EVEREST BASE CAMP, KALAPATHAR TREK
THE WALKING AND CLIMBING COMPANY LTD DUKE OF EDINBURGH'S AWARD
Day 1
Depart UK
Day 2
Arrive Kathmandu
Day 3
Kathmandu – rest, sight seeing visits, check equipment
Day 4
Fly to Lukla, trek to Monjo The Lukla flight is about 45 minutes and offers stunning views of the vast Himalayan mountain range. In Lukla you will have a relaxed couple of hours before the first stage of the trek. You will overnight in Monjo village beside the Dudh Kosi River.
Day 5
Trek from Monjo to Namche Bazaar On this slightly more challenging day, you will follow the trail alongside the Dudh Kosi River, you pass through fragrant forest and have the opportunity to catch a first glimpse of Everest as well as the possibility of spotting a diversity of native plants and wildlife. Your second overnight stop is Namche Bazaar, the heart of the Sherpa community and entrance to the Sagarmatha National Park.
Day 6
Namche Bazaar rest day and view Everest This acclimatisation day provides the opportunity to explore the delights of this vibrant, prosperous village. You may want to visit the Sherpa Culture Museum or learn first hand about the unique history of Namche Bazaar and the Himalaya, or simply relax and enjoy the cafes, markets and local shops while soaking up the atmosphere. A walk to the Everest View hotel above the village provides superb views of the Khumbu region and Everest itself.
Trekking surrounded by the Himalayas
Day 7
Tengboche visit monastery This pleasant day of trekking encompasses the rich and colourful natural beauty of pine, fir and rhododendron forest as you make your way to the village of Tengboche. The Tengboche monastery is well worth a visit; it is hugely significant to the Buddhist mountain people and represents the culture and spirituality of the Himalaya and its' people.
Day 8
Dingboche The trek to Dingboche village involves some gradual climbs and outstanding mountain views as you make your way through birch, fir, juniper and rhododendron forest as well as some open hillside. At Dingboche you are surrounded by numerous stunning mountains.
Day 9
Dingboche rest day This acclimatisation day is spent resting and taking an optional short walk around this traditional village nestled in the beautiful Imja Khola Valley. The village has a network of small stonewalled fields surrounded by the majestic, beautiful mountains including Lhotse and Island Peak.
Day 10
Loboche This is a more challenging day, beginning with a steep ascent to the top of the ridge above the Pheriche Valley. However the views today are dramatic, including peaks and snowfield located in both Nepal and Tibet. Later in the day, at Tukla, you will pass memorials dedicated to the memory of Sherpa's who died on Everest during the past half century.
Day 11
Loboche to Kalapathar and return to Gorkshep Initially following the western side of the Khumbu Valley, you will begin to ascend through gentle meadows beside the glacial moraine. The route as you climb to Kalapathar (the 'black rock') becomes steeper and rougher, offering stunning views of Everest, the highest place on Earth. From here you can also see the mountains bordering Tibet such as Pumori, Lingtren, Khumbutse and Changtse. From this spectacular viewpoint the trek continues along the Khumbu glacier to Gorakshep. It is interesting to see the changes to this active glacier along some parts of the route. This day will likely stay with you as a memory to last a life time, the beauty of this famous mountain and the hundreds of others surrounding it is really quite breathtaking.
Day 12
Gorkshep to Everest Base Camp, return to Loboche As you head towards Everest Base Camp you will leave the moraines behind and begin to follow the glacier itself. One of the most spectacular sights on this trek are the huge ice boulders spilling out from the glacier known as the Khumbu Icefall. The icefall consists of these highly impressive 15m high seracs – columns of ice formed by the constant melting and movement of the glacier. It is quite a sight to see and is a short distance from Everest Base Camp. In Base Camp you will see the buzz of adventure and excitement from the groups there to attempt climbing this giant of a mountain.
Day 13
Pangboche Today the trek continues along a gentle scenic route to the village of Pangboche.
Day 14
Khumjung The route continues on to the village of Khumjung a traditional village considered a focal point by local Buddhists because of its' well-known monastery. Interestingly, this monastery is home to an alleged yeti scalp from the head of a yeti befriended by a local Lama many centuries ago.
Day 15
Namche Bazaar Just a short walk from Thamo takes you back to Namche Bazaar, by now a familiar sight. As well as returning to the magic of Namche Bazaar, you also have the opportunity of revisiting the Everest View Hotel. This is the world's highest altitude hotel. The stunning views from here of Everest and the huge Himalayan mountain range stretching as far as the eye can see will be such a great memory for you to take away.
Day 16
Phakding From Namche, the trail descends downhill following the Dudh Koshi to Phakding.
Day 17
Lukla This is your last day of trekking as you descend to the village of Lukla.
Himalayan aerial view
Day 18
Fly to Kathmandu From Lukla you will take the 45 minute flight back to the city of Kathmandu. Arriving back into the midst of a bustling city may feel a little strange after the peace and slower pace of the rural mountains of Nepal.
Day 19
Kathmandu rest day These days are to rest and relax, sight see, shop and whatever else you wish to do prior to leaving Nepal.
Day 20
Depart Kathmandu
Price: £1550 / person
| Price Includes: | Price does not include: |
| Kathmandu hotel and breakfast | International Flights (estimated at £450 – £550) |
| Accommodation and food on the trek | Airport tax (currently not charged) |
| Hotel/Airport transfers in Kathmandu | Personal Insurance |
| Internal flights | Visa fee - £30 |
| Guides, Porters and local helpers | Other meals in Kathmandu |
| Sherpa insurance | Additional visits |
| Trekking permit | Alcoholic and fizzy drinks |
| National Park fees and permits | Optional Guides and Porter bonuses |
The above itinerary gives an idea of the terrain and what to expect trekking in Nepal. The Everest area is one of the most famous trekking areas in the world.
The Duke of Edinburgh's Award is achieved in this area through each participant planning the route to take and all the supplies and equipment they will need along the way. The accommodation is a mix of camping and lodges to ensure all aspects of the award are covered. Food on the trek is included in the overall price however once in Nepal each participant will have a budget in order to plan, purchase and prepare food for themselves and their team as part of the award assessment.