Fly to Kathmandu

You will book your own flights to Kathmandu, but we meet you at the airport to begin our ‘airport to airport’ service – look out for the Climb High representative!

Meet at the Airport

Kathmandu - Rest day / Sightseeing in Kathmandu.

Fly Kathmandu to Lukla

It’s an early morning start for the famous flight to Lukla 2,840m the gateway to the Khumbu. This is an exciting flight, which should afford a glimpse of Everest in the distance. In Lukla we meet our trek staff and porters and set off straightaway for our first night’s stop at Phakding. Situated on the banks of the Dudh Kosi, which drains the whole of the Khumbu Region, this small hamlet is on the main trade route through the area and there are a number of clean, well-built lodges where we can spend the night.

Lukla 2,840m

Trek to Namche Bazaar

We will continue up the banks of the Dudh Kosi, crossing it twice by small suspension bridges before reaching the village of Monjo where we will enter the Khumbu National Park. We will then cross the confluence of the Dudh Kosi and the Bhote Kosi on a high suspension bridge and climb steeply for about two hours up ‘Namche Hill’ to reach Namche Bazaar 3,440m. This is a prosperous trading town and the capital of the Khumbu Region. Many Tibetans cross the nearby border to trade their wares and the local market is a fascinating spectacle. This is a good place to buy genuine Tibetan artefacts. Just across the valley to the east stand the peaks of Thamserku and Kangtega, both very impressive mountains.

Namche Bazaar

3,440m

Acclimatisation day at Namche

We will spend two nights in Namche Bazaar. This will allow our bodies to become acclimatised to the altitude of 3,440m (11,300ft). We’ll see local sights and visit the village of Khumjung with its famous bakery.

Namche Bazaar

Khumjung Village

Namche to Deboche

From Namche, the well-worn Everest trail contours around the side of the valley high above the Dudh Kosi. As we follow the path, we will get our first really good views of the great peaks of the Khumbu: Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse and Ama Dablam. Passing by several villages and numerous tea shops, we will cross the Dudh Kosi River and make a steep climb to Thyangboche, home the famous monastery and surely one of the world’s best viewpoints looking up three enormous Himalayan valleys. We drop down to the river and the village of Deboche 3,700m a little further along the trail, where we will stay in a relaxing lodge. In 2005, Climb High undertook a restoration project for the nunnery and provided a new roof and kitchen.

Everest trail

Deboche 3,700m

Trek to Dingboche

Shaded by rhododendron trees, the trail crosses an airy suspension bridge just beyond Deboche. An hour’s walking from here will bring us to Pangboche, an excellent viewpoint for Ama Dablam. Contouring up the valley side, we will re-cross the river and turn up the Imja Valley to reach the picturesque farming village of Dingboche 4,410m.

Ama Dablam

Dingboche 4,410m

Acclimatisation

Dingboche is a good location for acclimatisation prior to our ascent up the upper section of the Khumbu Valley. While in Dingboche we can attend a seminar about high altitude acclimatisation at the hospital in nearby Pheriche, run by the Himalayan Rescue Association. The walk over to Pheriche and back will also serve as good acclimatisation training and so make the walk doubly worthwhile.

high altitude acclimatisation

Trek to Lobuche

We will retrace our steps back to Pheriche before continuing along the trail up the broad valley bottom towards Dugla. Ahead of us is the trekking peak of Lobuje East 6,119m, and to our left is the formidable north face of Taweche. After three hours we reach the small collection of lodges at Dugla 4,620m. We might choose to walk up to the Sherpa memorials, from where there are outstanding views of Ama Dablam, Cholatse and Taweche. From Dugla, the trail climbs steeply beside the glacial moraine. After a few hours the track eventually leads to a small cluster of tea houses pleasantly situated at Lobuche 4,940m.

Lobuje East 6,119m

Dugla 4,620m

Lobuche 4,940m

Trek to Gorak Shep, and Everest Base Camp 5,364m

About three hours beyond Lobuche we reach Gorak Shep 5,160m, the site of the 1953 expedition’s base camp. Contouring along the valley side, the trail leads on to the moraine of the Khumbu Glacier and becomes quite vague, weaving between mounds of rubble. After about 3 hours we will eventually reach base camp near the foot of the Khumbu Icefall. For those visiting base camp in the spring, it is a chance to meet teams making an ascent of the mountain. Base Camp is actually spread over quite a wide area and we will spend some time wandering through it and getting a sense of what it must be like to be camped here for two whole months, whilst attempting the mountain. To go any further than base camp, you will need to be a mountaineer! A fascinating day before the return trek to Gorak Shep.

Lobuche to Gorak Shep

5,160m

Climb Kala Pattar, trek to Pheriche

Today we will make an ascent of Kala Pattar 5,545m and organise ourselves for the trip to base camp the following day. It is highly recommended to make an afternoon and evening ascent of Kala Pattar for hopefully a sunset view of Everest. The climb takes between 2 and 3 hours and can be hard work, but the effort is rewarded by the classic view of Everest and the Khumbu Icefall, as well as Lhotse, Nuptse, and Pumori immediately above. For many teams, this is as far as they go on the Everest Trail.We retrace our steps to Lobuche, and return down the Khumbu Valley, stopping for a break in Dugla. With views of the stunning peak of Ama Dablam ahead of us, we continue along the flat valley to Pheriche.
Kala Pattar 5,545m

Sunset View of Everest

Trek to Deboche

Following the main Everest trail down the beautifully scenic valley, we pass through Pangboche and re-cross the river before arriving at the quiet hamlet of Deboche.

Everest trail

Deboche

Trek to Namche

Back to civilization – love it or hate it!

Trek to Lukla

This is a fairly long day, but by now you will be fit and acclimatized to higher altitudes and consequently it will seem very easy.

Lukla high altitudes

Fly Lukla to Kathmandu

An early morning flight. The afternoon can be spent exploring the city and visiting some of the temples, or simply browsing bookshops and shopping in the Thamel area.

Visiting temples

At Leisure in Kathmandu

Rest day / for those eager to see as much of Kathmandu as possible, an early start is worthwhile to visit the temples of Pashupatinath and Swayambhunath and districts of Bhaktapur and Patan. Durbar Square is also on the essential list, as is the shopping area of Thamel.

Temples of Pashupatinath

Shopping area of Thamel

Depart Kathmandu

We take you to the airport in good time for your flight home.

Tour Facts