DAY 2 - KATHMANDU: PREPARATION

Elevation: 1,350 m/4,428 ft
Accommodation: Local hotel

After breakfast, you can enjoy the rest of the morning at your leisure or some sightseeing around the vicinity. We will meet in the early afternoon to review the gears you have brought to ensure that they are suitable and in a perfect condition for the coming trip. After which, you can spend the day stocking up any last minutes items you need on the trek around Thamel and then we will turn in early in advance of a big day tomorrow.

DAY 3 - KATHMANDU TO LUKLA & TREK TO PHAKDING

Elevation: 2,800 m/9184 ft (Lukla) & 2,652 m/8,698 ft (Phakding)
Flight time: 35 mins
Walking Distance: 8 km (3 to 4 hours)
Accommodation: Tea house

After an early breakfast, we will take a short domestic flight to Lukla – the gateway to Everest. Our flight will land on Tenzing-Hillary Airport which is widely known as the World’s most dangerous airport, the surrounding terrain, thin air, highly changeable weather and the airport’s short, sloping runway make it one of the most challenging landings in the world.

After introducing you to the rest of the crew, we will kick off the trek with an easy walk through Chaurikharka village and descent towards Dudhkoshi Ghat where you’ll likely encounter fellow trekkers, locals, and yaks. The trail follows the bank of the Dudhkoshi River until Phakding, where we will be staying for the night to acclimatize. Having an easy first day is intentional, allowing you time to get used to the higher elevation so enjoy your free time in Phakding, a popular stopping point. Overnight stay in Tea house.

DAY 4 - PHAKDING TO NAMCHE BAZAAR

Elevation: 3,440 m/11,283 ft
Walking Distance: 10 – 12 km (5 to 6 hours)
Accommodation: Tea house

Our destination today will be Namche Bazaar, the biggest Sherpa village in Nepal. This is a challenging day as you’ll start to feel the altitude. The trail also consists of a few high suspension bridges over the Dudh Kosi River and after trekking through the beautiful pine forest to Monjo, we will approach the entrance to Sagarmatha National Park which was set-up to protect and preserve the fragile mountain environment for a brief permit check. The trail gets steeper along the way, and if the weather is clear, you will get the first glimpses of Mount Everest. Overnight stay in Tea house.

DAY 5 - NAMCHE BAZAAR - DAY HIKE (KHUNDE/KHUMJUNG AND EVEREST VIEW HOTEL)

Elevation: 3,440 m/11,283 ft
Accommodation: Tea house

Today is a rest day but if you choose to do a hike, we will leave early for the hike up to the Everest View Hotel about an hour’s hike above Namche Bazaar. It offers a fantastic panorama view of the Himalayas and Everest, Lhotse and Ama Dablam. After enjoying the view and relaxing with a hot coffee we continue ahead to the traditional Sherpa villages of Khunde and Khumjung. If you’re interested, we will visit Khumjung Monastery which houses the scalp of what’s said to be a Yeti. Leaving the villages, we circle back to Namche via the small airstrip at Shyangboche. Overnight stay in Tea house.

DAY 6 - NAMCHE BAZAAR TO THAME

Elevation: 3,750 m/12,303 ft
Walking Distance: 6.8 km ( 5 to 6 hours)
Accommodation: Tea house

Today we will skip the crowded Everest route and follow the Bhote-Koshi valley trail. A 5 to 6 hours walk will take us to the village of Thame – the ancient salt trading route between Tibet and Nepal which is also the home of extraordinary climbers from Tenzing Norgay Sherpa (first Everest summiter) to Appa Sherpa (who holds the Guinness book of world record).

DAY 7 - THAME TO LUNGDEN

Elevation: 4500 m /14,764 ft
Walking Distance: 8.2 km (5 to 6 hours)
Accommodation: Tea house

Today’s trail will start with a gradual & slow ascent and eventually take you to very small settlement of ‘Lungden’ – the Base of Renjo La pass. This untouched and pristine hidden valley is enchanting & magical. You will also start to notice that our ascent is becoming slower-paced as we’re gaining altitude, slow ascent is necessary for our body to adjust. 

DAY 8 - LUNGDEN DAY HIKE

Elevation: 4,500 m /14,764 ft
Accommodation: Tea house

Today is our chance to rest up from the continuous climbing. Or if you’re up for it, try an optional acclimatization hike around Lungden which will take approximately 3 hours, getting yourself prepared for the next big day.

DAY 9 - LUNGDEN TO GOKYO LAKE VIA RENJO LA PASS

Elevation:  4,790 m/15,715 ft (Gokyo Lake) & 5,446 m/1,7867 ft (Renjo La Pass)
Walking Distance: 9 km (8 hours)
Accommodation: Tea house

We will wake up bright early for a challenging 5-hour climb along steep trails and few glacial moraines to the top of Renjo La pass. It is one of the three high passes of Everest region where you can see stunning view of the Himalayas Giants of Everest (8,848 m), Lhotse (8,516 m), Cho Oyu (8,210 m) and its neighboring peaks. After admiring the stunning view, we will descend 3 hour downhill to Gokyo where we will spend our night. Overnight stay in Tea house.

DAY 10 - GOKYO

Elevation: 4,790 m/15,715 ft (Gokyo Lake) & 5,480 m / 17,979 ft (Gokyo Ri) 
Walking Distance: 3 to 4 hours
Accommodation: Tea house

Today is a rest day but we will take you on a hike to Gokyo Ri. Even though the climb is challenging but you will be rewarded with a magnificent & breathtaking panorama view of the Himalayas Giants – Everest (8,848 m), Lhotse (8,516 m), Makalu (8,481 m), Cho Oyu (8,201 m), Nuptse (8,481m), Pumori (7,161 m) and Ama Dablam (6,856 m). After a successful climb to Gokyo Ri, we will descend back to Gokyo for breakfast and enjoy our free stroll.

DAY 11 - GOKYO TO THANGNAK

Elevation: 4,700 m/15,400 ft
Walking Distance: 3.7 km (5 hours)
Accommodation: Tea house

Following the rather easy and short trail that crosses the longest glacier in the Himalayas – Ngozumpa Glacier we will arrive at Thangnak. It is a very secluded yet lively settlement which is also the base of Cho La Pass. You’re free to explore Thangnak for the afternoon. Overnight stay in Tea house. 

DAY 12 - THANGNAK TO DZONGLA

Elevation: 4,855 m/15,930 ft (Dzongla), 5420 m/17,783 ft (Cho La Pass)
Walking Distance: 6 to 7 hours
Accommodation: Tea house

It’s another early day as we set out for a challenging climb to the top of Chola Pass. We ascend slightly along the valley and the trail steepens as we approach the pass. It is an exquisite glacial pass that is covered with blue ice most of the time and the walk across the icy glacier is phenomenal. We will descends steeply down through the rock face trail all the way to Dzongla – another beautiful place with an impressive view of Cholatse as the backdrop. Overnight stay in Tea house.

DAY 13 - DZONGLA TO LOBUCHE

Elevation: 4,910 m/16,175 ft
Walking Distance: 4 hours
Accommodation: Tea house

After yesterday difficult climb, today’s trail is a fairly manageable one. An easy 3 to 4 hours walk will take us to Lobuche – a small village situated nearby the stream and from here, you will get to see the sunset upon Nuptse which is an unforgettable sight. Along the way, be prepared to be awed by the sensational panorama view of the Himalayas. Overnight stay in Tea house.

DAY 14 – LOBUCHE TO GOREKSHEP

Elevation: 5180 m/16,994 ft (Gorekshep) & 5364 m/17,598 ft (EBC)
Walking Distance: 15 km (6 to 8 hours)
Accommodation: Tea house

Yet another bright early day! At the crack of dawn, we will leave Lobuche and along the way we’re able to catch the amazing view of the sun rises upon the summits of the Himalayan peaks. We’ll traverse the Khumbu Glacier on our way to Gorakshep; a dry, sandy lake bed. After a quick lunch, we’ll climb along the Khumbu Glacier at a slow but steady pace to reach Everest Base Camp. The trail is after all on a glacier and snow capped rocks hence it is harder, involving rocky dunes and moraine, formed accumulation of unconsolidated glacial debris.
At the Base Camp, during Spring Everest Expedition season, you’ll have the chance to meet climbers attempting to scale the mountain’s summit. After taking some time to admire your surroundings, we’ll make our way back down to Gorakshep, where you’ll spend the night. Overnight stay in Tea house.

DAY 15 - HIKE KALAPATHAR & TREK TO CHUKHUNG

Elevation: 5,545m/18,192ft (Kalapathar) & 4,730m/15,518ft (Chukhung) 
Walking Distance: 16 km (7 to 8 hours) 
Accommodation: Tea house

The hike to Kala Pathar will start before dawn in the bid to catch the stunning sunrise view upon the magnificent Himalayas mountain range. The day’s first light will illuminate your spectacular view of Nuptse Nup, Changtse and Lhotse and you’ll be face-to-face with the highest mountaintop in the world! Afterwards, it’s back to Gorekshep for breakfast and head down the mountain to Dingboche where we break off from the main Everest Base Camp Trail and head towards Chukhung and Island Peak. It’s another 5 km to Chukhung where we spend the night. Overnight stay in Tea house.

DAY 16 - CHUKHUNG TO ISLAND PEAK BASE CAMP, CLIMBING TRAINING

Elevation: 5,200 m/17,060 ft 
Walking Distance: 5 km (3 to 4 hours) 
Accommodation: Camping

After a relatively short 3 – 4 hours hike, we will arrive at Island Peak Base Camp where we’ll start our pre-climb training; we’ll demonstrate peak climbing techniques and the proper ways of using the different climbing gears. After an early dinner, rest up and we push for the summit at midnight! Overnight stay in Camp.

DAY 17 - SUMMIT ISLAND PEAK, BACK TO CHUKHUNG

Elevation:  6,189 m/20,305 ft (Island Peak), 4,730 m/ 15,518 ft (Chukhung)
Walking Distance: 10 km (12 to 14 hours) 
Accommodation: Tea house

Today’s our adventure day! Our summit push will start at midnight while we make our way up scaling the rocky trail. The trail is sandy initially but soon the path turns to grass before becoming boulder strewn. Eventually, it leads to an exhilarating and exposed traverse onto the snout of the summit glacier. Prepare to put our climbing skills to use for the last bit of our epic climb! The summit climb is no doubt tough and exhausting but the feeling of standing on top of Island Peak overlooking the unparalleled views of the entire Himalayas, you’ll never be more proud of yourself for your own incredible achievement. After enjoying the triumphant time at the summit, we make our way down back to Chukhung. Overnight stay in Tea house.

DAY 18 - CHUKHUNG TO TENGBOCHE

Elevation: 3,875 m/12,787 ft
Walking Distance: 14 km (4 to 5 hours) 
Accommodation: Tea house

From now on, our pace will be a lot quicker as we descend, and the walking gets easier. We make our way down the mountain and pass through several beautiful Sherpa villages to Tengboche. At Tengboche, we will stop and visit the most active monastery in Khumbu region and if you would like you can also light a butter lamp for an experience. Overnight stay in Tea house.

DAY 19 - TENGBOCHE TO NAMCHE BAZAAR

Elevation: 3,440 m/11,283 ft 
Walking Distance: 10 km (3 to 4 hours)
Accommodation: Tea house

After a night rest at Tengboche, we’ll descend the bridge over the Dudh Koshi to Phunki Tenga, where you can check out the Buddhist prayer wheels powered by water and we’ll be in Namche by late afternoon. Overnight stay in Tea house.

DAY 20 - NAMCHE TO PHAKDING TO LUKLA

Elevation: 2,800 m/9,184 ft
Walking Distance: 16 km (6 to 7 hours)
Accommodation: Tea house

Today’s trail is a fairly easy one and it also marks our final day of trekking. We trek along Dudhi Koshi River toward the Hillary Suspension Bridge and then pass through several local villages to Lukla, where we’ll spend our last night in the mountains. A farewell party will be held with all the trekking crew: Thanks to great teamwork and perseverance, you made it! Overnight stay in Tea house.

DAY 21 - LUKLA TO KATHMANDU

Elevation: 1,350 m/4,428 ft
Flight time: 35 mins
Accommodation: Local hotel

After spending the last morning in the mountains, we’ll hop on a brief flight from Lukla to Kathmandu, where your journey both began and ends. You’ll be transferred to your hotel upon landing and enjoy the rest of the afternoon and evening at your leisure to catch up on your much-needed rest. Otherwise, you have the entire city at your fingertips for sightseeing before you depart tomorrow. Your conquest of the Himalayas is complete! We’ll meet up one last time for a celebratory dinner at one of the town’s finest Nepalese restaurants.

DAY 22 - KATHMANDU: DEPARTURE DAY

It’s your last day in Nepal! Grab some breakfast and take in some last-minute shopping in Kathmandu before we’ll say our goodbyes and bid you farewell. We’ll make sure you arrive at the Airport with plenty time before your flight home and have everything you need to leave well!

NOTE: The above route and walking hours serve as a guide only. This itinerary may change at any time due to weather, trail conditions or other reason.

If  you have extra days after the trek and would like to extend your trip?

Let us know and we will be able to help you to arrange day tours around the city or even a 3-day trip to Chitwan for safari tour.

KATHMANDU (CONTINGENCY DAY)
As mountainous weather is often unpredictable, domestic flights to and from Lukla are easily affected by any minor signs of bad weather. We advise all our adventurers to factor in at least 1 or preferably 2 days of contingency days at the end of their trip. Moreover, there are a lot of interesting places to visit in Kathmandu at your leisure.