Everest Base Camp (24 days / 23 nights)

The top of the world! The tough way! This is how they did it before there were flights to Lukla.

Get to one of the most iconic trekking destinations in the world, and do it the hard way, like the

first pioneers did after the Everest got discovered by the West.

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.

The journey starts with a drive to Jiri from Kathmandu, and seven days of trekking will take us to

Namche, on the trail used more popularly these days, after a flight from Lukla. On the way back,

we will take the short scenic flight from Lukla's small and unusual airport back to Kathmandu.

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 guide. (or skip this and drive to Jiri)

Day 03: Drive to Jiri

A drive that takes around seven hours will take you to Jiri where we will start the trek the next

day.

Day 04: Jiri - Deurali

We walk the trail from Jiri to Deurali passing little Sherpa villages on the way.

Day 05: Deurali- Sete (2580m)

We start the trek going downhill and then uphill again through beautiful dense rhododendron

forests.

Day 06: Sete - Junbesi (2670m)

We walk uphill upto 3530m at Lamjura Bhanjyang before going downhill towards Junbesi where

we spend the night.

Day 07: Junbesi - Nuntala (2330m)

You'll have your first views of the Everest today around Salung at 2980m, We cross the Ringmo

River at 2570m and go uphill again towards Taksindhu before going downhill to Nuntala where

you will spend the night.

Day 08: Nuntala - Bupsa (2360m)

We walk past Khari River and spend the night at Bupsa.

Day 09: Trek to Surke (2290m) / Chablung (2660m)

We walk by the Dudh Koshi, (a river named Milk Koshi in Nepali, for its white waters), mostly

uphill to 2700m and then down and up to Chablung.

Day 10: Trek to Monjo (2840m)

We walk along the river till we get to Monjo.

Day 11: Trek to Namche (3450m)

We enter the Sagarmatha National Park today (Sagarmatha is the Everest's Nepali name), and

walk steeply uphill to Namche, which is a big and popular trading village.

Day 12: 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 at 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 13: 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 14: 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 15: 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 16: 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 17: Lobuche – Gorak Shep (5170m)

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 18: 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 pack to see the great Khumbu icefall on the way

back to Gorak Shep where you will spend the night.

Day 19: Gorak Shep - Ferutche (4200m)

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

Day 20: Ferutche - Tyangboche (3885m)

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

Day 21: Tyangboche – Namche (3443m)

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

Day 22: 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, a good day to sample the local rice liquor

'chang' and make merry with the guide and porters on this final day.

Day 23: 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 24: Departure

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

for your next trip.

Day 01: Get here! Kathmandu, Nepal

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 guide. (or skip this and drive to Jiri)

Day 03: Drive to Jiri

A drive that takes around seven hours will take you to Jiri where we will start the trek the next

day.

Day 04: Jiri - Deurali

We walk the trail from Jiri to Deurali passing little Sherpa villages on the way.

Day 05: Deurali- Sete (2580m)

We start the trek going downhill and then uphill again through beautiful dense rhododendron

forests.

Day 06: Sete - Junbesi (2670m)

We walk uphill upto 3530m at Lamjura Bhanjyang before going downhill towards Junbesi where

we spend the night.

Day 07: Junbesi - Nuntala (2330m)

You'll have your first views of the Everest today around Salung at 2980m, We cross the Ringmo

River at 2570m and go uphill again towards Taksindhu before going downhill to Nuntala where

you will spend the night.

Day 08: Nuntala - Bupsa (2360m)

We walk past Khari River and spend the night at Bupsa.

Day 09: Trek to Surke (2290m) / Chablung (2660m)

We walk by the Dudh Koshi, (a river named Milk Koshi in Nepali, for its white waters), mostly

uphill to 2700m and then down and up to Chablung.

Day 10: Trek to Monjo (2840m)

We walk along the river till we get to Monjo.

Day 11: Trek to Namche (3450m)

We enter the Sagarmatha National Park today (Sagarmatha is the Everest's Nepali name), and

walk steeply uphill to Namche, which is a big and popular trading village.

Day 12: 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 at 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 13: 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 14: 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 15: 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 16: 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 17: Lobuche – Gorak Shep (5170m)

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 18: 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 pack to see the great Khumbu icefall on the way

back to Gorak Shep where you will spend the night.

Day 19: Gorak Shep - Ferutche (4200m)

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

Day 20: Ferutche - Tyangboche (3885m)

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

Day 21: Tyangboche – Namche (3443m)

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

Day 22: 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, a good day to sample the local rice liquor

'chang' and make merry with the guide and porters on this final day.

Day 23: 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 24: Departure

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

for your next trip.