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The Everest Circuit Trek is perhaps the ultimate high-altitude trek, in the world’s most spectacular mountains. Think of this not just as a trek, but more as one of the finest mountain journeys you are ever likely to undertake in your lifetime. It is undoubtedly tough – but the scenery provides more than ample rewards.
With this challenging trekking route in the Everest region, you will walk through the 3 major Everest valleys, by crossing 3 high passes. Also, you will trek to Everest Base Camp (EBC) and to the holy Gokyo Lake.
It will take you 18 days to complete the entire Everest Circuit Trek, across the entire region. Along this trek are 3 high passes to cross: Kongma La pass (5,535 m), Cho La pass (5,330 m) and Renjo La pass (5,445 m). These passes make it an ultimate high-altitude trek in the world’s most spectacular mountain terrain.
From Kathmandu, we fly to Lukla from where we follow the classic EBC trail. We trek via Namche Bazaar, Tengboche and Dingboche to Kongma La pass, surrounded by dramatic views of Ama Dablam, Makalu and Lhotse.
From the Kongma La pass, we descend to the Khumbu glacier. We traverse the glaciated Cho La pass to Gokyo where we can explore the valley. And, we can climb Gokyo Ri to enjoy more excellent mountain views, including another angle of Mount Everest and, Cho Oyu on the Tibetan border to the north. Then we scramble across Renjo La, dramatically back-dropped by the Everest range and enter the Bhote Khosi valley.
On our way down again, we will trek along grazing pastures and a trading route used by yak trains from Tibet to Thame. It is a short day from Thame to Namche Bazaar. Here, we will re-trace our earlier steps to Lukla and fly back to Kathmandu.
Of course! Actually, we encourage you to do so. Because that makes this trek unique and truly YOURS! Obviously, you don’t need to figure it all out by yourself. We are here for you. Do you want to speed up and make it extra challenging? Or, take it easy and slow? Just contact us, and let us know what you’d like to do.
We are looking forward to hearing from you.
– Govinda & Lilly
Welcome in Nepal! We will pick you up at the international airport in Kathmandu, and bring you to your hotel in the backpackers area of Thamel.
airport transfer – hotel
After a good night of sleep and hopefully beating the jetlag, we will meet again for a pre-trip meeting. You will be introduced to your mountain guide and we will discuss the itinerary. If you have any questions or requests, please let us know.
Note: please, make sure you bring your passport to the meeting, along with your travel insurance policy. Carry both the original policy and a copy for us. We wil also request you to clear the due balance, if any.
What’s next? You can use this day to adjust to the different timezone, altitude and climate. Also, you can prepare yourself for your trek and do some last shoppings at one of the many outdoor gear shops around your hotel.
breakfast – 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 (2,804 m). 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).
breakfast – airport transfer – mountain flight – lunch & dinner –Â 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 (3,441 m) – 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 –Â mountain lodge
Today we spend the day here in Namche Bazaar to acclimatize and adjust to the thinner air. If the weather is clear, it’s a great opportunity to hike up to Syangboche for rewarding views of the Khumbu peaks.
breakfast, lunch & dinner –Â mountain lodge
Now our trek continues along the rushing glacial waters of the Dudh Khosi river with magnificent views of the mountains. Today we trek to an altitude of 3,860 meters. By reaching Tengboche we see local Buddhist monastery. Inside we can see incredibly ornate wall hangings, a 20-foot sculpture of Buddha and the musical instruments and robes of Lamas. Here we can observe a prayer ceremony either in the evening or morning, depending on how our trek went today.
breakfast, lunch & dinner –Â mountain lodge
From Tengboche the trail drops to Debuche and crosses another exciting suspension bridge on the Imja Khola. Then we climb to Pangboche along thousands of mani stones. Today our uphill trek takes us to the quaint traditional Sherpa village of Dingboche (4,350 m) with its exquisite views of Lhotse, Island Peak and Ama Dablam. We take our time to prevent getting affected by the altitude.
breakfast, lunch & dinner –Â mountain lodge
Since this is a challenging trek, we need regularly free days so that we keep our energy. Today we explore the nearby ridge and enjoy striking views of soaring Makalu, Lhotse and the Cho Oyu mountains. The ridge also offers us views over the Imja valley and Lobuche’s and Cholatse’s peaks.
breakfast, lunch & dinner –Â mountain lodge
The trek today begins through crop fields. We climb to the valley of Imja Khola which offers us views of the mountains of Lhotse and Ama Dablam. Then our trail continues through Bibre, a scattered settlement of yak herders. When we walk further, we reach the village of Chhukung that offers us a striking view of Imja Tse that is also known as Island Peak.
breakfast, lunch & dinner –Â mountain lodge
Crossing Bibre, we climb all the way to the Niyang Khola valley. To reach Kongma La pass, we head east and cross the gorge with frozen lakes. From the pass we can enjoy the views of mountains in Nepal and Tibet. After a short break we head down to the Khumbu glacier and trek to Lobuche and finally, to Gorak Shep.
breakfast, lunch & dinner –Â mountain lodge
Today we explore the lake of Gorak Shep with freezing cold water. When we trek past the Indian Army Mountaineers’ Memorials, we reach Everest Base Camp. We hope for a bright, clear day as this place offers striking views of Nuptse, Khumbutse and the Pumori mountains. But we won’t spend the night here in Everest Base Camp, instead we go back down to Gorak Shep.
breakfast, lunch & dinner –Â mountain lodge
From Gorak Shep we return to Lobuche and trek down further until we will reach the river bank. Then we cross the river and take the ascending trail to the top of the ridge for striking views of Ama Dablam and the Thamserku mountains. And we trek further to Cholatse lake. From here our trail goes through few ups and downs to reach the bridge to reach Dzonglha.
breakfast, lunch & dinner –Â mountain lodge
When we trek to the hilltop of Dzonglha we have a striking view of the Cholatse mountains. Then we head west before descending to the gorge. We climb the gorge and reach the vantage point which offers views of Ama Dablam and again the Cholatse mountains. We climb Cho La pass which offers panoramic views of several mountains and peaks in Nepal. Finally, at the end of our route today we there’s only left the rocky path to Tagnag.
breakfast, lunch & dinner –Â mountain lodge
Today we continue following the rocky path with striking views of mountains and valleys. We also pass the Ngozumpa glacier today, which is the longest glacier in Nepal. We cross the glacier and to reach the third Gokyo lake which is located on the verge of Gokyo village (4,750 m).
breakfast, lunch & dinner –Â mountain lodge
If our trek goes as planned, we have a spare day now. We can either spend it with a visit to the fourth and fifth lake of Gokyo. In total there are six lakes in the Gokyo valley. Or we climb the Gokyo Ri peak (5,360 m).
breakfast, lunch & dinner –Â mountain lodge
From the Gokyo valley we now head west and trek to the foot of Renjo La pass. Renjo La is the high pass of this trek, with an altitude of 5,320 meter. From the pass we can enjoy the gratifying views of mountains and peaks of both Nepal and Tibet. For instance we can see Kyajo Ri from the western section of Renjo La. Then we continue our trek to reach Lungden where we spend the night.
breakfast, lunch & dinner –Â mountain lodge
A walk along the rocky path leads us to the river. When we reach the Sherpa village of Thame, we explore the village to get to know the local culture, the traditions and way of living. Also we visit Thame’s Buddhist monastery today.
breakfast, lunch & dinner –Â mountain lodge
From Thame we return to Namche Bazaar, cross Dudh Khosi river and move through Sagarmatha National Park to Manjo village. The entrance of the Sagarmatha National Park is at Manjo.
breakfast, lunch & dinner –Â mountain lodge
Finally, today we return to Lukla where our trek began. It seems like a lifetime ago. Together we enjoy our evening and reflect on the trek as a group and the personal achievement of all those who took part.
breakfast, lunch & dinner –Â mountain lodge
When we fly back to Kathmandu, we enjoy our last glimpse of the mountains. On arrival in Kathmandu we bring you back to your hotel.
In the evening, we offer you and your guide a farewell dinner together in a traditional Nepalese restaurant.
breakfast – mountain flight – airport transfer – farewell dinner – hotel
If it’s the final day of your holiday in Nepal, we will bring you back to the international airport. Goodbye friends! We hope that we will meet each other again in the future.
breakfast – airport transfer
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With Govinda & Lilly in English or Dutch.
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