The Khumbu region of Nepal site of Mt. Everest, and home to the famous Sherpas is one of the finest areas for trekking in the Himalayas. Villages nestle beneath towering peaks, stonewalls ramble across tiny fields and intricate networks of terracing turn the challenges of nature into arable land. And the people of the Khumbu strong, witty and capable natives of a land so high that many of us can never breathe deep enough to get the air we need consistently extend their friendship and courtesy to trekkers. Leaving the precarious airstrip at Lukla you climb to Namche (largest Kumbu village), past huge boulders carved with Buddhist prayers. Cliff clinging monasteries wave their prayer flags as you make your way up to the sacred grounds of the Tengboche Monastery. This was the first Base Camp for the first successful Everest Expedition. Everest looks quite a way as you descend to the Imjatse River and then up the valley to Dingboche. A day of acclimatization at the Chukung Valley and then are back on the main trail again. The stunning views of Everest from Kalapathar and the hike to the Base Camp will make you forget the trouble you have taken so far. Descending will be quick and leaving behind this wonderful place will not be easy. In more detail... Day 1 ~ Kathmandu Upon arrival into Kathmandu you are personally met and transferred to your hotel. There is a briefing. Overnight Dwarika s Hotel (B&B) **other options available** Day 2 ~ Kathmandu Full day guided tour of the biggest stupa in Nepal, Baudhanath. Then continue tour of the ancient palace squares of Patan. Overnight Dwarika s Hotel (B) Day 3 ~ Lukla To avoid the afternoon clouds we depart early from Kathmandu by a Twin Otter aircraft due east to Lukla 9300ft. Those seated on the left side of the plane will get to enjoy the majestic view of the Himalayas all the way until you finally land 45 minutes later at this very interesting airstrip on the side of a hill. You will find Lukla humming with local life as you are introduced to your trek crew and dzopkyos (a pack animal that is a cross between a yak and a highland cattle). Here before you start your trek, you hand over your kit for carrying and in a short while head up the Dudh Kosi valley. Right from Lukla on a clear day, the mountains of Kwangde, Kusum Kangaru and Khumbila greet the new visitor. It is about 2 hours to lunch at Thado Kosi beside a side stream. Camp is at Phadking 8661ft on the other side of the Dudh Kosi river, about an hour away. Overnight Camp (B,L,D)
Day 4 ~ Namche Wake up around 6 am. Warm water for washing, cooked breakfast. Today, the trail wanders past farmhouses and through rolling terrain that slowly ascends to reach the entrance to Sagarmatha National Park. An early lunch provides fuel for the 1,800-foot steep hike to the village of Namche Bazaar (11,300ft). Namche is the largest Sherpa village. Beyond Phakding, we pass several interesting villages nestled beside the river, cross the raging Dudh Kosi several times on the smart and the newly built suspension bridges, entering the Sagarmatha National Park at Jorsale. After lunch near the river under the pine trees, we leave the Dudh Kosi and climb the steps up to the Sherpa capital and administrative center of Khumbu, Namche 11,300ft. At Namche, we will be staying at the Zamling guest house run by a charming Sherpa family. Overnight Zamling Guesthouse (B,L,D) Day 5 ~ Namche Day for acclimatization (sleep at the same altitude). Temple horns and yak bells may awaken us. Views include Kwangde (20,930ft), Thamserku (21,679ft), and Kangtega (22,240ft). A slow-ascent day hike to the Everest View Hotel (12,400') not only helps us with acclimatization, but can provide breath-taking views of Nuptse, Lhotse, Ama Dablam (22,943ft) and Mount Everest (29,028ft). We will visit the museum, the local town and the monastery. Trek 5 hours. This is a day for acclimatization and here on Saturdays, they have a Bazaar - a market, which runs from 7 am till 9. An activity that has been taking place for so many years that this place has adopted the name "Bazaar" permanently. After this, we visit the park museum perched on the hill east of the town. A vantage point from where we can see the peaks of Kwangde 20,293ft, Thamserku 21,674ft, Khangtega 22,235ft, Lhotse 27,883ft and also Mt Everest 29,028ft. The museum has an excellent display of photographs on the mountaineering history of this region, the people, the culture and the flora and fauna of the area. Later in the day you can also visit the local town with its bakeries or send a postcard from the local post office. Overnight Zamling Guesthouse (B,L,D) Day 6 ~ Tengboche Leaving Namche Bazaar, the trek will continue on the standard Base Camp trail and run into traffic of other trekkers and actual Everest climbers. The setting is absolutely spectacular. The trail heads east high above the Imja Khola where along the slopes, above and below the trail herds of majestic Himalayan Thar, are seen grazing undisturbed by anyone passing by. Musk deer can be seen in the thicket of Rhododendron bushes and Impheyan Pheasants in the potato fields. In the south Thamserku and Khangtaiga dominate the horizon. Pass the Tashinga Reforestration Center on the right as you descend to Pungi Tenga with its hydro powered prayer wheels and then ascend through a magnificent rhododendron forest, which will be in full bloom in April to the idyllic monastery complex of Tengboche 12,683ft. From Tengboche, Mount Ama Dabalam 22487ft looks the grandest of all. The sun set on Everest is also an unforgettable scene. Overnight Camp (B,L,D)
Day 7 ~ Dingboche Today, though we will only ascend a net gain of 1,900ft, there will be, again, lots of ups and downs, resulting in an early camp at Dingboche (14,271ft). We will have crossed, and will cross more, suspension bridges over roaring rivers fed by glaciers. We will pass the Dingboche monastery (13,030ft), the oldest monastery in the Everest region. The trail first descends into the deep and shaded forests of Devoche where Musk deer graze quietly on the forest floor or sometimes right on the trail. Then you cross the raging Imja river from where you can look up into this wonderful gorge and you will see Ama Dabalam peeking from the top. We pass the Pangboche village with its oldest monastery in the region and ascend gradually to Dingboche 14,271ft. We camp in a quiet village off the main Base Camp trail. Overnight Camp (B,L,D) Day 8 ~ Dingboche This is the 2nd day of acclimatization at the same altitude. There will be many yaks and trekkers coming by here. From this altitude onwards, we will be above the treeline, and the sharp edges of Ama Dablam's can be clearly seen here. We day hike to Chukung (15,1584ft) to get the body exercised at the higher altitudes but still sleep at the same height, and for the views. Trek 5 to 6 hours. A day hike to Chukung 15,548ft that lies nestled under the terminal moraine of the Lhotse Glacier offers a spectacular walk and the opportunity to acclimatize properly. In this valley, you will find yourself surrounded by Tawoche and Cholatse in the north, Ama Dabalam to the south and down valley by the peaks of Numbur, Khatang and Karyolung. We spend the day ascending steadily to Chukung to explore the valley system, ascend a hill, have a hot lunch and then doddle back to Dingboche. Overnight Camp (B,L,D) Day 9 ~ Lobuche By this day, we will have trekked past the highest Sherpa permanent settlements, and we will see towers of black rock and white ice. We will walk to our highest campsite - Lobuche (16,207ft). The scenery continues to become more and more stunning, with views of Tawoche (21,463ft), Cholatse (21,128ft), Ama Dablam, Nuptse, Lhotse, Lhotse Shar. This will be a great day to allow time for photography and absorbing the awesome scenery, and anticipating tomorrow. Heading towards Lobuche 16,207ft, the trail stays high above Pheriche, another Yarsa (Yak pasture) turned teahouse site, with it's Himalayan Rescue Aid Post. Snowy slopes surround us as we walk towards Dhugla and cross the Lobuche Khola. Then climbing north east to the ridge with the memorials. The path stays relatively flat to Lobuche. Haven of the Tibetan Snowcocks, choughs and Pikkas. Overnight Teahouse Lodge (B,L,D) Day 10 ~ Everest Base Camp / Gorakshep This is the much awaited day. The walk first involves crossing the terminal moraine of Khangri Glacier before descending to Gorakshep 16,962' - 'Place of the Ravens'. We stop for tea and prepare ourselves before setting out across the ice and rock of the Khumbu Glacier to Everest Base
Camp. After exploring and learning much about the 'base camp life', we return to Gorakshep and stay overnight in a local lodge. Overnight Local Lodge (B,L,D) Day 11 ~ Pheriche Today we make a morning hike to Kalapathar (Black Rock) 18,190ft, where we scramble around large boulders, and then photograph Everest clearly with ourselves in the picture. Your chance to see the best view of the highest point on earth - Mt Everest, the Khumbu glacier and the peaks that surround and complement it since we are perched 800ft above Base Camp at this point. We congratulate ourselves, and start our descent back to Lobuche 16,207ft. We continue to descend to Pheriche and find ourselves camping in the yak pastures and enjoying the view of the sun setting on the peaks of Khangtaiga. Overnight Camp (B,L,D) Day 12 ~ Deboche Descend to Deboche 12400ft gulping in richer and richer air!' Overnight Camp (B,L,D) Day 13 ~ Namche A great hike down to Khumjung (12,431ft). There are new sights and different terrain, bridges and misty mountains to look at. In the morning, we visit the monastery, the first clinic and school Sir Edmund Hillary invested in. Khumjung happens to be the highest human settlement in this area, and even has a bakery which you can taste for yourself. If time permits, you must visit the Everest view hotel - one of the highest hotel in the world. We head for Namche via the famous Khumjung School, the Yak rearing centre and the Syangboche airstrip. Overnight Zamling Guesthouse (B,L,D) Day 14 ~ Lukla We leave Namche and descend rapidly towards Lukla. Today being our last day on the trail, we enter the fertile valley of the lower Khumbu and crossing the several suspension bridges over the Dudh Koshi river. Overnight at Paradise lodge in Lukla. Overnight Paradise Lodge (B,L,D) Day 15 ~ Kathmandu We will catch the morning flight to kathmandu with the last glimpse of the mountains as we bid farewell to a great trek. Transfer to your hotel. Afternoon free to relax or explore the city. Overnight Dwarika s Hotel (B) Day 16 ~ Kathmandu We spend our last full day in Kathmandu to do some last minute shopping or sightseeing. This is also a crucial built in spare day in case of bad weather in Lukla and delayed flights. Overnight Dwarika s Hotel (B)
Day 17 ~ Depart Today you are transferred to Kathmandu airport for departures. (B) END OF SERVICES ~ This is a sample itinerary that can be adjusted to suit your needs. For more info about pricing, set departures, custom trips, etc --- Please call +1 888 664 3865 or email us info@adventure-international.com ~