Lhotse Summit Climb with International Mountain Guides

IMG's Himalayan programs are recognized worldwide as simply outstanding, with a reputation for our highly professional staff of leaders, climbers and guides, first-rate logistics and our resulting record of success on the mountain. Since 1990, over 800 IMG team members have summited the world's classic 8,000-meter peaks, including over 600 on Everest.

Lhotse Climb

Lhotse climbers accompany Everest and Lobuche climbers to EBC, and for the acclimatization climb of Lobuche Peak. With an itinerary that is similar to the Classic Everest climb, this program is led by IMG Senior guides, and you will be assigned a personal guide when climbing. The Lhotse route follows the Everest route to the South Col (which is a better campsite). From there you traverse into the Lhotse Couloir and then climb directly up to the summit. Lhotse is a stiff climb, more difficult than Cho Oyu. The climbing route will be fixed all the way to the summit, but there is steep ice and rock in the Lhotse Couloir, so you need to be very fit and capable. On summit bid you will be provided a similar amount of oxygen as the Classic Everest climbers. The goal will be to descend to C2 after the summit. IMG has now done nine Lhotse climbs, each successful (’09, ’10, ’11, ’12, ’13, ’18, ‘19, ’21 and '22).

To address a common question about Lhotse, please see Greg Vernovage's perspective on Lhotse vs. Everest »

Note on Dates

Dates are listed starting from the arrival day to Kathmandu to the return day back to Kathmandu from Lukla at the end of the trip.

EBC Classic Trek, Lobuche Climb and Mera Peak end dates are FIXED, but you should add one contingency day in Kathmandu at the end, before flying home, in case of Lukla flight delay.

Everest, Lhotse, C1 & C2 & Ama Dablam Climbs end dates are FLEXIBLE, depending on weather and conditions.
Everest, Lhotse and Ama Dablam Climbers: please note on the itinerary the maximum number of days possible for climbing, we plan to stay at Base Camp for climbing until approximately the end of May. We suggest you make your return plane reservation home for June 1. Normally climbers will reconfirm or change their homeward departure flights when you know exactly when the expedition is going to end for you (contact your travel agent from Everest BC). C2 and C3 Climbers: it would be prudent to add at least one week of contingency days to your itinerary.

Expedition Organization and Leadership

International Mountain Guides (“IMG”) is the oldest and most respected high-altitude climbing service in the world. IMG’s Himalayan mountaineering programs are organized and directed by Eric Simonson and include a group of professionals who are the best in the business. Since 1990, we have conducted over 60 Himalayan 8000-meter expeditions and over 800 IMG team members have summited the world’s classic 8,000-meter peaks, including Everest, Lhotse, Cho Oyu, Manaslu and Shishapangma. Our Everest programs are led by our IMG Senior guides.

IMG leaders are professionals and are great teachers as well as strong climbers. All have done numerous high-altitude expeditions, including the Himalaya. Our clients enjoy the immense benefit of a core group that has climbed together extensively, producing a team that knows how to work well together. We do not think you will find any other Everest climbing or trekking programs that will be led or staffed by persons of the caliber we will field for Everest 2025.

Ang Jangbu Sherpa and the Nepalese Team:
A veteran of dozens of expeditions and an Everest summiter, Ang Jangbu has worked on every IMG Himalayan program since 1991 and is an immensely popular leader. Ang Jangbu puts together a superb local staff for IMG. We are proud to have a group of Sherpa guides and cooks working for us who are among the best paid, best led, best equipped, and best trained in the business.

IMG Sherpa Guides & Nepalese Staff:
Most IMG Sherpa Guides are from Phortse and Pangboche. We hire the same great Team every year, we treat them with respect, we pay them well and they like working with our teams. Most of them have been on many climbs with us over the years and many of them have multiple Everest summits. The Senior guides (the ones we assign to climb with our climbers) have solid English language skills, first aid and rescue training, and tremendous 8000m experience. We have a great crew of men and women working for us, and many have been with IMG exclusively for over ten years. It is a tight knit bunch, managed by Ang Jangbu, Phunuru and Ang Pasang. Our enthusiastic cooks do a great job, and our menus are well considered. It makes a difference!