Embark on an exhilarating journey to Everest Base Camp (EBC), tracing the steps of mountaineering legends like Messner, Bonington, and Hillary. Experience the realm of Everest and the hospitality of the renowned Sherpas. Starting at the Lukla airstrip, the trek winds through the picturesque Sherpa village of Namche Bazaar, before culminating in the ascent of Kala Patthar with its iconic views of Everest and surrounding peaks.
Welcome to Kathmandu! You’ll be met by one of our representatives at the airport and transferred to your hotel. Enjoy a relaxing evening.
After breakfast, begin your day by exploring Kathmandu, Nepal’s bustling cultural and political capital. Your first stop is the Swayambhunath Stupa, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Known as the Monkey Temple, this ancient and sacred Buddhist shrine offers breathtaking views of the Kathmandu Valley.
Next, head to Patan, also known as Lalitpur, famed for its exquisite craftsmanship and architectural beauty. Wander through its narrow lanes to discover beautifully preserved temples, courtyards, and palaces. Patan’s artisans, masters of ancient techniques, create stunning sculptures that highlight the city’s rich artistic heritage.
Early morning, transfer to the airport for a thrilling flight to Lukla, a gateway to Everest. The Lukla airstrip, famously short and sloped, offers a breathtaking start to your adventure.
Upon arrival, meet your guide and crew, identify your luggage, and prepare for the trek. Your team will load the gear onto animals or porters, and you’ll set off on a scenic trek to Monjo.
Continue your trek northward up the Dudh Kosi valley to Jorsale, where you’ll officially enter Sagarmatha National Park. At the entrance station just beyond the village, your trekking permits will be checked, and national park fees collected.
The trail then leads you across the Bhote Kosi River, setting the stage for a steep climb up to Namche Bazaar. As the administrative center of Sagarmatha National Park and the heart of Sherpa society, Namche Bazaar offers a unique cultural experience. Along the way, keep an eye out for glimpses of Mt. Everest, a thrilling preview of what’s to come.
After breakfast, continue your trek to Tashinga. Along the way, you’ll pass trains of yaks, dzos, and porters.
The afternoon is yours to enjoy at leisure. If you’re feeling well-acclimated to the altitude, you might consider exploring the area or taking a short hike nearby. For those who prefer a slower pace, this is the perfect time to relax and allow your body to adjust to the altitude.
This morning, looking across the valley, you can see the path sloping diagonally up towards the famous monastery of Tengboche, but first you must descend to the river. This takes about an hour, descending steeply in a series of zigzags to the Dudh Kosi River. From the river, it takes approximately 2-3 hours to reach the monastery at a slow, even pace.
The ascent begins with a steep climb through a shaded pine forest before emerging onto a long, gentle path that rises like a ramp toward your monastery. Emerging at the top, there is a mandala gateway and a huge chorten, which are passed before your first sight of the gompa. The setting is nothing short of magic and it is incredible to think that the temple was burnt down only a few years ago and was re-built largely through the efforts of the Sir Edmund Hillary Trust.
The trail winds along a scenic path with stunning views of Mt. Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse, Ama Dablam, and a close-up of Thamserku. As you approach the bustling area of Sagnasa, keep an eye out for the beautifully colored Danphe pheasant, Nepal’s national bird, as well as the elusive musk deer and occasionally a herd of Himalayan Thar (mountain goat).
Shortly after, the route splits: the upper path heads to the upper Pangboche village, home to an old monastery, while the lower, main trail takes you directly to Dingboche, Pheriche, and beyond. Dingboche is a picturesque village, a beautiful patchwork of fields enclosed by stone walls that protect crops of barley, buckwheat, and potatoes from the cold winds and grazing animals.
Today is a crucial acclimatization day. We will explore the Imja Khola valley, taking in breathtaking views of the north face of Ama Dablam and the Lhotse-Nuptse ridge. The walk through this beautiful valley leads up to Island Peak, is usually short, allowing plenty of time to relax in the afternoon. You can take this opportunity to do some laundry, soak up the sun, or simply unwind and enjoy the stunning surroundings.
Our journey continues northward, with the path ascending for about 40-50 minutes until we reach a mani prayer stupa. The trail then gently descends, offering views of Pheriche village below. Today’s walk provides stunning vistas of Mt. Tawache, Ama Dablam, and, to the north, Pokalde (5,741m), Kongma-tse (5,820m), and the great wall of Nuptse. After walking for 1 ½ to 2 hours, the trail from Pheriche joins near Dugla (4,595m) before crossing a small wooden bridge over the river of Khumbu glacier. Another 1 ½ to 2 hours of trekking brings us to Lobuche, a village hidden and sheltered from the wind.
After an early breakfast, prepare for the trek to Everest Base Camp. The trail ascends the valley along a rocky moraine path, offering views of icy glacial ponds and icebergs below the Khumbu glacier.
After navigating the final rocky moraine dunes, a short downhill walk brings you to Gorakshep, situated on the flat field below Kala Patthar (5,545m) and Mt. Pumori (7,145m). Gorakshep was the original location of Everest Base Camp.
Early in the morning, embark on a 1.5 to 2-hour walk from Gorakshep to Kala Patthar. The path is gradual until you reach a rocky spot after about an hour. From there, a 30-minute uphill climb takes you to the summit of Kala Patthar at 5,288m. The views from the top are beyond your wildest imagination, with Everest appearing almost within arm’s reach, framed by the summits of Mt. Nuptse, Lho-La, and Lhotse. After savoring this incredible moment, descend back to Gorakshep and then continue your trek to Pheriche for the night.
We retrace our steps to the tranquil village of Tashinga, which will take about 7 hours.
Today, we take an easy high trail before descending to Namche Bazaar. From Namche, we retrace our steps back to Monjo, which will take approximately 6 hours.
Today, we trek along the Dudh Kosi River, passing through Jorsale and Chourikharka. The trail features a mix of ascents, descents, and flat sections as we make our way up to Lukla.
Fly back to Kathmandu for a well-deserved rest.
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your onward journey.
Note: This is a sample itinerary and can be modified according to the client's interests. While all the information in this itinerary is accurate to the best of our knowledge, changes to our trips can and do occur. These changes may be due to our efforts to improve the program or for logistical reasons such as alterations in flight schedules, traffic conditions, weather conditions, or government policies. Dharma Adventures will make every effort to keep you informed of any changes but cannot be held liable for any modifications made to the published itinerary.
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