Day 01 : Arrival in Kathmandu

• Day 02 : Rest day / Sightseeing in Kathmandu (Boudha, Pashupatinath and Swambunath)

• Day 03 : Fly to Lukla and trek to Phakding

  This is an hour flight from Kathmandu to Lukla Airport 2,840m. The trail from Lukla, leads north from the airstrip and drops steeply for a bit, then descends gently to Phakding 2,610m, your first overnight stop. This is a two hour trek.

• Day 04 : Phakding to Namche 3,440m

  From Phakding the trail continues north up the Dudh Kosi Valley. (Kosi means river in Nepali and it comes down from the Everest glacier). All along this part of the trail, there is a magnificent forest of magnolia, rhododendron and giant firs. On the cliffs above the river it is possible to see musk deer and Himalayan tahr. At Monjo the trek enters the Sagarmatha National Park. The trail follows the river and crosses Dudh Kosi and makes a steep climb to Namche 3,440m. Namche is a very colourful Sherpa village where you will see vendors selling antiques and each Saturday there is an important weekly haat or market.

• Day 05 : Namche acclimatization

  We stay one more extra day at Namche for acclimatisation. This will allow our bodies to become acclimatised to the altitude of 3,450m (11,300ft). We’ll see local sights and visit the village of Khumjung where there is a school built by Sir Edmund Hillary and the Himalayan Trust. The views of Ama Dablam, Thamserku and Taweche are really breathtaking. Khumjung’s elevation is 3,790m.

• Day 06 : Namche - Thame 3,800m

  This day is meant for acclimatisation and hence we do not embark on any serious trekking. Instead we go to a slightly lower altitude of Thame, the birthplace of Tenzing Norgay, the first man on Everest. We conduct some sightseeing of the monastery there and generally rest.

• Day 07 : Thame - Lumde 4,210m

  We leave after a leisurely breakfast and trek to Lumde 4,210m. It is possible to hike up the hill to visit a small settlement where yaks are grazed during the summer season. Superb views of the mountains around Langmoche.

• Day 08 : Lumde – Renjo la pass 5,417m - Gokyo

  An early start for the ascent to the Renjo la pass we start off on a path through the alpine meadows that eventually leads us to the highest alpine lake in the area at 5,000m. From here we enter a boulder field and moraines. We climb up through this before traversing under a large rock buttress The trail ascends steeply to the pass 5,417m where we have one of the best views in the world – Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, Chamlang, Baruntse, Cholatse, Pumori and Taweche to name but a few. A steep descent takes us down through a moraine field and finally towards the third lake at Gokyo after 5-7 hours and descend to Gokyo.

• Day 09 : Gokyo

  The views in the Gokyo region are tremendous. For the best view, we climb Gokyo Ri 5,357m. It is a two hour climb to the top of the peak, providing a panoramic view of Cho Oyu, Gyachung kang, Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, Cholatse and Taweche.

• Day 10 : Gokyo – Thangnak 4,750m

  About half way between the first lake and second lake a trail leads off across the moraine to the east. This is the route to the 5,420m Cho la into the Everest region.

• Day 11 : Thangnak – Cho la pass 5,420m - Dzongla 4,843m

  The pass is not difficult, but it is steep and involves a glacier crossing on the eastern side. After crossing the pass, we rest at Dzongla from where you have splendid view of Lobuche East, Ama Dablam, Taweche and Cholatse.

• Day 12 : Dzongla – Lobuche 4,940m

  We start heading down to Tugla. From Tugla, we head up towards Lobuche. The trail climbs higher on the moraine to a row of stone monuments in memory of six Sherpas who died in an avalanche during the 1970 Japanese skiing Expedition. The trail then drops a bit and follows the western side of the valley to Lobuche, a summer village. The ascent becomes steeper and rougher as it crosses several side moraines. After rounding a bend in the trail, the conical views peak of Pumori 7,145m comes into view.

• Day 13 : Lobuche – Gorakshep 5,160m & trek to 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.

• Day 14 : Kalapattar – Gorakshep 5,160m – Lobuche 4,940m

  On this lower slope of this Mt Pumori a ridge extending to the south terminates in a small peak. This peak, Kalapattar, is 5,545m and provides the best vantage point for viewing Mt Everest. We will climb Kalapattar in the morning and spend some time on the top. Return to Gorakshep for breakfast and trek downwards to Lobuche.

• Day 15 : Lobuche – Kongma la pass 5545m – Chukung 4,730m

  After breakfast at the lodge, your day starts with walking through Khumbu glacier towards the east. After crossing the glacier and river, the trail leads up to the pass which is the highest pass of this trip. After a hard climb to the top, the trail drops steep down to the Chukung valley

• Day 16 : Chukung - Pangboche

  Chhukung is also the starting point for the Island Peak Climbing. The Imja Khola joins the Dudh Koshi River a little above the Pangboche Village. There is a famous monastery at Pangboche believed to have been the oldest in the Khumbu region.

• Day 17 : Pangboche – Namche

  From Pangboche, we descend down the alpine desert and back into greenery of pine forests. The path leads to a steep uphill climb into Tengboche. We pay our visit to the famous Tengboche Monastery. We will stop here for at least an hour and will tour the monastery. The trek from Thyangboche to Phortse Tanga is all downhill. After stopping for a short tea beak, we will continue our trek to Namche and slowly climb to Sanasa for two hours and the trail from Sanasa to Namche is pretty straight and easy.
  Hot shower in Namche!!

• Day 18 : Namche – Lukla

• Day 19 : Lukla – Kathmandu. Transfer to hotel upon arrival.

• Day 20 : Rest day

• Day 21 : Departure