Everest Skydive: Captive Adventure launches the ultimate skydiving experience

Jul 16, 2010 – In the past decade, the rise of adventure sports and adrenaline fueled activities has forever changed the travel and tourism industry.

Once fringe activities are now part of mainstream culture. Snowboarding, climbing and mountain biking are now as likely a hobby as football or cricket. Everyday people are taking on bigger personal challenges, and even Cheryl Cole has found herself summiting Mount Kilimanjaro.

As boundaries are continually pushed in this field, a new company is striving to bring the most ambitious adventure experiences to ordinary people with a taste for the extraordinary. ‘Captive Adventure’ aims to team up with leading adventurers to create once-in-a-lifetime adventures for the adventurous spirited.

Captive Adventure has been launched with the first of what will be a series of adventure experiences:

Everest Skydive.

Teaming up with World Record breaking adventurer Nigel Gifford, Captive Adventure will provide the ultimate skydiving experience as expedition members jump out over the Himalayas. Mount Everest herself will be in full view as these thrill-seekers enjoy a 60 second free-fall in the midst of some of the highest mountains on the planet.

Once the parachute is open, a four minute canopy ride will provide unique views of Mt Everest, as well as many other famous Himalayan Peaks, with views across the Himalayas and Nepal and into Tibet and India.

This is a truly special skydiving experience, and is not just for skydiving experts. Absolute beginners are welcome and will skydive in tandem with one of the worlds leading skydivers from the Swiss Boogie Skydiving Team.

The expedition departs on 30th September 2010 and returns on 12th October. Places are available now. No climbing or skydiving experience is required.

Nigel Gifford OBE created the world’s first Everest Skydive in 2008 and has been engaged to lead Everest Skydive by ‘Captive Adventure’, the adventure events arm of the Captive Minds Communications Group.

“I’m pleased to say that I’m coming back to Nepal to run the Everest Skydive operation on behalf of Captive Minds. The Captive Adventure operation sets out to run a professional skydiving experience that meets the highest possible safety standards.”

Captive Minds has been at the forefront of adventure since 2003 when the company's office in London was the expedition HQ for Bear Grylls' 'Facing The Frozen Ocean' crossing of the North Atlantic. Captive Minds has gone on to provide expedition support in logistics, communications and brand management for many other expeditions. It has worked on adventure-related projects with brands as diverse as Toshiba, Champagne Mumm, CMC Markets and The Duke of Edinburgh's Award. Captive Minds has worked extensively with the explorer David Hempleman-Adams, and has recently been engaged to provide support to the Walking With The Wounded expedition with HRH Prince Harry. The company is delighted to be working on this and other projects with Nigel for 2010 and 2011.

Captive Adventure was set-up after the phenomenal success of 'The Nokia Maps Everest Test' in 2009 - the world's highest game of cricket. The Everest Test demonstrated the capability of people to ‘do the extraordinary’ when given the opportunity.

Captive Adventure will provide members of the public with unique adventure experiences led and managed by the world’s leading experts. The Everest Test expedition leader, Richard Kirtley, heads operations at Captive Adventure.

Nigel Gifford OBE and the Captive Adventure Everest Skydive team are proud to be working with Himalaya Expeditions, managed by Bikrum Pandey. Bikrum comments:

“Himalaya Expeditions are pleased to be assisting Captive Adventure and Nigel Gifford OBE with their requirements in Nepal. I’m certain that, with our combined credentials in adventure, Everest Skydive will be a resounding success.”

Captive Adventure has a policy of sustainable, responsible tourism. The company will work to provide new economic opportunities in the local Nepali communities it works with and will donate a percentage of its Everest Skydive revenue to local charities. See http://www.skydive-everest.com for further info.

The Ultimate Skydiving Experience at the World's Highest Dropzone

The Ultimate Skydiving Experience at the World's Highest Dropzone

The summit of Mount Everest. A place of fame and legend and for many, the ultimate test of human endurance and endeavour. The lucky few that make it stand effectively on top of the world. A magical moment that stays with them forever.

Everest Skydive was created to give non-mountaineers the opportunity to experience a similar moment. Jumping out of a plane at 29,500ft above the majestic peaks of the Himalayas will be, without a doubt, one of the most incredible experiences of your life.

The Adventure

The Himalayas, and Mount Everest in particular, have played host to a thousand great adventures. The sheer scale of the mountains provokes the most ambitious human resolve, driving people to achieve amazing things.

Skydive Everest is no different. A challenge on a multitude of levels, this is a cutting edge adventure like no other.

You will be met at Kathmandu Airport where a member of the team twill greet you and transfer you to the Yak & Yeti, a hotel set in the grounds of a 100 year old Nepalese palace.

You will meet the rest of the expedition team and after some rest and relaxation, your adventure will begin.

Flight Into The Mountains & A Trek To Everest Skydive

mountain town at an altitude of 2860 metres. From here, a 5 day trek up into the Khumbu Valley must be completed. All the time, you will be gaining height and slowly acclimitising.

Walking along the steep, winding trail, you will encounter mountain porters and yak herders, peaceful villages and friendly locals. Local culture will sink in as you pass by mountain shrines and stay overnight in our selected local teahouses.

The scenery is truly stunning as you climb higher towards Everest.

Evenings are usually spent together as an expedition team. Dinner is taken in the teahouse, but where possible, there will be the chance to explore the local sites, stores and amenities. As the night draws in, your hosts will share stories from Sherpa folklore.

Over the course of your trek, the Captive Adventure team will monitor your rate of ascent to ensure you acclimatise safely.

The path is carefully planned and an experienced mountain doctor will be permanently on-hand to deal with any signs of altitude sickness.

On day 5 we will reach Syangboche, the base of all operations for Everest Skydive. Once at the drop zone, our hand-picked team of experts will help you make final preparations.

The Ultimate Skydive At The World’s Highest Dropzone

On the runway of the Syangboche aerodrome, our speciallly prepared Pilatus Porter P6 Turbine aircraft will be fuelled and ready for action. This aircraft simply didn't exist in Nepal before Nigel Gifford's historic first skydive expedition in 2008.

Piloting the aircraft will be a member of the Swiss Boogie team - the world's leading authority on mountain-based skydiving. Once you have suited up in your custom rig, designed by the world's leading adventure engineer, Andy Elson, you will take your place in the aircraft for take-off.

After 50 minutes, you will be soaring at an altitude of 29,000ft. The words ‘Standby’ follwed by ‘Exit’ mark the start of the adrenalin rush and the sensory overload of a lifetime.

From the same height as the very top of Mount Everest and from just a few miles away, you will have a view of this majestic peak that very few have ever been privileged to see. This is a 30 second free-fall with nothing but air between you and Everest.

Every moment of your Everest Skydive will be captured on camera - an incredible piece of film that will keep the memories alive forever.

As your canopy opens, the true euphoria of the jump will hit you. This is when you will be able to fully soak-up the vista in front of you: 100 panoramic miles of the most awe-inspiring mountains on the planet... looking out over Nepal, India and Tibet... at 140 miles per hour...

Congratulations, you just skydived Everest!

Base Camp & Return to Kathmandu

Having achieved the ultimate view of Everest from above, you can choose (as an additional option) to go up to Gorak Shep and Everest Base Camp to view the majesty of the peak from below.

Base Camp brings people face-to-face with a challenge that has life and death consequences. As such it has a special atmosphere and culture all of it's own. Climbers take an average of 2-3 months to prepare for a final push to the summit.

Having just completed Everest Skydive, you will have an understanding what Everest climbers must experience. The fear, the challenge and ultimately, the sense of incredible achievement.

After an afternoon at Base Camp, the trek back to Lukla will begin. Now fully acclimatised and going downhill, you will find the walk back much easier. There will definitely be some time for a few celebratory beers on route!

We fly out of Lukla and back to Kathmandu where the adventure will finish with a final team meal at Chez Caroline - the best restaurant in town!

Skydive Mt Everest - Nepal

Quintessentially Escape is proud to offer those seeking ultimate adventure with the unique opportunity to skydive Mt Everest. This awe inspiring thrilling experience is a new and carefully crafted adventure of the highest calibre and provides you with without doubt the most extraordinary introduction to this fabulous mountain range. The Himalayas and Mount Everest in particular, have played host to a thousand great adventures. The sheer scale of the mountains provokes the most ambitious human resolve, driving people to achieve amazing things, Skydive Everest is no different. A challenge on a multitude of levels, this is a cutting edge adventure like no other. You will be met at Kathmandu Airport where you will be greeted by a Quintessentially Escape representative and transferred to the Yak & Yeti, a hotel set in the grounds of a 100 year old Nepalese palace. You will meet the rest of the expedition team and after some rest and relaxation, your adventure will begin.

Flight Into The Mountains & A Trek To Everest Skydive

From Kathmandu, you will take a short internal flight to Lukla, a small mountain town at an altitude of 2860 metres. From here, a 5 day trek up into the Khumbu Valley must be completed. All the time, you will be gaining height and slowly acclimatising. Walking along the steep, winding trail, you will encounter mountain porters and yak herders, peaceful villages and friendly locals. Local culture will sink in as you pass by mountain shrines and stay overnight in our selected local teahouses. The scenery is truly stunning as you climb higher towards Everest. Evenings are usually spent together as an expedition team. Dinner is taken in the teahouse, but where possible, there will be the chance to explore the local sites, stores and amenities. As the night draws in, your hosts will share stories from Sherpa folklore. Over the course of your trek, the Captive Adventure team will monitor your rate of ascent to ensure you acclimatise safely. The path is carefully planned and an experienced mountain doctor will be permanently on-hand to deal with any signs of altitude sickness. On day 5 we will reach Syangboche, the base of all operations for Everest Skydive. Once at the drop zone, our hand-picked team of experts will help you make final preparations.

The Ultimate Skydive At The Worlds Highest Drop zone

On the runway of the Syangboche aerodrome, our specially prepared Pilatus Porter P6 Turbine aircraft will be fuelled and ready for action. This aircraft simply didn't exist in Nepal before Nigel Gifford's historic first skydive expedition in 2008. Piloting the aircraft will be a member of the Swiss Boogie team - the world's leading authority on mountain-based skydiving. Once you have suited up in your custom rig, designed by the world's leading adventure engineer, Andy Elson, you will take your place in the aircraft for take-off. After 50 minutes, you will be soaring at an altitude of 29,000ft. The words ‘Standby’ followed by ‘Exit’ mark the start of the adrenalin rush and the sensory overload of a lifetime. From the same height as the very top of Mount Everest and from just a few miles away, you will have a view of this majestic peak that very few have ever been privileged to see. This is a 30 second free-fall with nothing but air between you and Everest. Every moment of your Everest Skydive will be captured on camera - an incredible piece of film that will keep the memories alive forever. As your canopy opens, the true euphoria of the jump will hit you. This is when you will be able to fully soak-up the vista in front of you: 100 panoramic miles of the most awe-inspiring mountains on the planet... looking out over Nepal, India and Tibet... at 140 miles per hour...
Congratulations, you just skydived Everest!

Gifford returns to Nepal

KATHMANDU, JUL 05 - The founder of Everest Skydive, Nigel Gifford OBE, is returning to Nepal with a view to launching a new skydive operation.

OBE and the Captive Adventure Everest Skydive team have signed an understanding with Himalaya Expeditions here to work together.

“I’m coming back to Nepal to run the Everest Skydive operation on behalf of Captive Minds. The Captive Adventure operation sets out to run a professional skydiving experience that meets the highest possible safety standards,” OBE said.

“Himalaya Expeditions are pleased to be assisting Captive Adventure and Nigel Gifford OBE with their Skydive ground requirements in Nepal.

I’m certain that, with our combined credentials in adventure, Everest Skydive will be a resounding success,” said Bikrum Pandey president of Himalaya Expeditions.

I reached the South Col (26,200ft) myself in 1976, carrying oxygen and equipment for successful summiteers,” said OBE, the first person to be granted the license for the Everest Skydive.

Captive Minds has been at the forefront of adventure since 2003 when the company’s office in London was the expedition HQ for Bear Grylls’ ‘Facing The Frozen Ocean’ crossing of the North Atlantic.

It has worked on adventure-related projects with brands as diverse as Toshiba, Champagne Mumm, CMC Markets and The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award.

Captive Minds has worked extensively with explorer David Hempleman-Adams, and has recently been engaged in providing support to the Walking With The Wounded expedition with Prince Harry.

Captive Adventure was set up after the phenomenal success of ‘The Nokia Maps Everest Test’ in 2009--the world’s highest game of cricket.

The Everest Test demonstrated the capability of people to ‘do the extraordinary’ when given the opportunity.

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