- tinged with the romance of being so close to the highest mountain in the world.

From the tiny airfield of Lukla the trail leads through Sherpa villages,forests of fir and rododendron and across high suspension bridges meeting caravans of zobkyo (a yak-cow crossbreed) along the way. Namche Bazaar is a colorful, bustling market with traders from surrounding villages and as far as Tibet, and from Tengboche the views of Everest, Lhotse,

Nuptse and Ama Dablam are sensational. Climbing above the tree line to cross alpine pastures and glacial moraine you eventually reach Base Camp, high on the Khumbu Glacier, where colorful expedition tents give a bizarre appearance to this desolate place surrounded by rock, snow and ice.

Trip Itinerary

Days 1-2
Flying into Kathmandu is an unforgettable experience with the Himalaya
spread out before you. You will be met at the airport on arrival and
transferred to your hotel. On day 2 a full day tour introduces to some
of the wonders of Kathmandu.

Days 3-5
The mountain flight into Lukla is spectacular and the landing an exciting
beginning to the trek – one end of the runway is 60 meters higher than
the other. Heading through pine and cedar woods along the Dudh Kosi
to Pakding you will encounter your first yak caravans carrying trekking
and equipment and supplies – including yours – towards base camp.
These wonderful beasts creating mobile roadblocks, or virtual avalanches on downhill stretches, are a feature of all treks in the Everest region. It is also possible to see musk deer, Himalayan tahr and, if you sit quietly on the river banks, water rats.
Namche Bazaar is the administrative capital of the region, historically
it was the staging point for trading expeditions to Tibet and its Saturday
market remains an important event bringing traders from villages a
week’s walk away. An acclimatization day allows for an excursion to
Thame. Intricately carved mani stones mark the path to this large valley with a picturesque gompa on the hillside overlooking the valley.

Day 6
Leaving Namche the route is unbelievably beautiful – the Dudh Kosi is
far below and Thamserku, Kantega, Ama Dablam, Lhotse and Everest
rise in front. Woods, rhododendron forests, mani walls, chorten and
suspension bridges across the river make this a lovely walk. The morning view from Tengboche is justifiably considered one of the most
magnificent in the world. Tengboche Gompa, the cultural and religious
center of Khumbu. Founded in 1912, it has been destroyed and rebuilt
twice as the result of earthquake and fire.


Days 7-8
Stone steps lead down through rhododendrons, birches and conifers
where, due to the hunting ban, almost tame pheasants are regularly
seen. At the bottom lies the small village of Deboche and its nunnery.
Rising above the tree line the trail enters alpine meadows of scrub
juniper and, in summer, a profusion of wild flowers. From Dingboche,
the only place in the region where barley is grown, the mountain views
are outstanding. An acclimatization day here can be used to hike up
the Imja Khola to Chhukung, a small summer settlement from where
the views of Island Peak (6189), Lhotse, Ama Dablam and the fluted ice
walls flanking the Amphu Lapcha pass are one of the highlights of the
entire trek.

Days 9-11
Alpine meadows and summer yak pasture lead toward the end of the
moraine of the Khumbu Glacier where there is a steep, tough climb.
There are stone monuments to six Sherpa who died in avalanche as well as monuments to other climbers. From Lobuche the view is straight
towards Nuptse and sunset is truly magnificent. Altitude makes the
climb onto the Changri Glacier tough.

Reaching Gorakshep, near a small, usually frozen lake, by lunchtime
you can rest or make a side trip up Kala Pattar, which provides the best
views of Everest. The route to base camp follows the Khumbu Glacier
with its intriquing 15-meter-high seracs of ice, a feature unique to
Himalayan glaciers. The descent back to Lobuche is not difficult, but
altitude induced lethargy can make the many uphill sections below
Gorakshep seem endless.

Days 12-15
Descending the Imja Khola overnight at Pangboche, the highest
permanent settlement. Its gompa, the oldest in Khumbu, is built over
the hermitage of Khumbu’s saint Lama Sanga Dorje. The juniper trees
on either side are said to have sprung from hair cut from his head and
a rock-like projection is a piece of mountainside he pulled out for
protection one day. Continue down through Namche Bazaar and Phakding
to Lukla.

Day 16
Fly Lukla back to Kathmandu

Day 17
Depart

Tour cost includes
»Accommodation Kathmandu (twin share)
»Accommodation on the trek (twin or multi
share)
»All domestic transport as listed in itinerary
»All National Park permits & entrance fees
»Porters and/or pack animals to carry
personal gear
»15kg luggage allowance while on trek
»Duffle Bag for your gear
»Sleeping Bag
»Trek guide
»Comprehensive medical kit

Not included in the tour cost
»Personal expenses such as drinks, postage, laundry and souvenirs.
»Meals
»Domestic flights Kathmandu-Lukla return and applicable taxes.
»International flights and departure taxes
»Visa and passport fees
»Travel insurance
»Emergency evacuation
»Tips and gratuities
»Costs arising from unforeseen events outside the control of Shiva Outdoors(eg. Landslides)

Note
Please note that the published itinerary is a statement of intent and to be used as a guide only. The guide in charge of your trip will alter the schedule if conditions necessitate and any/all such alterations are at the
discretion of Shiva Outdoors and your guide.