Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
people, is also a popular Himalayan destination that welcomes
the trekkers with its Sherpa hospitality. Sherpa—known as
the “Snow Leopards”—are the world's bestﾭknown mountain
climbers. They also are the skilled guides who accompany
mountaineers seeking to conquer Everest's treacherous slopes.
The beauty of the soaring Himalayan peaks, the region's
rich cultural heritage, and the fascinating local biodiversity
are now part of Sagarmatha National Park. The park, created
in 1976, is the world's highest. It covers an area of 443 square
miles (1,148 square kilometers) and includes many peaks that
rise above 19,685 feet (6,000 meters). They include Lhotse,
ChoﾭOyu, Nuptse, Amadablam, and Pamori. The United
Nations designated the park a World Heritage Site in 1979 for
its unique geology, flora and fauna, people and culture, and
spectacular landscape.
The Mount Everest (Khumbu) region is the backbone of
Nepal's growing tourism industry. Most tourists who come to
Nepal do not want to miss an opportunity to see Mount Everﾭ
est, a onceﾭinﾭaﾭlifetime experience. The majority of visitors
take a flight from Kathmandu to an airport in the Khumbu
region. Others take buses, or even walk part of the way. Mounﾭ
tain flight sightseeing is another option for those who are
unable to reach base camp physically. Some, of course, want
to climb. Expedition fees in Nepal vary based on the height
of the peak. The fee to climb Mount Everest is about $50,000
for a team of up to 5 members, and an additional $10,000 for
each additional member (up to a maximum of 10). The fees
are smaller for other lowﾭelevation peaks. An additional fee
must be deposited for the clearing of garbage by each team;
the cost of garbage management for Mount Everest is $4,000
per team, but fees drop to $2,000 for peaks under 26,250 feet
(8,000 meters).
Many scaling records and statistics are kept for Mount
Everest. Perhaps the darkest is that, for every five people who
successfully reach the summit and return, one person dies.
