Itinerary

• Day 1: Arrival in Kathmandu

  Our representative will greet you at the Airport and guide you to the hotel. You will be briefed about your activities and “do’s and don’ts” during your visit to Kathmandu. We will collect some documents from you. Please have the following handy when arriving.

  • Travel/ Medical Insurance (photocopy)
  • Three passport-size photos
  • Photocopy of your passport.

• Day 2: Trek briefing and drive to Mulkot

  After breakfast, your guide will meet you at the hotel and give you your trek briefing. After the briefing, if you need to do some last-minute shopping, you have at least 2 hours to do so. It is a 3 ½ hour drive to Mulkot on a windy mountain road. On arrival to Mulkot, you will be checked in at Kwality Beach Resort or similar.

• Day 3: Fly to Lukla and trek to Benkar

  • Flight: 30 mins
  • Trek distance: 11 km
  • Trekking: 4 hours
  • Elevation difference: -140m Lukla to Benkar

  A very early morning wake-up and transfer to the domestic airport to board our flight, a small 17-seated Twin Otter or Dornier aircraft. The flight times can be flexible because we need clear weather both in Kathmandu and Lukla. This can sometimes involve waiting in the terminal for a long time. Once we get the all-clear signal, we take off to our destination on a 40 min scenic mountain flight to Lukla.

  After a cup of tea at Paradise Lodge in Lukla, we are treading on the legendary “Everest Highway”, which heads downwards through the alpine valley following the “Dudh Kosi” or Milk River (named after its milky colour from glacial silt). We reach Benkar after a half a day walk and end our first day here. Benkar is situated at the bank of Dudh Kosi, and the lodge we will stay at has a beautiful waterfall behind and a fantastic view of Mt. Thamserku (6636m) right in front of you.

• Day 4: Trek to Namche (5-6 hrs)

  • Distance: 8 km
  • Trekking: 6 hours
  • Elevation difference: +700m

  Today, we have an easy walk in the morning following the Dudh Kosi crossing several times on long suspension bridges. We reach Monjo after 2 hours walk, which is the Sagarmatha National Park entrance. Here we get your National Park Permits. 30 mins from here, we reach Jorsale, where we stop for lunch. After lunch, we continue to trek along the Dudh Kosi for 45 mins to reach Larche Doban, the confluence of the Dudh Kosi and Bhote Kosi. Here we cross the famous suspension bridge, about a hundred meters above the river and 113m long. After crossing this bridge, it is a steady climb for 1 ½  hours to reach Namche Bazaar, the Sherpa capital of the Khumbu region. On a clear day, you get views of Everest, Lhotse, Thamserku, Kusum Kangru, Kwangde and Taweche on the way to Namche.

• Day 5: Rest and acclimatisation

  • Distance- Hike to Everest view hotel and back: 6 km
  • Trekking : 3 hours
  • Elevation difference: +400m & – 400m

  As we gained about 700m of elevation the previous day, it demands a rest and acclimatisation day for the following day. In the morning, we will hike to Everest View Hotel, where you will have breathtaking views over Mount Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse, Peak 38, Taweche and Cholatse towards the North, and Ama Dablam, Thamserku, Kangtega and Kusum Kanguru to the East. Towards your west, the 5 km ridge called the Skyline ridge, the summit ridge of Mt Kwangde, rises majestically along with Teng Kang Poche, Pachermo and Tengi Regi Taw. We will enjoy this fascinating view with warm drinks and biscuits. You will be back at lunchtime and have plenty of time to rest or look around the market and shop.

• Day 6: Trek to Deboche via Tyangboche (5-6 hrs)

  • Distance: 10 km
  • Trekking: 6 hours
  • Elevation difference: +430m

  We start as usual, around 8 AM, after breakfast. Until lunch, the trail is undulating along the side of the hill far above the Dudh Kosi. The route is easy and magnificent views of Everest, Lhotse and Amadablam continue. Therefore we will take this opportunity to have a tea break at Kyangjuma to enjoy the views. After tea, we will descend to Dudh Kosi to stop for lunch at a lodge on the bank of the river. After lunch, it is a steady 2 ½ hour climb to Tyangboche. Upon arriving in Tyangboche, your guide will organise a visit inside the monastery. Please ensure that you carry your thick jacket and woollen hat, as it is usually freezing inside the monastery while you attend the prayers and meditation. After spending some time at the monastery, we will descend 20 mins to reach Deboche, through a forest with birch, pine and rhododendron covered with lichens and moss giving it a fairy tale look. We have chosen to spend the night at Deboche instead of Tyangboche mainly because Tyangboche is usually crowded since many tourists walk only up to Tyangboche as their final destination. Secondly, Deboche is much warmer since it is less exposed to wind.

• Day 7: Trek to Pheriche (4-5 hrs)

  • Distance: 9 km
  • Trekking: 5 hours
  • Elevation difference: +600m

  Considering only the trail, today is probably one of the most leisurely treks, but because we are ascending to 4300m, it is to be treated gently and carefully. We begin with a walk through the fairytale-like forest until we reach a bridge to cross Imja Khola. There are chances to spot Danphe (the national bird of Nepal), Blood pheasant, Himalayan Musk deer, and Thar. After we cross the bridge to the other side of the river, you will notice that the vegetation is sparse, and you are on the exposed side of the valley. The view of Mt. Amadablam following the river upwards is simply magnificent. An easy 45 mins walk from the bridge reaches us to Pangboche (3990m), the highest permanent settlement in the Khumbu valley.

  We will continue towards the same side of the valley on an undulating trail, with Imja Khola below us and the majestic Mt. Amadablam above. After a 45 min walk from Pangboche, we reach Shomare at 4060m. Here we are above the tree line, and you will notice that now we are on a high, barren and exposed alpine land. We will stop here for lunch. After lunch, we reach a flat exposed area called Orsho, usually windy. The trail is relatively flat and continues for about an hour. After this “flat trail” ends, we climb steadily for about 40 mins to reach a pass. You will see the beautiful Pheriche valley with Lobuche Peak (6119) at the end of the valley and Imja Tse (6189m) towards the East, both of which are famous trekking peaks in Nepal. From the pass, we descend about 20 mins to the Khumbu Khola, cross the stream and walk another 20 mins to reach our lodge.

• Day 8: Rest and acclimatisation day

  • Distance- Hike to Nangartshang peak and back Distance: 5 km
  • Trekking: 4 hours
  • Elevation difference: +600m

  Today we climbed Nangartshang peak (5100m) for acclimatisation. The trail begins right behind your lodge, and it is a steady steep climb for about 3 to 3 ½ hours to reach the summit. The wind is bitterly cold at the top, so wear warm gloves, woollen hats and jackets. It is not necessary to climb right to the top. Remember, rest is equally crucial for acclimatisation as climbing high. If you feel healthy and fine, climb to the summit; otherwise, an ascent of 400 to 500 m is sufficient for acclimatisation. Do not push too hard and get exhausted before the main objective; Everest Base Camp. We come back to lunch by lunchtime. You can attend the lecture on High altitude sickness in the afternoon at the Himalayan Rescue Association hospital.

• Day 9: Trek to Lobuche (4-5 hrs)

  • Distance: 9 km
  • Trekking: 5 hours
  • Elevation difference: +580 m

  The trail follows the Khumbu Khola upwards along the Pheriche valley. The trail is almost flat for about an hour and then starts to climb gently in the beginning and moderately steep towards the end for about an hour. It takes about 2 to 2 ½ hours from Pheriche to reach Thukla at 4620m, where we stop for lunch. Before reaching Thukla, we cross a stream of melted ice that flows above us in the Khumbu Glacier. Thukla is situated on the terminal moraine of the Khumbu Glacier.

  After lunch, we climb steeply up alongside the terminal moraine of the Khumbu Glacier. After an hour’s climb, we reach the top of the moraine, a flat ground dotted around with numerous graves and memorials of the climbers who lost their lives while climbing Mt. Everest and the surrounding mountains. It is a spooky place yet breathtakingly beautiful, with incredible views of Mt. Amadablam, Thamserku, Kangtega, Taweche and Cholatse rising from below us to touch the skyline to the South. You can find memorials of some of the renowned climbers of the world here. Right around the corner, you will get your first glimpse of the Khumbu Icefall, Kalapathar and part of Everest base Camp. From here, it is an easy 40 mins, almost flat walk to Lobuche.

• Day 10: Trek to Everest Base Camp and back to Gorakshep (8-9 hrs)

  • Distance: 12 km
  • Trekking: 8/9 hours
  • Elevation difference: +400 m

  We have an early breakfast and hit start today around 6 AM. Initially, the trail is relatively flat alongside the lateral moraine of the Khumbu glacier. An hour of easy walk brings us to the bottom of the lateral moraine of Changri Glacier. It is a steep 20 mins climb, and we are at the top overlooking the Lobuche valley below us towards the South and Mt. Nuptse and the Khumbu Glacier towards the East. The trail leads across the Changri Nup and Changri Shar glaciers with short, steep ascends and descends through rough moraines of ice and rocks. After about 2 hours of walking through this glacier, we reach Gorakshep. At 5180m, Gorakshep is the last settlement on the trail to Everest Base Camp, a tea house group.

  We will have a quick lunch here, refill water, and head off to our objective – Everest Base Camp. The trail is rough and endless short ascends and descends through rocky moraines alongside the lateral moraine of the Khumbu Glacier. After about 2 to 2 ½ hours walk along the Khumbu glacier, we reach Everest Base Camp. Everest Base Camp is situated right on the top of the Khumbu Glacier. While you are here, you will hear the sound of ice cracking below you, and you might witness a few avalanches on the sides of the surrounding mountains. It gives you a sense of how unforgiving climbing mountains can be. After spending some time at the Base Camo and taking pics, we head back the same way to Gorakshep.

• Day 11: Ascend to Kalapathar and Helicopter back to Lukla.

  • Trek distance: 2.5 km
  • Trekking: 3/3.5 hours
  • Elevation difference: +365 m
  • Helicopter flight to Lukla 20 mins

  Another early morning and we head towards the summit of Kalapathar. Kalapathar is famous for its view of Everest and a bird’s eye view of the Khumbu Glacier. The climb starts right on the other side of the dried lake across the lodge. It is a steady steep climb for about 2 to 2 ½ hours to reach the summit of Kalapathar. The views are simply fantastic. Right in front of you is Mt. Pumori 71, rising menacingly at 7161m. Magnificent views of Mt. Everest with Khumbu Icefall and the Western cwm, and the South Col connecting with Mt. Lhotse and Nuptse with the view of the entire Khumbu glacier below you makes an unforgettable memory. After spending some time at the summit, we head back to the lodge at Gorakshep and pack our bags to return home.

  We are taking a helicopter back to Lukla! As we take off from Gorakhshep, we can get an aerial view of the Everest Base Camp in the distance and fly over the mesmerising Khumbu glacier. Once we fly over the Khumbu glacier, we will follow the Khumbu valley down to Lukla. If the weather is suitable en route, we will be rewarded with grand views of Mt. Amadablam, Cholatse, Taboche, Kantega, Thamserku and Kwangde from the helicopter as we fly close past these mountains. Upon arrival to Lukla, we will check in to our lodge. In the evening, you can celebrate the grand success of making it up to the historic and most important landmark in the mountaineering world – The Everest Base Camp!

• Day 12: Fly to Kathmandu

  Usually, it is an early morning flight to Kathmandu. Upon arrival to Kathmandu, we check in to our hotel, and the rest of the day is free to take showers, spa, shopping etc.

• Day 13: Free day

  We have allowed this extra day as a buffer day in case of a flight cancellation from Lukla back to Kathmandu. You can use this day to do some extra sightseeing around Kathmandu valley. Your group leader can suggest and help organise a sightseeing trip to some of the most famous sites around the valley.

  Some suggestions: Dakshinkali temple, Bhaktapur, Swoyambunath.

• Day 14: Departure

  We will drive you to Tribhuwan International airport about 3 ½ hours before departure.