Day 1: Fly to Lukla, Trek to Phakding
Maximum Altitude: Phakding(2610 m)
Trekking distance: 6.2 km
Flight duration: 30-35 minutes
You will take an early morning flight to Lukla from Kathmandu that takes about 45-minute flight. The scenic flight overlooks the majestic Himalayan ranges. Upon arrival, you will get briefed about the trek and served a delicious breakfast.
After breakfast, you can start your trekking journey to Phakding. It is a small settlement with around 40-50 households. The well-paved trail passes through Dudh Koshi valley. You will stay overnight at a lodge in Phakding.
Day 2: Phakding to Namche Bazaar (3445 m)
Maximum Altitude: Namche Bazaar(3445 m)
Trekking distance: 7.4 km
Walking duration: 4-6 hours
After breakfast, you will walk along the banks of the pristine Dudh Kosi River. We pass through Monjo, to arrive at the front entrance of the beautiful Sagarmatha National Park. The checkpoint also requires a national park permit.
We will cross the pristine Dudh Kosi River through adventurous suspension bridges covered in prayer flags. The trail then gets taxing for 2-3 hours of walking, until you arrive at Namche. You can observe the magnificent Mt. Everest and Lhotse from Namche.
The commercial hub of the Khumbu region is Namche Bazaar. Namche Bazaar is a famous tourist town that has many modern facilities like cafes, restaurants, banks, post offices, and even a bakery.
The town gets perched on a steep mountain bowl, with a great view of the Himalayas. We will rest in the evening and spend the night at a lodge in Namche Bazaar.
Day 3: Acclimatization in Namche Bazaar (3445 m)
Acclimatization is an integral part of the trekking process. The acclimatization process doesn't mean you will stay idle, but instead, you will be covering some distance and exploring the area even on acclimatization day.
You should take short ascends and descends in higher altitudes during acclimatization. Some of the popular hikes are:
Hike to Khumjung:
Hike Distance: 7.6 km
Time Taken: 4 hours
The trek to Khunde and Khumjung is the major attraction of the trek. The local school and hospital are a highlight of the trek. The monastery on the premises also poses the skull of a Yeti. You can also taste the beautiful bakery items that sell freshly baked food items.
Hike to Syanboche Airstrip (3720 m):
Trek Distance: 500 m
We start our trek with a trek to the Everest View Hotel. You can get the beautiful vires of the snow-capped mountains. The close-up view of Mt Everest is spectacular from the hotel.
The Syangboche airstrip is the world’s highest airstrip at 3780m. You can also take a detour to Khumjung village alternatively. You will stay overnight at a lodge in Namche Bazaar.
Day 4: Namche Bazaar to Tengboche (3860 m)
Maximum Altitude: Tengboche(3860 m)
Trekking distance: 9.2 km
Time Taken: 4-5 hours
The trail consists of lots of ups and downs. From Kenjoma, you can see the excellent views of Mt Everest and Ama Dablam. You will pass through small settlements like Sansa, Phunkithanga along the trail. There are lush pine forests and Mani stones all along the trail.
The Tengboche monastery is a gorgeous spiritual center situated at 3870m. Thyangboche village is a tiny settlement built around the main Tibetan monastery in Thyangboche. You can observe the mornings and evening prayers and listen to the monks chanting their mantras.
The place also provides us with a fantastic view of the snow-capped mountains. The mountains include Everest(8848m), Nuptse, Lhotse (8501m), Tawoche (6542m), Kwangde (6187m), Amadablam, Kantega, and Thamserku, among others. You will stay overnight at a hotel in Tengboche.
Day 5: Trek to Dingboche (4360 m)
Maximum Altitude: Dingboche(4360 m)
Trek distance: 10.8 km
Time Taken: 3.5 hours - 4 hours
After breakfast, the trail begins with a short downhill walk through a lush forest of rhododendron trees along with the Imja Khola valley. From here, you can start a gradual trek to the village of Pangboche. You can find the oldest monastery in the region.
The trail passes through the summer pastures on to Dingboche. It is a beautiful village from where we can observe an Island Peak (6160m) and Ama Dablam. You will stay overnight at a lodge in Dingboche.
Day 6: Acclimatization in Dingboche (4360m)
We acclimatize for the second time on the trek. You can take short hikes in the nearby villages. Some of the popular hikes are as follows:
Hike to Chhukung (4750m) :
Hike Distance: 8 km
Time Taken: 3-4 hours
After breakfast, we start our trek in a light trail. You can observe the beautiful mountain views of Mt. Makalu (8463 meters), Peak 38, Island Peak, and other Himalayan peaks.
Hike to Nangkartshang Peak(5083m):
Hike Distance: approximately 6 km
Time Taken: 5 hours
After an early breakfast, we start our trek on a trail from where we can observe the beautiful mountains of Mt. Ama Dablam, Mt. Nuptse, Mt. Lhotse, Mt. Thamserku, and Mt. Kangtega.
Day 7: Trek to Lobuche (4930m)
Maximum Altitude: 4930m, Lobuche
Trek Distance: 8.4 km
Time Duration: 4.5 hours to 6 hours
After breakfast, we start a climb to the Chorten trail towards Pheriche (4240m). You will pass through the Trekkers Aid Post run by volunteer doctors that work to educate and consult trekkers on altitude sickness. The trek is a gradual walk that leads to a small ascent.
We then Pheriche to arrive at Thulga (4600m). The trail of the Gokyo lake converges with the Everest Base Camp trail in Thulga. The barren valley is rocky in some places. You should be extra careful on this part of the trek, which provides us with a great view of the snow-capped mountains.
We leave the valley to descend to the yak pastures at Lobuche. We stay overnight at a lodge in Lobuche. You can observe the beautiful views of the mountain peaks of Mt. Tawache and Mt. Nuptse from the village.
Day 8: Trek to Gorakshep (5160 m) and Hike to Everest Base Camp (5400 m), back to Gorak Shep.
Maximum Altitude: Everest Base Camp (5400 m)
Trekking distance: 15 km
Time Taken: 7-9 hours
After breakfast, you will start a trek to Gorak Shep (5160m). The Gorakshep is a frozen sand bed and the highest human settlement before arriving at the majestic Everest Base Camp. The trek starts on an easy path, and you can also observe the beautiful views of majestic views of Mt. Everest, Nuptse, and others.
We will relax and observe the beauty of the place and have lunch. Then we will walk on a side ridge of the Khumbu glacier. We cross the Glacier to arrive at the Everest Base Camp area. The majestic Everest Base Camp (5400m) and the vibrant atmosphere around the base camp will enthrall you.
The beautiful views of Mt. Khutse, Mt. Changtse, Mt. Pumori, and the Khumbu Glacier and Ice Fall is awe-inspiring. After spending plenty of time exploring the Everest Base Camp area, you can start your trek back to Gorak Shep. You will stay overnight at a lodge in Gorak Shep.
Day 9: Early Morning Hike to Kalapathar (5545m) Fly to Lukla with Helicopter Return to Kathmandu by plane .
Maximum Altitude: Kala Patthar(5545m)
Trekking distance: 3.5km
Time Taken: 2-4 hours
Flight Duration: 20 minutes Via helicopter (Gorakshep - Lukla), 30 minutes via plane (Lukla - Kathmandu)
We start our trek to Kalapathar from Gorakshep early in the morning. The trek begins before the break of dawn, as you will get the best views of the snow-capped mountains in the morning. The trek to Kalapathar takes us to the highest point of the trek.
The beautiful Kalapthar is a great place to observe the beautiful sunrise. The golden rays of the sun falling upon the silver mountains is a thing of beauty. You can take the most beautiful photographs of Mt. Everest from Kalapathar. The 360-degree panoramic view of the Everest mountain ranges will enthrall you.
The mountains include Mt. Everest (8848 meters), Lhotse (8516 meters), Mt. Pumori (7169 meters), Mt. Changtse, and Mt. Nuptse (7861 meters). After observing the beautiful scenario, you will return to Gorak Shep for breakfast. A helicopter ride awaits you at Gorakshep for a short and scenic flight to Lukla.
You will then return to Kathmandu on a plane flight. The aerial view of the entire region will amaze you. You can observe the beautiful scenic snow-capped mountains from up above the sky.