Today, you will be picked up at the airport and transferred to your hotel. Check in and enjoy the remainder of the day free after your long flight.

Pashupatinath, Boudhanath & Bhaktapur

Today you will be met by your guide for a full day sightseeing tour including visits to Pashupatinath, Boudhanath, and Bhaktapur.

Pashupatinath, the most sacred of all Hindu temples in Nepal situated on the banks of the holy Bagmati River. Non Hindus are not allowed to enter the temple precincts but may look into premises from the opposite bank. It draws tens of thousands of pilgrims and devotees from Nepal and India during the festival of Mahashivaratri (the night of Lord Shiva).

Boudhanath, possibly the world's largest Buddhist stupa and a site of great veneration for Buddhists, around the stupa have sprung up number of monasteries of the different sects of Tibetan Buddhism including one (on the west side of the stupa) that houses an enormous seated statue of Maitreya Buddha splendidly adorned.

Bhaktapur, home of medieval art and architecture, also known as the 'City of Devotees'. Tread the 17th century along cobbled pavements and marvel at the ancient architectures. Visit the Lion Gate, the Picture Gallery, the Golden Gate, and the Palace of Fifty five Windows.

Kathmandu - Lukla - Phakdin

Our early morning flight by Twin Otter aircraft rushes us to Lukla, the most renowned mountain airstrip in the world. Originally conceived by Sir Edmund Hillary’s Himalayan Trust as an emergency evacuation runway for casualties brought to the Trust’s hospital at nearby Kunde, Lukla is now one of the busiest runways in Nepal. On the flight we watch the rugged foothills give way to the snowline of the Himalaya; many of the world’s highest mountains, including Kanchenjunga, Lhotse and Makalu (the world’s 3rd, 4th, and 5th highest respectively) may sometimes be seen from the window of the plane. On arrival, we meet our Sherpas and after a cup of tea we pick up the trail out of Lukla. Surprisingly, this high-altitude trek begins by descending to the river at Phakding.


Trek time: 3-4 hours.

Phakding - Namche

Set off after breakfast along the bank of Dudh Koshi (Milk river) as it tumbles down, white with glacial suspension, from the high gokyo Lakes. Pass through the Ghat Village and cross the river on a suspension bridge. Leaving the villages of Chumao and Monjo behind, enter the Sagarmatha National Park at Jorsale. After crossing the Dudh Koshi again, the train climbs half way to Namche bazaar , where a gap in the trees offer your first sight of Everest. If the weather is clear, the top pf the southwest face is visible behind the long Lhotse-Nuptse Ridge.

Trek time: 6 – 7 hours.

Namche is the most prosperous and the largest town in the Khumbu. A bazaar is held here every Saturday. The wares on display include meat, grains and vegetables, tennis shoes and trinkets as well as hand woven aprons and Tibetan boots. The Sherpas play host to trader from the foothills, as well as Tibetans from over the border. Thamserku (6648m), Kwangde Ri (6187m) and Khumbila (5707m) surround the natural bowl that Namche sits in.

Namche - Thame

Today we traverse west, enjoying marvelous view of Kwangde Ri and the waterfalls that cascade off its flanks. The trail stay high up on the bank of the Bhote Khose, and we wander through a yellow and white rhododendron forest that comes into full bloom in May. As we cross the river, we look back down the valley for beautiful views of Thamserku and Kusum Kangru (6369m), before ascending through more rhododendron forest to pasture lands in front of Thame. This is the birth place of Tenzing Norgay, the Sherpa who made the first ascent of Everest with Hillary in 1953. We camp in meadows at the edge of the village. The hour-long climb to the cliff side monastery is well worth the effort. From this point, trekkers can skirt above the village to climb across the ridge in order to view the route to the Nangpa La, a pass to Tibet frequently used by the Sherpas and their yaks during the monsoon.

Trek time: 5-6 hours.

Thame - Khumjung

We return back down the valley via Thamo, a hillside nunnery, and then take a high trail that by-passes Namche and finally drops into Khumjung. This village is one of the most beautiful in Khumbu. The Himalayan Trust has a school here, as well as a medical post (for locals and trekkers) in nearby Khunde.

Trek time: 6-7 hours

Khumjung - Tengboche

The trail this morning descends to the Dudh Khosi. There are spectacular views of Ama Dablam (6696m) and Kantega (6779m) as well as Everest (8848m) and Lhotse (8501m). Keep a look-out too for pheasant in the undergrowth. We cross the river at Phunki Thanga and climb through the afternoon amongst rhododendron forest to the saddle at the top of the hill. Suddenly in front of us is Tengboche, the principal monastery of the Khumbu area; the views from here are unforgettable.

Trek time: 5-6 hours.

Tengboche - Dingboche

We follow the path down from Tengboche through the rhododendron forest to Deboche and cross an exciting bridge with the boiling, roaring Imja Khol beneath our feet. A gradual climb takes us to the village of Lower Pangboche. We are now in the heart of the Khumbu, with spectacular views across to Ama Dablam.

The afternoon stroll takes us along a path that hugs the valley wall and then across wide plains to a split in the valley. The Khumbu breaks left, up to Periche, but we take a detour right to the hamlet at Dingboche at the start of the Imja Tse valley.

Trek time: 6-7 hours.

Dingboche Rest Day

Rather than just sitting around in the tents or tea house, we encourage you to attempt one of two hikes. The shorter option ascends the hill immediately behind Dingboche, to drop steeply down to Periche. The Himalayan Rescue Association operates a medical post here and the western doctors conduct excellent seminars on Altitude Mountain Sickness (AMS) here on most afternoons. The longer option is to trek up the Imja Tse valley towards Island Peak. The views of Lhotse, Ama Dablam and Cho Polu from here are outstanding. After a few hours the trekker terminus of Chukung is reached, and after a rest we return down the valley.

Dingboche - Lobuche

We climb up to the ridge behind Periche and stay high, mesmerized by the views of Tawoche and Cholatse, until we reach the tea houses at Dughla. A steep, stiff ascent to the terminal moraine of the Khumbu glacier is now tackled. The top of the climb is marked by a series of stone monuments to commemorate some of the climbers that have not returned from expeditions to this region. A rough but obvious trail cuts across left, away from the glacier, to our camp site at Loboje, a windswept collection of huts tucked in a narrow meadow between the glacier and the Loboje Peak (6156m). The Lhotse ridge is simply awesome from this angle.

Trek time: 5-6 hours.

Lobuche - Kala Pattar - Gorak Shep

A long day and an early start. We trek along the rough path along the side of the Khumbu glacier to the tea shacks at Gorak Shep. Behind rises the attractive 7000m peak of Pumori which dwarfs our trek’s summit of Kala Pattar. The route up is straightforward and takes most people between 90 minutes and 2 hours. All the peaks - Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse, Changtse, Ama Dablam and scores of other lesser peaks can be seen from this wonderful vantage point. Everest Base Camp can be seen from this point. Return to Gorak Shep for overnight.

Trek time: 6-7 hours.

Gorak Shep - Everest Base Camp - Lobuche

Today is the culmination of your journey – the day you reach Everest Base Camp. Soon after departing Gorak Shep, leave the moraines behind and follow the streams of the glacier. Directly before you is the great Khumbu icefall, a slow tumble of ice boulders spilling out from Khumbu Glacier. Not far from the foot of the ice fall lie the moraine islands of Everest Base Camp, final staging area for many an assault on the peak. As the day slips along, retrace your steps down the glacier streams and return, tired and triumphant, to Lobuche for overnight.

Trek time: 7-8 hours.

Lobuche - Pangboche

We descend all morning via Periche to Pangboche, the going is easier and the pace faster.

Trek time: 5-6 hours.

Pangboche - Namche

This morning we climb to upper Pangboche, where the oldest monastery of Khumbu is located. We descend through a forest to the Dudh Kosi. From the very pretty crossing point, we climb to a chorten where there are wonderful views back across the valley to Phortse, Tengboche and the surrounding mountains. Eventually we turn south off the main trail to Khunde and Khumjung, contouring past the Everest View Hotel. The route then leads down the hill to Namche and more cinnamon roll!

Trek time: 6-7 hours

Namche - Lukla

Most people head towards Lukla with a heavy heart. There is something very special about the setting, the villages and the people of the high Khumbu hills and valleys and our memories help us up the deceptively long, final climb into Lukla. Our campsite and house are well located and offer a good final resting spot.

Trek time: 6-7 hours

Lukla - Kathmandu

Another chance to enjoy this great flight. Please note that flights into Lukla are sometimes delayed due to weather conditions either in fog-bound Kathmandu or windy Lukla; be reassured that our staff in Lukla and in Kathmandu will be doing everything possible to minimize the inconvenience caused if this happens. Your patience in the trying circumstances which can occur will be greatly appreciated.

On arrival in Kathmandu you will be transferred to your hotel.

Today, you will be picked up at your hotel and transferred to the airport for your departing flight. We hope you enjoyed your time in Nepal and we wish you a pleasant flight home.