On arrival at the Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, you will complete all necessary immigration formalities followed by baggage collection from the designated area in the airport. As you exit, one of the representatives from AID Journeys & Adventure, with a placard, will officially welcome you and escort you to your pre-assigned hotel. At the hotel, you may stretch out your legs and relax for few hours from the possible jet lag that you might have experienced after a long flight. Those who are anxious and want to hit the streets right away, may stroll around Thamel and do a bit of shopping or hire gears and equipment for the upcoming trip. Overnight in Kathmandu.
After a good night’s rest, you will be woken up with a morning call, if you desire, followed by a warm bed tea. Once you finish your breakfast, there will be a guided tour to some of the most historical and spiritual landmarks of the city, all of them being recognized as UNESCO world heritage sites. You will visit the most revered and holy Hindu temple complex of Pashupatinath, the prominent monkey temple, Swayambhunath, one of the largest stupas in the world - a Buddhist shrine at Bouddhanath, and the captivating Basantapur Durbar Square. In the late afternoon, you will visit our office site to make necessary preparations, get your equipment checked, and meet your trip leader, crew members, and other fellow accomplices. You will have a brief discussion about the forthcoming trip and return to your hotel room. Overnight in Kathmandu.
After an early breakfast at your hotel, you will be transferred to the domestic terminal of Kathmandu airport from where you will get onboard to one of the most exciting flights of your lifetime. The scenic, yet a scintillating 40-minute flight will soar high amongst the most beautiful air routes with stunning panoramic views of the Himalayas. Terminating on a hillside surrounded by magnificent mountain peaks, you will land at the Tenzing-Hillary airport in Lukla, from where your trek truly begins. You meet up with the remaining members who are a part of this adventure, pack and arrange your requirements and start trekking through the stone paved and gradually descendingtrails until you reach a quaint settlement of Cheplung village. It is here that you get the first glimpse of a sanctified mountain peak that has never been scaled, Mt. Khumbila. Descending gradually in the route accompanied continuously by lush forest and stunning landscape, you will in due course of time reach Phakding surpassing many prayer walls. Overnight in Phakding.
You begin the day by following the route through pine forests till you arrive at Benkar valley. Crossing and re-crossing several suspension bridges including the famous Hillary suspension bridge over the Dudh Koshi River, you will keep moving ahead passing the villages of Chumoa and Monjo, which is the entrance to the Sagarmatha National Park. Rewarded with glistening glimpses of Mt.Thamserku and Nuptse, you will again cross another suspension bridge passing by Jorsale village, walking near the confluence of the Dudh Koshi and Bhote Koshi rivers. A steep ascent from here brings you to Namche Bazaar, a real paradise for mountaineers, the gateway to the Everest region of Khumbu, and the prime heartland of Sherpa village. Views of Mt. Everest and Lhotse may be visible if the weather consents. Overnight in Namche Bazaar.
Today is your acclimatization day, and it is highly recommended to stay active even during the rest day. Walking, climbing and hiking throughout the day and sleeping low is the best way to get properly acclimatized. Hiking to Sagarmatha National Park for a beautiful sunrise view with tantalizing views of the Himalayan giants such as Everest, Ama Dablam, Nuptse, Thamserku, Kongde, Lhotse, and so on is a good bet. You have options to hike up to Khumjung, Thame or Khunde villages or explore Namche Bazaar itself. Being the principal center of the Khumbu area, Namche is adorned with various government offices, ATMs, Internet cafes, a bakery, shops, restaurants and a colorful market. On the other hand, you can observe the traditional Sherpa life, visit the Khumjung Hillary School or simply enjoy flora and fauna at such a high altitude. You may also visit the mountaineering museum and spend some quality time interacting with the fun-loving Sherpas. Overnight in Namche Bazaar.
After breakfast, you will begin the trek by climbing the well-known Syangboche airstrip. The prominent Everest View Hotel rests just above Syangboche airstrip, from where you can savor the stunning close-up view of the colossal Everest. Ascending beyond the hotel, you will follow the trail for about 2 hours and then levels off until you will reach the Khumjung village, which is surrounded by the snowy peaks of Kongde, Thamserku and the divine Khumbila peak. This village hosts the famous Edmund Hillary School and Khumjung monastery, which is believed to possess the scalp of a Yeti. You will witness another set of busy and colorful monasteries lined with prayer flags and wheels braced along the slopes high above the traditional village. Overnight in Khumjung.
Today, you will walk through the beautiful natural wilderness of the Himalayas beginning with a downhill hike to Dudh Koshi River, passing through tiny beautiful hamlets of Phortse, Pangboche, Milingo, and Deboche. Walking through forest trails, you may see the Himalayan Tahr or even the musk deer; the path leads you to a riverbed, where we may stop for our lunch. After a brief halt, you will do a final climb through pine and fir forests for around 2 hours, to finally reach a small village of Tengboche. The largest monastery of the Khumbu region lies in this village, Tengboche monastery, which opens only after 3.00 pm and will provide you glimpses of the fascinating Buddhist way of life. Touring the monastery, you will be compensated with awe-inspiring views of Everest, Tawache, Kwangde, Nuptse, Ama Dablam, Thamserku, Lhotse, and Kantega. Overnight in Tengboche.
After breakfast, you continue the trek from Tengboche descending steeply to about 500m through rhododendron and lush fir trees, down to the bank of the Dudh Koshi River. Crossing the river by the first bridge at Phunki Tenka, you will continue walking the path and pass several villages namely Tashinga, Lausasa, and Sanasa before reaching Kyangjuma – a beautiful village. This village greets you with spectacular views of Ama Dablam, Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse, and Thamserku. Overnight in Kyangjuma.
We leave Kyangjuma after breakfast for Monjo through the clinging trails meandering along the steep wooded slope passing several bends. You will first reach Namche through this route encountering incredible wildlife such as mountain goats, snow-leopards, colorful pheasants, etc. You can have some time in Namche. From here, a steep descent will lead you to a suspension bridge over the Dudh Koshi River near its confluence with Bhote Koshi River. Crossing the river two times at two different places, you will exit the Sagarmatha National Park from its official entrance near Monjo, to finally reach the Monjo village. Overnight in Monjo.
Today is your final trekking day, where most of the trail is flat though you will encounter some descends and brief ascends as well with Kwangde peak visible in the backdrop. Passing Phakding and Cheplung villages, the trail begins with a steep descent until it cuts up to the airstrip in Chauri Kharka. These Sherpa villages on the trail display faith in Buddhism and cultural practices associated with it as the prayer flags flutter in the wind. Crossing the Dudh Koshi three times through suspension bridges adorned with prayer flags, and crossing Thado Koshi, you will make a final ascent of around 45 minutes from Cheplung to reach Lukla. The last evening in the mountains is a perfect opportunity to spend few moments with your crew members and celebrate your accomplishment because the porters who accompanied you on the trek will stay behind at Lukla.Overnight in Lukla.
From Lukla, you will board an early morning flight to Kathmandu. On your flight back, you will be hit by nostalgia due to the glimpses of the stunning snow-clad mountains and the memories of your recently concluded trip in the Himalayan suburbs. On arrival at Kathmandu, you will be transferred to your hotel where you may take a rest, or wander around Thamel for souvenir shopping to carry back home. If you feel energetic enough after the tiring trip, then you may explore around popular tourist attractions nearby. Overnight in Kathmandu.
Today is the day your holidays in Nepal has come to an end, and you will be flying back home with ample memories of the experiences you’ve had in the Himalayas. A representative from AID Journeys & Adventure will drop you off at the Tribhuvan International Airport well ahead of your scheduled flight for your onward journey. With plenty of time onboard, you may plan your next trip in the Himalayan realms of Nepal. For those willing to stay back and extend your holidays, AID Journeys & Adventure will be glad to plan your trip according to your craving.
