EVEREST BASE CAMP TREK – 16 NIGHTS /17 DAYS

Day 01: Kathmandu

Upon arrival at Tribhuwan International Airport, Kathmandu, meet and assist our representative and transfer to the hotel.

The rest of the day at leisure.

(Please keep 2 copies of Passport size photos and Passport copies to make handy with you as this is required to obtain the trekking permit.)

  Overnight at the hotel in Kathmandu

Day 02: Kathmandu

- Breakfast at hotel

Morning you will be taken for a guided tour of Kathmandu city and Swayambhunath.

Kathmandu City: Kathmandu, the capital city of Nepal, is one of the world’s oldest cities. It is also known as Kantipur. Here one can find distinctive pagoda-roofed temples, stone sculptures, and old monasteries and historical monuments. Here you will visit the temple of the Living Goddess, who acknowledges the greetings of devotees from the balcony of her temple residence Kasthamandap – the source of the name Kathmandu and supposed to be made from the timber of a single tree and Durbar Square are with its array of temples overlooked by the Hanuman Dhoka Palace, the ancient place of the former Nepalese Royalty.

Swayambhunath: Located approximately 4 km, the Buddhist stupa is said to be more than 2000 years old, making it one of the world’s oldest and most glorious Buddhist chaityas. The Chaitya (stupa) which forms the main structure is composed of a solid hemisphere of brick and earth supporting a lofty conical spire capped by a pinnacle of gilt copper. Painted on the four-sided base of the spire are the all-seeing eyes of Lord Buddha. It stands on a hill which is a mosaic of small chaityas and pagoda temples.

Later in the afternoon meet with your trekking guide and prepare for trekking equipment’s briefing in the evening.

Day 03: Kathmandu – Manthali

- Breakfast at hotel

After breakfast, drive to Manthali, the district headquarters of Ramechhap. It is a 4 hour’s drive from Kathmandu.

Upon arrival at Manthali, transfer to the hotel and be at leisure rest of the day.

Day 04: Manthali - Lukla (2840M)- (Flight) and Trekking to Phakding (2656M) - 3 hours

- Breakfast at hotel

After breakfast, transfer to Manthali airport for a flight to Lukla

The flight from Manthali to Lukla takes 25 minutes. A hair-raising landing on a steep mountain runway brings us to the village of Lukla (2900m). After meeting the crew, we start your trek. You head up the Dudh Koshi Valley on a well-marked trail.

Day 05: Trek to Namche (3450 M) / 5-6 hours

- Breakfast at lodge

We cross and re-cross the rivers on high-suspension bridges from Namche. Beyond Monjo is the entrance to the Sagarmatha National Park. The park was set up to conserve this fragile mountain environment. We then ascend steeply to Namche and along the way, if the weather permits, catch the first glimpse of Mt Everest. Namche is the main trading village in Khumbu and has a busy Saturday market- a meeting place for the Hindu traders from the lowlands and the Tibetan yak caravans that have crossed the glaciated Nangpa La. You then reach the Namche bazaar.

Day 06: Namche

- Breakfast at lodge

Namche is tucked away between two ridges amidst the giant peaks of the Khumbu and has an abundance of lodges, tea shops and souvenir shops. It is an ideal place to spend a day, acclimatizing to the new altitude before heading off towards Tengboche. To acclimatize, you visit Khunde Hospital set up by Sir Edmund Hillary, or take a one-hour walk up to the Everest View Hotel above Namche for the sunset view of Ama Dablam, Nuptse, Lhotse and Everest. There are also good views from the National Park Centre and Museum just above the town.

Day 07: Trek to Thyanboche (3864M)/ 5-6 hours

- Breakfast at lodge

From Namche the trail contours onto the side of the valley, high above the Dudh Kosi from Namche. We get our first really good views of the great peaks of the Khumbu including Mt Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse and Ama Dablam. Passing by several villages and numerous tea shops, we descend steeply to bridge over the river at Phunki Tenga. The village is an ideal stopover for lunch. Here we can rest before making the steep climb to Tengboche. Although the hike up the Zigzag path is tiring, it presents us with `many beautiful sights of rhododendron bushes with beautiful birds and superb mountain scenery. Tengboche is famous for its legendary monastery, the rhododendron bushes with beautiful birds and superb mountain scenery. Tenboche is famous for its legendary monastery, the largest in the Khumbu. A spectacular panorama of Everest, Lhotse and Ama Dablam rising in the horizon can be seen from the campsite.

Day 08: Trek to Pheriche (4252M) /4-5 hours

- Breakfast in lodge

Today we descend downhill through a forest, cross the Imja Khola and climb steadily to the village of Pangboche. The village is directly opposite Ama Dablam (6856m), and has exceptional views of the mountain, with the gompa, Mani walls and scattered pine trees in the foreground. A further two hours walk us to Pheriche.

Day 09: Trek to Lobuche (4930M)/ 4-5 hours

- Breakfast at lodge

Continue up the wide valley beneath the impressive peaks of Cholatse and Tawache on the left. We then right and take a steep climb towards the foot of the Khumbu Glacier. The tea house at Duglha is a good spot to have lunch. The trail zigzags up through the boulders of the glacier’s terminal moraine. At the top of this, there are many stone cairns, built as memorials to the many Sherpas who have died while climbing Mt. Everest. The path then climbs gently along the glacier, to eventually reach the cluster of houses at Lobuche.

Day 10: Trek to Gorak Shep (5184M)/ 3-4 hours

- Breakfast at lodge

To reach our next stop Kala Pattar we follow the Khumbu Glacier. The trail offers superb views of the surrounding mountains, especially where the path is forced to rise to cross a tributary glacier. Stop for lunch at our camping place: Gorak Shep. Later in the afternoon, we make our way to the top of one of the finest viewpoints in the Everest region, Kala Pattar (5554m). As the light begins to fade, we stroll back to our camp at Gorak Shep and have an early night in preparation for our trek to Everest Base Camp the following and have an early night in preparation for our trek to Everest Base Camp the following day.

Day 11: Trek to Everest Base Camp (5357M)/ 6 hours

- Breakfast at lodge

Early breakfast and start trek to reach the Everest Base Camp. It takes several hours as the trail weaves it’s through ice pinnacles and past the crevasses of the Khumbu Glacier. On the return leg, we can take a higher route to get a spectacular view of the Khumbu icefall and the route to the South Col. We return to either Gorak Shep or Lobuche.

Day 12: Trek to Pangboche (3985) /5-6 hours

- Breakfast at lodge

Today’s trek is mostly Downhill. As we retrace our steps to Duglha and descend to Pheriche, we arrive at The Himalayan Rescue Association, a trekker’s aid post worth a visit. After lunch, we cross the Khumbu Khola on a wooden suspension bridge and follow the Imja Khola to the village of Pangboche.

Day 13: Trek to Namche (3450M)/ 6-7 hours

- Breakfast at lodge

From Namche, we continue to follow the river and, after crossing it, climb back up through birch and rhododendron forest to Tengboche. Kwangde, Tawache, Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse, Ama Dablam, Kantega and Thamserku are just a few of the Himalayan giants to be seen. We descend to the bridge over the Dudh Kosi from Tengboche. At Phunki Tenga, we get to see the water driven prayer wheels, before making our way back to Namche.

Day 14: Trek to Lukla (2900M) 7-8 hours

- Breakfast at lodge

Our final day’s trekking follows the Dudh Koshi bacbk down to Lukla. This last evening in the mountains presents an ideal opportunity for a farewell party with the Sherpa guides and porters. We get to sample chang (rice beer), try Sherpa dance steps and end the trek on a merry note.

Day 15: Lukla – Kathmandu - Flight

After breakfast, head towards the airstrip for your return journey to Kathmandu.

Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred to the hotel.

Day 16: Kathmandu

- Breakfast at hotel

Day free to relax

Day 17: Kathmandu – Fly back

Departure transfer to the airport to board the flight for onward journey.

This itinerary and its package inclusions might be changed later in time, subject to availability.