One does the Everest base camp Trekking to see Everest up close. To approach the World’s highest mountain as closely as is possible for a trekker. To experience Everest.
But there’s more to the Everest. For one, there are all the other beautiful snow clad peaks – Ama Dablam, Kwangde, Thamserku, Pumori, to name just a few – that emerge about the hills as you trek, and the breathtaking mountain scenery all around: deep, forested valleys with the Dudh Kosi river surging below, picturesque waterfalls, giant rhododendrons in bloom (during spring and summer), the amazing shades and shapes of the mountains beyond the tree line, the awesome, somber glaciers.
There are also, of course, the villages and the Sherpa people with their Tibetan culture. The Buddhist monasteries (called gompas) where lamas in ochre robes drone ancient prayers and perform age – old rituals, the chortens (stone-and-earth mausoleum-like structures) and mani walls (rows of piled mantra-inscribed stones) that makes the winding paths, the prayer flags strung on poles and bridges, sending prayers to heaven as they flutter in the wind. And the hairy lumbering yaks – the quaint Himalayan bovine – carrying supplies or simply grazing, their tinkling bells often the only sound in a remote misty mountain pasture.
And then, as you leave the villages and their terraced fields and pastures, beyond Dingboche and Pheriche, you enter a World that is bleak, harsh and desolate, yet mesmerizing in its austere beauty. This is a land of glaciers, moraines and rugged, barren valleys, overlooked by soaring, snowy mountains.
This is also one of the most elevated terrains that trekkers anywhere ever got to tread on. Here you walk and sleep in altitudes well above 4,500 m./14,500 ft. But it isn’t until you reach Gorak Shep that you get a clear view of the world’s most elevated spot, Mt Everest (8848 m/29,028 ft). A view that gets progressively better as you ascend Kala Patthar.
Day To Day Itinerary:
Day 01: Flight to Lukla – Trek to Phakding (2656m.)
In the morning we take a scenic flight to Lukla and a landing on a steep mountain runway brings us to the start of our trek at the village of Lukla (2850m.). After meeting the crew, we head up the DudhKoshi Valley on a well-marked trail and then stay overnight in Phakding.
Day 02: Trek to Namche (3450m.)
From Phakding, we cross and re-cross the river on high suspension bridges. Beyond Monjo is the entrance to the Sagarmatha National Park which was set-up in order to protect and preserve the fragile mountain environment. We then take a steep hike to Namche. If the weather is clear, we get the first glimpse of Mt Everest. Namche is the main trading village in the Khumbu and has a busy Saturday market – a meeting place for the Hindu traders from the lowlands and the Tibetan yak caravans that have crossed the glaciated Nangpa La. We bunk out for the night at Namche.
Day 03: Rest day in Namche (an acclimatization period)
This day is the rest day for the proper acclimatization. To acclimatize, you visit Khunde Hospital set-up by Sir Edmund Hillary, or take a one hour walk up to the Everest View Hotel above Namche for the sunset view of AmaDablam, Nuptse, Lhotse and Everest. There are also good views from the National Park Centre and Museum just above the town.
Day 04: Trek to Tengboche (3867m.)
From Namche, the trail contours on to the side of the valley, high above the DudhKosi. We get our first really good views of the great peaks of the Khumbu including Mt Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse and AmaDablam. Passing by several villages and numerous tea shops, we descend steeply to a bridge over the river at PhunkiTenga where we take lunch. Here we can rest before making the steep climb to Tengboche. Although the hike up the zigzag path is tiring, it presents us with many beautiful sights of rhododendron bushes with beautiful birds and superb mountain scenery. Tengboche is famous for its legendary monastery, the largest in the Khumbu. A spectacular panorama of Everest, Lhotse and AmaDablam rising in the horizon can be seen from the campsite.
Day 05: Trek to Dingboche (4350m.)
This takes approximately five hours. Dingboche is a beautiful green patchwork of fields enclosed by stone walls protecting the crops of barley, buckwheat and potatoes from the cold winds and grazing animals. There are some breathtaking views of the North face of AmaDablam and the Lhotse-Nuptse ridge as you explore this beautiful valley that leads up to Island Peak. The walk is short with a good chance to relax in the afternoon. You have another option as you can hike up to Chhukum. From here you can enjoy panoramic views of Island peak, AmaDablam, Makalu, Tawoche peak and others. We spend our overnight at a lodge.
Day 06: Trek to Chhukung(4710m.)
Today we trek to Chhukung to ChhukungRi (5546m.) via Dongla (4620m.) From ChhukungRiwe get fantastic views of Mt. Nuptse (7896m.), Mt.Lhotse (8511m.), Baruntse peak (6800m.), AmaDablam peak (6856m.),Thamserku peak (6608m.), KondeRi or peak(6187m.), Tawoche peak (6542m.), Cholotse peak (6441m.) and more.
Day 07: Trek to Lobuche (4930m.)
We continue up the wide valley beneath the impressive peaks of Cholatse and Tawache on the left. We then turn right and take a steep climb towards the foot of the Khumbu Glacier. The tea house at Duglha is a good spot to have lunch. The trail zigzags up through the boulders of the glacier’s terminal moraine. At the top of this climb there are many stone cairns, built as memorials to the many Sherpas who have died while climbing Mt Everest. The path then climbs gently along the glacier, to eventually reach the cluster of houses at Lobuche.
Day 08: Trek to GorakShep(5184m.)
To reach our next stop, Kala Pattar, we follow the Khumbu Glacier. The trail offers superb views of the surrounding mountains, especially where the path is forced to rise to cross a tributary glacier. We stop for lunch at our camping place: GorakShep. Later in the afternoon, we make our way to the top of one of the finest viewpoints in the Everest region, Kala Pattar [5554m]. As the light begins to fade into twilight, we return back to our camp at GorakShep and have an early night in preparation for our trek to Everest Base Camp the following day.
Day 09: Trek to Everest Base Camp (5357m.) and head back to GorakShep
A very early start is required to reach the Everest Base Camp. It takes several hours as the trail weaves its way through ice pinnacles and past the crevasses of the Khumbu Glacier. On the return leg, we can take a higher route to get a spectacular view of the Khumbu ice fall and the route to the South Col. We then return to our camp site at Gorakshep.
Day 10: Trek to Kalapathar (5550m.) and hike down to Pheriche (4250m.)
Trek from Gorakshep to Kala Patthar (5545m.) and then to Pheriche (4243m.) this takes about six hours. We accomplish an early morning climb to Kala Patthar (5545m.) and enjoy the view of a magnificent sunrise. From Kala Patthar you can have a panoramic view of Mt. Everest and many other mountain peaks like Mt. Pumori, Mt. Lingtren, Mt. Khumbetse, Mt. Nuptse, Mt. Lhotse, Mt. AmaDablam, Mt. Thamserku and many other peaks. Yaks are normally used as four-legged porters in this area. Today’s trek is mostly downhill. As we retrace our steps to Duglha and descend to Pheriche,
Day 11: Trek to Tengboche (3860m.)
We get our first really good views of the great peaks of the Khumbu including Mt Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse and AmaDablam from this vantage point. Passing by several villages and numerous tea shops, we descend steeply to a bridge over the river at PhunkiTenga where we stop for launch. Here we can rest before making the steep climb to Tengboche. Although the hike up the zigzag path is tiring, it presents us with many beautiful sights of rhododendron bushes with beautiful birds and superb mountain scenery. Tengboche is famous for its legendary monastery, the largest in the Khumbu and the famous ‘abominable snowman’ or YETI. A spectacular panorama of Everest, Lhotse and AmaDablam rising in the horizon can be seen from our campsite.
Day 12: Trek to Monjo (2840m.) via Namche (3441m.)
This takes about six hours. While trekking from Namche to Monjo you come across few Sherpa settlements and you will meet friendly Sherpa people who’d like to strike up a conversation with you. Trekking this day is little bit easier in comparison to other days. Monjo is a small village and the area is mainly into agriculture. Stay overnight at a lodge.
Day 13: Trek to Lukla (2804m.)
Our final day’s trekking follows the DudhKosi down to Lukla. This last evening calls for a celebration because this is our last day on these fantastic mountains that were home to us all of these days. We have a party with our Sherpa guides and porters who’ve got close to us over the weeks & are now good friends. We sample some ‘chayang’ (locally brewed mountain beer) and try out some Sherpa dance steps. Altogether, this is an end to a merry trip on a merry note.
Day 14: Fly to Kathmandu
We pack up early and head for the airstrip and flight back to Kathmanduthe rest of your day is free to do your own things. Overnight at the hotel.
