Cho Oyu /
Shishapangma

Climb the two sacred mountains

Despite standing an imposing 8,188m above sea level, Cho Oyu, the world’s sixth highest mountain is actually a relatively straightforward climb. Its flat summit plateau, and the relatively gentle slopes approaching it don’t require the same level of technical climbing expertise that, say, Kanchenjunga or Makalu do. Alongside Shishapangma, it’s often the first 8,000m peaks that climbers tackle, and the relatively proximity of the two peaks means that climbing them one after the other, in a single expedition, makes perfect sense.

Beginning with Shishapangma, we aim to summit both peaks within 54 days, an objective that’s made feasible not just by the relative ease of the climbs, but by the accessibility of the base camps - both are reachable by motor vehicle, reducing the need for arduous treks in or out. Our expedition plans are based on those successfully implemented by our leaders, Nimsdai and Mingma David, during the former’s record breaking Project Possible push of 2019. 

Elite Exped’s approach to expedition planning means that we control every aspect of the trip, from the food provision to the fixing of ropes. We leave nothing to chance, controlling the controllable to ensure that the expedition runs as smoothly as possible. It’s this attention to detail that allows us to move quickly, and you to achieve ambitious objectives, like summiting two 8,000m peaks back to back.

While our directors have built their reputations on climbing at speed, they have never once compromised on safety. When working together, they have a 100 percent success record on 8,000m peaks, but also a 100 percent safety record - every member of every one of their teams has returned home, without so much as a single digit lost to frostbite. We operate a guaranteed, 1:1 guide to client ratio, with four additional Sherpas on standby, ready to help out in case of emergencies.

Like our leaders, all Elite Exped guides are trained in high altitude rescue and recovery techniques, and our team has a history of coming to the aid of other expeditions in need. We have helicopters accessible round the clock, and evacuation plans in place. Tackling two of the world’s highest mountains back to back is physically demanding. Both in the run-up to the expedition, during the climbs and between the two summits, we will keep a constant eye on progress, allowing us to all-important decisions around client safety. Simply put, you could not be in safer hands when attempting these two, majestic peaks back to back.