Arrive Kathmandu. Check in, relax. Last minute shopping at Thamel, sleep and hydrate.

We take the 40 minute morning flight from Katmandu to Lukla. After breakfast at Lukla we start the leisurely first day walk to Phakding which we should reach by late afternoon.

We leave Phakding early by 7.30 am after an early breakfast as it is a long climb to Namche Bazar. The trail goes through gentle ups and downs until Jorsale (about 3 hours from Phakding). After an early lunch at Jorsale we commence the climb to Namche Bazar which should be around 3 hours.

These days help the body get used to the altitude. Time spent well here & Dugla increases the chances of your well being as we go higher!

We climb up to the Shyanboche airstrip and then descend to Khumjung. The twin Sherpa villages of Khumjung and Khunde, are home to some of the most famous Everest climbers. We walk to Khunde from Khumjung and visit the hospital, which was established and funded by Sir Edmund Hillary’s Himalayan Trust. Khumjung monastery is interesting as being the store place of one of the alleged Yeti scalps that are to be found in the region.

As we follow the path, we will get our first really good views of the great peaks of the Khumbu: Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse and Ama Dablam. Passing by several villages and numerous tea shops, we will cross the Dudh Kosi River and make a steep climb to Thyangboche monastery. Thyangboche is the spiritual center for the Khumbu, a training center for new monks. The Rimpoche (incarnate Lama) of Thyangboche resides here and the area is considered holy, nothing may be haunted or killed. With the treasures of Ama Dablam and Mount Everest in the background, the spirituality and scenic value of the site never fails to impress.

The trail leaves Devoche and then crosses the river over a suspension bridge which offers a great view of Ama Dablam above the crashing waters of the Dudh Kosi. It then passes a large mani wall in the middle of the trail and finally levels out to reach Pangboche. The trail follows the Imja Khola and passes the yak grazing areas of Shomare and then the small tea house of Orsho. The trail then crosses a bridge over the river. The right path leads to Dingboche about 45 minutes from the bridge.

The rest day at Dingboche can be used for a day walk upto Chukung with fabulous views of the Lhotse/Nuptse wall and Ama Dablam as well. Alternatively a half day walk can be made to the Nangkartshang peak or the Ama Dablam lakes across the moraine.

We climb the ridge behind the village and then come onto a level plain with enormous views of Taboche in the background. The trail continues along the plain and then crosses a bridge and climbs gently to Dugla. Dugla is just above 15,000 feet so a night halt here should definitely help acclimatization though many trekkers carry onto Lobuche the same day.

The hill to climb after Dugla can be hard especially if you are having problems with altitude. At the crest are the “Everest memorials” for sherpas and climbers who did not make it down from Everest. From the memorials the gradient eases off and in about an hour you can spot the lodges of Lobuche.

The trail follows the moraine of the Khumbu glacier and there is a lot of hard walking over boulders and scree slopes. Pumori comes into view as one approaches Gorak Shep. We usually reach Gorak Shep by 11 am in the morning. Continue to EBC and return to base by late evening.

The climb to the view point of Kala Pattar would take around two hours depending on the level of acclimatization. From this high point a, magnificent 360 degree view unfolds with all the major peaks of the region visible. We come down in an hour to Gorak Shep and after a quick lunch head down the valley to Lobuche which is usually reached by evening. This is a long day but a better alternative to spending two nights at Gorak Shep.

The descent down the valley is now swift as we are losing altitude and the air is getting thicker. We stop for lunch at Pheriche and then reach Pangboche by late afternoon.

We walk down to Thyangboche and then with a quick stop for tea descend steeply to Phunki Tenka. Lunch is at Phunki Tenka and we then climb for Kyanjuma which we reach by late afternoon.

We leave Kyanjuma after breakfast and are in Namche Bazar in an hour and a half. We spend a couple of hours here have an early lunch and leave Namche by noon for Monjo. We descend steeply to the Benkar Bridge. From the bridge we climb up to the Park Headquarters and then the trail levels and enters Monjo by early evening.

We leave Monjo after a late breakfast and stop for lunch at Thado Kosi. From Thado Kosi the trail climbs for Lukla which we should reach by afternoon.

Fly Lukla to Kathmandu – by morning flight – if the flight is on time we should be back in Kathmandu for breakfast! Transfer to hotel, enjoy Thamel and the city.