Summary:
Follow the classic Everest Expedition route through hill villages where the scenery and way of life is typical of most of rural Nepal. Lots of climbing as the route crosses several ridges separated by deep river valley. An excellent treks that offers a chance to acclimatize before heading to Everest Base Camp or Gokyo Valley.
Detail Itinerary:
Day 01 :
Drive from Kathmandu (1350m.) to Jiri (1905) about 188 km which takes about nine to ten hours. The first part of your journey drives eastwards from Kathmandu passing through Bhaktapur, Banepa, Dhulikhel, Dolalghat, Lamasanghu, a part of the Araniko Highway and turn to right from Lamasangu for the Jiri road passing through Green Hills scenery as well as snow capped mountains. The road is quite narrow but it is smooth. Jiri is a town named after Jirel, the majority people inhabited in and around the town.
Day 02 :
Jiri (1905m.) - Deurali (2705m.)
6-7 hours, 1430m ascend, 630m Descend
The beginning of your trek is gently Ascend for the first two hours to Mali Danda (2440m.), view of Rolwaling Peaks and then it follows gently Descend path to Shivalaya (1800m.) where you could take lunch and hang around. After your lunch, the trail steeply goes up for an hour and rest of the day is gently up to the Deurali. You could enjoy the green scenery as well as some of the snow-capped mountains at a far distance.
Day 03 :
Deurali (2705m.) – Sete (2520m)
6-7 hours, 1100m Descend, 900m ascend
The starting of your trek is steeply Descend for early an hour to Bhandar (2400m.) and then gently Descend to Kenja (1600m.) where you could enjoy your lunch. After your lunch, your trek is steeply up to destination. En route, you could enjoy agricultural farm scenery where locals work hard. In addition to this, you could pass through Sherpa villages with beautiful mountain views.
Day 04 :
Sete (2520m) – Junbesi (2580m)
6-7 hours, 1000m ascend, 950m Descend
To begin your trek, you should climb steeply for an early two hours passing through Dagchu, Goyem, a small Sherpa settlements. Then your trek starts gently up to the Lamjura Pass (3500m.) through rhododendron forest. After the pass, rest of the trek is gently Descend to the destination. In this route, you could enjoy some of the snow capped mountains such as Numbur (6955m) the "God of the Solu". Besides this, you could see some wildlife such as monkey and many species of birds.
Day 05 :
Rest day at Junbesi and hang around or visit Thubten Chholing Monastery known as Nunnery Monastery on two hours side trip after 3 days harassing working.
Day 06 :
Junbesi (2580m) – Nunthala (2220m)
6 - 6 ½ hours, 900m ascend, 1250m Descend
The beginning of your trek is gently Ascend for early one and half hours to Phurtung (2900m.). From this place, you could see first view of Mount Everest including Thamserku (6608m.), Kantega (6780m.), Kusum Kangaru (6370m.) and Mera Peak (6650m.) Your trek is flat and gently Descend to Ringmo Khola (2500m.). Immediately, your trail is steeply up for one and half hours to the Takshindo La Pass (3100m.). From this point, you could see excellent mountain views. At the end of your trek is steeply Descend to the town Nunthala (2220m.) through small Sherpa settlement and forest.
Day 07 :
Nunthala (2220m) – Bupsa (2360m)
5 - 6 hours, 700m Descend, 850m Ascend
The beginning of your trek is gently Descend to the Dudh Koshi river at 1500m (Milk River) for an early two hours passing through agricultural farming land and small Sherpa and Rai settlements. From Dudh Koshi river, your trail is gently Ascend all the way to Kharikhola (2050m.) passing through Juving (1680m.) a pretty big Rai village and farming lands. From Kharikhola your trail follows flat path for 45 minutes and then steeply up to the camp (Bupasa) where you could visit 50 years old Buddhist Monastery in ruined state.
Day 08 :
Bupsa (2360m) – Surkhe (2300m)
5 ½ hours, 480m Ascend, 540m Descend
At the beginning of the day, you should ascend steeply for the early two hours to Khari La Pass (2880m.) passing through rhododendron and oak forest including a small Sherpa settlements and teashops. From this point, you could see excellent view of different mountains such as Numbur (6955m.), Cho-oyu (8201m.), Gyangchung Kang (7922m.), Khumbila (5761m) and Thamserku (6808m). Now, your trail is gently descend and flat to Chaubar (2730m.) passing through Bamboo forest and Puiyan (2770m.) with view of Khumbu Valley as well as beautiful mountains. At the end of the day, your trail steeply descends from Pakhepani up to the destination. Surkhe is a small Sherpa village at the bottom of the Lukla. In this town Nepalese Sherpa lady named Pasang Lhamu Sherpa, who was born and climb Everest for the first time in 1993 and lost her life on her way to back Base Camp.
Day 09 :
Surkhe (2300m) – Phakding ( 2652m)
3 ½ hours, 350m Ascend, 50m Descend
The first part of the trek is gently ascend for early 2 hours to Chhiplung (2700m.), a junction road to Jiri and Lukla passing through Mushe (2650m.). From this place, the road is quite broad and busy. Now, your trail is almost flat and gently descend and ascend to Phakding. This is a short trek after 3 long days trek. You could hang in and around Phakding village.
Day 10 :
Phakding (2652m) – Namche Bazzar (3440m)
5 - 6 hours, 850m ascend, 200m descend
From the Phakding, the trail follows the Dudh Koshi valley north, staying 100m and so above the river on its west bank as it passes through Zamphuti. A short distance beyond the water fall, there is an excellent view of to the east of the 6608m peak of the Thamserku. Climbs steeply over the rocky ridge, then traverse high above the river to Benkar (2710m). All along this part of the trail, villages are interspersed with magnificent of rhododendron, magnolia and gaint firs. Through a forest to Chumoa. You continue along a path with many ups and downs; cross a stream, and pass by the tiny village of Monjo (2840m). Now you descend the path of stone steps and return to the right bank over a wooden bridge. After a short climb you come to Jorsale’s teahouse and hotel, also stop at the National Park Entrance office where a park entrance fee is collected. After your departure from Jorsale, you enter a forested mountainside. You follow a short walk along the riverbed of this V-shaped valley where the river forks - the right is the Dudh Koshi and the left is the Bhote Koshi that leads to Nampa La. After short distance along the Bhote Koshi, begin the steep ascend to Namche Bazar. As the mountain path zigzags uphill, you will emerge at a ridge top rest area that offers excellent views of Tawache (6540m), Nuptse (7896m), Everest (8848m) and Lhotse (8516m.) The climb eases somewhat, and Namche Bazar appears ahead as you travel along the path surrounded by pines. Pass the terrace where the Saturday bazaar is held and enter the village. Namche Bazar (3440m) is surrounded on three sides by mountain ranges and opens out only where it faces the Bhote Koshi. The village is a central hub of the area and food, laundries and even mountain climbing equipment may be purchased here.
Day 11 :
Rest Day at Namche Bazaar or an excursion in and around Namche Bazaar.
Namche is tucked away between two ridges amidst the giant peaks of the Khumbu and has an abundance of lodges, resorts, tea shops and souvenir shops as well as a magnificent outlook. Namche is the administrative center for the Khumbu region and has a police check post, Army post, the headquarters for Sagarmatha National Park, numerous shops, books shops, bakeries, bars, internet facilities. It is an ideal place to spend a rest day for acclimatization to the high altitude before heading off towards Tengboche. For the acclimatization you walk upto Khhumjung where you can visit monastery. Khhumjung is densely populated by Sherpa community. You can also enjoy the splendid views of Everest, Ama Dablam, Thamserku, Nuptse, Lhotse, Tawache, Kwangde and so on. Or you can have an hour walk up to the Syangboche (3800m.) where Everest View Hotel is situated above Namche for the outstanding view of Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse, Ama Dablam, Thamserku and Kusumkangaru. .There is also good views from the National Park Centre and Museum just above the town. This museum displays about the people, sherpa culture, forests, wildlife, mountaineering and the impact of tourism.
Day 12 :
Namche Bazzar (3440m) – Thame (3800m)
4 ½ hours, 360m ascend, 100m descend
From Namche the route turns west and the trail is almost level as you head up the Bhote Koshi Valley, once a popular trading route into Tibet. Along the way you pass many prayer flags, mani walls and carved stones, all indicative of the Tibetan Buddhist culture of this area. After descending to the Bhote Koshi the trail climbs steeply to Thame. From here, there are good views of the peaks of Teng Kangpoche and Kwangde and to the north is the Nangpa La, the pass leading to Tibet. Thame Gompa is situated above the village overlooking the valley and is the site for the spring celebrations of the Mani Rimdu festival.
Day 13 :
Thame (3800m) – Khumjung (3790m)
5 hours, 400m descend, 350m ascend
You retrace your route down the Bhote Koshi Valley towards Namche and branch off to follow a quiet trail to Khumjung. It is a picturesque village which also has its own gompa at the top end of town. Here you can have excellent views of Thamserku, Kantega and Ama Dablam. The Khumjung village is said to have the largest settlement of Khumbu region. There is well-equipped high school built by Edmund Hillary in 1960. Not limited to this, there is an old monastery where the skull of Yeti is believed to have preserved. The neighboring village of Khumjung is Khunde where a well equipped Hospital is built by Edmund Hillary in 1964.
Day 14 :
Khumjung (3790m) – Dole (4085m)
4½ - 5 hours, 450m descend, 750m ascend,
Soon after leaving Khumjung the trail climbs to a large chorten on top of a ridge. This ridge descends from Khumbila, a 5761m peak, said to be the abode of the patron God of the Khumbu region. The trail descends slightly towards the Sanasa and then trail ascends up to Mongla (4000m.). From here, you can see panoramic views of various mountains. You trek steeply descend passing through Phortse Tenga (3680m) and from there, the trail climbs steeply to Dole, through rhododendron and birch forest festooned with hanging mosses and lichens. You can enjoy delicious meal at Phortse Tenga (3680m.).
Day 15 :
Dole (4085m) – Machhermo (4410m)
3 hours, 350m ascend, 50m descend
From Dole you climb steadily along the side of the valley, where the small and thorny bushes give way to scrub juniper as the altitude increases. The trail passes many summer settlements, which are used when yaks are taken to these pastures to graze in the summer months. Ahead of you are excellent views of Cho Oyu, while back down the valley are the peaks of Kantega and Thamserku. This is a short day and you will arrive at Machhermo in time for lunch.
Day 16 :
Machhermo (4410m) – Gokyo (4750m)
4 hours, 350m ascend, 50m descend
Today you head for the lakes at Gokyo. You follow a very scenic path to Pangka and then descend slightly, following one of the melt-water rivers which flow down the west side of the Ngozumpa Glacier. You climb a steep rocky inclined into the valley by the side of the glacier, passing the first of the holy lakes. You soon arrive at the second of the lakes, crossing the path which heads across the glacier to Cho La (5420m.) -your route to Lobuche and Everest, later in the trek. The third lake is known as Dudh Pokhari and on its eastern shore is the settlement of Gokyo. Walking by the side of the lake, the scenery is magnificent with the summits of Cho Oyu and Gyachung Kang reflected in its emerald green waters.
Day 17:
Rest day at Gokyo and excursion in and around Gokyo valley Gokyo is a trade centre where the Sherpa people run lodges to provide the best services to the trekkers. Gokyo is situated by the side of Ngozumpa glacier, the biggest glacier in the world. This day you can make a side trip to Fifth Lake via Forth Lake.
Day 18 :
Gokyo (4750m) – Gokyo Ri (5360m) – Machhermo (4410m)
5 – 5 ½ hours, 610m ascend, 940m descend
First you climb to Gokyo Ri for the sunrise and panoramic view in 360o. The climb Gokyo Ri looms above the village on the northern edge of the lake and you leave camp just after first light, following a steep path up the hillside. As you climb, the summits of Everest, Lhotse and Makalu slowly come into sight and the view from the summit of Gokyo Ri itself, is one of the finest to be had in the Everest region - some say it is even better than that from Kala Patthar. After lunch it is a short walk to the village of Machhermo.
Note: An Alternative routs from Gokyo to Phortse (3800m) via Na (4400m)
6 -7 hours, 950m descend, 350m Ascend.
And then phortse to Namche Bazaar the next day.
4 ½ hours, 680m descend, 400m Ascend.
Day 19:
Machhermo (4410m) – Namche Bazaar (3440m)
5 ½ - 6hours, 1100m descend, 350m ascend
The trail gently descends to Dole and then starts descending steeply to Photse Tenga (3680m.) passing through rhododendron forests. Then the path immediately ascends steeply to Mongla Danda (4000m.) and gently descends up to Kyanjoma (3600m.) following small ups and down to the destination.
Day 20 :
Namche Bazaar (3440m) – Lukla (2846m)
6 - 7 hours, 950m descend, 250m ascend
The last day of your trek leads from Namche Bazaar via Monjo to Lukla. The trek is pleasant, except for few short uphill climbs and then down to the Dudh Koshi River crossing it five times. The last uphill climb of 45 minutes will bring you to Lukla for your overnight stay. This last evening in the mountains is the ideal opportunity for a farewell party with the sherpa guides and porters, being offered chhang and Sherpa dance with a memorable trekking experience in mind.
Day 21 : Fly from Lukla to Kathmandu which takes 35 minutes. You take an early morning flight back to Kathmandu.
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Facts of the Trek: