Kyajo Ri

Overview

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A stunning line on a rarely-climbed 6,000er in the Everest region

Introduction

Kyajo Ri is an ideal objective if you want to climb a 6,000m peak in the Everest region with more technical interest than many of the popular trekking peaks. Despite being situated just north of Namche Bazaar between the busy Thame and Gokyo valleys, it sees little attention from climbers. Base camp is placed in a secluded hanging valley at 4,500m, a couple of days walk from Thame, where Tenzing Norgay grew up. The climb itself utilises two camps, camp 1 being at 5,300m and reached by crossing rough moraine. You then cross an easy-angled glacier and climb up steep scree and rock to arrive at camp 2 on a snowy col. From here, the route to the summit follows snow slopes of 50° to 55°, climbed at Scottish Grade II, under typical conditions. There is a rock wall which must be overcome and the summit is pointy and exposed.

This is a full-blown expedition climbing peak. To ensure that you arrive at base camp well-acclimatised, you trek from Lukla to Gokyo and over the Renjo La (5,388m) before arriving at base camp. If you are looking for a challenging and 'complete' Himalayan experience, this could be it. The team will utilise fixed ropes above camp 2. Sherpas are used to carry group equipment, with team members carrying their own personal gear above base camp.

Join us on Kyajo Ri

• 2026 leader: Jamie Holding IFMGA
• 11 previous expeditions (2012, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022, 2023 x 2, 2024, 2025)
• Steeper and more sustained than either Island Peak or Lobuje East
• An acclimatisation trek that crosses the Renjo La (5,388m) prior to arriving at base camp

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Experience Required

This expedition could be considered by fit climbers with experience of Alpine routes of PD+/AD or Scottish Winter Climbs of Grade II and III. On summit day there is a rock band which you need to climb, which is British grade VDiff. Though there will be load-carrying assistance from Sherpas, team members should expect to carry their own gear to Camps 1 and 2. You should also expect to melt snow/cook your own freeze dried food at high camp.

This is therefore a tougher expedition than either Khumbu Climber or Mera and Island Peak and the grade was increased recently to a 4B grade (read more about expedition grading). The ground between Base Camp and Camp 2 is rougher and summit day involves more sustained climbing overall. Ropes will be fixed on the steeper sections of the route.

Our Alpine Ice course and our Alpine Climber course would provide good training for this expedition.

Additional Information

If you wish to discuss any aspect of the expedition or your suitability for it, please phone +44 (0)114 276 3322 or contact us.

Dates & Prices

Date	With Flight	or Meeting in	Availability
Sat 10 Oct – Wed 4 Nov 2026	UK	Kathmandu	Trip Guaranteed Book now »
Expedition Leader Jamie Holding	£6,125	£4,895
Sat 9 Oct – Wed 3 Nov 2027	UK	Kathmandu	Available Book now »
Expedition Leader Chris Groves 2 places left with £200 early booking offer	£6,495 £6,295	£4,995 £4,795

Our Trip Guarantee

This expedition is available to book in GBP, USD and EUR.
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Group size: 4 – 12 people.

Single room supplement: £250

For comparison, this expedition starts from £188 (GBP) per day (price Without Flights).

With Flight pricing

Our 'With Flight' price includes an Economy class return airfare from the UK. The cost is based on a group fare that we have already reserved, or individual seats that we have budgeted for. Note that in some circumstances, the earlier you book, the less expensive the airfare and the 'With Flight' price.

Know Before You Go

Jagged Globe supports the British Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) 'Know Before You Go' campaign. We recommend that you read the FCDO Travel Advice for Nepal on the FCDO Website.

What the price includes

• Economy class return airfares from the UK (unless Land Only).
• UK airline taxes.
• One in-country, return flight between Ramechhap and Lukla by scheduled, fixed-wing aircraft.
• Return transfers between Kathmandu airport and the hotel (one on arrival and one on departure of your international flight).
• Return transfers between the hotel and Ramechhap Airport.
• 3 nights' bed and breakfast accommodation at a 4-star Hotel in Kathmandu on a twin-sharing basis.
• 1 nights' local hotel accommodation in Ramechhap, on a twin-sharing basis, including breakfast and dinner.
• 11 nights' full-board lodge ("Tea House") accommodation whilst on trek.
• 9 nights' full board accommodation in tents on a twin-sharing basis.
• Emergency equipment (oxygen for therapeutic use, Portable Hyperbaric Chamber (PAC), Satellite Communicator (either phone or InReach)) – see trip PDF for more details.
• All costs for Sherpa staff, cook staff and porters.
• Jagged Globe expedition leader.
• Jagged Globe kitbag or lightweight fleece.

What the price does not include

• Visa fees.
• Overseas airports taxes not paid in advance through the international airline ticket.
• Bar bills and laundry.
• Travel insurance.
• Lunch and evening meals in Kathmandu.
• Optional trips and sightseeing tours.
• Tips.

Tailor Made Trips

We can organise this expedition on a ‘tailor-made’ private basis for groups of friends, families, clubs, charities or any other group. The cost of going private can be surprisingly reasonable. Please contact us to discuss the itinerary and your preferred dates. We will then send you a quote, with no obligation.

Insurance

You will need a travel insurance policy that caters for the activities you will undertake on your trip with Jagged Globe. It is a requirement of our booking conditions that you have such a policy. For a list of insurers who specialise in mountaineering, trekking and skiing, please see our Travel Insurance page »

Itinerary

Here is an outline itinerary for this trip. A more detailed day-to-day itinerary is available as a downloadable PDF »

Outline Itinerary

Day 1 - 2:	Fly to Kathmandu Team members joining on a "land-only", please plan to arrive in Kathmandu today, when your services will begin. Overnight hotel.
Day 3:	Drive to Ramechhap, overnight Freedom Resort You will leave Kathmandu at around 10am for the 4 - 5-hour drive to Ramechhap. Freedom Resort provides functional accommodation, with a nice spacious terrace for dining/relaxing, a swimming pool and air conditioned, twin-sharing rooms.
Day 4:	Fly to Lukla, trek to Phakding It's a 10-minute walk from Freedom Resort to the airport. You will take an early morning flight to the airstrip at Lukla, the gateway to Nepal's famous Khumbu region. Trek to Phakding. Overnight lodge.
Day 5:	Trek to Namche Bazaar (3,400m) Enter the Khumbu National Park and cross the confluence of the Dudh Kosi and the Bhote Kosi. You climb steeply for about two hours up 'Namche Hill' to reach Namche Bazaar. This is a prosperous trading town and the capital of the Khumbu Region. Overnight lodge.
Day 6:	At leisure in Namche Bazaar (3,400m) You will spend two nights in Namche Bazaar. During this period you may trek to the Everest View Hotel (3,900m). Overnight lodges.
Day 7 - 10:	Trek to Gokyo (4,790m) Over the next four days you trek to Gokyo Lakes via the Mong Lha (3,900m), Dole (4,040m) and Machhermo (4,410m). Overnight lodges.
Day 11 - 13:	Ascent of Goyko Ri (5,357m) and cross the Renjo La (5,388m) to Thame (3,800m) Three days of trekking, which you should benefit from once you are on Kyajo Ri. From both Gokyo Ri and the top of the Renjo La there are superb views of Everest. From the base of the Renjo La you descend to Thame. Overnight lodges and camping./td>
Day 14 - 15:	Trek to Base Camp (4,550m) in the Kyajo Drangka Valley You trek to Mende (3,740m) where you'll sleep overnight in tents, then the following day leave the main trail and follow a vague yak herder's trail into the beautiful Kyajo Drangka Valley. The base of the valley is a flat meadow, surrounded by impressive rock walls. Overnight camps.
Day 16:	Preparations in Base Camp Overnight camp.
Day 17 - 21:	Climb Kyajo Ri (6,186m) You have five days to climb the mountain. Initially you can expect to carry loads to Camp 1, returning to base camp and then moving to and occupying Camp 1 the following day. You'll then climb to Camp 2 and summit from there, before returning to base camp. Overnight camps.
Day 22 - 23:	Trek to Lukla (2,840m) You descend to Namche Bazaar, where you spend the night and then trek back to Lukla. Overnight lodges.
Day 24:	Fly Lukla to Ramechhap Return drive to Kathmandu. Overnight hotel.
Day 25:	At Leisure in Kathmandu A chance to explore the bustling capital, with its beautiful temples and bustling markets. Overnight hotel.
Day 26:	Fly home Airport transfer. For those joining "land-only", you should book your flight home today.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Every effort will be made to keep to the above itinerary, but as this is Adventure Travel in a remote mountain region, we cannot guarantee it. Weather conditions, road conditions, vehicle breakdowns, the availability of porters and the health of climbers can all contribute to changes. The Expedition Leader and our local agent will try to ensure that the trip runs according to plan, but an easy going nature will be an asset!

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Reports & Reviews

First Expedition: Oct 2012
Total: 10 trips

Have you been on this trip? If you'd like to contribute a trip report then we'll post it up on the site.

Team Member Reviews

• “Mission accomplished with very good humour from a great group.” NT, Kyajo Ri - Oct '15
• “Great introduction to a proper mountaineering expedition in a spectacular setting.” AP, Kyajo Ri - Oct '15

Leader Reports

• Kyajo Ri 2025 "The Montha from the Deep"
  “"Tropical Cyclone Montha-25 winding up in the Bay of Bengal, tracking North West to India, 27 to 28 October. A moisture laden, clockwise, WSW airstream, off the Indian Ocean, heads for the high Himalaya. Mountain Forecast from...”
  report added 14/Nov/25
• Kyajo Ri, October 2024
  “It wasn't easy and the planed itinerary bore little resemblance to what actually happened but between 0730 and 0830 on Thursday 31 October all team members who set off up the fixed ropes got to stand on one of the best view points...”
  report added 23/Dec/24
• Kyajo Ri 2023 report
  “The Great Chossy Gully; The Moraine of Misery; and worst of all…The Gravellator. These were all distant memories now. We were at Camp 2 on Kyajo Ri and all that stood before us was the magnificent summit cone of rock and...”
  report added 16/Nov/23
• Kyajo Ri, October 2022
  “"Kyajo Ri is an absolute peach of an expedition. A fabulous trek, a remote and beautiful valley and a summit day that is technical and in a fantastic position. Book onto this trip now before the secret gets out and the...”
  report added 04/Nov/22
• Kyajo Ri - October 2019
  “The aphorism “hours of boredom, punctuated by moments of terror” appears to be of unknown origin but has variously been attributed to: fighting in the WW1 trenches, piloting a commercial plane and to aspects of...”
  report added 19/Nov/19
• 5 more reports »

• Kyajo Ri - 13 Oct to 8 Nov '18
  ““Ed, I’ve dropped my abseil device” These words, shared with an Expedition Leader or mountain guide, have the potential to toll like a church bell in one’s head. It’s all about where you hear them...”
  report added 14/Nov/18
• Kyajo Ri - October/November 2017
  “The pitch of the engines changed, causing me to wake from my half slumber.  Through sleep filled eyes I watched the side of the mountain grow larger as the plane continued its gentle dive into the side of the mountain. ...”
  report added 20/Nov/17
• Kyajo Ri - October/November 2016
  “ “Kyajo Ri is an ideal objective if you want to climb a 6,000m peak in the Everest region with more technical interest than many of the popular trekking peaks.” (Jagged Globe website) “I think that it's fair to say that the...”
  report added 14/Dec/16
• Kyajo Ri 2015
  “Well... part of my agreement in leading a trip for Jagged Globe is that I write a web report. Quite rightfully so, after all I, the team, have just experienced a great adventure. We need to tell the world and those hoping to follow...”
  report added 13/Jan/16
• Kyajo Ri - 16 Oct to 11 Nov '12
  “Following a successful ascent of Kyajo Ri in 2011, Adele was eager to lead the first Jagged Globe team to the mountain in 2012. With a full complement of twelve team members it was obvious that this crew of independent...”
  report added 07/Nov/12