttress expedition costs US$12,250–US$16,995 in published 2027 operator fees, typically about US$13,250. The National Park Service…
Mount Elbrus: Cost, Difficulty and Access (2027)
A guided Elbrus climb costs US$3,350–US$7,950 in published operator fees for 2026/27, with a typical mid-range trip around US$5,000. Add US$1,700–US$7,200…
Best Kilimanjaro Route for Summit Success
For most people the best Kilimanjaro route is the 8-day Lemosho or the 9-day Northern Circuit, because the extra days give better acclimatisation and…
Kilimanjaro Operators and Cost (2026)
A good 8-day Kilimanjaro climb costs US$2,784–US$8,450 in published 2026/27 operator prices, typically about US$3,299 for an 8-day Lemosho with an…
How Much Do the Seven Summits Cost? (2026–27 Prices)
The Seven Summits (Carstensz version) cost about US$147,183–US$273,145 in published 2026/27 operator fees alone, typically US$175,449. Add…
Mount Vinson: Cost, Season and Operators (2026–27)
A guided Mount Vinson climb costs US$55,500–US$57,900 in published 2026/27 operator fees, typically about US$56,600, including flights from Punta Arenas…
Nepal peaks
Ama Dablam: Cost, Difficulty and Operators (2026)
A guided Ama Dablam (6,812 m) climb costs US$6,850–US$19,500 in published 2026/27 operator fees, typically about US$9,500 with a Nepali full-service team…
Island Peak vs Lobuche East vs Mera Peak
Mera Peak (6,476 m) is the highest and least technical; Island Peak (6,189 m) has a short steep headwall and ridge; Lobuche East (6,119 m) is the most…
Everest
Best Everest Operators by Budget (2027 Prices)
For 2027, published Everest operator fees run from US$41,000 with budget Nepali teams to US$145,000 for the fastest premium programmes, and most…
Fast-Track and Flash Everest Expeditions: Are They Worth It?
Fast Everest programmes cut the trip from about 55–60 days to 14–36 days by pre-acclimatising you in a hypoxic tent at home. Published 2027 fees run…
Everest North Side vs South Side
The South Side (Nepal) is more popular and better supported, but you have to cross the Khumbu Icefall. The North Side (Tibet) avoids the Icefall and is…
Everest Permit 2027: Fees, Rules and Who Pays
An Everest permit (royalty) for spring 2027 costs US$15,000 per foreign climber on the South Col normal route. Nepal set that rate from 1 September 2025;…
Everest Sherpa-to-Climber Ratios Explained
On a well-run Everest team you should have at least one climbing Sherpa per client on summit day (1:1), and many premium teams offer 2:1. Since 1…
Everest With vs Without Supplemental Oxygen
Almost everyone who summits Everest uses supplemental oxygen, usually from around Camp 3 (about 7,100 m) upward. Climbing without it is a different sport:…
How Much Does It Cost to Climb Everest in 2027?
Climbing Everest in 2027 costs US$41,000–US$145,000 in published operator fees (most South Col teams US$41,000–US$95,000). On top, budget US$12,000–US$39,5
Western vs Nepali Expedition Operators: Which Is Right for You?
Nepali-owned operators are usually cheaper, with published 2027 Everest fees from US$41,000, and they are run by the people who do most of the work on the…
Planning
Best First 6,000 m Peaks for Aspiring High-Altitude Climbers
The best first 6,000 m peaks are Mera Peak and Island Peak in Nepal, Cotopaxi and Chimborazo in Ecuador, and Huayna Potosí in Bolivia. Published 2026/27…
Best Season to Climb Each 8,000 m Peak
In Nepal and Tibet the main 8,000 m season is spring (April–May), before the monsoon; Manaslu, Cho Oyu and Dhaulagiri are also climbed in autumn…
Expedition Deposits, Refunds and Cancellations
Big-mountain deposits range from US$700 on trekking peaks to US$25,000 for Everest in published 2026/27 terms, typically about US$5,000. With flights,…
How to Choose a High-Altitude Expedition Operator
Choose a high-altitude operator on four things: who leads and how often they have summited, the oxygen and Sherpa plan in writing, the rescue and…
Mountaineering Insurance and Rescue Cover (2026)
For high-altitude climbing you need two things: medical and evacuation cover that explicitly covers your altitude (often above 4,600–6,000 m), and…
Nepal Climbing Rules 2026: Guides, Insurance and Permits
Since 1 September 2025 Nepal requires one guide for every two climbers on peaks above 8,000 m and one per 15 climbers below 8,000 m. The Everest spring…
Trekking
Preparation
Everest Kit List: What I Actually Pack
An Everest kit list centres on a down summit suit, 8,000 m double boots, layered gloves and mitts, a -30 °C to -40 °C sleeping bag and a proper crampon…
Hypoxic Tents and Pre-Acclimatisation: What Works
Hypoxic tents let you sleep at simulated altitude at home, so you arrive partly acclimatised and can shorten a big expedition. They work best when used…
Training for Everest: My 12-Month Plan
Train for Everest for at least 12 months: four to six sessions a week of long uphill carries, aerobic base work and strength training, building to 6–8…
What to Climb Before Aconcagua
Before Aconcagua, climb at least one 5,000–6,000 m peak (Kilimanjaro, Ecuador's volcanoes or a Nepal trekking peak) and learn crampon basics. Published…
What to Climb Before Everest: A Progression
Before Everest, build up through a glacier course, a 6,000 m Himalayan peak, Aconcagua or Denali, and ideally a 7,000–8,000 m peak such as Manaslu. Most…