Dave Hahn

Gokyo is the quieter side of the Everest region. Instead of following the crowded main trail to Everest Base Camp, RMI's Gokyo Trek crosses the 17,000-foot Renjo La Pass into a serene valley of turquoise glacial lakes, with the same giants, Everest, Lhotse, Ama Dablam, and Cho Oyu, ranged across the skyline. It is for travelers who want the Khumbu's scale and culture without its busiest trail.

The route is built around the Gokyo valley itself. After crossing Renjo La, the team drops to the alpine village of Gokyo on the shore of Dudh Pokhari, then explores the chain of glacial lakes leading up toward the south face of Cho Oyu, one of the world's highest peaks. The trek runs in the fall, when the Khumbu trades the bustle of the spring climbing season for clear days, crisp air, and the changing colors of the forested hillsides lower down.

It is a serious trek at real altitude, with a high point above 17,000 feet, but it requires no climbing experience, only good fitness and patience for long days on foot. For travelers who have read about Everest Base Camp and want something quieter and just as spectacular, Gokyo delivers the lakes, the passes, and the Himalayan panorama with far fewer people on the trail.

Kilimanjaro is one of the most recognizable mountains on earth and one of the few true Seven Summits objectives accessible to climbers without a technical mountaineering background. The climb follows the Machame Route, a longer and more scenic approach that moves through rainforest, giant heather, open moorland, and alpine desert before reaching the glaciated summit crater at 19,341 feet. Seven days on the mountain are built into the itinerary to support proper acclimatization, giving climbers a genuine opportunity to reach the top rather than racing the altitude.

Throughout the ascent, local mountain staff manage camp setup, cooking, and load carries while RMI guides lead the climb. Climbers carry light day packs the entire way, which means energy goes into the climb itself and the experience of moving through one of Africa's most extraordinary landscapes.

What follows the summit is equally rare. Four days on safari through Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Lake Manyara, and Tarangire National Park put climbers in the middle of Tanzania's greatest wildlife spectacles, with evenings spent at lodge accommodation along the edges of the parks. It is an unusual thing to stand on the roof of Africa one week and watch a pride of lions cross the crater floor the next. This program makes both possible.

Standing on the Roof of Africa at sunrise is one of mountaineering's great experiences, and this 12-day program is the perfect way to climb Kilimanjaro (19,341') for those tight on time but unwilling to compromise on acclimatization or comfort. We follow the scenic Machame Route — the "Whiskey Route" — through rainforest, giant heather, and high alpine desert to Uhuru Peak, the highest point on the continent.

The key to our success is time: we spend a full seven days on the mountain, giving the team the days it needs to properly acclimatize on the way to the summit. Kilimanjaro is a non-technical climb, so the challenge is the altitude — and our carefully paced itinerary is built to meet it. Local porters carry the loads, so climbers walk with only a light daypack and can focus on the experience.

RMI's climb of Kilimanjaro redefines mountain luxury: spacious sleeping tents, private toilets, and a dining tent with tables and chairs travel up the mountain with us, supported by an outstanding local staff and exceptional fresh food. As an IMEC Partner for Responsible Travel, we ensure fair and ethical treatment of our mountain crew through the Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project (KPAP).

• Summit Kilimanjaro (19,341'), the highest peak in Africa, via the scenic Machame Route
• A full seven days on the mountain for proper acclimatization and a higher success rate
• A non-technical climb — porters carry the loads, so you walk with a light daypack
• Mountain luxury: spacious tents, dining tents, private toilets, and superb local food
• An IMEC Partner for Responsible Travel, supporting ethical treatment of porters