Everest Base Camp & Chukung Valley Trek
| country: | Nepal |
| location: | Everest region, Everest Base Camp |
| trip type: | Very challenging trekking holidays |
| departures: | 2010: 19 Mar |
| price: | From £725 (17 days) including domestic flights only, as per itinerary. (2010 price: £725). We can also offer alternative departure dates for bespoke groups. |
| vouchers: | Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday |
the amazing things you'll be doing
A journey to Everest is something many of us see as a lifetime goal.
This trip allows you to fulfil that dream by trekking to the Base Camp of Everest on an imaginative itinerary that allows you to explore the Chukung Valley as well as the famous Everest Base Camp and Kala Patthar, the viewing peak.
You will be surrounded by the giants of the Himalaya and experience something of the mystical spirit of this Buddhist region. Sherpa culture, mountain flora and fauna, the Khumbu Icefall, and soaring peaks will all contribute to the trip of a lifetime!
This mountain lodge trek is one of the best ways of exploring the Everest region. Leaving Lukla we follow the Dudh Kosi River up to Namche with some spectacular bridges along the way. The stunning scenes from the view point here rivals to no other place in the world. The trail then carries on following the Imja River up to Tengboche with the monastery situated majestically on the ridge above the valley and humbly looking up to its deity, Mt Everest or originally known as Chomolungma - the mother goddess of the world. Traditionally, climbers stop here to be blessed by the monastery abode for success on Everest. Two days at Dingboche exploring the Chukung Valley and an optional climb of Nangershang peak will help acclimatise and prepare us for our onward trek to Base Camp and Kala Patthar.
In Kathmandu you will have a chance to see the finest Newari architecture in the East, experience the hustle and bustle of the medieval type markets and most of all enjoy the hospitality of the wonderful Nepali people staying at our hotel, which is converted palace.
Price information: Includes carbon balancing of international flight, 3 nights B&B, 13 nights Teahouse accommodation, 2 days guided sightseeing, transport, entrance fees, internal flight to Lukla, airport transfers, porterage, trek guides and charity donation. Excludes international flights & taxes, meals (except breakfast in Kathmandu), personal expenses, tips, Nepal visa (US $30), single supplement (£50), sightseeing not in the itinerary and travel insurance (mandatory).
Please note: itinerary may be subject to change due to local weather, politics and airlines, etc.
This trip allows you to fulfil that dream by trekking to the Base Camp of Everest on an imaginative itinerary that allows you to explore the Chukung Valley as well as the famous Everest Base Camp and Kala Patthar, the viewing peak.
You will be surrounded by the giants of the Himalaya and experience something of the mystical spirit of this Buddhist region. Sherpa culture, mountain flora and fauna, the Khumbu Icefall, and soaring peaks will all contribute to the trip of a lifetime!
This mountain lodge trek is one of the best ways of exploring the Everest region. Leaving Lukla we follow the Dudh Kosi River up to Namche with some spectacular bridges along the way. The stunning scenes from the view point here rivals to no other place in the world. The trail then carries on following the Imja River up to Tengboche with the monastery situated majestically on the ridge above the valley and humbly looking up to its deity, Mt Everest or originally known as Chomolungma - the mother goddess of the world. Traditionally, climbers stop here to be blessed by the monastery abode for success on Everest. Two days at Dingboche exploring the Chukung Valley and an optional climb of Nangershang peak will help acclimatise and prepare us for our onward trek to Base Camp and Kala Patthar.
In Kathmandu you will have a chance to see the finest Newari architecture in the East, experience the hustle and bustle of the medieval type markets and most of all enjoy the hospitality of the wonderful Nepali people staying at our hotel, which is converted palace.
Price information: Includes carbon balancing of international flight, 3 nights B&B, 13 nights Teahouse accommodation, 2 days guided sightseeing, transport, entrance fees, internal flight to Lukla, airport transfers, porterage, trek guides and charity donation. Excludes international flights & taxes, meals (except breakfast in Kathmandu), personal expenses, tips, Nepal visa (US $30), single supplement (£50), sightseeing not in the itinerary and travel insurance (mandatory).
Please note: itinerary may be subject to change due to local weather, politics and airlines, etc.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Arrival in Kathmandu. Transfer to the hotel and relax. Accommodation: city hotel B&B. |
| Day 2: | Kathmandu sightseeing. Trip briefing from your leader then guided sightseeing to 2 of Kathmandu’s major sights. Our first destination is Nepal’s most important Hindu temple – Pashupatinath. The cobbled streets are bustling with ladies selling incense and colourful Sadhus (holy men). The Lord Pashupati is an incarnation of Shiva, and this temple attracts many devoted followers. Our second visit is to Boudha – a Buddhist site. Join the locals to circumambulate the Stupa, bargain in the shops, or sit and watch the world go by. Evening group dinner at one of the characterful restaurants. Accommodation: city hotel B&B. |
| Day 3: | Kathmandu to Phakding. Early internal flight to Lukla (40 mins). Weather dependant you should enjoy spectacular mountain views all the way to Lukla. Today’s trek is a relatively short and beautiful walk through small Sherpa villages up the Dudh Kosi valley to Phakding. Walking time 3½ hrs. Final altitude: 2600m. Accommodation: mountain lodge. |
| Day 4: | Phakding to Namche Bazaar. We continue up the Dudh Kosi River with some spectacular bridge crossings before making a final steep climb up to Namche. We should have a good view of Mt Thamserkhu and maybe your first glimpse of Everest. Namche is situated spectacularly in a cwm on the mountainside and is the main Sherpa town in upper Khumbu, where people from all over the valley come to buy or sell their goods. Namche also has a post office, bank, phone service, internet cafes, etc. Walking time: 6–7 hrs. Final altitude: 3440m. Accommodation: mountain lodge. |
| Day 5: | Namche Bazaar. Acclimatising day: See a bit of the culture and get an understanding of the Sherpa people at the National Museum and the Sherpa Culture Museum. We will then climb up to Shyangboche airstrip to Everest View Hotel and on to 2 very beautiful villages. We'll visit Edmund Hillary’s Himalayan Trust school & hospital and the Khumjung Monastery that houses the Yeti’s scalp! We will then make our way back to Namche. (Options to shorten the walk.) Walking time: 8 hrs. Final altitude: 3440m. Accommodation: mountain lodge. |
| Day 6: | Namche Bazaar to Tengboche. A very scenic walk out of Namche and then to Kyanjuma with continuous view of the mountains. We descend down to the bridge over the Dudh Koshi then ascend through the forest up to Tengboche. There is the chance to visit the monastery and the Eco-centre, with time for an acclimatising walk up the ridge for the energetic! The view of the Everest massif should be fantastic and we may spot the Himalayan Tahr, Himalayan Monal and musk deer. Walking time: 5½ hrs. Final altitude: 3860m. Accommodation: mountain lodge. |
| Day 7: | Tengboche to Dingboche. Leaving the meadow of Tengboche we drop down a while and walk through the forest of Rhododendron, Birch and Fir until we cross the bridge over the Imja River and climb up to Pangboche, with a continual view of Ama Dablam. The trail then follows the river and climb up to Dingboche. In clear conditions, sunset on the mountains is absolutely beautiful. Walking time: 5½ hrs. Final altitude: 4300m. Accommodation: mountain lodge. |
| Day 8: | Dingboche acclimatising. Dingboche is a patchwork of small fields enclosed by stone walls which help to keep the cattle away from the crops. It is mainly inhabited during the monsoon to farm and graze the yaks on the surrounding slopes of the mountains. An optional walk up the Chukung Valley is extremely worthwhile; the views are fantastic. This day has a gentle incline and is an enjoyable exploration of one of the most beautiful Khumbu valleys. Walking time: 5 hrs. Final altitude: 4300m. Accommodation: mountain lodge. |
| Day 9: | Dingboche acclimatising. 3 options today. The first is a climb of the nearby peak Nangarshang (5000m), only available to those acclimatising well. The second is to sit and enjoy the sunroom and have a rest day allowing your body to conserve energy & acclimatise. The third is to do the valley walk of day 8 if you decided to take a rest the previous day. You are advised to follow the advice from the leader when deciding on your option. Walking time: 6 hrs (first option). Final altitude: 4300m. Accommodation: mountain lodge. |
| Day 10: | Dingboche to Loboche. After 3 nights at Dingboche we leave to ascend the Khumbu valley towards Everest. We climb on to a small ridge then climb up to Thugla and to the top of the memorial ridge. We are now alongside the Khumbu Glacier. Here, scattered all over are ‘chortens’ or memorials of people who have died on Everest. Lobuche is about an hour from here with views of the extremity of the Khumbu Valley – an amphitheatre surrounded by Pumori, Lingtren, Khumbutse, Changtse, Lhola and Nuptse. Walking time: 5 hrs. Final altitude: 4900m. Accommodation: mountain lodge. |
| Day 11: | Base Camp. Today we start very early. The trail runs parallel with the lateral moraine of the Khumbu glacier until we climb onto a moraine at the Changri Nup Glacier. It then undulates over rocky paths until we descend to Gorakshep. Leaving Gorakshep there is a sandy beach and lake. The trail undulates until we drop down and climb onto the glacier. A further ½ hr will bring us to the area known as Base Camp at the bottom of the Ice Fall. During April and May you should experience true expedition fever with Sherpas setting up the camps. Looking up, is the ice fall, a massive tumble of ice that gets ones imagination soaring. After exploring the Base Camp we return to Gorakshep. Walking time: 9 hrs. Final altitude: 5180m. Accommodation: mountain lodge. |
| Day 12: | Gorekshep to Loboche. We start early to climb the viewing peak Kala Patthar to see sunrise over Everest. The ascent is steep, so it is important to take it slow and maintain a steady pace. It takes up to 2 ½ hours to reach the summit at 5600m, the highest point on the trek, and the best vantage point to view Everest. Here the view is outstanding, with 360 degree panorama of the mountains, an emotional, experience. We return by the same route down to Gorakshep and then down the valley to Periche. Tonight you should sleep well, benefiting from a significant descent. Walking time: 8½-9 hrs. Final altitude: 4200m. Accommodation: mountain lodge. |
| Day 13-15: | Loboche to Lukla. These last 3 days are spent trekking back to Lukla. We follow the trail to Kyengjuma where we will be staying with a retired climbing sherpa. The next morning is a short walk to Namche, then we carry on down after lunch to Munjo. The evening in Lukla will be our last with the staff crew, time to celebrate and say farewell. Accommodation: mountain lodge. |
| Day 16: | Lukla to Kathmandu. Morning flight back to Kathmandu, with the sensational take off from the mountain airstrip, to enjoy the luxury of a hot shower and a change of fresh clothes! The rest of the day is spent in the finest medieval town in Nepal – Bhaktapur. In the 14th – 16th centuries this was the country’s capital city and has the finest examples of Newari architecture. Return to Thamel for an evening of celebration for the last night of the trip. Accommodation: city hotel B&B. |
| Day 17: | Depart Kathmandu. |
small group adventure holiday
Typically you will be sharing your experiences with between 4-20 like minded travellers (depending on the trip, operator and how many others are booked on the trip) and you'll have a group leader with you. Whether you are travelling alone or with friends its good value, and a great way to meet new people! While itineraries are pre-planned there is some flexibility and you'll have plenty of privacy. This trip will appeal to travellers of all ages who enjoy meeting new people as well as seeing new places. how this holiday makes a difference
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We are a non commercial organisation specialising in travel within the Himalaya. The company’s primary objective is to generate income for charitable projects in Nepal which support environmental and educational development. We can therefore offer you a rare and unique opportunity to visit this spectacular Himalayan Kingdom knowing that 100% of profits generated will be invested in local charitable projects. We take great pride in the fact that we are doing the right thing by you our customers, by our staff, and by the people, country and environment in which we operate.
We will pay to carbon balance your international flights in order to neutralise the environmental impact of carbon pollution. Through a committed environmental policy we work to ensure minimal impact of our activities.  We have a fair and ethical employment policy which is committed to employing local staff and paying fair wages. All staff have been specially selected and hired locally. The trek Leader will be an experienced professional leader working full time in the Himalayas & Central Asia. As a responsible employer we have high standards for our porters. We pride ourselves on paying wages higher than commercial organisations and limit the loads they carry. Our staff members are sponsored to attend relevant professional and first aid training with KEEP (Kathmandu Environmental Education Program) in addition to in-house company training. We have a simple and fair pricing policy with no extras – price us up against other companies! If you are ready for a change in the way you approach your holiday, we believe no-one else can offer you a better option than us. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |