Everest Base Camp luxury trek-12 days - 12 Days

Following the footsteps of Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay we take a thrilling steady climb of 2800m/9187 ft to 5545m/18193ft from Lukla to Everest Base Camp and Kala Patar (5545m), a viewpoint recognized as the best vantage point to see Mount Everest.
After exploring the temples, shrines, bazaars and restaurants of Kathmandu we take an exciting mountain flight to Lukla and trek up the Dudh Kosi Valley, surrounded by the soaring peaks of Thamserku and Kusum Kanguru.
It’s a steep ascent to Namche Bazaar, capital of the Kumbu Sherpas and then the trail passing Buddhist monasteries to have the views of Everest get closer every day.
This trek is particularly strenuous as there are many ups and downs and the itinerary doesn’t allow us for proper acclimatization days.

Day to Day Itinerary

Day 1Arrival KATHMANDU (1300m/4265ft)
Arrive at Kathmandu International Airport where you will be warmly welcomed by our representative and check in to the hotel. The rest of the day is free to explore this historic and vibrant city. Meals: Welcome Dinner

Day 2 Fly to Lukla (2800m/9187ft) By Helicopter; trek to Phakding (2610m/8563ft) 2-3 hours trek; 200m descent, 50m ascent
Early morning flight from Kathmandu to Lukla By Helicopter and trek to Phakding. Descending above farmlands we pass through Sherpa villages of Chheplung, Ghat and Sano and Thulo Gumela and shrines and monasteries of Drangdrak Gompa and Pema Choling Gompa with breathtaking views of sacred mountain Kumbila and sister summits Kusum Kanguru peaks. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 3 Trek to Namche (3420m/11221ft) 5-6 hours/1000m ascent, 100m descent
Heading for the Namche Bazar, we cross through the hamlet of Zamphute and Tok Tok to see dazzling Thamserku glistening in the sun that stays all the way with us in most of our trek. Passing through the scenic Sherpa villages of Benkar, Chumoa and Monjo, we reach Utche Choling Gompa on a bluff abutting the Dudhkoshi river and further we make our way between the bluff to the entrance of Sagarmatha National Park, a UNESCO declared world heritage site. Completing halfway to Namche Bazar, we head for the second half of the march that would likely to take more time due to steep climb at the end. Crossing through the last village of Jorsale, a steep stepped path leads us to an amazing high bridge over the Dudhkoshi River gorge and just before this bridge the Dudhkoshi is met by its tributary, the BhoteKoshi. Beginning the final steps uphill slowly we reach heights of Namche from where we can have first look at Mt. Everest, peering over the Lhotse-Nuptse ridge and finally after about 1.5km/0.9mile) we reach Namche Bazar. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4Acclimatize at Namche; Trek Khumjung (3780m/12402ft); back to Namche
We have an acclimatization day at Namche Bazar. To help our body better adapt to the high altitude, we can take short walks or climb few hundred feet during the day to have a look in the villages, houses, terraced fields and snowy mountains of Kwangde, Khumbu peak, Thamserku, Kusum Kanguru and the village’s big weekly event, the Saturday market to have fun mingling with the crowds and watching men and women in traditional attire. This day, we start the climb through the U shaped hillside above Namche from beside the Gompa. In the way we see several snowy peaks of Kwangde, Khumbila and Thamserku and Tagi Tau and Pharchamo, Tip of Ama Dablam and Taboche and we reach a sign posted intersection from where we move towards right hand for Khumjung. Walking past a large chorten and a long mani wall, we reach a viewpoint to Everest “THE EVEREST VIEW HOTEL” for lunch, Lhotse and Lhotse Shar ( East ) peak, besides Thamserku , Ama Dablam and Taboche and then path drops to Khumjung past the Hillary School. Khumjung is famous for its gompa that stands in a grove of cedar in the upper part of the village where there is an image of the Guru Padmasambhawa, who helped establish Buddhism in Tibet, flanked by his two consorts. Inside the gompa is preserved a skull that lamas believe is that of the yeti, but was disapproved by scientists in US. We return back to Namche for night stay. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5Trek Tengboche (3870m/12697ft) 4 hours; 350m descent, 750m ascent
From Namche we take the easy level trail that cuts around the ridge from Chhorkung to reach the end of a bluff which is a viewpoint over a grand panorama of peaks, from thamserku to Ama Dablam, Lhotse and Everest. From here we reach Kyangjuma (3550m) and a short walk from there takes us to animportant trail junction at Sanasa (3600m) from where we take the trail to Tengboche that runs gently downhill towards the river. This trail drops gradually to Lawichasa and on our descending way the thumb like peak of Ama Dablam soars into view above the trail. From Lawichasa a narrow trail branches north to reach Tashinga (3380m) and now the trail drops down on steep stone steps to Phunki Thenga (3250m) and then to a bridge. From the bridge the trail climbs past some water powered prayer wheels and begins a sustained climb through a forest of tall, mature rhododendrons. We might see musk deer and Himalayan tahr among the trees to eventually follow the path that reach a kani and a pair of chortens marking the start of Tengboche village which is scattered across a wide, grassy saddle below a crescent shaped ridge covered by scrub pines and rhododendrons. The focal point of Tengboche is the famous Tengboche monastery. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6Trek Dingboche (4360m/14305ft) 3-5 hours; 70m descent, 580m ascent
From Tengboche we follow the trail through a forest of conifers and rhododendrons, keeping an eye out for monal pheasants and musk deer that leads us to a village of Debuche where we vsit Debuche Gompa which has some expressive old thangkas and murals painted on wooden panels. Debuche also has a small Buddhist nunnery on the east hillside. The trail continues through dense forest to reach Milinggo and then drops steeply to a suspension bridge over Imja Khola. We cross the bridge and climb the hillside opposite to a white stupa with Buddhist eyes and after a hundred yards we see a stupa that crowns an exposed bluff, mirroring the soaring tower of Ama Dablam at the end of the valley. East of the stupa is a footprint of Khumbu’s patron Saint Lama Sange Dorje. We soon reach Pangboche village that has the oldest monastery in Khumbu, Pangobche Gompa founded by Lama Sange Dorje. Following the Imja Khola the trial climbs towards the village of Shomare and crossing the treeline beyond this village we are walking up rolling arid stretch, an alpine terrain with patches of scrub and isolated pastures and fields and the yak grazing. Crossing through the yak pasture and herdsmen’s stone huts at Orsho and Tsuro Wog, we turn right where the trail descends to a point near the confluence of Imja Khola and Khumbu Khola. Finally climbing a low ridge we reach the sprawling settlement of Dingboche which is a cold and windy place with sub-zero night temperatures even in summer. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 7Trek Nangkartsang Summit (5090m/16700ft); back to Dingboche
There are several interesting day hikes in this area, one of which is the 400m climb to Nangkartsang Gompa on the ridge north of Dingboche. From this vantage point there are good views of three of the world’s six highest peaks – Lhotse, Makalu and Cho Oyu. From here we continue to the Nangkartsang summit for the close up views of the mountains again and then return downhill to Dingboche for the night stay. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 8Trek Dughla (4620m/15158ft) 2 hours; 400m ascent
On this trail we find ourselves truly in the lap of Himalayas with awesome mountains on all sides. From Dingboche we take the trail that climbs slowly along the ridge through the village of Dusa (4503m) where we have outstanding views of the twin peaks of Taboche and Cholatse and Ama Dablam appears as a perfect pyramid, while the summit Kantega is visible far to the left of the prominent saddle seen from Tengboche. The trail drops down to a glacial stream, rising up the other side to Dughla. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 9Trek Lobuche (4930m/16175ft) 2 hours; 300m ascent
From Dughla the trail goes directly up the gravelly terminal moraine of the Khumbu Glacier and the path bears left at the top of the ridge on to Chupki Lhara where we see large heaps of stones with prayer flags remembering the mountaineers who perished on mission to climb Mt.Everest. At the top of the valley is the Chola Lake where we get a glimpse of blue waters from high trails. From Chupki Lhara, the trail drops to the Khumbu glacier moraine after which we see three great peaks-Khumbutse, Lingtren and Pumori straight in front. Now walking the final steps along a murmuring stream we reach Lobuche. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 10Trek Gorak Shep (5160m/16930ft) and EBC (5340m/17521ft) and back to Gorak Shep
This day will be a long hard day for us. Walking by a somewhat grassy terrain and a few scattered boulders, all along we see the snowy wall of lofty mountains ahead. The 60m/200ft ascent takes us to the top of the lateral moraine wall of the Changri glacier, to a level spot called Thangma Riju from where there is a spectacular 360 degree panorama of the mountains all around-Taboche and the Lobuche peaks, Pumori and the rest of Mahalangur Himal peaks, with Changtse in Tibet now more visible; and Nuptse filling the eastern horizon.The trail now crosses the moraine of the Changri glacier which joins the Khumbu glacier from the west and climbing steeply up a stony slope we reach Gorak Shep from where we catch our first glimpse of Kala Patthar. From Gorak Shep we move towards EBC, to be amidst of mountains, not to see them from afar as EBC is not a viewpoint. Walking by the shallow blue waters of Gorak Shep Lake, the Changtse peak in Tibet and the Lho La depression can be seen straight ahead. Crossing through several of the glaciers, icefalls, frozen pools of melt water, exposed icy walls and large boulders we finally reach EBC from where trekking ends and mountaineering begins. We descend back to Gorak Shep for the night stay. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 11 Trek Kala Patthar (5545m/18193ft); return to Kathmandu by Helicopter
Finally, this is our date with Everest, the climax of the trek. We start after an early breakfast without hurry. Crossing through the wide sandy bed of the dried up lake and steep zigzags we ascend about 100m to have the great view of Lingtren, Khumbutse and Changtse. As the climb begins again, we get a grand view of Khumbu glacier and Nuptse massif and finally we climb to the rocky viewpoint of Kala Patthar. It’s a slow tough climb but every meter ascended is rewarded by a bit more of Everest and finally we find ourselves sitting on the Kala Patthar rocks in middle of unbelievable Himalayan Panorama. Now we return downhill which takes much less time to Gorak Shep and we will take half an hours then will ride Helicopter back to Kathmandu.Meals:Breakfast and last joyful dinner with Team.

Day 12Fly back home or extend your holidays
If you prefer to stay longer, you can consult us for short tours such as game drive at National parks, rafting, mountain biking, Tibet, India or Bhutan tours etc. Meals: Breakfast

Price Includes
Accommodation
9 Nights stay in best hotel amoung the hotel of each place during trek. It means must of the hotel will be with attached bathroom. Accommodation in Kathmandu - 4*
Flights
Helicopter from Kathmandu to Lukla and return by helicopter from Gorak shep to Kathmandu and domestic flight departure taxes. (International flights are not included. )
Guide
An experienced professional goverment trekking guide license holder English speaking Trekking Guide and a Porter during trek.
Meals
During the Trek, we will have Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and Tea/Coffee each time only. Welcome and Farewell Meals and Breakfasts while in Kathmandu. This tour offers Vegetarian and Vegan food options on request. Simply let our Customer Support team know the food option that you prefer
Transport
Private vehicles, helicopter
Salary, food, insurance and lodging cost for guide and porter
Necessary airport pickup and drop
Welcome and Farewell Meals and Breakfasts while in Kathmandu/Pokhara
National Park Permit and TIMS for Everest
Heli fare from Kathmandu to Lukla and return Gorak Shep to Kathmandu and domestic flight departure taxes
Down Jacket and Sleeping Bag that needs to be returned to office after trek completion.
Fuel, road taxes and parking fees
Fuel, Road Taxes and Parking Fees.

Price Excludes
Nepal entry visa fee
International airfare and departure tax.
Bar bills, laundry and other expenses of personal nature.
Travel insurance including evacuation.
Lunch and dinners in Kathmandu except welcome and farewell meals.
Tips for local staffs, guides and porters.
Desserts, Hot Water, Hot Shower, Mineral Water, Wi-Fi,
Entrance Fees in Kathmandu.