This
trek can be generally qualified as moderate,
with occasional strenuous days. A set of well-worn
hiking boots, with a number of pairs of good
hiking socks are an absolute necessity. No
technical experience or mountaineering gear
is necessary. While porters will carry the
majority of your baggage, a moderate level
of fitness is required.
You will need to bring a durable daypack
to carry necessary items for quick access during
the trek, such as water, toilet paper, camera,
a warm layer, snacks etc. A full kit list will
be sent to you upon confirmation of your participation
on the trek.
Your safety is our utmost priority. If you have
any questions whatsoever, please do not hesitate
to send an email to Kate Ale, Project Funds Manager
at vsnprojects@wlink.com.np
Outline Itinerary
: 10 th – 29
th October 2009
10
th October, 2009
Arrive
at Kathmandu International Airport . Transfer
to hotel and overnight in Kathmandu.
11
th October, 2009
Preparation
day for the trek. Overnight in Kathmandu
12
th October, 2009
Fly from Kathmandu to Lukla (2886m),
approximately 30 minutes. Trek from Lukla
to Phakding (2640m), approximately three
hours. Overnight in Phakding.
13
th October, 2009
Trek from Phakding to Namche Bazaar (3440m),
approximately 4½ hours. You will
trek, crossing rivers on high suspension
bridges. Beyond Monjo (2800m) you will
enter the Sagarmatha National Park which
was set up in order to protect and preserve
this fragile mountain environment. You
then ascend quite steeply to Namche and
along the way, if the weather is clear,
catch your first glimpse of Mt Everest
in the distance. You can also enjoy views
of Mt. Kusum Kangaru, Thamserku, Konde-Ri
and Tawache Peak. Namche Bazaar is the
main trading village in the Khumbu region
and holds a busy Saturday market. It is
also a meeting place for Hindu traders
from the lowlands and the Tibetan yak caravans
that have reached the town by crossing
the glaciated Nangpa La. Overnight in Namche
Bazzar.
14
th October, 2009
Acclimatization 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 as well as a magnificent outlook.
It is an ideal place to spend a rest day
for acclimatization to the high altitude
before heading off towards Tyangboche.
There is a choice of two possible acclimatization
walks on this day. One to Khunde Hospital
which was set up by Sir Edmund Hillary,
or one to Syangboche (3800m) where the
Everest View Hotel is situated offering
(subject to weather) outstanding views
of Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse, Ama Dablam,
Thamserku and Kusum Kangaru. There are
also good views from the National Park
Centre and Museum just above the town.
Overnight in Namche Bazzar.
15
th October, 2009
Trek from Namche Bazaar to Tyangboche
(3867m), approximately 5 hours. From Namche,
the t rail contours around the side of
the valley, high above the Dudh Koshi,
offering your first really good views of
the great peaks of the Khumbu including
Mt Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse, Ama Dablam,
Thamserku and Kusum Kangaru. Passing by
several villages and numerous tea shops,
the t rail descends steeply to a bridge
over the river Dudh Koshi at Phunki Tenga
(3250m).The village has an excellent place
for lunch and you can take a short rest
before making the steep climb to Tyangboche.
Tyangboche is famous for its legendary
monastery, the largest in the Khumbu region.
Overnight in Tyangboche.
16
th October, 2009
Trek
from Tyangboche to Dingboche (4410m), approximtely
5 hours. You gradually descend through
a forest, cross the Imja Khola and climb
steadily up to the village of Pangboche.
This is directly opposite to Ama Dablam
(6856m) and has exceptional views of the
mountain, with a gompa, mani walls and
scattered pine trees in the foreground.
As you gradually ascend, you find thick
forests. A further 2 ½ hours walk
brings you to Dingboche. Here you can see
Sherpa people working hard on agricultural
land. Overnight in Dingboche.
17
th October, 2009
Rest at Dingboche for acclimatization
and a local excursion. Here you can climb
steeply up to Nakartsang Gompa for the
rare outstanding view of Mount Makalu (8463m)
along with Lhotse, Island Peak, Baruntse,
Ama Dablam and Thamserku.
18
th October, 2009
Trek from Dingboche to Chhukung (4730m),
approximately 4 hours. The trail gradually
ascends up to the Chhukung. On the way,
you can see summer huts made especially
for keeping livestock in during the summer
time. O vernight in Chhukung.
19
th October, 2009
Trek
from Chhukung to Chhukung Ri (5546m)
to Lobuche (4910m) via Dongla (4620m),
approximately 6 hours. From Chhukung
Ri you can have a view of Mt. Nuptse
(7896m), Mt.Lhotse (8511m), Baruntse
Peak (6800m), Ama Dablam (6856m),Thamserku
Peak (6608m.), Konde Ri Peak (6187m),
Tawoche Peak (6542m.), Cholotse Peak
(6441m) and more. Now, you begin your
trek to Lobuche via Dongla giving you
panoramic view of the mountains along
the way. The teahouse at Dongla is a
good spot to have lunch, before zigzagging
up through the boulders of the glacier's
terminal mo raine. At the top of this
climb there are stone caves 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. Overnight in Lobuche.
20
th October, 2009
Trek from Lobuche (4910m) to Gorakshep
(5140m), approximately 3 ½ hours.
You will have lunch and a rest at Gorakshep,
and if everyone feels fine, you can walk
to Everest Base Camp (5486m), approximately
4 ½ hours round trip. The trek is
on glacier and snow-capped rocks and you
can also see many small frozen lakes around
Everest Base Camp. Overnight in Gorakshep.
21
st October, 2009
Trek from Gorakshep to Kala Patthar (5545m)
for sunrise and down to Pheriche (4243m),
approximately 6 hours. From Kala Patthar
you will have a panoramic view of Mt. Everest
and many other mountain peaks like Mt.
Pumori, Mt. Lingtren, Mt. Khumbetse, Mt.
Nuptse, Mt. Lhotse, Mt. Ama Dablam, Mt.
Thamserku and many more. Pheriche
is known as the Windy Town and is home
to the Himalayan Rescue Association Aid
Post, manned by foreign volunteer doctors.
Here you can see the perpendicular walls
of Cholatse and Tawache. O vernight in
Pheriche.
22
nd October,2009
Trek from Pheriche to Phortse (3810m),
approximately 4 ½ hours. The t rail
descends to Pangboche and then wiggles
up and down to Phortse. On the way there
is an opportunity to see wild life in and
around the area such as mountain goats,
musk deer and many species of Himalayan
birds. There are village monasteries in
Pangboche and Phortse rich in the cultural
heritage of the Sherpa people. The old
monastery in Pangboche is believed to have
been established during the 16th century
and Pangboche village is known to have
the highest permanent settlement throughout
the year. Overnight in Phortse.
23
rd October, 2009
Trek from Phortse (3810m) to Khumjung
(3790m), approximately 3 ½ hours.
The t rail here descends for nearly twenty
minutes and ascends up steeply for almost
one hour to Mongla (4000m). From this spot,
you can see the panoramic view of Ama Dablam,
Thamserku, Kusum Kangaru, Konde-Ri and
Tawache Peak. The t rail then follows an
up and down route to Khumjung. Khumjung
village is believed to have the largest
settlement of the Khumbu region. There
is a well-equipped high school and hospital
built by the late Edmund Hillary in the
1960s. Not limited to this, the skull of
a Yeti is housed in an old monastery. Overnight
in Khumjung.
24
th October, 2009
Trek
from Khumjung to Thame (3800m), approximately
4 hours. In Thame you can visit many ancient
monasteries and experience the real Sherpa
culture. Overnight in Thame.
25
th October, 2009
Trek
from Thame to Monjo (2835m), approximately
6 hours. Trekking on this day is little
bit easier in comparison to other days.
Monjo is a small village and the area is
mainly for agricultural. O vernight in
Monjo
26
th October, 2009
Trek
from Monjo to Lukla (2800m), approximately
4 ½ hours. This day the t rail gradually
descends and ascends back to Lukla. Overnight
in Lukla.
27
th October, 2009
Early
morning flight back to Kathmandu taking
approximately 30 minutes. Overnight in
Kathmandu
28
th October, 2009
Today,
you will visit VSN’s projects within
the Kathmandu Valley. You will visit Brighter
Future Children’s Home, Shining Stars
Children’s Home, as well as other
children’s homes supported throughout
Kathmandu. In addition, you will see the
ongoing build of the new permanent facility
for Shining Star’s Children’s
Home, for which you have done your
fund raising. The past seventeen days
of strenuous effort will seem even
more meaningful as you see the great
strides being taken to help deserving
children in one of the poorest nations
in the world. Not only will you see
firsthand where your donations will
be spent, but you will be forever changed
upon seeing the work done to combat
the circumstances and obstacles faced
by these wonderful children. We will
finish the day with a celebratory dinner
in one of Kathmandu’s
restaurants. Overnight in Kathmandu.
29
th October, 2009
Airport
transfers and departure from Kathmandu
COSTS
The fees to participate in this great adventure
amount to US $2600. The price covers the following:
Trek Fee - US $1,100.00 US $1,100.00 trek fee will go to
our travel partner who will plan all of the
logistical aspects of this trip. Full payment
must be made in advance of the trek direct
to Nepal Environmental Treks & Expeditions.
Minimum required donation - US $1,500.00
In the months preceding your trek, you will
be asked to raise US $1,500 to contribute to
the costs of constructing a new permanent home
for our Shining Stars Children’s Home.
95% of your donation will go direct to the
build project, and 5% will be taken as an administration
cost.
Any additional funds raised by each trekker
over and above those that we require for the
build project, will go towards the annual running
costs of our Shining Stars Children’s
Home, to ensure its sustainability.
Make a statement and take a stand against
child poverty. Everything you do to help will
be greatly appreciated by Volunteer Service
in Nepal, and more importantly, by the children
we are assisting.
All donations must be received by
VSN no later than 6 weeks after the end of
the trek.
The price includes
the following services:
4 nights hotel accommodation in
a four star hotel in Kathmandu on a B&B
basis (2 nights before and 2 nights after
the trek)
Accommodation in teahouses (lodges)
during the trek
All meals on a full board basis while
on the trek only (breakfast, lunch and dinner)
Domestic flights from Kathmandu to
Lukla and back from Lukla to Kathmandu
Internal airport tax for the Lukla
flights
Sagarmatha National Park Entry Permit
Trekkers' Information Management System
Card (TIMS)
All surface transportation to and
from airports
Loan of necessary equipment such as
sleeping bags, down jackets, etc
Trekking guide
Necessary porters (1 porter can carry
two people's luggage up to 25kgs)
Insurance and equipment for Nepali
staff
Rescue Assistance
The price does
not include:
International flights to and from
Kathmandu, Nepal
Travel insurance (insurance to include
evacuation is mandatory)
Personal expenses such as alcoholic
drinks, beverages, gifts, calls, laundry,
hot showers etc.
All meals while in Kathmandu (lunch & dinner)
Sightseeing while in Kathmandu
Local transportation while in Kathmandu
(excluding all hotel/airport transfers)
Visa for Nepal
Gratuities
Charges incurred as a result of delays
beyond the control of Nepal Environmental
Treks & Expeditions and Volunteer Service
in Nepal
