The Walking and Climbing Company

EVEREST BASE CAMP / KALAPATHAR TREK

ITINERARY

Day 1 Depart
Day 2 Arrive Kathmandu, Nepal
Day 3 Kathmandu check equipment / sightseeing.

Day 4 Flight to Lukla, trek to Phakding (2850m)

The flight to Lukla is about 45 minutes and offers stunning views of the vast Himalayan mountain range. On arrival in Lukla you will have a relaxed couple of hours before beginning the first stage of the trek. You will stay overnight in the village of Phakding, located on the scenic Dudh Kosi River.

Day 5 Namche Bazaar (3440m)

On this second, slightly more challenging day, you will travel deeper into the heart of the Himalayas. Following 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

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 the Mount Everest Documentation Centre to 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 stunning and memorable views of the Khumbu peaks and Everest.

Day 7 Tengboche (3860m)

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 (4343m)

The trek to Dingboche 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. Having arrived in Dingboche, Island Peak the well known trekking peak is visible amongst the numerous and stunning mountains surrounding you.

Day 9 Dingboche

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 (4915m)

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 Kalapathar – Gorkshep (5545m)

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 marking the border with 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 note that the nature of the active glacier under some parts of the route mean that the track is gradually changing.
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 Everest BC – Gorkshep

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 is the tumble of ice boulders spilling out from the glacier – 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 a short distance from the foot of the icefall lies Everest Base Camp. As you come into Base Camp you will see the buzz of adventure and excitement from the groups staying there to attempt climbing this giant of a mountain.

Day 13 Pangboche

Today the trek continues along a scenic route to the village of Pangboche, the highest year-round settlement in the valley.

Day 14 Khumjung (3790m)

The route continues and today takes you to the village of Khumjung, located high in the ‘green valley’. This traditional village is 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 Thamo (nuns monastery)

The walk through the forest to the atmospheric hillside nuns monastery of Thamo provides the opportunity to glimpse elusive native wildlife. Musk deer may be seen quietly grazing, as well as the national bird of Nepal, the Danphe pheasant. The monastery itself was founded by Tibetan nuns who fled from Tibet over the Nangpa La pass to the quiet Thame Valley. Many feel privileged to spend time with these peaceful and spiritual people.

Day 16 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 17 Phakding

From Namche, the trail descends downhill following the Dudh Koshi all the way to Phakding.

Day 18 Lukla

This is your last day of trekking as you descend to the village of Lukla.
Day 19 Arrive in Kathmandu
From Lukla you will board 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.