KATHMANDU: A long-distance expedition tracing the journey of water from the summit of Mount Everest to the Bay of Bengal is set to draw attention to the interconnection between Himalayan glaciers, South Asia’s river systems and downstream communities.

The Everest to Bay of Bengal Expedition, launched under the Summit to Sea initiative by Nepal-based outdoor education organisation Initiative Outdoor, will cover a continuous 1,830-mile route starting with a clean ascent of Mount Everest (8,848 metres) and concluding with a kayak journey through major river systems into the Bay of Bengal.

According to the organisers, the expedition seeks to highlight the role of the Himalayas as “natural water towers”, where glaciers and snowfields feed rivers that support nearly two billion people across South Asia. The journey links high-altitude mountain ecosystems with freshwater systems downstream, underlining the impacts of climate change, pollution and unsustainable tourism.

Climate risks and freshwater pressure

The initiative comes at a time when the Himalayan region is warming at nearly twice the global average, resulting in glacier retreat, rising snowlines, and increased risks of avalanches and glacial lake outburst floods. These changes threaten both mountaineering safety and water security across the region.

South Asia, home to almost a quarter of the world’s population, has access to only about four percent of global renewable freshwater. Pollution from untreated sewage, plastics, industrial waste and black carbon emissions has further accelerated glacier melt and river degradation, the organisers said.

Everest waste and downstream impact

The project also draws attention to growing concerns over waste accumulation on Mount Everest. Increasing climber numbers and poor waste management have led to garbage and human waste contaminating snowfields, which eventually flow into rivers used by local communities for drinking water. Health risks such as waterborne diseases have become a growing concern in downstream settlements.

The expedition will follow Leave No Trace® principles throughout, with organisers stressing that cleaning mountains alone is insufficient without behavioural and ethical change among climbers and visitors.

Leadership and local engagement

The expedition will be jointly led by Chandra B Ale, Founder and Director of Initiative Outdoor, and Nishan Adhikari, an outdoor educator and adventure photographer. The river and mountain journey will integrate sustainability workshops, safety training and environmental education with local communities.

Ale, who has worked in Nepal’s mountains and rivers since the late 1980s, said the initiative builds on decades of experience in trekking, river guiding and outdoor education. He founded Initiative Outdoor in 2003 to provide international-standard outdoor leadership and safety training in Nepal.

According to the organisers, the project also involves noted mountaineer and guide Ang Tshering Lama, Founder of Ang’s Himalayas Adventure, who has summited Everest five times and led one of the highest-altitude rescues ever recorded at 8,600 metres in 2017. Lama has also worked in post-earthquake rescue and school rebuilding efforts in remote areas.

Community, education and tourism impact

Beyond the expedition itself, Summit to Sea aims to generate long-term benefits through job creation for Sherpas, training Nepali guides in rescue skills and eco-tourism practices, and supporting local schools and river-based businesses.

Planned outcomes include real-time storytelling, a documentary film, photo exhibitions, youth ambassador programmes and community-based Leave No Trace education along mountain and river corridors.

The total project budget has been set at USD 100,000, covering expedition logistics, mountain and river safety programmes, media documentation, and community engagement initiatives. Organisers said the model prioritises fair wages, safety standards and local economic benefits.

By linking Nepal’s highest peak with its river systems and the sea beyond, the initiative seeks to position mountains and rivers not only as adventure destinations, but as vital ecosystems central to tourism, livelihoods and climate resilience.