Duration: 17 days
Day 1:
Arrive in Kathmandu. Transfer to hotel
Day 2:
Guided tour of Kathmandu and Patan.
Day 3:
You will be taken to the airport for the morning flight to the mountainous airstrip at Lukla from where you begin your trek. It is a gentle hike, mostly downhill following the river valley to Phakding (altitude 2,650m).
Day 4:
From Phakding follow the river valley to the entrance to Sagmartha National Park, from where you begin the first climb up to the sherpa capital Namche Bazaar (altitude 3,450m) where you spend the night.
Day 5:
Your trek continues dropping down to the fast-flowing waters of the Dudh koshi before climbing again to Tengboche (3,865m), home to a famous Tibetan Buddhist monestary and hopefully your first clear view of Everest.
Day 6:
From Tengboche drop down to Debuche where you cross on a suspenssion bridge and past thousands of mani stones to Dingboche (altitude 4,280m), one fo the highest permanently inhabitated settlements in the world.
Day 7:
Your trail passes through high meadows before climbing the steep slope of terminal moraine at the end of Khumbu Glacier to your lodge at Lobuche (altitude 4,525m).
Day 8:
From Lobuche it is a short hike at high altitude along the undulating lateral moraine to Gorek Shep, site of the first Everest Base Camp and your final lodge.
Day 9:
After an early mornign start, ascend to the summit of Kala Patar. Although a small hill in Himalayan scales, it is still a tough hike reaching an altitude of 5,540m. however, from the summit you are rewarded with clear and unobstruced views of the Himalayan range, dominated by the sumit of Everest. After return to Gorek Shep for a well deserved breakfast, you can continue to Everest Base Camp and the famous Khumbu icefall if you are feeling fit enough before return to Gorek Shep.
Day 10:
Retrace your steps downhill, a much easier hike where you can enjoy the magnificent scenery en rotue to Dingboche.
Day 11:
Today's path follows the either side of the river to reach the Sherpa village of Phortse Tenga on the banks of the Dudh Koshi.
Day 12:
Continue through an area rich in Sherpa culture to Khumjung, one ofn the most important Sherpa villages where you will be able to see what is claimed to be a yeti scalp preserved in one of the monasteries.
Day 13:
Follow the Dudh Koshi through Rhododendron forest to Namche Bazaar, with time to explore the mixture of highland cultures in this important high-altitude market town.
Day 14:
Your trek leads downhill to Lukla, where you spend your final night in a lodge.
Day 15:
It is a spectacular morning flight from Lukla to Kathmandu, Transfer to your hotel with the afternoon free for a well earned rest!
Day 16:
A sightseeing tour of the sights around Kathmandu including the timeless medieval city of Bhaktapur will be arranged for today.
Day 17:
You will be taken to the airport in time for your flight home.
Please note the trek itinerary is subject to change according to weather conditions and your acclimatisation to the altitude.
