The lore of the Himalayas loom largest around the great 8,000 meter peak massifs of Cho Oyo, Everest, Lhotse, and Makalu. The remote valleys beneath these peaks are threaded by ancient trails. Some like the well-traveled path to Everest Base camp are well known among Western trekkers and mountaineers. Others including the trail through Nangpa La between Namche Bazar and Tibet are known to Tibetan monks and traders, but have long been forbidden to Westerners. This exploratory trip is our attempt to offer fresh insight, little trod trails and new visual perspectives on this area of greatest Himalayan peaks. This trek also traces important history of the Sherpa people. They settled the region in the late 1400s or early 1500s, arriving from the eastern Tibetan province of Salmo Gang. Sherpas appear to have left their homeland and crossed the Nangpa-La pass (18,749') into Nepal. The economy of the Sherpa Community has traditionally been agriculture, livestock herding and trading between Nepal and Tibet. With the coming of the Mountaineering Expedition since 1950s, the region has attracted large number of tourist as climbers and adventure trekkers. People from Tibet walk all the way down to Namche to sell their homemade stuffs and salt to trade. The most wonderful experience would be to explore this area during the end of monsoon season when flowers pop out in Nangpala, giving the trekkers the illusion that they are walking on textured carpet. The strong fragrances of flowers refresh the mind and feels heavenly to camp there and have a very sweet sleep at night. The caravan-style business, its remoteness, the biggest glaciers in the whole of the Khumbu region and spectacular views of Mt. Everest and Mt. Cho Oyo are the spectacular features in this trek. The newly opened Renjo Pass crossing from Gokyo to Nangpala is a breathtakingly beautiful walk with mountains surrounding us.

Trip Includes

  • International arrival and departure transfer
  • Kathmandu to Lukla (return) airfare and airport transfers in private vehicle
  • English-speaking guide and porter during the trek
  • 12 nights accommodation during the trek
  • Meals on full board basis (breakfast, lunch, and dinner)
  • Trek permits, TIMS
  • Salary and insurance for staffs
  • Kit bags (Duffle bag)

Trip Excludes

  • International flights and Nepal entry visa fee
  • Accommodation, Lunches, and Dinners in Kathmandu
  • Soft drinks and alcoholic beverages like coke, beer, mineral water.
  • Entrance fees for monasteries and museums
  • Trekking gear and equipment
  • Personal expenses like Wifi, Gadgets Charging, phone calls, shower, laundry, and gratuities
  • Travel insurance and emergency rescues
  • Other items not mentioned

Note

Traveling to Everest, especially for the Everest Base Camp trek or any mountaineering activity, is an extraordinary adventure that requires thorough preparation and awareness of potential risks.

Itinerary

  • Day 01
    Arrive in Kathmandu. Transfer to hotel.
    Flying into Kathmandu, you'll have views over the valley, the Himalaya, and the terraced fields below. After completing customs, a representative will be waiting to greet you outside the airport and to guide you through the initial culture shock of Kathmandu’s narrow, winding streets to your hotel.
    Once you've settled in, head out and explore the city. Kathmandu Durbar Square is a great place to start your exploration, where you'll walk through narrow alleyways teeming with small shops, ancient temples, and local restaurants. If you want to stretch your legs, Swayambhunath, the white stupa rising above the valley, is the perfect spot to catch the sunset over the valley.
    In the evening, the tourist hub of Thamel is a good place to grab your first meal, with a variety of restaurants to choose from offering both Western and local Nepali dishes.
    Overnight: Kathmandu
  • Day 02
    Explore Kathmandu: Swayambhunath, Pashupatinath, and Patan Durbar Square.
    After breakfast at your hotel, you'll be picked up by an English-speaking guide for a full-day tour of the Kathmandu Valley, visiting three sacred sites: Swayambhunath, Pashupatinath, and Patan Durbar Square.
    This day fits quite a bit in—helpful for maximizing your time in Kathmandu—but doesn't overload you with too many sites. You can spend as much time as you like at each temple (this is a private tour just for you), although most people tend to spend an hour. For lunch, you'll stop at one of our recommended local restaurants.
    Return to your hotel in Kathmandu in the late afternoon and meet your trekking guide who will go over details for tomorrow's adventure.
    Overnight: Kathmandu
    Meals included: Breakfast
  • Day 03
    Fly Kathmandu to Lukla and trek to Phakding 2,550m.
    After breakfast, you'll fly to Lukla (30 minutes) and land on a steep mountain runway, which brings you to the start of your trek. Try to get a window seat on the left-hand side of the plane and keep your camera close: the flight takes you between mountains and through valleys, with great views of the Himalaya on clear days.
    You'll then trek a short distance today through local villages where you'll likely encounter fellow trekkers, locals, and yaks with their tinkling bells. (Having an easy first day is intentional, allowing you time to get used to the higher elevation.)
    Continue through the Dudh Koshi Valley on a well-marked trail and stay overnight in Phakding.
    Trekking time: 3-4 hours (4.7 miles / 7.5 km)
    Overnight: Phakding
    Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  • Day 04
    Phakding to Namche Bazaar 3,445m.
    After breakfast in Phakding, you'll start a steady and steep incline towards Namche. This is a challenging day as you'll start to feel the altitude. The route also consists of a number of high suspension bridges over the Dudh Kosi River that you need to cross.
    Just beyond the village of Monjo is the entrance to the Sagarmatha National Park, which was set-up in order to protect and preserve the fragile mountain environment (your guide will cover your permit fees here). The trail gets steeper along the way, and if the weather is clear, you will get the first glimpses of Mount Everest.
    When you arrive at Namche, settle into your accommodations and explore the town. Namche is a great place to stock up on supplies as there are numerous small shops selling snacks and trekking gear, as well as restaurants and bars. If here on a weekend, check out the Saturday market—a meeting place for the Hindu traders from the lowlands and the Tibetan yak caravans that have crossed the glaciated Nangpa La.
    Trekking time: 4-6 hours (4.6 miles / 7.4 km)
    Overnight: Namche Bazaar
    Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  • Day 05
    Rest day in Namche Bazaar for acclimatization. Explore around.
    Today is a rest day so take time to relax and sleep in. Namche is tucked away between two ridges amid the giant peaks of the Khumbu and has an abundance of lodges, tea shops, and souvenir markets. It is an ideal place to spend a day acclimatizing to the higher altitude.
    To speed up the acclimatization process, you can also head to the Khunde Hospital set-up by Sir Edmund Hillary, or take a highly-recommended one-hour walk up to the Everest View Hotel above Namche for views of notable peaks like Ama Dablam, Nuptse, Lhotse, and Everest. There are also good views from the Sherpa Culture Museum just above the town.
    Overnight: Namche Bazaar
    Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  • Day 06
    Trek from Namche to Phortse (11,483 feet / 3,500 m)
    This morning after breakfast in Namche, you'll take one final loop in town before heading up a nice, easy trail that overlooks the snow-capped peaks of Shanasa—the small settlement of Mong. You'll ascend Mongla Hill on the left-hand side and then head down until you reach the Sherpa village Phortse Thanga.
    Trekking time: 5-6 hours (3.5 miles / 5.7 km)
    Overnight: Phortse
    Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  • Day 07
    Trek from Phortse Thanga to Dole (13,248 feet / 4,038 m)
    Today, after breakfast in Phortse Thankga, you'll follow a challenging uphill path through forests of flowering rhododendrons and emerge to a perfect view of Cho-Oyu. From here, the trail becomes a relatively easy afternoon walk to Dole—your stopping point—a small village adorned with a handful of teahouses, which used to be a yak pasture. It might not look too far on the map, but there's quite a bit of altitude gain so take today slow.
    Trekking time: 2-3 hours (1.9 miles / 3.1 km)
    Overnight: Dole
    Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner