It's not like you can simply pull up to the parking lot at the world's tallest mountain. For the privilege of laying eyes on it, you have to pay your dues and thread through the valleys and peaks that protect it. Depending on the fitness level of the group, you might even push through to the legendary Everest Base Camp, where climbing expeditions such as Sir Edmund Hillary's collect their fortitude before clawing up the face of the beast. The two remaining departures for 2001, both of which are 20 days long, are in the fall. The first departs on October 5 and runs until the 25th, and the second goes from November 10 to 30, so you'll spend your Thanksgiving in the clouds.
Accommodation is in tents, which are portered by a crew, except in Kathmandu.
For information on a rival company's version, click here . Even though those prices are still greatly lower than most others, believe it or not, the cheapest way to see Everest is to roll into Kathmandu on your own, grab your trekking permit and a hiking partner, and go on your own. And your muscles won't have the advantage of porters and cooks.