Everest Base Camp Trek

Arrive Kathmandu and transfer to the hotel. Drive approx 25 minutes depending on the traffic. After the check-in formalities at the hotel lobby, there will be a short briefing of the following day’s program by your Tour Leader. After the briefing, you have a choice to go for group dinner to a Nepalese restaurant and experience the culture through our food and dance.

We start our day early in the morning and drive towards Manthali airport Depending on the flight schedule, for morning flights we will have a morning wake up call. After reaching the Airport (approx. 4-5hrs drive) we board flight for Lukla (2850m). After arriving at Lukla we will be met by our trekking crew, the same day we set off for the village of Phakding (2656m).

We climb steadily on a winding path along the banks of the Dudh Kosi river, through villages and forests dwarfed by gigantic rock walls until a final climb that brings us to Namche Bazaar the capital of Solukhumbu region. Namche is unique for its geographical location surrounded by mountain ranges and colorful houses scattered in an amphitheater of rock.

From Namche, we make a sharp ascent past the Shyangboche airport to the Everest View Hotel, which marks our day’s peak at 12,730 feet (3,880 meters). Constructed by the Japanese, this breathtaking hotel offers amazing views of Ama Dablam and Everest, making it the perfect spot for a tea break.

You can choose to stop at the Sagarmatha Next experience center on your way to the Everest View Hotel to find out more about how you can contribute to the local organization’s efforts to combat waste pollution on mountain pathways and what it is that they are doing. We reach Khumjung after traveling through a jungle, and we eat lunch next to the Sir Edmund Hillary School there. We then visit the Edmund Hillary Hospital by walking up to Kunde. Moving ahead we follow our main trail back to Kyanjuma and stay for the night here.

Today we walk for about 4-5 hrs. First, we walk 1 hr downhill to the river Dudh Kosi at Phunki Tenga and cross the river by a suspension bridge, we then climb for about 3 hrs steeply through the rhododendron forest up to Thyangboche in time for lunch. For those interested, they attend the evening service at the monastery. If the weather is clear you get amazing sunset views over Everest.

A gradual climb leads us to the highest settlement in the area, the Sherpa village of Dingboche. A slow and steady pace as we gain altitude will reap benefits. Today we go above the tree line. Having our lunch on our way we then cross a wooden bridge and then a short climb takes us to Dingboche.

We spend an extra night here which will help with the acclimatization. There are several options at Dingboche. You can follow a gradual trail up the Imja Khola towards the village of Chukkung (4750m). Or you can attempt to climb Nangkartshang Peak (5100m) which is 3hrs steep up and 2hrs down for amazing views of several mountains including Makalu ( the 5th highest Mountain on earth ) and Ama Dablam.

We set off on a gradual climb to Dughla. From here its an hour steep climb to Chupko Lhare( 4840m) the memorial site of the Sherpa & Western climbers who perished during their climbing expeditions on Everest and other mountains of the area. From the memorial site the trail climbs gently to reach the lodges at Lobuche, alongside the Khumbu Glacier.

An early start for Gorak Shep. We follow the main trail over the moraine beside the Khumbu Glacier and arrive at the tiny settlement in 2-3 hours for a welcome hot drink and light lunch before setting off for our main trip highlight – filling up our bottles & carrying snacks for your journey we head toward the Everest Base Camp (5360m), situated on the lateral moraine of the Khumbu Glacier. We return to Gorak Shep for the evening.

Today’s activity will depend on energy, weather, and what was achieved yesterday. The weather is usually clear in the morning so an ascend of Kala Pathar (5545m) at first light may be the best plan. It takes about 2-3 hours to reach the top and from there we can see the magnificent south face of Everest and the Khumbu Icefall. We aim to descend as far as Pheriche today for better sleep at a lower altitude.

From Pheriche, we drop down to Pangboche (4000m) and then retrace our steps past Ama Dablam to Debuche where it is worth looking out for Eagles, Musk deer, Himalayan Thar and Himalayan Monal our National bird. A half an hour climb leads from Debuche up through the woods to Thyangboche from where we descend through the forest to Imja Khola and then climb back up to Kyanjuma.

Follow the lower trail to Namche Bazaar. It is the best trail in the region with stunning views and pass the Tenzing memorial. If you have missed the museum or National Park headquarters on the way up, there will be time to fit this in. We then descend through Namche and Jorsale to Monzo.

Our last day’s walk takes us back through Phakding, from where we have a final climb to Lukla.

We fly from Lukla to Manthali and take a drive back to Kathmandu. Transfer to Hotel.

Kathmandu – perhaps visit Swayambhunath also called the Monkey Temple, or the Durbar Square in the heart of the old city where the old Royal Palace & temples with intricate woodcarvings are located. If you are lucky you can see the “Kumari” at the Home of the Kumari, the young girl who is revered as a living goddess. Or do some final shopping.

Transfer to Kathmandu airport for final departure or continue with your own arrangements.