Every trip we run, from a gentle valley walk to an 8,000-metre expedition, carries an official Everest Limit grade before it appears on our website. The grade tells you, at a glance, how physically and technically demanding a trip is, so you can pick one that fits your fitness, your experience and your ambitions. Grades are set by our operations team and reviewed every year, or sooner if an itinerary changes in any meaningful way.
All trips are graded from 1 to 10 and grouped into five bands. Each band has its own color, which you will see on our trip pages and brochures.
| Grade | Band | Color | Typical Trip Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-2 | Easy | Green | Cultural walks and short low-altitude treks |
| 3-4 | Moderate | Yellow | Classic mid-altitude treks |
| 5-6 | Challenging | Orange | High passes treks and trekking peaks up to 6,400 m |
| 7-8 | Strenuous | Red | Peaks climbing up to 7,900 m |
| 9-10 | Extreme | Charcoal | Expeditions of 8,000 m and above |
Two things matter most when we grade a trip: the maximum elevation reached on the itinerary, and the number of hours you walk each day. In the Himalaya, altitude is the single biggest factor in how hard a trip feels, and long days at height compound its effect.
Beyond these two, we also weigh the condition of the trails, how remote the route is and how quickly help could reach you, the number of walking days in a row without rest, the standard of accommodation along the way, any technical skills or equipment the route demands, and the weather the region typically throws at trekkers in season. When a trip sits on the line between two grades, we always give it the higher one.
For beginners and families in good physical condition, no trekking experience required. With the expectation of 3 to 5 hours walking per day at a slow pace on easy trails and village paths below 4,000 meters, with daily climbs without the altitude gain of a maximum of 400 meters. These trips are for you if you can trek for a few hours and enjoy seeing the mountains from afar.
For moderately fit trekkers with previous hill-walking experience. The normal trek in a day for 4 to 6 hours or an extra couple of hours on some days, on steeper trails between 4,000 and 5,500 meters, with sustained climbs and descents of up to 800–1,000 meters in a day. A regular walking or exercise habit and the ability to trek on back-to-back days are enough. Mild altitude effects are possible, and rest days for acclimatization are built into every itinerary.
For fit trekkers with experience of a multi-day trek. These trips climb to between 5,500 and 6,400 meters, often over high-altitude passes and trekking peaks' summits, with 5 to 8 hours of climbing a day, a peak summit day of 10 to 12 hours, and several long days in a row. Trails are rugged and remote, with rocky moraine and possible ice and snow on the passes and peaks, and teahouses become more basic the higher you go and camping for peak climbing. You need good stamina, a training routine in the weeks before departure, and the patience for long, cold days far from the road. Acclimatization is planned into every itinerary and is not optional.
For experienced climbers willing to go to higher altitudes beyond the Alps and 6000-meter peaks. Trips in this band range between 6,400 and 7,900 meters and involve glacier walk, snow and icy slopes, and exposed ridges, with crampons, an ice axe, a harness, and fixed ropes in regular use. Normal days run six to nine hours; summit days can stretch more than 12 hours. On the approach, you stay in teahouses during trekking, then move into tented camps during the climbing at the base camp. You should be in good physical shape and have experience climbing above 6,000 meters before. Our climbing guides teach rope work and equipment skills before the climb, so prior climbing experience is an advantage. Expect severe cold and rough weather.
Our most challenging expeditions to 8,000-meter peaks and above. These climbs take several weeks and involve repeated trips between base camp and high camps, carrying gear, and long summit days of 12+ hours using supplemental oxygen. Climbers must have proven high-altitude experience (typically including a 7,000-meter summit for Everest), excellent fitness, strong technical climbing skills, and medical clearance. Every climber is individually assessed before joining the expedition.
Your experience of a grade is personal. Our grades describe the trip, not the trekker. Two people on the same trail can have very different days: a trip graded Moderate may feel Challenging to someone who has spent little time in the hills, while an experienced trekker may find a Challenging route well within their comfort zone. Your fitness, your previous time at altitude, your health on the day and even how well you slept the night before all shape how hard a trip feels. Before you book, be honest with yourself about your condition and experience, and talk to us if you are unsure. We would rather steer you to the right trip than see you struggle on the wrong one.
Grades can change with the season. The same route is not the same trip every month of the year. The high pass that is easily done in clear autumn weather may carry deep snow in winter or early spring, adding hours to the day and sometimes calling for extra equipment. For this reason, the grade of an Everest Limit trip may differ between spring, autumn and winter departures. Where a seasonal change applies, we state the adjusted grade on the trip page and in your pre-departure information. Winter departures of high-pass treks, in particular, are normally graded one level higher than their autumn equivalent.
Conditions on the mountain come first. Whatever the published grade, our guides may adjust the route, turn back or withdraw a participant at any point if, in their professional judgment, continuing would put safety at risk. Their decision on the mountain is final. Guests booking Grade 5 and above must disclose any preexisting medical conditions at the time of booking, and a physician's clearance is required for Grade 9–10 expeditions.
| Band | Grade | Daily Hours | Max Elevation | Experience Needed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Easy | 1-2 | 3-5 hrs. | Below 4,000 m | None |
| Moderate | 3-4 | 4-6 hrs. | 4,000-5,500 m | Hill walking |
| Challenging | 5-6 | 5-8 hrs. | 5,500-6,400 m | Multi-day trekking |
| Strenuous | 7-8 | 6-9 hrs. (10-14 hrs. on summit day) | 6,400-7,900 m | Climbing and Glacier experience |
| Extreme | 9-10 | Expedition; 12+ hrs. summit push | 8,000-8,848 m | 7000 meters peak climbing experience |