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At the Kathmandu Tribhuvan International Airport, our representatives will be waiting to welcome you. Please look for a signage with your name at the arrival terminal hall. Once you have checked in to your hotel, you have the whole day at your disposal. Start your day with a complimentary welcome drink and head outside. Check out the Capital of Nepal, its ancient streets, and beautifully designed temples carved out of wood and stones.
Rise and get ready to shine, quite literally, as you catch a sunrise up in the air and get up close to the Himalayas on a 45-minute Heli-flight from Kathmandu to Lukla. Your guide will meet you at Lukla airport and introduce you to the rest of the support staff. There will be some time to explore the village while our Sherpa crew sorts and loads the trekking equipment and baggage. The trek starts with a descent to Dudh Kosi River, from where the wider trail leads us to the village of Ghat (2,550m), and onwards to Phakding on an easy-paced walk.
As you walk along the shores of Dudh Kosi, breathe in the cold mountain air that tickles the colourful prayer flags hung atop the suspension bridges. An enchanting walk from Dudh Kosi leads us to the Sagarmatha National Park from where the trail climbs steeply with picturesque sights. After a few strenuous hours, we reach Namche Bazaar, also known as the Gateway to Everest.
Considering the altitude we have gained rapidly over the past 24 hours and the depleting volume of oxygen, we spend a day in Namche Bazaar. There are several quality restaurants, hotels, lodges, shops, money exchange services, internet cafes, and bakeries for our trekkers to make avail of. Namche Bazaar is also the largest market in the Everest region, be sure to pack in utilities here. We pay a visit to the local museum, a reservoir of traditional artefacts that showcase the Sherpa culture. We also hike to Syangboche Airport from where we can see rewarding vistas of a stunning sunrise/sunset over the Himalayan panorama.
We commence the climb upwards and follow a well-paved route above the Dudh Kosi river, enjoying spectacular mountain views of Everest, Nuptse, and Lhotse, as we go. On our way, we meet local Tibetan vendors before heading up the forest of blue pines, where we encounter Dudh Kosi again at Phunki (3,250m). We make another ascent on a switchback trail, sometimes made quite dusty by yak trains, to reach the Thyangboche Monastery (3,867m)— a blend of spirituality and natural scenery! You shall be able to distinguish Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse, Ama Dablam, and Taboche to your north from the monastery, and to your northeast, you can spot Thamserku, with Kantega to the southeast, and Kwangde to the southwest. Thyangboche Monastery suffered a fire disaster in 1989, post which it had to be rebuilt. We’ll have ample time to cover, both- the monastery as well as its museum. Afterwards, we’ll be heading to our teahouse, the stop for the day, which is an hour’s walk away.
A large luxe meadow dissects into a larger forest, that’s next! Walk amidst birches, conifers, and rhododendrons to cross the Imja Khola, a tributary of Dudh Kosi. The trail ahead brings magnificently carved Mani walls leading up to the Pangboche Monastery(3900m), the oldest monastery in the region. From this point on, we move above the tree line surrounded by scrubs, junipers and wildflowers. Add several yak herders to the landscape and their elegant winter-proofed huts. Post a soulful immersion with locals, we climb over a small ridge before crossing the Khumbu Khola and ascending to Dingboche.
The first part of our trek is complete here, and from here on, there will be a rapid escalation in altitude. So, on the 7th day, we take it slow. It will be a nice day of walking among the locals and accommodating the shift ahead. Our Tour leader and guides would organize short day trip to the nearby huts, known as Chhukung, with a distinctive local architecture format.
From Pheriche, we trek across the northwest flats of the valley, revealing the narrow ends of the Tshola and Khumbu glaciers. The stone-walled fields of Pheriche are the last we pass. After a two-mile trek, we turn right on our pursuit towards the terminal moraine of the Khumbu glacier. We briefly rest at Dhugla for lunch. From thereon, it’s a daunting uphill journey but paired with the jaw-dropping views of a behemoth ancient glacier: The Khumbu Glacier. The day ends on the left side of the glacier’s moraine in Lobuche, surrounded by the cutest little huts.
We start our day with a leisurely walk, and an hour later into the trek, we cross the moraine to venture into the wide expanse of Gorakshep (5,160m). Depending on the group’s health stats, we will head further to Everest Base Camp after having lunch at Gorakshep.
From Gorakshep, a two-hour-long and the steepest ascent of the trek brings us to the top of Kala Patthar. Once there, you will be rewarded with panoramic views of some of the world’s highest mountains including the unforgettable up-close encounter with Everest itself and Lhotse. From Kala Patthar, we descend to Gorakshep and wait for our Heli-flight to Gokyo Lakes and onwards to Kathmandu.
After the past week of excursions, a buffer day is much called for. Soak in the local culture or unwind from the trek and relax in your hotel, you pick, we deliver!
OPTIONAL TOURS
Option 01: Half-day tour of Pashupatinath Temple and Boudhanath Stupa (4-5 Hours)
Pashupatinath Temple, 5kms east of Kathmandu, is among the most sacred Hindu shrines in the world. The richly ornamented pagoda houses an ancient sacred Shivlinga of Lord Pashupatinath. After a rejuvenating visit, head to Boudha and visit the Boudhanath Stupa, one of the largest stupas in South Asia, which is also a focal point of Tibetan Buddhism in Nepal. The Boudhanath stupa also has a recent historical significance, given its location on the ancient trade route to Tibet, which made it a hot spot for Tibetan merchants.
Option 02: Half-day tour of Bhaktapur Durbar Square (3-4 Hours)
Bhaktapur, meaning the ‘The City of Devotees’, is an ancient architectural gem. It is also known as Bhadgaon and was founded in 889 AD by King Anand Dev. Today, it covers an area of four miles and is flanked by Khasa Khusung and Hanumante rivers. Now standing at the city square, the palace complex has been home to many kings. Old as it is, the complex testifies to the prosperity of the Malla years and the excellent sculpting prowess of the craftsmen in those ages, who made intricately designed 55 windows, a salient feature distinguishing the construction. The kings of Bhaktapur ruled over Kathmandu and Patan from the 12th to the 14th century.
This is where you bid adieu to the mountains as
your journey in Nepal comes to an end. Please be ready 4 hours before your
scheduled flight as our representative shall help you with the check-out and
transfer to the airport. We would also like to hear how the trek went for you
and hope to see you soon on your next adventure.
