Day 01: Arrival in Kathmandu (1337m)

You are welcomed to Kathmandu, the capital city of Nepal renowned for historical monuments, Hindu Temples, and Buddhist Stupas/Monasteries. We meet our guests at the Tribhuvan International Airport. A representative will be waiting with a Himalayan Vacation Treks and Expedition placard with our guests’ names displayed. After dropping luggage at the hotel, guests are taken for a short sightseeing tour. In the evening, guests are invited to a Welcome Dinner at a Nepali restaurant.

Day 02: Sightseeing in Kathmandu (1337m) 9 am to4 pm

A local guide will be available. According to your wishes, the guide will escort you for sightseeing. Sightseeing may include the Kathmandu Durbar Square, Pashupati,  Boudhanath, Patan Durbar Square, and the Swoyambhunath areas.  Starting after breakfast, usually at 9.00am, the exploration of Kathmandu Valley can continue until 5.00pm. Lunch and dinner, you will be responsible for.

Day 03: Kathmandu-Lukla (flight) 2840m – Phakding (2610 m)2-3 hours

We are going to have an exciting and adventurous flight from Kathmandu to Lukla today. We can compare this flight with the Moutain Flight. The flight is supposed to be exciting due to the climatic conditions; especially visibility and wind that affect our flight most may cause to delay.  In a little turboprop with the capacity of about 14 passengers, we fly in the altitude up to 3500 meters to Lukla. If the day is clear we are lucky to view in the north the ranges of snow peaks of the huge mountains bordering with Tibet. And to the south, we can view the beautiful small villages and terraces of the fertile lands. After landing in Lukla, we walk downhill up to Chheplung then we walk uphill along the Dudhkoshi River to Phakding. Wooden and suspension bridges in the several points welcome us to cross the river. We rest in Phakding this day. From today onwards, after the dinner or before we go to bed, the Himalayan Vacation Treks and Expedition trekking guide will take a report and give a briefing in every evening about the trek that we are going to make next day.

Day 04: Phakding – Namche Bazaar (3440 m) 5-6 hours

The path goes uphill and downhill to Namche Bazar. We reach Monjo, a village which is the entrance of the Sagarmatha National Park too. This point is a very popular place so the trekkers don’t miss the chance to take some pictures over here. This is the point where our permit and TIMS cards are checked. Then we walk downhill to Dudh Khosi. We walk along the Dudh Koshi crossing wooden and suspension bridges in several points.  After we cross Larja Bridge over Dudh Koshi River, we can view the panoramic glance of Mt. Everest in about one and half an hour’s walk. We head to Namche Bazar, the very famous village in the Everest Region. We can hire horse if wish/needs at this point. We have a camp here. Especially the Friday and Saturday markets are very famous here.  People from far and near come to make their business. Various things (local and imported) are displayed for sale. Especially people from Khumbu area (upper Namche Bazaar) come for shopping here on those market days.

Day 05: Namche Bazaar Rest/ Acclimatization day Hiking Everest view hotel or Khumjung village

Since we are in the Everest Region Trek, we can view the Mt Everest almost from everywhere. We rest in Namche Bazaar today, especially for the acclimatization. The tribes living in Namche Bazaar are the Sherpas in a majority. We can experience somehow the lifestyle of Sherpas who has a closed culture with the Tibetan. We can visit the museum about the Himalayan people. This is the place with army camp, health post, school, police check post, bakeries, internet cafes, discos,  bars, snooker, pool, foreign money exchanger etc. We can have a taste of local wine, alcohol, food etc. Number of shops and lodges welcome the tourists over here. Many trekkers stay here at least one or for several days for acclimatization. Especially the Friday and Saturday markets are very famous here.  People from far and near come to make their business. Various things (local and imported) are displayed for sale. Especially people from Khumbu area (upper Namche Bazzar) come for shopping here on those market days. Himalayan Vacation Treks and Expedition guide will arrange for our visit to the various places today.

Day 06: Namche – Tengboche (3860 m) 4-5 hours

The path goes slowly uphill in the beginning. We walk through almost barren lands; just a few small bushes in some places.  We can have a view of Ama Dablam, Lhotse Shar, Taboche, Kangtaiga and Thamsherku on the way. Then we walk downhill to the Phungi Thanga Khola. We cross the suspension bridge and walk uphill to Tangboche. We can visit to Monastery in Tangboche which is the biggest monastery of Khumbu region. A big water driven prayer wheel (Maane) is the matter of attraction in Tengboche. An army barrack is also set up here.  Internet service is available in this campsite. We can use a telephone, mobile overhere.

Day 07: Tengboche – Dingboche (4410 m) 5-6 hours

We walk downhill in the beginning until we Deboche. Then the path goes flat along the Imja Khola, a stream originated from a glacier. We have to cross the same stream in several places through the wooden and suspension bridges. We see some jungles too in some places on the way. In Pangboche we visit a monastery where the skull and bones of a hand of a yeti had been kept previously, this is what Lamas in the monastery and people in the village talk. But these have been already stolen by the smugglers so they are unfortunately no longer visible. The peaks of Ama Dablam, Thamserku, Lhotse, Nuptse, Lobuche Peak, Pumori and many other peaks give us the feeling that we are walking in the area among the highest peaks of the world. We may see blue sheep also in this part of our trek. Dingboche which is the highest permanently inhabited place in the world is located at the altitude of 4400 meters. Feriche lies just opposite to Dingboche just 50 minutes walk from Dingboche. We can go to Feriche if any health problems occur while walking.

Day 08: Dingboche – Chukung  (4730 m)-Dingboche hiking /or resting day 

It’s a rest day today specially for acclimatization. So we can stay in one place and look around or we can visit to Chuking and come back.  This day we find out about the dangers of altitude sickness by the doctor of the Himalayan Rescue Association team from Pheriche. In Chukung which is the last village in this valley, we can have lunch. From here we have

Day 09: Dingboche – Lobuche (4910 m) 4-5 hours 

The path goes slightly uphill. We walk slowly since we are walking in the high altitude. The view is spectacular from all the parts of this trek. We view the famous Khumbu glacier.  We have to cross the glacier along the path through the wooden bridge.  After Dhukla the route goes straight uphill for about an hour. Then we walk through the moraines of the Khumbu glacier.  In Lobuche, there are some lodges where we spend the night.  Telephone service is available here.

Day 10: Lobuche – Gorakshep (5140m) 3-4 hours

Today we begin our trek from the route that goes to Everest Base Camp. The trail to Gorak Shep goes ahead through the lateral moraine of the Khumbu Glacier. We pass through the pyramid sign post. Ahead on the trail we see crest of north ridge of Everest along with Mt. Pumori, Mt. Mahalangur, Mt. Lingtern, Mt. Khumbutse, Mt. Nuptse, etc. Climbing steeply up to the top through the torrent of Changri Glacier, we catch our first glimpse of Kala Patthar, a grey-green knoll beneath the Mt. Pumori. As we reach Gorak Shep, we will find snow-capped mountains looming all around us including the top of the world – Mt. Everest. Gorakh Shep is the highest campsite of this trek. So we trek slowly. Very big rocks are seen on the path since we are in the lap of Himalaya. Gorak shep has internet and telephone facilities. This is the last site with the hotel facilities. There are only 3 hotels for the trekkers to spend the night in Gorak Shep.

Day 11:Gorak Shep – Everest Base Camp (5,364m) – Gorak Shep7-8 hours

After breakfast we take the trail to Everest Base Camp through the once vast Gorak Shep Lake. Continuing straight ahead, we come through the Indian army mountaineers’ memorials. Only upon reaching the Everest Base Camp we really appreciate the Everest climbers who braved the perilous route through the Khumbu icefall. We can view Nuptse, Khumbuste and Pumori mountains from the base camp. Everest actually is not visible from here. By now we have met the ultimate objective of our trip.

Day 12: Gorak Shep – Kala Patthar (5550m)- Pheriche (4240 m)7-8 hours

Today is the day we walk to the highest point of our trip. We begin early in the morning to catch the spectacular views from Kala Patthar and witness the first light of day touch the peaks of the highest mountains, particularly, Mt. Everest. However, we need to be prepared for an early morning departure is spite of severe cold weather. Further, there is always the potential for chilly winds which are quite common. Familiar peaks such as Lingtren, Khumbutse, Changtse tower to the east even as Everest begins to reveal itself. While climbing to Kala Patthar, we can have a  break to catch breath at several outstanding view points from where we can snap great pictures. After several hours of ascent, we reach Kala Patthar. From kala Patthar, we rush up to the top of a rocky outcrop marked by cairns and prayer flags. Mind-blowing Himalayan panorama unfolds before our eyes as they wander from one mighty massif to another. On being back to Gorak Shep, we have breakfast and trek to Pheriche. In the beginning we walk the same path back upto Thukla that we walked previously. Then from Thukla we go downhill to Pheriche crossing Phulaji Kala. At Pheriche there is a clinic run by Tokyo Medical University. Telephone and internet service is available.

Day 13: Pheriche to Sanasa (3,600m)6-7 hours

Just after start of our trek we walk through the path in a big plain area. We cross  a stream that emerges from the Chola Glacier and Khumba Glacier and named as Khumbu Khola (stream). Following the main Everest trail down the beautifully scenic valley, we pass through the villages of Orsho, Somare and reach Pangboche. We cross the bridge over Imja Khola and walk down to Deboche village and climb for an hour to Tengboche . We spend a short time at Tengboche monastery; observe its many prayer wheels. From Tengboche, a steep down to the first bridge over Dudh Koshi on our return trip at PhurkeTenga. Further, we pass the village of Tashinga and reach Sanasa. We spend the night at Sanasa.

Day 14: Sanasa- Namche Bazar – Phakding (2610m) 5-6 hours

The path to Namche Bazar goes flat in the beginning then hangs to the steep slope winding through several bends. We cross Kyangjuma on the way. We have enough time in Namche to shop and relax in a bakery that serves coffee and cakes, and provides Internet access. A steep descent from Namche Hill leads to the suspension bridge crossing the Dudh Kosi River near the confluence of the Dhudh Koshi and the Bhote Koshi Rivers. We lookout for wildlife such as mountain goats, snow leopards,and colourful pheasants while passing through the forest by the trail. We cross the Dudh Koshi River twice at separate locations before reaching Monjo. We are out of the Sagarmatha National Park  at Jorsalle with security check post. After exiting from its official entrance near Monjo and finally reach Phakding Village.Phakding  is a quieter place to stay than Namche where we stay overnight today and we will have a less strenuous walk back to Lukla tomorrow.

Day 15: Phakding  to Lukla (2840m) 2-3 hours

We walk downhill to Dudhkoshi River in the beginning then the path goes along the river almost for the whole trek today. We cross several wooden bridges over the small streams that finally go to Dudh Koshi. We cross Dudh Koshi River in every now and then through the suspension bridge. On the way we meet several mani walls, prayer wheels, prayer flags and stupas since we are trekking in the Buddhist area. From the place called Thado Koshigaon we can have the beautiful view of the peak called Kusum Khangkaru (6367m). Now, from Chauri Kharka the path goes uphill to Lukla. Since Lukla is a small city in the mountain region there is facility of bank too. A small hydro power station supplies electricity for the whole city here. Telephone, mobile and internet services are available here. Also bakery and café are here to enjoy western meals. Since our trekking is over today, we can have a party here. Every Thursday the local people around Lukla gather here for weekly fair for their marketing/business and get together.

Day 16: Lukla – Kathmandu  (2840m)  flight  35 minutes to Kathmandu

Today we wait for the plane to fly Kathmandu. Who knows, we will come back to this region again or not in our life. So we may have look around for the last view of the Everest region. The flight depends on the weather condition. Flight delay or cancellation for the day is common phenomenon in this region. So, we may have to pay extra charge US $ 250-350 for the plane charter so that we will not miss our flight to our home country from Kathmandu.

Day 17: Rest/Shopping in Kathmandu (1337m) 

This day is free too. If you wish, a sightseeing trip to the ancient temple/king’s seat of the world heritage site of incredible Bhaktapur can be arranged.  The tour lasts 4 hours, and will cost an additional upcharge. In the evening, a Farewell Dinner is given by Himalayan Vacation Treks and Expedition.

Day 18 :Departure from Kathmandu(1337m)

Today, we check the list of  all necessary documents and goods of our guest. We  confirm the flight tickets before 72 hours of departure flight. We advise our guest to put passport and tickets at their handbag for convenience. Himalayan Vacation Treks and Expedition staff representative will take our valuable guests to the airport (3 hours prior to your flight) and bid goodbye. It will be not only goodbye, but also the welcome for next visit to Nepal.