This trek gives you the grand tour of the famous Khumbu valley. This is a strenuous trek leading to Gokyo Lake and over the Cho La at 5430m making a circuit of Tawache (6367m) and Cholatse (6440m). Emerging into the Khumbu valley above Lobuje the trail continues up to Kalapatthar and then back to Lukla via Tengboche and Namche Bazaar. The small herding settlement of Gokyo(4750m) lies on the banks of the third lake in a series of small turquoise mountain lakes and on the ridge above Gokyo, the four peaks above 8000m of Cho You, Everest, Lhotse and Makalu expose themselves. In addition to this you can have a look at the tremendous ice ridge between Cho You and Gyachung (7922m), considered one of the most dramatic panoramas in the Khumbu region. There are many options for additional exploration and high-altitude walking, including the crossing of Cho La, a 5420m-high pass into Khumbu and a hike to Gokyo Ri. Strenuous trekking is continuously rewarded with dramatic Himalayan scenes, including four of the world s highest peaks: Cho Oyu (8201m), Makalu (8463m), Lhotse (8,516m.) and Everest (8848m). Breathtaking mountain vistas are complemented by visits to Sherpa villages, homes and monasteries offering you an insight into the quiet but, culturally vibrant Sherpa way of life. Duration: 21 days Price: $1939 Group Size: 2 Grade: Moderate Destination: Nepal Activity: Trekking Region: Everest Equiment Lists: Recommended equipment list: Trekkers need to provide their own personal clothing and equipment. Some items of equipment are available for hire from us as like Down Jacket
Footwear : Well broken-in walking shoes - these must be suitable for snow, thick socks, light socks, camp shoes. Clothing : Down or fiber filled waterproof jacket and trousers, sweater or fleece jacket, underwear, warm and cotton trousers or jeans, shirts and T-shirts, shorts, long underwear, wool hat, sun hat, gloves, bathing suit, track suit. Other equipment: Sleeping bag (5 seasons), lock, day pack, water bottle, sun cream, sunglasses, flashlight with spare bulbs and batteries, lip salve, gaiters. Other items: Insect repellent, toilet articles, diary, toilet roll, laundry soap, wet ones, pocket knife, towel, sewing kit, plasters, binoculars, camera, film, cards and personal medical kit. Itinerary: Day 1: Kathmandu arrival Lantang Ri Trekking & Expedition representative will greet you in an airport & transfer you to your Hotel, after refreshment you will be picked from hotel lobby to office where you will be formally introduced to your Guide and the activities to be enjoyed over the next few days. We will also ask for your passport photographs and any other details required for your trek permits, at this stage. Day 2: Kathmandu sightseeing After breakfast, we start an interesting tour around Kathmandu. Escorting by an English speaking guide (can be provide any language speaking guide on request) be, try to give them a full taste of our vivid culture image and an enchanting manner of its people. In our sightseeing tour we go to Monkey temple Swayambhunath, Pashupatinath, Bouddhanath and Kathmandu Durbar square. Bouddhanath: Bouddhanath is a Buddhist religious complex with a history dating back over 500 years. Located on the eastern edge of Kathmandu it is now a site of great pilgrimage for Buddhist followers who circle its massive stupa, spin its many prayer wheels and visit its beautiful monastery. The main feature of Boudhanath is its huge hemispherical white stupa with central golden tower and the all-seeing eyes of the Buddha. Visitors should circle the stupa in a clockwise direction and spin prayer wheels for good fortune and a good life. Visitors may also enjoy visiting the Thangka painting school within the complex to see highly skilled artists at work on religious mandala paintings. Pashupatinath: Hindu Temple is a very large and complex and focal point for the Hindu religion. This old and very revered complex of buildings and shrines is dedicated to the Lord Shiva, one of the main deities of Hinduism. While Lord Shiva has multiple forms he is often seen as the destroyer. This has great significance for the Pashupatinath temple as it is the site of many Hindi ritual cremations each day. Pashupatinath is considered by Hindus to be an auspicious site for passing from one stage of life to the next through the purifying and destroying flames of cremation. However, on a happier note, visitors may also get to see the temple in a buoyant festival mode with one of the many Hindu festivals celebrated here through the year. Swayambhunath: You will first visit the Swayambhunath temple complex that sits atop a high hill overlooking Kathmandu and the entire Kathmandu Valley. Swayambhunath is perhaps the most sacred Buddhist pilgrimage site in Nepal. It consists of a very large white stupa with the all-seeing-eye of Lord Buddha plus many small stupa and beautifully carved stone shrines. This is a wonderful place to catch your breath and start to understand and appreciate the deep importance of Buddhist belief to the people of Nepal 2
and the Himalaya region. Make sure you ring the many bells to awaken the gods and let them know you are in Nepal. Take the time to enjoy the view over Kathmandu and have your guide point the many other highlights of the city. In the far distance to the east you may also be able to see the hills of Nagarkot where your hotel for tonight is located. If you feel energetic you might also like to try some or all of the 350 steps that lead all the way from Kathmandu city up to your Swayambhunath temple vantage point. Kathmandu Durbar Square: The next stop today is the beautiful Kathmandu Durbar Square, or the royal palace square of the ancient Malla kings of the Kathmandu Valley. This square and all its architectural treasures are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. While some damage to buildings occurred in the 2015 earthquake the site still contains many stunning architectural gems. The original royal palace courtyards are open to visitors and you will marvel at the intricate timber carving and beautifully crafted brickwork of the palace. The open square outside the palace has many beautiful multi-storey pagodas and temples with ornate carving and carpentry artwork that tells some of the story of the ancient kings and their mystical time and beliefs. The square also contains many important Hindu temples and statues such as to Vishnu and Lord Shiva. Durbar Square also contains the unique and intriguing Kumari Chok. This is an ancient and ornate house where resides the Raj Kumari the Living Goddess. She is a young girl chosen through an ancient and mystical selection process to become the human incarnation of the Hindu mother goddess, Durga. If you are in the courtyard of the home at the right time in the afternoon you may see a brief glimpse of the Goddess at her window. Day 3: Kathmandu to Lukla Trek to Phakding Your early flight to Lukla today will take approximately 30 minutes; from here you will trek to Phakding, descending 200m over 3 hours. You will catch a glimpse of some great mountains such as Nupla (5885m) above Kongde Ridge, Kusum Kang (6367m) appears on the right a little later. All along you will be following the northern (left) bank of the Dudh Kosi River. It is important to take these first few days slowly to enable your body to acclimatise and to enjoy the passing scenery and culture. Day 4: Phakding to Namche Bazaar Today begins on level ground, relative to the environment in which you are! You will cross the river on a high suspension bridge and begin to climb up to Monjo (2800m) and on to the gateway to the Sagamartha National Park Entrance in place to protect and preserve this beautiful environment. There is a good rest stop on the way up where you will see people gathered, admiring the first real chance to see Everest in the distance. On the way up today you will be rewarded with views of Kusum Kangaru, Thamserku, Konde-Ri and Tawache Peak before eventually arriving at Namche after about 5 hours. Day 5: Acclimatization Day in and around Namche Bazaar The main aim today is to allow your body to acclimatise, it is important to drink lots of water and take some gentle exercise. Namche is a growing town tucked into a neat little valley, there is lots going on in the centre with market days on Friday and Saturday. There are some interesting museums and shops. There is also internet and a sauna! You could venture further afield, take a visit to Khumjung where the Hillary school sits and Khunde nearby, on the way back to Namche you could visit the Shyangboche airstrip, (3790m) the highest in the world nearby is the Everest View Hotel for stunning views. Day 6: Namche Bazaar to Thame 3
Trek from Namche Bazaar to Thame (3800m) and it takes about four hours. From Namche the route turns west and the trail is almost level as you head up the Bhote Koshi Valley, once a popular trading route into Tibet. Along the way you pass many prayer flags, Mani walls and carved stones, all indicative of the Tibetan Buddhist culture of this area. After descending to the Bhote Koshi the trail climbs steeply to Thame. From here, there are good views of the peaks of Teng Kangpoche and Kwangde and to the north is the Nangpa La, the pass leading to Tibet. Thame Gompa is situated above the village overlooking the valley and is the site for the spring celebrations of the Mani Rimdu festival. Day 7: Thame to Khumjung Trek from Thame to Khumjung (3790m) and it takes about five hours. You retrace your route down the Bhote Koshi Valley towards Namche and branch off to follow a quiet trail to Khumjung. It is a picturesque village which also has its own Gompa at the top end of town. Here you can have excellent views of Thamserku, Kantega and Ama Dablam. Day 8: Khumjung to Dole Trek from Khumjung to Dole (4040m) which takes about five hours. Soon after leaving Khumjung the trail climbs to a large chorten on top of a ridge. This ridge descends from Khumbila, a 5761m peak, said to be the abode of the patron God of the Khumbu region. The trail descends slightly towards the Sanasa and then trail ascends up to Mongla (4000m). From here, you can see panoramic views of various mountains. You trek steeply descend passing through Phortse Tenga and from there, the trail climbs steeply to Dole, through rhododendron and birch forest festooned with hanging mosses and lichens. You can enjoy delicious meal at Phortse Tenga (3650m). Dole is a small village surrounded by hills where the inhabitants belong to different ethnic groups. Day 9: Dole to Machhermo Trek from Dole to Machhermo (4410m) and it takes about four and half hours. From Dole you climb steadily along the side of the valley, where the small and thorny bushes give way to scrub juniper as the altitude increases. The trail passes many summer settlements, which are used when yaks are taken to these pastures to graze in the summer months. Ahead of you are excellent views of Cho Oyu, while back down the valley are the peaks of Kantega and Thamserku. This day your walk is comparatively shorter and you will arrive at Machhermo in time for lunch. Day 10: Machhermo to Gokyo Trek from Machhermo to Gokyo (4750m) which takes about four and half hours. Today you head for the lakes at Gokyo. You follow a very scenic path to Pangka and then descend slightly, following one of the melt-water rivers which flow down the west side of the Ngozumpa Glacier. You climb a steep rocky inclined into the valley by the side of the glacier, passing the first of the holy lakes. You soon arrive at the second of the lakes, crossing the path which heads across the glacier to Cho La (5420m) your route to Lobuche and Everest, later in the trek. The third lake is known as Dudh Pokhari and on its eastern shore is the settlement of Gokyo. Walking by the side of the lake, the scenery is magnificent with the summits of Cho Oyu and Gyachung Kang reflected in its emerald green waters. Day 11: Explore Gokyo Ri (Reach Max Alt. 5360m) Rest day at Gokyo and excursion in and around Gokyo valley Gokyo is a trade centre where the Sherpa people run lodges to provide the best services to the trekkers. Gokyo is situated by the side of Ngozumpa glacier, the biggest glacier of Nepal. This day you can make a side trip to Fifth Lake via Fourth Lake. Day 12: Gokyo to Gokyo Ri & Trek back to Thangna Trek/climb from Gokyo to Gokyo Ri (5483m) & Trek back to Thangna (4650m) via Gokyo village and it takes about five hours. Gokyo Ri looms above the village on the northern edge of the lake and you leave camp just after first light, following a steep path up 4
the hillside. As you climb, the summits of Everest, Lhotse and Makalu slowly come into sight and the view from the summit of Gokyo Ri itself, is one of the finest to be had in the Everest region some say it is even better than that from Kala Patthar. After lunch it is a short walk to the village of Thangna, situated at the shore of the Ngozumpa Glacier. Day 13: Thangna to Dzongla via Chola pass (5330m) Trek from Thangna to Dzongla (4843m) via Chola pass (5420m) and it takes about six hours. Now you ascend slightly along the valley towards Chola pass. The pass you pass through is covered with rocks. The Chola pass is most of the time covered with blue ice giving you a chill feeling. Here you can also enjoy the panoramic view of various mountains. From here, the trail descends steeply down for an hour and then slightly descends all the way to Dzongla. Day 14: Dzongla to Gorakshep via Lobuche (4910m) Trek from Dzonglo to Gorakshep via Lobuche which takes about five and half hours. From Dzongla the trail descends and ascends gently and contours around the west side of the Lobuche Khola, providing excellent views of Ama Dablam, the Nuptse-Lhotse wall and Everest. The trail coming from Pheriche meets at the Lobuche Khola (Lobuche Stream). Day 15: Gorakshep to Everest Base Camp and back to Gorakshep Trek from Gorakshep to Everest Base Camp (5337m) and back to Gorakshep which takes about four and half hours. While trekking to Everest Base Camp you pass through a trail, which weaves its way through ice pinnacles and past the crevasses of the Khumbu Glacier. During the spring season, you can meet some expedition team on the Everest Base Camp. The number of team is less in the autumn season. On the return leg, you can take a higher route to get a spectacular view of the Khumbu icefall and numerous mountains. You return to Gorak Shep to stay overnight. Day 16: Gorakshep to Kala Pattharand (5545m) trek to Pheriche Trek from Gorakshep to Kala Patthar (5545m) and trek to Pheriche (4243m) and it takes about six hours. You accomplish an early morning climb to Kala Patthar (5545m) to enjoy the view of sunrise. From Kala Patthar you can have a panoramic view of Mt. Everest and many other mountain peaks like Mt. Pumori, Mt. Lingtren, Mt. Khumbetse, Mt. Nuptse, Mt. Lhotse, Mt. Ama Dablam, Mt. Thamserku and many more. Pheriche is the place where one can make phone calls to any part of the world. You can see the mountain Yaks in Pheriche. Yaks are normally regarded as the porters in this area. The town of Pheriche is known as windy town. There you can see the perpendicular walls of Cholatse and Tawache. There is located Himalayan Rescue Association Aid Post and foreign volunteer doctors are to provide medical treatment to trekkers as well as local people. Day 17: Periche to Namche Bazaar Mostly down hill today it will take you about 7 hours, there is a steep climb for about an hour before you encounter the scenic walk back into Namche. From Khumjung you can pass through Khunde where you may enjoy a visit to the little monastery if you haven t already. Day 18: Namche Bazaar to Lukla This is your final day trekking; it will take you around 3 hours to Lukla. This evening you will have a farewell ceremony with your guides and porters where you will be able to sample some Chang and try some Sherpa dancing. Day 19: Lukla to Kathmandu You will be on an early flight back this morning, on arrival in Kathmandu you will be met and taken to your hotel. 5
Day 20: Day free in Kathmandu Enjoy a day exploring some of the quieter streets of Kathmandu, stocking up on souvenirs and presents for those back home. This evening you have a farewell dinner, you will be picked up in good time. Day 21: Final Departure You will be met at your hotel and taken to the airport in good time to meet your flight home. Cost Include: Airport Pick up & Drop of Transportation by private vehicle Twin /Double sharing 2-3 star accommodation with breakfast in Kathmandu Sightseeing in Kathmandu Escorted with English Speaking Guide, private transportation & Entrance fee Kathmandu / Lukla / Kathamandu flight for Clients and guide Accommodation in normal tea house during trek Meals (Breakfast with 2 cup of tea & coffee, lunch, dinner) in trekking Sleeping bag Everest trekking map for group All necessary paper work & Permits National Park Fee A First Aid and Eco trained & Government licensed holder English Speaking guide One porter between each two members during trek Accommodation, meals, salary, equipment, transportation & Insurance of Langtang Ri trekking staffs Travel & Rescue arrangement All government taxes First Aids Kits Farewell dinner Cost exclude: International Airfare Nepal Visa fee (US$ 40 per person for 30 days) Excess baggage charges Lunch/Dinner in Kathmandu Drinking Water, Electricity bill & hot shower Medical evacuation in case of emergency Personal gears & clothing (available on hire) Tips, any expenses of personal nature, client's insurance Soft/hard drinks Expenses incurred due to mishaps, landslide, strikes, political unrest etc. In such case extra will be charged as per actual Anything not specified in cost include section 6