DAY 1 Arrive Kathmandu-Tribhuvan International Airport (2563 metres) on day 1 of theitinerary (or before), but not after that, as we need you to be in Kathmandu forseveral days to take care of formalities. Please be sure to let us know yourexact flight itinerary details, as our staff will be meeting you at the airportand bringing you to our chosen Nepa Hotel (http://www.hotelnepaintl.com/) costing $20 for a single and $30 for a double. Three large western-style meals a day might cost $20, including beverages, etcetera. There are numerous delicious restaurants and cafes within a few minutes walk of our hotel, in addition to more than 50 equipment shops where you might purchase and hire any kit you could need for trekking.
DAY 2 Tour Kathmandu, a beautiful exotic Hindu and Buddhist city with an abundance ofancient temples. If this is your first visit, we strongly suggest you tour thetemples, including the Monkey Temple, atop a small mountain above the VishnuMathi river and the Thamel neighborhood, the Pashupatinath Temple, where thecremations are conducted along the Bagmathi River, Boudhanath , an enourmouswhite massive stupa first built in 600 AD that you can walk around, absolving alifetime's sin, and finish at the Kathmandu Durbar or King's Square, where the400 year old Kathmandu capital was situated. We will take this day to finalizearrangements (such as issuing your trekking permit, etc), in between enjoyingfood and drink at some of the many westernized restaurants in the Thamelneighborhood. Today is an ideal day to pick up extra bits of trekking kit fromthe plethora of mountain shops selling a surprising variety of good quality newand used mountain clothing, shoes, and nearly everything you might find in atrekking shop in your home country. The local "supermarkets" are great places tostock up on imported chocolates, sweets, and some surprisingly tasty localtrekking foods like energy bars, nuts, granola bars, etcetera.
DAY 3 In a small twin engine, twin pilot, 18 seat propeller driven "Twin-Otter", the trusty workhorse of the Khumbu-Everest trekking trade, we will fly for 40 minutes from Kathmandu to the airstrip at 2840 metre-high Lukla and stroll a couple of hours down and through the forested and farmed Dudh Khosi valley with a small clean river ripping through a narrow green rocky mountain studded valley to the picturesque small town of Phakding, where we camp in a field on the river bank at 2650 metres. Throughout the entire trek, every day, our bags will be carried by porters and yaks. Interacting with the people transporting our equipment, as well as their livestock, will be an interesting part of our trip, and allow us to set foot into the local culture.
DAY 4 We arise early and have a typically wholesome breakfast of omelettes, toast, porridge and hot drinks, then walk 4-7hours up through the fir trees and ever-rarer herds of Himalayan Tar, an endangered large wild mountain sheep. Topping the rim of the Sun Khosi Gorge, we slowly and steadily walk into the steep village of 3440 metre high Namche Bazaar, the capital of the Sherpa region, which we will have time to explore. Its important to drink lots of liquids during today's trek, and you will certainly appreciate the stunning views of Numbur Peak (6959 metres) over several cups of tea, in our terraced campsite, in what used to be a potatoe field on the upper slopes of the town. In 30 minutes walk on a trail traversing the slope towards Everest, we will see our first views of the stunning Ama Dablam and perhaps Everest itself.
DAY 5 We rest, acclimate, and relax, in order to soak in the comfortable exotic landscape of this Sherpa kingdom. One of the main features of spending a day in Namche is the opportunity to walk 15 minutes down the slope to partake in the tumult of this bustling sherpa and tourist village, especially the many tasty restaurants, tea-shops, pubs, billiard rooms, and internet cafes. All of the electricity here is locally made micro-hydro-electric power, and the telephone and internet connections are wireless/satellite.
DAY 6 From Namche we drop down to the river and the famous tea-stop of Fungki Thangka and have a steep climb up through tree nurseries where you could help with the silvaculture and replanting of the Khumbu valley, which is starting to show signs of over-forestation by sherpas heating water for trekker's hot showers.
Throughout this part of the walk, be sure to keep your eyes peeled for a glimpse of endangered herds of Tahr. Finally cresting a rise in a forest of gorgeous Sub-alpine fir and Hemlock, wallking at the feet of the Khumbu giant peaks of Kusum Kanguru and Thamserku, we reach the Buddhist monastery at Thyangboche, which we can visit. The monastery burned in 1989, apparently due to an electric kettle being left on. Tragically the gompa's book collection was ravaged, and during the following years, groups of monks were seen spending hours each day writing with ball-point pens on stenographer's pads, trying to recall ancient texts from memory, which were burned when the fire tore through the library. Here we will find inspiring views of Mt. Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse, Ama Dablam, and a very welcome tea and lunch stop.
We will then carry on for an hour through the tiny old-style hamlet of Deboche, in a high altitude birch forest, inside the inspiring Khumbu gorge, where there is one spectacular bridge crossing, for 1 hour and stay in Pangboche, 3900 metres, a religious village and the home of the Khumbu Lama, the most respected Buddhist leader in the upper Khumbu valley. This is a long day of trekking, but after all is said and done, you only gain 350 metres. From Pangboche village, one can enjoy the most stunning views of Ama Dablam, Everest, and the imposing south face of Lhotse.
DAY 7 The next morning we enjoy a walk along the beautiful Dudh Kosi gorge, to the enourmous flat valley where lies the village of Pheriche. At 4250 metres, its where the famous Himalayan Rescue Association (HRA) health clinic is located. Pheriche is the last permanent Sherpa settlement. Here we have spectacular views of Nuptse,Lobuche, Cholatse, Ama Dablam and many others.
DAY 8 A few hours of walking up a rocky slope brings us to the former yak herder's outpost of Dugla at 4620m where a comfortable lodge provides an ideal spot to spend the rest of the day and night, where we can relax, rest, acclimate and drink tea.
DAY 9 Hiking across grassy hills, up the rest of the Dugla Hill and through enormous boulders brings us to 4930 metre Lobuche, with stunning views of Lobuche peak and Cholatse. Along the way we cross over the Dugla Hill where we are confronted by a knoll studded with chortens, monuments to fallen climbers and Sherpas who have died on Mt. Everest over the years. You will probably recognize several of the names on the memorials.
DAY 10 A short day up the Khumbu glacier takes us to the rocky outpost of Gorak Shep, with three cozy teahouses at 5160 metres. We will tuck into a comfortable tea house and marvel at the lovely views of Everest, Nuptse, Pumori, Lobuche, and so many other vast mountains that tower around us, as if our tiny teahouse was a crumb of bread in the jaws of a dragon. We eat and drink a lot up here, so you will have a good chance to rest and recuperate. The nights can be very chilly up here, so you will enjoy bundling up in your warm, fleece, pile, or duvet/down jacket, and wearing your wooly hat, especially in the evening.
DAY 11 Those of us who are feeling well will wake up early and walk up to Everest basecamp which lies atop the Khumbu glacier at 5300 metres. There is a good trail on rocks and scee all the way to basecamp, where you will see several spectacular crashed Russian helicopters. Then we will return to Gorak Shep for another warm night, lots of tea, and a delicious meal.
DAY 12 With an early start we trek to the top of Kala Patar (5545 metres) to see the breathtaking views of Everest. Here is where Shipton stood in 1952, to plan the successful ascent of Everest. After climbing to the top of Kala Pattar, we shall walk down to Gorak Shep and have a relaxing lunch, followed by a short walk down to Lobuche and camp. We now walk back down the valley, retracing our steps to Pheriche, and enjoy the final stunning views of the stunning Everest massif. If you are joining our Island Peak trip, here is where you will branch off for the village of Chukkung.
DAY 13 We walk back to Namche.
DAY 14 Walking down from Namche to Lukla
DAY 15 Return flight to Kathmandu
DAY 16 Extra Day of Rest and Celebration in Kathmandu. Do take a taxi out to Bhaktapur if you wish to visit an impressive temple city.
DAY 17 Flight Home. Good Bye everyone, it was nice meeting you!
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