Everest trek in Nepal
| country: | Nepal |
| location: | Everest region, Everest Base Camp |
| trip type: | High altitude & strenuous trekking holidays |
| departures: | 2008: 20 Sep |
| price: | From £1325 (24 days) excluding flights. Price includes transfers, internal flights, accommodation & guide in Kathmandu, permit charges for trekking & National Parks & tented accommodation. We can arrange flights from the UK |
the amazing things you'll be doing
Everest South Side Trek - Hillary and Tenzing Phaplu - EBC, Nepal High altitude, strenuous trekking. Group size 3-12
This is a trail steeped in history of the Golden Age of Himalayan Exploration. Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay Sherpa took this path with the other members of the successful team that climbed Mt Everest in 1953.
The route follows paths that meander through the villages and rice fields of the lower Everest region and wind their way into the Dudh Kosi Valley, criss-crossing the river below.
The scenery is inspirational, and as the paths move up onto higher ground, the culture and ways of the local people become that of the Tamang people, before the scenery, culture and dress changes again to be that of the distinctive Sherpa whose name is synonymous with High Altitude trekking and mountaineering. Here is a chance to live and to experience some of the glorious years of our mountain heroes, and to visit some of the Himalayan Trust Schools pioneered by Edmund Hillary for the benefit of the Sherpa people he loves so much.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Arrive Katmandu. Local arrival, meet & greet and transfer to accommodation. Overnight good 3* hotel (BB) |
| Day 2: | Katmandu. Time for rest, trek briefing and optional sight-seeing. Overnight good 3* hotel (BB) |
| Day 3: | Fly to Phaplu, trek to Junbesi 2700m. The flight is less than an hour but an eye-opening introduction to rural Nepal. Landing, we step back in time. Today if time permits we will probably trek to Junbesi with its Hillary (or more properly a ‘Himalayan Trust’) School. We have a chance to visit the gompa and explore and relax in the pleasant village. Overnight camp or lodge (FB) |
| Day 4: | Sallung or the Cheese Factory (2980m). In the morning we are free to relax and look around Junbesi or visit the Thubten Choling monastery. After a late lunch we will probably walk a couple of pleasant hours to the Everest View Sherpa Lodge and cheese factory (3100m) or to Sallung itself. Overnight camp or local lodges from this point onwards (FB) |
| Day 5: | To Nuntala 2350m. With luck the morning views include the tip of Everest. We sidle down on a particularly pleasant track to Ringmo for lunch. In the afternoon we cross the Trakshindo La (3071m), descending past the Trakshindo gompa to Nuntala, which is also called Manidingma. Overnight camp (FB) |
| Day 6: | To Bupsa 2350m. We cross the Dudh Kosi (river) and climb to the pretty village of Jubing, the only non-sherpa village of the whole trek. Passing through the terraced fields of Kharikhola you realise just how much work these people put into farming. Where we stay will depend on where we reach. Overnight camp (FB). Note – The majority of groups stay at Kharikhola and take three days to walk to Namche. However the track has been considerably upgraded, shortened and some climbs reduced, over the last decade. Now the days are considered too easy, but the group porters who normally carry a 30-35kg load(ours carry 22kg) have resisted change for obvious reason. So, we will take 2 to 21/2 days, depending on how everybody feels. Overnight camp (FB) |
| Day 7: | To Puiyan 2780m. The track climbs through pleasant forest, staying high above the Dudh Kosi. Overnight camp (FB) |
| Day 8: | To Monjo 2815m or Phakding 2640m. Wandering thru more forest, often on wide but exposed trails, we come to Choplung, where the main trail from Lukla meets our path. The change is immediate and we will meet a lot more trekkers in the days to come, but the trade off is the standard of lodges improves. Overnight camp or lodge (FB) |
| Day 9: | To Namche (3450m). At Jorsale, a fitting gateway, we enter Sagarmatha National Park. This is a cool damp area since the rugged valley walls block the sun for most of the day. Not a long day but it is finished with a tough climb to Namche. Overnight camp (FB) |
| Day 10: | Namche (3450m). A well-deserved rest day. From here, our itinerary is dictated by the acclimatisation process. If we arrive on a Saturday, it is the day of the famous Namche Hat (or market). Options for today and tomorrow are visiting Thame and its gompas, the Everest View Hotel, the National Park Headquarters, Khumjung and Kunde with the Hillary hospital, wildlife spotting, or simply eating and relaxing. Overnight camp (FB) |
| Day 11: | To Khumjung (3790m). Only a few hours walk away is the picturesque village of Khumjung, a place less visited by trekkers and a good height to acclimatize in preparation for Gokyo. Sunsets over Thamserku, Kangtaiga and Ama Dablam can be unforgettable. Overnight camp (FB) |
| Day 12: | To Dole (4040m). Finally, after plenty of acclimatisation, we have a real days trekking. The trail to Mong, where we have lunch, is a spectacular rising traverse with famous and not so famous mountains littering the opposite skyline. The afternoon begins with a stiff descent then we have to gain it all back, but in pleasant forest where we are almost certain to see musk deer and pheasant. Dole is a pleasant yak grazing area just on the tree line. Overnight camp (FB) |
| Day 13: | To Luza (4360m). Again the trail is high above the valley floor with glorious views. It is a short day so that we gain altitude at a safe rate. Overnight camp (FB) |
| Day 14: | To Gokyo (4750m). After a couple of hours walking the character of the trekking changes abruptly, a sparkling stream and glittering lakes that are about to freeze over, as we enter the grassy ablation valley running beside the Ngozumpa Glacier. Gokyo is a grazing area beside one of these lakes, and is a great base to explore from. Overnight camp (FB) |
| Day 15: | Explore Gokyo. The lodge sunrooms here are so relaxing it is easy to spend the day chatting and admiring the view, but for those with more energy we will experience the view with a day trip up Gokyo Ri 5340m or another higher viewpoint, for some Everest spotting. Gokyo Ri looms above the village on the northern edge of the lake and we leave camp just after first light, following a steep path up the hillside. As we climb, the summits of Everest, Lhotse and Makalu slowly come into sight and the view from the summit of Gokyo Ri itself, is one of the finest to be had in the Everest region – some say it is even better than that from Kala Pattar. For those who still have some energy, there are more good views to be had by dropping back down to the main path and following it north to the fourth and fifth of the Gokyo lakes, the latter being about three hours from Gokyo. Overnight camp (FB) |
| Day 16: | Trek to Tragnag (4690m). Fit and acclimatised, we leave Gokyo to cross the Ngozumpa Glacier. We descend to the second lake and drop down onto the glacier. The route across the glacier is marked by cairns and is generally quite well defined. We climb off the glacier by a small dwelling known as Tragnag and follow a shallow valley to our camp by a small kharka. Overnight camp (FB) |
| Day 17: | Trek to Lobuche (4928m). An early start is necessary today, as not only do we have to cross Cho La, but we also have to make the long descent to reach Lobuche. Continuing up the valley, we cross a ridge and an old lateral moraine, before beginning the rocky scramble to the pass. From the pass there are excellent views, across to the Rolwaling Valley in the west and Ama Dablam to the south east. The descent from the pass involves the crossing of a small glacier (often snow covered) which is fairly straightforward. There are more excellent views of Ama Dablam and the forbidding north face of Cholatse as we descend to the pastures below. The way to Lobuche contours the grassy slopes above a lake, the Tshola Tsho, to join up with the main Everest trail from Pheriche and Thyangboche. The trail flattens out and follows the valley on the west side of the Khumbu Glacier to Lobuche. Overnight camp (FB) |
| Day 18: | Trek to Gorak Shep (5184m). To reach our next objective, Kala Pattar, the trail continues to follow the valley beside the Khumbu Glacier, and offers superb views of the surrounding mountains, especially where the path is forced to rise to cross a tributary glacier. We stop for lunch at our camping place for the night, Gorak Shep. Later in the afternoon, when the sunset colours begin to appear on Everest, we make our way to the top of one of the finest viewpoints in the Khumbu, Kala Pattar (5549m). As the light begins to fade we stroll back to our camp at Gorak Shep and have an early night in preparation for our trek to Everest Base Camp the following day. Overnight camp (FB) |
| Day 19: | Trek to Everest Base Camp (5357m) & Return To Gorak Shep. For the trek to Everest Base Camp, a very early start is required. It takes several hours on a trail across the Khumbu Glacier which weaves its way between almost translucent ice pinnacles and past seemingly bottomless crevasses. At Base Camp, there will hopefully be an expedition ‘in residence’ and there are great views up into the Khumbu Icefall where there is often some climbing activity. On the return leg, we can take a higher route to get a spectacular view of the Khumbu icefall and the route to the south Col. Return to Gorak Shep. Overnight camp (FB) |
| Day 20: | Trek to Pangboche (3985m). It’s downhill most of the way today, passed Lobuche to Duglha and Pheriche. The Himalayan Rescue Association has the Trekker’s Aid post here which is interesting to visit. After lunch we cross the Khumbu Khola on a wooden suspension bridge and follow the Imja Khola to the village of Pangboche. Overnight camp (FB) |
| Day 21: | Trek to Namche (3450m). We continue to follow the river and, after crossing it, climb back up through birch and rhododendron forest to Thyangboche and its famous monastery. There are magnificent views from here and Kwangde, Tawache, Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse, Ama Dablam, Kantega and Thamserku are just a few of the Himalayan giants which can be seen. From Thyangboche we descend to the bridge over the Dudh Kosi at Phunki Tenga, where there are water driven prayer wheels, before making our way back to Namche. Overnight camp (FB) |
| Day 22: | Trek to Lukla (2800m). Our final day’s trekking follows the Dudh Kosi back down to Lukla. This last evening in the mountains is the ideal opportunity for a farewell party with the Sherpa guides and porters, where we can sample some chang (locally brewed beer), try Sherpa dancing and look back on a memorable trekking experience. Overnight camp or lodge (FB) |
| Day 23: | Fly to Katmandu. Early morning flight back to Katmandu. Overnight in good 3* hotel (BB) |
| Day 24: | Transfer to airport for onward travel |
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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The company believes in "Fair Travel Trading" and adheres to the principles of Green Globe 21 for which Nigel Gifford, OBE, FRGS and Founder, is the advisor on adventure travel, worldwide. As a company, we support a variety of charities that strive for better conditions for porters and trekking staff in the Indian sub continent and the protection of indigenous peoples in remote and fragile places such as rainforests and the sub polar regions.
We also help finance an education programme for Tamangs in Nepal, as well as sponsoring individuals for the Sherpa training programme. The Ellie Poo Paper Company was founded here, originally set up by Nigel and other adventure travel specialists to support conservation issues for Elephas maximus maximus (the Sri Lankan elephant), and to bring income to remote villagers in the forested areas. |
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 lead 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. |