Everest Base Camp Luxury Lodge Trek

Upon your arrival in the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) in Kathmandu, you will be greeted by a representative from AlpineTrav Treks who will drop you off at your hotel. After checking in, you take a rest or visit you'll may also stroll in the streets of Thamel for something like shopping. In the evening, there will be a welcome dinner hosted by AlpineTrav Treks. For dinner, you will be served excellent Nepalese cuisine which will introduce you to the Nepal’s food culture. Overnight in Kathmandu.

Kathmandu
Maximum Elevation: 1,350m/4,429ft
Accommodation: Hotel (Hyatt Regency)
Meals: Dinner

Today after breakfast you will start a guided tour to several of the most historical and spiritual attractions in Kathmandu. Some of these landmarks are considered World Heritage Sites including the historic Durbar Square, the sacred Hindu temple of PashupatiNath, the famous ‘Monkey Temple’ (Swayambhunath) and Buddhist shrine (BouddhaNath) which is one of the largest stupas in the world. At noon, there will be a pre-trip discussion where you can meet our trek guide and other team members. AlpineTrav Treks briefs you regarding your trek as well as provides us an opportunity to ask any questions you'll may have regarding your upcoming adventure. Overnight in Kathmandu.

Kathmandu
Maximum Elevation: 1,350m/4,429ft
Accommodation: Hotel (Hyatt Regency)
Meals: Breakfast

After breakfast, today you will from Kathmandu airport an early morning flight to Lukla (2,840m/9,316ft.), a gateway destination from where your trek begins. After a 35-minute flight above the breathtaking green and white mountains, you'll reach the Tenzing-Hillary Airport at Lukla. This is one of the most beautiful air routes in the world culminating in a landing on a hillside surrounded by high mountains peaks. Upon arrival at Lukla, you will meet your other crew members and after some packing and arrangements, you'll start your trek through the prosperous village of Lukla until you'll reach Phakding. To assist in acclimatization, you have only a short hike today. However, if interested in additional activities you can take a side trip to a nearby monastery. Overnight in Phakding at Yeti Mountain Home or similar hotel.

Flight: 35 min Hiking: 3-4 Hrs (8 km)
Maximum Elevation: 2,610m/8,561ft
Accommodation: Hotel (Yeti Mountain Home)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Walking through a beautiful pine forest, the track leads you along the Dudh Koshi River through many suspension bridges, one of which is the famous Hillary Suspension Bridge. First, you'll catch the wonderful prospect of the glistening Mt. Thamserku (6,608m/21,680 ft). Through the settlement of Benkar, Chumoa, Monjo, you will come to the check post and entrance to Sagarmatha National Park. You'll pass through the last village of Jorsalle before reaching Namche Bazaar. The trail climbs through the forests and bridges until you'll reach the confluence of the Dudh Koshi and Bhote Koshi rivers. After a final steep ascent of about two hours you get your first sight of Mt. Everest peering over the Lhotse-Nuptse ridge. Upon this juncture, you will stop at Chautara to admire the view. You still need to hike about 1.5 hours to reach Namche Bazaar, a gateway to Mt. Everest and main trading centre of this region. You will stay overnight in Namche Bazaar at Yeti Mountain Home or similar hotel.

Hiking: 6-7 Hrs (10.5 km)
Maximum Elevation: 3,440m/11,284ft
Accommodation: Hotel (Yeti Mountain Home)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

This is the scheduled ‘acclimatization’ day for this trek. Health experts recommend that we stay active and moving during the rest day too instead of being idle. So, today you will either spend the day taking a day’s hike to Thame or visiting Khunde or relaxing and exploring Namche Bazaar itself. If you need trek a few hundred vertical feet during the day, it will help you to properly acclimatize. Your guides will take you to the Tourist Visitor Center near the headquarters of the Sagarmatha National Park where you can observe an assortment of things related to the first Everest ascenders, Sherpa culture and learn about the various plant and animal life of the Everest region. Then you'll also take an interesting side trip up to Khumjung. Further climb up to the famous airstrip at Syangboche. Just above the airstrip is the Everest View Hotel, a Japanese scheme to build a deluxe hotel with great views of the highest mountains on Earth. The Khumjung valley, surrounded by the snowy peaks of Kongde and Thamserku and the sacred peak Khumbila, hosts a well known monastery that houses a yeti scalp. You will also visit the Hillary School which is at the same site. After having lunch and spending some time in Khumjung, you'll walk back down to Namche Bazaar. Overnight in Namche Bazaar at Yeti Mountain Home or a similar hotel.

Day, Hiking
Maximum Elevation: 3,440m/11,284ft
Accommodation: Hotel (Yeti Mountain Home)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

After breakfast, today you'll start your trek towards Pangboche enjoying a superb view of Mt. Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse, Ama Dablam and a close-up view of Thamserku. Your trek follows on the gradual trail with few ups and downs overlooking a magnificent view of the great Himalaya. Along the way, you can spot wild lives like pheasant, musk deer, or a herd of Himalayan Thar. The trail goes gradually down up to Kayangjuma. The path eventually reaches Sansa, which is the major trail junction to Gokyo valley and Everest Base Camp. The track then follows through the pine forests and after you'll cross the prayer-flag festooned bridge over Dudh Koshi River. Upon crossing the river, you'll reach Phunki Thenga, a small settlement with a couple of teahouses and a small army post amidst the alpine woods. After having a relaxed lunch at Phunki Thenga, you then have a tough little climb that goes steeply up through the pine forests until you reach Tengboche. Tengboche is a great place for close-up views of Ama-Dablam, Nuptse, and Everest and it has the biggest Buddhist monastery in the Khumbu region. Walking along rhododendron forests for about an hou,r you will reach Deboche. Overnight in Deboche.

Hiking: 5-6 Hrs (10.5 km)
Maximum Elevation: 3,820m/12,533ft
Accommodation: Hotel (Hotel Rivendell)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Today you will start your trek after your morning breakfast. You'll pass through several chortens, mani walls and small villages. While on the journey, you will enjoy lunch with fantastic close-up views of Ama-Dablam. In the afternoon, you will go north to Pheriche or take the eastward trail beneath the towering north face of Ama Dablam. From here onwards the walk is fairly moderate as you'll enter the Imja Valley. The valley ahead will begin to open up as we approach the confluence of the Lobuche River. Then after the confluence, you descend into the river and begin the last and steepest climb of the day up to Dingboche. Upon arrival in Dingboche, you'll enjoy the beautiful array of fields enclosed by stone walls to protect the barley, buckwheat and potatoes from the cold winds and grazing animals. Overnight in Dingboche at a local lodge.

Hiking: 5-6 Hrs (10.5 km)
Maximum Elevation: 4,410m/14,465ft
Accommodation: Hotel (Hotel Lodge)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Today, you'll start the day with a climb to Duglha through the Khumbu Khola valley. The trek along the arid terrace is awarding with awesome views of mountains on all sides. As you come to a yak herder’s place called Dusa, the valley begins to narrow and you'll continue through Phulung Karpo, the camp sites during first successful Everest Expedition in 1953. Above Phulung Karpo is Chola Lake. As you continue your trek the majestic view of Mt. Pumori (7138 m/ 23418 ft) comes into view. As the trail descends and curves, Mt. Pumori hides and you get come across a roaring stream. After crossing a small wooden bridge, you'll ascend to Dugla. You can see the tip of Nuptse from this juncture as well as Cholatse, Thamserku, and several other magnificent peaks. Spending a night in Duglha is ideal for acclimatization. Overnight in Duglha at local guest house.

Hiking: 3-4 Hrs (4.3 km)
Maximum Elevation: 4,600m/15,093ft
Accommodation: Hotel (Guesthouse)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Beyond Duglha or Thukla you'll trek up the steep terminal moraine of the Khumbu Glacier. You find your way through the boulder-strewn slope as you ascend Chupki Lhara, an eerie ridge top with dramatic mountains views. At the top of the ridge, you will find an array of stones with prayer flags used as memorials to Scott Fischer (American mountaineer) and 10-time Everest submitter Babu Chiri Sherpa (mountain guide from Nepal) who perished on a mission to climb Everest. As the trail drops to the Khumbu Glacier moraine, you find ourselves right in front of several great peaks – Khumbutse, Lingtren, Pumori and Mahalangur Himal. You are now in the vicinity of Everest but the great mountain still remains hidden. Nuptse towers to the right as the trail crosses the Khumbu Glacier. As your trek along a murmuring stream you do not see the Khumbu glacier because of its lateral moraine wall, and you'll now begin to feel a little out of breath due to high altitude. Overnight in Lobuche at a local lodge.

Hiking: 3-4 Hrs (3.3 km)
Maximum Elevation: 4,910m/16,105ft
Accommodation: Hotel (Guesthouse)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

The trail to Gorak Shep goes ahead through the lateral moraine of the Khumbu Glacier. Today you'll pass though the pyramid sign post. Ahead on the trail, you will see the crest of the north ridge of Everest along with Mt. Pumori, Mahalangur, Lingtern, Khumbutse, and Nuptse. A small ascent would take you to Thangma Riju from where you'll perceive a 360-degree vista of the snowy mountains. Upon climbing steeply up to the top through the torrent of the Changri glacier, you catch your first glimpse of Kala Patthar, a grey-green knoll beneath the Mt. Pumori. As you reach Gorak Shep, you will be surrounded by snow-capped mountains looming all around you including the top of the world – Mount Everest. After a brief lunch and rest, you'll take the trail to Everest Base Camp through the once vast Gorak Shep Lake. Continuing straight ahead, you'll come through the Indian army mountaineers’ memorials. As you reach Everest Base Camp you cannot help appreciating the Everest climbers that take the hazardous route through the Khumbu icefall. Mountaineers’ tents stand out in bright colors against all the dull gray surroundings (especially in the spring). Nuptse, Khumbuste and Pumori are the mountains you can view from base camp. Everest actually is not visible from this juncture. By now you have met the ultimate objective of your trip.

However, the sunset view from Kala Patthar is more admirable than the sunrise view, so it is recommended that we visit Kala Patthar today during sunset. As the setting sun’s rays strike the snow-capped mountains, the resulting scenery is incredible. For those trekkers who wish to continue to Kala Patthar, guides coordinate your hike to Kala Patthar for an amazing sunset view today rather than tomorrow. Overnight in Gorak Shep at a local lodge.

Hiking: 7-6 Hrs (12 km)
Maximum Elevation: 5,364m/17,599ft
Accommodation: Hotel (Guesthouse)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Today is the climax of your trip. You will start early at dawn to catch the dramatic views from Kala Patthar witnessing the first light of day shining on Mt. Everest. However, you need to get prepared for an early morning, dark and cold temperature (-10 to -14 C) departure beforehand. Plus there is always the potential for chilly winds which are quite common. Familiar peaks such as Lingtren, Khumbutse, Changtse tower to the east even as Everest begins to reveal itself emerging between the west shoulder crest and Nuptse. During the ascent to Kala Patthar you can pause to catch your breath at several outstanding view points to snap pictures. After several hours of ascent, you reach Kala Patthar. From here, you scramble to climb the rocky outcrop near to the summit marked by cairns and prayer flags. As you reach the top, you sit on the Kala Patthar rocks and your eyes take in the unbelievable Himalayan Panorama, wandering from one mighty massif to another. You take as many pictures as you possibly can with your camera so they can last a lifetime. On returning to Gorakshep, you have breakfast, and afternoon time is taken to descend down to Pheriche for a good night rest. Overnight at Pheriche.

Hiking: 6-7 Hrs (12 km)
Maximum Elevation: 4,240m/13,908ft
Accommodation: Hotel (Himalayan lodge)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Today your trek down through the hillside blanketed by rhododendron and juniper trees. If it is spring, pink and red rhododendron flowers ablaze your surroundings. Depending on your hunger and condition, you either have your lunch in Pangboche or wait until you reach Phunki Tenga. After crossing the prayer-flag festooned bridge over the Dudh Koshi River, the trail then follows the Dudh Koshi gorge descending rapidly through the pine forests. The path eventually reaches Sansa which is the major trail junction in the region. You stop at Kyangjuma (3570 m/11,710 ft) for a relaxed lunch. Then you will appreciate the gorgeous Ama Dablam, Thamserku and Nuptse with every step of the way. After your lunch, the trail to Namche Bazaar clings to the steeply wooded slope beyond Kyangjuma, winding through several bends. Then you keep a lookout for wild life such as mountain goats, snow leopards, and colorful pheasants while passing through the forest. Upon passing a chorten, you will reach the army camp at Namche Bazaar. While here, you would like to take a long last look (and picture!) back to Lhotse, the tip of Everest and Tengboche. On reaching your lodge, you take a nice hot shower and have a very relaxed sleep in your room in Namche Bazaar. Overnight in Namche Bazaar.

Hiking: 7-8 Hrs (19 km)
Maximum Elevation: 3,440m/11,284ft
Accommodation: Hotel (Yeti Mountain Home)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Today, the trail descends steeply downward so you need to walk slowly and under control as your shaky legs continuously battle the rocky terrain. Upon crossing the suspension bridges over the fast flowing Dudh Koshi and its tributaries, the trail becomes more level and natural. Today onwards you start to get warmed up by the light breeze. Any remaining sore throats and colds will be gone by today as you pass through the charming mountain air. Although you are travelling the same route down, you have completely different views. You will snap a mixture of open plains, rhododendron and pine forests, and in the distance, snow-covered peaks. You will walk through the Sherpa villages’ noticing an impressive faith in Buddhism and a culture of prayer stones and flags. Upon arrival in Lukla, you will stretch those sore legs and recall the experiences of the last couple of weeks. You'll experience the culmination of a fantastic trek on a happy note with everyone back safe and sound with smiles on your faces! Overnight in Lukla.

Hiking: 6-7 Hrs (18.5 km)
Maximum Elevation: 2,840m/9,316ft
Accommodation: Hotel (Yeti Mountain Home)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Today, you'll fly back to Kathmandu after your long mountain journey. The early morning flight drops you in Kathmandu. Then you can rest and relax throughout the day at your hotel. If you get interested to take some gifts home from Nepal for friends and relatives, you can visit to some nearby shops or venture out in Thamel for authentic Nepalese goods. To celebrate the successful completion of your journey, from AlpineTrav Treks & Expeditions will have a farewell dinner in the evening. Overnight in Kathmandu.

Flight: 35 min
Maximum Elevation: 1,350m/4,429ft
Accommodation: Hotel (Hotel (Hyatt Regency))
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

The journey comes to an end today! There is nothing to do but you'll just trade emails to travel companions and organize your photos. If you have more time you can do some shopping or sightseeing. A representative from AlpineTrav Treks will drop you off at the airport approximately 3 hours before your scheduled flight. On your way to home you will have plenty of time to plan your next adventure trip in the wonderful country of Nepal.

Meals: Breakfast