You will be met at the airport by our Him Ganga Treks representative and transferred to your hotel in Kathmandu. Rest at the hotel and briefing about the trip. There should be time to explore the city’s many charms on your own too. Overnight (O/N) in Kathmandu (breakfast included).

For those who prefer a quiet day or need to make some last minute preparations, today is the day. For others the program is as follows:
Leave for full day sightseeing in Kathmandu valley including the holiest site in Nepal: the Hindu temple complex at Pashupatinath (a UNESCO world heritage site) & the biggest Buddhist Stupa at Boudhanath. We can also visit the Shyambhunath a 2000 year old temple colloquially known as the “Monkey Temple” and visit Patan city of fine arts.
For all: In the evening there wil be a briefing at your hotel or at the office. O/N in Kathmandu (breakfast included)

After an early breakfast we drive to Kathmandu airport for an exciting flight to Lukla, the gateway to the homeland of Sherpas, Khumbu and Mt. Everest. After a short trek from Lukla we arrive at Phakding, a pleasant village on the bank of the river. Overnight at teahouse or camping. (all meals and hot drinks included).

The trail from Phakding continues north up the Dudh Kosi valley to Jorsale, where it officially enters the Sagarmatha National Park. Continuing along the trail we cross the Bhote Kosi River and climb steeply to Namche Bazaar at 3500 m. Here we should catch our first glimpses of Mt. Everest before arriving Namche Bazaar, a commercial town of Khumbu. Overnight at teahouse or camping. (all meals and hot drinks included).

A rest day in Namche Bazaar for acclimatization. This town, the hub of Sherpa society, is the administrative centre of the Khumbu region and has a police checkpost (we must all register there), the headquarters of the Sagarmatha National Park, a bank, several shops selling items of every description and a proliferation of Sherpa inns. Optional hiking toward Thame or day hike toward Syangboche and return to Namche Bazaar. Overnight at teahouse or camping. (all meals and hot drinks included).

From Namche Bazaar the trail follows the main route to Mt. Everest Base Camp for the first hour then turns to climb high on a 4000 meter ridge to past a large chorten at the village of Mong, said to be the birthplace of the saint Lama Sange Dorje, the fifth reincarnation of the lama of Rongbuk Monastery in Tibet. He is said to have introduced Buddhism to the Khumbu. From there we descend to the village of Phortse Tenga by the Dudh Kosi river. From Phortse the trail climbs steeply through forests of rhododendrons and then juniper and large conifers as the altitude increases. You will pass through Sherpa kharkas (high altitude pastures) and the villages of Tongba 3950 m and Gyele 3960m to Dole. You have great views of the Khumbila and Tawachee peaks throughout the day. Overnight at teahouse or camping. (all meals and hot drinks included)

The trail between Dole and Machhermo is a short and fairly leisurely trek which allows us to acclimatize to the altitude. In the morning there is a steep but beautiful climb through conifer and rhododendron and juniper forests to Lhabarma (4,220 m) and Luza (4,360 m). There are kharkas wherever there is a flat spot and the slightest hint of water. We continue to climb along the side of the valley, high above the river to Machhermo (4410 m). Overnight at teahouse or camping. (all meals and hot drinks included)

This can be considered as first real day at high altitude, and may be described as moderate to difficult. We climb a ridge from where the valley opens up as the trail passes through Pangkha. Mt. Cho Oyu (8153 m) dominates the skyline to the north as we climb the moraine on the left flank of the Ngozumpa Glacier. The climb is steep until the first of the four lakes that lie in the Gokyo area but then the trail levels off towards the second lake, Longponga at 4690m. Finally we ascend a path past the largest of the lakes, Dudh Pokhari to Gokyo at 4750m. Gokyo is a typical kharka with stone houses and stone walled pastures. For enthusiasts a rigorous hike up Gokyo Ri (5360m), the small peak above Gokyo Lake. Overnight at teahouse or camping. (all meals and hot drinks included)

Today will be one of the most difficult of our journey, we cross over the southern end of Ngozumpa Glacier then pass some stone huts at Thagna Kharka. The trail climbs steadily up a narrow and steep valley which opens up to a wide valley with a softer incline leading to the Kharka Chhyugima (5170 m) known as Dragnag. Overnight at teahouse or camping. (all meals and hot drinks included).

Today we have a steep and challenging but non-technical climb over rock, snow and perhaps ice to Cho La pass (5420m) which links the glacial valleys between Cho Oyu and Everest and from where you have superb views. Descending from the pass, we cross a small glacier, negotiate the ice fall at the end of it and descend via Leisyasa to Dzonglha Kharka 4730 m, a high altitude summer pasture directly beneath the north wall of Cholatse Peak 6440 m. Overnight at teahouse or camping. (all meals and hot drinks included)

We follow the trail above Tsholo Lake and joins the main trail to Mt. Everest Base Camp at Dughla on the last moraine of the Khumbu Glacier. From Dughla the trail ascends up the moraine past a row of stone monuments in memory of Sherpas who died on expeditions to Everest and on to Lobuche (4910m). Overnight at teahouse or camping. (all meals and hot drinks included)

After trekking along the Khumbu Glacier we will eventually cross it to reach the lodges at Gorak Shep. From here we can enjoy beautiful views of Himalayas all around us. Overnight at teahouse or camping. (all meals and hot drinks included)

From Gorapshep the route takes us to the top of Kala Patar for (weather permitting!) a spectacular mountain panorama crowned by Mount Everest and other neighboring high peaks of the Himalayas. Return to Gorapshep. Overnight at teahouse or camping. (all meals and hot drinks included)

To get Dingboche from Labuche we take the same trail until Dughla and continue the journey till Dingboche passing just above Pheriche. Dingboche is another spot with spectacular views of the Himalayas all round. Overnight at teahouse or camping. (all meals and hot drinks included)

From Dingboche the trail leads us east towards the very head of the Imja Khola valley to bring us to a few scattered stone huts (some operating as tea-houses in the high season) at Chukhung. To the south is a superb close view of Ama Dablam and to the north the massive walls of the Nuptse ridge and the south face of Lhotse. Overnight at teahouse or camping. (all meals and hot drinks included)

Another easy day, the trail crosses the river and follows the valley for approximately 3 hours, passing beneath the magnificent south face of Lhotse. The base camp is by the side of the Imja glacier, below steep grassy slopes which mark the start of the climb of Island Peak. Overnight camping. (all meals and hot drinks included)

Crossing the gully above the camp the trail makes us climb for another hour to a narrow ridge, leading on to the glacier. Here it is time to rope-up and put on our crampons as the most interesting part of the climb begins with the glacier crossing. This is followed by the steep snow slope that leads onto the summit ridge. This ridge is wonderfully airy and on reaching the summit we have stunning close-up views of the south face of Lhotse looming over us whilst in the other direction, there are more dramatic mountain views. We descend along the same route, down to base camp and continue to Chhukung. Overnight at teahouse or camping. (all meals and hot drinks included)

The trail from Chhukung to Dingboche returns by the same trail. After Dingboche we descend to Pangboche, an interesting Gompa site above the main village. This is the oldest monastery in the region and apparently dates from the introduction of Buddhism to the Khumbu. You are in the midst of the Himalayas here, with spectacular views all round. We then gradually ascend through the forest to Tyangboche. Here is main monastery of the Khumbu area. The views from here are unforgettable. Thyangboche lies at the base of Kangtaiga and the spur of this ridge affords panoramic views of the main peaks of Khumbu including Everest, Lhotse, and Ama Dablam. Overnight at teahouse or camping. (all meals and hot drinks included)

The trail from Tyangboche descends through a rhododendron forest till the riverbank of Dudh Koshi at Phungithanga and then ascends through more moss-covered rhododendron forest, the blood pheasant and the Impayan pheasant can be spotted in this area. The trail offers spectacular views of Ama Dablam, and Kangtaiga, flanked by the towering heights of Mt. Everest, Lhotse and Nuptse. Finally we will head back to Namche Bazaar. Overnight at teahouse or camping. (all meals and hot drinks included)

Once again we get the chance to enjoy this great flight, and enjoy some last spectacular views of the Himalayas. Arrival at Kathmandu after 35 minutes flight. Receipt by our representative and transfer to Hotel. Free day. Overnight at Hotel. (breakfast included)

We allow for this extra day in Kathmandu in case of canceled mountain flights or other unexpected hitches. O/N at the guesthouse in Kathmandu (breakfast included).