Everest Base Camp Trek

Everest Base Camp Trek

Day 01: Kathmandu 1360m to Lukla by air…trek to Phakding – 3-4 hrs
After being well rested after a solid night’s sleep, we wake up fresh the next morning, have an early breakfast, and get into our vehicle for a drive to the domestic terminal of Kathmandu airport for an early morning flight to Hillary’s Lukla (2,800m/9,186ft), a gateway destination from where our trip commences. After an adventurous scenic 40 minute flight above the stunning green and white mountains, we reach the Tenzing-Hillary Airport at Lukla. Arguably, this is one of the most beautiful sky routes in the world which concludes in a remarkable landing on a hillside surrounded by high mountains peaks. Upon arrival at Lukla, we meet the other crew members and after some sorting and packing and arrangements, we start our trek through the pretty wealthy village of Lukla until we reach Phakding. To assist in acclimatization, we only have a short hike today. However, if you are interested in additional activities we can take a side trip to a nearby monastery. This is our first Overnight in Phakding. All meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (B, L, and D)

Day 02: Trek to Namche bazar
today the hiking is pretty roughshod and includes the steep ascent to Namche Bazaar. From Monjo, it is a short walk to the entrance of the National Park before we cross the Dudh Kosi to Jorsale at 2805m. The trek continues upstream on generally flat terrain, crossing back to the right bank, to the confluence of the Bhote Kosi and Dudh Kosi rivers. It is here that we start the steep ascent to Namche Bazaar. After crossing a large and stable suspension bridge high above the river we slowly ascend at a steady pace towards Namche.
There are some fantastic photographic opportunities as the peaks of Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse, Ama Dablam and Taweche (6542m) come into view for the first time. After arriving at the capital of the Khumbu region – Namche, we’ll have lunch and the afternoon is free to bargain in the shops for ‘Tibetan’ artifacts, or relax and marvel at lovely surrounding landscapes. {B, L, D}

Day 03: Acclimatise at Namche
this is the first ‘acclimatization’ day for this trek. Mountain climbing experts always advise us to stay active and move around on a rest day instead of being idle. We either spend the day taking a day hike to Thame or we visit Khunde; maybe we could just relax and explore the lively Namche Bazaar itself. This is the nerve centre of the Everest (Khumbu) region and has government offices, ATMs, Internet cafes, shops, restaurants, a bakery and a colorful market each Friday evening and Saturday where any and everything is up for sale. If we trek a few hundred vertical feet during the day, it will help us to properly acclimatize. Gurkha Adventure guides will take us to the Tourist Visitor Center near the headquarter of the Sagarmatha National Park where we can observe an collection of equipments related to the first Everest ascenders, Sherpa culture and learn about the various plant and animal life of the Everest region. We also take an interesting side trip up to the vibrant Khumjung. We further climb up to the famous airstrip at Syangboche. Just above the airstrip will be the Everest View Hotel, a Japanese scheme to build a deluxe hotel with great views of the highest mountains on Earth. The Khumjung valley is surrounded by the snowy peaks of Kongde and Thamserku and the sacred peak Khumbila, which hosts a well known monastery that houses a yeti scalp. We also visit Hillary School which is located at the same site. After having lunch and spending some time in Khumjung, we walk back down to Namche Bazaar. Overnight in Namche Bazaar (B, L, D)

Day 04: Trek to Tengboche at 3860m – 5-6 hrs hiking
After an early breakfast in Namche, we hit the trail towards Tengboche enjoying superb views of Mt. Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse, Ama Dablam and close up view of Thamserku on the way. Our trek follows on a gradual trail with few ups and downs overlooking magnificent views of the great Himalaya. Along the way we can spot wild fauna like pheasant, musk deer, or a herd of Himalayan Thar. The trail goes gradually down up to Kyangjuma. The path eventually reaches Sanasa which serves as the primary trail junction to Gokyo valley and Everest Base Camp. {B, L, D}
The track then follows through pine forests and after we cross the prayer flags fluttering in the wind on the bridge over the Dudh Koshi River, we reach Phunki Thenga, a small settlement with a couple of teahouses and a small army post amidst the alpine woods. After having a calm lunch at Phunki Thenga we then go through a pretty tough climb steep up through the pine forests before we reach Tengboche. Tengboche is a great place for close up views of Ama-Dablam, Nuptse, and Everest and it has one of the largest Buddhist Monasteries in the Khumbu region. We pay our visit to the monastery the same day at around 3 pm to witness the ceremony in the main and well known monastery of the Everest region. We bunk out for the night at a lodge in Tengboche. (B, L, D)

Day

05: Trek to Pheriche at 4240m – 4-5 hrs
After an early breakfast in Namche, we hit the trail towards Tengboche enjoying superb views of Mt. Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse, Ama Dablam and close up view of Thamserku on the way. Our trek follows on a gradual trail with few ups and downs overlooking magnificent views of the great Himalaya. Along the way we can spot wild fauna like pheasant, musk deer, or a herd of Himalayan Thar. The trail goes gradually down up to Kyangjuma. The path eventually reaches Sanasa which serves as the primary trail junction to Gokyo valley and Everest Base Camp. {B, L, D}

Day 06: Necessary acclimatisation at Pheriche
this is another welcome day for rest and acclimatization to give our weary bones some rest. We also get to wander up the valley to look at a lake, the Tshola Tsho and the perpendicular walls of Cholatse and Tawache. We can climb up onto the ridge overlooking Dingboche for the view of the Imja Valley and the amazing south face of Mt.Lhotse. We spend an overnight at Pheriche {B, L, D}

Day 07: Trek to Lobuche at 4910m – 3-4 hrs hiking
we continue up the wide valley beneath the striking peaks of Cholatse and Tawache on the left. We then turn right and take a steep climb towards the foot of the Khumbu Glacier. The tea house at Duglha is a great spot to pullover for lunch. The trail meanders up through the boulders of the glacier’s terminal moraine. At the top of this climb there are many stone cairns, built as memorials to the many Sherpas who died while climbing Mt Everest. The path then climbs gently along the glacier, to eventually reach the cluster of shanty houses at Lobuche. This is where we crash out for the night {B, L, D}

Day 08: Trek to Kalapathar at 5554m/Gorakshep at 5140m – 7-8 hrs
Today could be rightly said to be the climax of our trip; because to reach our next stop, Kalapathar, we follow the Khumbu Glacier. The trail offers fabulous views of the surrounding mountains, especially where the path is forced to rise to cross a tributary glacier. We stop for lunch at our camping place: Gorakshep. Later in the afternoon, we make our way to the top of one of the finest viewpoints in the Everest region, Kalapathar at [5554m]. During the ascent to Kalapathar, we can pause to hold our breath at several outstanding view points to put our cameras on overdrive for some great pictures. After several hours of an ascent, we reach Kalapathar. On reaching the top, we sit on the Kalapathar and breathe in a bit as our eyes take in the mind-boggling Himalayan landscapes wandering from one massive peak to the next. We take as many pictures as we can so that the memories last a lifetime just as our eyes beheld this majestic creation of God. As the light begins to fade we stroll back to our camp at Gorakshep and have an early night in preparation for our trek to Everest Base Camp the following day. {B, L, D}

Day

09: Trek to EBC at 5364m and return to Lobuche 
A very early start is required for us to reach the Everest Base Camp. It takes several hours as the trail weaves its way through ice pinnacles and past the crevasses of the Khumbu Glacier. On the return leg, we can take a higher route to get 360 degree views of the Khumbu icefall and the route to the South Col. We then either return to Gorakshep or Lobuche for a welcome night of some well earned rest {B, L, D}

Day 10: Trek to Tengboche – 5-6 hrs hiking
As we head down from Lobuche after crossing the prayer flag festooned bridge over the Dudh Kosi River trail which follows the Dudh Kosi gorge descending rapidly through pine forests. The path eventually reaches Sanasa which is the major trail junction in the region. We stop at Kyangjuma (3570 m/11,710 ft) for a laid back lunch. Perhaps without realizing it, We appreciate the gorgeous Ama Dablam, Thamserku and Nuptse with every bite of our meal. Following lunch, the trail to Namche Bazaar clings to the steep wooded slope beyond Kyangjuma, winding through several bends. We keep a lookout for wild life such as mountain goats, snow leopards, colorful pheasants, etc., while passing through the forest by the trail. After passing a Chorten, we reach the army camp at Namche Bazaar. At this point, we would like to take a long last look (and picture!) of Lhotse, the tip of Everest before we reach Tengboche. {B, L, D}

Day 11: Trek to Namche or Monjo at 2835m
we continue to follow the river and, after crossing it, climb back up through birch and rhododendron forest to Namche. Kwangde, Tawache, Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse, Ama Dablam, Kantega and Thamserku are just a few of the Himalayan giants we get to see on the way. From Tengboche we descend to the bridge over the Dudh Kosi. At Phunki Tenga, we get to see the water driven prayer wheels, before making our way back to where it’s all happening at the lively Namche bazar for a well earned rest. We have a hot shower and rest at our hotel in Namche for the night. {B, L, D}

Day 12: Trek to Lukla at 2840m {our last day on these breathtaking mountains that was home to us for all of these days}
our trail descends steeply downward so we need to walk slowly and under control as our tired legs continuously tussle with the rocky terrain. After crossing the suspension bridges over the fast flowing Dudh Kosi and its tributaries the trail becomes more level and natural. By today we begin to get warmed up by the light normal breeze we encounter at the lower altitudes. With some of us experiencing sore throats and colds earlier will now see it gone by today as we pass through this cool mountain air. Although we revert to the same path down, we get the feeling that the views are now somewhat different. We take some pictures of open terrain, rhododendron and pine forests, and in the distance snow covered peaks. We hike through Sherpa settlements as we observe their faith in Buddhism and the culture of prayer stones and prayer flags that we see on the way. Upon arrival in Lukla, we stretch those aching legs and recall the experiences of the last couple of weeks. We’ll have lunch at our lodge and the afternoon is free for us to wander around, relax or perhaps have a hot shower! In the evening, we’ll have a farewell dinner followed by a few celebratory drinks. We could perhaps try some ‘chhang’ {mountain beer brewed from fermented rice, its healthy enough to give it a go. We do a jig to some Sherpa dance steps with our Sherpa crew who we’ve come to know so well over the weeks. It’s altogether been a merry trip on these rugged but lovely mountains; we then enjoy a great meal and hit the sack in blissful sleep under a moonlit starry sky…what a wonderful world! We experience the conclusion of a fantastic trek on a happy note with everyone back in perfect shape and blissful smiles on the faces! Overnight in Lukla (B, L, D)

Day 13: Lukla to Kathmandu by air 1350m
we get up early in the morning to be ready for the arrival of our aircraft for the flight back to Katmandu. We will be met at the airport and transferred to our hotel and a soft warm bed. Please note, our flight will be subject to good weather for the sake of our overall safety. Meals included: 1 breakfast, 1 lunch.
Experience required for this trip: 
The Everest Base Camp trek requires a good level of fitness and experience of mountain walking. These tend to be longer treks with some more difficult days, some of which may involve walking at increased altitudes and pretty difficult terrain. There may occasionally be a longer day when negotiating the more challenging sections such as a mountain passes or when viewing peaks. The Altitude goes beyond 5000 meters. Exercising and jogging on a regular basis for some weeks prior to the trip is a good idea to bring some strength and firmness to our bodies, but no technical experience is required for this journey. It would be wise to consult with your doctor before the trip. Members with pre-existing medical conditions such as heart, lung, and blood diseases should inform Gurkha Adventures before booking the trek. It’s for the good of us all.
Meals
During our EBC 13 Days Trek, our meals consist of different options; we can enjoy typical Nepali food which is real healthy, different ethnic cuisines as well as all types of international cuisine (Tibetan, Continental, Italian, and Indian.) from pizza and Chips to even some mouth watering apple pie for dessert. We can even enjoy hot chocolates, a variety of breads, a choice of drinks, and snacks. Breakfast of the day will be served from the teahouse or lodge menu where we spend the night. Lunch will be served on the way to our destination and dinner and breakfast will be generally served at the teahouse where we bunk out for the night. A welcome dinner, a farewell dinner and breakfasts will be served during our stay in Kathmandu. As a note of advice, we suggest you avoid nuts or any kind of dried fruit because this sometimes causes uncalled for Diarrhea due to being unable to digest it. We have seen this happening to many of our clients; however, these nuts may jell well with the constitution of some hikers and may not be suitable for others. If you do want to have your nuts, it would be ok to enjoy them in very small quantities, sometimes even the pizzas may upset your stomach as common sense would dictate that the preparation of these pizzas in the mountains would be very different to its sophisticated preparation in the hotels of Thamel or Kathmandu in general. The simpler the food intake we have at higher altitudes, the better for our stomachs in order to enjoy a holiday spent on the trails than in the make shift toilets on our journey.