17-Day Everest Base Camp Trek (Tea Houses)

Upon arrival at Kathmandu's international airport, pay your tourist visa entry fee (generally US$40 as of 2011) in US cash, preferably in newer bills, in good condition. After clearing immigration, proceed to the airport entrance where you are met and transferred to your hotel. Kathmandu is a bustling third world city of over four million inhabitants that feels much like a vast and busy village. Brimming with historical sites, the city also boasts a number of unique neighborhoods that proudly cling to ancient traditions despite the urbanization all around them. It is also host to a wide variety of quality mid-range and luxury hotels, an outstanding collection of superb restaurants with fare from around the world, outstanding shopping opportunities, intriguing nightlife, and much more. No trip to Nepal is truly complete without several days of sight-seeing. It's easy to spend two or three full days exploring the city and surrounding communities.

Meals included: n/a
Mid-Range Accommodations: Hotel Tibet

Full day tour of Kathmandu including Kathmandu City, Boudhanath Stupa, and Swayambhunath Stupa.

After the tour, make the final preparations for your trek.

Kathmandu City:

Here you will visit the temple of the Living Goddess, who acknowledges the greetings of the devotees from the balcony of her temple residence. Kasthamandap - the source of the name Kathmandu and supposed to be made from the timber of a single tree and Durbar Square are with its array of temples overlooked by the Hanuman Dhoka Palace, the ancient residence of the Nepalese Royalty.

Boudhanath:

This Stupa, eight kilometers east of Kathmandu City is one of the biggest in the world of its kind. It stands with four pairs of eyes in the four cardinal direction keeping watch for righteous behavior and human prosperity. King Man Dev built this Buddhist stupa at the advice of Goddess Mani Jjogini. It is built on an octagonal base inset with prayer wheels. Houses of Lamas ring the shrine or Buddhist priests.

Swayambhunath:

It is also known as the Monkey Temple is a UNESCO WORLD Heritage Site. It rests on a hillock 3 km towards the western edge of Kathmandu and is one of the most important and the most sacred Buddhist shrines of Nepal. Legend has it that when Kathmandu Valley was a lake 2000 years ago, a single lotus flower grew at the center of the lake. When Saint Manjushree, the Bodhisatva drained the lake with a single slash of his sword, the lotus settled on top of a hill and magically turned into a stupa. Thus Swayambhunath is also known as a Self-Created stupa. This stupa is the most ancient and the perhaps the most enigmatic of all holy shrines in Kathmandu. The area surrounding the stupa is filled with smaller chaityas, temples, painted images of deities and numerous other religious objects. There are many small shrines with statues of Tantric and shamanistic deities, prayer wheels for the Tibetan Buddhists, Shiva lingams and a popular Hindu temple dedicated to Harati, the Goddess of smallpox and other epidemics.

Meals included: Breakfast
Mid-Range Accommodations: Hotel Tibet

Early this morning, you'll be picked up and transferred to the airport for your short flight to Lukla (40 minutes). The flight to Lukla is an experience all it's own because the airfield is on a slope and the length of the runway is only 197ft. Meet with your guide, or "sirdar," and the rest of the crew.

While you have lunch, your crew will load your gear onto the animals or prepare it for a team of porters.

Following lunch, trek for a few hours along the Dudh Kosi River to the village of Monjo.

Meals included: Breakfast
Budget Accommodations: Local Tea House

The trail continues north up the Dudh Kosi valley to Jorsale, where you officially enter the Sagarmatha National Park. There is an entrance station just beyond the village where trekking permits are checked and National Park fees are collected.

Continue along the trail, passing through and around rhododendron forests, which are in wildly colorful bloom from the end of March through early June. You will cross the Bhote Kosi River and begin a steep section up to Namche Bazaar, the administrative center of the Sagarmatha National Park and the hub of Sherpa society.

On a clear day, Namche Bazaar is often the first place along the trek that our trekkers get their first, prized views of Everest. Namche is the final place on the way up to get last minute essentials such as trekking gear, and it also has internet cafes and a bank.

Meals included: Breakfast
Budget Accommodations: Local Tea House

Today is a rest day in the historical trading town and traditional Sherpa village of Namche Bazaar for acclimatization. However, many trekkers choose to enjoy one of a number of short and scenic treks including the short hike to Namche Gompa or a longer hike to villages like Khunde (altitude of 3840 meters) or longer to Thame village (elevation at 3800 meters). Wherever you go during the day, you'll be returning to Namche for your overnight. Of special note is an interesting market day in Namche Bazaar every Saturday.

Meals included: Breakfast
Budget Accommodations: Local Tea House

The trail leads past the large Sherpa settlement of Khumjung and then descends dow stone steps deep into the Dudh Kosi Valley at Phungi Thanga where you cross the river and hike past the the water driven Buddhist prayer wheels.

The trail then ascends the right flank of the Dudh Kosi valley to Tengboche, home to the famous Tengboche Monastery, spiritual center of the Khumbu and the most important monastery in Sherpa land. The climb is long yet compensated by imposing views of Mt. Amadablam and on clear days you can see Mt. Everest and its surrounding peaks. Amadablam means "Mother's Charm Box" and is named after the little box that Sherpa women wear around their necks.

From Tengboche, trekkers are greeted with expansive views of huge summits like Kwangde, Kantega, Thamserku, Tawachee in addition to the more famous peaks of Everest and Lhotse.

Meals included: Breakfast
Budget Accommodations: Local Tea House

Descend through a beautiful forest then cross the Imja Khola and trek through the village of Pangboche. The route continues through summer pastures to Dingboche where you will spend the night.

Meals included: Breakfast
Budget Accommodations: Local Tea House

Today you will enjoy a day hike to Chukhung Village (approximately 2 hours each way). The views while traversing the Chukhung valley are truly spectacular, in fact this short trek is one of the highlights of the trip.

From the village, you can see icy Island Peak (6160 meters) looming in the distance. It is a quick hike back down the valley to Dingboche for the night.

For the fit & adventurous, you have the option of ascending Chukhung Ri, a 5,550 meter high ridge with sweeping views of Nuptse and beyond to Everest and more. The ridge hike takes between 7-9 hours round trip from Dingboche.

Meals included: Breakfast
Budget Accommodations: Local Tea House

Trek along a broad valley floor to Dughla, past the Trekkers Aid Post at Pheriche (13,907 feet). A western volunteer doctor supported by The Himalayan Rescue Association is stationed here and offers treatment and consultation to trekkers. Continue up the valley gaining altitude then exit the valley and descend to the yak pastures at Lobuche.

Meals included: Breakfast
Budget Accommodations: Local Tea House

Early this morning, we'll continue up the Khumbu Glacier valley to Gorak Shep. From here, we have a choice of either hiking on to Everest Base Camp or ascending Kala Patthar, with the local climate situation & time of arrival into Gorak Shep dictating the best option. If clear, you can hike up the Kala Patthar for awe-inspiring, unobstructed views of Mt. Everest and the surrounding peaks, most famously Lhotse and Nuptse. Many of the classic photographs of Everest were taken from this high "bump" on the landscape. After our afternoon hike, we descend back to Gorak Shep for our overnight.

Meals included: Breakfast
Budget Accommodations: Local Tea House

Plan for a very early start today. Where we hike is largely based on which site we missed the afternoon of Day 10. For example, if we ascended Kala Patthar on Day 10, we'll head to Everest Base Camp. The hike to Everest Base Camp from Gorak Shep takes around 3 hours. From the base camp you will go as far down as you feel like with our goal being a descent of approximately 8 hours down to Dingboche or Pheriche for our overnight. If you are not feeling up to the entire descent, other options for overnights exist between Gorak Shep & Pheriche/Dingboche; we have flexibility with this trek.

Meals included: Breakfast
Budget Accommodations: Local Tea House

Start today with an easy 5 to 6 hour hike along the Imja Khola including a visit to the gompa at Pangboche. When we pass Milinggo, be sure to keep a look out for blue sheep, musk deer, and the colorful local pheasant, the monal. Following our arrival into Tengboche we'll make a short climb & tour the hallowed Tengboche Monastery.

Meals included: Breakfast
Budget Accommodations: Local Tea House

A 6 to 7 hour hike carries you from Tengboche to Jorsale (also known as Thumbug) or Monjo for your overnight.

Meals included: Breakfast
Budget Accommodations: Local Tea House

You will trek about 4 to 5 hours down along the gorge of the Dudh Kosi to Lukla, passing carved mani stones, ancient stone walls, and monasteries en-route. Arrive in Lukla where you will overnight.

Meals included: Breakfast
Budget Accommodations: Local Tea House

Transfer to the Lukla air strip. Fly to Kathmandu, arrive where you are met by local office staff and transferred to your hotel. The balance of the day is yours free to relax or explore more of Kathmandu on your own.

Meals included: Breakfast
Mid-Range Accommodations: Hotel Tibet

Take the day to rest from your trek or explore Kathmandu on your own.

Meals included: Breakfast
Mid-Range Accommodations: Hotel Tibet

At the appropriate time, you will be transferred to the international airport for your departure home or extend your trip to Chitwan National Park.

Meals included: Breakfast