The top of the world! Get up close and personal with the tallest mountain in the world- the Everest,

standing at 8850m- from its base camp, where all Everest expeditions start.

The base camp itself is pretty high, at an altitude of 5340m above sea level, and boasts unparalleled views of the Sagarmatha (the Nepali name for the Everest) and other mountains along with the incredible Khumbu icefall. The terrain here is oligotrophic and inhospitable, barren and beautiful- a Shangri-La complete with little Nepali mountain villages, herds of yaks and hearty Nepali people with their unique traditions.

This is a tea-house trek- which means you will sleep in little village lodges along the route- but it is fairly strenuous and requires a reasonable level of fitness. The climbs will be at a slow pace, and we will allow ourselves a couple of days to acclimatize to the high altitudes in the course of our journey.

• Day 01: Get here!

Our representative will pick you up at the airport. Get a feel for the streets the first day, absorb the sights and sounds, or rest at the hotel. We discuss the journey in the evening.

• Day 02: Namaste Kathmandu.

Kathmandu, the capital city, boasts an intense mix of cultures and religions unique to Nepal. Turn the Buddhist prayer wheels at Swoyambhu- the monkey temple, and meet the steady gaze of the Buddha's eyes at the famous Boudhanath stupa. Experience the valley's olden days at the Kathmandu Durbar Square- which has remained authentic even as modernization has crept in all around it. See Kathmandu, with your Advout TM guide. (or skip this and fly to Lukla)

• Day 03: Flight from Kathmandu to Lukla and we start walking. Lukla - Phakding (2620m)

Flights take off early in the morning in clear weather for Lukla and afford fantastic views of the mountains.(It is advisable to be seated to the left of the aircraft) Lukla is a beautiful town and boasts sights of the Kongde and Kongde South mountains. Look around Lukla and start trekking. We spend the night in Phakding, around three hours away from Lukla on foot.

• Day 04: Phakding – Namche Bazaar

We head North, on the banks of the Dudh Koshi river (dudh means milk in Nepali and the river owes this name to its color) which is a white water river considered too dangerous for kayaking, till we enter the

Sagarmatha National Park at Jor Salle. We cross a suspension bridge above the intersection of two white

water rivers (Bhote Koshi and Dudh Koshi)and get to Namche Bazaar at 3340m, a bustling Sherpa village.

We see the Everest for the first time, on foot, today.

Day 05: Acclimatization day at Namche. Walk to Khumjung and back.

This is high altitude. We allow our bodies to acclimatize today and spend the day walking around

Namche and then to Syangboche, two hours away on a hilltop which houses an emergency airstrip and

an area offering great views of the Everest and Thamserku mountains. We can then walk to Khumjung,

another Sherpa village at 3900 meters famous as a home to Sherpa climbers. Back in Namche, we can

visit a museum of Sherpa culture, indigenous plan and animal life, and mountaineering, at the HQ of the

National Park.

Day 06: Namche – Tyangboche

We start by walking uphill through forests of pine to Tyangboche at 3885m, roughly 5 hours from

Namche. This is where the winter snow line begins in the area. We can also trek on to Pangboche an

hour away if we feel up to it. This area has an optional deluxe hotel along with the regular teahouse.

Day 07: Tyangboche - Dingboche

We trek on through forests that house a number of wild animals we might be able to see if we keep

alert. These include 118 species of birds and a number of rare mammals including the musk deer, the

elusive snow leopard, red pandas, the Himalayan black bear, langur monkeys, among others. Pangboche

is a large mountain village, the oldest in the area and houses a very old monastery. Our trek today also

takes us to the top of a ridge from where panoramic views of the Taboche, Ama Dablam, Thamserku,

Nuptse, Lotse and Cholatse mountains warm quench our eyes' thirst. We spend the night in the village

of Dingboche at 4350m, with its chortens and prayer flags.

Day 08: Dingboche - Acclimatization Day (4700m)

About a thousand meters higher than our last acclimatization day, we spend the day around Dingboche,

taking an uphill hike to Chhu Kumbri at 4700m which affords fantastic views and back to Dingboche for a

good night's sleep.

Day 09: Dingboche - Lobuche (4980m)

Crossing the Thuk La Pass, we walk to Lobuche today, passing memorials to the many mountaineers

that've lost their lives in their attempts to scale the great peaks. Lobuche has many monasteries, and

also a deluxe hotel.

Day 10: Lobuche – Gorak Shep (5180m)

We walk uphill through narrow glacier-cut paths along the huge Khumbu glacier to Gorak Shep at

5180m, marveling at the sights of the Everest and Pumori mountains.

Day 11: Gorak Shep - Everest Base Camp (5363m) and back

About three hours away from Gorak Shep is our destination - the Everest Base Camp. Drink in the sights

and take the higher route on the leg back to see the great Khumbu icefall going back to Gorak Shep

where we will spend the night.

Day 12: Gorak Shep - Ferutche (4200m)

We walk downhill, back the same way we came up, to spend the night at Ferutche.

Day 13: Ferutche - Tyangboche (3885m)

We retrace our steps, stopping at Pangboche to see the monastery.

Day 14: Tyangboche – Namche (3443m)

Namche is a good place to relax, with its many restaurants.

Day 15: Namche – Lukla(2840m)

This is the last day of our trek and a great day to celebrate your accomplishment - the conquest of one

of the greatest iconic treks in the world. Also, this is the final day- a good day to sample the local rice

liquor 'chyang' and make merry with the guide and porters.

Day 16: Lukla – Kathmandu

Return to Kathmandu on the scenic flight from Luka, drinking in the last of the great Himalayan sights as

the final day approaches. Relax in one of the many shopping / clubbing areas in Kathmandu

Day 17: Departure

We'll drop you off at the airport, congratulating your success, and quite possibly making plans for your

next trip.