ITINERARY:

Day 01 – Arrival, meet at airport & transfer to hotel – O/nt. hotel.

            Upon arrival in Kathmandu, we will meet you at the airport after your immigration and customs formalities when you exit from the arrival terminal.  A short drive (10 minutes) brings you to the hotel where you then check in.  It will be in twin sharing basis with breakfast. This day there are no activities scheduled although it depends on your arrival in Kathmandu if you have time to explore some of Kathmandu’s World Sights.

Day 02 – Transfer to airport & fly Kathmandu – Lukla (2,840m.) & trek to Phakding (2,610m.) – O/nt. lodge.

Today, we have to get early flight and need to report an hour before your flight at the domestic airport.  So, we’ll transfer you to the airport at 05.30 hrs. for a short flight of 40 minutes.  Only 15 kg of personal baggage is allowed on the flight.  A spectacular flight and hair rising landing on a steep mountain runway brings you to the start of this trek at the village of Lukla.  Your guide will arrange local porters (1 porter for 2 persons / trekkers) then the trek commences towards Phakding that is fairly easy which takes 4 to 5 hour (trek time only without breaks; may differ for each person in a group).

Day 03 – Trek Phakding – Namche Bazaar (3,440 m.) – O/nt. lodge.

From Phakding, we cross and re-cross the river on high suspension bridges. Beyond Monjo is the entrance to the Sagarmatha National Park that was set-up in order to protect and preserve this fragile mountain environment. We then ascend quite steeply to Namche and along the way, if the weather is clear, catch a first glimpse of Mt. Everest in the distance.  Namche is the main trading village in the Khumbu and has a busy Saturday market – a meeting place for the Hindu traders from the lowlands and the Tibetan yak caravans that cross the glaciated Nangpa La. The trek today will last for 6 to 7 hours.

Day 04 – Acclimatization day in Namche & excursion to Syangboche (3,760m.), Khumjung (3,780m.) & Khunde (3,840m.) – O/nt. lodge.

Namche is tucked away between two ridges amidst the giant peaks of the Khumbu and has an abundance of lodges, teashops and souvenir shops. It also has a magnificent viewdeck hee ou can have a glimpse of Mt. Everest on a clear day. It is an ideal place for acclimatization for higher altitude before heading off towards Tengboche.  An excursion to Syangboche, Khumjung and Khunde on this day will not only allow you to acclimatize, but gives you the feel of Sherpa life and culture as well as to see the peaks of Mt. Amadablam (6,856m.), Thamserku (6,608m.), Kangtenga (6,783m.) up close including Mt. Everest and Nuptse in distance.  In Khumjung you would visit a school and  a hospital in Khunde, both established by Sir Edmund Hillary.  On the way back you could also visit a privately owned Sherpa Culture museum located above Namche Bazaar main settlement.

Day 05 – Trek Namche Bazaar – Tengboche (3,860 m.) – O/nt. lodge.

The first leg of this day’s trek is half hour climb uphill just below the Syangboche airstrip from where a right turn is taken towards Kenjoma.  Then the trail descends to a bridge over the Dudhkoshi River at Phunki Tenga.  This village is an excellent lunch spot, and here you can rest before making the steep climb to Tengboche. Although tiring, the second leg of the hike up the zigzag path has numerous distractions, with rhododendron bushes, beautiful birds and superb mountain scenery.  Finally after 5-6 hours trek you will arrive in Tengboche, a beautiful monastic village where the legendary Tengboche Monastery is situated almost in the lap of Ama Dablam.

Day 06 – Trek Tengboche – Dingboche (4,410 m.) – O/nt. lodge.

We descend steeply through a forest, cross the Imja Khola and climb steadily to the village of Pangboche. This is directly opposite Mt. Ama Dablam that has exceptional views of the mountains, with the gompa, mani walls and scattered pine trees in the foreground.  Crossing several Sherpa villages such as Shomare, Orsho, Tsuro Wog and crossing a bridge over Khumbu Khola brings you to Dingboche after about 5–6 hours trek.  Some prefer spending the night in Pheriche but Dingboche has better view when weather is clear and a bit warmer too.

Day 07 – Rest day to acclimatize in Dingboche – O/nt. lodge.

Provided the weather is clear, you will be astonished with the view of Mt. Ama Dablam on the south that is very different from Dingboche.  We will visit a higher ridge above Dingboche to view mountain peaks such as Lhotse, Ama Dablam and several others including the valley below.  This excursion will also help you get acclimatized.

Day 08 – Trek Dingboche – Lobuche (4,910 m.) – O/nt. lodge.

Though this distance could be covered quickly, we recommend you to walk on an easy pace due to high altitude & low level of oxygen where you may experience heavy breathing.  Views of mountain peaks are abundant from different parts of the trail.   This hike takes around 5 hours.

Day 9 – Trek Lobuche – Gorakshep (5,140 m.) via Kalapatthar (5,550 m.) – O/nt. lodge.

We will start the trek very early in the morning (4 a.m.) from Lobuche towards Gorakshep.  But before going to Gorakshep, we will detour to Kalapatthar, the viewpoint to watch mountain peaks at 360 with a very close and panoramic view of Mt. Everest including several other mountain peaks.  The reason that we start so early in the morning is that the weather is very unpredictable in the high Himalayan region.   If we are there early then there is possibility of good weather that would allow you to see even sunrise.

Day 10 – Excursion Gorakshep – Everest Base Camp (5,364 m.) – & return – O/nt. lodge.

To reach Everest Base Camp, again a very early start is required, as it takes several hours on a trail that weaves its way through ice pinnacles and past the crevasses of the Khumbu Glacier. Only an hour and half at the most is allowed at the base camp to witness the mighty icefall of Khumbu glacier, as weather here is very unpredictable.  On the return leg, if the weather is good, 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 Gorakshep or if time permit to Lobuche.   This trip could take around 8 to 9 hours in total with packed lunch from Gorakshep.

Day 11 – Trek Gorakshep – Pangboche – O/nt. lodge.

            Today is downhill most of the way, as we retrace our steps to Duglha and descend to Pheriche. The Himalayan Rescue Association has a trekkers’ aid post here and it is quite interesting to visit. After lunch we cross the Khumbu Khola on a wooden suspension bridge and follow the Imja Khola to the village of Pangboche.

Day 12 – Trek Pangboche – Namche  – O/nt. lodge.

            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, Kangtega and Thamserku are just a few of the Himalayan giants to be seen. From Tengboche we descend to the bridge over the river at Phunki Tenga, where there are water driven prayer wheels, before making our way back to Namche.

Day 13 – Trek Namche  – Lukla – O/nt. lodge.

            Our final day’s trail descends down to Dudh Koshi and follows the river back down to Lukla. This last evening in the mountains would be an ideal opportunity to celebrate the completion of your trek together with the guides and porters.

Day 14 – Fly Lukla – Kathmandu, transfer to hotel on arrival – O/nt. hotel.

            Again from Lukla you will fly (35 minutes) early morning.  So you will need to rise early in the morning then take your breakfast.  Be at the airport for checking in an hour before your actual flight to Kathmandu.  On arrival, you will meet our company representative that will transfer you to your hotel or respective residence which ends your 13 days organized lodge (tea-house) trek.

Day 15 – Free day in Kathmandu (Buffer day just incase flight problem from Lukla) – O/nt. hotel.

            Weather in the Himalayan mountain region can never be predicted precisely.  If the weather is adverse the previous day, the flight which solely depends on weather factor could be cancelled on the scheduled day, so a buffer day is also required.  If things go as planned, then you could spend this day to simply relax or do souvenir shopping to bring home to your friends and loved one.

Day 16 – Departure day from Kathmandu, transfer hotel to airport for onward flight.