Everest Luxury Lodge Trek

Itinerary in Details:

Day 1: Arrive Kathmandu and transfer to the hotel (5-star hotel in Kathmandu). You will be met on arrival at Kathmandu airport and transfer to Hotel. A full briefing will be given in the afternoon.

Day 2: Sightseeing in Kathmandu. Today we explore Kathmandu with a local guide, the day is flexible depending on what you would like to see but the most popular places generally are: Pashupatinath is a Hindu temple with burning ghats on the banks of the Bagmati river. Swayambhunath, also known as the monkey temple, is climbed by a long set of steps and has great views of Kathmandu. Boudhanath stupa has many traditional gompas hung with strings of multi colored prayer flags, it attracts many Sherpas and Tibetans for the circumambulations of the stupa (koras). Durbar square, which is one of the old capitals of the Kathmandu valley, has a blend of Hindu and Buddhist temples.

Day 3: Fly to Lukla (2840 m), trek to Phakding (2610 m) - 4 to 5 hours walking. After the exciting landing at Lukla, you will start the trek. It is an easy introduction to the beautiful Dudh Kosi river valley and you will pass carved mani stones and prayer wheels typical of Sherpa Buddhist country. Our first lodge is the Farakpa Yeti Mountain Home at Phakding on the bank of the Dudh Khosi.

Day 4: Trek to Monjo (2850 m) - 3 hours walking. From Phakding the trail follows the Dudh Kosi valley north, staying on its west bank and soon there is a good view of Thamserku (6608 m). After a walk uphill and over a ridge there is a traverse high above the river to Benkar, and a little further on you cross over a suspension bridge to the east bank of the Dudh Kosi.

There are excellent new metal suspension bridges over the rivers which we cross several times. We reach Monjo at the entrance to the Sagarmatha (Everest) National Park, by lunch time. In the afternoon there is the option to hike up Thakcho Hill behind the village for spectacular views of Numbur, Thamserku and Kongdi River. Overnight at the Everest Summit Lodge at Monjo.

Day 5: Trek to Namche Bazaar (3445 m) - 4 hours walking. After crossing the Hilary suspension the trail starts uphill to Namche Bazaar. There is a good excuse for a break half way up when Everest becomes visible for the first time. We normally reach Namche by lunch time and check into the Zamling Guest House overlooking the town. Zamling is the best lodge in Namche and run by a hospitable Sherpa family. The Zamling lodge has a large dining room downstairs and bedrooms with private bathrooms. Overnight at the Zamling Guest House lodge.

Day 6: Acclimatisation day in Namche Bazaar. Today we take a rest day to allow us to adapt to the gain in altitude. There is plenty to do in and around Namche, we can take a short walk above the town to get a view of Everest. There is also an interesting Sherpa Culture Museum which is well worth a visit. We will return to the lodge for lunch and in the afternoon you can either relax or visit the Bazaar. Overnight at the Zamling Guest House lodge.

Day 7: Trek to Tashinga (3450 m) - 3 to 4 hours walking. This morning we leave Namche on the trail contouring the hillside high above the Imja Khosi. There are spectacular views of Everest, Lhotse and Nuptse and also the beautifully shaped Ama Dablam known as one of the most beautiful mountains in the world! The lodge is just located outside the village of Tashinga with views down the valley to Ama Dablam and Everest. Overnight at the Everest Summit Lodge at Tashinga.

Day 8: Trek to Pangboche (3875 m) - 6 hours walking. Today we set out for Pangboche village and pass the important Tengboche monastery along the way. The Tengboche monastery is the most important gompa in the Sherpa region, and home to the abbot and about 80 monks and novices following Nyingmapa Buddhism, the predominant Sherpa sect. There is a good view of Everest from here. After a visit to the monastery we will carry on walking to the village of Pangboche. Overnight at the Everest Summit Lodge at Pangboche.

Day 9: Trek to Tashinga (3450 m) - 4 hours walking. Today we walk back down to the lodge at Tashinga. Overnight at the Everest Summit Lodge at Tashinga.

Day 10: Trek to Mende (3700 m) via Sherpa villages of Khunde and Khumjung - 5 hours walking. Today we head back towards Namche contouring above to visit the Sherpa villages of Khumjung and Khunde. Khumjung is the site of the first school built by Edmund Hillary and the Himalayan Trust. We visit the village gompa above the village and will have the chance to see the infamous "yeti scalp". After lunch, we continue our walk towards our next Everest Summit Lodge at Mende. At the small village of Tshro we turn off the main trail to Thame and follow a small but steep path to the lodge at Mende. Overnight at the Everest Summit Lodge at Mende.

Day 11: Day trek to Thame village and monastery (3820 m) - 4 hours walking. The Thame valley is beautiful and is less visited than the main trail to Everest base camp. The monastery is situated above the village of Thame with the trail lined by many hand-carved Mani stones. We have lunch in Thame and then head back to Mende. Overnight at the Everest Summit Lodge at Mende.

Day 12: Return to Monjo (2850 m) - 5 hours walking. The trail descends to Namche Bazaar and then on to Monjo. Overnight at the Everest Summit Lodge at Monjo.

Day 13: Return to Lukla - 4 hours walking. Overnight at the Everest Summit Lodge at Lukla.

Day 14: Fly to Kathmandu. After breakfast we will fly back to Kathmandu (45 min flight). Transfer to hotel, shower and rest afternoon. Overnight at hotel in Kathmandu (5-star hotel in Kathmandu).

Day 15: At leisure in Kathmandu. Overnight at hotel.

Day 16: Fly back home. Transfer to Kathmandu airport for the flight back home. End of trip