Everest Base Camp trek
| country: | Nepal |
| location: | Everest region, Everest Base Camp |
| trip type: | High altitude, strenuous trekking holidays |
| departures: | 2009: 16 Dec, 21 Dec 2010: 22 Jan, 5 Feb, 12 Feb, 19 Feb, 5 Mar, 8 Mar, 12 Mar, 19 Mar, 26 Mar, 29 Mar, 2 Apr, 3 Apr, 9 Apr, 17 Sep, 24 Sep, 1 Oct, 8 Oct, 11 Oct, 15 Oct, 22 Oct, 29 Oct, 5 Nov, 19 Nov, 3 Dec, 17 Dec 2011: 21 Jan, 4 Feb |
| price: | From £1499 - £1829 (18 days) including flights from the UK. From £799 - £999 excluding flights. Local payment 100 GBP. |
| vouchers: | Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday |
read 6 travellers reviews
"The spectacular scenery has got to be the highlight of this trip. I can’t think of a much better reward after an 11 day trek than the views from Kalar Patar, 5545m up the highest mountain in the world surrounded by the never-ending majesty of the Himalayas."
- Lani, responsibletravel.com
- Lani, responsibletravel.com
the amazing things you'll be doing
This is a classic Himalayan trek with incredible views and rewards. The Khumbu region is the home of Mount Everest, at 8,848m the world’s highest mountain, as well as several other giants. You'll see vistas of these mighty peaks as you trek towards your ultimate goals - Everest Base Camp and Kalar Patar. Everest is one of the world’s most awe-inspiring sights - a perfect place for adventure!
Kathmandu to Namche Bazaar
Your first stop is the bustling capital of Nepal, Kathmandu. You have time to wander the narrow streets here and will be able to discover the temples and stupas that provide much intrigue in this fascinating city. After exploring Kathmandu you fly to Lukla from where your trek to Everest commences. The trail follows the course of the Dudh Kosi, the ‘River of Milk’, gradually climbing through forests of rhododendron and magnolia. There are rest days at Namche Bazaar (the delightful Sherpa capital) and at Dingboche village (set below the spectacular peak of Ama Dablam) to help adjust to the altitude. All the while as you are trekking, the peaks of the Himalaya will loom above you, providing outstanding views as you walk.
Base Camp & Kalar Patar
The dramatic landscape around you changes as you continue to climb higher and higher. By the time you reach Lobuche, the temperature has dropped and you’ll be walking among frozen rivers in an icy wilderness. From here you make the trek to base camp itself in its dramatic location at the foot of the world’s highest peak. The next day it’s on to the final highlight – Kalar Patar (5545m), with stunning views of Everest and the Khumbu Glacier cascading below. From here you descend to Lukla, marvelling at what you have achieved and all the while with stunning views and fantastic scenery all around you!
Gokyo Lakes Option EKG
Feeling adventurous? The Gokyo Lakes itinerary offers a more challenging route to Everest Base Camp, with a longer, tougher trek. The route past Gokyo Lakes is a less frequented trail, ideal for the experienced trekker. You aim for Namche Bazaar before heading up past the Ngozumpa Glacier and on to Gokyo. You ascend along Cho La pass, passing the high peaks of the Himalaya before arriving at your final destination of Kala Patar and base camp itself.
Kathmandu to Namche Bazaar
Your first stop is the bustling capital of Nepal, Kathmandu. You have time to wander the narrow streets here and will be able to discover the temples and stupas that provide much intrigue in this fascinating city. After exploring Kathmandu you fly to Lukla from where your trek to Everest commences. The trail follows the course of the Dudh Kosi, the ‘River of Milk’, gradually climbing through forests of rhododendron and magnolia. There are rest days at Namche Bazaar (the delightful Sherpa capital) and at Dingboche village (set below the spectacular peak of Ama Dablam) to help adjust to the altitude. All the while as you are trekking, the peaks of the Himalaya will loom above you, providing outstanding views as you walk.
Base Camp & Kalar Patar
The dramatic landscape around you changes as you continue to climb higher and higher. By the time you reach Lobuche, the temperature has dropped and you’ll be walking among frozen rivers in an icy wilderness. From here you make the trek to base camp itself in its dramatic location at the foot of the world’s highest peak. The next day it’s on to the final highlight – Kalar Patar (5545m), with stunning views of Everest and the Khumbu Glacier cascading below. From here you descend to Lukla, marvelling at what you have achieved and all the while with stunning views and fantastic scenery all around you!
Gokyo Lakes Option EKG
Feeling adventurous? The Gokyo Lakes itinerary offers a more challenging route to Everest Base Camp, with a longer, tougher trek. The route past Gokyo Lakes is a less frequented trail, ideal for the experienced trekker. You aim for Namche Bazaar before heading up past the Ngozumpa Glacier and on to Gokyo. You ascend along Cho La pass, passing the high peaks of the Himalaya before arriving at your final destination of Kala Patar and base camp itself.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Overnight flight to Kathmandu |
| Day 2: | Arrive Kathmandu After your flight, you transfer to your first night’s accommodation and check in. Today your Group Leader will brief you on arrangements for your trek. The evening is free to dine at one of Kathmandu’s many excellent restaurants. Hotel - 2 nights |
| Day 3: | Kathmandu After breakfast you'll take a guided city tour to see some of the spectacular sites of Kathmandu. The city is a labyrinth of streets and markets, crowded with exotic produce and a bewildering mix of people. You're likely to see Gurkhas from the area east of Pokhara, Tibetan women in their striped aprons, traders from India, and sadhus - Hindu holy men - perhaps on pilgrimage to one of the many temples and shrines of the valley. There should be a little time left to shop for any last-minute items for the trek or simply relax. Your Group Leader will be happy to assist in any way and will meet you on both mornings in Kathmandu to help with any queries. (B) |
| Day 4: | Scenic Flight To Lukla Early in the morning you transfer to the airport to board your flight. This sometimes involves a period of waiting around, so remember to pack a book in your daypack! Once up and away, your destination on this breathtaking flight is the Sherpa village of Lukla, perched above the Dudh Kosi or ‘River of Milk’; so named because glacier melt-water makes it appear pale. Years ago, Lukla was a herding pasture (its name actually means ‘Place for Sheep’), but it is now the gateway to the Everest region and many trekkers pass through this prosperous village. After a picnic lunch you commence your trek with an afternoon’s downhill walking to reach Phakding. One of the first things you’ll notice as you start trekking are the differences between the Newari people of the Kathmandu Valley and the local Sherpa people, who migrated from Tibet 500 years ago. Sherpas dress similarly to the Tibetans and their language is closely related to, though not easily understood by the remaining ‘true’ Tibetans. Along the trail are mani stone walls, made from hundreds of stone tablets and giant carved boulders, brilliantly decorated with brightly-coloured paints. Buddhists hold these sacred and believe they gain merit in their next life by praying as they go past. As a sign of respect to the local people, you must always pass these in a clockwise direction. Teahouses - 12 nights (B) |
| Day 5-15: | Base Camp Trek From Phakding the trail follows the river through stands of pine and oak as far as Jorsale, the entrance to Sagarmatha National Park. Here the track starts to rise and rhododendron, magnolia and giant fir trees predominate. You start up the famous Namche Hill, your first big ascent, where you take a slow, steady pace. It is an excellent place to learn to walk from the masters - the porters. Their ability to climb such hills with enormous loads is all technique, and following them allows you to learn the rhythm that makes each ascent seem effortless. At the top you reach Namche Bazaar, a delightful mountain village and the Sherpa ‘capital’. It is also an important trading centre for the local people. You spend a ‘rest and acclimatisation’ day here, allowing you time to sightsee or relax in the sun! On leaving Namche the mountain views start to open up and become more dramatic as you approach the holy ground of Thyangboche, with its wonderful gompa (monastery), where the rimpoche (lama re-incarnate) resides. This is the traditional site where expeditions to the mountains receive their blessing from the High Lama. From the trekker’s point of view Thyangboche is the place where one of the best mountain panoramas can be viewed: Kwangde, Nuptse, Lhotse, Kangtega, Ama Dablam and Everest all loom above. The walk up the ridge behind the gompa is definitely worth the effort! Carrying on from Thyangboche, you pass close to Pangboche whose gompa holds the famous ‘Yeti scalp’. From now on you are really in high altitude country, where agriculture is only barely possible and the lives of the local Sherpa’s are spartan by any standards. You walk on to Dingboche, a picturesque village just under Ama Dablam. Much of the walking in this area is over comparatively gentle gradients, although you proceed at a leisurely pace because of the altitude. You’ve now reached an altitude of 4100m and it’s time for another acclimatisation day. Dingboche is a ‘summer village’, used by Sherpas with homes lower in the valley to look after their herds in the summer months, and it offers outstanding views. Then comes Lobuche, often reached by walking past frozen rivers where stone houses sit in an icy wilderness of stunning beauty. There are views of the Khumbu Icefall, Pumori and many smaller peaks from ridge tops on the track. From here you make the tough walk to Everest Base Camp at approximately 5440m. During the spring, the main climbing season, you’re likely to see the encampments of expeditions from all over the world, whose common aim is to make successful ascents of the world’s highest mountain. However, in the autumn this area will be deserted, with the only indication of mountaineering activity being the occasional memorial to lives lost on the mountain. Retracing your steps you’ll descend to spend the night at Gorakshep (5160m). The next day there’s the opportunity to make the steady climb to the lofty summit of Kalar Patar (5545m), the rocky outcrop which towers above Everest Base Camp. Most people who are fit and have acclimatised without problems - generally at least half the group - make this ascent. The views from Kalar Patar are breathtaking – far better than Base Camp itself; Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse and numerous other peaks are visible. After descending from the peak you continue your descent to Pheriche (4240m), rejoining any members of the group who opted not to climb today. NB: Depending upon prevailing conditions the ascents to Everest Base Camp and Kalar Patar may be swapped, i.e. you may climb Kalar Patar first, before trekking to Base Camp from Gorakshep. Finally, the next three days are spent retracing your steps to Lukla. The continuous descent and loss of altitude allow you to do this with surprising ease. Your last evening in this spectacular area is spent in this wonderful village and a party in one of the lodges is not unknown! (Bx11) NB: See our ‘Walking and Trekking’ leaflet for more information about walking at altitude. Anyone suffering adversely from the effects of altitude will have an assisted descent with a Sherpa guide until they feel more comfortable and wait for the group to rejoin them. |
| Day 16: | Return To Kathmandu In the early morning you take off from Lukla airstrip for a spectacular mountain flight back to Kathmandu. After being met at the domestic airport terminal and transferred to your hotel, the rest of the day is free to explore this wonderful city; shopping for souvenirs, trying out the various restaurants in Thamel or simply relaxing. Hotel - 2 nights (B) |
| Day 17: | Kathmandu Today is left free for you to explore this fascinating city by foot, auto-rickshaw or bicycle. Much of old Kathmandu is centred around the Durbar square. A medieval feel still pervades and there are temples at every turn. The streets all around the central square are full of colour. Market traders spread their wares before them, from vegetables and spices to pans and farming equipment. The holiest of the Hindu sites is Pashupatinath. This Shiva temple attracts pilgrims from all over Nepal and India, and the nearby ghats along the holy Bagmati River are popular places to be cremated. Pashupatinath has been likened to Varanasi on the sacred Ganges. It’s a place full of interest with sadhus and pilgrims making pujas. There are a couple of other nearby places that are worth visiting. Patan, now almost absorbed by Kathmandu, still retains a distinct identity. If time allows, and if you want to visit a picturesque, medieval town, then a short trolley bus ride to Bhaktapur is a must. (B) NB: This day in Kathmandu may be lost if inclement weather delays your departure from Lukla; however this is unusual. |
| Day 18: | Depart Kathmandu/ Arrive London The trip ends for Land Only clients. Those on group flights to the UK transfer to airport and fly to London. (B) |
travellers' tales
The unbelievable warmth and smiley faces of the Nepalese people was a lesson in human nature at its friendliest. (more)
how this holiday makes a difference
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On this trip: Our policy of staying in locally owned accommodation, having local guides and group leaders and using transport owned and operated by local people wherever possible is continued in Nepal. Our small groups (maximum of 16 people) have a minimal impact on the Himalayas' fragile environment as we explore predominantly on foot. All tour guides are responsible for ensuring that the guests understand the nature of the environment that they are in and minimise the impact that they may have. We stay in tea houses owned by local people along the way, collect and dispose of all litter, boil all drinking water instead of using bottled water, and use responsible cooking fuels (kerosene) instead of wood. Our porters in Nepal are equipped with suitable clothing and footwear for the type of trek they are about to work on, and this is recorded at the start of the trek. In addition the actual size and /or awkwardness (e.g. fluids, mattresses etc.) of the load to be carried, as well its weight is assessed prior to porters setting off on trek, ensuring that only comfortable loads are allocated.
Our Responsible Travel Code: Clients who travel with us will automatically receive a copy of our Responsible Travel leaflet. This contains details and advice on how you can make a positive difference when you travel. If you would like a copy in advance of travel please contact us. Charity Partnerships: We work in partnership with Plan International. Plan works with some of the world’s poorest communities where three out of four children die before the age of five. We also support Friends of Conservation – an international charity committed to working with local people to develop a balance between their needs and the wildlife with which they share the natural habitat and ecosystems. Carbon Balancing: Global warming is a real issue and is a direct result of your travel. We have teamed up with Climate Care to give you the opportunity to offset the carbon emissions from your flight. You’ll be asked upon booking if you want to donate – with set amounts from £5. As a company we offset the carbon emissions from all staff travel in full. Our Foundation: We’ve highlighted a few of the ways in which we offer our support, financially or otherwise, and now you can, too. We have set up our own foundation, which will administer funds donated by you. A small donation of £1 per person will be taken when booking a holiday and that money will be put to good use by one of our carefully selected projects. If you don’t want to make the donation, just tell us when you book. |
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