This
trek is truly an incredible experience of
this magnificent region and its fascinating
people with their long held tradition. From
Lukla (2,805m.) you trek to Namche Bazaar
(3,436m.) for a day of acclimatization and
optional hikes. From Namche you explore
the Sherpa villages of Khunde and Khumjung
before heading for Thyangboche Monastery.
After visiting Chukung Ri you trek to Lobuche
for a day-hike along the Khumbu Glacier
to Everest Base Camp (5,364m.) and a climb
of Kala Patthar Peak (5,550m.) for a close
encounter with Mt. Everest.
Outline
Itinerary
Day
1
Fly
from Kathmandu to Lukla (2886m.)
and it takes about 30 minutes.
Trek from Lukla to Phakding
(2640 m.) which takes approximately
three hours.
You transfer to the domestic
airport for your flight to Lukla.
Lukla is a small town with an
airport. There are few tea shops,
lodges, hotels and general stores.
You begin today’s trek
from Lukla following a gentle
climb up the mountainside on
the left bank of the Dudh Koshi
river. Nupla (5885m) can be
seen in the distance on the
opposite bank, is a peak atop
the Kongde Ridge. You descend
a mountainside path that merges
into your route to Everest,
with views to a valley to your
right; and at its far end, Kusum
Kang (6367m.) The Dudh Kosi
approaches as you pass a Mani
wall and arrive at Ghat teahouse.
You continue along a small path
with many climbs and descents
following the left bank of Dudh
Koshi to Phakding.
Day
2
Trek
from Phakding to Namche Bazaar
(3440 m.) which takes about
four and half hours. This day
you trek and cross the river
on high suspension bridges.
Beyond Monjo (2800m.) is the
entrance to 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
a first glimpse of Mt Everest
in the distance. You can also
enjoy the view of Mt. Kusum
Kangaru, Thamserku, Konde-Ri
and Tawache peak. You can also
visit some of the village monasteries
on the way of trekking to Namche
Bazaar (3440 m.). Namche is
the main trading village in
the Khumbu region and holds
a busy Saturday market. There
is set a meeting place for the
Hindu traders from the lowlands
and the Tibetan yak caravans
that have reached there by crossing
the glaciated Nangpa La.
Day
3
:
Rest at Namche Bazar for acclimatization
and excursion around the places.
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.
For the acclimatization you
walk up to Khunde Hospital which
was set-up by Sir Edmund Hillary,
or a one hour walk up to the
Syangboche (3800m.) where Everest
View Hotel is situated above
Namche for the outstanding view
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.
Day
4
Trek
from Namche Bazaar to Tyangboche
(3867 m.) and it takes almost
five hours. From Namche, the
trail contours around the side
of the valley, high above the
Dudh Koshi. Now you have a glimpse
of 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 trail 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.
Although exhausting due to the
zigzag path, the trek has numerous
attractions like rhododendron
bushes, beautiful birds chirping
and superb mountain scenery
making your trek exciting. Tyangboche
is famous for its legendary
monastery, the largest in the
Khumbu region.
Day
5
Trek
from Tyangboche to Dingboche
(4260m.) which takes about five
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 [6,856 m], and has
exceptional views of the mountain,
with the Gompa, mani walls and
scattered pine trees in the
foreground. As you gradually
ascend, you find thick forests.
This part of the trail is full
of thorny and juniper bushes.
A further two and half hour’s
walk brings you to Dingboche.
Here you can see Sherpa people
working hard in the agricultural
farm.
Day
6
:
Rest at Dingboche for acclimatization
and excursion in and around
the places. Here you can steeply
climb up to Nakartsang Gompa
for the rare outstanding view
of Mount Makalu (8463m.) along
with Lhotse, Island Peak, Baruntse,
Ama Dablam and Thamserku. The
another option provided is a
small side trip to Chhukung
which takes about 2 and half
hours to go up and 1 and half
hours to come back to Dingboche.
There are some of the lodges
which serve you the delicious
food items.
Day
7
Trek
from Dingboche(4350m.) to Chhukung
(4730m.) and it takes about
four hours. The trail gradually
ascends up to the Chhukung.
On the way, you can see summer
huts made especially for keeping
the livestock’s in summer
time. Along this, you enjoy
the beautiful mountain views
in and around the valley.
Day
8
Trek
from Chhukung to Chhukung Ri
(5546m.) to Lobuche (4930m.)
via Dongla (4620m.) and it takes
almost six hours. From Chhukung
Ri you can have a view of Mt.
Nuptse (7896m.), Mt.Lhotse (8511m.),
Baruntse peak (6800m.),Ama Dablam
peak(6856m.),Thamserku peak
(6608m.), Konde Ri or peak(6187m.),
Tawoche peak(6542m.), Cholotse
peak (6441m.) and more. Now
you begin your trek to Lobuche
via Dongla which offers 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 moraine.
At the top of this climb there
are many 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.
Day
9
Trek
from Lobuche (4900m.) to Gorakshep
(5180m.) and retrace back to
Gorakshep which takes about
three and half hours. You will
have lunch at Gorakshep, take
rest and if the trekker feels
fine, the participants can walk
to Everest Base Camp (5486m.).
You will spend about 4 and half
hours trek up to Everest Base
Camp and back to Gorakshep.
The trek is on glacier and snow
capped rocks. You can also see
many small frozen lakes around
the Everest Base Camp and return
back to Gorakshep.
Day
10
Trek
from Gorakshep to Kala Patthar
(5545m.) and back to Pheriche
(4243m.) and it takes about
six hours. You accomplish an
early morning climb to Kala
Patthar (5545m.) to enjoy the
view of sunrise. From Kala Patthar
you can 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 the place
where one can make phone calls
to any part of the world. You
can see the mountain Yaks in
Pheriche. Yaks are normally
regarded as the porters in this
area. The town of Pheriche is
known as windy town. There you
can see the perpendicular walls
of Cholatse and Tawache. There
is located Himalayan Rescue
Association Aid Post and foreign
volunteer doctors are to provide
medical treatment to trekkers
as well as local people.
Day
11
Trek
from Pheriche to Phortse (3750m.)
and it takes almost four and
half hours. The trail descends
to Pangboche and now the trail
starts turning up and down in
every half an hour to Phortse.
On the way there is an opportunity
to see wild life in and around
the area like mountain goat,
musk deer and many species of
Himalayan birds. There are village
monasteries in Pangboche and
Phortse rich in cultural heritage
of Sherpa people. Along this,
you see an old monastery in
Pangboche which is believed
to have been established during
16th century. The Pangboche
village is known to have highest
permanent settlement throughout
the year.
Day
12
Trek
from Phortse (3750m.) to Khumjung
(3790m.) which takes almost
three and half hours. The trail
here descends for early 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. Now the trail descends
and ascends frequently up to
Khumjung. The Khumjung village
is said to have the largest
settlement of Khumbu region.
There is well-equipped high
school built by Edmund Hillary
in 1960. Not limited to this,
there is an old monastery where
the skull of Yeti is believed
to have preserved. The neighboring
village of Khumjung is Khunde
where a well equipped Hospital
is built by Edmund Hillary in
1964.
Day
13
Trek
from Khumjung to Thame (3800m.)
and it takes about four hours.
Thame is a place where you can
visit many ancient monasteries.
You will be able to experience
the real Sherpa culture and
at the most, from Thame you
can take a glance at the beautiful
mountain peaks.
Day
14
Trek
from Thame to Monjo (2835m.)
which takes about six hours.
While trekking from Thame to
Monjo you come across few Sherpa
settlements and you will meet
friendly Sherpa people. Trekking
this day is little bit easier
in comparison to other days.
Monjo is a small village and
the area is mainly for agriculture.
You can see people being engaged
in agricultural activities.
Day
15
Trek
from Monjo to Lukla (2800m.)
and it takes about four and
half hours. This day the trail
gradually descends and ascends
as well. You cross the Dudh
Koshi river over suspension
bridges.
Day
16
You
take an early morning flight
back to Kathmandu from Lukla
and it takes almost 30 minutes.
