Cho Oyu

Climbers should have successfully completed our 6 Day Beginner Mountaineering Course and an expedition such as a Denali Climb, or have equivalent skills and experience. Cho Oyu is excellent preparation for a summit attempt of Mt. Everest and is the logical choice for those who wish to embrace and climb an 8,000-meter Himalayan peak. This expedition teaches valuable climbing skills, high-altitude management techniques, and lessons for the use of oxygen systems and staying healthy at extreme altitudes. Climbers who have been successful on Denali or comparable peaks are typically prepared to join a guided ascent on Cho Oyu. Climbers must have solid cramponing skills, be able to rappel with a pack on, and use ascenders on a fixed line. We place a high degree of responsibility on our climbers to prepare for the challenges of the ascent and the wellbeing of their fellow team members. We encourage you to contact us with questions, and please feel free to speak with former expedition members.

Climbers must be in excellent physical condition. This is a long expedition requiring patience, stamina, mental fortitude, and strong willpower. Summit day can be 12 hours long.

Along with the required climbing skills, review cardio training on the Training page of our website. We strongly recommend following the advice of our guides to acclimatize properly.

Your expedition leader will be one of our International Mountain Guides. They will have along as many assistant guides, climbing Sherpa, porters, and cooks as necessary to ensure a low climber-to-guide ratio.

The best time to climb Cho Oyu is in the Fall, August-October.

Generally, our maximum for this climb is 10 climbers plus guides and Sherpa.

During the approach to Base Camp we will be lodging in hotels and hostels that are double occupancy. Climbers will share a room (two per room) during this portion of the trip in Tibet. In Base Camp, each climber will have their own tent. Above Base Camp, in Camps I-III, climbers will share tents.

During the trek, team members will only carry gear and supplies for the day. At no point do climbers carry camping gear or equipment for overnight during the trek. Daypacks will weigh no more than 20 lbs. Above Base Camp on the climb, we will typically carry packs that weigh 20–30 lbs. At no point will your pack weigh more than 50 lbs.

Please review the Gear List.

Those requesting rental gear must submit an expedition rental form with payment by fax or mail. All rental gear will be mailed to the climber prior to the climb. Climbers are expected to clean all rental gear and return it to us by mail following the expedition.

While all items are required, there may be times when some of the items on the Gear List may not be used (such as warm weather or changing conditions). The Gear Lists are created by the guides to assist in having climbers be prepared to summit in any conditions.

While it is impossible for us to list all brands for certain gear, we do offer a wide variety of equipment in our Gear Shop, that has been hand-picked by our staff of mountaineering experts. Please feel free to call our offices with any gear questions or substitutes. Plastic boots are required for this climb.

During the approach to Base Camp, we will eat in restaurants where clean water will be provided. Climbers can also purchase bottled water along the way. At Base Camp and on the route, we will boil water.

Meals in the mountains consist of a diet rich in carbohydrates because our bodies do not process fat and protein efficiently at higher elevations and to compensate for the increase in caloric need that high-altitude climbing involves. We try to make meals varied and as normal as possible. During the approach to Base Camp, we will dine in Tibetan restaurants serving a mix of Chinese/Tibetan/Continental dishes. Meals during the climb are made from food purchased in both Nepal and the US. Typical meals are rice, pasta, or potato dishes, along with vegetable and egg dishes. In Base Camp we will have cooked lunches. Above Base Camp, climbing food mainly consists of dried meals such as pastas or rice. Lunches while climbing will mainly be made up of bars and snacks brought from the US.

You may bring power bars, Gu, Power Gel, cereal bars, or similar high-energy foods; we also recommend powder Gatorade to fight dehydration. Alpine Ascents will provide all meals on this expedition.

No requirements at this time.

Fares are generally less expensive when booked early. If you would like the assistance of a travel agency, we can recommend our friends at Exito Travel. We recommend using our travel agent as they can best facilitate changes. Please note that flights booked online are often difficult to change. Please send us a copy of your flight schedule as early as possible as this allows us to book pick ups and hotels.

An Alpine Ascents representative will meet those climbers (look for the sign) arriving on the scheduled date (or a different date for those who have made prior arrangements) and taken to the Yak and Yeti Hotel. Although it is likely that you will meet your team leader at the airport and other members during the day, we will have a scheduled meeting that day. This meeting will include introductions, final review, and an overview of the itinerary and trek.

We are happy to make arrangements such as personalized tours, extra hotel rooms, airport pick-ups, and arrange for private rooms. Please indicate that you would like a private room on your application and we will contact you with information on single-room supplement costs (for hotels only).

We will send further instructions on obtaining a Chinese visa.

In Kathmandu internet access are readily available. We will organize wi fi system at base camp. Details will be provided prior to the climb.

Check the Reading List on the Cho Oyu page of the website.

You can always call our offices and we will have one of your Everest guides contact you. Within 30 days prior to departure, we will mail a list of the other team members to you.