"Raleigh Coburn is one of the
premier female guides in the United States. She speaks
Nepali and is fluent in Spanish. I spent three weeks
on an Everest Base Camp trek she led in 1999-summiting
an 18,500-foot peak is one of the most memorable experiences
I have had. With Raleigh, safety and cultural respect
come first, but on her trips you can also expect to
be physically challenged, awed by the beauty of the
environment, educated on the flora and fauna of the
local region, and provided with a level of service and
support you would expect from a custom travel company."
- Rachel Loeb, New York
Lotus Expeditions trips fall into one of three levels: easy, moderate, or challenging. The level of difficulty is based on the length and rigor of the itinerary, geography, remoteness, trail or water conditions, altitude gain and loss (where applicable), and climate and temperature. Our custom and private journeys can be designed with any level of difficlty or a combination to suit individuals.
Easy
Easy trips usually include an optional day hike and activities, or light activity for approximately 2-3 hours. Easy adventures are supported by all-terrain vehicles, buses, trains, boats and/or planes. We lodge in local hotels or inns and leave the camping for another time. An example of an easy trip is our custom Peru-Explore Machu Picchu trip without the Inca Trail.
Moderate
Moderate adventures include activity for up to 4-6 hours on more rugged terrain or seas for several days. Elevations typically do not exceed 12,000 feet/3,600 meters, though some moderate adventures may cross passes over 14,000 feet/4,242 meters. Some nights are spent camping in tents and others in hotels. Examples of moderate trips include Northern India-Ladakh: The Apricot Valley Trek; Nepal-The Everest Adventure Trek; Perú-The Inca Trail and Machu Picchu Trek; Chile-Patagonia: The Torres Del Paine "W" Trek; Or custom ice climbing and skiing around Ouray, Colorado.
Examples:
- Cuzco, The Inca Trail and Machu Picchu - Perú
- Monasteries and Apricot Valley Trek - Ladakh
- The Everest Adventure Trek - Nepal
- Patagonia: Torres Del Paine "W" Trek- Chile
Challenging
Challenging adventures include strenuous activity for 6-10 hours on steeper and more rugged terrain at elevations between 10,000 feet/3,000 meters and 14,000 feet/4,250 meters, up to 18,000 feet/5,450 meters. Challenging trips may travel off trail or include an optional cross-country route. Examples of some of our challenging trips include Nepal-The Everest Base Camp Trek; Perú-The Cordillera Huayhuash Circuit; Perú-Cordillera Blanca: The Santa Cruz Valley Trek; Chile-Patagonia: The Torres Del Paine Full Circuit; and Northern India-Ladakh: The Markha Valley Trek.
Examples:
- The Everest Base Camp Trek - Nepal
- Markha Valley Trek - Ladakh
- The Cordillera Huayhuash Circuit - Perú
- The Cordillera Blanca: Santa Cruz Valley Trek - Perú