Everest Base Camp Trek

On your arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, you will be met by our representative and transferred to your hotel. Your hotel is in the cityu2019s center, the vibrant and colorful area known as Thamel. With its restaurants, bars, and shops with unique Nepali handcrafted items and trekking gear, this is an interesting place to spend the afternoon. There will be the opportunity to meet your guide today and ask any questions you may still have about your trip to Everest Base Camp.

Due to changes in the regulations and upgrading at the domestic airport in Kathmandu, flights to Lukla will likely operate out of Manthali Airport in Ramechhap District. This involves a four-hour drive from Kathmandu during the night. The flight from Manthali will depart early in the morning and take 20 minutes. On arrival in Lukla, our experienced local porters will meet you. Heading down the trail to Phakding, we already notice the fluttering Tibetan prayer flags and meet local people reciting Tibetan mantras as they walk.

Today the trail takes us through forests, traditional villages with plowed fields, and yak pastures. As we reach the entrance to the Sagarmatha National Park, we can see Thamserku rising above us. After lunch, we continue on to Namche Bazaar. This is the largest Sherpa village in the Khumbu Region and is the starting point for expeditions and trekking groups. Here you can purchase a few last minutes items (such as chocolate) should you have forgotten to do so in Kathmandu.

Today is an acclimatization day to allow our bodies to adjust to the high altitude. But that doesnu2019t mean we do anything! The best way to acclimatize is to be active. There is an opportunity to spend a few hours hiking around the area or visit the school set by Sir Edmund Hillary in the Khumjung village as a thank you for all the assistance the Sherpa people gave him in his successful ascent of Mt Everest. Some of the mountains on view today are Kwangde (6,011m), Thamserku (6,623m), Kangtega (6,782m), Nuptse (7,861m), Lhotse (8,516m), Ama Dablam (6,812m) and, of course, Mount Everest (8,848m).

There are not many steep ascents and descents today, giving plenty of time to concentrate on photography! Stupas (Buddhist shrines), prayer flags, mani walls (walls with Buddhist prayers carved into them), and mountains, such as Ama Dablam, and Tengboche Monastery, are all worth photographing. The trail up to Tengboche is a dusty switchback route, but the panoramic views from the monastery make it all worthwhile. If you are lucky, you can attend a service, for which a small donation would be appreciated. You can light some butter lamps.

The trail is, of course, very scenic but also quite challenging today. We follow the Imja Khola before climbing up to Dingbocheu2019s windswept fields (mainly potato). This is the highest Sherpa settlement in the Khumbu Region. Ama Dablamu2019s views from here are spectacular and dramatic as we will arrive at Dingboche in time for lunch. The rest of the afternoon is free to relax with a book or gaze at the surrounding mountains.

With the ever-rising altitude, it is important to take another day to acclimatize. There are several options available for short hikes today. Such as visiting the base of Nangkar Tshang Peak, with its sacred sites and views of Mt Makalu. This trip is a 3.5 to 5 hours round trip, and the ascending altitude on this hike will help our bodies prepare for the high altitudes ahead.

Today the trek begins with a gentle climb toward the Pheriche Valley. Trekking above the valley floor, we pass through alpine scrub and yak pastures. On display are Tawoch and Cholotse, with Ama Dablam behind us. From here, it appears Ama Dablam is rising directly from the valley floor. The trail continues on to Thokla Pass, where the ascent is challenging. Again a photographeru2019s paradise as there are panoramic views of Nuptse, Lhotse, Lhotse Shar, and a few other 7,000-plus meter peaks! After crossing the pass, we reach Lobuche. Not a very attractive settlement in itself, but the scenery surrounding it is beautiful and dramatic.

This is an exciting day! Today we ascent to the viewpoint for Everest. First, the trail takes us for about 3 hours over boulders and rough terrain to the small settlement of Gorakshep. After lunch, it starts out for Kalapatthar, from where the views of Everest are simply the best views you can possibly get. At 5,545m, this is the highest altitude we can trek in Nepal without requiring climbing permits. Its name means black rock, which is more of a ridge than a mountain. If the weather is not clear, we may leave Kalapatthar for the morning as sunrise over Everest is equally awe-inspiring as the sunset. Should we decide on this option, we will hike to Everest Base Camp today. Please be aware trekking groups do not go right into the base camp where expeditions are set up. This is,, so we do not disturb the climbersu2019 activity or risk their health. (We donu2019t want to give them our colds and flu when they embark on such an epic journey!) But we get a good view of all the ongoing activity.

If we didnu2019t make it to Kalapatthar yesterday, we would do it this morning, returning to Gorakshep for breakfast. Similarly, if we did not visit Everest Base Camp on day 9, we will do that this morning. Each trip takes 3 u2013 4 hours to return from Gorakshep. After breakfast, we head to Pheriche, which takes approximately 4 hours. This little settlement houses the Himalayan Rescue Association Clinic. Long established, it is now a hospital but still focuses on altitude sickness and altitude-related problems of trekkers and climbers as well as the health of the local people. Staffed mainly by volunteer medical personnel, this is an interesting area feature.

The trail descends quite considerably today, but some uphills must be tackled! As we approach Namche, the forests and greenery return. This is a long day of walking, made harder by the hard hiking the day before. But push on because a good dinner and a hot shower await! And now is the opportunity to celebrate your successful trek to Everest Base Camp with a beer! And with wifi available, now is also time to get in touch with loved ones at home and perhaps upload a few pictures of your trip.

In the earlier part of the day, take a good final look at the magnificent Himalayan mountains, and say goodbye to the Khumbu Valley and Mount Everest. Then put your head down as we make a final long ascent into Lukla.

This morning says goodbye to Mt Everest and the Khumbu Region as we board our flight back to either Kathmandu or Manthali Airport. Depending on which airport is open at that time and, of course, weather conditions, either we will be back in Kathmandu for brunch or in the early afternoon. Then there is time to do some shopping before our farewell dinner in the evening.

After breakfast, our representative will take you to Tribhuvan International Airport in time for your onward flight. Should you stay longer in Nepal or have a late flight, please note that the hotel check-out time is 11 am.