Kathmandu, 29 September 2026: The Everest Lhotse Dental Expedition 2027 initiative and Seven Summit Treks Pvt. Ltd. have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to establish a humanitarian dental clinic at Everest Base Camp during the 2027 pre-monsoon (Spring) climbing season. The clinic will provide 100% free dental care to Sherpa guides, Icefall Doctors, porters and other high-altitude workers who sustain expeditions on the world’s highest mountain.
SST’s Director Chhang Dawa Sherpa with Dr. Aizhan Zhumabayeva at the MOU signing.
Led by Dr. Aizhan Zhumabayeva, a dental surgeon licensed in Turkey, Dubai and Kazakhstan, the Everest Lhotse Dental Expedition 2027 is an independent humanitarian medical initiative. Under the MOU, Seven Summit Treks will serve as its Official Expedition and Logistics Partner in Nepal, supporting the mission on the ground while the Expedition retains full professional responsibility and clinical decision-making over all dental and medical activities.
Care at the world’s highest workplace.
Those who fix ropes, maintain the route through the Khumbu Icefall and carry loads to the high camps rarely have access to specialist dental treatment at altitude. The mission aims to change that by bringing a fully equipped clinic to Base Camp for roughly six weeks.
The clinic will be set up in a dedicated heated and insulated tent with three portable dental treatment units, a sterilization system, and power and clean-water arrangements. It is designed to handle up to 1,000 dental visits over the season. The planned services include:
• simple and surgical tooth extractions;
• assessment and management of acute dental infections;
• emergency and, where clinically appropriate, root canal treatment;
• restorative care for cavities, fractures and lost fillings;
• management of dental trauma and urgent conditions;
• preventive care, including cleaning, fluoride treatment and oral-health education.
The team will include international dental professionals, dental assistants, an emergency physician and an operations director, with up to 10 to 12 people present at Base Camp at any one time. This team also includes Nepali dentists as well. The medical team plans to arrive about a week ahead of the main climbing crowds, creating an early treatment window for Sherpas, Icefall Doctors and support staff. Round-the-clock dental support is planned for the critical summit push period.
100% Free for the Mountain Workers
The organizers have made clear that no financial contribution will be expected from the Sherpa community or other high-altitude workers. Climbers and expedition members who use the clinic will also receive the care, totally free of charge. Those who wish to support the initiative may make entirely voluntary donations to the Everest Dental Expedition Foundation, which will fund future humanitarian dental missions. The next planned mission is at Manaslu Base Camp in Autumn 2027, with a longer-term aim of reaching remote Nepali villages and high-altitude monasteries with limited access to dental care.
A partnership of complementary strengths.
Chhang Dawa Sherpa, the Director of Seven Summit Treks said, they intend to provide the expedition and logistical framework in Nepal, including Base Camp infrastructure, cargo and helicopter logistics, permit and stakeholder coordination, and local operational support. The Expedition will manage the medical and humanitarian side of the project, including its clinical team, equipment, materials, and international partnerships.
The two parties also share the broader objectives of raising awareness of the contribution and needs of the Sherpa and high-altitude worker community, promoting responsible expedition practices in Nepal, and showcasing Nepal and the Everest region through the project’s humanitarian and educational work.
Record attempts
The Expedition is also pursuing recognition from Guinness World Records for its high-altitude dental work, and the partners intend to cooperate in that effort where appropriate.
Thaneswar Guragai, the highest number of record holder from Nepal, states, “This is truly one-of-a-kind initiative. I wholeheartedly acknowledge this expedition and see this as a worthy Guinness World Record contender. We are applying for the official GWR in three different titles on Dr. Zhumabayeva as well as the initiative itself.
Statemente
“The people who make expeditions to the world’s highest mountains possible deserve access to healthcare where they work. Our goal is not simply to bring dentists to Everest Base Camp, but to establish a fully operational dental clinic and provide care throughout the entire Spring 2027 climbing season, working alongside Nepalese professionals.”- Dr. Aizhan Zhumabayeva
“It is our great honor to support humanitarian aid like this. Having spent decades in mountaineering, I know that dental hygiene is one of the least prioritized things by the high-altitude workers, and this will also help so many Sherpas and mountain workers realize the value of dental hygiene. – Chhang Dawa Sherpa
