Mt. Everest Base Camp – Nepal
“Reach the Peak of Your Potential”
[metaslider id=1155]
Trip Summary: The colossal Himalayan mountain range in Asia is home to some of the world’s highest peaks, including the highest, Mt. Everest at 29,029 feet. Himalaya means “home of snow” because the tallest peaks are always capped with snow. Wildlife is diverse here, ranging from tigers, leopards and the one-horned rhinoceros found in the lower ranges, to the snow leopard and red panda at higher altitudes.
Your R&R career expedition begins in the colorful city of Kathmandu, the historical and cultural heart of Nepal, with its wonderful mix of Hinduism, Tibetan Buddhism and Western influences. From here, you fly to Lukla and trek to Monjo, experiencing unique mountain scenery, forests, glaciers, monasteries—even a few suspension bridges.
Day 1 and 2 – Fly out of connecting cities into Bangkok, Thailand.
We will overnight in Bangkok.
Day 3 – Fly out of Bangkok into Kathmandu, Nepal (4,366 ft/1340 m). Our Nepalese leader/guide, will meet all of us at the airport, and we will take a private bus to our hotel. Everyone will sleep two to a room unless you have signed up for single accommodations at an extra cost. We will have our first team dinner.
Day 4 – This is wonderful day of community service and sightseeing in Kathmandu following breakfast. The community service project will be determined at a later date. Kathmandu is the historical and cultural heart of Nepal and has been a popular destination for tourists ever since Nepal opened its doors to visitors. The city presents a wonderful mix of Hinduism, Tibetan Buddhism and Western influence. There will be a guided tour to the largest Buddhist stupa in Nepal Boudhanath and after that to the most popular Hindu shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva – Pashupatinath. We take a tour to Patan or Lalitpur (the City of Artisans), which is 5km away from Kathmandu. We walk through Patan Durbar Square, and delight in the architectural wonders of Malla era. Mahaboudha Temple, Kumbeshwor Temple, Krishna Temple and Golden Temple are the major attractions at the square. In the evening we will have a team meeting and team dinner.
Day 5 – Following breakfast, we will pack the bus and head to the airport for our flight to Lukla followed by our trek to Monjo (9,186 ft/2800 m). The flight and a landing on a steep mountain runway bring us to the start of our trek at the village of Lukla. After meeting the crew, we head up the Dudh Koshi Valley on a well-marked trail and then stay overnight at a lodge in Monjo where we will have dinner and rest for the night. Approximately 2 hours of hiking.
Day 6 – We will awaken to morning coffee and tea followed by a complete breakfast. After breakfast, we will begin our trek to Namche (11,318 ft/3450 m). From Monjo, we cross and re-cross the river on high suspension bridges. Beyond Monjo is the entrance to the Sagarmatha National Park which was set-up in order to protect and preserve the fragile mountain environment. We then take a steep hike to Namche. If the weather is clear, we get the first glimpse of Mt. Everest. Namche is the main trading village in the Khumbu and has a busy Saturday market – a meeting place for the Hindu traders from the lowlands and the Tibetan yak caravans that have crossed the glaciated Nangpa La. Following lunch on the trail, we will continue to Namche where we will have dinner and overnight at our lodge. Approximately 5-6 hours of strenuous hiking.
Day 7 – We will awaken to morning coffee and tea followed by a complete breakfast. After breakfast, there may be an opportunity to perform a second day of community service for the children of Namche and enjoy a complete day of rest for acclimatization. This is a good opportunity to take a shower and explore the area. Namche is tucked away between two ridges amidst the giant peaks of the Khumbu and has an abundance of lodges, teashops and souvenir shops. We will have a team meeting and dinner and overnight at the same lodge.
Day 8 – We will awaken to morning coffee and tea followed by a complete breakfast. After breakfast, we will begin our trek to Tengboche (12,687 ft/3867 m). From Namche, the trail contours on to the side of the valley, high above the Dudh Kosi. We get our first really good views of the great peaks of the Khumbu including Mt. Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse and Ama Dablam. Passing by several villages and numerous teashops, we descend steeply to a bridge over the river at Phunki Tenga. The village is an ideal stopover for lunch. Here we can rest before making the steep climb to Tengboche. Although the hike up the zigzag path is tiring, it presents us with many beautiful sights of rhododendron bushes with beautiful birds and superb mountain scenery. Tengboche is famous for its legendary monastery, the largest in the Khumbu. A spectacular panorama of Everest, Lhotse and Ama Dablam rising in the horizon can be seen from the campsite where we will have dinner and overnight at our lodge. Approximately 5-6 hours of hiking.
Day 9 – We will awaken to morning coffee and tea followed by a complete breakfast. After breakfast, we will begin our trek to Dingboche (13,950 ft/4252 m). The path goes along a wide rocky yak trail to the tiny villages of Somare and Pheriche (the HRA health post is there) and finally arriving in Dingboche. The lower half of Dingboche is a line of trekking lodges, while the upper half is still local Sherpa dwellings, fields, rock walls and yak enclosures, reminiscent of what all Sherpa villages were like years ago. Above us, an old Buddhist hermitage called Nangar Dzong, the summer meditation place of Lama Sangwa Dorje, sits nestled in the hillside. Below the high peak of Dolma Ri, we will have dinner and overnight at our lodge. Approximately 5-6 hours of hiking.
Day 10 – We will awaken to morning coffee and tea followed by a complete breakfast. After breakfast, we will enjoy a complete day of rest at Dingboche. We will wander up the valley to look at a lake, the Tshola Tsho and the perpendicular walls of Cholatse and Tawache. We can climb up onto the ridge over-looking Dingboche for the view of the Imja Valley and the incredible south face of Mt. Lhotse. We will end the day with a team meeting and dinner and rest for the night.
Day 11 – We will awaken to morning coffee and tea followed by a complete breakfast. After breakfast, we will begin our trek to Lobuche (16,174 ft/4930 m). We continue up the wide valley beneath the impressive peaks of Cholatse and Tawache and take a steep climb towards the foot of the Khumbu Glacier. The trail zigzags up through the boulders of the glacier’s terminal moraine and at the top of this climb there are many 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 where we will have dinner and overnight at our lodge or tents. Approximately 4-5 hours of hiking.
Day 12 – We will awaken to morning coffee and tea followed by a complete breakfast. After breakfast, we will begin our trek to Gorak Shep (17,007 ft/5184 m) by following the Khumbu Glacier. The trail offers superb views of the surrounding mountains. Following lunch at Gorak Shep, we make our way to the top of one of the finest viewpoints in the Everest region, Kala Pattar (18,221 ft/5554 m). As the light begins to fade we stroll back to our camp at Gorak Shep where we will have dinner and overnight at our lodge or tents in preparation for our trek to Everest Base Camp the following day. Approximately 5-6 hours of hiking.
Day 13 – We will awaken to morning coffee and tea followed by a complete breakfast. After breakfast, we will begin our trek to Mt. Everest Base Camp (17,575 ft/5357 m) early in the morning. It takes several hours as the trail weaves its way through ice pinnacles and past the crevasses of the Khumbu Glacier. On the return leg, we can take a higher route to get a spectacular view of the Khumbu Icefall and the route to the South Col. We return to Gorak Shep where we will have dinner and overnight in the same lodge or tents. Approximately 7-8 hours of hiking.
Day 14 – We will awaken to morning coffee and tea followed by a complete breakfast. After breakfast, we will begin our trek to Pangboche (13,074 ft/3985 m). Today’s trek is mostly downhill. As we retrace our steps and descend to Pheriche, we arrive at The Himalayan Rescue Association, a trekker’s aid post and worth a visit. After lunch, we cross the Khumbu Khola on a wooden suspension bridge and follow the Imja Khola to the village of Pangboche where we will have dinner and overnight in a lodge. Approximately 5-6 hours of hiking.
Day 15 – We will awaken to morning coffee and tea followed by a complete breakfast. After breakfast, we will begin our trek to Namche (11,318 ft/3450 m). We continue to follow the river and, after crossing it, climb back up through birch and rhododendron forest to Tengboche. Kwangde, Tawache, Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse, Ama Dablam, Kantega and Thamserku are just a few of the Himalayan giants to be seen. From Tengboche we descend to the bridge over the Dudh Kosi. At Phunki Tenga, we get to see the water driven prayer wheels, before making our way back to Namche where will have dinner and overnight in a lodge. Approximately 5-6 hours of hiking.
Day 16 – We will awaken to morning coffee and tea followed by a complete breakfast. After breakfast, we will begin our trek to Lukla (9,186 ft/2800 m). Our final day’s trekking follows the Dudh Kosi down to Lukla. This last evening calls for a celebration. We have a party with our sherpa guides and porters. We sample some chang (local beer) and try out some Sherpa dance steps. We will pack our bags for the early flight the next morning and have dinner at our lodge. Approximately 5-6 hours of hiking.
Day 17 – We will awaken to morning coffee and tea followed by a complete breakfast. After breakfast, and weather permitting, we will take our bags to the Lukla airport and fly to Kathmandu. Once we arrive in Kathmandu, the rest of your day is free to do your own thing. You could do some last minute shopping and packing, or send a few post cards home or even go down for a stroll to Thamel, an internationally known hub for tourists in Asia. We will have one last team dinner and accommodations at the Yak and Yeti Hotel or Lodge in Lukla.
Day 18 – Our Nepalese support team will take us to the airport for you’re an afternoon departure. We will spend the night in Bangkok for an early morning flight out.
Day 19 – Fly out of Bangkok for your final destination.
The following items are provided for all participants:
- One coach air fare ticket to Nepal
- Evacuation and travelers insurance policy
- All accommodations in hotels and lodges
- Private transportation
- All meals as stated in the itinerary
Cost Per Person – $12,500