RENJO, GOKYO, CHO LA AND KONGMA LA TO BASE CAMP
Day-1: Arrive Kathmandu
Arrival and transfer to Hotel.
Day-2: Guided Sightseeing
Guided sightseeing around Kathmandu Valley.
Day-3: Flight: Kathmandu (1,310m) - Lukla (2,840m). Trek to Phakding (2,610m).
Our early morning hike to Phakding begins with a flight into Lukla - a lifetime experience, in itself. The airfield is on a slope and the difference between the two ends of the runway is about 460 meters! You will land on an airstrip built by Sir Edmund Hillary and the Sherpas in the mid-1960s. After meeting with guides and porters and a short break for tea we hike away from Lukla towards Phakding for a few hours along the Dudh Kosi River. Once you have trekked through the small village of Ghat (2550m), Phakding is a short walk away.
Day-4: Phakding (2,610m) Namche bazaar (3,440m).
After leaving Phakding the path takes us through a magnificent forest of rhododendron, magnolia and giant fir trees alongside the Dhud-Kosi river through small villages like Bekar and Monju. You will crisscross over the river a few times on high suspension bridges until you eventually come to the Sagarmatha Check Point where your permit needs to be checked. The climb then goes downhill to the river and then all the way back up to Namche. The trail heads up through blue pine forests and as you climb there are rhododendron trees which bloom in Spring time. Namche is the largest Sherpa village and is the unofficial capital of the Khumbu, gateway to the high Himalayas. This relatively small town is a bustling tourist zone and trading hub literally is perched on a sloping hill. It is surrounded on all sides by mountains, from Thamserku to Kongde Ri. Trekkers heading to Mt. Everest, Gokyo, Island Peak and many other destinations for both trekking and expedition, have at least two nights stopover in Namche to acclimatise.
Day-5: Namche bazaar (acclimatisation 3,440 m)
We will spend time here on short walks to acclimatise. Although it says acclimatisation, this means you need to walk for the principle of climb high and sleep low, meaning we gain altitude, then descend again to sleep low, enabling our bodies to better adjust to the altitude. A slow and steady pace with adequate time for acclimatisation is key to success. So we hike up to Everest View hotel for just that, a view of Mt Everest, assuming the weather is clear.
Day 06: Namche (3,440m) to Thame (3,800m).
A moderately easy and beautiful walk to the Sherpa village of Thame 3800 m, situated at an important junction along the old primary trade route to and from Tibet via the Nangpa La pass. The trail leads west past a large array of prayer flags and Mani stones - some of them very picturesque. After the village of Thomde the trail de
scends to the river and makes a steep climb to Thame.
Day 07: Acclimatisation day
On this day you will do an acclimatisation trek
Day 08: Trek from Thame to Lumde 4370m/4-5 hours
In the morning after breakfast, we climb over the moraine and gently climb to Lumde following a route used for centuries by the traders who ferried salt and grains across the Nangpa-La into Tibet until
we reach Marulung which takes about 4 hours. Then trail then continues uphill to Lumde for another an hour. Stay overnight at Lodge.
Day 09: Trek from Lumde to Gokyo 4790m/7-8 hours, via Renjo-La 5360m.
A long day starts early in the morning. The trail ascends steeply until reaching Renjo-La which offers spectacular views. From here you can see the roof tops of Gokyo shining in the distance alongside the shore of the lake. The trek takes about 4 hours and we then trek all the way down to Gokyo, arriving after about another 3 hours. Stay overnight at Lodge.
Day 10: Gokyo
We will spend a day here looking around the area
Day 11: Trek from Gokyo to Gokyo-Ri 5360m to Thangnak 4700m/2-3 hours.
Early in the morning we hike to Gokyo-Ri to watch the sun rise over the snowy peaks. The trail is steep and rocky until reaching Gokyo-Ri after about 2 and half hours. We then continue on our trek passing the Ngozumpa Glacier until reaching Thangnak. We have lunch and stay overnight at Lodge.
Day 12: Trek from Thangnak to Dzongla 4830m/6-7 hours, via Cho-La Pass 5368m
Early in the morning, we start our trek. The route gradually ascends through another steep rocky pass which is very hard going, to bring you to Cho-La after about 4 hours. Once at the top the trail descends until reaching Dzongla. It takes about 2 and half hour. We have lunch and stay overnight at Lodge.
Day 13: Trek from Dzongla to Lobuche 4910m/3-5 hours.
Today, we start our trek to Lobuche which will take about 3.5 hours. It is on today’s trail that we will join up with the classic trek to Everest
Day 14: Lobuche (4,930m) to Gorekshep (5,140m). (5 hours)
The trail from Lobuche follows the muide, a geographer's name for the trough at the edge of the glaciers lateral moraine. A tributary glacier has piled another moraine across the trail which has to be crossed, giving a good view of Pumori. This section of the trek provides good views of the Everest group and Pumori from Gorek Shep and Kala Pattar
Day 15: Gorkshep (5,140m) to Kala Patthar (5,545m) to Lobuche (4,930m).
Early in the morning we hike to Kala Patthar to see the stunning views of Mount Everest. If you feel physically fit, optional hike to real Base Camp of Everest (5,200m) can be made. Get back to Gorakshep or Lobuche for the overnight stay.
Day 16: Trek from Lobuche to Chhukung 4730m/6‐7 hours, via Khongma‐La 5535m
We start today by gaining altitude as we ascend up rocky terrain to the Khongma‐La Pass which takes about 3 hours. You can actually see the ridge of the Kongma‐La from Lobuche. Like the Cho La, it is very steep as you approach the top and also very rocky, so again, slippery at times. Once at the top of the pass, Lobuche will appear as a tiny pin prick in the middle of nowhere.
From there, we have a great view of Amadablam, Thamserku, Island peak, Lhotse and other peaks . We then start the steep descent. Along the way you will come across a beautiful glacial lake and ahead of you, the ever present,
Ama Dablan. The route will take you all the way down to the Imja Cola valley, with views across to Island Peak, all the way to Chukkung. You may overnight there or perhaps Dingboche if the group is okay for another 1.5 hour trek. Dingboche is much prettier.
Day 17: Trek from Chukkung to Pangboche 3930m/4‐5 hours,
Early in the morning, we hike from Chukkung through Yak pastures and pretty landscapes of the Imja valley until reaching Dingboche.
Then the trail continues to Pangboche village which takes about 2 hours. Stay overnight at Lodge.
Day 18: Trek from Pangboche to Namche 3440m/5‐6 hours.
In the morning after breakfast, we continue our trek to Tengboche through the deep forests which takes about 2 hours. At Tengboche, they have a lovely monastery you may wish to visit as it also has an interesting history.
The trail then descends steeply towards Pungi Tanga where you can stop for a drink, and then you head on another steep climb to the ridge line above the river. The path here is wide and has been built by Ang Pasang Lamu Sherpa, an elderly man now in his late 80’s. He relies solely on donations to employ locals to make the path safer. You then continue all the way back to Namche Bazaar.
Day 19: Trek from Namche to Lukla 2840m/6‐7 hours,
In the morning, we leave the Namche Bazaar and trail descends through pine trees and cross the high suspension bridge over the Dudh Kosi River. Then our trail continues along the river side and we arrive in Jorsale which takes about 2 and half hours. We then continue our trek to reach Phakding, crossing several bridges about 1 and half hours walk. We have our lunch there. After lunch our trail continues to Lukla with several descents and ascents for the next two hours.
We trek further to the mountain airstrip at Lukla where we will catch our return flight to Kathmandu the following day.
Day 20: Lukla (2,840m)- Kathmandu (1310m)
Fly to Kathmandu, with remainder of the day free. Hotel Overnight.
Day 21: Free day in Kathmandu.
Day 22: Final Departure.
Transfer to International terminal of Kathmandu Airport for the Final Departure.
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