High Karma

Presents

Retreat to the womb of Chomolungma

(Commercially known as Everest basecamp or EBC trek)

&

Climb of Kala Patthar (optional)

An 18-day immersive journey to learn the ways of and pay homage to the Divine Feminine~ as we physically journey through the land of Goddesses & Dakinis

Guided by

Lakpa Rita Sherpa & Wasfia Nazreen

February 12 - March 1, 2026

(with the option to leave earlier by Heli)

A fundraiser retreat to rebuild Thame Village, Kumbhu (Everest Region), Nepal, destroyed in the summer of 2024.

Meet your Guides

Lakpa Rita Sherpa

Lead Guide

Lakpa dai (an honorific used to show respect) is one of the most well-respected mountain guides in the world. On Everest alone, Lakpa has 17 summits and led 36 expeditions, guiding a record 254+ climbers to the summit. 

For almost four decades, Lakpa Dai has served as a full-time mountain guide worldwide, leading expeditions in Asia, Alaska, Antarctica, and South America. His village, Thame, was destroyed in the summer of 2024, and it was home to many other legendary Sherpas, such as Tenzing Norgay, Apa Sherpa, and Kami Rita Sherpa.

See Lakpa’s full bio here.

Wasfia Nazreen

Lead Guide

National Geographic Adventurer, Explorer & Expeditions Expert, Bangladesh's only 7 Summits + K2 summiteer, Wasfia made Khumbu her home over two decades ago and has over 74+ treks of EBC alone. These days, Wasfia only guides bespoke treks, and it's a rare opportunity to explore the region with Wasfia's understanding of the deep Spirituality of the region.

For a more detailed background, please check out wasfianazreen.com.

In addition to Lakpa and Wasfia’s guiding, we have a 2:1 ratio, which means that on the trail, there shall always be one Sherpa for two clients at any given time.

Inner Mountains

Chisti Kersten Dryden, MSW, is a health educator, social worker, and integrative wellness guide whose work bridges clinical mental health practice with holistic healing, integrating humanistic and trauma-informed approaches with art, nature, sound, and narrative across the life span. Chisti is a Certified Health Coach, Life Coach, and End-of-Life Doula, and has extensive experience in health education, psychiatric crisis response, behavior change counseling, and recovery-oriented services. Additionally, she has led individual and group therapy, facilitated wellness retreats, managed an East-West health spa for Tibet House US, and served on the Board of Trustees at an alternative private school.

With over 20 years of experience in meditation, creative expression, and integrative healing, Chisti designs and facilitates programs that weave mindfulness, yoga nidra, nutritional counseling, and nature-based experiences together for a multifaceted approach to healing, recovery, and empowerment. Her practice is grounded in relational and positive psychology frameworks while embracing somatic and mindfulness-based modalities. She brings a unique perspective to her work with diverse populations, helping them cultivate resilience, connection, and purpose. In all her endeavors, Chisti is committed to creating compassionate spaces for people to heal, transform, and live more authentically.

Chisti will be leading the wellness curriculum during this expedition and she can be found here.

Chisti Kersten Dryden

Wellness Guide

Please read before signing up:

This fundraiser trek differs significantly from your average commercial trek to Everest base camp. It is a curated expedition to experience the spirituality & culture of the Sherpa and Nepali people, where Wasfia and Lakpa have carefully planned and prepared every detail.

This retreat allows you to absorb, learn, and honor indigenous values, knowledge, and wisdom and practice our ways within that pure space.

According to many traditions, Khumbu (Everest region) is considered a sacred zone and a “beyul” in Tibetan Buddhism. Beyul means a hidden valley or a holy place for sanctuary. Many great teachings over the centuries have been revealed there.

Respecting local traditions is a must on this retreat. Please know we don’t have space for racists, sexists, homophobes, or xenophobes, and our Guides have the right to make the final decision.

Wasfia will interview every applicant, brief you on the journey, review the itinerary, and determine if you can maintain harmony within the group dynamics.

Steps to Register:

Serious inquiries only.

  • Fill out the intake form at the end of this page.

  • Following this, you will receive a detailed itinerary pdf and a link to schedule a call with Wasfia.

  • Relevant infographics, customized gear lists, and other details will be shared during the call.

  • Once you’ve been approved for the trip and made your deposit (full payment schedule below) Wasfia will custom-guide you on your preparations and physical and mental training for the months ahead. Your customized training and prepping will start after the first deposit.

What’s

Included?

Cost: 9999 USD

You’re welcome to pay in full or follow the following payment schedule:

Due at the time of registration: 3k

By Nov 15th: 3k

By Dec 15th: 3999k

  • Unlimited access over WhatsApp with Wasfia, who will guide and coach you on training, nutrition, mindset, and preparing in the upcoming months for optimum experience and performance in the region.

    — Text/voice note support via WhatsApp is provided Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pacific Time. Feel free to ask questions outside these hours; they will be responded to during the next available support hours, i.e., not on weekends but the next business day

  • In addition, each client will get up to three (3) 45-minute private Zoom calls, if needed

  • Airport pick up and drop off during arrival and departure

  • Five nights 5-star hotel in Kathmandu 

  • Two dinners at Kathmandu (welcome dinner and farewell dinner)

  • Five breakfast buffets while at Hyatt and one lunch (on day 3)

  • Chartered flight to Lukla from Kathmandu and return to/from the city on a chartered flight, maximizing our time of entry/exit from the region

  • 2: 1 - Sherpa: Client ratio. In addition to Wasfia and Lakpa guiding, there will be one sherpa guide dedicated to two clients at all times

  • Fully supported climb of Kala Patthar, for those interested

  • All group supplies and weight carry on the trail

  • All meals during the trek (except alcohol)

  • All lodging during the trek

  • All trekking & climbing permits and park entrance fees

  • All insurance, fees, and permits for porters and guides

  • All monastery visits and other scheduled trip costs

  • All yoga, meditation, and mindfulness activities throughout the trip

Intake Form

Namaste, please fill out the initial intake form below!

  • "These days, you can learn almost everything online. But what you can't learn online is experience. I was fortunate enough to trek to Everest basecamp with Wasfia in November 2017. As a long time yogi, I am very much in touch with my body, but as a first time trekker, there were moments I was unable to listen to my body and understand what was happening; altitude is no joke! Not only was Wasfia able to pace me, but she carefully observed how I was reacting and knew when to say, "Janine drink some water." or "Janine, take a bite of this." "Group, lets stop and everyone take a breather." At one point, I lost my trekking poles, and Wasfia just pulled one out of her backpack like magic! =) For many of us, this is a once in a lifetime experience. If you are going to do it, my advice is to do it right. Go with an experienced climber, go with Wasfia. Plus - she knows EVERYONE along the trail! Everywhere you go, the amazing people of Nepal want to help because you are a friend of Wasfia."

    ~Janine Baltar, Yoga Teacher, San Francisco.

  • "You can go on a trip, or you can go on an experience of a lifetime. With Wasfia you choose the second; her knowledge of the mountains and Nepali culture will take you places that wouldn’t be discovered otherwise. Her care and humor will make sure you are comfortable and enjoying the adventure at all times."

    ~ Michele B., Italy.

  • "My wife and I have known Wasfia for almost a decade because of her praiseworthy work with Tibet and the Tibetan people. We had always been fond of her courage and spirit, however, our respect and admiration skyrocketed for her and all she does when we joined her for a private trip to Everest basecamp from the Nepal side. We are retired and not your average paced trekkers but going to see the top of the world was a lifelong dream for us. If it wasn't for her diligent efforts, we would not get there because most of the regular trekking companies don't have so much mercy for clients like us. Wasfia showed the ultimate face of patience and kindness while dealing with both our slow minds and bodies. Throughout it all, she kept us engaged and alive with so much humor, that till today, so many years later, I only remember that trip in the most positive light despite the physical and mental struggles we both went through. Wasfia is a beacon of light for all of humanity and your life will start getting very different perspectives the more time you spend with her. Her trips help the communities she is involved in: she hires everything locally and donates profits for education, empowerment or building infrastructures and you are karmically better off going that way than making the already rich western operators richer than they really need to be."

    ~Patrick & Mary Croucher, U.K.