A direct approach to the foot of the world's highest mountain - Mount Everest. A trek designed to get you real close-up to the ‘mother of all peaks’ Mt. Everest, the highest peak in the world - 16 days.
The Everest Base Camp trek, a very well known mountain trek, starts at the upper Phakding and follows the Dudh Kosi valley which climbs up to the Sherpa capital of Namche, a bustling bazaar that’s a junction for trekkers, the local Sherpa and expeditions en route to the mighty Mt. Everest. All along this part of the trail, villages are interspersed with magnificent forests of rhododendron, magnolia and giant firs. In both the early autumn and late spring, the flowers on this portion of the trek make it the kind of walk you will remember for a long, long time.
Testimonials:
"I would like to thanks this trek to the Explore Himalaya team and Sherpas. Everybody worked hard. I felt myself safety. My next tour in this area will be organized by Explore Himalaya." Name: Atila V. Country: Hungary
“The staff of Explore Himalaya could not have been better”
Your trek guide: “The best guide I have ever had, knew the area very well, good at dealing with altitude sickness and understood our ability to walk at different speeds well” Name: Alison G. Country: UK
Outline Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrive Kathmandu
Day 2: Sightseeing tour in Kathmandu
Day 3: Flight to Lukla & trek to Phakding
Day 4: Trek to Namche (3450m)
Day 5: Rest day in Namche
Day 6: Trek to Thayngboche (3864m)
Day 7: Trek to Pheriche (4252m)
Day 8: Rest day in Periche
Day 9: Trek to Lobuche (4930m)
Day 10: Trek to Gorak Shep (5184m)
Day 11: Trek to Everest BC (5357m), back to Gorak Shep
Day 12: Trek to Pangboche (3985m)
Day 13: Trek to Namche (3450m)
Day 14: Trek to Lukla (2900m)
Day 15: Flight to Kathmandu
Day 16: Depart Kathmandu
Tour Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrival in Kathmandu. Flying to Kathmandu on a clear day is in itself an exciting and memorable experience. The panoramic view of snow-capped mountain peaks sprawling down below is worth a sight. At the airport, the Nepali support team will meet you and escort you to your hotel.
Day 2: Sightseeing in Kathmandu Valley. Kathmandu, being a historical and cultural heart of Nepal, is a popular destination for tourists, trekkers and adventure seekers. The city presents a wonderful mixture of Hinduism, Tibetan Buddhism and Western influence in the Valley. Patan and Bhaktapur are its two major neighboring cities. These two cities bear a rich historical, cultural and religious significance. There will be a half day guided tour to the most famous Hindu shrine Pasupathinath, the largest Buddhist stupa in the city Boudhanath, the 15th century palace of 55 windows and Soyambhunath. In the evening, a trip orientation meeting will be organized.
Day 3: Flight to Lukla - Trek to Phakding (2656m). A flight to Lukla and a landing on a steep mountain runway brings us to the start of our trek at the village of Lukla (2850m). After meeting the crew, we head up the Dudh Koshi Valley on a well-marked trail and then stay overnight in Phakding.
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. We then take a steep hike to Namche. If the weather is clear, we 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, acclimatising to the new altitude before heading off towards Tengboche. To acclimatize, you 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 Tengboche (3867m). From Namche, the trail contours on to the side of the valley, high above the Dudh Kosi. We get our first really good views of the great peaks of the Khumbu including Mt Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse and Ama Dablam. Passing by several villages and numerous tea shops, we descend steeply to a bridge over the river at Phunki Tenga. The village is an ideal stopover for lunch. Here we can rest before making the steep climb to Tengboche. Although the hike up the zigzag path is tiring, it presents us with many beautiful sights of rhododendron bushes with beautiful birds and superb mountain scenery. Tengboche is famous for its legendary monastery, the largest in the Khumbu. A spectacular panorama of Everest, Lhotse and Ama Dablam rising in the horizon can be seen from the campsite.
Day 7: Trek to Pheriche (4252m). We descend downhill through a forest, cross the Imja Khola and climb steadily to the village of Pangboche. This village is directly opposite Ama Dablam (6,856 m), and has exceptional views of the mountain, with the gompa, mani walls and scattered pine trees in the foreground. A further two hours walk brings us to Pheriche.
Day 8: Pheriche. A day to rest and acclimatize. We also get to wander up the valley to look at a lake, the Tshola Tsho and the perpendicular walls of Cholatse and Tawache. We can climb up onto the ridge overlooking Dingboche for the view of the Imja Valley and the incredible south face of Mt. Lhotse.
Day 9: Trek to Lobuche (4930m). We continue up the wide valley beneath the impressive peaks of Cholatse and Tawache on the left. We then turn right and take a steep climb towards the foot of the Khumbu Glacier. The tea house at Duglha is a good spot to have lunch. The trail zigzags up through the boulders of the glacier's terminal moraine. At the top of this climb there are many stone cairns, built as memorials to the many Sherpas who have died while climbing Mt Everest. The path then climbs gently along the glacier, to eventually reach the cluster of houses at Lobuche.
Day 10: Trek to Gorak Shep (5184m). To reach our next stop, Kala Pattar, we follow the Khumbu Glacier. The trail 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 our camping place: Gorak Shep. Later in the afternoon, we make our way to the top of one of the finest viewpoints in the Everest region, Kala Pattar (5554m). As the light begins to fade we stroll back to our camp at Gorak Shep and have an early night in preparation for our trek to Everest Base Camp the following day.
Day 11: Trek to Everest Base Camp (5357m). A very early start is required to reach the Everest Base Camp. It takes several hours as the trail weaves its way through ice pinnacles and past the crevasses of the Khumbu Glacier. On the return leg, we can take a higher route to get a spectacular view of the Khumbu icefall and the route to the South Col. We return to either Gorak Shep or Lobuche.
Day 12: Trek to Pangboche (3985m). Today’s trek is mostly downhill. As we retrace our steps to Duglha and descend to Pheriche, we arrive at The Himalayan Rescue Association, a trekkers aid post and worth a visit. After lunch we cross the Khumbu Khola on a wooden suspension bridge and follow the Imja Khola to the village of Pangboche.
Day 13: Trek to Namche (3450m). We continue to follow the river and, after crossing it, climb back up through birch and rhododendron forest to Tengboche. Kwangde, Tawache, Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse, Ama Dablam, Kantega and Thamserku are just a few of the Himalayan giants to be seen. From Tengboche we descend to the bridge over the Dudh Kosi. At Phunki Tenga, we get to see the water driven prayer wheels, before making our way back to Namche.
Day 14: Trek to Lukla (2800m). Our final day's trekking follows the Dudh Kosi down to Lukla. This last evening calls for a celebration. We have a party with our sherpa guides and porters. We sample some chang (local beer) and try out some Sherpa dance steps. Altogether an end to a memorable trip on a merry note.
Day 15: Fly to Kathmandu. We take an early morning flight back to Kathmandu.
Day 16: Depart Kathmandu. The Nepalese support team will take you to the airport for your flight home. If you prefer to stay longer, you can go for short tours such as game drive at National parks, rafting, Tibet tours, mountain biking etc.
Notes:
Airfare is included in the tour price.
Price Includes:
- Guide, Accommodation and Porter Trek
- National Park Fees
- Domestic flight
- Airport transfers
- 3 nights at 3 star hotel in Kathmandu
- Sightseeing tour in Kathmandu
Price Excludes:
- International flight
- Food during trek (approximately USD 10-15 per person and per day)
- Airport tax
- Lunch & dinner in Kathmandu
- Personal gears & clothing
- Tips, any expenses of personal nature, client's insurance
Also see tour packages in:
Asia
Nepal
Hiking & Trekking
Ecotourism
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