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Introduction:
Trek in the Everest region staying in high quality lodges with visits to Sherpa villages and Buddhist monasteries. Our Everest Luxury Lodges trek is the best way to explore Nepal in style while staying in comfortable lodges of the Everest region; the Everest Summit Lodges are at a standard far better than anything else available in the area. The lodges provide the highest level of service with landscaped gardens, comfortable lounges and bedrooms as well as hot showers and western toilets. The trek starts with an exciting flight in a Twin Otter plane to the mountain airstrip at Lukla, from here we follow in the footsteps of famous mountaineers for the walk into Everest Base Camp. We are now in Buddhist Sherpa country where you will see colourful prayer flags, many walls and monasteries along the way. The trail between lodges takes you through beautiful Nepalese villages with spectacular views of the Khumbu and the Everest region. This is a moderate walk and would be an ideal choice for the first time trekker wanting to maintain home comforts.
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Detailed Itinerary:
» Day 01: Arrive Kathmandu and join the tour at the hotel.
You will be met on arrival at Kathmandu airport and driven back to the hotel. A full briefing will be given in the afternoon. Overnight at hotel
» Day 02: Sightseeing in Kathmandu.
Today we explore Kathmandu with a local guide, the day is flexible depending on what you would like to see but the most popular places generally are:
Durbar square, which is one of the old capitals of the Kathmandu valley, has a blend of Hindu and Buddhist temples
Swayambhunath, also known as the monkey temple, is climbed by a long set of steps and has great views of Kathmandu.
» Day 03: Fly to Lukla (2,840m), trek to Monjo (2,850m)-6 to 7 hours walking.
After the exciting landing at Lukla, you will start the trek. It is an easy introduction to the beautiful Dudh Kosi river valley and you will pass carved mani stones and prayer wheels typical of Sherpa Buddhist country. Our first lodge is the Farakpa Yeti Mountain Home at Phakding on the bank of the Dudh Khosi valley north, staying on its west bank and soon there is a good view of Thamserku (6,608m). After a walk uphill and over a
ridge there is a traverse high above the river to Benkar, and a little further on you cross over a suspension bridge to the east bank of the Dudh Kosi. There are excellent new metal suspension bridges over the rivers which we cross several times. We reach Monjo at the entrance to the Sagarmatha (Everest) National Park, by evening.
» Day 04
Manjo acclimatization and option to hike up Thakcho Hill behind the village for spectacular views of Numbur, Thamserku and Kongdi Ri.
Overnight at the Everest Summit Lodge at Monjo.
» Day 05 Trek to Namche Bazaar (3,445m)-4 hours walking.
After crossing the Hilary suspension the trail starts uphill to Namche Bazaar.
There is a good excuse for a break half way up when Everest becomes visible for the first time.
We normally reach Namche by lunch time and check into the Zamling Guest House overlooking the town. Zamling is the best lodge in Namche and run by a hospitable Sherpa family. The Zamling lodge has a large dining room downstairs and bedrooms with private bathrooms. The owner, Tsedam Sherpa, has a superb collection of Everest mountaineering artefacts and memorabilia in the dining room.
Overnight at Namche hotel.
» Day 06: Trek to Tashinga (3,450m)-3 to 4 hours walking.
This morning we leave Namche on the trail contouring the hillside high above the Imja Khosi. There are spectacular views of Everest, Lhotse and Nuptse and also the beautifully shaped Ama Dablam known as one of the most beautiful mountains in the world! The lodge is just located outside the village of Tashinga with views down the valley to
Ama Dablam and Everest. Overnight at the Everest Summit Lodge at Tashinga.
» Day 07: Trek to Thyangboche (3,450m)-3 to 4 hours walking.
Today we set out for Thyangboche village and pass the important Tengboche monastery along the way. The Tengboche monastery is the most important gompa in the Sherpa region, and home to the abbot and about 80 monks and novices following Nyingmapa Buddhism, the predominant Sherpa sect. There is a good view of Everest from here. Overnight at the Everest Summit Lodge at Thyangboche.
» Day 08: Trek to Mende (3,700m) via Sherpa villages of Khunde and Khumjung-5 hours walking.
Today we head back towards Namche contouring above to visit the Sherpa villages of Khumjung and Khunde. Khumjung is the site of the first school built by Edmund Hillary and the Himalayan Trust. We visit the village gompa above the village and will have the chance to see the infamous ‘yeti scalp’.
After lunch, we continue our walk towards our next Everest Summit Lodge at Mende. At the small village of Tshro we turn off the main trail to Thame and follow a small but steep path to the lodge at Mende. Overnight at the Everest Summit Lodge at Mende.
» Day 09: Trek to Thame village (3,450m) and Karag Monastery (3,820m)-4 hours walking.
The Thame valley is beautiful and is less visited than the main trail to Everest base camp. The monastery is situated above the village of Thame with the trail lined by many hand-carved Mani stones. We have lunch in Thame and then head back to Mende.
Overnight at the Everest Summit Lodge at Mende.
» Day 10: Trek back to Monjo (2,850m)-5 hours walking.
The trail descends to Namche Bazaar and then on to Monjo.
Overnight at the Everest Summit Lodge at Monjo.
» Day 11: Trek back to Lukla (3,820m)-4 hours walking.
Overnight at the Everest Summit Lodge at Lukla.
» Day 12: Fly to Kathmandu transfer to hotel.
Overnight at Dwarika’s or Soaltee Crowne Plaza.
» Day 13: At leisure in Kathmandu.
Overnight at Dwarika’s or Soaltee Crowne Plaza.
» Day 14: Final departure.
Transfer to Kathmandu airport for the flight back home.
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