Lhotse is the fourth tallest mountain in the world. Mount Lhotse and Mount Everest are located very close to one another. The height of this mountain is not easily attainable to the summit. Being above the height of 8000m, it is also one of the most difficult mountains to climb in the world. As for the time taken to climb the mountain, a lot of people have wondered how long they’ll be on the mountain after crossing the first base camp. To answer all the questions about Lhotse and how long it takes to go back and forth from the mountain, we have come up with everything that you need to know about climbing Lhotse in this article.
Make sure to stay tuned with us till the end of this article to get in-depth knowledge about the mountain!
How long does it take to climb Lhotse?
Considering the time to summit the mountain, Mount Lhotse will take you around 11 to 16 hours in total to navigate and climb from Camp 3. Similarly, the entire journey from Kathmandu to Lhotse is a whole different story. It will take a person from 3 to 4 months to go back and forth from the capital city of Nepal to the mountain and to come back. No matter whether you get help from an expedition company or simply decide to climb with the help of local Sherpa guides once you are on the mountain, the likelihood of time taken is the same.
Similarly, one more thing to consider about climbing Lhotse is that regardless of how experienced of a mountaineer you are, you will take at least a total of 3 months to complete the journey to and from Lhotse. Once in the mountains, you will also be spending some time in camps, which are four in number. This alone is going to take you days. Ascending and descending from Lhotse really is not as easy as it may seem. You cannot directly climb the mountain without getting enough acclimatization. Acclimatization makes climbing the mountain all the more difficult. Similarly, resting and getting enough food and water in camps is just as necessary to avoid any kind of physical disturbance.
How many camps are there in Lhotse?
The Lhotse consists of four camps in total: the summit itself, the Khumbu icefall, and the base camp, which adds up to the climbing. The camps and stops in Lhotse are explained below:
Khumbu Icefall:
Khumbu icefall can be considered the biggest challenge when one is trying to climb Mount Lhotse. This icefall is pretty steep to the point that it is full of crevasses and seracs, making climbing almost deadly. A small wrong step through the steep walls of Khumbu icefall can lead to major accidents and even fatalities. Similarly, once the Khumbu icefall is crossed, your journey will be simplified to a good extent. Walking through this dangerous glacier can be more difficult when you are reaching higher up through the slippery slopes and the weather unpredictably changes or if you happen to suffer from altitude sickness. An individual’s health and weather in the Khumbu icefall can never be predicted; it can either be sound or completely ridiculous. The Sherpas will make climbing safer and more convenient by installing gears and ladders into the glacier as necessary. Likewise, the western viewpoint makes climbing Khumbu icefall difficult in the early evening time.
Base Camp:
The base camp is situated at the height of 5200m/17,060ft above sea level. Mountaineers will be spending a total of 45 days in the base camp. The small rural villages can be seen from the base camp, and the scenic view that you see from here is simply out of this world.
Camp I:
Camp I is located at the height of 5900m/19,357ft above the sea level. You can start planning for your journey and setting gears and types of equipment out of your baggage when you’re here. Likewise, acclimatization from Camp I can be done.
Camp II:
After the base camp, you will spend the most time in Camp II, which is at the height of 6400m/20,998ft. This is also the base three with the most facilities for kitchens and one of the main points for acclimatization.
Camp III:
At the height of 7100m/23,294ft, Camp III is the point that will confuse most people. Though it is at a great height, you will not be using any supplemental oxygen here. In Camp III, most time will be spent, and enough acclimatization is required from here on.
Camp IV:
This is the last camp at the height of 79000m/25,918ft, after which you will be summiting Mount Lhotse. Since the camp is very close to the death zone, it might not be the most pleasant height for you, but the summit is closer when you’re here.
Summit:
At the height of 8516m/27, 940ft above the sea level, Mount Lhotse can finally be summited after navigating from Camp III through the top from 11 to 16 hours.
Mount Lhotse Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival at Kathmandu
Day 2: Briefings with the Department of Tourism Nepal
Day 3: Flight from Kathmandu to Lukla
Day 4: Phakding to Namche Bazaar trek and stay in the lodge
Day 5: Rest day
Day 6: Namche Bazaar to Tengboche trek and stay in the lodge
Day 7: Tengboche to Dengboche trek and stay in lodge
Day 8: Acclimatization in Dingboche and trek in Chukung-Re
Day 9: Dingboche to Lobuche trek and lodge stay
Day 10: Lobuche to Gorakshep trek and lodge stay
Day 11: Acclimatization at Kalapathhar
Day12-55: Climbing Lhotse
Day 56: Everest base camp to Dingboche trek and lodge stay
Day 57: Dingboche to Tengboche trek and lodge stay
Day 58: Tengboche to Namche Bazaar trek and lodge stay
Day 59: Namche Bazaar to Lukla trek and lodge stay
Day 60: Flight from Lukla to Kathmandu
Day 61: Day in Kathmandu
Day 62: Flight back from Kathmandu
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lhotse difficult to climb?
Yes, since it is one of the 14 peaks in the world, Lhotse is quite difficult to climb.
Is Lhotse harder to climb than Everest?
No, Lhotse is not as hard to climb as the Everest.
Can you climb Everest and Lhotse in one day?
It can take you around 24 hours span to make it to both summits if you are experienced enough.
What is the success rate of the Lhotse?
The success rate of the Lhotse is 67%.
How long does it take to get back from Lhotse?
It takes around 6 weeks to return to Kathmandu from the mountain.
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