Hi All.

A group of South Africans are attempting their summit bid of Mt Everest on Tuesday. If they conquer everest, they will have climbed to the top of the highest mountain on every continent!

I plan to climb Mt. Kilomanjaro in the future, with my eventual goal being Mt Everest. there are travel agencies that can arrange everything for you in your attemt to climb Kilomanjaro, as long as you have enough money.

But I doubt that the same applies for Everest. How do people organise an expedition to Everest?

I'm not too sure if anyone can answer this, so i'm not holding my hopes up.

Thanks anyway!

Strangely enough, I was just reading a newspaper article about this the other day. There are adventure travel agencies which, for the right price, will organise expeditions to Everest. There's a false impression that they'll take anyone who can come up with the money, which (at least for the reputable ones) isn't true - you still need to prove to them that you have the skill, experience, and fitness to participate. (the article didn't list any of these agencies, so you're on your own there - but there are lots of travel agents who specialise in adventure tours, they'd be a good starting point.)

A friend of my sister's and her fiance went on an expedition to the Everest base camp some years ago. Similar deal, arranged through a package outfitter. They never made it to the base camp - after spending several thousand dollars, the fiance came down with a case of the sniffles after a few days on the trail and the agency medevaced him out (she chose to go with him) because they couldn't take the risk of it being altitude sickness. Apparently they just shrugged this off - although disappointed, they felt that it was the price you paid for dealing with a reputable agency that placed their customers' safety above profit. (No, they didn't get their money back.)

Thanks Aardwolfe

I was under the impression that maybe you were selected to represent your country when you climb, hence all the waving of national flags when people reach the summit.

If you need pointers on Kili or Mt. Kenya let me know I did them last January.

Matt

Get hold of a recent copy of either "Climbing" or "Rock and Ice" magazines and check out the classified section for the outfitters who organize Mt Everest climbs. I believe the going price for the guide fee is about $50,000 or so. Add equipment costs and travel to that.

Guide fee is next to nothing in comparison to the climbing permit.

I just saw a National Geographic documentary on Everest. I think they said the permit was $65,000.00.

Chris

That would equal R 520 000!!

I could get 2 luxury 4x4 's for that money!!! <img src="images/graemlins/ooo.gif" alt="" />

Guess I'll stick to Kilimanjaro/Mt Kenya <img src="images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

Yes you are right. Permit is $50000 to $65000. Plus a guide and porter fee which is pennies in comparison to that lump sum. But I think there is no payment if you are planning to go only up to a second base camp.

Kili permit is a small guide fee plus $70. I think total comes up to $150 -$200. I still have the receipt at home somewhere. Guide private fee is about $150 - $400. Porters are $5 cooks are $10 plus cost of food. Kili climb takes 6-7 days depending on the route.

Matt

Ahh, now that is more within my budget.