Welcome to Nepal! Your international flight lands at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu. We’ll pick you up and bring you to your hotel.

At the hotel, you’ll meet your guide and have your pre-trip meeting. Got questions? Feel free to ask! You can also check your gear and trekking equipment together.

airport transfer – hotel

Today, you hop on a scenic full-day jeep ride up the Sun-Khosi river valley to the town of Jiri, the trail-head of the Everest trek and your first camp. The ride will take about 8 hours.

breakfast – jeep – dinner – mountain lodge

Today marks the beginning of your trek! You begin the trek with a climb to the ridge-top (2,400 m) after which the trail drops down to Shivalaya (1,800 m). After reaching Shivalaya, you make another climb to Sangbadanda (2,150 m), Kosaribas (2,500 m), then to Bhanjyang, a pass at Bhandar (2,190 m / 7,185 ft). You can possibly take a detour between Sangbadanda and Bhandar to visit Thodung (3,090 m).

breakfast, lunch & dinner – mountain lodge

The trail drops down to the Likhu Khola and crosses the river (1,580 m), and onto Kenja. Now you make the long climb to Lamjura hill. The first part of the climb is quite steep, whence it traverses to Sete, and an abandoned stupa (2,575 m). You continue through the villages inhabited by Sherpas and have both Nepali and Sherpa names.

breakfast, lunch & dinner – mountain lodge

The day begins with a long but gradual climb to the Lamjura pass (3,530 m). In winter, you will be rewarded with frost and often snow along the trail. Or, in spring with blooming rhododendrons.

The pass is the highest point between Jiri and Namche Bazaar. You’ll have a good lunch stop here. From the top, you descend to Tragdobuk (2,860 m), then to the pretty Sherpa village of Junbesi (2,675 m).

breakfast, lunch & dinner – mountain lodge

You climb to a ridge (3,080 m) from where Everest slowly begins to appear before your eyes. From Junbesi the trail leads to the hospital and the airstrip at Phaplu, as well as the district headquarter and a small market at Salleri.

Leaving Salung, you make our way descending to the Ringmo Khola (2,650 m) followed by a small climb to Ringmo. You can see an apple orchard at this spot. The Apple House offers apple juice, pie and rakshi (rice spirit). The trail from Ringmo to Namche Bazaar was built in the 1,980’s and avoids many of the steep descents and ascents of the older route.

Then, you reach Trakshindo pass (3,071 m), whereafter the trail drops down pass the monastery of the same name, on to Nunthala (2,220 m / 7,283 ft).

breakfast, lunch & dinner – mountain lodge

The trail continues descending to the Dudh Khosi river where the trail then climbs through several Sherpa villages, terraced fields and forests to Khari Khola (2,020 m / 6,627 ft).

breakfast, lunch & dinner – mountain lodge

You begin the day with a climb towards Puiyan through Sherpa villages and woods, passing through a narrow canyon before arriving at Puiyan (2,700 m / 8,858 ft).

breakfast, lunch & dinner – mountain lodge

You continue the climb from Puiyan to a ridge at (2,800 m) before a gradual ascend to the final ridge, where you climb down to Surke following the trail towards Phakding (2,610 m / 8,560 ft).

breakfast, lunch & dinner – mountain lodge

You continue trekking along the banks of the Dudh Khosi, crossing this majestic river many times on exciting suspension bridges laden with prayer flags. After entering the Sagamartha National Park, the trail climbs steeply with breathtaking views.

Namche Bazaar, known as the Gateway to Everest, is home to many quality restaurants, hotels, lodges, shops, money exchange, Internet cafes and a bakery. Namche is the largest village (3,440 m / 11,290 ft) along the entire Everest trail.

breakfast, lunch & dinner – mountain lodge

You will spend the day in Namche Bazaar, in order to acclimatize and adjust to the thinning air.

If you like, you can hike a short distance to a museum that is celebrated for its exhibits of the traditional customs of the Sherpa people.

Or, you can hike up the Syangboche Airport, near the Everest View Hotel. From this point, you can get rewarding views of the Himalayas with a stunning sunrise and sunset over the panorama of Khumbu peaks.

breakfast, lunch & dinner – mountain lodge

The trail climbs steeply out of valley through rhododendron forest, juniper and large conifers start to appear as the elevation increases making the trekking very pristine in springtime. The trail passes through Yak Kharkas and summer settlements. The views of Khumbi La and Tawache are magnificent throughout the day.

breakfast, lunch & dinner – mountain lodge

You climb a ridge for an excellent view both down the valley to Kengtega and up towards Cho Oyu and descend to a river and again climbs steep to the terminal moraine of the Ngozumpa glacier. You will reach Machhermo by early noon.

breakfast, lunch & dinner – mountain lodge

The trek today takes you to one of your main destinations, Gokyo (4,750 m). You will make this camp your base for 2 nights as you can have couple of sightseeing and hiking trips around Gokyo.

breakfast, lunch & dinner – mountain lodge

Early morning, you go for a steep climb up to the top of Gokyo Ri (5,360 m / 17,575 ft). Here, you can get stunning views of the Gokyo Valley, the massive Ngozumpa Glacier and an incredible panoramic view of the entire Khumbu Himalayas, including the giants Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse, Makalu, Cho-Oyu and Gychung Kang. This day is mainly for acclimatization.

breakfast, lunch & dinner – mountain lodge

You trek to the foot of the Cho La pass (5,420 m / 17,782 ft) for your overnight stay. The accommodation in Tagnag is very basic and you probably need to share a room with other trekkers.

breakfast, lunch & dinner – mountain lodge

You start before sunrise at 4 or 5 A.M. to reach the pass by 9-10 A.M. to dodge bad weather conditions of the noontime. You’ll cross over at an altitude of 5,420 m (17,782 ft) where you could be exposed to strong winds if crossing too late. You’ll start to climb steeply that is regularly used and easy to follow. However, challenges may arise due to the altitude and snow.

As you reach the top, you’ll be rewarded by the magnificent views, then you descend to the Dzongla at noon. Same as in Tagnag, the accommodation is very basic and you probably need to share a room with other trekkers.

breakfast, lunch & dinner – mountain lodge

A rather easier and shorter trekking route will take you to Lobuche (4,940 m / 16,210 ft), in about 4 hours of trekking.

breakfast, lunch & dinner – mountain lodge

Today will be a challenging day, as you walk along the Khumbu Glacier and up to Everest Base Camp (5,364 m / 17,598 ft). This is the closest you can get to Mount Everest without mountaineering equipment. There will likely be a team there about to attempt the summit. The view of the Khumbu Icefall from Base Camp is spectacular. Then, you trek to Gorak Shep, a tiny hamlet.

breakfast, lunch & dinner – mountain lodge

This will be one of the most challenging yet rewarding days of the trek. Most of the morning will be spent climbing Kala Patthar (5,545 m / 18,519 ft), a small peak by the Himalayan standards.

The ascent is demanding but you can get the most magnificent mountain panorama: Everest (8,848 m / 29,031 ft), the highest point on the planet, towers directly ahead and on all sides loom the other giants, Nuptse, Pumori, Chagatse, Lhotse and countless others.

You make a quick descent to Gorak Shep (5,164 m / 16,942 ft) and then trek down to Periche (4,371 m / 14,340 ft).

breakfast, lunch & dinner – mountain lodge

From Periche, you take a slightly different route down to Orsho then to Pangboche Village. Here is the oldest monastery in the region which contains what is said to be the scalp and bones of a Yeti, or abominable snowman.

Leaving mountains behind us, your descent takes you through the Tengboche Monastery (3,867 m / 12,687 ft) before continuing back to Namche Bazaar (3,440 m / 11,290 ft). You arrive back to Namche Bazaar in the afternoon.

breakfast, lunch & dinner – mountain lodge

Finally, you return to Lukla, that has a small airstrip. You’ll spend some time enjoying and reflecting on the trek as a group and your personal achievement. You can also have some time to explore this town.

breakfast, lunch & dinner – mountain lodge

During the scenic mountain flight to Kathmandu or Ramechhap, you can enjoy your last glimpse of the mountains.

Flights from Lukla return to either Kathmandu or Ramechhap, depending on the season.

1. Lukla to Ramechhap (March-May, October-November)
In peak season, return flights go to Ramechhap instead of Kathmandu due to busy air traffic. The flight from Lukla to Ramechhap takes about 20 minutes. Upon landing, a shared shuttle will take you on a scenic 5-6 hour drive back to your hotel in Kathmandu.

2. Lukla to Kathmandu (January-February, June-September, December)
In the off-season, return flights typically go directly to Kathmandu. This decision depends on traveler demand and is made by the airline. The flight from Lukla to Kathmandu takes 35 minutes. After landing, your guide will bring you back to your hotel in the city.

breakfast – mountain flight – airport transfer – hotel

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.

breakfast – hotel

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.

breakfast – airport transfer