Everest Base Camp Luxury Lodge Trek

Kathmandu Valley

Arrive at Kathmandu International Airport where you will be warmly welcomed by our representative and check in to the hotel. The rest of the day is free to explore this historic and vibrant city.

Lukla Airport

Early morning flight from Kathmandu to Lukla and trek to Phakding. Descending above farmlands we pass through Sherpa villages of Chheplung, Ghat, and Sano, and Thulo Gumela and shrines and monasteries of Drangdrak Gompa and Pema Choling Gompa with breathtaking views of sacred mountain Kumbla and sister summits Kusum Kanguru Peaks.

Namche Bazaar

Heading for the Namche Bazaar, we cross through the hamlet of Zamphute and Tok Tok to see dazzling Thamserku glistening in the sun that stays with us for most of our trek. Passing through the scene of Sherpa Villages of Benkar, Chumoa, and Monjo, we reach Utche Choling Gompa on a bluff to the entrance of Sagarmatha National Park, a UNESCO declared World heritage site. Completing alway to Namche Bazaar, we head for the second half of the march that would like to take more time due to the steep climb at the end. Crossing through the last village of Jorsale, a steep stepped path leads us to an amazing high bridge over the Dudhkoshi River gorge, and just before this bridge the Dudhkoshi is met by its tributary, the Bhotekoshi. Beginning the final steps uphill slowly we reach the heights of Namche from where we can have our first look at Mt. Everest, peering over the Lhotse-Nuptse ridge and finally after about 1.5km/0.9mile) we reach Namche Bazaar.

Namche Bazaar

We have an acclimatization day at Namche Bazar. To help our body better adapt to the high altitude, we can take short walks or climb a few hundred feet during the day to have a look in the villages, houses, terraced fields, and snowy mountains of Kwangde, Khumbu peak, Thamserku, Kusum Kanguru, and the village’s big weekly event, the Saturday market to have fun mingling with the crowds and watching men and women in traditional attire. This day, we start the climb through the U shaped hillside above Namche from beside the Gompa. On the way, we see several snowy peaks of Kwangde, Khumbila, and Thamserku and Tagi Tau and Pharchamo, Tip of Ama Dablam and Taboche and we reach a signposted intersection from where we move towards the right-hand for Khumjung. Walking past a large chorten and a long mani wall, we reach a viewpoint to Everest “THE EVEREST VIEW HOTEL” for lunch, Lhotse and Lhotse Shar ( East ) peak, besides Thamserku, Ama Dablam, and Taboche and then path drops to Khumjung past the Hillary School. Khumjung is famous for its gompa that stands in a grove of cedar in the upper part of the village where there is an image of the Guru Padmasambhava, who helped establish Buddhism in Tibet, flanked by his two consorts. Inside the gompa is preserved a skull that lamas believe is that of the yeti, but was disapproved by scientists in the US. We return back to Namche for a night's stay.

Tengboche Monastery

From Namche, we take the easy level trail that cuts around the ridge from Chhorkung to reach the end of a bluff which is a viewpoint over a grand panorama of peaks, from Thamserku to Ama Dablam, Lhotse, and Everest. From here we reach Kyangjuma (3550m) and a short walk from there takes us to an important trail junction at Sanasa (3600m) from where we take the trail to Tengboche that runs gently downhill towards the river. This trail drops gradually to Lawichasa and on our descending way, the thumb-like peak of Ama Dablam soars into view above the trail. From Lawichasa a narrow trail branches north to reach Tashinga (3380m) and now the trail drops down on steep stone steps to Phunki Thenga (3250m) and then to a bridge. From the bridge, the trail climbs past some water-powered prayer wheels and begins a sustained climb through a forest of tall, mature rhododendrons. We might see musk deer and Himalayan tahr among the trees to eventually follow the path that reaches a Kani and a pair of chortens marking the start of Tengboche village which is scattered across a wide, grassy saddle below a crescent-shaped ridge covered by scrub pines and rhododendrons. The focal point of Tengboche is the famous Tengboche monastery.

Dingboche

From Tengboche we follow the trail through a forest of conifers and rhododendrons, keeping an eye out for monal pheasants and musk deer that leads us to a village of Debuche where we visit Debuche Gompa which has some expressive old thangkas and murals painted on wooden panels. Debuche also has a small Buddhist nunnery on the east hillside. The trail continues through dense forest to reach Milinggo and then drops steeply to a suspension bridge over Imja Khola. We cross the bridge and climb the hillside opposite to a white stupa with Buddhist eyes and after a hundred yards we see a stupa that crowns an exposed bluff, mirroring the soaring tower of Ama Dablam at the end of the valley. East of the stupa is a footprint of Khumbu’s patron Saint Lama Sange Dorje. We soon reach Pangboche village that has the oldest monastery in Khumbu, Pangobche Gompa founded by Lama Sange Dorje. Following the Imja Khola the trial climbs towards the village of Shomare and crossing the treeline beyond this village we are walking up rolling arid stretch, an alpine terrain with patches of scrub and isolated pastures and fields and the yak grazing. Crossing through the yak pasture and herdsmen’s stone huts at Orsho and Tsuro Wog, we turn right where the trail descends to a point near the confluence of Imja Khola and Khumbu Khola. Finally climbing a low ridge we reach the sprawling settlement of Dingboche which is a cold and windy place with sub-zero night temperatures even in summer.

Nangkartsang Peak

There are several interesting day hikes in this area, one of which is the 400m climb to Nangkartsang Gompa on the ridge north of Dingboche. From this vintage point, there are good views of three of the world’s six highest peaks – Lhotse, Makalu, and Cho Oyu. From here we continue to the Nangkartsang summit for the close-up views of the mountains again and then return downhill to Dingboche for the night stay.

Dughla

On this trail, we find ourselves truly in the lap of the Himalayas with awesome mountains on all sides. From Dingboche, we take the trail that climbs slowly along the ridge through the village of Dusa (4503m) where we have outstanding views of the twin peaks of Taboche and Cholatse and Ama Dablam appears as a perfect pyramid, while the summit Kantega is visible far to the left of the prominent saddle seen from Tengboche. The trail drops down to a glacial stream, rising up the other side to Dughla.

Lobuche

From Dughla the trail goes directly up the gravelly terminal moraine of the Khumbu Glacier and the path bears left at the top of the ridge onto Chupki Lhara where we see large heaps of stones with prayer flags remembering the mountaineers who perished on a mission to climb Mt.Everest. At the top of the valley is Chola Lake where we get a glimpse of blue waters from high trails. From Chupki Lara, the trail drops to the Khumbu glacier moraine after which we see three great peaks-Khumbutse, Lingtren, and Pumori straight in front. Now walking the final steps along a murmuring stream we reach Lobuche.

Our guest at Everest Base Camp

This day will be a long hard day for us. Walking by a somewhat grassy terrain and a few scattered boulders, all along we see the snowy wall of lofty mountains ahead. The 60m/200ft ascent takes us to the top of the lateral moraine wall of the Changri glacier, to a level spot called Thangma Riju from where there is a spectacular 360-degree panorama of the mountains all around-Taboche and the Lobuche peaks, Pumori, and the rest of Mahalangur Himal peaks, with Changtse in Tibet now more visible; and Nuptse filling the eastern horizon. The trail now crosses the moraine of the Changri glacier which joins the Khumbu glacier from the west and climbing steeply up a stony slope we reach Gorak Shep from where we catch our first glimpse of Kala Patthar. From Gorak Shep we move towards EBC, to be amidst mountains, not to see them from afar as EBC is not a viewpoint. Walking by the shallow blue waters of Gorak Shep Lake, the Changtse peak in Tibet and the Lho La depression can be seen straight ahead. Crossing through several of the glaciers, icefalls, frozen pools of meltwater, exposed icy walls, and large boulders we finally reach EBC from where trekking ends and mountaineering begins. We descend back to Gorak Shep for the night stay.

Kalapathhar

Finally, this is our date with Everest, the climax of the trek. We start after an early breakfast without a hurry. Crossing through the wide sandy bed of the dried-up lake and steep zigzags we ascend about 100m to have the great view of Lingtren, Khumbutse, and Changtse. As the climb begins again, we get a grand view of the Khumbu glacier and Nuptse massif and finally we climb to the rocky viewpoint of Kala Patthar. It’s a slow tough climb but every meter ascended is rewarded by a bit more of Everest and finally, we find ourselves sitting on the Kala Patthar rocks in the middle of an unbelievable Himalayan Panorama. Now we return downhill which takes much less time. Retracing the way we came up we pass through Gorak Shep, Lobuche, and from Dughla, instead of moving towards Dingboche, we descend to Pheriche making our way along Khumbu Khola, for the night stay while being back.

Namche Bazaar

From Pheriche, the trail descends to Tsuro Wog after crossing the bridge across Khumbu Khola and great mountain views. From Tsuro Wog we again start the descending path retracing the way we came up proceeding through Orsho, Shomare, and upper Pangboche and finally to a most beautiful place of Tengboche. The Tengboche monastery is Khumbu’s largest gompa. From Tengboche, we move towards Phunki Tenga and now descend to Sanasa and Kyangjuma and then finally to Namche Bazar.

Lukla

Our final day’s trekking follows the Dudh Kosi down to Lukla retracing the way we came up.

Dinner with guest

Flyback from Lukla to Kathmandu and drop at the hotel. This is a leisure day which can be utilized by buying gifts and souvenirs for your friends and family. In the evening you will be invited to join FAREWELL reviewing great photos and share experiences of the trip.

Kathmandu Tribhuwan International Airport (TIA)

If you prefer to stay longer, you can consult us for short tours such as game drive at National parks, rafting, mountain biking, Tibet, India or Bhutan tours etc. Meals: Breakfast