Dominating Everest Base Camp, Kala Pattar, 18,192 feet, is the most famous wiewpoint on Everest and Khumbu summits : Lhotse, Nuptse, Pumori, Ama Dablam. It is as well the high point of the most beautiful trekking Nepal can offer you if you just can spare two weeks holidays. This route, opened by one of our groups in 1997, allows a smooth discovery of the holy mountains and monasteries of Sherpa country, respecting the acclimatization stages which are required for the success of a altitude trekking.
Hanging glaciers standing out against a dark blue sky, prayers drone out with a deep voice close to monasteries, ... so much emotions in this adventure, going to meet Sherpa country and the hospitality of his dwellers.
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Our specific assets on this programme :
- guiding by a very experienced IFMGA French Mountain Guide, speaking fluently English with a near-native comprehension, during the whole programme, equipped with a first-aid kit and a Gamow bag
- assistance of Sherpa Guides, very experienced in trekking in Khumbu
- our local correspondent takes out an insurance policy for the whole Nepalese team (Sherpa Guides, cook, kitchen-boys, porters)
- all the meals will be taken in lodges(except lunch on the day of ascent of Kala Pattar), and all the meals include minimum one hot dish (for breakfast, lunch, dinner). You eat a la carte, making up your meal with a choice between more than 60 different dishes. Unlike many travel agencies who do not propose their clients to eat a la carte, or limit the choice to the cheapest and basic dishes, we make you benefit from the whole abundance of the Nepalese art of cooking.
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Day 1 : Flight Europe- Kathmandu, regular flight.
Day 2 : Landing in Kathmandu. Welcome in the airport by our local correspondent. Transfer to hotel in private bus or taxi. During the afternoon, visit of Swayambhunath sanctuary. Night in hotel.
Day 3 : Free day to visit Kathmandu (Bodnath, Pashupatinath, Durbar Square), and bargain souvenirs. Night in hotel.
Day 4 : Flight Kathmandu - Lukla, 9,350 feet, trekking to Phakding, 8,760 feet.
Early transfer in private minibus or taxi from hotel to airport. Flight in twin-engine aircraft to Lukla, with a superb wiew on Himalaya range. In Lukla, we meet the local team (Sirdar, Sherpas guides, cook and kitchen-boys, porters). We begin our trekking with a descent to Chutrawa, 8,200 feet, facing the famous peak of Karyalang, 21,920 feet, and the Khumbila, 18,900 feet, the Holy mountain of the protective God of Khumbu valleys.The footpath then follows the valley till Phakding. Night in lodge.
Duration of walking: 3 hours.
Day 5 : Phakding - Namche Bazar, 11,280 feet.
The footpath will first pass through the small villages of Chumoa and Jorsale, 9,202 feet. Jorsale is the Entry Gate of Sagarmatha National Park. Through pine forests, with nice water-falls, the footpath leads us to the impressive suspension bridge of Namche Bazar, built over the wild river Dudh Khosi. A steep ascent, offering a first glimpse on Mount Everest, brings us to Namche Bazar, main village of High Khumbu. Namche Bazar has a famous open-air market each Saturday, with merchants coming from Tibet with their yaks carrying loads through the high pass of Nangpa La, 18,750 feet asl !. Night in lodge.
Duration of walking: 5 hours and a half.
Day 6 : Namche Bazar - Tengpoche, 12,687 feet. Afternoon rest in Tengpoche.
After a short but steep ascent in Namche Bazar, we follow the hillside till Thashingo, 11,325 feet. The footpath then goes down till Dudh Kosi river, which will be crossed at Phunki, where you will admire prayer wheels driven by a small stream. We then go up through a forest of Himalayan pine-trees and rhododendrons till Tengpoche monastery. The famous buddhist monastery was entirely destroyed by fire in January 1989, and then rebuilt thanks to donations from the whole world buddhist community. The wild mountains surrounding these so worshiped Holy places enlarge the exceptional nature of this site : Thamserku, 21,680 feet and Kangtega, 21,932 feet, Ama Dablam, 22,493 feet, Lhotse, 27,923 feet and Everest, 29,029 feet. Visit of the monastery. Night in lodge.
Duration of walking: 5 hours and a half.
Day 7 : Tengpoche - Dingpoche, 14,295 feet.
From Tengpoche, the "mountain pastures footpath" is following the hillside of Ama Dablam's slopes, dominating the canyon of Imja Khola. Travel agencies are unaware of this narrow footpath, snaking through nice forests and pastures, which was rediscovered by one of our groups in 1997. You will just meet there a few Sherpanis looking for firewood, and one sheperd watching over his yaks. In Pangpoche, we join the Sherpas route of Everest valley, which leads us to the peaceful village of Dingpoche, where we will spend two nights for a better acclimatization. Night in lodge.
Duration of walking: 5 hours.
Day 8 : rest day in Dingpoche, 14,295 feet.
A rest and acclimatization day in Dingpoche, with a optional short walk to Nangkartshang Gonda, 15,144 feet, a crest capped with stupas and prayers' flags, with a superb wiew on Ama Dablam pyramid. Night in lodge.
Day 9 : Dingpoche - Lobuche, 16,175 feet. Afternoon rest in Lobuche.
The footpath goes up in the Everest valley, till Khumbu glacier and moraines. Wiew on Nuptse, Pumori, Everest, Lhotse, Ama Dablam. Night in lodge.
Duration of walking: 4 hours.
Day 10 : Lobuche - Everest Base Camp, 17,715 feet or Kala Pattar peak, 18,192 feet - Pheriche, 13,910 feet.
We leave the lodge just before dawn. In a mineral scenery, a stony path leads to Gorak Shep, the highest mountain pasture of the valley, with its famous "sand-beach" (SURPRISE !), just underneath Kala Pattar. From Gorak Shep, we can either ascend Kala Pattar, the classic wiewpoint on Everest from which is taken the famous photo showing Everest, South pass, Lhotse and Nuptse, or hike to Everest Base Camp, near the Ice-Fall. After this ascent of Kala Pattar or this trekking to Base Camp, we come back to Lobuche, and then go down Everest valley till the beautiful village of Pheriche. Night in lodge.
Duration of walking : 9 to 10 hours.
Day 11 : Pheriche - Pangboche monastery - Phortse, 12,598 feet. Afternoon rest in Phortse.
Boosted by all our new red blood cells, we rush down the footpath leading to Pangboche. In Pangboche monastery, where was kept for a long time the "Yeti's scalp", we will thank Gods to have allowed us to climb closer to their Altitude Kingdom. From Pangboche, a quiet footpath, where we may meet Nepal ibexes, leads us to the sunny village of Phortse. Night in a lodge.
Duration of walking : 4 hours.
Day 12 : Phortse - Namche Bazar, 11,280 feet
A short and steep descent to Phortse Drangka, and we then climb up till Mon La pass, 13,035 feet. Facing us, Ama Dablam, 22,493 feet, one of the most beautiful peaks of the world, with Matterhorn and Alpamayo (South America). The footpath goes down and up smoothly till Kumjung. Khumjung is a very old Sherpa village, with two monasteries, where Sir Edmund Hillary, first climber of Mount Everest in 1953 with Tenzing Norgay Sherpa, created a school and a hospital (Kunde). Descent to Namche Bazar, with a optional visit to the "Sherpa culture + Everest conquest" museum. Night in a lodge.
Duration of walking : 4 hours and half.
Day 13 : Namche Bazar - Lukla, 9,350 feet
We go down on the footpath going to Sagarmatha National Park gate, in Jorsale. Later, Lukla's footpath leads us through the first villages we saw 9 days ago : Gumila, Phakding, Choplung. The high peaks disappear behind the hills. In Lukla, we will pass our last night in lodge. Fiesta with all our Nepalese friends will be organized.
Duration of walking: 5 hours and a half.
Day 14 : Flight Lukla - Kathmandu
With a strong emotion, we leave our friends of the Nepalese team who took care of us during this tour. Flight in twin-engine aircraft to Kathmandu, with a superb wiew on Himalaya range. Transfer to hotel in private bus or taxi. Installation in hotel. Free afternoon to visit Kathmandu, and bargain souvenirs. Night in hotel.
Day 15 : Flight Kathmandu - Europe, regular flight
Free morning in Kathmandu. In the beginning of the afternoon, we prepare our luggage. By mid-afternoon, transfer in private bus or taxi to Airport. Take-off by the end of the afternoon.
Day 16 : Landing in Europe.
Your Mountain Guide will do everything possible to make this ascent being a success. But, in high altitude, exceptional risks may exist : storms, fog, .... Your Mountain Guide, responsible for your life, may change the programme for your safety.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
* The price includes:
- welcome in Kathmandu airport
- all transfers
- roundtrip flight ticket Kathmandu - Lukla
- accommodation, twin beds room + continental breakfast, in hotel in Kathmandu (international two stars standards)
- accommodation, twin beds room in lodge during trekking
- full pension during the tour except lunches and dinners in Kathmandu
- guiding by a IFMGA French Mountain Guide from our Company, speaking fluently English with a near-native comprehension + a Sirdar, Sherpa guides, and porters
- Gamow bag, first-aid kit
- National Park tax, TAAN tax
* The price does not include:
- international flight to Kathmandu
- optional insurances GENERALI / EUROP ASSISTANCE
- your drinks
- lunches and dinners in Kathmandu
- your personal expenses
- Nepalese team tips
- visa fees
- temples and monasteries visits entry fees
Also see tour packages in:
Asia
Nepal
Outdoor: Land Rambler
Hiking & Trekking
National Parks
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