This classic walk through the Sherpa homeland of Solu-Khumbu is moderately-strenuous high altitude trek with a clear-cut goal – to see Everest. Much to their surprise, many people find the snout-like Everest out-ranked by peaks like Ama Dablam and the Lhotse wall. Khumbu is the best region in Nepal for close-up mountain views. This trip features 4 nights in Kathmandu and a 11-day lodge trek to the base of Everest. Gorak Shep is our highest camp from where we hike to Mount Everest Base Camp and climb Kala Pattar, the Black Rock (5 550 m) where we admire the huge South Col of Everest, the tongue of the Khumbu glacier and more than 15 spectacular Himalaya peaks. This is without doubt one of the best mountain viewpoints of the world!
Day 01: Arrival in Kathmandu
Day 02: Sightseeing in Kathmandu Valley
Day 03: Flight to Lukla & Trek Phakding (2 600 m)
Day 04: Trek Namche Bazaar (3 440 m)
Day 05: Rest day Namche Bazaar (3 440 m)
Day 06: Trek Tengboche (3 860 m)
Day 07: Trek Dingboche (4 410 m)
Day 08: Rest day Dingboche (4 410 m)
Day 09: Trek Lobuche (4 930 m)
Day 10: Trek Gorakshep (5 160 m)
Day 11: Trek Pheriche (4 215 m)
Day 12: Trek Namche Bazaar (3 440 m)
Day 13: Trek Lukla (2 850 m)
Day 14: Flight to Kathmandu
Day 15: Fly out Kathmandu
Day 1 – Arrival in Kathmandu
Pick-up at Tribhuvan International Airport, meeting with your guide and transfer to the hotel. First impressions of Kathmandu (1 350 m) – walk to medieval Kathmandu Durbar Square and explore the beautiful complex of palaces, temples, shrines and courtyards built by the ancient Nepali kings between the 12th and 18th century. We bring you to our office and Thamel – the vibrant tourist area with hotels, restaurants, bakeries and outdoor shops. We get to know each other over a welcome dinner, check formalities and equipment and discuss your itinerary.
Day 2 – Sightseeing in Kathmandu Valley
Today we discover the highlights of Katmandu and the valley. We adapt the programm to your interests and desires and what you have seen before. Usually, we go to Pasupatinath on the bank of the Bagmati River, where the most important Hindu temples and burning ghats of Nepal are situated. In Bouddhanath we circumambulate together with Tibetan and Nepali Buddhist pilgrims the whitewashed stupa. Our sightseeing usually ends in Patan, the city of Beauty, an astonishing center of fine art and Buddhist and Hindu culture.
Day 3 – Flight to Lukla & Trek Phakding
We drive to Tribhuvan Domestic Airport to connect our fly to take our flight to Everest region. After breakfast in Lukla (2 850 m) we start trekking through beautiful settlements to join soon the main trail in Churi Kharka. We follow the east bank of the Dudh Koshi- the River of Milk- where you witness the typical Nepal terrace culture, slate roofed houses and views on Kusum Kangaru (5 579 m). We reach Phakding (2 640 m) after 3 – 4 h gentle walking.
Day 4 – Trek Namche Bazaar
Today we make a challenging hike to Namche Bazaar (3 440 m), situated at 6-7 hours walking from Phakding. We climb up along the west bank of the Dudh Kosi to the tiny village of Toktok. We get our first glimpse of Thamserku peak (6 608 m) and reach Benkar (2 710 m). The cliffs above the village are decorated with huge paintings of Buddhist deities. We cross the colorful suspension bridge and enter the Sagarmatha National Park at Monjo (2 840 m). After Jorsale we follow the riverbank over gravel, climb through a pine forest and cross the Dudh Kosi by a big suspension bridge. Then we face a continuous zigzag ascent of 2 hours through dense pine forests. In the early evening we reach the vibrant center of Namche Bazar, on of the most attractive settlements of Solu-Khumbu district.
Day 5 – Rest day Namche Bazaar
Rest day in Namche. Optional walk to the Sherwi Khangba Sherpa Culture Museum or dayhike to the Hotel Everest View in Khumjung village (3 700 m) and Khundi Hospital in Khundi Village, the first hospital build in Khumbu Region by Sir Edmund Hillary and Himalayan Trust in 1966.
Day 6 – Trek Tengboche
Trek to Tengboche (3 860 m), 5-6 hour long hike from Namche Bazaar. The first part of trail is a winding smooth path which offers fantastic views on Mount Everest (8 848 m), Thamserku (6 618 m), Ama Dablam (6 814 m). After the trail goes down to the riverbank and then we make a strenuous 2 hour ascend to Tengboche. We walk through rhododendron forests where musk deer and Himalayan ‘tahr’ or mountain goat live. At the rest place you can enjoy the views towards Kantega mountain (6 783 m). Tengboche, is famed for the Buddhist Tengboche Monastery (where you can attend the daily puja), Cafe Tengboche and the view point.
Day 7 – Trek Dingboche
Trek to Dingboche (4 410 m), 6-7 hours walking from Tengboche. We descend through conifer and rhododendron forest to the beautiful settlement Deboche where you have a close view at Ama Dablam. We cross the suspension bridge and look over the surging white waters of Imja River. Soon after a snow white stupa with gorgeous all seeing eyes is mirroring the Ama Dablam, this is a marvelous place for a picture! Then the trail ascents gently to the village of Pangboche (3 860 m), where we climb above the treeline. After, the trail passes numerous farmer pastures with big yak populations before we reach Dingboche valley.
Day 8 – Rest day Dingboche
Optional acclimatization trek (5-6 hours) to the remote village of Chhukung (4 730 m) and Chhukung Ri (top) located at 5 550 m. We have magnificent sights at Island Peak (6 189 m), Amphulapche (5 663 m), Baruntse Base Camp (5 400m) and the white ice lake of Imja Tsho.
Day 9 – Trek Lobuche
After ascending 150 m up to the main road, we reach a viewpoint where we have outstanding sights at Tawachee (6 495 m) and Cholatse peak (6 440m). After our lunch camp in Dugla (4 620m) the trail goes directly up the gravely terminal moraine of the Khumbu glaciers for about one hour. The trail leads to a row of memorial monuments of lost climbers and sherpas. The trail then drops a little and follows the western side of the valley to Lobuche. After four to five hours hiking we reach the small settlement of Lobuche which is situated at 4 930 m. We sleep in a lodge at Gorakskhep, a semi-permanent village at the bottom of the Khumbu Icefall.
Day 10 – Trek Gorak Shep
The ascent to Gorak Shep (5 160 m) becomes steeper and rougher as we cross several moraines. Soon we see the peak of Pumori (7 145m). We also have our first views at Nuptse (7 864 m), Kala Patthar (5 545 m) and Mount Everest. At the right side you look over the Khumbu Glacier, an enormous tongue of ice which marches down the slopes of Everest. We reach Gorak Shep by lunchtime and trek to Base Camp in the afternoon. In total we hike six-seven hours today.
Day 11 – Trek Pheriche
Early morning we climb to Kala Pattar – the Black Rock – located at 5 545 m and marked by a tangle of prayer flags. At this viewpoint – one of the most astonishing views on earth- you have a 360 degree panorama of Himalayan giants from Pumori and Lobuche West to Nuptse, Lhotse and Everest. We return back to Gorak Shep via the view points of the ice lakes of Pumori and Everest.
After breakfast we return in 4 hours back to Pheriche located at 4 215 m.
Day 12 – Trek Namche Bazaar
Trek from Pheriche to Namche Bazaar (3 440 m). We descend approximately 5 hours.
Day 13 – Trek Lukla
We start this 6 hours during trek with a streneous descent from Namche Bazaar to the Dud Kosi (hard work for the knees), after the path climbs up to Monjo and then runs easily to Benkar, Phakding and Lukla.
Day 14 – Flight to Kathmandu
After breakfast we fly in about 40 minutes from Lukla to Kathmandu. Arrive at Tribhuvan Airport and transfer to hotel.
Day 15 – Fly out Kathmandu
Transfer to Tribhuvan Airport. We hope you enjoyed your stay!
Extra days:
If you wish to stay longer in Nepal: Traveltimes Treks can offer you plenty of suggestions, we can arrange rafting and safari trips, helicopter flights, mountain biking, multi day tours to old historical city of Bhaktapur, the mountain stations Nagarkot & Dhulikhel or retreats in the serene monasteries of Namobuddha and Kopan.
Or
More Sightseeing in Kathmandu
On this last free day you have plenty of opportunity to enjoy more sights in Kathmandu: you can make a daytrip to the splendid five storied Nyatapola Temple and exquisite woodcarvings like the Peacock window in medieval Bhaktapur, climb the long stairs to the stupa of Swayambhunath (Monkeytemple) or visit the sleeping Vishnu at Budhanilkantha. You can also shop, relax and drink coffee in the bakeries of Thamel or the Garden of Dreams. Traveltimes Treks recommends you plan one extra day at the end of your trekking in case in case of delayed schedules during your travel.
Nepal is like not home. It is exotic, it is wonderful, but it is also different. Great elevation changes, differences in customs and language, menu variations, lodge limitations, and the many other mysteries and wonders of travel in Nepal are all conditions you must be physically and mentally prepared for. The itinerary may change. You may meet unknown hardships as well as unexpected pleasures. Come with an open mind and positive spirit.
For those of you new to trekking, you have a wonderful experience in store. Trekking is walking, generally on good trails, usually up and down (sometimes 900 m a day), carrying only a day pack, through magnificent scenery. The day starts early, and often the bulk of the day’s kilometers are covered in morning hours. The shorter afternoon hike brings you to the site of the lodge to be used that night.
This trip is designed so that an average hiker will require 5-6 hours of hiking per day to reach the evening’s camp. In general this is a moderate trek, but remember that trails are often steep in Nepal and at 3 000 m any hiking can seem strenuous. On some days altitude gains and looses of up to 900 m can be expected. Strengthen your knee muscles and prepare for several days of steep descents of anywhere up to 900 m. Should anyone have altitude problems during this trek, it will be possible to drop down till Namche.
A program of cardiovascular conditioning such as running, swimming, biking or aerobics is essential, but try to supplement your exercise with hiking on steep hills or running up and down steps. The more you can condition by closely simulating the activities of trekking, the better off you will be. While the trip is rated as moderate overall, several days will be strenuous, and good conditioning is essential to your enjoyment of the trek.
Personal gear will be carried by porters. Porters can carry two members’ duffel bags. Since their load is 25 kg, this means that your duffel cannot exceed twelve kilos. We stay in locally owned lodges and will receive an insight into family living. All the guest houses have toilets and cold showers. Some of the guesthouses have hot showers available and every lodge is equipped with solar power systems for lightning. The main common room has a heater, nice in the cold nights.
Remember that, the latitude of Nepal is between 26°C and 30°C so it will warm at the lower elevations (short and T-shirt) while nights will be cool. Day temperatures will be between 10°C and 15°C at the lower elevations and between 5°Cand 10°C at our highest elevations during spring and fall trips (till to -15 °C in winter). Temperatures at night will be cool being mostly between 0°C and – 5 °C except for winter trek where temperatures till – 20°C may occur at night. In December though you will enjoy clear skies and less crowded hiking trails. If you dress warm it’s a wonderful time to come to Khumbu region. During fall trips the weather is generally sunny, although an occasional storm could occur. Spring sees more clouds in the afternoon and the possibility of occasional thunder storms.
This is not a tour where everything can be planned in advance to run like clockwork. You probably won’t experience exactly what is written in the daily itinerary. Often adjustment must be made in the field. We want you to participate in the trip with the clear understanding that things can go wrong. Adventure travel does involve certain risks both emotional and physical. One has to be flexible when traveling in Nepal and have a cheerful attitude.
No. of persons | Spring | Autumn | Winter | Summer |
---|---|---|---|---|
12Pax | $2050 Per Person | $2050 Per Person | $2050 Per Person | $2050 Per Person |
Fixed Departures
Starting Date | End Date | Price |
---|---|---|
March 24, 2023 | April 6, 2023 | $2050 Per Person |
April 8, 2023 | April 21, 2023 | $2050 Per Person |
April 25, 2023 | May 8, 2023 | $2050 Per Person |
May 10, 2023 | May 23, 2023 | $2050 Per Person |
May 25, 2023 | June 7, 2023 | $2050 Per Person |
September 30, 2023 | October 13, 2023 | $2050 Per Person |
October 10, 2023 | October 23, 2023 | $2050 Per Person |
October 25, 2023 | November 7, 2023 | $2050 Per Person |
November 10, 2023 | November 23, 2023 | $2050 Per Person |
November 25, 2023 | December 8, 2023 | $2050 Per Person |
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