On reaching Kathmandu International Airport received by our guide and staff and then transfer to your hotel in the hub of Kathmandu.
After checking in your rooms join with other members of the group for Everest Base Camp Trek briefing with other related information required during your stay with us, briefing provided by our expert guides or company staff.
Evening includes welcome dinner in a nice Nepalese restaurant with folk culture program along with the dinner.
Early morning transfer to Kathmandu domestic airport for short scenic flight to Lukla, the door to various adventures around Khumbu and Everest region.
Lukla, in early days was a goat and sheep grazing pasture, hence the name ‘Luk’ means Sheep and La as respect to the areas in Sherpa of Tibetan origin language.
The name still exists, as the airport came into existence (built with the help of Hillary) then main flow of visitors began to pour in, making at present Lukla one of the major town of Khumbu after Namche Bazaar.
Walk begins with pleasant winding path following past Sherpa farm villages with views of Kongde and Kusum-Khanguru to reach our first overnight stop at Phakding, located by the Dudh Kosi Rivers.
Today, walks takes you to famous Namche Bazaar where altitude gains as walk progress slowly. Morning starts following Dudh Kosi River, crossing several times the same river to reach Monjo village close to Sagarmatha National Park entrance which is enlisted in UNESCO world heritage Sites in 1979.The name of this national park is named after the Nepali Name of Mt.Everest which is literally meaning to sky head, deriving from two words sagar and matha. Sagar means sky and matha is head as it is as high as a blue sky.In local Tibetan language,Mt. Everest is called Qomolangma literally meaning to Holy Mother.From here walk on river valley and gorge covered within nice woodland of tall rhododendron-pines and fir trees.
After crossing last high bridge,it will take few hours climb to reach at Namche Bazaar facing views of Kongde peaks. Namche Bazaar, situated like a terraced ampitheater at an altitude of 4,440 m high, is a perfect spot for rest day and acclimatization.And,it is the only one Gateway to all Himalayan Hikers and mountaineers in the entire khumbu Valley.So,it is very crowed by tourists in both Fall season and spring .
Namche Bazaar, a main town and a large village of Khumbu area, was very famous as a Tibetan rock salt trading centre in ancient time that was imported from Tibet on Yak caravan by Tibetan traders.So, Namche Bazar was even called as salt mining of Nepal at that time .But,later since 1959,it dwindled down after China anexed the Tibet, and Nepal government started cracking down on Tibetan traders since there were uprising going on aganst Chinese government. However, colorful busy Saturday market still takes place once a week in Namche Bazar as a lagacy where foodstuffs and commodities are traided for local sherpa people and hotel runner that are carried by lowland traders from solukhumbu.
At Namche at leisure with rest day for necessary acclimatization before heading higher elevation, morning after breakfast options for hike to Everest View Hotel or walk to the hill top of Namche.
Where you can catch superb views of Mt. Everest, Lhotse, and Amadablam with range of peaks, here visit Museum provides you with information of Khumbu region, Sherpa history-culture-flora and fauna including detail on mountaineering.
Namche Bazaar situated on an ancient Trans Himalayan Salt and Caravan route of Nepal and Tibet, which is towards west of Namche past Thame village unto near Renjo-la, where further north leads to high Nangpa-la pass that joins Nepal and Tibet border.
At present the trade still exists but in smaller scale than it used to be in earlier days, where you can witness Tibetans people sometimes on trade at Namche Bazaar.
After a pleasant stop at Namche, morning walk heading with scenic and gradual walks overlooking views of Everest and adjoining peaks, as route leads downhill to Imjatse River at Phunki Tenga, a small place with few lodges.
Here with refreshing break or lunch stop and then climb for few hours into cool shade of lovely woodland covered within rhododendron, oaks, magnolia, juniper and pine trees.
After a great scenic and climb reaching at Thyangboche with time to visit its interesting monastery, where colorful festival ‘Mani-Rimdu’ monks with mask dancing wading evil spirits takes place in the month of October as per Buddhist lunar calendar, overnight in Thyangboche with rooms facing views of peaks.
Morning catch marvelous views of Everest and magnificent Amadablam, as our route descends within forested areas to reach a bridge, from here a slow climb coming across mani (prayer) walls to Pangboche village.
Pangboche, the last permanent village before Everest base camp, other places on route treks are temporary settlements, with lodges to cater the needs of trekkers.
Pangboche hails one of the oldest monasteries of the area, where it use to treasure a Yeti scalp and skeleton of Yeti hand, which was lost and stolen in late 1990’s never recovered it back.
Walk continues heading higher into barren and arid country as tree lines disappears for small juniper and dwarf rhododendron bushes (azalea).
Finally reaching a wide glacial valley at Dingboche facing spectacular views of island peak, Amadablam North Face, Cholatse and Taboche peaks with Nuptse and Lhotse, a nice lovely spot with many good lodges
In early days Dingboche was a Yak grazing pasture land, as commercial trekking started this area at present developing into a flourishing permanent village rather than temporary settlement.
We have reserved another rest day to support you with good acclimatization before heading towards Everest Base Camp and Kalapathar which is above 5,364 m and 5,545 m high.
At Dingboche with options of side walk with climb to Nakarjung hill for better views of surrounding peaks and of scenic Imjatse valley with Island Peak.
Afternoon at leisure and enjoy the panorama of surrounding mountains at ease.
After Dingboche walk leads close towards Everest base camp as our route climbs to a ridge marked with prayer flags, Stupas, from here on gradual tracks with slow uphill facing views then reaching a small place Thugla.
At Thugla where Khumbu glaciers melts into a torrential river, a perfect place for rest and lunch stop, and then our adventure leads to a short steep climb on top Thugla ridge a place with memorials of unfortunate climbers.
Walk from here is easy but with altitude making the pace slower to reach at Lobuche for overnight stop, a place with several nice lodges with views of Nuptse and Lobuche peaks.
Today,we will leave Lobuche by 7 am, little earlier than usual days,as we will have a long day, climbing to kalapatthar the very day. Morning walk leads towards our main destination and of the trip at Everest Base Camp, starting on wide valley with short climb then reaching a place where Glass Pyramid located, a joint venture (Italian and Nepal government) metrological station. Options of short visit to the glass pyramid to learn more of the area and movement of the glaciers and mountains.
From this peaceful place walk continues above Khumbu glaciers, walking past moraine to reach at Gorakshep.
A small place with few lodges on the junction of Everest base camp and Kalapathar route. Gorakshep was an earlier Everest base camp from 1950’s to late 1970’s before it extended further east.
After lunch in Gorekshep,we will start climbing to Kalapatthar which takes around 3 hrs up in a slow and steady walk,and ah hour to back down to Gorakshep where we will over night accommodatiobn.
Morning walk from Gorakshep few hours walk leads to a board with two direction one for Pumori base camp route, and the right arrow points to the direction of Everest Base Camp.
As walk proceeds over moraine and glacier to reach our final destination at Everest base camp offering glorious views of giant peaks Nuptse-Lo la, with massive Khumbu Ice Falls and glaciers.
In peak expedition season this place will be flooded and active with climbers and camps, after a wonderful time then walk down to Lubuche for overnight stop.
After hearty breakfast,we will walk down to Pheriche which will take about 3 hrs where we will have lunch.Pheriche was a summer yak grazing fields slowly turning into a nice village with well established lodges and resorts, also houses HRA post (Himalayan Rescue Association) with temporary and volunteering medical aid and doctors.Pangboche is the last permanent settlement located at the height of 3900m along the trekking route to Everest Region. Pangboche Monastery, built 350 years back by Lama Sangwa Dorjee, is the oldest monastery within the Khumbhu Region.
After breakfast,we will start our day on different route diverting from mainstream trail which leads us through rocky horizontal path,a panoramic view of everest,amadablam,kangtega ,Thamseku along with Tengboche monastry untill we get down to Phortse sherpa village.we will come across many himalayan tahrs and musk deer on the way to phortse village. Like pangboche,Phortse is also an old typical sherpa parmanent village where you will have great oppoturnity to observe their culture and tradition.After lunch,a short half an hour downhill walk to dudhkoshi river called phortse tenga.After walking for an hour steady uphill,we will get to the top of Mongla dada,a view point for Amadablam and Thaserku where we have overnight stop.
Today ,we will walk slight down hill for about one and half hour, and steady slight uphill for half an hour to get to khumjung village.Khumjung is one of the oldest and biggest sherpa villages in entire khumbhu valley which is just nestled on the lapse of khumbila peak,a local protector goddess of sherpa village.Unlike other sherpa village,khumjung is famous for its old school called khumjung high school, founded and donated by Sir Edmund Hillary, and one of the oldest, 400-year old khumjung monastries where you will have great opportunity to observe yeti scull. After having village cultureal tour in khumjung ,we will slightly walk uphill and down to Namche bazar vai a small syanboche air port,the highest airport in the world.you can have s short a sweet stroll around Namche bazar local sovenir shopping while your lunch is being cooked.After lunch,walk down the same route to Monjo for two hrs.
Our last day trek of this marvelous adventure ends at Lukla, where morning walk follows Dudh Kosi River for sometimes near Phakding, and then on pleasant scenic trail with last uphill to reach at Lukla for final overnight stop around Khumbu and Everest region.
Afternoon at leisure for short walks around Lukal town and its small markets with unique airstrip and airport named after legendry mountaineers Tenzing and Hillary.
Morning transfer to Tenzing-Hillary Airport at Lukla, where scenic short flight brings you back at hustle and bustle city life of Kathmandu, and then transfer to your respective hotels, with afternoon free at leisure for individual activities’.
Himalayan Gateway Treks reserves this spare day as contingency in case of flight delay and cancellation at Lukla, which often occurs due to bad weather.
If all goes well according to our itinerary program with flights as scheduled where you can have options of sightseeing tours at places of interest or just relax with memories of the adventure.
Last day in amazing Nepal Himalaya, as per your flight homeward bound or to next respective connecting countries, depart from the hotel for Kathmandu International Airport with fond memories of great marvelous adventure Everest Base Camp.
