Day 01 – Arrival in Kathmandu, hotel transfer and trip briefing
From the Tribhuvan International Airport, you will be transferred to your hotel in Thamel. In the afternoon, you will have a short briefing about the trip and your Sagarmatha National Park Permits and TIMS card will be issued. You will have some free time in the evening to explore Thamel and prepare for the trip the following day.
Day 02 – Fly from Kathmandu to Lukla (2800m) ** and trek to Phakding (2660m)
After an early morning flight to Lukla, we trek down to Chheplung, Chaurikharka. From here, the trail contours along the banks of Dudhkoshi (Milk River) valley before ascending to Ghats (2530m). The trail then ascends towards Phakding (2660m) where we stay overnight.
Day 03 – Trek from Phakding to Namche Bazar (3535m)
The trail crosses the Milk River through several suspension bridges before leading to Banker village (2700m) and Chumoa. Further along the trail leads to Monju where we take a quick break for registration, before descending to Dudh Koshi and Joraselle, the last village before Namche Bazar. A steady two to three hours of climb will lead us to the famous Sherpa settlement and trading capital.
Day 04 – Acclimatization day in Namche Bazar
Namche Bazar is the Sherpa capital of the Solu Khumbu region which houses the Sagarmatha National Park visitor center. There are plenty of things to do around Namche Bazar. We will spend a day here acclimatizing by visiting Syangboche, Everest View hotel, Khumjung and Khunde village.
Day 05 – Trek from Namche Bazar to Tengboche (3880m)
After an early morning breakfast in Namche Bazar, we head straight to the trail that slightly goes uphill then descends to Dudh Koshi River (3250m). There are several small lodges in this area and a series of picturesque water-driven prayer wheels. Most trekkers take their lunch in this place before ascending to Tengboche (3880m). From Tengboche, you get a stunning view of Mt. Ama Dablam. During the peak trekking season of October or November during the full moon, a colorful festival called Mani Rimdu is held in the Tengboche monastery courtyard where masked dancing and performances from the Tibetan Opera take place.
Day 06 – Trek from Tengboche to Pheriche (4240m)
From Tengboche, the trail slightly drops down to Debouche, crosses the Imja Khola and climbs through a rhododendron forest past superb mani stones carved with the Tibetan Buddhist mantra “Om mani padme hum” to Pangboche(3860m). The monastery here is oldest in the Khumbu Region, and it is considered the best place in the area to stop for lunch. The trails climb past Somare village and Orsho to Pheriche (4240m). Pheriche village has a dozen of lodges for overnight stay, and it also possible to secure medical assistance here courtesy of the Himalayan Rescue Association (HRA) aid post.
Day 07 – Acclimatization day in Pheriche
Another acclimatization day will be spent in Pheriche by resting in village or visiting Dingboche. Chukung is another possible destination, and both places offer very good view of the snowy peaks of the Khumbu Himalaya.
Day 08 – Trek from Pheriche to Lobuche (4920m)
From Pheriche, the trail slightly climbs uphill to Phulang Khola (4340m) then another mild two and a half hour trek will lead to Thukla where you will have rest and take lunch. One and a half hour from Thukla, the trail goes directly up the graveyard of the Khumbu glacier. This area is the memorial place of deceased international climbers and Sherpas, including Scott Fischer who perished in the 1996 Everest disaster. It is a short climb with a view of Mt. Pumori. Half an hour from the memorial pass is Lobuche.
Day 09 – Trek from Lobuche to Gorakshep (5180m) and go to Everest Base Camp (5346m)
The uphill trip from Lobuche to Gorakshep will take around three hours Another three hours from Gorakshep is the base camp of Mt. Everest. This can be done in a single day. If you are travelling in April or May, there are plenty of expedition tents because of the climbing season. In other months, there is no view from Everest base camp. There are limited sceneries to see including the Khumbu Icefall.
Day 10 – Trek from Gorakshep to Lobuche (4930m)
Early the next morning, we climb Kalapathar for the best chance to have good view of the mountains. At 5545m, the small viewpoint in Kalapathar offers the best view of Mt. Everest, Mt. Lhotse and other snowy peaks in Nepal. Gorakshep is the base camp of the 1952 Swiss Expedition to Mt. Everest. After scaling Kalapathar, we go back to the lodge in Gorakshep to have breakfast before heading down to Lobuche for around three hours.
Day 11 – Trek from Lobuche to Dingboche (4410m)
From Lobuche, the trail slightly goes down. It takes about four to five hours of trek to reach Dingboche, where you will stay for the night. There are plenty of nice lodges with good views of surrounding peaks like Island Peak (Imjastse) and Mt. Lhotse.
Day 12 – Trek from Dingboche to Namche Bazar (3535m)|
Reaching Namche Bazar from Dingboche takes around six to seven hours. The trail slightly goes down to Namche Bazar, passing through the villages of Orsho, Somare, Pangboche, Imja Khola, Debouche, Tengboche, Phungithaga and Sanasa.
Day 13 – Trek from Namche Bazar to Lukla (2850m)
The trail steeply goes down through a rhododendron and pine forest to Largung bridge. It will take a total of seven hours to walk to Lukla.
Day 14 – Fly from Lukla to Kathmandu (1350m)
You will take an early morning flight from Lukla to Kathmandu and transfer to your hotel. You have the remainder of the day to rest and relax after the gruelling trek.
Day 15 – Departure for your onward flight
** For a walk in the Everest region it is necessary to take a flight to Lukla. Because of the small airport it is really important that the weather is good enough to fly. Only it happens more than once that the flights are canceled. You wait at the airport, some flights go and there may be a moment that cancels the rest of the flights. If you book a trekking with visionadventurenepal you will be determined how to act in this situation. There are a two options.
- You can decide to take a helicopter to Lukla and start your trek. The cost of a helicopter is about 2500 dollars and it can carry 5 to 6 people. If you choose this option, you will also be allowed to decide after how many days you want to take a helicopter when canceling the flight.
- You can decide to drive with a jeep to Salliry. It's 396 km away from Kathmandu and it takes 10 hours to drive with the jeep. The cost of a jeep is 200 dollar and it can carry 4 - 5 people. From Salliry you have to walk till Lukla, before you can start with your regular trek. Salliry to Lukla by walking takes 3 days. Also for this option you decided in the front after how many days you want to go for this option.
For both options takes into account the extra days that the salary for the guide and / or porter must be paid.
Off course visionadventurenepal is always open to deviate from your decision, if this can also be planned.
