Sutton Community Academy

Everest Expedition, April 2023

At Sutton community Academy, our aim has always been to help our students grow into successful, confident, and ambitious adults. To do this, they need more than an academic education; social and cultural enrichment has a huge impact on young people’s development and inspires them to achieve more.

That’s why we’re thrilled to be supporting a group of our students on an expedition to Mount Everest Base Camp, Nepal, in April 2023. This is a huge undertaking, representing a rare and invaluable experience for these deserving young people, and we need the help of our local community to make it happen.

Many of our students have never seen a foreign country, and most would otherwise never have the chance to trek around a world-famous landmark 4,500 miles away. This trip will allow them to expand their horizons, developing a cultural understanding of the world beyond their immediate local area. You might think of it as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, but we believe that for these young people, it will be a platform to many more incredible adventures, experiences, and achievements throughout their lives.

Please help us provide life-changing experiences for our students by donating to our campaign via the details provided. Our students are doing incredible fundraising work to earn this experience, and your donation is a powerful statement of your belief in their ability to achieve and inspire. You’re choosing to support the efforts not just of a local school, but of a group of talented, hard-working young people.

Thank you,

Brett Jones

Expedition Leader and Head of PE

Our Itinerary

Days 1-2

Fly from the UK to Nepal, overnight flight, Arrive Kathmandu (1356m)

On arrival at the Kathmandu Tribhuvan International Airport, we will be met and welcomed by a guide from the STC. A short drive brings us in to Kathmandu – the capital city of Nepal. With its maze of narrow streets, wooden temples and beautifully decorated palaces, it truly has the air of a medieval city. In the evening we enjoy a welcome dinner at a traditional Nepalese Restaurant.

Day 3

Fly to Lukla (2840m) & trek to Phakding (2652m) – 3 hours walking

This morning we will be collected from our hotel and transferred to Kathmandu airport for a domestic flight to Lukla. Upon arrival, we are met by our trekking guide and porters. From Lukla we descend on a wide trail northwest to the village of Choblung in the Dudh Kosi Valley. The valley radiates energy through beautiful pine and rhododendron forests. The walking is easy and we follow the river’s course, passing through the village of Ghat. Our final destination for today’s walk is the small village of Phakding where we overnight.

Day 4

Trek to Namche Bazaar (3440m) – 6 hours walking

Walking through a beautiful pine forest, the track leads along the Dudh Koshi River over many suspension bridges, one of which is the famous ‘Hillary Suspension Bridge’. We will catch the wonderful prospect of the glistening Mt. Thamserku (6618m), before arriving at the settlements of Benkar, Chumoa and Monjo and then onto the check point and entrance to Sagarmatha National Park. We then pass through the last village of Jorsale.

Day 5

Namche Bazaar (3440m) – acclimatisation day

Namche Bazaar is a highly important village for the Sherpa people. In the morning we visit the Sherpa Museum and Visitor Centre. This contains an interesting display on Sherpa life and culture, lots of information on the forests, wildlife and plants of the area and an exhibit on the history of climbing in the Khumbu. The afternoon is free to walk up to the valley beyond Namche towards the village of Thamo. Alternatively, we can relax in the village.

Day 6

Trek from Namche to Tengboche (3870m) – 6 hours walking

We ascend out of the village and follow a high, fairly level path above the Dudh Kosi enjoying spectacular mountain views of Everest, Nuptse and Lhotse as we go. We pass the various ‘shops’ set up by Tibetans selling trinkets and then descend through forests of blue pine to cross the Dudh Kosi again at Phunki (3250m). On arrival at the Thyangboche Monastery (3867m), we will enjoy yet more incredible views of Everest and the surrounding peaks. We stop here for the night.

Day 7

Trek from Tengboche to Dingboche (4410m) – 5 hours walking

We start our trek today by descending through Rhododendron forests to the Imja Khola. We then pass over the bridge on the Imja Khola and by a long Mani stone wall, before entering the village of Pangboche. Our route continues through summer pastures to Dingboche.

Day 8

Dingboche (4410m) – acclimatisation day

There will be some breathtaking views of the North face of Ama Dablam and the Lhotse-Nuptse ridge as we explore this beautiful valley to Chukung (4730 m). From here, we can enjoy the panoramic view of Ama Dablam, Makalu, Tawoche, Lhotse, Nuptse, Island peak and others. The walking on this leg will take about five hours.

Day 9

Trek from Dingboche to Lobuche (4930m) – 6 hours walking

We are now well above the tree line and our walking today brings us to Dusa from where we descend to a stream at 4580m. Immediately above, we reach the teahouse of Dughla and continue to a ridge, which has several memorials to Sherpas killed on expeditions to Everest. We will continue along the moraine of the Khumbu Glacier, with views of Kala Pattar and Pumori.

Day 10

Trek from Lobuche to Gorakshep (5180m) & a day trip to Everest Base Camp (5364m) – 8 hours walking

A very long, hard day today as we leave very early, following the Khumbu Glacier northwards to Gorakshep (5,180m) (about 3 hours walking). After a rest and a snack, we trek across the sandy flat at Gorakshep and climb onto the lateral moraine of the Khumbu glacier. The trail winds up and down to the area known as Everest Base Camp, from where we get fantastic close up views of the Khumbu Ice Fall. Nuptse towers above us and Pumori rears up behind us. We then retrace our steps.

Day 11

Kala Pattar (5545m) & descent to Pheriche (4280m) – 8 hours walking

Today is considered to be the climax of our trip. We start early in the morning to catch the dramatic views from Kala Patthar. The first light of day shining on Mount Everest will take your breath away. As we make our ascent, the familiar peaks of Lingtren, Khumbutse and Changtse tower to the east as Everest begins to reveal itself emerging between the west shoulder crest and
Nuptse. After several hours of ascent, we reach Kala Patthar from where we scramble to climb the rocky outcrop near to the summit marked by cairns and prayer flags. We return to Gorakshep for breakfast and retrace our steps to Lobuje for lunch and then continue on down the valley to the lower altitude.

Day 12

Pheriche to Tengboche (3860m) – 5 hours walking

After the previous days’ tiring ascent to Kala Patthar, today is an easier walk down to the lower altitudes of Orsho and Shomare and Pangboche, from where we retrace our footsteps down to the Imja Khola and up through the forest to Debuche, or we could visit the nuns at the Debuche monastery, before finally reaching Tengboche.

Day 13

Trek from Tengboche to Monjo (2840m) – 7 hours walking

Crossing on yet another suspension bridge, we climb up the opposite side of the valley to reach the contouring path leading back through the Namche Bazaar. A steep descent down Namche Hill leads to the suspension bridge crossing the Dudh Kosi River and the small village of Monjo.

Day 14

Trek from Monjo to Lukla (2840m) – 5-6 hours walking

Retracing our steps along the east bank of the Dudh Kosi we make our final descent to Lukla, arriving sometime in the middle of the afternoon, affording ample time to relax and enjoy the feeling of a job well done. Lukla itself is a thriving community that is an eclectic mix of Sherpas, trekkers and soldiers and makes for a fascinating place to explore at the end of the trek.

Days 15-16

Fly from Lukla to Kathmandu (with spare day in case of flight cancellation)

In the early morning we will take off from the Lukla airstrip for a spectacular mountain flight back to Kathmandu (weather permitting). Upon arrival at the Kathmandu domestic airport terminal, we transfer to our hotel. The rest of the day is free to explore this wonderful city; you can either shop for souvenirs, try out the various restaurants in Thamel or simply relax. There is a sightseeing tour of Durbar Square, where many of Kathmandu’s most historic and important temples are located. We also visit the Swayambhunath Temple (also known as the Monkey Temple) and the world’s most glorious Buddhist Chaityas built 2000 years ago situated on a hillock about 77 m above the Kathmandu valley. We have the chance to drive to Patan – a beautiful city in its own right which rivalled Kathmandu in terms of the splendor of its temples and squares and is now better preserved, less polluted and less crowded. Lastly we bid farewell to the mountains as our journey to Nepal comes to and end and we return home.

Day 17

Depart Kathmandu, fly to London

This morning, after our amazing Himalayan adventure, we leave Nepal and fly back to the UK, returning the same day.

Donate to our Fundraiser

Our students are working incredibly hard to make this trip happen; show that you believe in their ability to inspire and achieve by donating to our fundraiser today, by following the link to our Just Giving page.

https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/sca-everest-expedition

 

Spread the Word

We want everyone to hear about the incredible expedition we have planned! Please share the details and our Just Giving page on social media and beyond. Download the poster and flyer below to give our campaign an extra push.

Everest Flyer

Everest Poster

STC Resources

Learn more about our trip, organised by STC Expeditions, via the resources below.

PBIP Nepal Sutton Community Academy

Safer Journeys