Everest Base Camp Tour in Nepal

If I was doing EBC I would probably use www.summitventures.co.za/everest.html (Malcolm Pearce's company). I have an uncle who did Kili with them a few years ago and apparently they are really good.

The price is good though.

I've done it in 2003 via a guide who I got into direct contact with. Once of my employees stayed in Kathmandu for a while and got to know him there.

I agreed an itinerary and pricing via email and he booked everything for us and picked us up at the airport. He did in fact have some support from a local guide company and the pricing was really good. He was also a great guide with good English language skills and we were very happy with him and the porter that he arranged.

If you would like his email address let me know...

I also have a direct contact, a guide from when I was in Nepal. Lovely friendly chap, called Chhatra, who will do whatever you require. There is no need to go through an agency, they cost the earth!

That's great to know. I'll chat to you guys when I get to do EBC some time.

Its not on my things to do in the next year list, but definitely on my short term to do list. I also don't want to do the conventional route either, I want to climb Island Peak, Kala Patar and Gokyo Ri (wouldn't be me without some peak bagging) etc, and have a few other detours along the way. Should be easier to set up like that than with a tour group.

kalar Patar and Gokyo Ri are just a hike you can do before breakfast but Island Peak involves ice gear and is a more serious undertaking....

you will need a separate permit for Island Peak too, I think

I'm aware that Island Peak is a more serious peak. But if I am going that close to a peak that I want to climb, I'd like to do them all at once. I can drive to the Berg in 2 hours, and spend 2 days bagging almost any khulu/sub-khulu. But my odds of going to Nepal more than once, and then repeating the EBC circuit aren't high.

Although right now this is all very hypothetical. I'll put more thought into plans when I am actually preparing to do something like this. I need to up my game quite a bit before shooting for a 6000er.

So who is going? Saw this in an email this morning:
Daddy's Deals - EBC deal for R10k

I've been and this isn't a bad price but I would check the group size and make up. I found a guide who I could book directly and we had our own guide and porter for a good price and could do our own itinery. We visited Gokyo Lakes and had great views of Cho Oyu from the summit of Gokyo Ri peak all within 17 days of walking.

PM me if you would like more details...