Day 1- Kathmandu: Arrival Day
Welcome to Nepal! A representative will meet you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel. Once you’ve settled in, we’ll introduce you to your trekking guide. This is an exciting moment - you’ll be seeing a lot of each other over the next three weeks, and our guides consistently get excellent reviews. On this, your first evening, we’ll go over some last-minute details over dinner.
Day 2 - Kathmandu to Jiri
A local bus will drive us to Jiri today, after breakfast. It’s an eight or nine hour drive, so it’ll be late in the day by the time we arrive at our teahouse. We aren’t trekking in earnest yet, but there are some great views as the landscape outside rolls by. Expect a final briefing with dinner, and then it’s off to sleep: our adventure kicks off in the morning!
Day 3 - Jiri to Bhandar
There's nothing like kicking things off with a bang, and that's how we'll be starting this trek! The ascent to the schoolhouse at Sangbadanda is a steep one, but there are cold drinks and a bit of rest waiting at the top. After, we’ll follow the muddy trail to Deurali before stopping to dine with the Sherpas again for lunch. The afternoon will see us cross local Buddhist villages, finally stopping for the night in Bhandar.
Day 4 - Bhandar to Sete
It's downhill to Dokharpa after breakfast, through a valley to Likhu Khola, and finally to Kinja for lunch. We’ll stretch our legs with a steep climb to Lamjura, and then an almost-vertical slope to Chimbu! Sete is nearby, and will be a welcome sight after an arduous day of climbing!
Day 5 - Sete to Lamjura Pass, Junbesi
Hopefully you got some rest last night, as we have another bracing day ahead! The climb to Lamjura Pass is steep and difficult, but the extraordinary loveliness of the scenery makes it worthwhile: there are gorgeous jungles of maple and rhododendron, all dotted with fragrant magnolias. We’ll get a bit of a respite as we descend to Dagchu, which is between two ponds, and then we are back up again, going through Goyom on the way to Junbesi. Hear that roar overhead? Could be the planes headed to Lukla, a major starting point for many Himalayan treks.
Day 6 - Junbesi: Acclimatization
It has been a rough several days; time to take an extended break. We’ll stay over in Junbesi today to adjust to the higher altitude and rest up for the next leg of the journey! If you are feeling up to it, the nearby Tashi Thongmom Gompa makes a fascinating day trip with plenty of historic interest. As a bonus, the trail to the monastery winds by Junbesi Secondary School, which is among the largest in this area.
Day 7- Junbesi to Nunthala
We're back on the road again! We cross the Junbesi Khola this morning as we exit the village, heading towards Khumbu via an uphill trail. You'll temporarily wonder if we accidentally teleported to Europe, as the deep pine forests and rustic cow pastures are a real novelty! From Phurteng, where we stop for lunch, we’ll glimpse Everest for the first time, along with the peaks of Mera and Kantega as well. The afternoon will see is wend through shepherd’s huts and forest scenery en route to Nunthala.
Day 8 - Nunthala to Bupsa
We'll follow the English Milk River to Dudh Kosi as a new day begins, descending through farmland and forest trails to Phuleli and our morning break. We’ll then cross the river and trek alongside several crop fields (maize, barley, and wheat) before arriving in Jubing. We’ll follow the crop terraces uphill towards Bupsa, hiking through an oak forest before making our arrival.
Day 9 - Bupsa to Lukla
We start out in the direction of Surkhe, climbing through the forest landscape before hitting the Sherpa village of Kharte. After that, we'll scale the Khari La Pass, passing the caves that porters occasionally use to rest on the way to Lukla. Another extended trek brings us to Surkhe, and finally the trekking hub of Lukla.
Day 10 - Lukla to Phakding
We'll kick things off today with an easy walk through Chaurikharka village and descent towards Dudhkoshi Ghat. The trail follows the bank of the Dudhkoshi River until Phakding, a popular stopping point. We're a bit lower than Lukla at this point, all the better to acclimatize. Enjoy a bit of free time in Phakding, and then rest up!
Day 11 - Phakding to Namche Bazaar
We'll have breakfast in Phakding before gearing up for the trek to Namche, the biggest sherpa village in Nepal. Our trail takes us first over the Dudhkoshi River via a long suspension bridge, and then through a beautiful pine forest to Monjo, about two hours away. Soon thereafter, we will approach the entrance to Sagarmatha National Park for a brief permit check and then descend to Dudh Kosi River (spotting Mani stones along the way!) en route to Jorsale. Lunch will be served here, and then it's uphill to Namche. Our path along the riverbank is flanked by two crossings, one of which is the Hillary Suspension Bridge. It’s a tough climb up the hill to our resting place, but you'll be rewarded in Namche Bazaar with another glimpse of Everest in its majesty.
Day 12 - Namche Bazaar: Acclimatization
At this point, we take a well-deserved break! Today will be spent resting and allowing our bodies to become acclimatized to the lofty altitude. Spend the day exploring Namche Bazaar. Check out the Sherpa museum for an overview of the Sherpa culture and history of mountaineering. On Saturdays, the Hatt Bazaar is open for trading and an intimate look at the locals’ marketplace. It is part of the larger Namche Bazaar, a shopping hub filled with all manner of trekking and mountaineering clothing and equipment.
Day 13 - Namche Bazaar to Phortse
Breakfast in Namche Bazaar fuels us for another day of trekking towards Everest Base Camp today! Breathtaking views of the Himalayas - Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse, Ama Dablam, Thamserku and Kwangde - are some of the highlights not be missed. Our destination, Phortse, is known as one of the most beautiful places in the Everest region. Its views, which include Ama Dablam, are legendary.
Day 14 - Phortse to Dingboche
The trail today parallels the canyon of the raging Imja Khol River with its glacial blue waters. Its a gradual climb up to the village of Pangboche, the biggest settlement of Sherpas in the region. Enjoy a great opportunity to observe a typical Sherpa village and have lunch with the locals! The intrepid can brave a brief hike to the Pangboche monastery, one of the oldest in the area. Our afternoon trek will be a difficult one, as the landscape gives way to dry, deserted mountains and we hike towards Dingboche.
Note: During winter season if snow is on the trail we will use the route via Debouche and Tengboche as an alternate.
Day 15 - Dingboche: Acclimatization
This is your chance to rest up before the last leg of our adventure! Savor a full day of exploring Dingboche and the surrounding valleys of Chhukung and Imja, the latter of which links with Island Peak, the high passes of Amphu Laptsa, and Makalu Barun National Park. Taking an optional trek to the valleys will pay off in rewarding views, but taking it easy is the most important thing today. You'll need your rest for the penultimate day of ascent tomorrow.
Day 16 - Dingboche to Lobuche
From here on forth, the trek will move more gradually be more challenging, due to the higher altitude. We’ll pass Dungla, but not before a tough, steep walk to the top of a high hill. Here are the memorial stupas dedicated to the climbers and trekkers who lost their lives to Everest over the years. The next part of our adventure brings over craggy mountain terrain to Lobuche, a small settlement with amazing views of Mt. Lobuche, Mt. Pumari and the Nuptse. Prepare to snuggle up for a cold night, as we are now almost three miles above sea level and the evenings can be downright chilly!
Day 17 - Lobuche to Gorakshep, EBC & EBC to Gorakshep
This is it! Our big day kicks off with an initial, relatively easy trek from Lobuche to Gorekshep. The subsequent, straight trail to Everest Base Camp is harder, involving rocky dunes and moraine, formed accumulation of unconsolidated glacial debris. On the way to our destination, we'll approach the famed Khumbu Glacier and icefall, located on the slopes of Everest. At the Base Camp, our goal, you'll have the chance (during the spring climbing season) to meet climbers attempting to scale the mountain’s summit. Break out your cameras for unbelievable views of breathtaking beauty. As the afternoon sun starts to wane, we'll head back to Gorekshep for some much-needed rest and relaxation after a grueling and busy day.
Day 18 - Gorekshep to Kalapathar and Pheriche or Panboche
We'll wake before dawn today to trek towards Kalapathar (which means "black rock") for a fiery, glorious sunrise over Mt. Everest. The day's first light will illuminate your spectacular view of Nuptse Nup, Changtse and Lhotse.This may be, of the whole journey, your most opportune moment to snap amazing pictures of Everest and its neighboring peaks. Afterwards, it's back to Gorekshep for breakfast and down in the direction of Pheriche, our nighttime stop. If the group has energy we may continue from Pheriche to Panboche for the final stop. Our pace will be a lot brisker as we descend, and the walking is easier going this way.
Day 19 - Pheriche to Namche Bazaar
The walk from Pheriche back to Tengboche is mainly downhill, although it does, counterintuitively, require an hour scaling a hill. We'll be in Namche by late afternoon and off to bed before our last day on the mountain.
Day 20 - Namche to Phakding, Lukla
After breakfast, we trek toward the Hillary Suspension Bridge and then pass through several local villages. Our arrival in Lukla brings an evening in a proper hotel and, traditionally, a party with your trekking crew: you made it! Thanks to great teamwork and perseverance, you’ve accomplished a physical feat of which others only dream. This is your last night on the mountain, which can be bittersweet.
Day 21 - Lukla to Kathmandu
In the morning, you'll hop a brief flight from Lukla to Kathmandu (See Note), where your journey both began and ends. You'll transfer to your hotel upon landing for some much-needed solo rest and reflection after your trek conquering the Himalayas. We'll reunite in the evening for a farewell dinner at one of the best Nepalese restaurants in town, where we'll be eager to hear your feedback on the trip.
Please Read: Lukla Flights are departing and returning to Ramechhap instead of Kathmandu due to ongoing upgrades at Kathmandu Airport. Its about a 4 to 6 hour drive from Ramechhap back to Kathmandu depending on traffic.
Day 22 - Kathmandu: Departure Day
It's your last day in Nepal! Grab some breakfast, and then take in some last-minute shopping in Kathmandu. We'll make sure you arrive at Kathmandu International Airport with plenty time before your flight home. At this time, we'll say our goodbyes and bid you farewell, armed with warm memories and gorgeous photos to show your loved ones.
