It is often argued as to which mountain is the true Seventh Summit: Carstensz or Kosciuszko? Our answer is, “It doesn’t matter! They are both beautiful and unique adventures in their own right, so why not do them both?” In fact, it seems that many people are concluding just that and climbing both peaks.
Carstensz Pyramid stands as an epitome of global adventure, beckoning only a select few to explore its exotic locale in Irian Jaya. Beyond its status as one of the Seven Summits lies its breathtaking ascent, adding the perfect finishing touch to an already exhilarating experience. For those seeking genuine adventure and top-tier rock climbing, Carstensz Pyramid is the ultimate destination. What sets the Seven Summits apart is the journey they entail, immersing climbers in diverse cultures and landscapes. Nowhere is this truer than in the case of Carstensz Pyramid, making it an unparalleled expedition opportunity.
Itinerary
Day 1
Meet in Nabire, Indonesia: Our team will meet you at the airport and transfer you to our hotel. This is a pure arrival day. You may arrive at any time and shake off the jet lag.
Day 2
Gear checks and team meeting: We will meet at breakfast and set a plan for the day. We will organize a team meeting that will get everyone up to speed on the details of the trip before diving into gear checks. Once gear checks are complete we will check in with the immigration office in Nabire and pick up any last-minute supplies. We will have a team dinner before heading to bed early.
Day 3
We rise early and have a 5am breakfast before transferring to the airport and checking in with the local helicopter service. We will then take our morning flight (approx 40mins) to Yellow Valley Basecamp (4,250m) At Base Camp we will acclimatize. Sleep, read, relax, take a light walk around Base Camp. Whatever you do – stay hydrated!
Day 4
Acclimatization day: We spend today getting used to the altitude and continuing our acclimatization. Today we will do some rope training ahead of a summit plan briefing and an early dinner.
Day 5
Summit Days. We wake up at 1am and prepare for our summit. We will have a very light meal and a hot drink to kick start our bodies before we start trekking at 2am. Our route follows the ridge crest with grand exposure along the way. We pass four small notches as we rappel and use ascenders to negotiate trickier rock climbing sections. Our descent entails multiple rappels and scrambles. The rock is clean and provides excellent friction even when wet. You can expect a summit day of 10-12 hours round trip.
Day 6
We rise early to pack our equipment. Our helicopters could arrive as early as 6Am. We are picked up from Yellow Valley Basecamp and returned to Nabire where we are met at the airport and transferred to our hotel.
Day 7
Fly Home. Check out of our hotel and transfer back to the hotel for our onward flights, either to Bali or Jakarta.
Day 8-14
Contingency days: Since the weather is such a huge factor in most Carstensz climbs. We advise booking your flexible return airfare a week beyond your expected departure day and moving it forward if your expedition goes to schedule.
Note: Weather is a huge factor in this expedition! Teams have waited for weeks to get in and out of base camp and some teams haven’t even made it in. This is a real possibility. EXPECT weather delays. This is true adventure travel so you need to relax, roll with the punches, bring a good book and music, and book flexible return airfares.
Inclusion
- Professional mountain guide, assistant guide/cooks, etc.
- Climbing and park permits
- All transfers, including return airport transfers
- 3x nights of dual occupancy accommodation in Nabire (2x nights before trip/1x night after)
- Round trip chartered helicopter flights to Carstensz Pyramid Base Camp (15kg luggage allowance)
- Full board (all meals) while on the mountain
- Personal sleeping tents (one tent per person) dining tents/table, chairs, etc.
Exclusions
- All international flights and flights to Nabire, our meeting point
- All personal climbing gear and equipment
- Additional fees associated with early arrivals or late departures
- $200 local guide, cooks, land porter tip pool (we will hold a tipping ceremony at the end of the trip)
- Mandatory trip, medical and evacuation insurance
- Visas on arrival, travel fees, excess baggage fees, etc.
- All in-town meals
- Excess baggage costs
- Any extra nights' accommodation due to delays above and beyond those covered (beyond the 3 nights in Nabire)
- Drinks and alcohol, incidentals, 3rd party internet costs, laundry, etc.
- Any additional expenses above and beyond the normal trip costs such as rescues, medical issues, early departure expenses, etc.
- 5lbs of snack/climbing food for the climb and acclimatization days
- Single occupancy rooming
- Guide tips (customary but optional)
Reviews
Ctss (climbing The Seven Summits)
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Expedition Information
$24,995
Q3
Carstensz Pyramid (Puncak Jaya)
Mountaineering,
Trekking,
Climbing
Fitness Level
4
Technical Level
3
Group Size
3-12
Continent:
Australasia/OceaniaCountry:
IndonesiaLocation:
Carstensz Pyramid (Puncak Jaya)Elevation:
4,884 m / 16,023 ftGPS:
-4.0846 N°, 137.187 E°