Days: 18
Difficulty: Difficult
Activity: Hiking/Trekking
Highest Altitude: 18,192 ft.
When to hike Everest Base Camp: Mid Feb – May & Mid Sept - Dec
Closest airport to Everest Base Camp: Kathmandu Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM)
Kathmandu Altitude: 4,600 ft.
Lukla Altitude: 9,186 ft.

Itinerary:

Day 1
Arrival at Kathmandu. Group will be given map.

Day 2
Today there will be half / full day sightseeing, depending on one's interest, led by a trained local guide. There will be a full trek briefing today.

Day 3
We fly to the mountain airstrip of Lukla (2,800m) and set off on the first short leg of our trek, heading northwards up the valley of the Dudh Kosi ( milk river). We descend from the small plateau, which only just manage to hold Lukla airstrip, down into the forested valley. The trail crosses several tributary streams and has some tantalizing views before reaching the small settlement of Phakding (2,652m), where we will spend our first night. Lodge.

Day 4
We follow the Dudh Kosi north, crossing from one bank to the other. Heading out of Phakding, we first cross to the west bank, climbing high above the river. This day's walk takes us through magnificent forests of rhododendron, giant fir and magnolia trees, and both in spring and autumn the ground is bright with flowers. After Jorsale (2805m) the trail climbs over a spur and alongside a dripping moss-grown cliff, to cross the west fork of the river, the Bhote Kosi, and start the steep climb to Namche Bazaar. About 300m up this ascent we should have our first glimpse, cloud permitting, of the summit of Everest appearing behind the great ridge of Nuptse-Lhotse. Another 300m of climbing brings us to Namche Bazaar, administrative centre of the Khumbu region and headquarters for the Mount Sagarmatha (Everest) National Park. Namche is a prosperous Sherpa village and an important trading centre with a weekly market at which fresh foodstuffs brought up from lower villages are exchanged for the cash which many Sherpa families earn from their work with mountaineering and trekking groups. Lodge.

Day 5
We spend today acclimatizing to the altitude, exploring fascinating Namche Bazaar and its surrounding villages, the heart of the Khumbu region, and there is a chance to introduce ourselves properly to the Sherpas and their way of life. A walk up into the less visited Thame Valley will reward us with excellent views of the surrounding mountains and a chance to see some of the rare Himalayan animal and bird life. Returning to Namche there is time in the afternoon to see the National Park museum with views of Everest and interesting displays of Sherpa culture. Lodge.

Day 6
Leaving the main trail we climb steeply out of Namche Bazaar to the villages of Kunde and Khumjung with excellent views of Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse and many other magnificent peaks. We can perhaps take tea at the spectacularly situated Everest View Hotel. We will also have the opportunity of visiting the Edmund Hillary Hospital in Kunde. Passing through the village of Khumjung we drop down to join the main trail at Sanasa high above the Dudh Kosi and with excellent views of Ama Dablam across the valley. Lodge.

Day 7
This morning we descend gradually to the village of Teshinga , after which the trail drops more steeply to the river to cross it at the little settlement of Phunki Thangkha at 3250m. Here the flow of the river is used for both sacred and secular tasks, turning several flour mills as well as a series of prayer wheels. Climbing steeply beyond these we enter forest again and continue with a more gradual ascent, passing a number of Mani stones. These rocks, carved with Buddhist inscriptions, most often the invocation Om Mane Padme Hum "Hail the jewel in the lotus", are to be found along all the trails in this region. We continue climbing up to the saddle of a hill where in a clearing surrounded by rhododendrons and conifers we come to Thyangboche at 3867m. The sunset on the fantastic panorama of mountains surrounding us including Everest, Lhotse and Ama Dablam is not to be missed. Thyangboche has long been a sacred spot. The Lama Sange Dorje, who first brought Buddhism to the region, is said to have flown from his monastery in Tibet over the Himalaya , landing and leaving his footprints here and at Pangboche. Visitors should be careful to respect the spirit of this special place, particularly by observing the ban on killing or hurting any living creature in the area. Because of the ban, the wildlife is unusually unafraid and previous groups have spotted musk deer in the area. Although the monastery was burnt down a few years ago, the reconstruction has progressed very quickly, thanks to a magnificent fund raising effort on the part of Sir Edmund Hillary. We spend time in Thyangboche before descending a short way to stay overnight in Devoche. Lodge.

Day 8
The trail from Devoche leads through a forest of conifers, birch and rhododendrons. The trail passes a small nunnery before crossing a bridge over the rushing Imja Khola, whose valley we now follow. We begin to climb again, passing some beautifully carved Mani walls. The trail then enters Pangboche, at 3900m, the highest permanent settlement in this valley. We are above the tree line now passing through an alpine meadow landscape where we may catch a glimpse of the rare Impeyan pheasant, the national bird of Nepal . Following a ledge above the river, the trail crosses a wooden bridge at the confluence of the Khumbu and Imja Kholas. A short steep climb brings us to Dingboche, at 4530m. Dingboche is a summer settlement and here great peaks, particularly Ama Dablam, the ridge of Nuptse-Lhotse, Tawoche and Chalotse, surround us. Lodge.

Day 9
We spend this day at Dingboche to continue our acclimatisation. Those who are adapting well to the altitude can climb Nangkartshang Peak at 5100m. From this hill the views are even more spectacular - Chalotse and Tawoche tower above us, Ama Dablam rears up across the valley and in the distance we can see Makalu . Another option for today's acclimatisation walk is to trek further up the valley to Chukkung where we can ascend Chukkung Ri for spectacular close up views of Nuptse. Lodge.

Day 10
The trail from Dingboche ascends the broad, gently sloping valley. The views of Tawoche and Chalotse are spectacular as they tower above us to our left and look as if they are about to topple over from this angle. We eventually emerge onto the terminal moraine of the Khumbu Glacier and the few lodges at Duglha. A steep climb brings us even higher onto the moraine from where we have a beautiful panorama of the peaks lying on the Nepal-Tibet border. The trail then eases off as we follow the western side of the valley to Lobuje (4930m) a tiny hamlet with a few teahouses. The sunset on Nuptse is not to be missed. Lodge.

Day 11
We are now surrounded by giant Himalayan peaks; Everest, Nuptse, Ama Dablam and Pumori - the sight of their snows glowing gold and pink at sunrise and sunset is quite unforgettable. A long, hard day today as we leave very early following the Khumbu Glacier northwards to Gorak Shep (5288m). After a rest and something to eat we descend onto the glacial moraine and wind our way up and down through the fascinating ice seracs to the area known as Everest Base Camp, where we may see some of the expedition teams as they prepare to climb the mountain. From the Base Camp we get fantastic close up views of the Khumbu Ice Fall and we can appreciate just how difficult it is to negotiate a route through the huge blocks of ice. We return late afternoon to Gorak Shep. Lodge.

Day 12
This morning we climb above Gorak Shep to the small peak of Kala Pattar (black rock) at 5545m where we can look down over the base camps of the various Everest expeditions. This climb affords a most magnificent view of the Khumbu Glacier and above all a close up sight of the world's highest mountain. The British, in the 19th century named this peak after Sir George Everest, the head of the Survey of India, but to the Nepalese it is Sagamartha Head of the Waters and to the Sherpas it is Chomolungma Mother of the World. Returning to Gorak Shep we have lunch before retracing our steps along the terminal moraine to Dughla from where we descend into the Pheriche valley with spectacular views of Ama Dablam. Lodge.

Day 13
Passing through the village of Pheriche we join the main Imja Khola Valley , which we follow down to Pangboche through an alpine meadow landscape with superb views looking back to the great ridge of Lhotse-Nuptse that hides the lower slopes of Everest. If there is time we can walk through Upper Pangboche , where there is a gompa (monastery) founded by the lama Sange Dorje, who first brought Buddhism to this region some three hundred years ago. Passing some beautifully carved mani (prayer stone) walls, we drop down to the rushing Imja Khola. We then walk through the peaceful rhododendron forests to the village of Devoche from where we climb back up to Thyangboche on the ridge. Lodge.

Day 14-15
We descend off the ridge to Phunki Tenga and walk back to Namche Bazaar along a beautiful undulating trail high above the Dudh Kosi. Descending through Namche Bazaar, we pick up our outward trail again, following the Dudh Kosi south through rhododendron and pine forests, past Jorsale, Monzo and Benkar to Chaunrikhara. Here we leave the main trail and climb the short distance to the small airstrip of Lukla. Lodges.

Day 16
We fly back to Kathmandu and transfer to our hotel. Hotel.

Day 17
Free Day in Kathmandu

Day 18
Transfer to Airport for your onward destination

Accommodations while at Kathmandu
Accommodations while trekking
Kathmandu/Lukla/Kathmandu airfare with airport tax and flight insurance surcharge
Qualified local guides and porters

Flight to Kathmandu
Lunch and Dinner while in Kathmandu
Cost of Meals: Average price for food is $25 US dollar per day per person
Nepal Visa Fee
Emergency Evacuation if Needed
Donation/tip for the guides $5 per day