Itinerary

DAY 1-2: KATHMANDU
4,390-ft / 1,388-m

After arriving at the airport you meet your Tusker Trail guide at the well-known Shangri-La Hotel, one of the nicest hotels in the Kathmandu, a city renowned for its fantastic shopping, excellent food, cultural wonders and fascinating markets.

Your two days in Kathmandu are spent wandering the narrow streets of Thamel, the bustling center of town, and on a tour of old Kathmandu City, Durbar Square and Swayambunath Stupa, known as the “monkey temple”. This is one of Kathmandu’s oldest and most important Buddhist shrines, which scholars believe dates back to the 1st century.

 
DAY 3: FLY TO LUKLA / HIKE TO PHAKDING
8,702-ft / 2,652-m - 5 hours hiking

After a short flight through the Himalayan Mountains, we land at Lukla. Here we meet our full crew of cooks and porters, and, after a cup of Nepalese tea, start our hike to Phakding, on the chalky Dudh Kosi River. Just before we arrive at our lodge, we cross one of the famous hanging bridges across the river. After this first day “downhill”, many a trekker has been fooled into thinking that the famed Everest Base Camp trek is a simple walk in the park. We spend two nights at Phakding getting ready for our climb to Naamche at 11, 306-ft/3,446-m.

 
DAY 4-5: NAAMCHE BAZAAR
11,306-ft / 3,446-m - 7.5 hours

Nestled in a protected corner of the Himalayas, Naamche is a centuries-old trading center between Tibet and Nepal. As we arrive on the outskirts we get our first view of Mt. Everest. Quaint with cobblestone streets, and little shops, it is the last town on the trek before reaching base camp. Naamche teems with Sherpa life, while yaks roam the streets, the sounds of their bells making beautiful yak music. Naamche is abuzz with excitement as people from all over the globe pass through, on their way to and from base camp. We spend two nights acclimatizing here. Views of Everest, Nuptse, Ama Dablam and Lhotse are spectacular as we hike to the top of the hillside town.

 
DAY 6: KHUM JUNG
12,300-ft / 3,750-m - 3 hours

Commonly called the green valley, the short trek to Khum Jung is one of the most interesting hikes of the trek. You will revel in fantastic views of Mt. Everest, Lhotse, Kangtega, Thamserku and Ama Dablam. We visit the Khumjung Gompa (monastery) Which displays a skull that supposedly comes from a yeti.

 
DAY 7: TENGBOCHE
12,687-ft / 3,867-m - 4 hours

Tengboche Monastery sits on a hill at the confluence of the Dudh Kosi and the Imja Khola rivers, with a clear view of Everest. It’s a tough hike up to the hilltop to one of the most important spiritual centers for the Sherpas, with 35 monks residing in the monastery. With a little trekkers’ luck, we will witness the Lama (high priest) perform a riveting ceremony accompanied by monks chanting their magical hypnotic songs. We spend the night at a teahouse across from the monastery.

 
DAY 8-9: PHERICHE
14,200-ft / 4,328-m - 6.5 hours

Pheriche is situated at a critical location just a few days from Everest Base Camp and at and altitude where mountain sickness begins to bite. That’s why we spend 2 days here – acclimatizing. Our two-day stops are designed to allow our trekkers to adjust to the thinning air and have proven very successful in helping Tusker bodies adjust to the altitude.

 
DAY 10: LOBUCHE
16,126-ft / 4,915-m - 6 hours

After a good rest and breakfast, we head out on the trail and up the broad valley of Pheriche. At Dhukla you notice the big hills of rough rock piles, which are really the terminal moraine of the Khumbu Glacier. Further along the track we spend a quiet moment at the site of the stone memorials for fallen Everest climbers, called “chortens” in Tibetan.
 
DAY 11: GORAK SHEP
16,942-ft / 5,164-m - 3.5 hours

Once the original basecamp for Everest this dusty flat spot on the lateral moraines of the Khumbu Glacier.

 
DAY 12: BASE CAMP / GORAK SHEP
Base Camp: 17,585-ft / 5,360-m - 2.5 hours
Gorak Shep: 16,942-ft / 4,915-m - 2 hours

We head out on our trek to Everest Base Camp at the foot of the Khumbu Icefall. After celebrating our achievement at lunch, we head back to Gorak Shep for the night.

 
DAY 13: PHERICHE
14,200-ft / 4,328-m - 6.5 hours

Before leaving for Pheriche, we take a 4-hour hike up Mt. Kala Patthar at 18,513-ft/5,643-m. which gives us extraordinary views of Everest, Lhotse and Nuptse. As there is no view of Mt. Everest from Base Camp, this is an important place for trekkers.

 
DAY 14-15: NAAMCHE BAZAAR
11,306-ft / 3,446-m - 9 hours

It’s a full day hike, but you’ll appreciate the oxygen. Our extra day gives you plenty of chance to relax amongst the yaks; browse the maze of streets, picking your way through the local shops for Nepali handicrafts.

 
DAY 16: LUKLA
9,384-ft / 2,860-m - 8 hours

Our last day hike finds us back at Lukla for the night.

 

DAY 17: KATHMANDU
4,390-ft / 1,388-m

After arrival in Kathmandu, we travel to the Shangri-La hotel. The rest of the day is free to relax or wander around town.

 

DAY 18: FLY HOME

Transfer to Kathmandu airport.

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