About Lobuche East
Lobuche, also written Lobuje, is a mountain in the Everest Region above Lobuche village. The peak is quite close to the Khumbu Glacier, the largest glacier in the country. Lobuche Peak has two primary peaks: Lobuche East(6,119m) and Lobuche West(6,145m).
As per Nepal Mountaineering Association(NMA), Lobuche East is a trekking peak, and Lobuche West peak is an expedition peak. The Lobuche West is complex and more technical than Lobuche East. For that reason, most climbers opt for Lobuche East over Lobuche West. Lobuche East is one of the famous trekking peaks in the country. It attracts all sorts of climbers, from novices to experts.
The peak is one of the most challenging trekking peaks in the country. Compared to other similar climbs, Lobuche East is tricky. There are some technical testing sections. So it's the first choice for those wanting to climb a difficult trekking peak.
The first people to climb Lobuche East are Sherpa Ang Gyalzen and Laurence Nielson. They achieved the mountain on April 25, 1984. And since then, Lobuche East Climbing has been a significant peak climbing in the country.
About Kathmandu Lukla Flight
This is an Everest region trip, and you need to know about Kathmandu Lukla Flight. The expedition will begin with a flight to Lukla. Then, it will be a flight of 30 minutes to the entrance of the Everest Region. The flight lands at Tenzing-Hillary Airport(2,846m), one of the most exciting airstrips in the world.
The flight to Lukla from Kathmandu can get canceled or delayed sometimes. Various weather conditions can bring such situations. Plus, it is packed to get tickets during a peak season. So be ready to face such kinds of delays or cancellations.
Permit Required for Lobuche East Climbing with Everest Base Camp Trek
You should have three permits in your bag for this expedition.
The first is the peak climbing permit from Nepal Mountaineering Association(NMA). You can get this permit for USD 250 if you climb the peak during Spring. Similarly, if you want to climb the mountain during Autumn, a climbing permit costs USD125. And the permit is cheaper during the off-seasons, Monsoon and Winter. So you can get this permit for USD 70 during those seasons.
After the climbing permit, the following permission is to enter the Sagarmatha National Park permit. As this expedition happens via the protected site, you must get this permit. The pass costs USD 15 per person for the SAARC nationals and USD 30 for the rest.
The last permit you’ll require for this climb is the Local Area Permit. You’ll enter some restricted localities during the trek, so you need to have this one. The permit is obtainable for USD 20.
Note: The permit cost is included in the Lobuche East Climbing with Everest Base Camp Trek. You do not need to pay it separately.
Lobuche East Climbing with Everest Base Camp Trek Route
The Lobuche East Climbing with Everest Base Camp Trek commences with a quick 30 minutes Kathmandu-Lukla flight. As the plane reaches above, you’ll begin seeing the varied landscapes of Nepal and the Himalayas. It will be a particular flight that will land us in Lukla, the walk's starting point.
As we reach Lukla, you’ll start preparing for the trek towards Phakding. The first day of the trek will happen through a lush forest, a river, and many suspension bridges. From Phakding, you’ll move towards Namche Bazaar the next day. The center of the region, Namche Bazaar, will host an acclimatization day.
After Namche Bazaar, we’ll move ahead in our trek towards Tengboche, a place known for the Tengboche Monastery. We’ll call it a day in Tengboche after a lovely trekking day full of mountain views. The next day, we’ll trek towards Dingboche. This day will have astonishing sights of Ama Dablam and Lhotse. Following the night in Dingboche, we’ll travel to Gorak Shep, the teahouse point before Everest Base Camp. On the same day, we’ll explore the Everest Base Camp area. Finally, we’ll spend the night in Gorakshep.
We’ll hike to Kala Patthar for mesmerizing views of Mt Everest and other peaks the following day. After the view, you’ll retrace back to Lobuche for the night. From Lobuche, we’ll march towards Lobuche Base Camp to spend a night in a tented camp.
And finally, we’ll start our climb towards Lobuche’s top by climbing up to Lobuche High Camp. The next day, we’ll attend the summit of Lobuche Peak from the high camp. We’ll enjoy a good time on the summit by enjoying a complete panorama of the region.
After the summit, we’ll descend back to High Camp from the summit and spend another night there. Following, we’ll sink to Pangboche village to call it a day in the village. Finally, we will wake up in Pangboche to start the walk to Namche Bazaar. The town will be the place for the night's rest.
Next, on the 17th day of the expedition, we’ll trek to Lukla from Namche Bazaar. It will be the last trekking day of the trek in the region. We will end the day in Lukla. The following day, we’ll take a flight back to Kathmandu. After flying for 30 minutes, we will reach Kathmandu. And it will be a sum-up of the whole journey with success and memories.
Lobuche East Climbing with Everest Base Camp Trek Difficulty Level
This journey to the foothill of Mt Everest and the top of Lobuche East is neither easy nor hard. It mainly depends on what sort of experience and preparation you have for this trip. If you are prepared well, this journey is not a hard one.
Firstly, you will trek through the Everest Region for 8-9 days to reach Everest Base Camp. During this trek, you have challenges such as longer trekking hours, steep uphills, rough routes, high elevations, etc. Every day will bring 5-6 hours of a trek on an uphill cum downhill trail. As you reach higher heights, you’ll trek on a rough road. You’ll deal with these sorts of difficulties throughout the trip.
The real hardship starts when you climb Lobuche East from Lobuche Base Camp. You’ll have a steep, rocky, and rugged landscape to climb. Therefore, it will need a robust physical endurance level. Alongside, you’ll be staying at the campsites during the climbing days.
Comparatively, the climb from base camp to high camp is just an uphill climb. All you have to do is take your body through the rough path. The real examination is on the summit day. You have to trek on a slippery and steep iced pathway. All of the climbing things and your skill will come into use here.
Right before the summit, you will climb a 45-degree snow wall. Next, you will use fixed lines to climb the step wall. Once you mount this part, you’re on the top of Lobuche East. That’s the most technical section of the entire climb. Except for this, the Lobuche East is a comfortable climb for the well-prepared climbers.
In sum, the significant challenges of this expedition are altitude, steep & rough trails, and the technical section of the climb. Do not worry. We are here to guide you to the top. If you are prepared well and get the assistance of our experienced Sherpas, it will be a fun climb. Do not forget that Lobuche East is just a trekking peak.
Lobuche East Climbing with Everest Base Camp Trek Preparation
Lobuche East is a trekking peak, so it doesn't require prior climbing experience. However, it would help if you were physically and mentally ready for this expedition.
First of all, you should have sound health. If you have any serious medical condition, this journey is not for you. It is a challenging trip, and it may turn worse for you if you are not healthy. Therefore, make sure you are fit to climb a mountain.
Likewise, you should have a robust physical stamina level. Cardio training such as day hiking, jogging, swimming, running, and cycling are good starting options. Doing these sorts of exercises regularly will help you build a firm physique. And they will prepare you for the expedition's rugged and steep climbs. Do not forget that you must trek for 5-6 hours every day on the trip. So get your physique ready for that.
A muscular physique is not enough when you are doing a challenging expedition. It is equally important to have a mentality that does not give up. A strong and positive mentality can overcome any challenge. Thus, get yourself mentally ready too.
Also, basic mountaineering knowledge is a must for Lobuche East Climbing. The climb of Lobuche east has some technical sections for which you need to have some mountaineering skills. You have to use ropes, axes, and crampons on the expedition. Hence, attend a mountaineering course before the trip if you are a newbie.
So these are some ways to prepare for the Lobuche Peak Climbing with Everest Base Camp Trek.
Lobuche East Climbing with Everest Base Camp Trek Best Time
Lobuche East Climbing with Everest Base Camp Trek is possible all year round. We have seen people around the globe doing climbs in all seasons.
However, mountaineering is safe when the weather is sound and static. On the other hand, if the weather is not ideal, the mountains' adventure can become a disaster. Hence, it is essential to know about the right time.
Autumn and Spring are two good seasons for Lobuche East and the EBC Trek expedition. Autumn(September-November) is a good time for mountain expeditions. During this season, the weather is stable and calm, the temperature is all right, and the skies are clear. The chances of weather disturbance are also meager. Plus, Autumn brings the biggest festivals of the locals, Dashain, Tihar, and Chaat. The season gets even better with the celebration. Thus, Autumn is the time.
Spring(March-May) is another perfect time for climbing and trekking in Nepal. This season delivers greenery and colorful flowers everywhere around Nepal. The weather is also quite typical. Clear mountain visibility, warm temperature, and cloudless skies are routine this season. Due to all these good factors, many climbers book expeditions during Spring. Like in Autumn, you can see many people around the trails to the mountains in Nepal during this season.
On the other hand, the expedition is also possible during Winter(December-February) and Monsoon(June-August). But the conditions in these two seasons are not as excellent as in the other two. Winter is a cold season and a time of heavy snowfall in the Himalayas. Likewise, Monsoon is about rainfall, dark clouds, and leeches. Therefore, you have to do extra challenges during these two seasons. Thus, only risk lovers pick Winter and Monsoon.
To sum this up, you can do the outing all year round. If you are looking for stable weather, Autumn and Spring are great. Monsoon and Winter are also good if you are looking for some adventures.
Food in Lobuche East Climbing with Everest Base Camp Trek
Lobuche East Climbing with Everest Base Camp Trek will have three meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner. While you are trekking, you will eat meals at various teahouses. The lodges serve typical meals such as pizza, noodles, dumplings, sandwiches, Dal Bhat, Porridges, bakery items, coffee, tea, etc. The drinking water is also readily available during the trekking days.
However, you will have limited meal options during the climb. This is because the kitchen staff for the expedition will cook food throughout the climbing days. So this is how food will be arranged during the journey.
Accommodation
Lobuche East Climbing with Everest Base Camp Trek is a teahouse cum camped tent trek. You will get reasonable accommodation during the trekking days. There are plenty of basic to good lodges throughout the trekking route. The rooms are double sharing with two beds. You will get enough blankets for the bed. In contrast, the attached bathrooms are not guaranteed everywhere.
However, as you leave the trekking route and start Lobuche East climbing, you will be accommodated in a tented camp. The sleeping bag will be a gem during the climbing days. So this is what sort of accommodation will be organized during this voyage.
Tips for Lobuche East Climbing with Everest Base Camp Trek
- Start physical preparation at least 2-3 months before the date.
- Learn basic mountaineering skills.
- Have reliable travel insurance.
- Pick the right time for the expedition and book in advance.
- Do not pack everything you see and make your bag heavy.
- Learn more about altitude sickness.
- Do the expedition through a licensed agency.
- Have an experienced local trekking and climbing guide.
- Do not drink alcohol and dehydrate your body.
- Hydrate yourself all the time.
- Carry dry fruits, energy bars, and chocolate for instant energy.
- Do not do rapid walking while ascending.
- Take breaks and catch your breath.
- Do what your guide tells you to do.
- Inform your team immediately if you feel anything uneasy.
