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"Our newest guest on the podcast is executive director and co-founder of the Himalayan climate & Science Institute Richard Silber. Richard Silber, a mountaineer and biologist leads mushroom trips to the Himalayas in the Khumbu region of Nepal. We talk about leading his first mushroom trips to the Himalayas, the mushrooms they found there, the mycology culture in Nepal, and the mission for the future." Listen to the podcast and read the article here:

Our trek to Everest Base Camp with IMT exceeded all of our expectations. Before the trip we were fully informed about the required shots, medications, clothing and gear. As experienced backpackers and hikers we are used to planning our own trips. However, it was a pleasure to have a detailed itinerary taking into account the need for acclimatization and our interests, as well as know that all of the lodging and dining stops were well taken care of. From start to finish, our guide, Sonam, was warm, attentive, knowledgeable and responsive to all of our needs. He accommodated our slower pace and worked with us to make some changes to our plans based on our ability and interests. Sonam answered all of our questions and taught us about the topography, Sherpa culture, and Buddhist philosophy. His experience as a guide extended to knowing the best places to stop to eat and his obviously good relationships with many of the tea house owners made it very comfortable and easy for us as customers. We stayed at some wonderful places - and perhaps not typical - like the Rivendell Lodge in Deboche, with a beautiful dining room, slippers for all the guests, a hot shower, and the best apple pie! The Italian Pyramid was also a spot off the beaten path. As a former Buddhist monk Sonam also facilitated our visits to the Buddhist monasteries on the trek, including a view of the relatively new 3-D mancala in the Tengboche monastery. In addition to the trek itself, IMT provided several extras that made the trip even more special. Documentarian Alok Tuladhar gave us a tour of Kathmandu. We visited the Swayambhunath Temple, one of the most sacred Buddhist pilgrimage sites, and Bhaktapur, the ancient capital of Nepal. On the way to Base Camp we visited Sagamartha Next, a learning center focused on the Khumbu region’s need to deal with waste and recycling, an art gallery, and a waste lab. We were impressed by the state of the art interactive map and virtual reality, the art work and the visiting artists studio. Near the end of our trek we also toured the Khumbu Climbing Center in Phortse which provides safe technical climbing education for Nepali guides and climbers. It also hosts a modern climbing wall, plenty of climbing gear, and a library. Back in Kathmandu we went to dinner with Sonam and his wonderful wife, Pushpah, where we were treated to wonderful Nepali food and live folk dancing. Words are inadequate to describe the beauty of the Himalayas but each day brought a more amazing sight. Some of my favorites were the Kalapathar hike from Dingboche, and the hike to Lobuche high camp. The wonderful service we got from IMT made such a once-in-a-lifetime experience possible.

DESIGN YOUR SPECTACULAR HIMALAYAN JOURNEYS Up ECO MUSHROOM TOUR OF THE ANNAPURNA REGION IN THE HIMALAYAS Join IMT during peak mushroom season to explore the grandeur of the Annapurna region and Annapurna Conservation Area in Nepal on a unique mushroom and ecological trek along the Annapurna circuit. Learn More Sign Up Now ECO MUSHROOM TOUR OF THE KHUMBU REGION IN THE HIMALAYAS Join IMT during peak mushroom season to explore the grandeur of the Khumbu region and Sagarmatha National Park in Nepal on a unique mushroom and ecological trek to Everest Base Camp. Learn More Sign Up Now About Nepal Nepal is a landlocked country bordered by Tibet and China to the north and India to the east, west, and south. Although it is a small country, Nepal contains the greatest variation in altitude on Earth, from the lowland plains and jungles of the Tarai in the south, to the Himalayas and Mount Everest, the world’s highest mountain, in the north. ​ The origin of the word Himalaya comes from Sanskrit and means “Abode of Snow.” As one of the most bio-diverse regions, Nepal is a treasure trove of animals, birds, medicinal plants, flowers, and fungi. Similarly, Nepal’s many cultures represent over 120 distinct ethnic and linguistic groups, each contributing to a rich and fascinating kaleidoscope of spiritual practices, history, and art. Nepal’s capital, Kathmandu is steeped in history, architecture, and religious significance. Learn More About Us Who We Are IMT specializes in providing custom designed and professionally guided treks in the Himalayas of Nepal with a special focus on the ecology, mycology, and biodiversity of the Khumbu. Learn More Expeditions IMT’s expeditions to the Khumbu offer a unique opportunity to trek in the world’s most spectacular mountains while discovering the extraordinary world of mushrooms in the region. Learn More Blog Read about what the international media are saying about IMT’s treks. Learn More Meet Your Guides Sonam Jangbu Sherpa Director, International Mountain Trekking, Inc. Phinjo Sherpa Senior High Altitude Mountain Guide Lhakpa Nuri Sherpa Senior High Altitude Mountain Guide Phu Chiri Sherpa Senior High Altitude Mountain Guide Pasang Tenjing Sherpa Senior High Altitude Mountain Guide Learn More "A 21-day trek through the Himalayas of Nepal, including the World Heritage Site Sagarmatha National Park. Wow! I cannot believe I finally made it there ... and I'm more amazed that I survived! The IMT trek was so special and different in many ways, from other “package” excursions, primarily because of the small group size, we were able to make side trips to see and do things not actually on the itinerary, we were able to proceed at our pace—not that of the guides’ or rigid itinerary—and then got to have experiences with local people, customs, and festivals. We were invited in to homes and monasteries on several occasions. Talk about off-the-beaten-path travel! The Sherpa guides and porters that work with IMT are hand-selected and have developed very close bonds with the organizer, Richard Silber. And I have to say that the Sherpas were a very big part of what made this such a wonderful experience." Britt Bunyard, Ph.D Editor in Chief, FUNGI Magazine In the News Mar 9 0 min Fungi Magazine: Look Down Not Up - Mushroom Exploration of the Himalayas 0 Post not marked as liked Nov 27, 2022 1 min Mushroom Revival Podcast: Mushrooms of the Tibetan Himalayas with Richard Silber "Our newest guest on the podcast is executive director and co-founder of the Himalayan climate & Science Institute Richard Silber.... 0 Post not marked as liked Nov 17, 2022 2 min "Exceeded expectations," says Everest Base Camp trekker Our trek to Everest Base Camp with IMT exceeded all of our expectations. Before the trip we were fully informed about the required... 0 1 like. Post not marked as liked 1 1 2 3 View More

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June 25 - July 12, 2023 Mushroom/Ecological Tour of the Khumbu Region in the Himalayas ($6,400) Sign Up Today Overview Itinerary Important Information What's Included? Frequently Asked Questions Optional: Lobuche Climb Day 1: Arrive at Kathmandu June 25 Transfer from Tribhuvan Airport to Kathmandu Guest House. Explore the sights and sounds of Thamel, one of Kathmandu's most vibrant neighborhoods. Day 2: Tour Kathmandu June 26 We wake before dawn for an early morning visit to Kathmandu's holiest site, Swayambhunath Temple (Monkey Temple). After a tour of the temple grounds, we enjoy a comfortable guided walk back through Kathmandu and return to Kathmandu Guest House for breakfast. After breakfast, we explore historic Kathmandu with our private guide. Dinner is on your own. Overnight at Kathmandu Guest House. Day 3: Overland Travel to Salleri June 27 Early morning, we load up and into our private Toyota Land Cruisers for our overland entry into the Khumbu. After a long day on the road with stops along the way for cold beer and lunch, we arrive in the picturesque village of Salleri in the Solukhumbu. Overnight in Salleri. Day 4: Beginning of Trek June 28 Morning vehicle travel to Kharikhola, the end of the road and the beginning of our trek to the village of Bupsa (6,760 ft/2,060m). Overnight in Bupsa. Day 5: Trek to Shurke June 29 Trek from Bupsa to Puiya for lunch, then on to Shurke (7,600ft/2,310m). Overnight in Shurke. Day 6: Trek to Phakding June 30 We cross the thundering Dudh Kosi river on a high suspension bridge to our lodge in Phakding Village (8,500ft/2600m). We will have an opportunity to foray the surrounding forests for rare and interesting mushrooms. Day 7: Trek to Namche Bazar July 1 A full day of trekking as we cross and re-cross the thundering Dudh Kosi river on suspension bridges and through forests of Himalayan Pine to Monjo and the entrance to Sagarmartha Park. We continue up and along the Dudh Kosi foraging for mushrooms along the trail. Then over another suspension bridge and up the long hill to Namche Bazaar (11,200ft/3440m). We will join the villagers of Namche in celebrating the festival of Dumji. Overnight in Namche. Day 8: Acclimatization Day - Trek to Sagarmatha Next July 2 On this acclimatization day, we will trek above Namche and visit Sararmatha Next in Syangboche. Sagarmatha Next is an important and creative environmental project of the Himalayan Museum and Sustainability Park. We will tour the facilities, art gallery and grounds and enjoy watching videos about the project and climate change research in the Himalaya. Return to Namche and overnight. Day 9: Trek to Tengboche July 3 Trek to Tengboche (12,700ft/3,867m) with a private visit to Tenboche monastery, afternoon prayer service and Puja ceremony. This UNESCO World Heritage site is in the heart of Sagarmatha National Park and offers views of Tawache, Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse, Ama Dablam, and Thamserku. Overnight in Debouche. Day 10: Trek to Dingboche July 4 From Deboche, we trek to Somare for lunch at the confluence of the Dudh Koshi and the Imja Khola Rivers. We then continue our trek to Dingboche. Overnight in Dingboche (14,470/4410m). Day 11: Acclimatization Hike to Nangharshang July 5 Acclimatization day. After breakfast we will hike above Dingboche to Nangkarshang Peak with extraordinary views of the world’s three highest mountains: Mt. Makalu (8,463m), Lhotse (8,749m), Cho Oyu (8,201m) along with Island peak (6,189m), Amadablam (6,812m), Kangtega (6,782m), Thamserku (6,623m), Taboche (6,542m), Cholatse (6,440m) and the Imja Glacier. Overnight in Dingboche. Day 12: Trek to Lobuche and the Italian Pyramid July 6 Trek to Lobuche and the Italian Research Pyramid. The trail leads into a wide grassland and then continues upwards and across a bridge to the village of Thukla where we will stop for lunch. Then up to Lobuche pass and into Lobuche village. We continue on a few kilometers outside of Lobuche to the Italian Pyramid research station and lodge. (16,200ft/4,930 m). Overnight at the research center's lodge. Day 13: Trek to Gorakshep and Everest Base Camp July 7 After breakfast, we will continue to gain altitude and trek to Gorakshep along the Pumori Bench with views of the Khumbu glacier and the world’s highest mountains. After arriving at Gorakshep, and a short break, we head to Everest Base Camp (17,600ft/5365m). Towering overhead will be views of Mt. Everest, Nuptse, Pumori, Khumbutse. Overnight in Gorakshep (17,000ft/5180m). Day 14: Climb Kala Patthar and Trek to Pheriche July 8 Early in the morning, we will hike up Kala Patthar (18,515ft/5,643m). From Kala Patthar, weather permitting, we will enjoy unobstructed views of Mt. Everest along with spectacular 360-degree views of the world’s highest peaks -- with views of Nuptse Peak (25,538ft/7784m), Mount Everest/Sagarmatha/Chomolungma (29,032ft/8849m), Khumbutse Peak (21,772ft/6636m), Mount Lingtren (22,028ft/6714m), and Mount Pumori (23494ft/7,161m). Trek down to Pheriche (14,300ft/4370m), with views of Thamserku (21,729ft/6623m) and Kangtega (22,254ft/6783m) to the south, Ama Dablam (22,493ft/6856m) and Amphu Gyabjen (18,527ft/5647m) to the east, and Taboche (21,309ft/6495m) and Cholatse (21,129ft/6440m) to the west. Continue to the village of Pheriche with visits along the trail with Yaks, Naks (female Yaks) and their newborns. Overnight in Pheriche Village (12,600ft/3840m). Day 15: Trek to Phortse July 9 Trek to Phortse Village. We will visit Phortse's Buddhist Monastery and participate in the community celebration of the holiday of Dumji. We will also visit the Alex Lowe Khumbu Climbing Center and have time for a mushroom foray in the woods surrounding the village. Celebratory dinner at the home of our guide Sonam Jangbu Sherpa. Day 16: Heli to Kathmandu - Contingency Day in Phortse July 10 No plans for this day. Day 17: Heli to Kathmandu July 11 Helicopter to Kathmandu from Phortse and transfer back to the Kathmandu Guest House. Celebratory dinner in Kathmandu. Overnight. Day 18: Depart Kathmandu for Home July 12 Transfer from Kathmandu Guest House to Tribhuvan International Airport for your return flight home. Sign Up Today