Short Everest Base Camp Trek

Welcome to Nepal and Desire Adventures. This trip in Nepal starts with a drive to Ramechhap (around 1-2am), it will takes 4-5hr drive to Ramechhap to catch a  flight to Lukla from Ramechhap. Therefore, around at 1-2am, a sharing transfer will come to collect you from your hotel in Kathmandu and transfer you to the domestic terminal of the Manthali Airport in Ramechhap. After reaching the airport, you will quickly board the plane and fly to Lukla. It takes about 15-18 minutes to fly from Manthali to Lukla. It’s a very scenic flight; the aerial view of the landscape, on clear days, is a delicious treat to your eyes. Soon, the plane will land on the airstrip of the Tenzing Hillary Airport in Lukla, one of the most dangerous airports in the world to land on. Enjoy the thrill! Once in Lukla, you will be introduced to the porters and other team members eagerly awaiting your arrival. Enjoy your breakfast, while the luggage is prepared for the porters. After breakfast, following the narrow stone-paved streets of Lukla, you will ascend to the Pasang Lhamo Memorial Gate (located north end of Lukla), before descending to Phakding. The streets of Lukla are livened with colorful shops, stones carved and painted with Buddhist mantras and flapping colorful prayer flags. The trail ahead of the memorial gate to Pasang Lhamo Sherpa will allow you to immerse in the beautiful nature and culture preserved by the Khumbu region and the Sherpa people of Nepal. Drop down to the village of Cheplung, past stone walls and a few mani stone, before continuing through the community forest to the first suspension bridge (over Thado Koshi River) on the trail. Look up to enjoy the mesmerizing view of Kusum Kangru and down to enjoy the bustling Dudh Koshi River. Crossing the bridge, you will now climb around the ridge to Ghat. Leaving Ghat you will enter a complex of Mani walls, chortens and boulders carved with Tibetan prayers and the colorful prayer wheels. Leaving the beautiful complex behind, you will now climb over an old landslide to Chhuthawa and winding through the forest, beside the Dudh Koshi River, you will continue to Phakding. You will reach Phakding around the afternoon. You will check into the lodge, quickly after reaching Phakding, for dinner and accommodation. The afternoon is spent at leisure. Exploring the nearby monasteries is recommended to best utilize the leisure time.

Accommodation: Lodge (twin room), Phakding

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner  

After enjoying full breakfast in Phakding, you will leave Phakding for Namche. Crossing the suspension bridge across the Dudh Koshi River, you will continue ahead on a meandering trail (100m above the river), through the forest of pine, across Ghatte Khola, past a small hydroelectric project and over the ridge to Toktok. From Toktok, you will descend to Benkar (famous for its beautiful potato fields), through the forest of pine appreciating a few small, yet extremely beautiful waterfalls. Before heading further north, you will cross another suspension bridge to cut across to the east bank of the river. From the bridge, the walk to Chumoa is through the woods of rhododendron, magnolia and fir that provide shade to a number of sparsely spread small Sherpa settlements. Monjo, the entrance to Sagarmatha National Park is a short climb from Chumoa. At Monjo, your guide will take care of the necessary national park check-in formalities. You can either utilize this interval enjoying a cup of tea/coffee at one of the teahouses, or the exhibition of the 3D map of the Khumbu Himalaya and responsible trekking in the information center, in Monjo. After completing the formalities, leaving Monjo, you will continue north on a dropping trail that leads you to another suspension bridge. Do not fail to notice the beautiful stupa-shaped gateway and an enormous granite bluff - carved with Tibetan mantras, in the hurry to get to the suspension bridge. You will hike north to Jorsale after crossing the bridge. The trail ahead of Jorsale crosses one more suspension bridge to cut across to the east bank of the river, before following the lower river bank trail over gravel and boulders to climb back into the forest. In no time the confluence of Bhote Koshi and Dudh Koshi River comes into view. Walking past he confluence, you will hike north to cross the Larja Bridge. A little ahead of the bridge, you will come across a viewpoint that presents you with the first view of the mighty Mt. Everest. Enjoy the view and get ready for a steep climb on a zigzagging trail that passes through the forest of Pine to Mislung. The forest ends at Mislung and the path also evens out. The walk to Namche from this point is fairly easy. On reaching Namche, you will check into the lodge, before dinner. The evening is at leisure, which can be best utilized by taking a stroll around the town of Namche. Bakeries, restaurants and internet cafes are some of the best places to hang out, before dinner in Namche.

Accommodation: Lodge (twin room), Namche Bazaar.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Acclimatization in Namche, before gaining further altitude, is a must to avoid the symptoms of AMS. Therefore, to adapt to the thinning air and oxygen level, your private guide will take you for an acclimatization hike, after breakfast. He will either guide you to Thame (6-7hour), a village located west of Namche, or take you for a full day circuit through Syangboche, Khunde and Khumjung (4-5 hours).

Acclimatization trek to Thame is a hike to a secluded village located west of Namche, underneath the mountain wall of Kongde RI. Enormous mani rocks carved with Buddhist mantras and painted with images of Guru Rinpoche, pine and rhododendron woodland, ancient mud-plastered monasteries; murals of Green Tara, Guru Rinpoche and Thangtong Gyalpo; large chortens, Kani, stone-walled fields, hydroelectric power houses and the Thame Gompa are the main attractions of this side trip.

However, the circuit hike around Syangboche, Khunde and Khumjung offers more variations in terms of attractions. The grass airstrip of Syangboche, carved boulders, Boudhanath-style chortens, Khunde Hospital-the first hospital in Khumbu and Hillary School- both built by Sir Edmund Hillary; Khunde Tsamkhang- a Buddhist temple founded by a lama, who fled from Tingri in Tibet; memorial chortens to Edmund Hillary, his wife and daughter; the longest mani wall in the Khumbu region in Khumjung and a gompa that has the skull of a ‘Yeti’ on exhibition are the man-made attractions of this trek. However, equally rich in natural attractions, juniper and rhododendron; charming view of Khumbila, Ama Dablam and Thamserku and the 360-degree view of Khunde, Namche Bazaar, Ama Dablam and Pachermo peak from the Hillary Memorial viewpoint are the natural attractions of this side trip.

After completing one of these hikes, you will return to Namche. The evening, before dinner, is at leisure. You can enjoy the internet cafes and bakeries in Namche to best utilize your time.

Accommodation: Lodge (twin room), Namche Bazaar.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Full breakfast in Namche and you will leave Namche for Tengboche. You will start on a trail by the huge Mani stone in Chhorkung and climb around the ridge to the end of the bluff, where the memorial chorten to Tenzing Norgay stands out in stark contrast against the backdrop of the beautiful panorama of Thamserku to Amadablam, Lhotse and Everest. Enjoying the view, you will walk past the chorten and a number of lodges/teahouses of Kyangjuma to the trail junction at Sanasa. From Sanasa, following the descending trail, which is the regular Everest Base Camp trail, you will gently descend to Leushyasa. Ahead of Leushyasa, the descending trail steepens as you continue to the suspension bridge at Phunki Tenga. From Phunki Tenga, Tengboche is about 90-minute uphill climb, through the forest of rhododendron. Do not miss out on the opportunity to enjoy one of the loveliest views of Kantega and remark water-powered prayer wheels, while ascending to Tengboche. Soon, you will be greeted by a pair of chorten and beautiful Kani, that mark the arrival of Tengboche, set amidst the spectacular panorama of Tawache, Everest Nuptse, Lhotse, Ama Dablam and Thamserku. Once in Tengboche, you will check into the lodge and set off for a guided walking tour of Tengboche Monastery and the Eco Center in Tengboche. After exploring the area, taking in the highlights with your private guide, you will return to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay.

Accommodation: Lodge (twin room), Tengboche.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Tengboche monastery is the largest and the most important monastery in the region. Every morning, the monks gather to offer morning prayers to their god at the monastery, which you can join in (if you want), before breakfast. After breakfast, you will leave Tengboche for Dingboche. First you will gently descend through the forest of conifer and rhododendron (on stone steps) to Milingo, past Deboche. You will then cross the bridge across the Imja River, where the other end of the bridge greets you with a beautiful big chorten. Leaving the chorten, you will now continue towards the outskirt of Pangboche. As you reach the turn off to upper Pangboche, you will leave the tree line and enter the arid landscape of glacial boulders and alpine meadows. Walking past the mural of Guru Rinpoche, you will gently hike up to Somare following the west bank of the Imja River. Crossing the bridge at Somare, you will continue on a very gently ascending trail to Chuto (past Orsho), where the trail splits into two direction – one leading to Dingboche and the other to Pheriche. You will cross the bridge and following the trail along the Imja River, you will continue north-west for about 30 minutes to end the day’s walk at Dingboche. Dingboche welcomes you with the grandest view of the Island Peak, Peak 38 and Lhotse. You will check into the lodge in Dingboche, before setting out for an exploration tour of the settlement of Dingboche.

Accommodation: Lodge (twin room), Dingboche.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Acclimatization in Dingboche is the second necessary acclimatization to prevent the symptoms of altitude sickness, before heading to the Everest Base Camp.  One-hour hike to Nangkartshang Hermitage and additional 90-minutes’ walk to the viewpoint above it, or a full-day hike to Chhukung are the two best acclimatization hiking options around Dingboche. You will follow your guide to one of these hiking destinations, after breakfast in Dingboche.

Hike to the hermitage of Nangkartshang, above Dingboche, is a short uphill climb, past chortens and prayer flags, to the dwelling of Sange Dorje, where you can explore an assemblage of retreats built around his meditation cave. Moreover, about 90-minutes climb to the viewpoint above the hermitage, reveals fantastic views up of Cholatse and Taboche to the north, lake at the foot of Ama Dablam to the south and the Island Peak Valley with Makalu (8,436m – the 5th highest peak in the world), rising above all other peaks in the east.

However, hike to Chhukung in the upper Imja Valley is a longer acclimatization trek option. This hike east of Dingboche will take you to Chhukung, nestled among the ridges of moraine, amidst the mountains and the glaciers. Provided you have time and energy, you can also climb Chhukung RI for the mind-blowing panorama of Ama Dablam, Baruntse and Makalu.

After the acclimatization hike, you will be guided back to your accommodation in Dingboche.

Accommodation: Lodge (twin room), Dingboche.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Enjoy full breakfast in Dingboche, before leaving for Lobuche. Either following the trail that crosses to Pheriche through the stupa atop the ridge, or the one that slowly climbs the ridge past Dusa, you will advance towards the Pheriche and Dingboche trail junction that drops down to cross the glacial stream, before rising up to Dughla. The splendid view of Taboche and Cholatse, Ama Dablam and Kantega make the trail very scenic. On reaching Dughla, you will continue up the terminal moraine of the Khumbu Glacier to the top of the ridge, where the trail slightly turns left to a number of memorials dedicated to climber and Sherpas, who lost their lives in the mountains of the Khumbu region. Leaving the memorial spot behind, you will continue north, where the Everest Base Camp trail merges with the three passes trail. The rising view of Pumori keeps your eyes occupied, as you ascend towards the junction. The walk to Lobuche from the junction is on a challenging loose moraine of the Khumbu Glacier. On reaching Lobuche, you will check into the lodge, before setting off for the hikes around Lobuche. Some good hiking options are the ridges east of Lobuche and the Italian Pyramid north of Lobuche. You will return to the lodge in Lobuche, after one of these hikes.

Accommodation: Lodge (twin room), Lobuche.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today’s walk will finally take you to the base camp of the world’s highest peak, Mt. Everest. It’s a long and tiring walk; therefore, enjoy full breakfast, before leaving Lobuche. From Lobuche, following the trail squeezed between the lateral moraine of the Khumbu Glacier and the mountain wall, past a turn off to Italian Research Center, you will advance north towards Gorak Shep. However, before reaching Gorak Shep, you will have to struggle with a few short vertical climbs and the terminal moraine of the Changri Shar Glacier (for about 50 minutes). Once at Gorak Shep, enjoying the view of Changtse, Khumbutse, Lingtren and Pumori, you will check into the lodge, leave your luggage and set off for the base camp. From Gorak Shep, you will head back to the moraine of the Khumbu Glacier and continue north along a knife-edge ridge, across the boulders on the Khumbu Glacier to the base camp of the Mt. Everest. The walk is physically testing; however, once you reach the base camp, the feeling of achievement makes you forget the hardships that you struggled through, to make your way up to the base camp. Colorful prayer flags wedged between the rocks and colorful tents (during the climbing season) below the Khumbu Icefall mark the arrival of the base camp of Mt. Everest. You will spend some time enjoying the surrounding view and capturing the scenery and the moments in your camera. After enjoying the view, you will retrace your steps to Gorak Shep.         

Accommodation: Lodge (twin room), Gorak Shep.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Sunrise view over Mt. Everest and other Himalayan giants of the Khumbu Region is best observed from the summit of Kala Patthar. It takes about 2 hours to reach the summit of Kala Patthar. Therefore, you will start this day 2 hours before sunrise and hike to the summit of Kala Patthar. Wait and watch the mountain silhouettes turn into the beautiful white Himalaya giants with the sun rising higher in the sky. Also, the views of 360-degree panorama from Pumori and Lobuche West to Nuptse, Lhotse and Everest; Khumbu Glacier and Khumbu Icefall; the Everest Base Camp are very pleasing to eyes. After enjoying the view for some time, you will head back to Gorak Shep for breakfast. After breakfast, without wasting much time, you will retrace your path to Lobuche. From Lobuche, you will continue down the moraine to Dughla, cross the glacial stream and continue to Pheriche; following the lower path that drops along the wide valley. On reaching Pheriche, you will check into the lodge, before enjoying the leisure time in Pheriche.

Accommodation: Lodge (twin room), Pheriche.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner        

Enjoy full breakfast in Pheriche, before leaving for Namche. Leaving Pheriche, you will gently ascend to Pheriche Pass, before heading down to the trail junction at Chuto. From Chuto you will continue on a relatively flat trail to the bridge at Somare. From Somare, walking past the rock mural of Guru Rinpoche, and slowly leaving the arid landscape of glacial boulders and alpine meadows, you will gently descend to the upper Pangboche trail junction. Ignoring the trail heading towards upper Pangboche, you will continue down to cross the bridge at Chaturje, before gently ascending to Tengboche, past Deboche. Bidding farewell to the beautiful Tengboche Monastery and the Himalayan panorama, about an hour climb, down the forest of rhododendron will bring you to the bridge at Phunki Tenga. Crossing the bridge, a steep ascent on stone steps will bring you to Leushyasa, from where, a gentle hike will take you to the trail junction at Sanasa. Now following the trail along the ridge past the memorial chorten to Tenzing Norgay, you will continue to Namche Bazaar. In Namche, you will check into the lodge and spend the remaining time (before dinner) at leisure.

Accommodation: Lodge (twin room), Namche Bazaar.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast in Namche and you will leave Namche for Lukla. Leaving Namche, you will continue on an even trail till Mislung. From Mislung, entering the forest of pine, you will steeply drop down on a snaking trail to Larja bridge. You will cross the bridge and continue to Jorsalle on a level trail, before ascending to Monjo. At Monjo, your guide will take care of the necessary national park check out formalities, after which, you will gently hike down to Phakding, before ascending to Lukla. After reaching Lukla, you will check into the lodge. You can either spend the remaining time recalling the memories made over the past days or celebrating the achievement with the team leaders.     

Accommodation: Lodge (twin room), Lukla.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After breakfast in the Khumbu region, you will fly back to Ramechhap, once again enjoying the scenic view. From the airport, you will be transferred to your hotel in a sharing minivan to Kathmandu. In the evening, we will meet for the farewell dinner. Your choice food will be served from the restaurant menu. While having dinner we will also discuss the trip and the feedback. After dinner, you will be escorted to your hotel, ending the trip with Desire Adventures.