Nepal Treks with International Mountain Guides

The Everest Base Camp Trek is a classic adventure! IMG offers treks through the Khumbu Valley of Nepal to the Everest South Side Base Camp as well as through Tibet to Everest North Side Base Camp. Dozens of companies offer Everest Treks, but we believe our experience, safety precautions, and solid record of trekking and climbing in the Himalayas make IMG your best choice for trekking Nepal and Tibet.

IMG also offers the opportunity to combine your Nepal trek with a climb of Lobuche Peak (20,075') or the unique chance to climb to the Western Cwm of Everest through the Khumbu Icefall and beyond. Please read on to find out what makes the International Mountain Guides Everest Base Camp Trek different from all the rest.

Nepal Everest Base Camp Treks

Climber Trek: March 22 - April 15, 2009
Sherpa Trek: April 29 - May 23, 2009
Extra Nights at BC: $75

The trek to Everest Base Camp is simply classic. We have two groups for spring 2009. The March 22 group, which accompanies the climbers on the trek to BC is now full. We still have space available on the April 29 - May 23 trek to Everest Base Camp. This second group will be led by Phu Tashi Sherpa from Pangboche, one of our top trek leaders. Phu Tashi has led treks for IMG for many years and when you go to Pangboche you can visit his home! This trek group will arrive at Base Camp just in time for the summit bids, a very exciting time to be at Base Camp. You will stay in comfortable lodges on the way to Base Camp and will be guests of the expedition team for three nights at Base Camp. Then, trek back out to Lukla with our crack Sherpa team for the flight to Kathmandu. This is a top quality trip in all respects.

Everest Base Camp Nepal Trek and Lobuche Peak Summit Climb

March 22 - April 19, 2009

Want to climb an attractive 20,000 footer while in Nepal? Lobuche Peak (20,075') is a perfect objective if you have Mt. Rainier skills (ice axe, crampons, rope). Accompany the team to Base Camp, and then climb Lobuche, a nice climb with a world class view from the top of Everest. It is located to the west of the Khumbu Glacier, one day hike down the valley. If you have climbed Rainier, then you have the skills you need for this climb.

Khumbu Icefall Climb with Camp 3 Option

Khumbu Icefall: March 22 - April 24, 2009
Camp 3 Option: March 22 - April 28, 2009

If you a climber who always wanted to see for yourself what Everest is all about, our Khumbu Icefall program provides the chance to go up to Camp 1 and Camp 2. This is serious climbing, with some risk, so you need to be in good shape and have solid skills with crampons, fixed rope, etc. We also have an option to stay longer and go higher, up to Camp 3 and the Yellow Band. Contact This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need javascript enabled to view it for details.

Our Philosophy

IMG leads the way! Virtually every year we are one of the first teams to the summit. Our goal is to safely help as many team members as possible reach their goals, and we invest in the logistics that will make this happen (for example, five separate summit bids in 2006, four in 2007, and five in 2008!) We do not mount a "one size fits all" expedition. After 16 Everest expeditions, we know that each climber has different requirements in terms of support, whether they want to climb early or late in the summit window, how to optimally prepare, how many acclimatization rotations to do, etc. We have sufficient depth in our logistics to allow maximum flexibility. If you would like to join a world-class team on Everest, we encourage you to contact us to discuss your goals and qualifications and secure an exciting role for yourself on our team! We value our reputation as the premiere international climbing company and we only put programs in place that measure up to our own high standards.

Expedition Organization and Leadership

International Mountain Guides ("IMG")
IMG is the oldest and most respected high-altitude climbing service in the world, successfully operating since 1975. IMG's three principals, Eric Simonson, Phil Ershler, and George Dunn, have led and organized over 500 expeditions worldwide. Each is an AMGA Certified Alpine Guide with Himalayan expedition experience including Everest, K2, Kangchenjunga, Shishapangma, Cho Oyu, and Ama Dablam. IMG's Himalayan mountaineering programs are organized and directed by Eric Simonson. Eric has been a professional guide since 1973 and has conducted over 100 expeditions around the world, including over thirty to the Himalaya. His teams are led by American climbers and Sherpas who are the best in the business. Since 1991 we have conducted over forty 8000-meter expeditions and have seen over 300 climbers reach the summit of these peaks, including 179 on Everest.

Ang Jangbu and the IMG Sherpa Team
A veteran of dozens of expeditions and an Everest summiter, Ang Jangbu has worked with Eric Simonson on every IMG Himalayan program since 1991 and is a very popular leader. Ang Jangbu Sherpa and his staff put together one of the very best Sherpa teams for IMG. We are proud to have a group of Sherpas working for us who are among the best paid, best led, best equipped, and best trained in the business.

Mark Tucker
Mark's resume includes eight expeditions to Mt. Everest including both Nepal and Tibet, summitting via the North Ridge on the 1990 Peace Climb. A senior Rainier guide during the summer, Mark is one of IMG's most popular trip leaders, with dozens and dozens of international expeditions under his belt. Mark co-led successful Everest expeditions in 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007. Well known as the "mayor of Base Camp," Tucker works hard to make sure all the pieces of the puzzle fit together. Under his leadership, over 60 western climbers (and dozens of Sherpas) have reached the summit. For 2008, he returns to lead our next successful Everest expedition!

The IMG Sherpa team
Ang Jangbu and longtime IMG Sirdar (head Sherpa climb team leader) Ang Passang from Pangboche put together one of the very best Sherpa teams on the mountain each year for IMG. We are proud to have a group of Sherpas working for us who are the best paid, best led, best equipped, and best trained in the business. Many of them have been on multiple IMG Himalayan expeditions, they know how to work together as a team and understand exactly what is expected of them.

References

Joining a high-altitude trek or expedition is a serious decision. You should be completely confident in the organization and leadership before you make that decision. Many of you have climbed with us before, and because your experience with us was good, you're considering another climb with us. For those of you who haven't climbed with us before, we strongly encourage you to interview us thoroughly and also talk to our past clients. When you're ready to make the decision, we'll be happy to provide you with a complete list of references. Please also browse comments online from our trekkers and climbers.