Itinerary
Day 01 - Kathmandu
Arrive Kathmandu. You will be met on arrival at the Tribhuwan International Airport. Transfer to Hotel Tibet. Day Free. Enjoy welcome dinner. Briefing during dinner. (Dinner)
Day 02 - Kathmandu
Full day sightseeing in Kathmandu. You will be accompanied by our in-house city guide. In the morning, visit Bodhanath, the Stupa of a million dew drops, to watch monks and devotees circumambulate the largest stupa in the world. Then visit Pashupatinath, Nepal's most sacred Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva, with its two-tiered golden roof and silver door. Drive to Patan for lunch in the garden of the Patan Museum Café. After lunch, visit the well-maintained Patan Museum storing ancient Nepali artifacts, followed by a tour of Patan Durbar (palace) Square.
Drive back to Kathmandu. Overnight Hotel Tibet. (Breakfast and Lunch)
Day 03 - Kathmandu to Phakding (2,600m/8,700 ft.)
Early morning flight to Lukla. The duration of the flight is around 25 minutes. At Lukla, you will meet up with your porters and other trek staff. After a quick breakfast, begin trekking. Today’s three to four hour trek to Phakding is on fairly level trail. Overnight local lodge. (All meals)
Day 04 - Phakding to Namche (3,420m/11,270 ft.)
Today you will enter the Sagarmatha National Park at Monju. After lunch, past Jorsalle, begins the grueling climb to the largest Sherpa village in the Khumbu region - Namche. Weather permitting, today, you will get your first view of Mt. Everest at the beginning of the ascent to Namche. Namche is shaped like an ampitheater and has numerous lodges, bars and bakeries. Tibetan traders who cross the near 20,000 ft pass - Nangpa la - sell their wares here. Overnight lodge. (All meals)
Day 05 - Namche (3,420m/11,270 ft.)
Today is an acclimatization day. You are free to visit the National Park Museum or wander around Namche town. The early morning mountain view, looking north from the park head-quarters, of Amadablam, Everest, Nuptse and Lhotse is amazing. Overnight lodge. (All meals)
Day 06 - Namche to Tengboche (3,870m/12,900 ft.)
From Namche, walk on level trail for a while enjoying mountain views. Past Sanasa, descend to Phunki Tenga. After lunch, it is again a grueling three to four hours of uphill to Tengboche monastery. After settling into your rooms at the lodge, you have the option to join the prayer ceremony at the Tengboche monastery. Overnight local lodge. (All meals)
Day 07 - Tengboche to Dingboche (4,360m/13,950 ft.)
Descend to Debuche where there is a nunnery. From today, you will start to notice the change in the landscape. Forests give way to arid landscape with shrubs. Ascend gradually to Pangboche and then to Dingboche in the Imja valley. Overnight local lodge. (All meals)
Day 08 - Dingboche (4,360m/13,950 ft.)
Rest day for acclimatization. Free to go for a day hike or to just relax. Overnight local lodge. (All meals)
Day 09 - Dingboche to Dughla (4,620m/15,100 ft.)
Climb gradually to the top of a hill overlooking the Feriche valley. Cross a few pastures and make a short but steep ascent to Dughla where you will reach for lunch. Overnight lodge. (All meals)
Day 10 - Dughla to Lobuche (4,930m/16,200 ft.)
The trail is steep at first till the terminal moraine of the Khumbu Glacier where this is an area with monuments dedicated to climbers who have perished on Khumbu's mountains. Past this point it is a gradual ascent to Lobuche where, again, you will arrive before lunch. Overnight local lodge. (All meals)
Day 11 - Lobuche to Gorakshep (5,160m/17,100 ft.)
Ascend gently through meadows and then cross several steep moraines to Gorakshep which is situated on a sandy and flat section that served as base camp for the 1952 Swiss Everest expedition. From Gorakshep, you may opt to continue to the Everest Base Camp walking through jumbles of small rocks and boulders but you must return to Gorakshep for the night. The round-trip hike from Gorakshep to Base Camp can take around four to five hours. Overnight lodge. (All meals)
Day 12 - Gorakshep to Dzongla (15,900 ft.)
Hike up Kalapathar (5,545m/18,195 ft.) for views of Everest. This 1,100 ft. steep ascent is challenging. Previous clients' times for this climb have ranged from two to five hours - one way. But, there is no doubt that, weather permitting, the summit of Kalapathar serves as one of the best face-to-face view-point for the southern massif of Mt. Everest.
Enjoy a well deserved lunch either at Gorakshep or Lobuche and continue to Dzongla. Overnight lodge. (All meals)
Day 13 - Dzongla to Thagnag
Start early from Dzongla walking through a pasture before beginning a steep ascent to the Cho La pass (5,420m). Some scrambling on all fours might be necessary as you navigate through the rocky trail. You will then reach a glacier from where it is a gradual ascent to the pass. The trail on the descent from the pass is steep and can be icy. After crossing this section, you will, again, hike on a moraine until you reach Thagnag. Overnight lodge. (All meals)
Day 14 - Thagnag to Gokyo (4,750m/15,500 ft.)
From Thagnag, climb to the Ngozumpa glacier. You will cross the muddy glacier and then ascend gradually passing a few lakes until you reach Gokyo. Overnight lodge. (All meals)
Day 15 - Gokyo (4,750m/15,500 ft.)
The hike to Gokyo Ri (17,400 ft.) is similar to the hike up Kala Pathar - a little shorter and easier. From here, you are able to view Everest, Lhotse, Makalu and Cho-Oyu - all rising above 8,000 meters. Overnight lodge. (All meals)
Day 16 - Gokyo to Lungden (4,375m/14,350 ft.)
Another early start day - climb steeply to Renjo La (5,390m/17,700 ft) from where, again, awe-inspiring views are possible. From the pass, descend steeply to reach Lungden a village that has still not been much influenced by Nepal's tourism. The hike today can take over eight hours. Overnight lodge. (All meals)
Day 17 - Lungden to Thame (3,800m/12,500 ft.)
The hike to Thame is a short descent. At Thame, visit the monastery. Overnight lodge. (All meals)
Day 18 - Thame to Khumjung (12,200 ft.)
Trek on fairly level trail today. Approaching Namche, we will take a diversion and climb, past the Syangboche air-strip, towards Khumjung. This is the site of the famous Hillary school. And above Khumjung is the Khunde hospital which you may opt to visit. Overnight lodge. (All meals)
Day 19 - Khumjung to Monjo (9,100 ft.)
Descend steeply to Lukla and then to Jorsalle. Climb a short section until Monjo. Overnight lodge. (All meals)
Day 20 - Monjo to Lukla (9,100 ft.)
Last day of trekking as you re-trace the trail to Lukla. Overnight lodge. (All meals)
Day 21 - Lukla to Kathmandu
Fly Lukla to Kathmandu. Day free in Kathmandu. Overnight Hotel Tibet. (Breakfast)
Day 22 - Kathmandu
Sightseeing in Kathmandu. Overnight Hotel Tibet. (All meals)
Day 23 - Depart for home
Final departure. (Breakfast)
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