| Day: |
Description: |
| May 8 |
Arrive in Kathmandu – 9:25PM
One of our friendly and experienced staff will meet you at the airport. They will have a Nepal Your Way Sign as well as a bottle of water and a snack. You will be brought directly to your hotel and receive a comprehensive introductory safety briefing.
Overnight at the hotel (determined at time of booking) |
| May 9 |
Kathmandu City Tour
Breakfast at the hotel or at any one of the many fine restaurants and cafes to be found in Kathmandu. Your tour leader will meet you at your hotel at 9:30. This full day of guided sightseeing includes visits to a number of important monuments in the Kathmandu
Valley. Begin at Swayambunath Buddhist Stupa, and then head to Pashupatinath Temple. Visit the Bouddhanath Stupa and finish your day at Kathmandu Durbar Square. Overnight in Kathmandu. |
| May 10 |
Bhaktapur Tour
Breakfast at the hotel or at any one of the many fine restaurants and cafes to be found in Kathmandu. Departing from Kathmandu you will then take a short bus trip to Bhaktapur. Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site, Bhaktapur is a city made famous by it’s
well preserved carved wooden buildings. On this tour of Bhaktapur, you will visit the famous Pottery Square, Bhaktapur Durbar Square, and Dattatreya. Transfer back to Kathmandu. Overnight in Kathmandu. |
| May 11 |
Free Day to Explore Kathmandu
Today is free to explore Kathmandu on your own. Many find this a good time to get any last minute additions to their gear prior to beginning their trek. Overnight in Kathmandu. |
| May 12 |
Flight to Lukla - Trekking Day 1 Lukla - Phakding
Transfer to the airport. After a short flight to Lukla, the group be met by their porter team and begin the first steps of the Everest Trek. This short day of trekking winds along the Dudh Kosi River to the village of Phakding. Overnight in Phakding. |
| May 13 |
Trekking Day 2 Phakding to Namche Bazaar
Today you will enter Sagarmatha National Park. Crossing the Bhote Kosi River you will begin a steep climb to Namche Bazaar. The main trading center in the region, Namche Bazaar is a wonder to experience on its own. Built over time on a hillside, Namche is
spread out like an amphitheatre, overlooked to the west by Kongde Ri (20,298 ft) and Thamserku (21,680 ft) to the east. With its terraced design and surrounding mountains Namche Bazaar leaves a lasting impression on each visitor. |
| May 14 |
Trekking Day 3 Acclimatization Day in Namche
The group will spend an additional day in Namche to help with acclimatization. Hiking up to the headquarters of the Sagarmatha National Park you will get your first views of Everest, and impressive views of the much closer Ama Dablam. After lunch we will hike
to Kumjung to see a skull from a 'yeti', and then to Khundu to view the Hillary hospital. |
| May 15 |
Trekking Day 4 Namche Bazaar - Dole
Departing from Namche the trail will take you through many mountain passes on your way up to the settlements of Tongba, Guele and finally Dole. At over 13000 feet, Dole provides spectacular views of both Khumbila and Tawachee peaks. |
| May 16 |
Trekking Day 5 Dole - Machhermo
This short day of trekking contains some steep climbs through passes to reach Machhermo. While not a difficult trek, some people do begin to feel the altitude, and it can be a slow day. On the plus side, being well above the tree line you are afforded magnificent views of Cho Oyu, sitting on the border of China. Settled next to the Machhermo River, the village is overshadowed by the nearby peak of the same name. |
| May 17 |
Trekking Day 6 Machhermo - Gokyo
The trail from Machhermo to Gokyo climbs a steep ridge, allowing for excellent views down into the valley, as well as the spectacular ice face of Cholatse, and up towards the towering Mt. Cho Oyu. Arriving in Gokyo the stunning peaks are made even more
breathtaking with their reflections in the emerald green waters of Dudh Pokhari. A two hour climbing trek on Gokyo Ri presents a panoramic view of the surrounding mountain peaks, including Cho Oyu, Lhotse, Makalu and more. |
| May 18 |
Trekking Day 7 Gokyo to Thaknag Kharka with Gokyo Ri Summit
The day begins with a trek up Gokyo Ri. This steep climb presents a panoramic view of the surrounding mountain peaks, including Everest, Cho Oyu, Lhotse, Makalu and more, and is considered by many to be one of the best views in the Khumbu region. Descending via the same assent route the trek takes you down and across the Ngozumba glacier and arriving in the community of Thaknag for the night. |
| May 19 |
Trekking Day 8 Thaknag Kharka - Dzongla
The trek through Cho-La pass is steep and involves crossing a glacier. Once atop the walking is easy, and the views are fantastic. The going gets easier as you approach Dzongala for a well deserved nights rest. |
| May 20 |
Trekking Day 9 Dzongla – Gorak Shep
With the most challenging day of the trek behind you, the trail to Gorak Shep starts out as a relaxing one. Meandering above a small lake the trail brings you back down into the valley. After a short break in Lobuche we will continue on to Gorak Shep (best to do today if you want to visit Everest BaseCamp). Continue on to Gorak Shep, climbing up and onto the Khumbu glacier. |
| May 21 |
Trekking Day 10 Gorak Shep – Everest BaseCamp return to Gorak Shep
Today we will hike to Everest basecamp. While it is true that Everest itself is not visible from basecamp, it is still an exciting place to visit. There will likely be many teams still at basecamp having just completed, or be in the process of competing their summit bid. The Khumbu icefall is spectacular, and the setting can play tricks on your sense of perception as you try to imagine how big those ice blocks really are. After some time to enjoy the sights and surroundings you will retrace your steps back to Gorak Shep for the
night. |
| May 22 |
Trekking Day 11 Gorak Shep – Kala Patar - Dingboche
A morning excursion takes us to the top of Kala Patar, with excellent views of Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse and more. Spend some time enjoying the beautiful geography, and then descend, continuing down past Lobuche and continuing your descent to the village of
Dingboche. |
| May 23 |
Trekking Day 12 Dingboche - Tengboche
Continuing your descent, today’s trek takes you to Tengnboche. This small community, consisting mainly of monks from the Tengboche Monastery, is an ideal place to spend the night. The largest Buddhist monastery in the region, Tengboche is an important part of Sherpa history and culture. Spectacular views and the peaceful setting make this a high point of many travelers’ stops. |
| May 24 |
Trekking Day 13 Tengboche – Namche Bazaar
The day from Tengboche to Namche Bazaar begins with a long descent, once across the river the trail winds its way up again as it follows along the valley into Namche. The lower altitude is starting to feel great, and pizza never tasted as good as it does at one of Namche's pizzerias. |
| May 25 |
Trekking Day 14 Namche Bazaar - Phakding
Another descent starts the day, with another memorable river crossing. With a drop in altitude of 2600 ft from start to finish, most people begin to feel relief from any lingering effects of altitude. |
| May 26 |
Trekking Day 15 Phakding - Lukla
Your last day on the trail has you winding back along the Dudh Kosi river, where your
journey began. This short final day provides time for some much needed rest and relaxation, and an opportunity to reflect upon your experience. Lukla is definitely a different experience at the start of your trek then at the end. |
| May 27 |
Lukla - Kathmandu
Just because today is a transportation day, does not mean that it won’t be a highlight and
talking point of your experience in the Khumbu region. The take off from Lukla is an exciting one, as the plane races downhill and essentially falls of the edge of the runway before really flying up and gaining elevation. This is how they solved the issue of
building a landing/take off strip on the side of a mountain. Arrive in Kathmandu and transfer to your hotel for the evening. |
| May 28 |
Free Day Kathmandu
Final day in Kathmandu. Visit the market, pick up any souvenirs you may want, get
some laundry done. One last day in Kathmandu – Enjoy It! |
| May 29 |
Depart for Canada
Transfer to the airport and fly home. Namaste! |
