Private journeys
Sherpa Signature
Private Himalaya journeys, arranged by a Sherpa family.
Three generations
Cooked for Sir Edmund Hillary and his team throughout their work building schools for the Sherpa community.”
Three journeys
Each one is private, for your party only, and priced per person for two traveling together. We quote other party sizes on the call.
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Everest by Lodge and Helicopter
Walk to Everest Base Camp with a senior Sherpa guide and an assistant guide, in the best lodge rooms on the trail. A private helicopter brings you back from Gorak Shep, stopping on Kala Patthar when conditions allow.
From $19,875 per person, based on two
See the journey: Everest by Lodge and Helicopter -
Kathmandu and Everest by Air
Heritage suites at Dwarika's in Kathmandu, two nights above the valley in Dhulikhel and a Chitwan safari lodge, with a private car and guide throughout and a helicopter flight toward Everest.
From $15,575 per person, based on two
See the journey: Kathmandu and Everest by Air -
Everest Private by Air
Helicopters into and out of the Khumbu, a senior Sherpa guide and an assistant for your party, heritage suites in Kathmandu and two quiet nights in Dhulikhel after the mountains.
From $27,875 per person, based on two
See the journey: Everest Private by Air
Named hotels and lodges are the ones we plan to hold for you, or comparable ones if they are full on your dates. Your written proposal confirms every stay, flight and price before you pay anything.
What Signature adds
The same family and the same Sherpa guides as our catalog trips, with more room, more time and more help on the hard days.
| What changes | Our catalog trips | Sherpa Signature |
|---|---|---|
| Where you stay | Comfortable hotels in Kathmandu and the best available lodges on the trail | Dwarika's in Kathmandu, and the best room we can hold in each mountain village |
| Getting in and out | Scheduled Lukla flights and road transfers | A private helicopter out of the Khumbu, or helicopters both ways on request |
| Your guides | A Sherpa guide for the group, with porters | A senior Sherpa guide and an assistant guide for your party alone |
| Who travels | Scheduled group departures, or private on request | Your party only, on your dates |
| When weather interferes | A buffer day where the itinerary has one | A weather reserve that pays for extra nights or a helicopter on standby |
| Evacuation | Travel insurance with evacuation cover is required | An evacuation membership for each traveler, with travel insurance still required |
| Planning | An inquiry, then a call | A planning call, a written proposal and a contract |
You plan it with the family
Sam and Gyalgin Sherpa, son and father, run SherpaHolidays. Sam works from our office in San Jose, California. Gyalgin worked on Mount Everest and founded South Asian Holidays.
You talk with them about your journey from the first call, not with a call center. On the trail a senior Sherpa guide leads your party, and we name your guides in the proposal.
How it works
A Signature journey is planned by people, not a cart.
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A planning call
About 30 minutes with Sam or Gyalgin. Tell us who is traveling, when, and how much walking feels right.
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A written proposal
Your day-by-day plan, the stays we can hold and the full price, in writing. We agree with you when it will arrive.
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A contract
You read the plan and our Terms and Conditions before you commit to anything.
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A payment schedule
Your contract sets out what is paid and when. Nothing is ever paid through this page.
Who you are booking with
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California Seller of Travel
SherpaHolidays LLC, CST No. 2169657-50. Registration as a seller of travel does not constitute approval by the State of California.
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Customer funds
The Travel Consumer Restitution Corporation's public directory lists SherpaHolidays under TCRC No. 710274, and we hold a Seller of Travel bond. Our Terms and Conditions give the details.
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A US company
Our office is in San Jose, California, and our prices are in US dollars.
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On the ground in Nepal
We work with a local partner company in Nepal for the ground arrangements. Our family plans every journey with you.
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What guests say
5.0 from 5 Google reviews. Read them on Google.
For travel advisors
Signature journeys pay travel advisors a commission, and your client pays the same price whether they book with us directly or through you. We plan with you and your client together.
Write to info@sherpaholidays.com or call +1 (855) 743-7725 for our advisor terms.
Questions
How hard are these journeys?
Everest by Lodge and Helicopter and Everest Private by Air are real treks to Everest Base Camp: several hours of walking most days, steep climbs and a night at 5,140 m at Gorak Shep. The helicopter replaces the walk back, not the walk up. Kathmandu and Everest by Air has no trekking.
What about altitude?
High-altitude travel can cause serious illness, even in fit travelers. Acclimatization reduces risk but cannot eliminate it. The Everest journeys climb on the standard route with rest days at Namche and Dingboche. A helicopter flight also takes you high very quickly, and we go over landing times with you before you book. Talk to a clinician familiar with altitude travel before you commit.
What if the helicopter cannot fly?
Weather and the operator's rules decide when a helicopter flies and where it can land. Flights can be delayed, rerouted or shortened, and the Kala Patthar stop happens only when conditions allow. Signature journeys carry a weather reserve that pays for extra nights or a helicopter on standby, and we suggest an international ticket you can change.
Can we change the plan?
Yes. Every Signature journey is private, so the route, pace and stays are set around you on the call and in the proposal. A change can change the price, and the proposal shows it before you agree.
What is not included?
International flights, the Nepal visa, travel insurance, tips, alcohol and a single-room supplement. Travel insurance is a condition of every booking and must cover emergency medical treatment and evacuation, including by helicopter, at your journey's highest altitude.
What if we need to cancel?
Our Terms and Conditions set out the cancellation charges, and your proposal shows them before you sign. Nothing is paid until you have read them.
Call first
Talk to Sam or Gyalgin
A Signature journey starts with a conversation. Call us, or send a short note through our inquiry form and we will call you back.