We include all meals whilst on trek in the tour price, making it excellent value.
2011 Standard Itinerary
Click Map to Enlarge
Included Meals:
10 Breakfasts
6 Lunches
6 Dinners
Accommodation Breakdown:
4 nights Hotel (Comfortable)
3 nights Lodge (Standard)
3 nights Lodge (Standard)
Transport
Bus/Flight.
Group Size
Approx 9 -
14
Minimum Age: 14
Tour Staff
Explore Tour Leader plus driver(s),Sherpas, porters, some local guides.
Trekking Tour In Nepal's Himalayas
Overview
Comfortable Lodges We fly to Lukla and the Everest region, homelands of the Buddhist Sherpa people - our hosts at the lodges where we stay along our route. Facilities have come a long way since trekkers first set foot in the Khumbu Himal and we have carefully chosen a selection of the most comfortable and characterful lodges along the way, located in pretty villages with amazing Himalayan views.
Along the Trail Setting off along the banks of the Dudh Kosi River, we overnight at Phakding before entering the Sagarmatha National Park at Monzo. From here it's an afternoon climb to Namche Bazaar, a lively trading centre and home to the park headquarters. At the traditional village of Khunde we may have the chance to visit the hospital founded by Sir Edmund Hilary before continuing to Khumjung to enjoy a high altitude sticky bun from the local bakery!
Everest Views & Wildlife From Tashinga, we ascend to the high point of our trek, the monastery at Thyangboche (3867m) from where we can enjoy superb views of some of the highest peaks in the Himalaya including Everest (8848m) and Ama Dablam (6856m). Descending to Lukla on an alternative route, we've a good chance of seeing Himalayan Thar, a type of deer/antelope. Other wildlife we may spot includes the musk deer and colourful Impeyan pheasant - the national bird of Nepal. Flying back to Kathmandu, we've plenty of time to explore the sights of the city and valley beyond.
Details may vary depending on departure date. Please choose
Day 2:
AM walking tour of Kathmandu; PM full trek brief and equipment check
After breakfast we have arranged a walking tour, visiting the bazaar and temples of old Kathmandu in the company of a local Nepali guide. Nepal’s bustling capital is a captivating mix of spice sellers and potters, rickshaws and sacred cows, all crowded together amidst a city of vibrant noise and colour. Our sightseeing this morning takes in the sumptuous majesty of Durbar Square and its collection of ornate palaces, courtyards and temples, spanning some three centuries of dynastic rule by Malla andShah Kings . We’ll see the Great Bell and the fearsome image of the six-armed Kala Bhairab, the magnificent Taleju Temple and the Kasthamandap, the oldest building in the Kathmandu Valley. We will also visit the Asan Bazaar and the Kumari Ghar, home to the Kumari Devi; a living goddess worshipped by both followers of the Hindu and Buddhist faiths. This afternoon we will then have a full briefing on the trekking days ahead and take the opportunity to visit a local hire shop to pick up any last minute equipment still needed.
Overnight Hotel (Comfortable)Included meals: Breakfast
Day 3:
Fly to Lukla (2743m) and walk to Phakding (2650m)
Transferring to the domestic airport this morning we take the short 40-minute flight to Lukla, hopefully enjoying the spectacular views of Gauri Shankar (7415m), Melungtse (7181m) and Numbur (6955m) en route. Please be aware that adverse weather conditions and other local factors can cause delays and even cancellations and although seats are booked and confirmed well in advance, it may be necessary to adjust the itinerary to make full use of your time. Arriving in Lukla we will meet up with our Sherpa guides and crew and begin the descent towards the village of Choplung (2697m). We then head north, following the east bank of the Dudh Kosi to Ghat (2545m), before crossing the river to our final destination for the day in Phakding (2650m). Total walking: Approx 3 1/2 hours. Descent 348m, ascent 158m.
After breakfast we depart Phakding and continue along the western bank of the river, following a fairly level trail initially that leads into the Sagarmatha National Park at Monzo. The journey takes us through a landscape of pine and rhododendron forest, crossing the Dudh Kosi on a couple of occasions and ascending to the village of Chomoa. After lunch we then begin the long ascent to Namche Bazaar, a fairly strenuous 666m climb that should afford us our first views of Everest and Lhotse as we follow a meandering trail that leads through more pine forest up to the horseshoe-shaped bowl containing the village of Namche at a lofty 3440m. Total walking: Approx 7 hours. Ascent 1040m/descent 200m.
Day 5:
Trek to Tashinga (3450 m) via Khunde and Khumjung
Ascending to Khunde this morning (3840m) we pass the Hillary Hospital, built by the Himalayan Trust, a charity established by Sir Edmund Hillary to assist the Sherpa people, before continuing to Khumjung (3780m) a traditional Sherpa community that lies below the sacred face of Khumbi-La. This remarkable village is home to the world’s highest bakery and also the school established by Sir Edmund Hillary in 1960, which has become an important centre of learning for children from the outlying villages over the years and can today hold up to 500 students. After visiting the monastery and the school (if open), perhaps even taking an opportunity to try some high altitude sticky buns, we then descend across a terraced landscape set before a majestic vista of mountain peaks. There may be a possibility of encountering some of the brightly coloured Impeyan pheasant, Nepal’s national bird, as we make our way towards our overnight stop in Tashinga (3450 m). Total walking: Approx 4 hours. Ascent 420m descent 460m.
After making an initial steep descent to Phungki Tenga this morning, lying at 3250m, we then follow a steep switch-back trail that takes us through a forested landscape up to the spectacularly sited monastery of Thyanboche (3867m), the cultural and religious heart of the Khumbu. Destroyed by fire in 1989, the gompa was rebuilt thanks to a mixture of local and international aid and today presents us with one of Nepal’s most popular attractions, greatly enhanced by the stunning panoramic views of the Himalayan ranges in the distance. To the north and northeast lie Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse Ama Dablam and Taboche, whilst to the south lie the peaks of Thamserku, Kantega and Kwangde. There will be an opportunity to visit the monastery and its neighbouring museum before returning to Tashinga. As we return along the forested trail keep your eyes out for musk deer amongst the lush landscapes. Total walking: Approx 6-7 hours. Ascent 767m descent 767m.
Taking an alternative route back towards Namche there is every chance that we might come across herds of Himalayan Tahr today (goat antelopes), as we make the steep descent back down to the river to cross the bridge at Jorsale and make our way to the Sagarmatha Park exit. Walking on to Monzo (2840m) we will overnight at the Everest Summit Lodge. Total walking: Approx 5 hours. Ascent 420m/descent 1030m.
As we begin our final journey back to Lukla we take a slightly different routing back, making a small detour via the small teaching monastery at Gumila, just above Phakding. Retracing our steps along the east bank of the Dudh Kosi we then make our final ascent to Lukla, arriving sometime in the middle of the afternoon, affording ample time to relax and enjoy the feeling of a job well done. Lukla itself is a thriving community that is an eclectic mix of Sherpas, pack animals , trekkers and soldiers and makes for a fascinating place to explore at the end of the trek. Total walking: Approx 6 hours. Ascent 340m/descent 340m.
Walking the short distance to the airport this morning we catch the early flight back to Kathmandu (weather permitting). On arrival back in the capital the rest of the day has been left free to relax and enjoy something of the city’s lively markets and myriad of sites.
Overnight Hotel (Comfortable)Included meals: Breakfast
Day 10:
In Kathmandu
Extra days are specifically included in the itinerary should there be a delay with flights from Lukla due to bad weather conditions. If we return to Kathmandu on time we will arrange a sightseeing tour and, that being the case, this morning we plan to visit the temple of Pashupatinath on the banks of the Bagmati River, the oldest and holiest Hindu shrine in Nepal, regarded by many as the most revered temple of Shiva on the planet. The river is considered holy because its waters eventually flow into the sacred Ganges, and the Ghats - steps leading down to the river - are regularly swamped by pilgrims bathing in the waters. This area is also one of the city’s most important cremation areas, where both royalty and the common people have their ashes sprinkled on the waters of the Bagmati, to make their way downriver towards the sacred Ganges. Returning to the city we pay a visit to the stupa of Bodnath, at 40m the highest in the Kathmandu Valley and one of the largest on the planet. Revered by Buddhists this remarkable structure is a dazzling vibrancy of prayer flags, monks and pilgrims, all overlooked by the ever-present and all seeing eyes of the Buddha himself. This afternoon there is an opportunity to take an optional excursion to the almost perfectly preserved Newari town of Bhaktapur in the eastern corner of the Kathmandu Valley. Also know as Bhadgaun or the City of the Devotees, Bhaktapur evokes the feel of a medieval village, a snapshot of a time when the city lay along the prosperous trade routes between Tibet, China and India. The ancient centre of the town is a dazzling collection of temples, palaces and monasteries that has earned it a place on the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites and a wander around this cultural gem, taking in its beguiling charms and enjoying the sight of artisans going about their craft much as they have for generations makes for a captivating visit.
Overnight Hotel (Comfortable)Included meals: Breakfast
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