 Day 1 : Arrival at KATHMANDU, transfer to HAATIBAN (1852 mts)
You are met at the airport and then transferred to Haatiban Resort, an hours drive through the lovely countryside. Located south-west and around 400 meters above the valley, the views from here and the peaceful environment is most welcoming after a long flight. Overnight.
Day 2 : Day hike to CHAMPADEVI (2278 mts/ 3/4 hrs)
An early morning hike up the Champa Devi hill is recommended as a good preparation for your onward trek. Once at the top, the views of the mountains stretching from Manaslu in the west all the way towards the eastern Himalaya is a treat. Back at the hotel you can either take the afternoon off or do some sightseeing of the local villages and small towns of Pharping and Dakshinkali .
Day 3 : Fly to LUKLA (2,743 m/9,000ft), Trek to Summit Lodge MONJO (2850 m/ 5/6hrs)
The flight from Kathmandu to Lukla and the landing at the small mountain airstrip is something you will be talking about for many years to come. After landing on the newly resurfaced airstrip, you will probably have a cup of tea at our lodge in Lukla before commencing the trek. Bypass several villages before making a lunch stop at a beautiful spot alongside the Thada Kosi river below the base of the Kusum Kangru Himal. The second half of the trek to Monjo does not take more than 3 hours. The next big tourist village on the way to Monjo is Phakding (8,700 ft / 2,652 m). The entire walk from Lukla to Monjo is mostly easy walking over gentle up and down hills. Memories of the first day will include the sounds of porters with transistor radios, a cacophony of different languages, and strange sounding birds, the sights of porters with loads resting on sticks outside tea houses, tired trekkers on their way back to Lukla, prayer flag poles, the gaudy colors of the tea houses and of course the dramatic scenery. Warm welcome tea served with cookies and cakes await you at the Monjo lodge.
Day 4 : DAY Excursion from MONJO to THACHOK DANDA (3,000 mts/ 5/6hrs)
Today, to help you acclimatize, your Sherpa sirdar will take you on a day's walk to Thakchok Danda, which lies at a little above 9,842 ft / 3,000 m. From this vantage point the views of the Kongde Ri, Thamserku and the Numbur Himal are quite spectacular. The total excursion will take about 6 hours. Return to Monjo Lodge for overnight.
Day 5 : Trek to Summit Lodge, TASHINGA (11,023ft / 3,450 mts) 5/6hrs.
Five minutes beyond the lodge, you enter into Everest National Park area , where entry formalities have to be completed. Today will be one of the harder days of the trek but we take it slowly, enjoying the scenery as you climb gradually up to Namche Bazar. Along the way there are two suspension bridges to cross as you zig zag up the Dudh Kosi river to reach at the base of the climb to Namche. A long steep climb but with several stops to catch our breath, and a slow plod, we make our way steadily upwards. The trail to Namche Bazar is a well marked, comfortable broad trail. Walking in the cool part of the morning it is easier to breathe and get used to the increasing altitude. After an easy paced three hour's of hike you arrive at the heart of Khumbu - Namche Bazar (3,450 mts). A well deserved break is planned for lunch and to look around this interesting small town. From Namche the trail to Tashinga follows the classical approach route to Everest. Follow the
almost level, winding trail for about 2.5 hours before we take a slight detour from the main trail and arrive at the lodge within the next 15 minutes.
Day 6 : Day excursion to THYANGBOCHE (3,873 m/12,670 ft 5/6 hrs)
Looking across the valley, you can see the path sloping diagonally up towards the famous monastery of Thyangboche. The day begins by descending down to the small hamlet of Phunki Tenga lying beside the Dudh Kosi. Here you cross a suspension bridge before beginning a climb with a steep ascent for about an hour. This part of the trek is quite heavily forested by rhododendron and pine so it is well shaded and quite cool. Once out of the forest line the trail is quite gentle and gradual for another 1.5 hours, all the way upto the monastery. The setting of Thyangboche is nothing short of magic and it is incredible to think that the temple was burnt down only a few years ago and re-built largely through the efforts of the Sir Edmund Hillary Trust. After lunch and excursion into the monastery and of its surroundings, retrace to Tashinga for overnight.
Day 7 : Trek to Summit Lodge, MENDE (12,263 ft / 3,700 m 6/7 hrs)
Leaving Tashinga lodge retrace the trail to Namche Bazar for about an hour until the detour point off the main trail leading to Khumjung village (3770 mts). The path leads gently up the shallow valley and onto Khumjung, the education center of Khumbu. If time permits visit the Khumjung monastery and the Kunde hospital. Taking the high trail above Namche Bazar, bypassing Syangboche airport we head north west. The valley ahead is extremely rugged but beautiful and as you wander along the forested track you might chance upon monal pheasants or small herds of thar. At the small village of Tesho, turn off the main trail and make your way slowly up a closed valley. The last half hour climb to Mende will literally take your breath away, this is where the past few days of walking comes to your help.
Day 8 : Day excursion to THAME (12,467 ft / 3,801 m 5/6 hrs)
Half an hour from the lodge, connect with the old Tibetan trade route. The path is well formed and wide and mostly easy walking all the way to the village of Thame. Thame is very original in most aspects and perhaps one of the prettiest villages in khumbu. It has scattered houses, enclosed fields and a backdrop of massive snow and ice peaks. Visit the Thame monastery , one of the oldest in the region. Sherpa Tenzing Norgay's house is
situated near the top of the village where he lived with his first wife, in fact Thame is also the home of Nepal's most famous mountaineer : Ang Rita Sherpa (11 times Everest summiteer) and Apa Sherpa (18 times Everest summiteer). Retrace to Mende.
Day 9 : Return trek to MONJO (5/6 hrs)
Before beginning the descent down to Monjo, visit the Laudo monastery 15 minutes above Mende. The main temple is only 40 years old and was used until recently as a meditation school for western Buddhist students. It has a remarkable meditation room built beneath a huge rock., where people go on retreat for 3 years /3 months/3days. The friendly caretaker will be more than happy to serve butter tea and explain a little about the monastery. Retrace along the same route to Phurte and from here take the lower trail to Namche. After three hours of easy walking we arrive at Namche Bazar for lunch. The rest of the descent to Monjo will be along the same route as on the way up. Overnight Monjo Lodge.
Day 10 : Trek via GUMILA Monastery to LUKLA(9,000ft/2,743m/ 5/6hrs).
The return trek to Lukla follows a slightly different route so as to avoid walking through Phakding again. Keeping to a trail high above, on the other side of the Dudh Kosi, we visit the old Gumila monastery before descending down to the main trail. After a short lunch break at Thada Kosi, at the base of the Kusum Kangru Himal we continue for a further two hours or so before we reach Lukla. Overnight at Lukla Lodge.
Day 11 : Flight back to KATHMANDU
Early morning flight with fixed wing aircrafts to Kathmandu, be met on arrival and transferred to your hotel of choice.
Day 12 : Sight-Seeing Kathmandu.
Free day in Kathmandu with option of sightseeing. Farewell dinner in the evening.
Day 13 : International departure.
Kathmandu. International departure.
Top>>
|
