Trip Overview
Nepal, the land of the Himalayas, is where people come to witness the lifetime experience of climbing high peaks and mountains. Peak Climbing is a fantastic experience of reaching the pinnacle of some of the tallest mountains in the world. However, in this blog, we will discuss the Samdo Peak Climbing experience, requirements, and many other factors related to the Samdo Peak.
The Samdo Peak is a mountain in the Gorkha region under the Manaslu Conservation Area. Its altitude is 5,177 meters (16985 feet). The prominence of this mountain is 55 meters or 180 feet. This peak is ranked 27th out of 29 in the Manaslu Conservation Area and 35 out of 44 in Gorkha. Besides, this is one of the underrated peaks with an altitude of over 5000 meters. To describe this peak, the Samdo Peak was first ascended on October 20, 2021 (03/07/2078 BS) by a group of six climbers named Yasuke Kuramoto, Yoshitaka Kameoka, Kohei Kotani, Seiya Nakasukasa, Daisuke Nakatsuka, and Hiroki Yamamoto
Trip Highlights
- Visiting Namche Bazaar, the gateway to the highest peak in the world. This is also the home of the Sherpa people and the best market in the Khumbu region.
- Sightseeing of green hills, white mountains, snow-covered peaks, crystal-clear rivers, and waterfalls.
- Climbing to the peak of one of Nepal’s most underrated 5000 meters mountains, which has less crowd and more adventure to be done.
- Passing through different beautiful villages, terrace farming, yaks grazing, donkeys carrying goods, and the unique lifestyle of the people living in the Himalayan region.
- A feeling of accomplishment after reaching the peak of Samdo at an altitude of 5177 meters as you will be at the top of one of Nepal’s least conquered mountain peaks.
Itinerary
Day 01: Arrival in Kathmandu (1400 meters) – transfer to hotel – tour briefing
Altitude: Kathmandu 1400 meters
Did you go through each day of the outline itinerary? If yes, you might have gained surface-level information about the everyday activity of Samdo Peak Climbing. However, that is not enough information for an enthusiastic climber, so we have provided detailed information on everyday activities that any climber would do while climbing the peak of the Samdo mountain.
For your information, you will be enlightened even more by the guides you hire before heading to the summit of Samdo Peak. Let’s take a look at the detailed itinerary of the Samdo Peak Climbing:
Day 02: Preparation meeting with the crew
Climbing the Samdo Peak is not something that anyone does alone. Therefore, the second day will be dedicated to meeting the crew members who will ascend the peak with you. Furthermore, we will also prepare for the summit expedition on this day, where the guides and other crew members will help the climbers.
Your health checkups will ensure that all the trekkers are healthy and strong enough to climb the Samdo Peak. Moreover, the climbers will also check their backpacks to ensure they carry all the necessary items to help them during the Samdo Peak climb. If anything needs to be added to the climber’s backpack, the guides will inform them and help them get all the necessary items and gear before leaving Kathmandu.
Day 03: Drive to Machha Khola (930 meters)
8 hours Drive Guest House / Lodges
Altitude: 930 meters Machha Khola
After the climbers are prepared and familiar with their guides and crew members, they will rest at a hotel in Kathmandu. Then on the next day, i.e., on the third day, the climbers will drive to Machha Khola. This village in the Gorkha district has around 100 households located at 930 meters. Furthermore, Machha Khola is situated on a hill, and you can see two rivers: Machha Khola and Budhi Gandaki.
Reaching Machha Khola by road will take around 8 hours, as the total distance from Kathmandu to Machha Khola is 160 kilometers. Even though the drive will be long enough to exhaust the travelers, we will keep taking breaks in the routes and witness the beauty of nature throughout the journey. Overnight stay at Machha Khola.
Day 04: Hike from Machha Khola to Jagat (1290 meters)
5-6 hours Trek Guest House / Lodges
Altitude: Jagat (1290 meters)
We wake up early in the morning and have our breakfast in the hotel. Machha Khola offers fair accommodation and fooding options, meaning the breakfast menu may be limited. After we finish breakfast, today is the day our walk begins, as we have not walked in the first three days.
On the fourth day, the travelers will hike from Machha Khola to Jagat (1290 meters). The climbers will cover a total altitude of 360 meters, which they can complete within 5-6 hours . You will pass through the beautifully settled Gurung villages such as Khorlabesi, Dobhan, Yuru Khola, and the Budigandaki Valley.
Day 05: Jagat to Deng (1804 meters)
6 to 8 hours Trek Guest House / Lodges
Altitude: Deng (1804 meters)
Another day to trek! After spending a night at a hotel in Jagat, the climbers will again begin their hike to another destination named Deng, located at an altitude of 1804m. The total distance between Jagat and Deng is 19.9 kilometers. The average time to complete this trek is around 6 to 8 hours.
While on the journey from Jagat to Deng, you will witness several other villages like Salletri, Sirdibas, Philim, and Nyak villages. You will also get chances to experience the unique lifestyle, culture, and tradition of the people living in these villages and interact with the locals.
Day 06: Deng to Namrung (2618 meters)
The walking hours from Deng to Namrung during a trek in Nepal will depend on a variety of factors, such as the specific route taken, individual fitness levels, and the pace of the trek. However, on average, it can take approximately 6 to 7 hours Trekking Guest House / Lodges
Altitude: Namrung (2618 meters)
The climbers will wake up at a lodge in Deng, freshen up, and again start a walk towards Namrung (2618 meters). This day will also be very adventurous and insightful. The climbers will gain an elevation of 814 meters and stay at a local lodge at Namrung for the night before reaching the next point of the journey.
Day 07: Namrung to Samagaun (3632 meters)
6-7 hours Trekking Guest House / Lodges
Altitude: Samagaun (3632 meters)
The seventh day of the Samdo peak climbing will be when the climbers reach the acclimatization point, Samagaun, at 3632 meters. It’s almost a thousand meters to ascend on this day, which makes the climbers very tired. As a result, we will check in at the lodge, relax our bodies and mind, and have a delicious dinner.
Day 08: Acclimatize at Samagaun
Tea houses/ Guesthouses
Samagaun is where the weather starts getting extreme, as we will be less than 200 meters below the Samdo Base Camp. Therefore, staying at Samagaun for a day is indispensable to adapt to the extreme temperature and gain momentum before heading to Samdo Peak. We will remain at Samagaun on the eighth day. Besides, the guides will enlighten you about the forthcoming trial and challenges.
Day 09: Samagaun to Samdo Base Camp (4800 meters)
3-4 hours Trekking Tented Camp
Altitude: Samdo Base Camp (4800m)
After two nights and one day’s stay at Samagaun, our bodies will be ready to hike in the extreme temperature and atitude. So, on the ninth day, we will reach the Samdo Base Camp (4800m) after a complex and challenging walk through the snowy trial and freezing temperature.
Day 10: Climbing training and stay at base camp
Tented Camp
Before getting any higher, the guides will provide some training on the essentials of Samdo Peak Climbing. You will learn techniques for using several gears you might not have used until now. They will also train you to build your camp as the route will no longer have tea houses or lodges for accommodation and fooding. After all this training, we will spend the night at the base camp and provide maximum rest to our bodies which will help us ascend to the summit of the Samdo Peak.
Day 11: Reaching Camp I (5,460 meters)
3-4 hours Trekking Tent/Camping
Altitude: 5,460 meters Samdo Camp I
On the 11th day, the climbers will finally reach the point where they will build their . The path will be very challenging as you will have to climb vertical slopes with the help of ropes, crampons, climbing helmet, climbing harness, ice axe, and many more. After that, we will spend the night at Camp I, where the guides or porters will prepare the dinner.
Day 12: Ascending to Camp II (5945m) from Camp I
5-7 hours Climbing Tent/Camping
Altitude: 5,945 meter Samdo Peak Camp II
The night at Camp I will be freezing and extreme, so the climbers will sleep in sleeping bags and warm quilts that they have carried with them. The nights at this altitude are colder than the day, so we suggest the climbers not leave their sleeping bags and tents at night. Also, remember that you will need excessive sleep to gain more stamina and strength for the ascend you will do the next day. Therefore, make sure to eat well and sleep to the fullest.
Day 13: Summit Samdo Peak (6,335 meters) and descend to the base camp
7-8 hours Tent/ Camping
Altitude: 4,800 meters Samdo Base Camp
Day 13 will be the most awaited day of the whole climb as today, the climbers will finally reach the summit of the Samdo Peak at 6,335 meters. The snowy base with cold temperatures and the stunning views of some other taller peaks will make this one of the best and most thrilling experiences for climbers. We will stay there briefly, and then our descending journey begins. On this day, we will stop after reaching the Samdo Base Camp and remain there for the night.
Day 14: Descend from Base Camp to Samdo Village
2-3 hours Trekking Guest House / Lodges
Altitude: 3,875 meters
On the fourteenth day, the climbers will continue descending, and we will reach Samdo from the Base Camp. The journey will be easier than it was while going up. However, we can again enjoy the views and surroundings we witnessed while ascending. We will stay the night in a lodge or hotel in Samdo and prepare for the next day’s journey.
Day 15: Reach Dharmasala from Samdo Village
4,460 meters Guest House / Lodges
Altitude: Dharmasala 4,460 meters
Today, we will wake up early in the morning, have breakfast, and then restart our journey toward Dharma Sala, a beautiful place on the Samdo peak climbing route. The natural beauty, the yaks grazing, and the sight of several other peaks will make our stay at Dharma Sala beautiful and enjoyable.
Day 16: Dharma Sala to Bhimthang Descend
7 to 9 hours Trekking Guest House / Lodges
Altitude: Bhimthang 3,700 meters
After spending a night at Dharma Sala, we set off for a journey to Bhimthang. Bhimthang, a part of the Manaslu Trekking Route, was a salt trading point between Nepal and Tibet for almost ten years. There is a separate trek to Bhimthang because this is one of the best routes for the beautiful view of Mt. Manaslu (8163 meters).
Day 17: Bhimthang to Dharapani
7 to 8 hours Trekking Hotel/ Lodges
Altitude: Dharapani 1,963 meters
We will experience the beauty of Bhimthang and rest there in a hotel or lodge for the night, and the next day will be the day to descend to Dharapani. Even though it is downhill, you will still have to walk and give energy, so returning to Kathmandu on the same day is not practical.
Day 18: Drive back to Kathmandu from Dharapani
8-10 hours Drive Hotel
Altitude: Kathmandu 1,400 meters
After resting for the night at a hotel or lodge in Dharapani, we will have breakfast at the same hotel and drive back to Kathmandu. We will be using a private vehicle which takes 8-10 hours to reach Kathmandu.
Day 19: Day off in Kathmandu
Hotel
Today is the second-last day of the climb so that this day will be a free roam in Kathmandu. You can explore several areas in Kathmandu and taste some local cuisines in Thamel and Basantapur. Furthermore, there are also several shops in Kathmandu from where you can get a sovereign for yourself and take them back home.
Day 20: Take a flight from Kathmandu and return to your destination.
Finally, it is time to return to your respective country after a climbing to the Samdo Peak. Our representatives will accompany you to the airport and take your reviews to the Tribhuvan International Airport.
What’s Included
- Transportation services to and from domestic and international flights according to the itinerary.
- Bus transportation from Kathmandu to Soti Khola and Beshisahar to Kathmandu.
- Three nights of hotel accommodation in Kathmandu with breakfast included.
- Combination of tea house and camping accommodations during the trek according to the itinerary.
- Experienced and government-licensed high altitude trekking guide for the trekking and climbing period.
- Three meals a day (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) with tea and coffee available at tea houses, hotels, and lodges during the trek.
- Three fresh and hygienic meals a day (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) served at the base camp.
- Strong and helpful Sherpa porters with proper safety equipment, walking equipment, salary, food, accommodation, and insurance (one porter for two people).
- Trekking permits, including Manaslu Conservation area (MCAP & ACAP), Restricted Area Permit (RAP), and Samdo Peak Climbing Permit.
- First aid medical kits for the group and staff.
- Use of sleeping bag, down jacket, duffel bag, and walking poles (if you don’t have your own, they will be provided and returned after the trip).
- Helicopter rescue insurance for high altitude staff.
- Trekking and climbing map of Samdo peak.
- Service charge and government taxes levied in Nepal.
- Farewell dinner in a typical Nepali restaurant with a domestic culture show in Kathmandu.
- Oxygen meter to check pulse, oxygen saturation
What’s Excluded
- Nepal entry visa fees are not included in the package and must be paid separately.
- Lunch and dinner at the Kathmandu Hotel are not included in the package.
- Participants are responsible for bringing their own personal equipment, such as sleeping bags, down jackets, waterproof jackets, and kit bags.
- Each participant is required to contribute to an equipment allowance for the Sherpa guides and porters
- Travel and medical insurance, as well as emergency evacuation costs, are not included in the package and must be arranged by the participants themselves.
- Personal expenses such as laundry, telephone calls, alcoholic beverages, bottled drinks (including cold drinks and mineral water), and tips are not included