21-Day Grand Expedition
A three-week major expedition with approach trek, base camp establishment, acclimatization rotations, multiple summit attempts, and extraction. The ultimate expedition template for planning extended high-altitude mountaineering campaigns.
How to read this template
This is a real itinerary, not a preview. Everything below is what an operator would send — and what their guides would carry.
- 21 days
- Each day is a segment. Reorder them, drop one, insert a rest day — the rest of the itinerary follows.
- 99 blocks
- Everything inside a day is a block: a transfer, an activity, a meal, a night, a briefing. Blocks carry their own type and colour.
- 187 fields
- Distances, ascent, times, prices and notes are structured fields, not prose — so they total, sort and export instead of only reading well.
- 23 internal notes
- Marked Internal — guides onlybelow. Your guides get them; your clients never see them.
One itinerary, three audiences
The same content exports three ways without being rewritten: a client PDF with the internal notes and cost lines stripped, a guide sheet that keeps them, and an internal ops sheet with margins. Most tools give you the first one and leave the other two to a spreadsheet.
The itinerary, day by day
Arrive at the regional capital. Immigration, luggage collection, meet the expedition logistics coordinator. Transfer to the expedition hotel.
Hotel in the regional capital. Team assembles here. Equipment room for sorting and packing. Last comfortable beds for 3 weeks.
Hold the hotel for the contingency nights at both ends. A weather day on the mountain pushes the whole tail of the trip and rebooking twenty-one days out of season is not quick.
Verify: climbing permit issued, liaison officer assigned, porter roster confirmed, insurance certificates for all team members. Check satellite phone credit, PLB registration, weather service subscription active.
Permit number and liaison officer name in expedition file. Porter contracts signed — verify wage rates meet ethical standards. All participant passports photographed and backed up. Emergency evacuation insurance confirmed for each person (helicopter + hospital). Local embassy contact number noted.
Full expedition briefing over dinner. 21-day overview, acclimatization strategy, summit window forecast, roles and responsibilities.
Full day of logistics: sort all expedition equipment, weigh loads for porters, pack food into day-bags (21 days x team size), test all technical equipment.
Weigh every porter load against the agreed limit in front of the group. Loads that are over get redistributed here, not on the hill, and the porters will not raise it themselves.
Domestic flight to the staging village near the trek start. Small aircraft — weight limits strict. Equipment follows by truck.
Lodge in the staging village. Meet the porter team. Final supplies from the local market. Last phone signal for weeks.
Dinner at the lodge. Tomorrow the approach trek begins.
First trekking day through terraced foothills and villages. Cultural landscape — wave to farmers, pass through prayer-flag-draped passes. Gentle acclimatization pace.
Set the pace for the porter team, not the fittest climber. A group that arrives two hours ahead of its own kit has gained nothing and lost the camp.
Teahouse in a hilltop village. Basic rooms, warm hospitality, mountain views.
Dal bhat — the fuel of mountain treks. Eat two plates. You'll need the energy.
Ascend through increasingly dramatic landscape. Forest gives way to scrub. Villages become smaller and more remote.
Lodge at 3,500 m. The last village on the route. Stove-heated common room. Extra blankets available.
Dinner at the lodge. Altitude beginning to be felt. Drink extra water.
Individual health check at 3,500 m. Note any headaches, sleep quality, appetite changes. Everyone should be drinking 3+ liters daily.
Pulse oximetry readings for each participant. Baseline SpO2 at this altitude: expect 88-92%. Anyone below 85% needs monitoring. Mild headache normal — persistent or severe headache is a warning sign. Diamox can be considered if acclimatization is slow.
Leave the last village and enter uninhabited terrain. Moraine, scree, and glacial valleys. The objective mountain visible ahead. Porters cache supplies along the route.
Water treatment starts today and does not stop. Brief it once, properly, and check bottles — a gastro case at base camp ends someone's expedition before the mountain does.
Camp at 4,200 m in a glacial valley. Tomorrow: establish base camp. Rest well.
Hot dinner. Appetite decreasing at altitude — eat anyway. Calories are critical from here on.
Short move to the base camp location at 4,800 m. Site selection critical: flat, wind-protected, water access, safe from avalanche runout.
Site selection matters for three weeks: drainage above all, latrines downhill and well away from the water source, kitchen upwind of both. Do not accept last season's platform without inspecting the drainage.
Camp layout: mess tent (central), sleeping tents (ring formation, 10 m apart), kitchen tent (downwind), toilet tent (50 m from water source). Communication tent with satellite phone and solar charger. Weather station if available. Emergency equipment cached in marked barrel at camp entrance.
Base camp at 4,800 m. This is home for the next 2 weeks. Expedition tents with foam mats. Mess tent for meals and briefings.
Settle into base camp. Arrange personal tent. Familiarize with camp layout. Rest — tomorrow begins acclimatization rotations.
Cook team prepares first proper base camp meal. Celebrate the establishment of base camp.
First acclimatization rotation: climb from base camp to Camp 1 at 5,400 m. Establish the camp — tents, food cache, and fixed ropes on the steeper sections. Return to base camp tonight (climb high, sleep low).
First rotation. Check every harness and the fixed line anchors personally — the group will assume last season's rope is fine. Turnaround is fixed and non-negotiable.
Climb high, sleep low: ascend to 5,400 m, cache supplies, return to sleep at 4,800 m. This exposes the body to altitude while recovering at lower elevation. Repeat with Camp 2 on Day 10-11. Rest days between rotations are essential. Hydration target: 4 liters daily above 5,000 m.
Descend to base camp after establishing Camp 1. The descent feels easy — a reward for the effort.
Watch appetite as much as symptoms. A climber who is not eating at base camp will not recover for the rotation, whatever they say about feeling fine.
Dinner at base camp. Good appetite at 4,800 m after exerting at 5,400 m is a positive sign.
Second rotation to Camp 1. This time, sleep at 5,400 m. Carry sleeping bags and personal overnight gear. Fixed ropes from yesterday make the ascent faster.
First night at altitude and the most informative of the trip. Record who slept and who did not, and take SpO2 in the morning before anyone speaks — self-reporting at altitude is unreliable and optimistic.
First night at Camp 1. Sleeping at altitude is uncomfortable — expect disturbed sleep, periodic breathing, and headaches. This is normal acclimatization.
Simple hot meal at Camp 1. Appetite is low — force yourself to eat. Hydrate constantly.
Sleep quality at 5,400 m: poor to moderate is normal. Cheyne-Stokes breathing (stop-start) is common and not dangerous. If headache worsens or nausea persists, descend at first light.
Descend from Camp 1 to base camp early morning. Rest all day. Eat, drink, sleep. Recovery is as important as climbing.
Complete rest at base camp. Read, play cards, wash clothes if sunny. Check weather forecasts for the summit window.
Three meals at base camp. Eat as much as possible — calorie deficit accumulates at altitude.
Push higher: Camp 1 to Camp 2. Establish the high camp at 5,900 m. Steeper terrain, fixed ropes on the headwall. Carry tents, food, and fuel for the summit push.
Load carry, not a summit day. Cache the gear, tag it, and photograph the cache so it is findable in cloud. Down to base the same day regardless of how strong the group feels.
Camp 2 on a narrow platform at 5,900 m. Tents anchored with snow stakes and rock deadmen. Exposed to wind. The summit looms 600 m above.
Simple hot food. Melting snow for water takes time at this altitude. Every calorie matters.
Short climb 200 m above Camp 2 and return. Touch 6,100 m to prepare the body for the summit push. Fix ropes on the route above camp.
The point is the night, not the height. Do not let a strong group turn this into an extra rotation — it costs the summit window and gains nothing physiologically.
Afternoon rest. Melt water, eat, prepare for descent tomorrow. Check weather for summit window.
Dinner at Camp 2. Discuss summit strategy. Decision: summit attempt on Day 13 or 14 depending on weather.
Descend all the way from Camp 2 to base camp. Long descent but gravity helps. Rest at base camp, eat well, and prepare for the summit push in 2 days.
Crucial recovery day. Eat, sleep, hydrate. Check all summit equipment. Pack summit bags. Monitor weather hourly.
Analyze weather forecasts from multiple sources. Summit window criteria: wind below 30 km/h at summit altitude, no precipitation, visibility above 200 m. Ideal: high pressure system for 3+ days. Decision: go/no-go announced at dinner.
Cross-reference 3 weather sources. Historical success rate for this season. Team fitness assessment — anyone not strong enough should stay at base camp. Summit team roster finalized. Oxygen plans if applicable. Communication schedule for summit days.
Summit push begins. Climb from base camp directly to Camp 2 in one push. Everything cached from earlier rotations is waiting. Settle in early, hot food, and sleep by 17:00.
Summit push commits from here. Confirm the forecast at 05:00 and again from Camp 2; if the window has moved, come down and use the reserve day rather than sitting high and burning acclimatization.
Camp 2 the night before the summit. Everything prepared: crampons on boots, harness fitted, summit pack ready. Alarm set for 01:00.
Eat as much as possible. Drink 2 liters before sleep. Tomorrow is the day you've trained for.
Departure: 02:00. Route: fixed ropes above camp, traverse the snowfield, summit ridge, summit. Turnaround: 10:00 latest. Expected summit time: 06:00-08:00 if all goes well. Descent: same route, aim for Camp 2 by 14:00.
The summit push. Depart Camp 2 at 02:00 by headlamp. Climb the headwall on fixed ropes, cross the upper snowfield, and gain the summit ridge. The final approach is exposed — rope teams move together. The summit is the size of a table. You made it.
Turnaround: 10:00, no exceptions. Weather abort: any deterioration in visibility or sudden wind increase. Stay roped on the summit ridge. Summit stop maximum 15 minutes — photos, flag, radio call. Begin descent immediately. The summit is only halfway — you must get back down safely.
Radio check-in schedule: leaving camp (02:00), headwall top (04:00), snowfield (06:00), summit or turnaround (08:00-10:00), return to camp. Oxygen flow rates if applicable. Emergency bivouac point: snow cave at 6,100 m. Satellite SOS as absolute last resort.
Descend the same route. Concentration and energy are critical — most mountaineering accidents happen on descent. Rope discipline, clip fixed lines, take care on the headwall. Camp 2 by early afternoon.
Collapse into Camp 2. You've summited. Rest, eat, hydrate. The emotional and physical exhaustion is overwhelming. Let it wash over you.
The sweetest meal of the expedition. Every calorie tastes like victory.
If the summit was achieved yesterday, rest at Camp 2 and begin descent. If weather prevented the attempt, today is the backup summit day. Flexibility is essential in high-altitude mountaineering.
Decide by 18:00 the evening before whether this day is used, and say so out loud to the whole group. An undecided reserve day is how a team ends up sitting at high camp with no plan and no food.
Either: summit attempt (same protocol as Day 14) or begin descent from Camp 2 to Camp 1 or base camp.
Descend as far as energy allows. Camp 1 at minimum, base camp if strong.
Hot meal wherever you sleep. The pressure is off. The mountain is behind you.
Descend all remaining altitude to base camp. Strip camps as you go — carry down tents, food, and equipment. Leave the mountain clean.
The injury day of the expedition: 1,500 m down on three weeks of wear, after a summit push. Short stages, poles out, and knees checked at every break.
Back at base camp. The expedition's climbing phase is complete. Rest, celebrate, begin packing for extraction.
The cook prepares a special celebration meal. Break out the hidden treats. Toast to the mountain, the team, and the summit.
Dismantle base camp. Sort equipment: personal gear, group gear, porter loads. Clean the camp site — leave no trace. Begin sorting what goes home and what stays with the logistics company.
Everything goes out that came in, including the latrine pit spoil and every fuel canister. Count loads against the inbound manifest — the porter team is paid per load and the numbers must reconcile.
Last hours at base camp. Take final photos of the mountain from camp. Write in the expedition journal. Say goodbye to this place that was home.
Final camp meal. Tomorrow the trek out begins.
Begin the trek out. Descend rapidly from base camp altitude. The approach trek in reverse — faster now with lighter loads and fitter bodies.
First running water and first shop in three weeks. Brief the group on what not to eat and drink today; a stomach bug now ruins the flight home rather than the expedition.
Lodge in the high village. Hot food, warm room, and the sounds of village life — a world away from high camp.
First proper cooked meal in a building for weeks. Flavors explode.
Continue descent through villages and terraced hillsides. The air is thick and warm at lower altitude. Lungs rejoice.
Full gear inventory against the issue list tonight while the team is still together. Damage found after everyone disperses is unattributable and uninsurable.
Return to the staging village from Day 2. The lodge owners remember you. Cold beer available.
Dinner at the lodge. Pay and tip the porter team — this is the traditional farewell.
Domestic flight back to the regional capital. The mountains recede through the aircraft window.
Permit close-out and liaison-officer sign-off happen in the capital, not at the mountain. Carry the summit log and the porter wage receipts in hand luggage.
Return to the expedition hotel. Hot shower, clean clothes, room service. The transition from mountain to city is jarring and wonderful.
Return group equipment to the logistics company. Formal expedition debrief: timeline review, lessons learned, equipment failures, and recommendations.
Grand celebration dinner. The expedition is officially complete. Speeches, toasts, and the presentation of summit certificates.
Final meal together. 21 days as a team. Bonds forged in the mountains last a lifetime.
Transfer to the international airport. Check excess baggage allowance for expedition equipment.
Grand expedition complete: 21 days, base camp to summit, approach trek, and extraction. One of the most significant mountaineering achievements possible. Rest for 2 weeks before any strenuous activity. The mountain will stay in your memories forever.
Final expedition report due within 14 days: route description, weather log, summit roster, equipment assessment, financial summary. Submit to the national alpine club and sponsoring organizations. File with the permit authority. Archive expedition photos and GPS tracks.
Fly home. The expedition is over. But you're already thinking about the next one.
Three guides and the full porter team for twenty-one days, the climbing permit and liaison officer, all internal transfers and the return flight to the capital, hotel nights at both ends including the contingency nights, every camp from staging to high camp with all group climbing hardware and fixed rope, all meals throughout, porter wages, equipment and insurance, and expedition safety equipment including satellite communication, oxygen at high camp, pulse oximetry and a comprehensive medical kit.
Personal climbing equipment and clothing — boots, harness, axe, crampons, down suit and sleeping bag rated for high camp; a full list with temperature ratings is issued on booking. Also excluded: international flights, visa, travel and high-altitude evacuation insurance, personal oxygen beyond the group supply, laundry and drinks in the capital, and gratuities for guides, porters and the liaison officer. Summit success is not included in any sense: the weather decides, and the reserve day is the only contingency built in.
Publish the gratuity figures for guides, porters and liaison officer as a table in the pre-departure pack. On a twenty-one-day expedition the total is significant, guests underestimate it consistently, and the awkwardness lands on the staff rather than the operator.