This beautiful trek is an easier way to see Everest and the Himalayas without going to Everest Basecamp. You also get the chance to explore the monasteries and local villages in this Buddhist region. You visit Sherpa villages and many of the old Buddhist monasteries in the area. You are accompanied by breathtaking views all along the way. This leisurely trek is a fantastic way to combine culture with trekking for beautiful views.
Trek grade: This trek is a grade 3 because you climb up to 3985m. However, days are not too long and the trails are easy.
Here are some more treks Royal Mountain Travel can offer in the Everest region:
High Road to Everest Base Camp Trek
Feeling inspired? Have a look at Inside Himalayas for more ideas on how to visit Everest: 20 Photos Of The Everest Region We Can’t Stop Looking At
Days | Activity |
---|---|
Day 1 | Arrival in Kathmandu |
Day 2 | Kathmandu sightseeing: Boudhanath, Pashupatinath, Patan |
Day 3 | Fly to Lukla (2860m), trek to Phakding (2650m, 3-4 hrs) |
Day 4 | Namche Bazaar (3440m, 7 hrs) |
Day 5 | Acclimatization day |
Day 6 | Trek to Thame (3740m, 4-5 hrs) |
Day 7 | Trek to Khumjung (3790m, 5 hrs) |
Day 8 | Trek to Phortse (3542m, 6 hrs) |
Day 9 | Trek to Pangboche (3985m, 6 hrs) |
Day 10 | Trek to Tengboche (3864m, 5 hrs) |
Day 11 | Trek to Namche Bazaar (3450m, 5 hrs) |
Day 12 | Trek to Lukla (2860m, 8 hrs) |
Day 13 | Fly to Kathmandu |
Day 14 | Departure |
Trekking: Additional information
Please note that the published itinerary can only be a statement of intent and should be used as a guide only. Each day may vary due to the walking times of the group, camping and trail cond
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Arrival in Kathmandu
Your first impression of arriving at Tribhuvan International Airport is an experience in itself. But don’t be worried by the apparent confusion as your airport representative will be waiting to welcome you with your name written on a placard. Depending on traffic, you will be at your hotel within 20 minutes or so.
Kathmandu sightseeing: Boudhanath, Pashupatinath, Patan
The day is spent visiting some of the major World Heritage Sites of Kathmandu. More…
You will have plenty of time in the afternoon to prepare for your trek and check that you have everything you need. You might want to visit Thamel, the tourist hub of Nepal where you can easily find all you need for trekking. Or if you just want to relax, there are many cafes and bakeries serving excellent local tea and coffee. It is best to avoid the street food, however, unless you have a very strong stomach. It is recommended that you have an early night as you will have an early start in the morning.
Fly to Lukla (2860m), trek to Phakding (2650m, 3-4 hrs)
After an early morning wakeup call, you should dress to be ready for trekking. The domestic terminal of the airport is only 10-15 minutes’ drive from the hotel and you will have plenty of time to eat your packed breakfast before boarding the plane. Flying to Lukla on the small Dornier/Twin Otter plane, the flight takes about half an hour. It is a once in a lifetime flight during which, weather permitting, there are many opportunities to see the mighty Himalayas before landing in one of the most exciting airports of the world, Lukla airport, also known as Tenzing Hillary Airport.
At the airport, you are met by our team of sherpas who welcome us. You take a short break while the porters sort out your baggage that they will be carrying on the trek. To ensure that no one is overloaded, we do not allow any of our sherpas to carry more than 15kg. While on the trail, you will see many porters carrying three or four times this, sometimes even more.
To break you in gently, the first day of the trek involves just three to four hours walking, mostly downhill first to Thado Koshi (about 2 hours), before gently climbing again to Phakding where we stop for lunch and have the afternoon free. If you want to explore further, you can visit Rimijung Monastery that is about an hour up the hillside from Phakding village.
Namche Bazaar (3440m, 7 hrs)
Today is more challenging as most of the day is uphill. With several opportunities to cross high suspension bridges across the rivers, you pass village settlements and at Benkar, you are welcomed by a view of the gigantic Mt. Thamserku dominating the horizon. You pass mani walls and Buddhist shrines along the way to the Sagarmatha National Park entry gate. The national park was established in 1976 and listed as a World Heritage Site in 1979. Here your permits are checked before you continue your way up to Namche Bazaar, the Gateway to Everest Base Camp and ‘capital’ of the famous Sherpas.
Namche Bazaar was originally a trading post but is now a tourist hub where expeditions to the Everest area start. As the first point on the Khumbu trek that is above altitude sickness threshold, this is a good place to spend some time to acclimatize.
Acclimatization day
Namche Bazaar is the administrative capital of the region, historically it was the staging point for trading expeditions to Tibet and its Saturday market remains an important event bringing traders from villages a week’s walk away. Here you can find many cafes and restaurants, trekking shops and souvenir shops.
For the next five days, you will visit several of the Buddhist monasteries in the Khumjung area where for Tibetan and Nepali Buddhists this is been a centre of their faith.
Trek to Thame (3740m, 4-5 hrs)
As you head out of Namche you reach a rocky promontory above the Bhote Khosi valley. From here you can look across Namche Bazaar with Thamserku and Ama Dablam on the horizon. Passing the tiny village of Phurte you then arrive at the larger village of Thamo (3440m) with its famous monastery. The way after this, it becomes easier and soon you reach Samde (3610m). Continuing up to an outlook point at 3700 meters you see the ancient glacial moraine. Your path then drops steeply to the river that pushes its way through a very narrow gorge. As you approach Thame, you pass fields divided by stone walls.
Thame is a traditional village that has largely escaped the crowds of trekkers on their way to Everest. Here you find one of the older monasteries in the region. The village is notable also as the hometown of Apa Sherpa who has made it to the summit of Everest 21 times.
The villages of Thame, Khunde and Khumjung were all damaged during the earthquake in 2015 and rebuilding work will take some time.
Trek to Khumjung (3790m, 5 hrs)
Retracing your steps back towards Namche, you take an upward turning to Syangboche. Popular with trekkers acclimatizing in Namche, there is an airstrip that is sometimes used by helicopters. You climb a little before descending to Khumjung. As you go down into this village, you see the longest mani wall in the region that leads to the schoolyard of the Khumjung Hillary School that was founded in 1961 with the support of Sir Edmund Hillary. Khumjung Monastery houses the scalp of what is said to be a Yeti. The relic is said to have come from one of the “abominable snowmen” of Himalayan legend and was found by Hillary and journalist Desmond Doig in 1960 when they were on an expedition to look for evidence of the big-footed beast.
Trek to Phortse (3542m, 6 hrs)
As you leave Khumjung the track begins to climb steeply up a series of steps hugging the cliff face. You turn the corner at the top to enter the main valley with the river several hundred meters below. The trail then climbs steadily up to Mong to where you see several tea houses around a chorten. You then drop down to Phortse Tenga where you cross the river and climb up again to reach Phortse.
Trek to Pangboche (3985m, 6 hrs)
From Phortse it is an easy walk to Pangboche, a village used as a base camp for climbing nearby Ama Dablam. Here you find the oldest monastery in the Khumbu region. Founded by Lama Sange Dorje in the 17th century, it is famous for another yeti scalp and hand that is supposed to be that of a Yeti. (However when a finger bone from the hand was tested the DNA showed it to be human.) The Pangboche school was built by Sir Edmund Hillary’s Himalayan Trust in 1963.
Trek to Tengboche (3864m, 5 hrs)
You pass through beautiful dense rhododendron forests with dwarf conifers where you can often see danphe pheasants and musk deer. As you come out of the forest you find yourself at Tengboche. The monastery is one of the highlights of the trek. One of the most famous monasteries of Nepal, it is the leading Buddhist centre in the Khumbu with a residing Rinpoche who blesses pilgrims and travellers to the area. In October, the monastery hosts the colourful Mani Rimdu festival, which is a culmination of Buddhist celebrations with religious gathering, songs, dances, and enactments of legends. The monastery was burnt down in 1989 and rebuilt replacing the old building with a more solid structure.
Trek to Namche Bazaar (3450m, 5 hrs)
Descending to Namche Bazaar the route is unbelievably beautiful – the Dudh Kosi is far below and Thamserku, Kantega, Ama Dablam, Lhotse and Everest rise in front. Woods, rhododendron forests, mani walls, chorten and suspension bridges across the river combine to make this a lovely walk.
Trek to Lukla (2860m, 8 hrs)
Though it is quite a long day, the hike down to Lukla now seems quite easy. By now, charged with energy, you will be feeling fit and strong from your trek. Downhill most of the way, you can celebrate in style in the bustling town of Lukla. Here you say goodbye to your support team who have accompanied us all the way to and from Everest.
Fly to Kathmandu
A short walk takes you to Lukla airport where you take the thirty-minute flight back to Kathmandu. Once back in Kathmandu you are taken back to your hotel for nice hot showers, relaxation and the rest of the day off. In the afternoon you might like to try out one of the many cooking classes or workshops on offer, go for some more sightseeing or do some last minute shopping. Ask your guide for suggestions.
Departure
You transfer to Tribhuvan Airport to connect with your onward flight. Please note that you should check in three hours prior to your flight time.