Preparation Day for the Trek and buy the necessary things needed for the trek.

We will make an early morning start for the Twin Otter flight to Lukla (2,840m/9,317ft), the gateway to the Khumbu. This is an exciting flight, which should give a glimpse of Everest in the distance. In Lukla, we will set off straightaway for our first night’s stop at Phakding. Situated on the banks of the Dudh Kosi, which drains the whole of the Khumbu Region, this small hamlet is on the main trade route through the area and there are a number of clean, well-built lodges where we can spend the night.

We will continue up the banks of the Dudh Kosi, crossing it twice by small suspension bridges before reaching the village of Monjo where we will enter the Khumbu National Park. We will then cross the confluence of the Dudh Kosi and the Bhote Kosi on a high suspension bridge and climb steeply for about two hours up ‘Namche Hill’ to reach Namche Bazaar (3,400m/11,155ft). This is a prosperous trading town and the capital of the Khumbu Region. Many Tibetans cross the nearby border to trade their wares and the local market is a fascinating spectacle. This is a good place to buy genuine Tibetan artcrafts. Just across the valley to the east stand the peaks of Thamserku and Kangtega, both very impressive mountains.

We will spend two nights in Namche Bazaar. During this critical acclimatization phase, we will spend time resting and trekking to higher altitudes. This will allow our bodies to become acclimatized to the altitude of 3,450m (11,300ft). On the first morning, we will do an acclimatization walk. The afternoon can be spent sampling the delights of the Namche bakery!

From Namche, the Everest trail contours around the side of the valley high above the Dudh Kosi. As we follow the path, we will get our first really good views of the great peaks of the Khumbu: Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse and Ama Dablam. Passing by several villages and numerous teashops, we will cross the Dudh Kosi River and make a steep climb to Tengboche monastery. We will visit the tengboche monastery and then trek down to Debuche. (3820m).

Shaded by rhododendron trees, the trail crosses an airy suspension bridge just beyond Deboche. An hour’s walking from here will bring us to Pangboche, an excellent viewpoint for Amadablam. Contouring up the valley side, we will re-cross the river and turn up the Imja Valley to reach the picturesque farming village of Dingboche (4,410m/14,465ft).

Dingboche is a good location for acclimatization, prior to our ascent up the upper section of the Khumbu Valley. While in Dingboche, we can attend a seminar about high altitude acclimatization at the hospital in nearby Pheriche, run by the Himalayan Rescue Association. The walk over to Pheriche and back will also serve as good acclimatization training and so make the walk doubly worthwhile.

We will retrace our steps back to Pheriche before continuing along the trail up the broad valley bottom towards Thukla. Ahead of us is the trekking peak of Lobuje East (6,119m/20,075ft), and to our left is the formidable north face of Taweche, the scene of many cutting-edge Himalayan ascents of the 1980s and 1990s. After three hours we reach the small collection of lodges at Thukla (4,620m/15,153ft). We might choose to walk up to the Sherpa memorials, from where there are outstanding views of Amadablam, Cholatse and Taweche. From Thukla, the trail starts steeply to climb up beside the glacier moraine. After a few hours the track eventually leads to a small cluster of tea houses pleasantly situated at Lobuje (4,910m/16,207ft).

About three hours beyond Lobuje we reach Gorak Shep (5,220m/17,126ft), the site of the 1953 expedition’s base camp. Walk around base camp and head back to Gorak Shep to sleep.

Today we will make an ascent of Kala Pattar (5,545m/18,188ft)  early in the morning.The climb takes between 2 and 3 hours and can be hard work, but the effort is rewarded by the classic view of Everest and the Khumbu Icefall, as well as Lhotse, Nuptse, and Pumori immediately above. For many teams, this is as far as they go on the Everest Trail.

We retrace our steps from Lobuje, and return down the Khumbu Valley, With views of the stunning peak of Ama Dablam ahead us, we continue back to Pangboche. Sleep here and relax for the evening

Enjoy evening in Namche

Leave Namche for Lukla, Stay the night as flights only leave early on the morning.

Rest Day

Departure