Nepal

The first view of Nepal from your plane window may become a cherished memory, as the clear, wide and snow-covered range of the Himalayas shines in front of your eyes. The beauty is so ecstatic and rare that you don’t want to miss a second. Welcome to Nepal: a small piece of Heaven on Earth.

Upon your arrival at the airport, a Rahhalah representative will welcome you and escort you to your hotel.

Accommodation: Aloft Kathmandu (or similar) in Kathmandu.

After an early breakfast, you will head to Ramechhap (a 4-6-hour drive), from where you will take (weather permitting) your flight to Lukla. After a 20-min flight, you will land on the steep runway of Lukla, ready for your hiking adventure.
(Note: the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal recently rerouted all domestic flights from Kathmandu to the Manthali Airport in Ramechhap).

The trail to EBC starts from Lukla, at 2,850m. After meeting the crew, you will head up the Dudh Koshi Valley on a well-marked trail and then stay overnight in Phakding.

Trekking time: approx. 3-4 hrs.

From Phakding, you will cross and re-cross the river on high suspension bridges, until you pass Monjo and reach the entrance to the Sagarmatha National Park which was set up to protect and preserve the fragile mountain environment. You will then take a steep hike to Namche. On the way, if the weather is clear, you will get the first glimpse of Mt Everest. Namche is the main trading village in Khumbu with a busy Saturday bazaar: a meeting place for the Hindu traders from the lowlands and the Tibetan yak caravans that have crossed the glaciated Nangpa La.

Trekking time: approx. 6-7 hrs.

Overnight in a tea house in Namche.
*Note: Bottled water is not included and the trekkers have to purchase it separately, on their own, from the tea houses or the lodge.

Namche is tucked away between two ridges amidst the giant peaks of Khumbu and has an abundance of lodges, tea shops and souvenir shops. It is an ideal place to spend a day, acclimatizing to the new altitude before heading towards Tengboche. To acclimatize, you will visit Khunde Hospital, established by Sir Edmund Hillary, or take a one-hour walk to the Everest viewpoint to watch the sun setting on AmaDablam, Nuptse, Lhotse and Everest. You can also enjoy beautiful views from the National Park Centre and Museum.

Overnight in a tea house in Namche.
*Note: Bottled water is not included and the trekkers have to purchase it separately, on their own, from the tea houses or the lodge.

From Namche, the trail contours on the side of the valley, high above Dudh Kosi. On the way, you will get your first, outstanding views of the high peaks of Khumbu including Mt Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse and AmaDablam. Passing by several villages and numerous tea shops, you will descend steeply to a bridge over the river at Phunki Tenga. The village is an ideal stopover for lunch.

After lunch, you will ascend to Tengboche following a steep, zig-zagging path. Although the trail is tiring, it offers many views of rhododendron bushes and superb mountain scenery. At the top, you will reach Tengboche Monastery, a Tibetan Buddhist monastery of the Sherpa community, situated at 3,867 m. It was built in 1916 by Lama Gulu and has been destroyed twice: in 1934 by an earthquake and in 1989 by a fire. However, given its value, especially since all the Everest expeditions pass by there to receive a blessing, the monastery has been successfully rebuilt and is part of the “Sacred Sites Trail Project” of the Sagarmatha National Park.

Trekking time: approx. 5-6 hrs.

Overnight in a tea house in Diboche.
*Note: Bottled water is not included and the trekkers have to purchase it separately, on their own, from the tea houses or the lodge.

In the morning, you will continue hiking, heading now to Dingboche. The trail starts with a descent passing through a forest and crosses Imja Khola before climbing steadily to the village of Pangboche. This village is directly opposite Ama Dablam (6,856 m), and has exceptional views of the mountain, with the gompa, mani walls and scattered pine trees in the foreground. Two more hours of hiking will bring you to Dingboche where you will rest for the night.

Trekking time: approx. 5-6 hrs.

Overnight in a tea house in Dingboche.
*Note: Bottled water is not included and the trekkers have to purchase it separately, on their own, from the tea houses or the lodge.

Another day of rest and acclimatization. You will go up the valley to look at the TsholaTsho Lake and the perpendicular walls of Cholatse and Tawache. You can also climb to the ridge overlooking Pheriche for a view of the Imja Valley and the incredible south face of Mt. Lhotse.

Overnight in a tea house in Dingboche.
*Note: Bottled water is not included and the trekkers have to purchase it separately, on their own, from the tea houses or the lodge.

You will continue hiking up the wide valley under the protective presence of the peaks of Cholatse and Tawache on your left. You will then turn right and take a steep climb towards the foot of the Khumbu Glacier. The teahouse at Duglha is a good spot to have lunch.

The trail zigzags up through the boulders of the glacier's terminal moraine. At the top of this climb, there are several stone cairns, built as memorials to the many Sherpas who have died while climbing Mt. Everest. The path then climbs gently along the glacier, to eventually reach the cluster of houses at Lobuche.

Trekking time: approx. 6-7 hrs.

Overnight in a tea house in Lobuche.
*Note: Bottled water is not included and the trekkers have to purchase it separately, on their own, from the tea houses or the lodge.

This part of the trail offers superb views of the surrounding mountains, especially where it crosses a tributary glacier. You will stop for lunch at Gorakshep, which will be your lodge for the night. You may continue hiking for a while on the trail but, as the light begins to fade, you will stroll back to the teahouse/lodge for an early night in view of the final push towards Everest Base Camp the following day.

Trekking time: approx.6-7 hrs.

Overnight in a tea house in Gorakshep.
*Note: Bottled water is not included and the trekkers have to purchase it separately, on their own, from the tea houses or the lodge.

You will start very early in the morning, as the trail is long, weaving its way through ice pinnacles and past the crevasses of the Khumbu Glacier. On the way back, you can take a higher route to get a spectacular view of the Khumbu icefall and the path to the South Col. You will return to either Gorakshep or Lobuche.

Trekking time: approx. 6-7 hrs.

Overnight in a tea house in GorakShep or Lobuche.
*Note: Bottled water is not included and the trekkers have to purchase it separately, on their own, from the tea houses or the lodge.