Everest view & Sherpa culture trek
| country: | Nepal |
| location: | Everest region |
| trip type: | Moderate walking holidays |
| departures: | 2009: 22 Nov 2010: 14 Mar, 2 Apr |
| price: | From £645 (12 days) including domestic flights only, as per itinerary. 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 with a fabulous trek to Tengboche Monastery.
Our imaginative itinerary allows you to explore Sherpa culture by visiting many of the villages of the Sagarmatha National Park and see the colourful Monasteries of the region. You will spend a week in the Himalaya with views of Everest amongst many other soaring giants of the Himalaya, and return to Kathmandu to celebrate this achievement in one of the characterful restaurants of the Capital City.
You will take an exciting mountain flight to Lukla from where the trek begins. Leaving Lukla we follow the Dudh Kosi River up to Namche with some spectacular bridges along the way. On Christmas Eve you will reach Namche Bazaar, the capital of the Sherpa people. An early morning walk will reward you with your first glimpse of Everest from the view point above Namche. The stunning scenes from the view point here rivals to few other places in the world. Tengboche with it’s monastery is situated majestically on the ridge above the Dudh Koshi valley and humbly looks up to its deity, Mt Everest or Chomolongma known as the mother goddess. Traditionally, climbers stop here to be blessed by the monastery abode for success on Everest.
You will understand the awe of being surrounded by the giants of the Himalaya and experience something of the mystical spirit of this Buddhist region. Sherpa culture, the mountain flora and fauna & soaring peaks will all contribute to the trip of a Lifetime!
Pricing information: Includes carbon balancing for international flight to Kathmandu, 3 nights city hotel B&B, 8 nights Teahouse accommodation, 2 days guided sightseeing, transport, entrance fees, internal flights return Kathmandu - Lukla, airport transfers, transport included in the itinerary, porterage, trek guides, National Park entrance fees and charity donation. Excludes international flights & taxes, meals (except breakfast in Kathmandu), personal expenses, tips, Nepal visa (US $30), single supplement (£45), sightseeing not in itinerary and travel insurance (mandatory).
Please note: itinerary may be subject to change due to local weather, politics and airlines, etc.
Our imaginative itinerary allows you to explore Sherpa culture by visiting many of the villages of the Sagarmatha National Park and see the colourful Monasteries of the region. You will spend a week in the Himalaya with views of Everest amongst many other soaring giants of the Himalaya, and return to Kathmandu to celebrate this achievement in one of the characterful restaurants of the Capital City.
You will take an exciting mountain flight to Lukla from where the trek begins. Leaving Lukla we follow the Dudh Kosi River up to Namche with some spectacular bridges along the way. On Christmas Eve you will reach Namche Bazaar, the capital of the Sherpa people. An early morning walk will reward you with your first glimpse of Everest from the view point above Namche. The stunning scenes from the view point here rivals to few other places in the world. Tengboche with it’s monastery is situated majestically on the ridge above the Dudh Koshi valley and humbly looks up to its deity, Mt Everest or Chomolongma known as the mother goddess. Traditionally, climbers stop here to be blessed by the monastery abode for success on Everest.
You will understand the awe of being surrounded by the giants of the Himalaya and experience something of the mystical spirit of this Buddhist region. Sherpa culture, the mountain flora and fauna & soaring peaks will all contribute to the trip of a Lifetime!
Pricing information: Includes carbon balancing for international flight to Kathmandu, 3 nights city hotel B&B, 8 nights Teahouse accommodation, 2 days guided sightseeing, transport, entrance fees, internal flights return Kathmandu - Lukla, airport transfers, transport included in the itinerary, porterage, trek guides, National Park entrance fees and charity donation. Excludes international flights & taxes, meals (except breakfast in Kathmandu), personal expenses, tips, Nepal visa (US $30), single supplement (£45), sightseeing not in 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: hotel B&B. |
| Day 2: | Kathmandu sightseeing. Trip briefing from your leader and guided sightseeing to 2 of Kathmandu’s major sights. The first is Pashupatinath Temple on the banks of the Bagmati River, one of the most important Shiva locations across the Indian sub-continent. Our second visit will take us to Boudha – a Buddhist site and one of the largest Stupa’s in the world. Evening group dinner to celebrate the start of the trip. Accommodation: hotel B&B. |
| Day 3: | Lukla to Phadking. Early internal flight to Lukla with spectacular mountain views all the way. Here we commence our trek with a relatively short and beautiful walk through small Sherpa villages. The Khumbu Region is exclusively Buddhist which is very much evident in the prayer-engraved slates and prayer flags on houses and chortens. Because of this religious faith wildlife is not poached and therefore flourishes in the upper Khumbu region. Walking time 3½ hrs. Final Altitude: 2640m. Accommodation: mountain lodge. |
| Day 4: | Phadking to Namche Bazaar. This morning we continue along the steep sided Dudh Kosi with some spectacular bridges before lunch at the entrance to the Sagarmatha National Park, a World Heritage area. We climb up to Namche Bazaar through forests with glimpses of Everest. There is a Saturday market, post office, bank, phone service, internet cafes and shops selling handicrafts and trekking gear. Walking time: 6–7 hrs. Final altitude: 3440m. Accommodation: mountain lodge. |
| Day 5: | Namche Bazaar. We climb up to a view point above the town where, weather permitting, you can see a great panorama of the Khumbu Himalaya. Optional walks up the Thame valley, or simply rest and explore the town of Namche's Sherpa Culture and the Sagarmatha Park Museums and the Monastery. Walking time: n/a. Final altitude: 3440m. Accommodation: mountain lodge. |
| Day 6: | Namche Bazaar to Kyengjuma. Trek up to the Everst View Hotel for refreshments. Following lunch we visit the Edmund Hilary school, the Khumjung monastery and Khunde Hospital. We return to our lodge for dinner and a restful evening. Walking time: 4 hrs. Final altitude: 3600m. Accommodation: mountain lodge. |
| Day 7: | Kyengjuma to Phortse. Weather permitting, we should have good views of Ama Dablam and Thamserkhu as we rise for the day. Our route hugs the mountain side and then climbs up to Mongla, traversing grassy slopes which provide good grazing to the Himalayan Tahr and yaks. We may also spot Griffin Vultures and Lamagiers. The trail continues to Phortse Village, amidst terraces of farmland where the main crop is potatoes. Walking time: 5 hrs. Final altitude: 3800m. Accommodation: mountain lodge. |
| Day 8: | Phortse to Tengboche. We traverse the Imja Valley overlooking Tengboche Monastery with the towering peaks continuing to impress as we progress towards Pangboche, the highest permanent settlement in the Upper Khumbu. In the heart of the village is a 300 year old Monastery. As we leave the village we pass some impressive mani walls and chortens before continuing through forests and climbing to Tengboche. We visit the Eco Centre and watch the sunset over the Everest pyramid behind the Nuptse ridge. Walking time: 5½ hrs. Final altitude: 3867m. Accommodation: mountain lodge. |
| Day 9: | Tengboche to Monzo. We leave the saddle of Tengboche descending steadily to begin with and then more steeply through conifer and rhododendron forest to Phungi Tenga. From here we ascend to Kyengjuma and then traverse across to Namche Bazaar. If it is market day you should be able to enjoy soaking up the atmosphere of the Sherpa bazaar. In the afternoon we will descend further down to Munjo. Walking time: 6½ hrs. Final altitude: 2900m. Accommodation: mountain lodge. |
| Day 10: | Monzo to Lukla. Today is the final trekking day. We follow the trail along the Dudh Kosi past Phakding and on to Lukla. The descent in altitude is evident once again with a more picturesque flora. Tonight will be the last evening spent with the staff crew and will be a chance to celebrate together the experience of the trip. Walking time: 5 hrs. Final altitude: 2886m. Accommodation: mountain lodge. |
| Day 11: | Lukla to Kathmandu. We take a morning flight back to Kathmandu with the sensational take off from the mountain airstrip. You will arrive back at the hotel to enjoy the luxury of a hot shower and a fresh change of clothes. We then spend the rest of the day 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. The town is studded with shrines and temples, and has a myriad of back streets and Squares to explore. Evening of celebration for the last night of the trip. Accommodation: hotel B&B. |
| Day 12: | 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
 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. All our 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 fair and ethical employment policy which is committed to employing local staff and paying fair wages. 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. |
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