Welcome to Nepal! Your international flight lands at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu.

After a good night of sleep and hopefully beating the jetlag, we will meet again for a pre-trip meeting. Today, we will discuss the itinerary and check if we’ve packed everything we need for the trek.

What’s next? You can use this day to adjust to the different time zone, altitude and climate. Also, you can prepare yourself for your trek and do some last shopping’s at one of the many outdoor gear shops around your hotel.

Early morning, your guide will come to your hotel to pick you up. You wil go the domestic airport together, to take a short but scenic flight to Tenzing and Hillary Airport in Lukla (2,860 m / 9,380 ft). Upon arrival at Lukla, your guide will introduce you to your sherpa’s before beginning your trek.

After landing, we will take our time to explore the village while your sherpa crew sorts and loads the trekking equipment. Then, we will begin the trek! First, we will descend towards the Dudh Khosi River where we can join the main trail to Namche Bazaar, the main hub of the Everest region. Today, the walk is easy and will take us to Phakding (2,610 m / 8,560 ft).

mountain flight – lunch & dinner – mountain lodge

After breakfast, we will continue our trek along the banks of the Dudh Khosi River. Also, we will be crossing this majestic river many times, on exciting suspension bridges laden with prayer flags. After entering Sagamartha National Park, the trail climbs steeply with breathtaking views.

Namche Bazaar (3,440 m /11,290 ft) – known as the Gateway to Everest – is home to many quality restaurants, hotels, lodges, shops, money exchanges, internet cafes and bakeries. Namche is one of the biggest villages along the entire Everest trail.

breakfast, lunch & dinner – mountain lodge

Today, we spend the day in and around Namche Bazaar in order to acclimatize and adjust to the thinning of the air. We can go on a short trek in the area, and visit a museum celebrating the traditional customs of the Sherpa people. Or, we can hike up Syangboche Airport. From this point, we can have rewarding views of the Himalayas with stunning sunrise and sunset over the panorama of the Khumbu peaks.

breakfast, lunch & dinner – mountain lodge

We start off by climbing Khumjung Hill, and descend to the east of the village. All the way down the broad valley, leading us back to the Dudh Khosi River from where the route turns north. There are 2 trails, and your guide will decide what will be the best option to follow.

Today, we will see a chorten on the ridge top at 3,973 m/13,034 ft. Also, we can visit Mohang. This is the birthplace of the re-incarnated Lama of Rongbuk Monastery of Tibet, who is believed to have introduced Buddhism in the Khumbu region of Nepal. The trail descends in a series of steep switchbacks down a sandy slope to Phortse Thenga, near the river.

breakfast, lunch & dinner – mountain lodge

We will walk on a trail, alongside a mighty rhododendron forest. Then, the trail passes through a waterfall before reaching Tongba Village. We continue our uphill trek till we reach Dole.

breakfast, lunch & dinner – mountain lodge

From Dole, we will continue our trek uphill through Labarma and Luza Village untill we have reached Machhermo. There is a chorten, right before the Luza village. Throughout today’s journey, we will be walking alongside the river Dudh Khosi.

breakfast, lunch & dinner – mountain lodge

Today, we leave the foothills and enter the desolate tundra of the high mountains. We will climb steeply up a scrubby slope to a collection of chortens on the hilltop, and follow a ridge. On the way, we will have good views south to Kantega (6,782 m / 22,251 ft) and north towards the massive Cho Oyu (8,188 m / 26,864 ft), the 6th highest mountain in the world.

Soon, we’ll arrive at the tiny settlement of Pangka, squeezed against a mound of sand and rubble at the end of Ngozumpa Glacier.

We will climb further up into a rocky cleft on stone steps, beside one of the streams that feeds the river Dudh Khosi we saw earlier. This portal releases us onto the lateral moraine of the Ngozumpa Glacier. It is the longest glacier in the Himalaya, which begins 20 km north on the slopes of Cho Oyu. Wedged between the mountain wall and this crumbling mound of sand and gravel are 6 sacred lakes. These reflect the peaks in their calm, mirrored surfaces.

Immediately after crossing the bridge, we will pass the 1st lake, Longponga Tsho (4,650 m / 15,255 ft). When we follow the trail and cross the glacier, we will soon reach the 2nd lake of Taboche Tsho (4,710 m / 15,452 ft). Rightafter, we will roll into the village of Gokyo (4,750 m / 15,580 ft) on the shore of the 3rd lake Dudh Pokhari.

breakfast, lunch & dinner – mountain lodge

On the north side of Dudh Pokhari, the 3rd lake, we can see Gokyo Ri (5,357 m / 17,575 ft). This is an epic vantage point, offering kind views of the area.

Right after the first light, we cross a stream and climb for 2 hours to a cat’s cradle of prayer flags at the top. From the summit, there are panoramic views of Cho Oyu, Mount Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, Gholatse and, Taboche with the Ngozumpa Glacier cutting across in front like a massive tear in the landscape.

After having enjoyed our time at the top of Gokyo Ri, we go back to the village of Gokyo.

breakfast, lunch & dinner – mountain lodge

Today, we cross Ngozumpa Glacier to the mountain on the other side. Then, we traverse along the edge of that mountain and meander into Dragnag. It will be a short trek today, with an afternoon of rest which will prepare us for long hiking days and elevation gain to come.

breakfast, lunch & dinner – mountain lodge

Today is going to be one of the toughest days of this trek. The Cho La Pass is not itself difficult, but it is steep and involves a glacier traverse on the eastern side. We need to be careful, as the trail is vertical and the rocks glazed by ice. It may cause trouble since it makes the trail slippery.

The top of the pass is decorated with prayer flags. The pyramidal Ama Dablam presides over a range of mountains on the south, even as Cholatse soars to the west and Lobuche East and Baruntse rises sharply to our right. We need to pass through some crevasses before we reach Dzonglha. The village provides great views of Cholatse, Ama Dablam, Lobuche mountains along with the Pheriche far below.

breakfast, lunch & dinner – mountain lodge

This will be a very short trek, so we have a lot time to relax and enjoy the beauty that surrounds us. We climb down from Dzonglha and walk through a grassy trail while enjoying the view of Lobuche Peak. The trail curves through the wide river bed before reaching Lobuche. We can spend the rest of day taking a rest, which will help us prepare for the next day’s long trek.

breakfast, lunch & dinner – mountain lodge

Today, we trek to Everest Base Camp through the once vast Gorak Shep Lake. Along the way, we will come across the Indian army mountaineers’ memorials. The path from here can be misleading; hence, it is important that you follow your guide diligently. The walk is strenuous due to thin air in the high altitude. We will pass through rocky dunes, moraine and streams before reaching the Everest Base Camp.

Upon reaching the Everest Base Camp, you see tents of mountaineers that stand out in bright colors against the monotony of gray surroundings. Especially during spring. Nuptse, Khumbuste and Pumori are the mountains you can view from base camp.

After exploring base camp, we trek back down to Gorak Shep.

breakfast, lunch & dinner – mountain lodge

We prepare for an early morning departure, amid pre-dawn darkness and cold temperatures. You can easily expect temperatures of -10 to -14 °C. Plus, there is always the potential for chilly winds, which are quite common here.

Familiar peaks such as Lingtren, Khumbutse and Changtse tower to the east even as Everest begins to reveal itself. But, it is upon reaching Kala Patthar that we get to see 360 degree up-close and formidable views of Mount Everest! You can take pictures, enjoy the magnificent mountain panorama.

Then, we will trek down to Pheriche for a good night’s rest.

breakfast, lunch & dinner – mountain lodge

From Periche, we take a slightly different route down to Orsho and then to Pangboche. Here is the oldest monastery in the region which contains, what is said to be the scalp and bones of a ’Yeti’ or the abominable snowman. Leaving the high mountains behind us, our descent takes us through Tengboche Monastery (3,860 m / 12,664 ft) before continuing back to the town of Namche Bazaar (3,440 m /11,290 ft). We arrive back to Namche Bazaar in the afternoon.

breakfast, lunch & dinner – mountain lodge

Finally, we return to Lukla where the trek began (which will seem like a lifetime ago). We will be enjoying time to reflect on the trek, both as a group and the personal achievement of all those who took part.

breakfast, lunch & dinner – mountain lodge

During the scenic mountain flight back to Kathmandu, you can enjoy your last glimpse of the spectacular mountains. On arrival in Kathmandu, we will bring you back to your hotel.

breakfast – mountain flight – airport transfer

Today is an extra day, just in case you needed it during the trek or if your domestic flight was delayed.

If everything went according to plan, you can use today to explore some of Kathmandu’s highlights, go souvenir shopping in Thamel, or simply relax at your hotel or in a local restaurant.

In the evening, the group, guide, and any porters come together one last time for a farewell dinner in Thamel.

farewell dinner

If it’s the final day of your holiday in Nepal. Your international flight departs from Tribhuvan International Airport Kathmandu.

Goodbye friends! We hope that you will cherish these memories we’ve made together forever.