Arrive Kathmandu

On arrival in Kathmandu, you will be collected and transferred to the hotel (25 mins), which is perfectly placed in the heart of the city. You are then free to settle in and explore your vibrant surroundings. Our friendly staff will be on hand to provide any advice or assistance. Meet your trekking guide for a briefing on final preparations and timings for tomorrow.

Final preparations, free day, Kathmandu

Breakfast Service

Fly to Lukla, Trek to Monjo (2835m)

An early start for your domestic flight to Lukla. Enjoy a late breakfast in Lukla whilst watching the flights come and go from this unique mountain airstrip. The first day’s trek is to Monjo (2835m), generally following the river. The first 3 hrs is generally downhill to Pfadking and then onto Monjo. Approx 5 – 6hrs, BLD

Trek to Namche Bazaar (3500m)

Once you have passed through the entrance to the Sagarmatha National Park, you will cross numerous suspension bridges before eventually climbing the first big hill up to Namche Bazaar. You will catch your first glimpse of Mt Everest in the distance from a rest point (weather permitting). Namche Bazaar is by far the biggest village in the region with shops and even internet cafes (don’t expect fast speeds!). Expect to arrive early afternoon, approx 4 hrs. BLD

Acclimatisation – Namche Bazaar (3500m)

Your Guide will take you out to a variety of places in the local region primarily to gain some additional altitude to assist your body in its acclimatisation process (trek high, sleep low) and to see more of the stunning surroundings, possibly to the village of Thame. BLD

Namche Bazaar – Tengbouche (3900m)

A beautiful days walk out of Namche, initially contouring for about 60 – 90 mins until you reach Kenjoma. Some groups stop here for coffee (you can see Tengbouche across the valley) or you can push on for another hour, steeply downhill and across the river to a favoured lunch stop at Phunki Tenga (3250m). The next 90 mins or so is steeply up until you majestically pop out in Tengbouche itself. Famed for its hilltop Monastery, this village has one of the best views of Everest. You may go on for another 20 mins or so to use alternative tea houses in Debouche. 6 hrs. BLD

Tengbouche (3900m) – Dingbouche (4300m)

It’s a steady trek across the girder bridge (45 mins) and then a long steady climb through Pangbouche, Shamare (4010m) before hitting Dingbouche a few hours later. 6 hrs. BLD

Dingbouche – Acclimatisation Day

An important stop for acclimatisation having crossed the 4000m barrier. Take the opportunity to go to the free presentation on altitude sickness given by the volunteer doctors that work here throughout the trekking season. Your Guide will encourage you to take an acclimatisation walk, once again to gain some altitude to assist your body to acclimatise. BLD

Dingbouche – Lobouche (4900m)

A great day’s trekking. A short sharp rise out of Dingbouche and onto the ‘high path’ that leads to the small cluster of tea houses known as Dughla (2 – 2 1/2 hrs). This sits at the base and the very front end of the Khumbu glacier. Your next section is to climb up the front of the glacier (although not on ice!), a steep but relatively short section (~45 mins). Be sure to spend some time at the top for there lies many memorials to climbers who have lost their lives in this region. It is a moving place. From here it is just 60 – 90 mins into Lobouche. 5 – 6 hrs. BLD

Lobouche – Gorak Shep (5100m) – Everest Base Camp (5300m)

An early start to reach Gorak Shep in 3hrs for breakfast; your final and highest tea house on this trip (5100m). Once you have rested here, it’s onto Everest Base Camp! Savour the moment before returning to Gorak Shep. The Base Camp itself is potentially enormous; it has to house some 250 – 300 people during the main climbing season. The center is not marked but is generally known to be a cairn with prayer flags. There is an excellent close-up view of the Khumbu ice field. Climbers have to negotiate this dangerous section every time they go up for acclimatisation or to the summit. This is a demanding day so be sure to rest and sleep as much as you can. BLD

Gorak Shep – Kala Patthar (5500m) – Down to Dingbouche (4300m)

A pre-dawn rise to summit the highest point on this trek (although this is optional). It is a 90 min tough ascent (and potentially very cold) but gives you excellent views of the summit of Everest.

The descent is much faster; time for breakfast! At about 0900hrs, you will begin the trek back, first back across the moraine and then through Lobouche (stop for coffee), Dughla, and then back onto the high path back into Dingbouche. You will appreciate the lower altitude and warmer temperatures! A long day but relatively easy-going. 8 hrs. BLD

Dingbouche – Chukkung (4900m)

There is no rush to leave Dingbouche. Chukkung is less than 3 hrs from here; you can actually see the village up the valley. It is a very easy trek so take your time and use it to aid recovery if required. BLD

Chukkung – Island Peak Base Camp (4970m)

Another short day in terms of trekking time (under 4hrs) and a small altitude gain of 240m. The Base Camp is in a small gully and can be cold when the wind is up in the afternoon. You will be tented here for two nights, complete with sleeping tents, a dining tent, and a kitchen. Your food will be cooked for you by a Chef.

The afternoon is dedicated to ensuring that you are proficient in the use of your climbing equipment. This will include fitting it (if required) and practicing ascending and descending with the jumor and Fig 8 respectively. Prepare your daysacks for the ascent tomorrow. BLD

Summit Day (6189m)

A very early rise (around 0100hrs) in order to make use of the cold temperatures on the ice when you summit. Once the sun gets on it, it softens making the surface more difficult. The first phase is to trek up to the point at which crampons (and other safety equipment) are put on. It can be a tough ascent through the night. Your aim is to be at the crampon point as dawn is breaking (3 – 4 hrs ascending). Crampons and harnesses on, you move onto the snow/ice and up to the base of the hard-packed snow wall. Gather your strength, clip onto the fixed rope, and slowly, up you go, step by step until you reach the narrow ridge. Once on the ridge (it is only about 1.5m wide), you can make your way up to the plateau and finally up to the summit itself. Time to celebrate!

Your descent is much faster but you will be tired so some care is needed to avoid any unnecessary accidents. By the time you reach Base Camp, you will have been on the go for over 12hrs. Time to rest, eat, and sleep. BLD

Island Peak Base Camp – Pangbouche

Have a good breakfast; you will have earned it! By comparison to other trekking days, you will fly down to Chukkung (coffee stop), continue through Dingbouche, and cross the river with Pferiche just to the right. A stop, probably at Shamare before pushing on to Pangbouche. Although you will still be tired, it is a nice tired! You are descending, any altitude problems will be disappearing fast and it is getting warmer. 6 hrs. BLD

Pangbouche – Namche

An easy first hour to 90 mins as you descend into the valley, crossing the girder bridge before the short sharp ascent into Tengbouche and rest at the ’German Bakery’! The long descent followed by the equally long ascent awaits (2 – 3hrs) before the contour path back into Namche Bazaar. 7 hrs, BLD

Namche – Pfakding

Out of Namche and back down the big hill, across the suspension bridge and onto Monjo. Phakding is your planned night stop and whilst it may appear to be a short day, it also acts as a spare day. Lukla can be reached in a single trekking day if needs be. BLD

Pfadking – Lukla.

It is just 3hrs back up to Lukla from here so enough time to have a relaxing start and take your time. Spend some time watching the aircraft come and go in the afternoon; an amazing airport. BLD

Lukla – Kathmandu

An early start to have breakfast and be ready for your flight back down to Kathmandu. You should reach your hotel by midday; plenty of time to enjoy the facilities that Thamel has to offer. You have 2 nights in Kathmandu to continue with any sightseeing, have a post-trek massage (very inexpensive in Nepal), shop ‘till you drop, or simply relax in one of the many cafes, restaurants, and bars soaking up the atmosphere. B

Kathmandu, Free day, B

Depart Kathmandu, B