Everest BC - Detailed Itinerary

Early in the morning (02:00) we transfer by road from Kathmandu to Manthali* (4.5h) and check in at Ramechhap Airport for a spectacular and breath-taking flight to the Sherpa village of Lukla (2,800m) 

The trail passes through the Pasang Lhamu Sherpa Memorial gate - Pasang Lhamu Sherpa was the first Nepalese woman to reach the summit of Mount Everest. As the trail goes down to Cheplung village of Sherpa settlements, from Cheplung, the trail crosses a suspension bridge over the Thado Kosi, where we'll stop for lunch at a tea house and enjoy incredible views up the west and southwest faces of Kusum Kanguru (6,367m). Kusum Kanguru means the Three Snow-White Gods, and has three summits – main (6,367m), East (6,356m), and West (5,579m). 

The trail passes Ghat and continues through pine forest from to the brightly painted lodges of Phakding (2,660m), where we'll spend the night. Phakding hosts a 500-year-old monastery, prayer wheels and and gompas. 

The trail from Phakding leads through several Sherpa villages including Tok tok, Zamfute and Benkar before reaching reach Monjo village, where we enter Sagarmartha National Park. If time allows, we can visit the small visitor centre there.  

From here, the trail continues across a suspension bridge over the Dudh-Koshi river at Jhorsale village, which also marks the confluence of the Dudh-Koshi and Bhote-Koshi rivers. 

The track then starts to rise up Namche Hill - the first big ascent - it's essential to take a slow and steady pace, before reaching Namche Bazaar (3,440m), the Sherpa capital and heart of the Khumbu. (6/7 hours) 

Acclimatisation day in Namche Bazaar. We can spend the day taking short walks up to Thami or Khumjung, visiting the Everest, Ama Dablam and Pumori viewpoints or just relaxing and exploring the narrow streets of Namche. We may take a hike up to the Everest View Hotel for tea, or visit the nearby Sherpa Museum at 3,555m, where you can learn about the Sherpa culture, Sagarmatha National Park and have your photo taken next to a huge statue of Tenzing Norgay. 

From Namche Bazaar, the trail climbs steadily uphill for a few hours through dense juniper forest and Sherpa villages before reaching Kyangjuma, where we’ll take tea at the Ama Dablam lodge.  

From here, another trail heads to the left towards the Gokyo Lakes trek but we continue right. The mountain views really open up now, with superb views of Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse and Ama Dablam while descending down to Lawichasa and Tashinga villages.  

From here, we walk through dense, tall rhododendron forests and cross suspension bridges, with a lunch stop at Phunki Thanga. A couple of hours after lunch we’ll pass through Tengboche, which boasts the largest monastery in the Everest region.  

Late in the afternoon, we’ll arrive at Debuche (3,730m). (6/7 hours) 

A great day’s walking through rhododendron trees that gradually guide us back to and across the river Imja Khola and into Pangboche, a great viewpoint for Ama Dablam, where we’ll take tea.  

We then turn up the Imja valley following a more arid, boulder-strewn landscape where we can see the trail to basecamp at Ama Dablam (6,856m). We’ll start walking uphill from Orso village along the Imja river valley to reach the delightful, picturesque village of Dingboche (4,365m). We’ll also have great views of Island Peak (Imja Tse – 6,189m) (5 hours) 

This is an important acclimatisation/rest day with a few options - ascend to 5,080m on a ridge outside Dingboche, with sensational views of multiple 6 and 7,000m peaks; trek up to Chukung Village; or, an optional short trek to Pheriche, where there is a hospital run by the Himalayan Rescue Association. 

We'll have excellent views of Nuptse, Lhotse, Chukung Peak and Island Peak (Imja Tse - 6,189m) from both the valley, or from the ridge above the village. Overnight in Dingboche. 

We leave Dingboche and trek to Thukla for an early lunch of tea and soup. This section of trail offers fantastic view of many Himalayan peaks: Taboche (6,542m), Cholatse (6,440m), Ama Dablam (6,856m), Pumori (7,161m), Khumbutse (6,636) and Lhotse (8,516m). 

Thukla, also known as Dughla, lies at the very end of the Khumbu glacier.  

As we navigate the steep moraine of the Khumbu Glacier above Thukla, we’ll be reminded of the fragility of life in the mountains - at the top of a steep incline are memorial chortens for fallen climbers.  

We’ll continue along the rail to reach Lobuche (4,930m), our next stop (5 hours). 

Day 9

Leaving Lobuche, we’ll trek next to the glacial moraine of the Khumbu Glacier to the crossing of the Changri Glacier and on to the seasonal settlement of Gorakshep (5,164m).  

We'll continue trekking for two hours trek up to the historical Everest Base Camp (5,350m), where we’ll pose for photos, savour the magical views of the Khumbu icefall and marvel at the bravery and skill of the icefall doctors, then return to Gorakshep.  

Gorakshep is a frozen lakebed covered with sand and was the original Everest Base Camp, used by the Swiss expedition of 1952, in which Tenzing Norgay played a huge part. 

Day 10

We'll make an early ascent of Kala Patthar (5,554m) to catch a classic sunrise view of Everest and descend to Dingboche. Kala Patthar is a Hindi name and translates to "black rock". The peak is a notable landmark located on the south ridge of Pumori, with spectacular views from the top – and especially of Everest. Below you the Khumbu Glacier snakes towards the Khumbu icefall and Western Cwm. The view south (our route in and out) looks particularly beautiful. In the afternoon we make the return trek on a path on an old lateral to the sheltered village of Dingboche. This afternoon we could choose to walk up the ridge behind Dingboche for sunset views of Nuptse, Lhotse and Chhukung Peak. 

Day 11

We'll enjoy the lower altitude walking and the tea houses as we descend to Namche. Each step takes us down to warmer climes and thicker air. 

Day 12

We'll trek out from Namche to Lukla and stay close to the airport tonight 

Day 13

Day 14

Day 15

Depart Kathmandu, return home 

*Please note that the Civil Aviation Aurthority of Nepal has restricted flights from Kathmandu to Lukla for trek operators – all flights to Lukla now depart from & arrive to Ramechhap airport in in Manthali, which is around 4 hours by road from Kathmandu.