Arrive at Tribhuvan International Airport, Nepal. Upon completing the visa formalities and collecting your luggages in the airport, kindly proceed to the exit of the arrival hall. Please look out for a placard of your name at the exit of arrival hall. Your trip leader will await you just outside the arrival hall and will escort you to your hotel in Kathmandu. Welcome drinks will be served and after you’ve refreshed, your trek leader will brief you about your trip.

After an early morning we take the mountain flight from Kathmandu to Lukla on STOL aircraft. Flight time is about 35 minutes to the airstrip built by Sir Edmund Hillary in the mid-1960s. Then we head up the Dudh Koshi Valley on a well-marked trail and stay overnight in Phakding.

Today we will continue our journey along Dudhkoshi River which will take us through pine forest. After crossing suspension bridges at several points and passing through small settlements of Zapute, Toktok, Benkar and Chumoa, we will reach Monjo. Ahead of Monjo is the entry to the Sagarmatha National Park planned to look after and preserve the fragile mountain environment. Lowering down from the park, crossing another suspension bridge, we will proceed towards high Hillary Bridge located at the foot of the hill. Crossing this bridge, we will climb uphill to the Namche Bazaar. We can get view of Thamserku Mountain. If weather is clear, we can also have first view of Mt. Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse and Kusum Khangru mountains.

We remain at Namche for a second night to allow for proper acclimatization to the altitude. Namche is a prosperous village, situated in a large protected hollow. After breakfast, we hike to Everest view hotel and continue to Khumjung for the lunch. After the lunch, we will back to Namche bazar.

From Namche the route turns west and the trail is almost level as we head up the Bhote Kosi Valley, once a popular trading route into Tibet. Along the way we pass many prayer flags and Mani stones, all indicative of the Tibetan Buddhist culture of this area. After descending to the Bhote Kosi the trail climbs steeply to Thame. From here there are good views of the peaks of Teng Kangpoche and Kwangde.

The high valley beyond Thame sees few trekkers and remains the simple realm of yaks, farming and Sherpas. You walk through some really old, genuine Himalayan villages that mix together almost invisibly into the landscape before arriving at Lungde. We ascend all the way up to Lungde at (4500m). In the course of the hike, we can see great views of the vast Himalayan range up to Renjo la including the lovely views of Kyajo Ri as we arrive at Lungde.

Today it’s an early start for the trek up and away from the Bhote Khosi towards the ‘twin lakes’ below the Renjo La. Cutting through the lakes, we continue our approach to the Renjo La, following a well-used trail, with stone steps leading almost all the way to the top. We reach the summit prayer flags fluttering in the wind (5340m) after a long morning's walk and take time to benefit from the views across the ranges to Mount Everest - simply incredible. Then, after an initially steep descent, which may be snow covered, the trail becomes well set out once more with stone steps which descend towards the lakes of Gokyo. The third lake is known as Dudh Pokhari and on its east shore is the summer settlement of Gokyo lakes at (4790m).

After the long haul of crossing the Renjo La, there's the option today to chill out and go cool. Those who wish to make the most of this high and wild place can hike up to the 'Fifth Lake' for the ‘Scoundrel's View' of Everest. We spend a second night at lodge in Gokyo after exploring far and wide.

Today we next head up to Gokyo Ri which lies at the northern edge of Dudh Pokhari, a standard viewpoint for Everest and Cho Oyu and for the glorious panorama encompassing the lakes and across the Ngozumpa Glacier towards the Cho La. The ascent is pretty tough and takes approximately 3 hours for the round trip. Group members wishing to make this ascent will have a reasonably early start and will be guided by the trip leader or one of the staff. Reverting to the lodge for an early lunch, we will then set off on the next phase of our journey. Descending to the ‘second’ lake, we then climb to the ridge of the moraine overlooking the Ngozumpa Glacier. The route across the glacier is well marked by cairns and takes around 40 minutes. We climb off the glacier at the place known as Thangnak at (4700m) and check into one of the teahouses available around.

We make it an early start for the tall day across the Cho La (5420m). Approaching the pass, we cross a large boulder field. Beyond this very old moraine, the climb to the pass is steep in places, involving some easy scrambling. The upper part of the route can be snow-covered, particularly after November. From the pass, there are excellent views including a completely different facet of Ama Dablam, now seen from the North West. The descent from the pass involves the crossing of a small glacier (often snow-covered) which is fairly straightforward. We descend to the grazing pastures below, the trail becoming more and clearer as we approach Dzongla (4830m) for a well-earned rest.

After crossing by some of the teahouses of Dzongla, we plod higher onto the pretty risky moraine of the Khumbu glacier, passing a chain of stone monuments built in memory of Sherpas who have died on mountaineering expeditions to Mt Everest. From hereabouts, the trail lowers and goes by the west side of the valley to Lobuche. The sunset on Nuptse from this point is an amazing sight to behold.

A real early start is required to reach the Everest Base Camp. It takes several hours as the trail weaves its way through ice pinnacles and past the crevasses of the Khumbu Glacier. After a brief lunch and rest, we take the trail to Everest Base Camp through the once vast Gorak Shep Lake. Only upon reaching the Everest Base Camp do we really appreciate the Everest climbers who brave the risky route through the Khumbu icefall. Mountaineer's tents stand out in bright colors against the monotony of gray surroundings (especially in the spring). Nuptse, Khumbuste and Pumori are the mountains we can view from the base camp. On the return leg, we can take a higher route to get a grand view of the Khumbu icefall and the route to the South Col. We return to Gorakshep for a restful overnight at lodge.

This morning after breakfast, we have the option to climb Kala Patar, one of the premium viewpoints for Everest and the Khumbu Valley. Aiming to make the most of the usually fine sunny morning climate, we have another early start at first light to make the short (2 hour) ascent of Kala Patar at (5545m). Returning to Gorak Shep then we have breakfast before and tracking our steps to Lobuche at (4930m) for overnight at lodge.

Not given the credit it truly deserves, the Kongma La is a gritty tough pass. The views from the Kongma La are really fabulous, especially towards Makalu in the east, of Ama Dablam's North Ridge and of Nuptse towering immediately over your head. The active village of Chukung is about 4 hours beyond the pass.

From Chukung, the trail contours on to the side of the valley, high above the Dudh Kosi. We get our first really good views of the great peaks of the Khumbu including Mt Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse and Ama Dablam. Passing by villages where we can rest before making the steep climb to Tengboche. Although the hike up the zigzag path is tiring, it presents us with many beautiful sights of rhododendron bushes with beautiful birds and superb mountain scenery. Tengboche is famous for its legendary monastery, the largest in the Khumbu. A spectacular panorama of Everest, Lhotse and Ama Dablam rising in the horizon can be seen from our lodge.

We continue to follow the river and, after crossing it, climb back up through birch and rhododendron forest while enjoying views of Kwangde, Tawache, Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse, Ama Dablam, Kantega and Thamserku are just a few of the Himalayan giants that will be seen. From Tengboche we descend to the bridge over the Dudh Kosi. At Phunki Tenga, we get to see the water driven prayer wheels. On the way!

Today is our last day of trek following the Dudh Kosi River down to Lukla. It’s only a gradual walk along the Dudhkhosi river after our steep descent from Namche. We’ll have lunch on our way and we make the final climb up to the airstrip at Lukla. Rest of the day is free and you can relax under the warm sun & reflect on the emotional experiences we had while hiking through these massive mountains that have probably helped us re-discover ourselves in ways least expected. This is our final day on these fantastic mountains.

We wake up early in the morning, have breakfast and get ready for the arrival of our plane for our flight back to Kathmandu. On our touchdown at Kathmandu airport, we will be met by our office representatives and transferred to your hotel. The rest of the day is free for your own things.

Thank you for joining us on this trek and it has been a pleasure getting to know you during this time. You will be assisted in your last-minute preparation. Our staff representative will help you pack your luggage, drop you off at the international airport. And we wish you a safe flight. Likewise we hope to see you soon again!