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Day 1: Welcome to Nepal!
Activities: We will meet you at the airport and drive you to your hotel, just relax for
the rest of the day to recover from your long journey.
Elevation: 1345m/4412ft.
Highlights: Bustling Thamel, an array of restaurants, bars and shops.
Accommodation: Kathmandu 3 star hotel.
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Day 2: Meeting with trekking guide, last minute shopping for your trek and Kathmandu sightseeing.
Highlights: Pashupatinath, Boudhanath Stupa, Swaymbhunath and Patan Durbar Square, cultural and historical sights of the Kathmandu Valley.
Accomnodation: Kathmandu 3 star hotel.
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Day 3: Flight to Lukla (45 minutes) and trek to Phakding. Hours of walking: 3.
Difficulty: Easy.
Elevation reached: 2840m/9318ft in Lukla and 2610m/8563ft in Phakding.
Terrain: Flat and downhill, well developed paths, stone steps.
Views on offer: Amazing Himalayan views on approach to Lukla.
Highlights: The breathtaking flight between the mountains.
What’s to see?: The traditional Sherpa people and Buddhist shrines
Accommodation: Basic Teahouse.
Hours of walking: 6.
Difficulty: Moderate.
Elevation reached: 3440m/11286ft.
Terrain: Rocky and dirt tracks, stone steps, mostly uphill, gradual with some steep inclines.
Views on offer: Spectacular approaching views of Namche Bazaar, snow capped peaks and the river valley.
Highlights: The colourful Sherpa town of Namche Bazaar – the gateway to the high Himalaya and crossing some impressive suspension bridges over the river valley.
What’s to see?: The milky waters of the Dudh Kosi River, thick rhododendron, magnolia and fir tree forests, herds of yaks carrying supplies.
Accommodation: Basic Teahouse.
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Day 5: The world’s highest hotel, Khumjung Village and back to Namche Bazaar. (Acclimatization day.)
Hours walking: 4.
Difficulty: Easy – moderate.
Elevation reached: 3962m/12998ft at Mountain View Hotel, 3790m/12434ft at Khumkung.
Terrain: Hilly, grassy trails, some steep inclines and flat tracks.
Views on offer: Everest, Lhotse, Lhotse Shar, Taboche Peak and Ama Dablam.
Highlights: Your first sight of Everest!
What’s to see?: Khumjung Edmund Hillary School, Sherpa museum, shops and markets around Namche Bazaar.
Accommodation: Basic Teahouse.
Hours of walking: 5
Difficulty: Moderate.
Elevation reached: 3860m/12664ft.
Terrain: River bank path, some steep inclines, some flat and some short descents.
Views on offer: Kwangde, Nuptse, Lhotse, Kangtega, Ama Dablam and Everest.
Highlights: Tyangboche monastery, magnificent panoramic views from Tyangboche.
What’s to see?: The Lamas and Monks in the stunning Tyangboche Monastery, ornate wall hangings and a 20 foot statue of Lord Buddha.
Accommodation: Basic Teahouse.
Hours of walking: 5. (We spend 2 days here to acclimatize)
Difficulty: Moderate.
Elevation reached: 4360m/14304ft.
Terrain: Rocky uphill tracks, stone steps, a gentle riverbank trail.
Views on offer: Lhotse, Island Peak, Ama Dablam.
Highlights: The beautiful location of Dingboche under Ama Dablam, the mountain views from your teahouse.
What’s to see?: A Yeti scalp in the Pangboche Gompa, the fast flowing waters of the Imja Khola, sacred mani stone walls.
Accommodation: Basic Teahouse.
Hours of walking: 5.
Difficulty: Moderate to difficult.
Elevation reached: 4940m/16207ft.
Terrain: Some steep inclines and rocky tracks where you will need to scramble for a short time.
Views on offer: The Khumbu Icefall and Pumori amongst other beautiful Himalayan mountains.
Highlights: Reaching the top of a steep incline for breathtaking panoramic views amongst Buddhist chortens.
What’s to see?: Memorial sight for people who sadly lost their lives attempting to summit Everest, traditional Sherpa houses.
Accommodation: Basic Teahouse.
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Day 10: Everest Base Camp and Gorak Shep.
Hours of walking: 8.
Difficulty: Difficult/strenuous.
Elevation reached: 5300m/17388ft at Base Camp and 5170m/16962ft at Gorak Shep.
Terrain: Uneven, ridge tracks, rocky, uphill and flat trails.
Views on offer: Too many to mention! You will be surrounded by an icy wonderland, get your cameras at the ready!
Highlights: Congratulations, you made it! You reached the base camp to the highest mountain in the world.
What’s to see?: You may see a group of mountaineers preparing to attempt an Everest summit. Sunset views from your Gorak Shep teahouse.
Accommodation: Basic Teahouse.
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Day 11: Kala Patthar and Zongla.
Hours of walking: 8.
Difficulty: Strenuous.
Elevation reached: 5545m/18192ft at Kala Patthar, 4830m/15846ft at Zongla.
Terrain: Steep, rocky climb to Kala Patthar, uneven rocky and glacial paths to Zongla
Views on offer: Everest and the surrounding Himalayas.
Highlights: The most spectacular, panoramic views from the top of Kala Patthar, crossing the Changri Shar Glacier.
What’s to see?: Sunrise from 5545m amidst a mountain wonderland, simply amazing.
Accommodation: Basic Teahouse.
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Day 12: Thangnak via the Chola-la Pass.
Hours of walking: Approximately 7 hours.
Difficulty: Difficult/Strenuous.
Elevation reached: 4680m/15354ft at Thangnak and 5368m/17612ft when crossing the Cho La Pass.
Terrain: Uneven tracks, large rocky areas where you will need to climb and jump off the rocks.
Views on offer: Some pretty spectacular Himalayan peaks from the icy wilderness of the Cho La Pass.
Highlights: The Nagozumpa Glacier, standing on the Pass.
What’s to see?: The high altitude pass, glaciers and lots of snow capped peaks!
Accommodation: Basic Teahouse.
Hours of Walking: 4, with an optional 4-hour trek to visit the fifth lake. (Nagozumpa Tsho)
Difficulty: Moderate.
Elevation reached: 4790m/15715ft.
Terrain: Glacial paths and well defined trekking paths.
Views on offer: The Gokyo Lakes
Highlights: The glistening waters of the Gokyo lakes.
What’s to see?: The third lake known as Dudh Kunda or Pokhari and the fifth lake known as Nagozumpa Tsho. The area surrounding the lakes, where your teahouse is located is an ideal place for a leisurely stroll to take in the scenery.
Accommodation: Basic Teahouse.
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Day 14: Gokyo Ri and back to Gokyo.
Hours of walking: 6.
Difficulty: Strenuous.
Elevation reached: 5357m/17575ft.
Terrain: Steep incline to the top of Gokyo Ri, rocky and uneven.
Views on offer: Magnificent views of some of the world’s “eight thousanders.”
Highlights: Reaching the summit of another Himalayan peak where the views are out of this world.
What’s to see: Even more stupendous views of the Himalayas.
Accommodation: Basic Teahouse.
Hours of walking: 7.
Difficulty: Moderate to difficult.
Elevation reached: 4110m/13484ft.
Terrain: Glacial paths and steep descents.
Views on offer: The first (Longpongo) and second (Tajung Tso) of the Gokyo Lakes.
Highlights: Returning to lower altitudes! Walking alongside the Nagozumpa glacier.
What’s to see: The villages of Machermo and Luzo.
Accommodation: Basic Teahouse.
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Day 16: Namche Bazaar.
Hours of walking: 6.
Difficulty: Easy to moderate.
Elevation reached: 3440m/11286ft.
Terrain: Descents through forest paths.
Views on offer: Thick forests and a magnificent mountain backdrop.
Highlights: Soaking up the vibrant atmosphere of Namche Bazaar with its array of bars, cafes and restaurants.
What’s to see: Rhododemdron and fir trees, wild mountain goats and the lophophorus bird which is the national bird of Nepal.
Accommodation: Basic Teahouse.
Hours of walking: 7.
Difficulty: moderate.
Elevation reached: 2840m/9318ft.
Terrain: By the banks of the river, stone steps and some descents and last ascents up to Lukla.
Views on offer: The glistening river amidst a mountain backdrop.
Highlights: Last day of walking in the Khumbu region. Well done, you completed your trip!
What’s to see: Thick forests, an array of birds and some final views of the mountains.
Accommodation: Basic Teahouse.
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Day 18: Flight back to Kathmandu.
Highlights: Another breathtaking airplane ride on a twin-engine otter amidst the mighty Himalayas.
Accommodation: 3 star hotel in Kathmandu.
Highlights: Time to shop, relax, get a massage.
Accommodation: 3 star hotel in Kathmandu.
Goodbye and farewell from Nepal!