Panoramic view of a glacier basin ringed by snow-covered peaks
Khumbu, Everest Region

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Pokalde Peak Climbing

16–18 Days 5,806 m Beginner Bookings Open

Duration 16–18 Days
Summit Altitude 5,806 m
Best Season Spring & Autumn
Climbing Route North-east ridge from the Kongma La
A summit on the Everest Base Camp trail

Climb Overview

Pokalde is the peak for trekkers who reach Everest Base Camp and find themselves wanting more. It rises just above the Kongma La, the highest of the three Khumbu passes, so the approach is simply the Everest Base Camp trek with a summit attached. The climb itself is short: a rocky scramble onto the north-east ridge, a fixed line on one steeper step, and an airy final ridge that takes most teams two to three hours from high camp. It is the least demanding of the Khumbu peaks by a clear margin, and it still puts Ama Dablam, Makalu and the Lhotse wall in front of you.

TerraBlaze runs this climb end to end: the NMA permit and park fees, the trek in, a fully staffed base camp, a licensed climbing guide and a climbing Sherpa on summit day, fixed rope on the steep ground and an evacuation plan filed before you land. You bring the fitness — we handle everything else.

  • Route: North-east ridge from the Kongma La — 1 high camp above Kongma La Base Camp (5,000 m)
  • Season: Spring & Autumn, the windows either side of the monsoon
  • Experience: No previous climbing experience required, but you need good hill fitness and a head for heights
  • Permit: NMA Group B trekking-peak permit, arranged by us before you arrive
Panoramic view of a glacier basin ringed by snow-covered peaks
Pokalde Peak — tap to enlarge
What Defines This Climb

Climb Highlights

Three things that set this permit apart — the mountain itself, and the support that gets you up it.

Add-On

Everest Base Camp Plus a Summit

The whole classic Khumbu trek — Namche, Tengboche, Dingboche, base camp and Kala Patthar — with a genuine climbing permit on the end of it.

  • Combines naturally with Everest Base Camp and the Kongma La
  • Short summit day: two to three hours from high camp
  • Ama Dablam, Makalu and the Lhotse face from the ridge
Training Day

Taught From Scratch

A full day of instruction on the glacier before anyone goes for the summit — crampons, ice axe, rope work and how to move as a team on snow.

  • Boots, crampons, harness, axe and helmet available for hire
  • One instructor-guide to every two climbers on summit day
  • No previous climbing course needed to join
Teahouse Trek

Trek First, Climb Second

The approach is a proper Nepali teahouse trek in its own right, which is what makes the acclimatization work and the holiday worth the flight.

  • Lodges the whole way in, tents only at base and high camp
  • Rest and acclimatization days built into the schedule
  • Villages, monasteries and forest on the walk-in
How the Climb Runs

Climb Phases

Climbs are planned in phases rather than fixed days — the mountain and the forecast decide the exact schedule. Every confirmed booking gets a full dated itinerary before departure.

Phase 1

Arrival, Briefing & Gear Check

  • Hotel • Permit • Kit check

You are met on landing and taken to your hotel in Kathmandu.

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We complete the climbing permit paperwork, introduce you to your guide and go through your personal equipment item by item. Anything missing can still be bought or hired at this point.

Phase 2

Trek to Base Camp

  • Approach • Acclimatization

The team reaches the mountain by a flight to Lukla and the classic Everest trek through Namche Bazaar, Tengboche and Dingboche to the foot of the Kongma La.

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The walk-in is paced for acclimatization rather than speed — short days, controlled altitude gain and rest days where the profile needs them.

Phase 3

Base Camp & Climbing School

  • Base camp • Skills session

We establish Kongma La Base Camp (5,000 m) with dining, kitchen and toilet tents, and run a full training session on snow — crampons, ice axe, self-arrest and moving as a rope team — before anyone goes higher.

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Your climbing permit — NMA Group B trekking-peak permit — is arranged and paid for long before you arrive.

Phase 4

High Camp & Acclimatization

  • 1 high camp • Rotation

The team moves up to establish high camp, carrying loads and sleeping high before dropping back to rest.

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Meanwhile the climbing Sherpas fix rope on the steeper ground above.

Phase 5

Summit Day

  • Summit • 5,806 m

When the forecast gives a usable window the team leaves high camp in the dark for the summit of Pokalde Peak (5,806 m) via the North-east ridge from the Kongma La.

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After the summit we descend all the way to base camp the same day.

Phase 6

Descent & Return

  • Descent • Certificate

We strip the high camp and carry everything off the mountain — nothing is left behind.

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The return retraces the approach at a faster pace, ending with a celebration dinner in Kathmandu and your climbing certificate.

Clear From the Start

What Your Quote Covers

The same transparent structure we use on every trek and expedition — you know exactly what is in the number before you commit to anything.

Included

  • NMA climbing permit, national park and conservation area fees, and all TIMS paperwork
  • Airport transfers and hotel nights in Kathmandu before and after the climb
  • Domestic flights or ground transport to and from the trailhead
  • Teahouse accommodation on the trek and full-board camping at base and high camp
  • Government-licensed climbing guide, plus a supporting climbing Sherpa on summit day
  • Group climbing equipment: fixed rope, ice screws, snow bars, anchors and high-camp tents
  • Porters or pack animals for the approach and the return
  • Base camp medical kit, pulse oximeter and emergency oxygen
  • All meals on the trek and at camp, with a cook crew above the last lodge
  • TerraBlaze climbing certificate on successful completion

Not Included

  • International flights and the Nepal entry visa
  • Personal climbing gear — boots, harness, axe, crampons, helmet and layers (hire available)
  • Travel and rescue insurance covering climbing and helicopter evacuation at your summit altitude
  • Meals and accommodation in Kathmandu beyond the nights listed
  • Tips for your guide, climbing Sherpa and porters
  • Personal expenses, hot showers, charging and drinks on the trail
Climb With Confidence

How We Look After You

From the day you land until the day the last load comes off the mountain, the logistics and the safety net are ours.

Climber-Led, Not Desk-Led

Every climb is planned by staff who have stood on these summits themselves

NMA Permits Handled

Climbing permit, park fees and liaison paperwork arranged end to end

Skills Taught Properly

A real training day on snow, not a ten-minute briefing at the last lodge

Acclimatization Built In

Rest days paced to the mountain, never squeezed to shorten the trip

Gear You Can Hire

Boots, crampons, axe, harness and down kit available in Kathmandu

Oxygen & Medical Cover

Emergency oxygen, pulse oximetry and an evacuation plan filed before you land

Small Teams

A high guide-to-climber ratio on summit day, every departure

No Hidden Charges

One transparent quote — permits, camp, crew and support all included

"Half the people who climb it did not plan to. They got to base camp and wanted one more day."

— Pokalde Peak, 5,806 m

Good to Know

Frequently Asked Questions

No previous climbing experience required, but you need good hill fitness and a head for heights. Crampon, ice-axe and rope-team training given on the glacier before the summit push. Tell us honestly what you have done before and we will tell you just as honestly whether this is the right peak for you this season, or whether another one on this page would serve you better.
We run this climb in spring and autumn — the two windows either side of the monsoon, when the snow is stable and the skies are clear. Departures outside those windows can sometimes be arranged for private teams, but we will be candid with you about the reduced chance of success.
The quote depends on the season, the size of your team, the level of Sherpa support you want and the current NMA permit fee. Email us at booking@terrablazeadventure.com or send the form on this page and we will reply with a full written quote, itemised line by line, within 24 hours.
You need double or insulated boots, crampons, an ice axe, a climbing harness, a helmet, a headtorch and a proper layering system including a down jacket. All of the hard climbing kit can be hired in Kathmandu — we send a full checklist with your booking confirmation and go through it with you at the pre-climb briefing.
A policy that explicitly covers mountaineering to the altitude of your summit, including helicopter search and rescue plus repatriation. Ordinary trekking cover usually stops below the height of these peaks. We check your certificate before departure and will tell you if the ceiling is too low.
No responsible operator guarantees a summit — weather, snow conditions and your own body all get a vote. Our guides are instructed to turn a climber around whenever the risk stops being acceptable, and that decision is never held against you. There is no refund for an early descent, but your guide stays with you the whole way down.
Yes, and many climbers do. An extra week of trekking beforehand is the single most effective thing you can do for your acclimatization. Tell us what you have in mind and we will build it into the same quote.
Reserve Your Place

Plan Your Pokalde Peak Climbing

Send us whatever you have walked or climbed before and your preferred season. We reply within 24 hours with a written, itemised quote — and an honest view on whether this is the right peak for you right now.

Licensed & Trusted

Fully licensed Nepali agency — Regd No: 125496/078/079

Gear You Can Hire

Boots, crampons, axe, harness and down kit available in Kathmandu

Honest Assessment

We will tell you if a different peak suits your experience better

Request Your Booking

Pokalde Peak Climbing16–18 Days • Free quote within 24 hours

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