TREK TO EVEREST BASE CAMP & KALA PATTHAR

After lunch, we will start driving towards Mulkot. Upon arrival, we will check in at the hotel. There will be a short briefing and orientation about the trek. Overnight stay at the Mulkot Resort.

Meals included: Dinner & Breakfast

Early in the morning, we will transfer to Ramechhap airport to fly to Lukla. This 45-minute flight provides a magnificent entry to the trek, highlighting the snowline of the Himalayan Range in the north and the rugged landing at Lukla airport, which is said to be one of the most spectacular flights in the world. Upon arrival, the guide will arrange for porters at a nearby lodge. During this break, guests are welcome to explore this bustling town atop a hill with rows of houses, hotels, and shops lining both sides of the traditional cobbled street.

The trek starts by following the trail leading northwest through a narrow street, which immediately descends from the end of the village on a trail through the open hillside. The trail is well-defined, and there are many shops and lodges catering to trekkers. This day’s trek is an easy one and ultimately descends to the river at Phakding. Dinner and overnight stay at Hotel / Lodge in Phakding.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.

Leave the main village and follow the trail on the left bank of the Dudh Kosi River. It is a pleasant walk for the first half of the day as one passes through agricultural countryside and small wayside villages. Just before lunch, there is a steep climb of about 20 minutes to arrive at Monjo for lunch.

After lunch, trek up to the checkpoint to check the permits and enter Sagarmatha National Park. Descend for 10 minutes and then cross a suspension bridge to arrive at Jorsale (2800m). Pass through several small villages and beautiful pine forests. This is a busy trail with plenty of human interest. Our first good views are of the west ridge of Kusum Kangru (6339m). Follow the Dudh Kosi River, crossing a rickety suspension bridge, which is in a dilapidated condition, and then slowly climb up a very steep trail to Namche Bazaar. Near the halfway point, we enjoy our first views of Mt. Everest (8848m), Nuptse (7879m), and Lhotse (8383m)—the big three. The climb is nearly 3 hours, as one gains altitude, making breathing difficult due to the rarified air. Arrive at a gate with a sign saying, ”Welcome to Namche Bazaar,” but it is very misleading as it takes another 20 minutes to arrive at the main town. This prosperous town is the largest in Khumbu. Mt. Thamserku (6648m) and Kwangde Ri (6624m) loom along the east and west of the village. The sacred mountain Khumbila (5707m) dominates the skyline along the west. Dinner and overnight stay at Hotel / Lodge in Namche Bazaar.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.

Overnight stay at a lodge in Namche Bazaar.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.

After breakfast, we begin by descending through the rhododendron forest, keeping an eye out for the Blood Pheasant and Impeyan Pheasant in the undergrowth. As we reach the valley, we come across the Dudh Kosi River where we stop for lunch at Phunki Thanga (3200m), next to several large water-driven prayer wheels. The next part of the journey involves a slow climb on a steep trail to Thyangboche Monastery. Thyangboche lies at the base of Kangtega and offers a classic setting with superb views back up the valley to Ama Dablam, with Everest poking its southwest face over the huge ridgeline linking Nuptse and Lhotse. Thyangboche Monastery is one of the most important monasteries in the Khumbu Region, and the late afternoon can be spent visiting this ancient Monastery. It is the traditional place where all Everest Expeditions receive their blessings as they walk towards the base camp. After visiting Thyangboche Monastery, a short, steep, and muddy descent to Debouche through the forest of birches, conifers, and rhododendrons.

Dinner and overnight stay at Hotel / Lodge in Debouche.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.

After breakfast, we begin our trek to Dingboche. For the next half-hour walk, we find the path on level ground and proceed further uphill to reach Pangboche (4010m/13,157 ft.). After Pangboche, we walk along the river towards the village of Tshomare, where we take a short break for lunch. Further, the trail goes up to the left, through the front yards of a few herders’ huts, over a stone wall, and climbs a small ridge before descending to Khumbu Khola, crossing it by a bridge. After a 10-minute walk from Khumbu Khola, we will reach Dingboche.

Overnight stay at a Lodge in Dingboche.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.

Today, after breakfast, we go out for an acclimatisation walk to a nearby hillock. We will try to gain a height of 300 meters, and from the top, we will be able to see the beautiful views of Mt. Tawache, Ama Dablam, Island Peak, Lhotse, Everest, and Pumori.

Overnight stay at a Lodge in Dingboche.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.

On the way, you can enjoy the beautiful view of Mt. Cholatse (6443m/21,140 ft.) and, back on the Westside route, Mt. Ama Dablam (6856m/22,495 ft.). After arriving at the ridge, descend for about ten minutes, cross a bridge, and arrive at Thugla (4620m/15,158 ft.) for an early lunch. (Note: due to unavailability of water, this is the only lunch stop available). After lunch, the ascent is very steep for about one hour to reach the Sherpa Memorial place, founded in remembrance of those mountaineers who died during expeditions. Travel along the jumbled moraines and scattered rocks, passing by the memorials of Rob Hall, Yasuko Namba, and others who perished during the Mt. Everest disaster of 1996. The memorial chortens dot the skyline facing the mountains and overlooking the valley below. Further on, the trail leads to the terminal moraine of the Khumbu Glacier with views of Pumori (7165m/23,508 ft.) in the foreground. The stark and rugged beauty creates almost a moonscape. The campsite Lobuche is reached after another hour of steady trekking through the moraine and is situated in a windswept valley with views of Nuptse. Dinner and overnight stay at a lodge in Lobuche.

Overnight at teahouse lodge in Lobuche.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.

Today, we start the trek early in the morning. After about one and a half hours of walking, we can see the Khumbu Glacier. The path becomes tougher not because it’s uphill, but because of its rocky nature and also due to the high altitude. We reach Gorakshep in about three hours and take a short rest, keeping our backpacks in one of the lodges. This was the base camp of the 1952 Swiss Everest expedition. In 1953, the British Everest expedition called this ’lake camp’. Gorakshep has a small lake that is usually frozen.

We proceed towards the Everest Base Camp. Everest Base Camp is not actually a specific site. Various expeditions have selected different locations for a semi-permanent camp during their assault on the mountain. Some of the sites that expeditions have used as base camps are identifiable from debris on the glacier at 5340m or more. The trip to Base Camp, while fascinating, is not as spectacular as the ascent of Kala Patthar because there is no view of Everest itself from Base Camp.

Overnight stay at a lodge in Gorakshep.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.

Today is the most beautiful day of the trek, where you are going to see a few good peaks along with Mt. Everest. Start early in the morning, trek the steep uphill climb to Kala Patthar. One must make sure to take their time and walk at a pace with which they feel most comfortable. From the top, we get magnificent views of the Himalayan Range. We are able to see peaks such as Lingtren, Khumbutse, Chagtse Tower, and Everest itself, close to another peak called Nuptse. It takes us over 3 hours to reach the summit, with several stops along the way to catch our breath. We will spend some time at the Kala Patthar summit and capture a lifetime memory with our cameras. After having some packed breakfast, we will head down the valley as we begin our return to civilisation. It will take 4-5 hours to reach Pheriche. Dinner and overnight stay at a lodge in Pheriche.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.

After breakfast, we start trekking to Khumjung. The route begins by retracing our steps through the long walled paths of the village, then descends to the bridge. We cross the wooden bridge and gradually ascend along the flanks of the hills until we reach a pass with a chorten. From here, we descend continuously, and a little further along the route, it joins the main trail coming from Dingboche. It takes about 45 minutes from here to reach the village of Somare at 4010 m. We pass through the village and then walk for another 45 minutes along the hillside high above the Dudhkosi River, reaching the village of Pangboche (3,985m), an ideal place to stop for lunch.

After lunch, we will continue walking to Khumjung. The trail gradually descends up to Thyangboche via Debouche. The trail has a few ups and downs while offering amazing views of the high Himalayas along the way.

Overnight at a teahouse lodge in Tashinga.

In the morning, we start the trek towards Namche by following the path around the eastern flanks of the hills. At the rear are the beautiful west faces of Thamserku (6,608m) and Kang Taiga (6,685m). From Namche Bazaar, we head to the end of the village and then immediately start descending to the river. We follow along the banks of the river and then continue descending to Monjo for overnight stay.

Overnight at a teahouse lodge in Monjo.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.

Early in the morning, there is a surprisingly hard uphill climb to Lukla after Phakding, which should take about 3 hours. It is a delightful ending to the trip as we enter this busy village of Lukla.

Overnight at a teahouse lodge in Lukla.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.

Early in the morning, transfer to Lukla Airport to board an onward flight to Ramechhap, which takes about 20 minutes. Upon arrival at the airport, we will drive to Kathmandu and check into the hotel. The rest of the time is free for refreshment and rest.

Overnight at the hotel in Kathmandu.

Meals included: Breakfast.

This day is kept as a contingency day in case there are any delays in the Lukla flight.

After breakfast, timely transfer to Tribhuvan International Airport to board an onward flight to your home country 3 hours earlier than the scheduled departure time.

Meal Included: Breakfast.