Itinerary Details
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. Overnight in Kathmandu: Aloft by Marriott or similar.
Usually, this day starts early in the morning with a flight to Lukla from Kathmandu airport. (weather permitting)
After the flight you will land on its steep runway that boasts a fascinating story. The trail to EBC starts from Lukla, at 2,850m. After meeting the crew and support team, you will head towards the DudhKoshi Valley on a well-marked trail. Trekking time: approx. 3-4 hrs. Overnight in Phakding.
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 setup 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. 6-7hrs. Overnight in Namche.
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 up 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 Namche.
From Namche, the trail contours on the side of the valley, high above DudhKosi. 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 PhunkiTenga.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 Diboche
In the morning, you will continue hiking, heading now to Dingboche. The trail starts with a descent passing through a forest and crosses ImjaKhola before climbing steadily to the village of Pangboche. This village is directly opposite AmaDablam(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 Dingboche.
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 up to the ridge overlooking Pheriche for a view of the Imja Valley and the incredible south face of Mt.Lhotse. Overnight in Dingboche.
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 Lobuche.
This part of the trail offers superb views of the surrounding mountains, especially at the point that 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 at GorakShep 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 GorakShep.
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 GorakShep or Lobuche.
From this point, the group splits into two sub-groups, as follows:
Group 1: EBC Trek only
Today’s trek is mostly downhill. As you retrace your steps to Duglha and descend to Pheriche, you will arrive at the Himalayan Rescue Association, a trekkers’ aid post, worth a visit. Trekking time: approx. 5-6 hrs. Overnight in Pheriche.
You will continue following the river and, after crossing it, you will climb up through a birch and rhododendron forest to Tengboche. Kwangde, Tawache, Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse, AmaDablam, Kantega and Thamserku are just a few of the Himalayan giants to be seen. From Tengboche, you will descend to the bridge over DudhKosi. At PhunkiTenga, you get to look at the water-driven prayer wheels, before making your way back to Namche. By now, you should already feel revived, breathing more oxygen in the air! Trekking time: approx. 6-7hrs. Overnight in Namche.
Your final day's trek follows DudhKosi down to Lukla. This last evening calls for a celebration. Get ready to party with your Sherpa guides and porters, and don’t forget to try some Sherpa dance steps. Trekking time: approx. 6-7 hrs. Overnight in Lukla.
You will pack early and head to the small airport, hopping on a flight to Ramechhap and, from there, you will drive back to Kathmandu (4-6 hours driving distance).
Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure, exploring the hustle and bustle of Kathmandu, and maybe do some shopping or stroll in Thamel, an internationally known tourist hub in Asia. Overnight in Kathmandu: Aloft by Marriott or similar.
After breakfast, and depending on your departure details, you will be transferred to the airport for your flight back home.
Group2: Lobuche Peak Extension
After saying goodbye to the rest of the group, you will proceed towards the Lobuche High Camp. Trekking time: approx..6-7 hrs. Overnight in Lobuche High Camp.
You will start the day very early in the morning (1 or 2 am) and, after a good breakfast, you will head to the summit which you should reach before noon as the afternoon strong winds in the high lands may not allow you to proceed. The hike to the top takes about 6 hours, walking initially on rock surface while, from an altitude of around 5,700 m, you will be climbing on ice. You will use both fixed rope and man rope as per your guide’s instructions, their length depending on the season and the crevasses. Lobuche offers the most panoramic views than any other trekking peak. From the summit, you get to enjoy magnificent views of Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse, AmaDablam, Cholatse, Pumori, and many more. You will spend some time at the summit celebrating and taking pictures, before retracing your steps to the Base Camp. Trekking time: approx. 9-10 hrs. Overnight in Lobuche High Camp.
Contingency day in case of bad weather.
After the successful completion of your expedition, you begin your return, stopping for the night in Pangboche. Trekking time: approx. 7-8hrs. Overnight in Pangboche.
You will continue following the river and, after crossing it, you will climb up through a birch and rhododendron forest to Tengboche. Kwangde, Tawache, Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse, AmaDablam, Kantega and Thamserku are just a few of the Himalayan giants to be seen. From Tengboche, you will descend to the bridge over DudhKosi. At PhunkiTenga, you get to look at the water-driven prayer wheels, before making your way back to Namche. By now, you should already feel revived, breathing more oxygen in the air! Trekking time: approx. 5-6 hrs. Overnight in Namche.
Your final day's trek follows DudhKosi down to Lukla. This last evening calls for a celebration. Get ready to party with your Sherpa guides and porters, and don’t forget to try some Sherpa dance steps. Trekking time: approx. 6-7 hrs. Overnight in Lukla.
You will pack early and head to the small airport, hopping on a flight to Ramechhap and, from there, you will drive back to Kathmandu (4-6 hours driving distance).
Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure, exploring the hustle and bustle of Kathmandu, and maybe do some shopping or stroll in Thamel, an internationally known tourist hub in Asia. Overnight in Kathmandu: Aloft by Marriott or similar.
After breakfast, and depending on your departure details, you will be transferred to the airport for your flight back home.
