Routes

Overview

Everest Foothills

Classic Everest Base Camp

Base camp & Gokyo Lakes

Base camp & High Passes

Base camp & Island Peak

Pioneers Trail

Day 1 : Arrival in Kathmandu
A representative and driver will meet you at the airport and escort you to your hotel. The representative will help you check into your designated hotel. At the hotel, you will be briefed about your daily activities.

Day 2 : Sightseeing in Kathmandu Valley
Kathmandu, the historical and cultural heart of Nepal, has been a popular destination for tourists ever since Nepal opened its doors to visitors. The city presents a wonderful mix of Hinduism, Tibetan Buddhism and Western influence in the Valley. Patan and Bhaktapur, its two major neighbouring cities bear immense historical, cultural and religious significances. There will be a half day guided tour to the famous and biggest Hindu shrine of Pashupatinath, the largest Buddhist stupa in Nepal Boudhanath, the 15th century palace of 55 windows and Swayambhunath. In the evening you will be briefed about your trip. Overnight at your hotel in Kathmandu.

Day 3 : Flight to Lukla & Trek to Phakding (2656m)
The flight from Kathmandu to Lukla takes 45 minutes. A hair-raising landing on a steep mountain runway, brings you to the village of Lukla (2900m). After meeting the crew, you start your trek by heading up the Dudh Koshi Valley on a well-marked trail to Phakding.  Overnight at teahouse.

Day 4 : Trek to Namche (3450m)
From Phakding, we cross and re-cross the river on high suspension bridges. Beyond Monjo is the entrance to the Sagarmatha National Park which was set-up in order to protect and preserve the fragile mountain environment. You then take a steep hike to Namche. If the weather is clear, you get the first glimpse of Mt Everest. Namche is the main trading village in the Khumbu and has a busy Saturday market - a meeting place for the Hindu traders from the lowlands and the Tibetan yak caravans that have crossed the glaciated Nangpa La.

Day 5 : Rest day in Namche
Namche is tucked away between two ridges amidst the giant peaks of the Khumbu and has an abundance of lodges, tea shops and souvenir shops. It is an ideal place to spend a day, acclimatizing to the new altitude before heading off towards Tengboche. To acclimatize, you can visit Khunde Hospital set-up by Sir Edmund Hillary, or take a one hour walk up to the Everest View Hotel above Namche for the sunset view of Ama Dablam, Nuptse, Lhotse and Everest. There are also good views from the National Park Centre and Museum just above the town.

Day 6 : Trek to Thame (3739m)
From Namche the route turns west and the trail is almost level as you head up the Bhote Koshi Valley, once a popular trading route into Tibet. Along the way you pass many prayer flags and mani stones, all indicative of the Tibetan Buddhist culture of this area. After descending to the Bhote Koshi the trail climbs steeply to Thame. From here there are good views of the peaks of Teng Kangpoche and Kwangde. To the north is the Nangpa La, the pass leading to Tibet. Thame Gompa is situated above the village overlooking the valley and is the site for the spring celebrations of the Mani Rimdu festival.

Day 7 : Trek to Khumjung (3786m)
You retrace your route down the Bhote Koshi Valley towards Namche and branch off to follow a quiet trail to Khumjung. It is a picturesque village which also has its own gompa at the top end of town. You have excellent views of Thamserku, Kantega and Ama Dablam.

Day 8 : Trek to Dole (4040m)
Soon after leaving Khumjung the trail climbs to a large Chorten on top of a ridge. This ridge descends from Khumbila, a 5734m peak, said to be the abode of the patron God of the Khumbu region. The trail descends towards the Dudh Koshi where you stop for lunch near the bridge leading to the village of Phortse. You then pass through Phortse Tenga and from there, the trail climbs steeply to Dole, through rhododendron and birch forest festooned with hanging mosses and lichens.

Day 9 : Trek to Machermo (4410m)
From Dole you climb steadily along the side of the valley. As the altitude increases, the rhododendron forests give way to scrub juniper. The trail passes many summer settlements (yersa), which are used when yaks are taken to these pastures to graze in summer. Ahead of you are excellent views of Cho Oyu, while back down the valley are the peaks of Kantega and Thamserku. This is a short trek and you will arrive at Machermo in time for lunch.

Day 10 : Trek to Gokyo (4750m)
Today you head for the lakes at Gokyo. We follow a very scenic path to Pangka and then descend slightly, following one of the melting rivers which flow down the west side of the Ngozumpa Glacier. You climb a steep rocky incline into the valley by the side of the glacier, passing the first of the holy lakes. You soon arrive at the second lake, crossing the path which heads across the glacier to Cho La - our route to Lobuche and Everest, later in the trek. The third lake is known as Dudh Pokhari (Milk Lake) and on its eastern shore is the settlement of Gokyo. Walking by the side of the lake, the scenery is magnificent with the summits of Cho Oyu and Gyachung Kang reflected in its emerald green waters.

Day 11 : Ascent of Gokyo Ri (5340m) & Trek to Na (4390m)
Gokyo Ri looms above the village on the northern edge of the lake. You leave camp just after first light, following a steep path up the hillside. As you climb, the summits of Everest, Lhotse and Makalu slowly come into view and the sight from the summit of Gokyo Ri itself, is one of the finest to be had in the Everest region - some say it is even better than that from Kala Pattar. After lunch it is a short walk to the village of Na, situated at the foot of the Ngozumpa Glacier.

Day 12 : Trek to Phortse (3542m)
Now you descend back along the valley to Phortse, a village which seems unaffected by the advent of trekkers. The quiet rhythm of life continues as it has always done in the village.

Day 13 : Trek to Dingboche (4336m)
From Phortse the trail climbs and contours around the west side of the Imja Khola valley, providing excellent views of Ama Dablam, the Nuptse-Lhotse wall and Everest. You enter Pangboche on the high trail and after lunch visit the monastery which has relics said to be the skull and hand of a yeti. From Pangboche you walk through alpine meadows and pass beneath the towering Ama Dablam to Dingboche.

Day 14 : Trek to Lobuche (4939m)
After passing the teahouses of Duglha, you climb higher onto the terminal moraine of the Khumbu glacier, passing a row of stone monuments built in memory of Sherpas who have died on mountaineering expeditions to Mt Everest. From here the trail drops and follows the west side of the valley to Lobuche. The sunset on Nuptse from here is quite spectacular.

Day 15 - Trek to Gorak Shep (5184m)
Your next stopover is Kala Pattar. The trail at first follows the valley beside the Khumbu Glacier, and offers superb views of the surrounding mountains, especially where the path is forced to rise to cross a tributary glacier. We stop for lunch at Gorak Shep. Later in the afternoon, when the sun begins to set over the Everest peak, you make your way to the top of one of the finest viewpoints in the Everest region, Kala Pattar (5554m). As the light begins to fade you stroll back to Gorak Shep and have an early night in preparation for your trek to Everest Base Camp the following day.

Day 16 : Ascent of Kala Pattar & trek to Everest Base Camp (5357m)
To reach Everest Base Camp, a very early start is required. It takes several hours on the trail which weaves its way through ice pinnacles and past the crevasses of the Khumbu Glacier. On the return leg, you can take a higher route to get a spectacular view of the Khumbu icefall and the route to the South Col. You return to either Gorak Shep or Lobuche to camp for the night.

Day 17 : Trek to Pangboche (3985m)
Today is downhill most of the way, as you retrace your steps to Duglha and descend to Pheriche. The Himalayan Rescue Association has a trekkers' aid post here and it is quite interesting. After lunch you cross the Khumbu Khola on a wooden suspension bridge and follow the Imja Khola to the village of Pangboche.

Day 18 : Trek to Namche (3450m)
You continue to follow the river and, after crossing it, climb back up through birch and rhododendron forest to the famous monastery at Thyangboche. The views from here are magnificent and Kwangde, Tawache, Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse, Ama Dablam, Kantega and Thamserku are just a few of the Himalayan giants to be seen. From Thyangboche you descend to the bridge over the Dudh Koshi at Phunki Tenga, where there are water driven prayer wheels, before making your way back to Namche.

Day 19 : Trek to Lukla (2800m)
Your final day's trekking follows the Dudh Koshi back down to Lukla. This last evening in the mountains is the ideal opportunity for a farewell party with the Sherpa guides and porters, where you can sample some chang, try Sherpa dancing and look back on a memorable trekking experience.

Day 20 : Fly to Kathmandu
After an early breakfast, you will head to the airstrip for your return journey to Kathmandu. Later, you are have free time to explore free for independent activities. You stay overnight in a hotel in Kathmandu.

Day 21 : Depart Kathmandu
Our representative will take you to the airport for your flight home.