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Day 1 Arrival in Kathmandu and transfer to hotel
Elevation:
1400m/4600ft
Distance:
N/A
Time Taken:
N/A
Meals:
D
On arrival in Kathmandu, you will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel. The hotel is located within walking distance of Thamel in Kathmandu. The rest of the day is free to explore the city or can choose to relax. Depending on your arrival time and other participants, your guide will inform you of the time for the briefing. Most of the time, the briefing time will be around 5-6 pm Nepal time. During the briefing, your guide will check the climbing equipment necessary for the climb and will instruct you to pack the climbing equipment and trekking gear.
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Day 2 Fly to Lukla and Trek to Phakding
Elevation:
2610m/8562ft
Distance:
8.5 km/5.3 miles
Time Taken:
4 hours
Meals:
BLD
After an early breakfast, we take a bus to the domestic terminal of Kathmandu Airport for the 40-minute flight to Lukla (elevation: 9,382 feet). Landing on the narrow, sloping runway in the heart of the mountains is a very spectacular way to arrive. Next, we start our Trek with a downhill leg from Lukla to Phakding beside the river. This first stop's altitude is lower than Lukla's at 2610 meters, taking 3 hours.
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Day 3 Trek to Namche Bazar
Elevation:
3450m/11318ft
Distance:
10.5 km/6.5 miles
Time Taken:
5 hours
Meals:
BLD
After a short walk by the river and through the pine forest, we cross a short climb to escape a narrow gorge section. We pass Monjo's Sagarmatha National Park entrance and continue up the wooded valley on a good trail. Crossing the river again, we make our last crossing on a high suspension bridge (one of the steepest parts of the Trek) and begin an hour-and-a-half-long ascent to Namche. Arriving in Namche, we check into one of the town's many lodges—elevation 3400 meters.
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Day 4 Acclimatization day at Namche Bazar
Elevation:
3880m/12730ft
Distance:
2 km/1.24 miles
Time Taken:
3 hours
Meals:
BLD
Acclimatization is an integral part of the climb, as it will allow your body to adjust to the ever-increasing altitude. We spend one day acclimatizing at Namche Bazaar to gain this advantage before heading towards Phortse (3840m). After breakfast, we hike towards Everest Hotel, a close Viewpoint of upper Khumbu Valley, and the rest of the day is free for last-minute shopping or hanging out in the cafes and bars.
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Day 5 Trek to Dole
Elevation:
N/A
Distance:
N/A
Time Taken:
N/A
Meals:
BLD
Trek from Namche Bazar to Dole takes you through an unforgettable experience of nature and the Himalayas. The beginning of the trail is almost level-stretched, and abruptly the passage ascends on a staircase of rocks embedded in a narrow cleft in a large boulder and continues towards a large Chorten (a smaller version of Stupa) on the top of the ridge, which is in Mong La. From Mong La, the trail descends in steep switchbacks down a sandy slope to the Dudh Koshi River for a short period and then climbs steeply out of the valley through rhododendron forests, which give way to fragrant stands of juniper and large conifers as the elevation increases. The trail passes a herders' hut at Tongba, then ascends smoothly to Dole with few lodges and predominant views of Khumbila.
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Day 6 Trek to Machhermo
Elevation:
N/A
Distance:
N/A
Time Taken:
N/A
Meals:
BLD
This day, the route is steep in a few places as it climbs through scrub junipers, and along the way, we encounter Kharkas (grazing fields for yaks) wherever there is a flat spot and the slightest hint of water. Most of the Kharkas are noticeable at Luza, and people from Khumjung own them. The trail continues to climb along the side of the valley, high above the river, traversing sandy spurs to Machhermo.
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Day 7 Trek to Gokyo
Elevation:
N/A
Distance:
N/A
Time Taken:
N/A
Meals:
BLD
The trail then begins an ascent of the Potato Patches. Leaving Macchermo behind, you will enjoy superb views down the valley to Kantega and up towards Cho Oyu. Further up, the valley widens as you reach Pangka and leaves this place behind; you drop briefly, then climb to a large cave called Nilibuk. As we pass Nilibuk, the trail climbs steeply along a narrowly crafted staircase trail and drops below; clear water from the Gokyo lakes merges with glacial outflow from the massive Ngozumpa Glacier. Nearby is a small lake home to one family of Brahminy ducks for many years. Next, come two more lakes called Taujun and Gokyo.
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Day 8 Acclimatization to Gokyo Ri
Elevation:
N/A
Distance:
N/A
Time Taken:
N/A
Meals:
BLD
Our acclimatization hike to Gokyo Ri is an excellent opportunity to get up close and personal with the mighty Himalayan peaks of Everest, Lhotse and Makalu. We'll leave the lodge just after sunrise and follow a zigzag path up the hillside, crossing an ablation valley. From the Summit of Gokyo Ri (5360m), there are panoramic views of Everest and other surrounding peaks in Khumbu. Some say it is a finer view than that from Kala Patar, a similar peak much closer to Everest and one that we climb later in the Trek.
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Day 9 Trek to Dragnag
Elevation:
N/A
Distance:
N/A
Time Taken:
N/A
Meals:
BLD
From Gokyo, we descend to the second lake and climb to the moraine's crest overlooking the Ngozumba Glacier. The route across is well-marked by Cairns and takes around 45 minutes. Finally, we climb off the glacier at Dragnag (4700m), where we check into a simple lodge.
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Day 10 Trek to Dzongla via Chola Pass
Elevation:
N/A
Distance:
N/A
Time Taken:
N/A
Meals:
BLD
Today will be an early start as we climb the Cho La Pass (5420m). The trail follows a long winding route approaching the pass, combining steep climbs with easy scrambling over boulders and loose scree. From the top, there are excellent views of Amadablam and other Himalayan peaks in the distant view. The descent from the pass involves crossing a small glacier which is relatively straightforward. As we descend to the grazing pastures below, the trail becomes more and more defined and walking beneath the impressive north face of Cho La Tse; we reach the several lodges of our overnight halt at Dzongla (4830m).
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Day 11 Trek to Dingboche
Elevation:
N/A
Distance:
N/A
Time Taken:
N/A
Meals:
BLD
Trek from Dzongla to Dingboche, a part of the Everest circuit. This hike will offer spectacular scenery and, if the weather cooperates, lovely sunsets illuminating the mountains – Ama Dablam, the south face of Lhotse to the north, and Island Peak in the centre of this valley. Leaving Dzongla and heading for Dingboche, the trail first drops to the traditional Everest trail. After 20 minutes of walking, we join the main path below Lobuche, but we continue our descent to Dugla and continue to easy trek to Dingboche.
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Day 12 Trek to Chukkung
Elevation:
N/A
Distance:
N/A
Time Taken:
N/A
Meals:
BLD
The trail rises gradually through stone-walled fields and Imja Khola valley before entering glacier moraines amid the towering Himalayas. The trail continues to Bibre, a yak herdsman place. Ama Dablam and the Amphu Labsa mountains are directly across the valley, while icy streams intersect the path ahead.
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Day 13 Trek to island peak base camp (5150m)
Elevation:
N/A
Distance:
N/A
Time Taken:
N/A
Meals:
BLD
Today we hiked to the base camp of Island Peak, an easy 4 hours downhill hike. We used this time to prepare our equipment and get acclimated to the altitude before our final summit attempt tomorrow morning.
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Day 14 Ascent of island peak (6160 m)
Elevation:
N/A
Distance:
N/A
Time Taken:
N/A
Meals:
BLD
Today is a demanding and vital day of the climb. We wake up at midnight and get ready for our summit push. After a light breakfast, we start climbing around 1:30 am. We begin our climb on the hillside, passing the moraine and steep rocky section to the snowy part, where we put on our crampons and harness. In recent years many crevasses emerged, so one should be careful even though it's a fixed line set by our guides. After a few hours, we reach a big snowy wall which we climb with the help of an ascending device (Jumor). Straight after the steep climb, we will get to the Summit. From the top, we observe magnificent views of the Lhotse south face, Ama Dablam, Mount Everest and the full view of the Khumbu valley. Then we descend to Base Camp.
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Day 15 Trek to Pangboche
Elevation:
N/A
Distance:
N/A
Time Taken:
N/A
Meals:
BLD
From Island Peak Basecamp, we descend through the mountain range back to Pangboche. The trail takes us past several villages and provides many stunning landscape views. After crossing the Imja Khola River bridge, we descend gradually through Somare and then to Pangboche.
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Day 16 Trek to Namche Bazar via Tengboche Monastery
Elevation:
N/A
Distance:
N/A
Time Taken:
N/A
Meals:
BLD
After breakfast in Pangboche, descend to the bridge over the Dudh Kosi River and climb through a beautiful birch and rhododendron forest to get to Tengboche. From Phunki Tenga, we will make a gradual ascent to Kyanjuma and further 2 hours takes you to Namche Bazar.
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Day 17 Trek to Lukla
Elevation:
N/A
Distance:
N/A
Time Taken:
N/A
Meals:
BLD
From Namche Bazar, the trail descends the valley and becomes more enclosed as we pass the villages of Phakding, Chopling, and Chaumrikharka. The last hour's steady ascent up to the airstrip at Lukla will surely be rewarded you with a sense of satisfaction at completing an exceptional trek. We will celebrate the end of fantastic trekking with the porter and guides tonight.
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Day 18 Fly to Kathmandu
Elevation:
N/A
Distance:
N/A
Time Taken:
N/A
Meals:
B
The day starts with a scenic flight from Lukla to Kathmandu, then check in to our hotel. The rest of the day is free for sightseeing or shopping, followed by an evening celebration dinner at one of Kathmandu’s most popular restaurants.
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Day 19 Contingency day for unpredicted delays
Elevation:
N/A
Distance:
N/A
Time Taken:
N/A
Meals:
B
Today is a crucial contingency day in case of delays to the flights to and from Lukla and any other unforeseen delays. However, if we have experienced no delays, this is an opportunity to explore the fascinating city of Kathmandu.
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Day 20 Final Departure
Elevation:
N/A
Distance:
N/A
Time Taken:
N/A
Meals:
B
At the end of your program, we will arrange for transportation to the airport, and your guide will go to see you off. Flight check-in times vary based on the airline but are typically three hours before flight time.
