Option 1: Morning Sightseeing to Pashupatinath and Boudhanath.  Then Drive to Ramechhap: 4 hours drive at 2.00 AM in the morning of  the next day

Today your Nepal adventure begins!  After breakfast, at around 9.30am, our tour guide and private vehicle will collect you from your hotel to take you to some of the most historical and interesting heritage sites in Kathmandu.  Kathmandu Valley has no less than seven world heritage sites; today we will cover two of them:

Pashupatinath: Pashupati Temple is the most holy and significant temple among worshipers of Lord Shiva.  Non-Hindus are not allowed into Pashupatinath Temple itself but by standing on the opposite banks of the Bagmati River, visitors can view the ghats where worship and ritual bathing takes place.  A few metres downstream the burning ghats often present a horrific fascination. If that is too intimate, there are plenty of small shrines and trails to explore.

Boudhanath Stupa:  Boudhanath Stupa is one of the most revered Buddhist sites in Kathmandu.  Here in the early morning and late afternoon, hundreds of Tibetan and Nepali Buddhists come to circumnavigate the stupa in prayer with the sound of spinning prayer wheels and the ringing of bells filling the air. It is possible to eat in one of the many good restaurants around the stupa.   

Note: The rest of this afternoon is at your leisure.  We will leave from Kathmandu at 2am in the morning to reach Ramechhap for the flight to Lukla for the following reason:

The Government of Nepal has announced that until further notice most flights to and from Lukla will be from Ramechhap (Manthali Airport).  This will avoid heavy traffic congestion in Kathmandu airport.  The airport in Ramechhap is located 130km from Kathmandu (approximately 3-4 hours drive).  As Ramechhap is a very small town and off the usual tourist route, accommodation facilities are basic and limited.  It is likely that given this new situation, accommodation will be hard to find.  Thus driving direct from Kathmandu to Ramechhap in the early morning is the only realistic option.

Overnight (until 2am) at the hotel.  Included meals: packed breakfast.

Option 2: Entire day sightseeing to Swayambhunath, Pashupatinath, and Boudhanath. Overnight at hotel in Kathmandu and fly next day from Kathmandu directly to Lukla via helicopter.

Today your Nepal adventure begins!  After breakfast, at around 10.00 am, our tour guide and private vehicle will collect you from your hotel to take you to some of the most historical and interesting heritage sites in Kathmandu.  Kathmandu Valley has no less than seven world heritage sites, today we will cover three of them:

Swayambhunath: Swayambhunath Stupa (or Monkey Temple as its often know) has great importance to the Valley’s indigenous Newar population whose religion is a unique blend of Buddhism and Hinduism.  We reach the top by a long staircase from the east. In addition to devotees, visitors can see many monkeys on the climb up to the stupa (please do not feed or pet them), and have a wonderful view over Kathmandu.

Boudhanath Stupa:  Boudhanath Stupa is one of the most revered Buddhist sites in Kathmandu.  Here in the early morning and late afternoon, hundreds of Tibetan and Nepali Buddhists come to circumnavigate the stupa in prayer with the sound of spinning prayer wheels and the ringing of bells filling the air. It is possible to eat in one of the many good restaurants around the stupa. 

Pashupatinath: Pashupati Temple is the most holy and significant temple among worshipers of Lord Shiva.  Non-Hindus are not allowed into Pashupatinath Temple itself but by standing on the opposite banks of the Bagmati, visitors can  view the ghats where worship and ritual bathing takes place.  A few metres downstream the burning ghats often present a horrific fascination. If that is too intimate, there are plenty of small shrines and trails to explore.

There will be time for exploring the tourist hub of Thamel and doing last minute shopping for essential trekking snacks etc before dinner. 

Note: With this option you will avoid the middle of the night drive to Ramecchap and will fly directly by helicopter from Kathmandu to Lukla on the morning of Day 03.

Overnight in a hotel in Kathmandu. Included meals: breakfast.

Depending on your choice, today we fly from Ramechhap or from Kathmandu to Lukla. Estimated arrival time in Lukla is the same for either options. After your arrival in Lukla, your guide and porters will meet you and from here we trek to Phakding. The trail starts by descending to Cheplung village.  You may be able to catch sight of Mt Khumbila from here.  This is a sacred mountain which means it has never been climbed.  From here the trail descents till Phakding where you overnight.  This is where your climbing adventure really begins!

Overnight in a lodge. Included meals: breakfast (packed breakfast for those on Option 1), lunch and dinner.

Today the trail takes you upwards over steep inclines and across high suspension bridges and through pine forests. Crossing the Dudh Koshi River towards Monjo, you pass through the gate signifying the entrance to Sagarmatha National Park.  Tonight sleep in the famous town of Namche Bazaar.

Overnight in a lodge. Included meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Today’s acclimatization day is designed to allow your body to get used to the altitude.  It also gives you a chance to explore the town or hike to Khumjung Village to visit the school and hospital set up by Sir Edmund Hillary for the Sherpa people.  You can also visit Khumjung Monastery, where they have an (alleged) Yeti scalp!  Alternatively, soak up the atmosphere in Namche, the administrative centre of the Khumbu Region.   In the past this was the last stop for mountaineers to stock up on goods before setting off to scale Everest.  It still is a good place to purchase any chocolate or snacks you forgot to bring with you.  Overnight in Namche Bazaar.

The day starts by climbing up the Khumjung hill to descend by the east side of the village to a valley which leads to the Dudh Koshi River.  Evidence of the Buddhist lifestyle is all around with chortens and prayer flag.  You may even visit the birthplace of the Tibetan Lama who is reputed to have introduced Buddhism to the Khumbu (Everest) Region.  Then the trail heads downwards, through steep switchback tracks to the Dudh Koshi where we find the village of Phortse Thanga where you will spend the night.

After breakfast climb uphill to where the trail goes through a rhododendron forest and passed a cascading waterfall. In fact follow the Dudh Koshi River for the whole day.  The trail passes Tongba Village, tongba being the name of a hot millet wine that you may have the opportunity to sample on the trek!  

One of today’s highlights is looking down the valley from atop a ridge.  From here you can see Kangtega (6,782m) and Cho Oyu (8,163m). As the valley widens out, the trail descends to the river before climbing up to the terminal moraine of the Ngozumpa Glacier. Here the trail is quite steep. Following the valley, you will pass Lake Longpongo (4,690m).

The Gokyo Lakes are actually six lakes, located in the Gokyo Valley within the Sagarmatha National Park area.  Gokyo village is located on the third lake, with Mt Cho Oyu as a backdrop.  Overnight at Gokyo.

Overnight in a lodge. Included meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Today is an acclimatization day before climbing over the Cho La pass.  After breakfast, if you wish, hike up to Gokyo Ri (3-5 hours), a peak above the village.  Here we get views of the whole Khumbu Region and you can see four out of the seven highest peaks in Nepal, namely Cho Oyu, Everest, Lhotse and Makalu. From here you can reach the fourth lake and if you are feeling very fit, the fifth.  From the fifth lake the views of the Ngozumba glacier make the extra effort worthwhile.  But the choice is yours depending on how you feel.  By now of course you are at high altitude and walking becomes more tiring.  Overnight in Gokyo.

The mountains surrounding you today include Thamserku, Cholats, Makalu, Lhotse, Nupste, Everest and Pumori – and more!  The trail takes you through the Ngozumpa Glacier to the mountain on the far side.  Today’s trek is relatively short giving you another afternoon to rest in preparation for going over the pass. 

Today is the most challenging day of the trek, with a glacier to traverse and steep, vertical trails.  Icy ground makes it slippery underfoot and care needs to be taken. Trekking through a ravine and along the side of a frozen lake, the top of the pass is decorated with the now familiar prayer flags.  Ama Dablam towers overhead.  Cholatse is to the west and Lobuche to the east.  Again care is needed as the trail takes you through crevasses to reach Dzongla village.  Here there are spectacular views of the mountains, which can be fully enjoyed knowing that tomorrow’s trek will be much shorter!

An easy day, beginning with a climb down from Dzongla and a walk along a grassy trail.  Today there is plenty of time to enjoy and photograph the scenery, from the mountains around Dzongla to the river near Lobuche.  The afternoon is spent relaxing and mentally preparing for tomorrow’s trip to the fabled and famous Everest Base Camp. Overnight in Lobuche.

Gorak Shep was base camp for the 1952 Swiss expedition to Everest.  Although unsuccessful, on that climb was Tenzing Norgay Sherpa who the following year made the first summit of Everest with Edmund Hilary. To reach here the trail is rocky and a bit tricky so pay close attention.  From Gorak Shep it takes around three hours to reach Everest Base Camp. From this vast open vista you will be able to see mountaineers setting up camp in the distance and take in the magnificent and treacherous beauty of the Khumbu Icefall. As Gorak Shep is the best place to set off for the ascent of Kalapatthar, also known as the ‘Everest view point’, we return and overnight here.  

Now you have visited Everest Base Camp it is time to get a really good look at the mountain face to face! At 5,545m Kalapatthar is the highest altitude we can trek in Nepal without requiring climbing permits. It is also the best place to view Everest in all its glory.  Kalapatthar means black rock and it is not so much a mountain but a ridge. Standing here, Everest, Changtse and Nuptse mountains are so close you feel you can just reach out and touch them.  Set off before the sunrises to witness the sun come up over Everest: what fabulous views, what fabulous memories and photographs to take home!  Once you have had your fill, descend down to Gorak Shep for a well deserved breakfast and head off to Pheriche where you will spend the night.

This is a long day after yesterday’s hard but amazingly exciting trek. But by now your body is used to walking and you can fully appreciate the scenery such as the rhododendron forest you are passing through.  Following the Dudh Koshi River and gorge you will enter pine forests.  Ama Dablam, Thamserku and Nuptse are still on view at Sansa before you enter another forest and on to Namche Bazaar.  Tonight celebrate with some beer or a really good dessert with your dinner!  Get a good sleep tonight as there is one more trekking day to go!

Today make your way slowly over the rocky paths and once more cross suspension bridges over the Dudh Koshi and other rivers.  Overnight in Lukla for tomorrow you fly back to Kathmandu.

After breakfast fly out of Lukla. Take in your final views of the mountains from your plane window.  You can either fly to Ramechhap and drive (3-4 hours) to Kathmandu or take a helicopter from Lukla to Kathmandu.  Please ask us about the helicopter option.

If you would like us to arrange sightseeing for you, please ask us.  Otherwise feel free to explore on your own.  

Tonight we host a farewell dinner for you.

Depending on your flight time, you will be transferred to the airport three hours prior to the departure time. In case your flight is late evening please let us know if you require half day use of the hotel which will incur extra charges as the check out time is usually 12 pm. Your airport representative will pick you from your hotel accordingly and take you to the international airport for your onward flight.

Bon voyage and pheri bhetaula!

Included meals: breakfast