CHULU WEST PEAK CLIMBING 6419m

Description

Chulu West Peak Climbing, Chulu West Basislager

Chulu West lies in the western part of the Manang District in Nepal. Standing at 6,419m, Chulu West Peak turns the dream of peak climbing in one of the world’s most beautiful regions – the Annapurna region – into reality. There are two Chulu peaks, East and West; this package covers the Chulu West Peak Climb. At 6,419m, Chulu West offers a rewarding climbing opportunity for anyone seeking adventure in the Annapurna region.

The trekking-climbing trip starts from Besisahar and follows the Annapurna Circuit trekking trail along the Marsyangdi Valley to reach the north side of the Annapurna massif. After joining the Annapurna Circuit trail at Yak Kharka, beyond the village of Manang, the route follows a yak trail into barren, uninhabited land with sparse vegetation. We spend a couple of nights at the Chulu West base camp preparing the climbing techniques needed for the summit.

We then hike through the Kali Gandaki river valley to the famous pilgrimage site of Muktinath, home to Hindu temples and Buddhist monasteries. The best season to climb is from March to May (spring) and September to November (autumn); in the crisp, mildly cold month of December the mountain views are crystal clear and there are fewer tourists around.

What’s Included

Cost includes:

• All land transfers, arrivals and departures as per the itinerary
• Hotel accommodation with bed and breakfast on a twin-sharing basis as per the itinerary
• Meals during the trek: 3 meals a day (breakfast, lunch and dinner) at local lodges or prepared by our cook
• English-speaking, experienced and professional trekking guide (license holder)
• Porters (1 porter carries up to 25kg of luggage for 2 participants during the trek)
• City tours as mentioned in the itinerary with an English-speaking guide, plus all land transportation by private car/jeep/van
• All necessary trekking and climbing permits, including TIMS card, National Park entrance fee and ACAP fee
• Insurance, appropriate warm clothing, shoes, sunglasses and daily wages for guide and porters
• Daily wages for guide, Sherpa helpers, cook, kitchen staff and porters, including a food allowance during the trek
• Accommodation in twin-share tents during the trek, with a dining tent, kitchen tent, toilet tent, shower tent, table, chairs and mattresses
• Necessary kitchen utensils

Cost excludes:

• Lunch and dinner while in Kathmandu or Pokhara
• Personal gear and expenses of a personal nature, as well as personal medical, travel and emergency evacuation insurance
• Soft drinks and alcoholic beverages of any kind
• Confectionery and snacks, desserts, hot shower water, boiled drinking water, phone calls and laundry
• Any airfare, international and domestic departure taxes, and any excess baggage charges
• Tips and gratuities for guides and porters, as customary for trekking in Nepal

Nepal Highlights:

Best time to visit Nepal – additional information on the “Chulu West Peak Climbing”

Nepal can be visited all year round, but a few natural hazards are worth noting: heavy flooding during the monsoon (mid-July to mid-August) and extreme cold in the high Himalaya (late November to mid-December). Nepal is a land of hills and mountains, and its high peaks are one reason the country is so rich in water resources – fast-flowing rivers and beautiful lakes. Heavy rain, or even several days of light rain, can cause flooding in the lowland Terai region, so extra caution is advised there during the monsoon. Away from the monsoon, the hill regions enjoy sunny days even in winter, making for a pleasantly mild travel season.

Seasons in Nepal – additional information on the “Chulu West Peak Climbing”

Nepal recognises six seasons: Basanta Ritu (spring), Grishma Ritu (early summer), Barkha Ritu (monsoon), Sharad Ritu (early autumn), Hemanta Ritu (late autumn) and Shishir Ritu (winter).

Outside the monsoon (early July to late August), any season is suitable for a trip – Yetiland-nepal.de advises against travelling in the Terai lowlands during the monsoon.

Summers can be hot, with temperatures ranging from around 25 to 40°C depending on location. In the upper Himalayan region, summer temperatures reach up to about 30°C, while the lower Terai plains in southern Nepal can see highs of 40°C or more.

Winter days are mostly sunny, with cold mornings and evenings. If you’ve experienced winter in Greece, the feeling in Kathmandu is similar – from mid-December the sun keeps days pleasantly warm, while evening temperatures can drop to around 5°C. In the high Himalaya, however, temperatures fall well below 0°C.

Buddha was born in Nepal – additional information on the “Chulu West Peak Climbing”

This is a matter of pride for Nepalis: neighbouring countries, India in particular, sometimes claim Buddha’s origins lie there, which stirs up debate from time to time. In fact, Buddha was born in Nepal.

Well worth a visit is Lumbini, his birthplace southwest of Kathmandu. The prince who left his palace in search of lasting peace and meaning in life attained enlightenment (Nirvana) there. His teachings have since spread across the world and are followed by millions of people; in modern Western society too, Buddhism and meditation – a path to self-awareness and inner peace – have become popular everyday practices.

Take a look at our tours that include a visit to Lumbini.

8 of the world’s 10 highest mountains are in Nepal – additional information on the “Chulu West Peak Climbing”

Nepal is home to 8 of the world’s 10 highest mountains: Mount Everest (8,848m), Kanchenjunga (8,586m), Lhotse (8,516m), Makalu (8,485m), Cho Oyu (8,188m), Dhaulagiri (8,167m), Manaslu (8,163m) and Annapurna I (8,091m). Yetiland-Nepal offers three categories of trip in these regions: Expedition – climbing an eight-thousander (for experienced professionals only); Trek – trekking through the same region at much lower altitude (ideal for those who want to experience Nepal’s mountains without climbing them); and Holiday – for enjoying Nepal’s nature, scenery and leisure activities.

One of the world’s most dangerous airports

Lukla Airport, the gateway to the Everest region, is considered one of the most dangerous airports in the world. Wedged between steep hills, it makes for a genuinely challenging landing and take-off. Pilots speak of a “point of no return”, beyond which all preparation and technical alignment must already be complete to bring the aircraft in safely. Thousands of passengers fly in during peak season each month – a truly unique experience. Thanks to their extensive experience across almost all of Nepal’s hill regions, Nepali pilots rank among the most skilled in the world.

New Year in Nepal – additional information on the “Chulu West Peak Climbing”

Nepal follows its own calendar, the Vikram Sambat. Nepali New Year falls around mid-April, marking the start of the Nepali summer. People also follow the lunar calendar for religious festivals and family celebrations. As Nepal is home to many ethnic groups, each with its own history, several local New Year dates exist side by side – a well-known example is Losar, celebrated among others by the Sherpa community.

Nepal’s unique flag – additional information on the “Chulu West Peak Climbing”

Nepal’s flag is the world’s only non-rectangular national flag, formed of two stacked triangles bearing the sun and the moon. These symbols reflect the character of the Nepali people: the moon for humility, the sun for courage. Nepalis are famed for their hospitality towards visitors – in the hill regions, hosts will traditionally slaughter their own livestock (such as chickens or goats) to honour guests. To this day, many Nepali soldiers, known as Gurkhas, serve in armies around the world.

A one-of-a-kind weapon

The handcrafted khukuri knife is world-famous and originates from Nepal. Carried by Nepali soldiers and used in both World Wars, it is credited in veterans’ accounts with contributing to the legendary fighting prowess of the Gurkha regiments. A khukuri also makes an excellent souvenir.

Suspension bridges – additional information on the “Chulu West Peak Climbing”

Nepal is famous for its many suspension bridges spanning valleys between its hills, long a practical way of life for people in the mountainous regions. The idea even inspired Germany’s own Geierlay suspension bridge in Rhineland-Palatinate, built as a nod to Nepal’s example.

Landslides

As a very hilly country, Nepal is prone to flooding and landslides during the monsoon, especially in the lower-lying Terai region with its year-round vegetation. The combination of Nepal’s fast-flowing rivers and sustained monsoon rain can trigger landslides in the hill regions, so travel during the monsoon season is best avoided.

Earthquakes

Nepal sits in a zone of high seismic risk. This doesn’t mean major earthquakes happen constantly, but history shows a serious quake roughly every 50 years. The cause lies beneath the surface: the Indian Plate shifts about 5cm against the Eurasian Plate every year, gradually pushing the Himalaya upward over millions of years. The April 2015 earthquake (magnitude 7.8, at a depth of 8.2km) was one of the most recent major quakes, causing severe economic and geographic damage, killing around 9,000 people and injuring roughly 22,000.

Flying in Nepal

Nepal’s civil aviation is regulated by the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal: CAAN – Nepal.

A number of airlines operate in Nepal, including Yeti Airlines, Buddha Air, Himalaya Airlines, Simrik Airlines, Nepal Airlines, Saurya Airlines, Shree Airlines, Sita Air, Summit Air and Tara Air.

Private helicopter charters are also available, including through Air Dynasty, Simrik Air, Prabhu Helicopters, Altitude Air, Fishtail Air, Manang Air, Makalu Air, Kailash Helicopter Services and Heli Everest.

Airports in Nepal

Numerous domestic airlines operate flights throughout the year. Nepal stretches roughly 880km along the Himalayan axis and 150–250km across, covering a total area of 147,516km². With an average domestic flight time of just 1.5–2 hours, all major airports are reachable within a maximum of 3 flying hours: Tribhuvan International Airport (Kathmandu), Tenzing-Hillary Airport (Lukla), Pokhara Airport, Simara Airport, Bharatpur Airport, Biratnagar Airport, Surkhet Airport, Nepalgunj Airport and Jomsom Airport.

Of these, Lukla Airport is considered one of the most dangerous in the world – a unique experience that thousands of travellers still make every month. When you book a complete package with Yetiland-Nepal, you don’t need to arrange any of this yourself.

Note that during winter (November to December), heavy morning fog often causes flight delays, and in some cases full-day cancellations after long waits. For this reason, Yetiland-nepal.de typically relies on tourist buses rather than domestic flights during this season.

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