3 Trips to Explore the Himalayas in 2020

For many of us, the Himalayas are a dream destination. Apart from the beauty and challenge of being among the tallest peaks in the world, there is the opportunity to explore Sherpa culture, mountainside villages, and test our lungs above 10,000 feet.

Wilderness Travel knows a thing or two about guiding explorers through this adventurous landscape. Founded in 1978, they have worked with Everest legends like Sir Edmund Hillary and Conrad Anker (Conrad and his wife, Jennifer Lowe, came up with the idea of the Alex Lowe Charitable Foundation while accompanying Wilderness Travel's Ultimate Everest trek).

Why travel with Wilderness Travel? By using Wilderness Travel as your guide, you will enjoy staying in the best lodges in the Khumbu Valley (no camping required!) and eating meals from a private cook during the higher altitude treks, Everest Base Camp and Ultimate Everest. Combined with the opportunity to learn about local culture through local guides, you'll have the makings of a trip of a lifetime.

Here are three trips to experience the Himalayas this year with Wilderness Travel.

1. Everest Base Camp

A trek to Everest base camp is often on the list of "must-dos" for adventurous travelers to the Himalayas. Apart from the spectacular views that await on the journey from Lukla to the Khumbu Ice Fall, there are villages to explore, monasteries to visit, and the exciting energy of being near climbers readying for a summit bid. 

Wilderness Travel's 20-day Everest Base Camp trek is designed to be both challenging and attainable. The hiking is tough, but what gets most people is adjusting to the thin air of the Himalayas. To combat this, the trek includes "Exploration Days" along the route to help trekkers acclimatize to the elevation. 

Exploration Days include a stop at Ama Dablam base camp, visiting the small village of Chukhung, and an optional hike to Island Peak base camp. These preparations will help you get to the summit of Kala Patar, with its breathtaking views of Everest’s Southwest Face and the Khumbu Glacier, and on to Everest base camp itself.

2. Everest Lodge to Lodge

If getting to Everest Base Camp isn't your goal, but you still want to soak in all the sights, experiences, and welcoming vibes of the Himalayan region, the 14-day Everest Lodge to Lodge journey with Wilderness Travel is the trip for you.

Travel through the heart of the Sherpa mountain realm with visits to villages perched in the clouds, including Tengboche Monastery, and take an optional hike to the Ama Dablam base camp. Enjoy inspiring views of Everest’s peak, and let your heart be captured by the warm embrace of the Sherpa people.

On this trip, like all of Wilderness Travel's Everest trips, you'll be spending each night in the finest Sherpa-owned mountain lodges located in the villages visited. Each tour is led by a knowledgeable local guide who will give you their personal insight into the Sherpa culture.

3. Ultimate Everest

Can't choose what you want to experience? With the 25-day Ultimate Everest trip, you don't have to. This journey includes a trek to Tengboche Monastery, the base camps of Everest and Ama Dablam, and up the trekker's peak of Kala Patar. On the way, you'll stop at charming villages, enjoy the bustle of the Namche Bazaar, and take "Exploration Days" to help acclimatize. 

After hitting those highlights, the trip crosses the snow-covered Cho La into the Gokyo Valley. Enjoy the beauty of the Valley's turquoise lakes as you make your way to the summit of Gokyo Ri to view the four highest peaks in the world — Everest, Lhoste, Makalu, and Cho Oyu.

No matter how you explore the Himalayas with Wilderness Travel, you're sure to experience the trip of a lifetime. 

Explore more of Wilderness Travel's treks.

All photos courtesy of Wilderness Travel