Budget Everest Base Camp Trek

Very early in the morning our guide will come to your hotel per as informed about flight schedule last day, for the 25 to 30 minutes Kathmandu to Lukla exciting scenic flight. We will meet our other crew at Lukla and make final preparations for the trek to Phakding. The trail goes through the Lukla Bazaar edge northwest with a gate of Pasang Lhamu Sherpa, 1st Nepalese women climber to the top of the world Mt. Everest (8,848M) in 1993. Then, the trail descends through the forest above the Sherpa residence Chaurikharka village and walk to the Thalsharoa (2,678m), Chheplung (2,660m), Thadokoshi and heading towards the Ghat (2,530m). Now the trail follows along the bank of the Dudhkosi River with Buddhist Mane stone, Chorten and Mane wheel. Then another half an hour the trail brings you to the Sherpa heritage village Phakding (2,640m). As this is an acclimatization day before heading high elevation, you will walk only 3 to 4 hours easy walk. Rest of the day, you may visit to the monastery above the village or just hang around in Phakding. Stay overnight at Tea House.

Note: Due to the air traffic at Kathmandu, there is not available direct flight to Kathmandu to Lukla to Kathmandu during the trekking peak season autumn and spring. For this you need to transfer by overland to the Ramechhap 132km 4 to 5 hours and taking 2o minutes Ramechhap to Lukla Flight.

Today is bit longer walk; the trail follows the Dodh Koshi River banks with Phakting and walk along the left side of the river after cross the bridge and ascending gently to the Tok Tok Village. And further to Benkar (2,630m) passes beautiful waterfalls with wonderful views of Thamserku (6,856m) and Kusum Kanguru peak (6,367m). Again we cross the bridge over the Dodh Koshi River and climb to Chhamuwa Village, with an agricultural project farm. Then the trail crossed the Kyanshar Khola and steeply climbs to the Monjo (2,840m) Village, where you need to check in all of yours name details in the Sagarmatha National Park office (Area 1,148 sq km, established in 1976). Now, you are inside the world highest Sagarmatha National Park. The trail from here descends for while to the river bank through the forest and get in last tea house Jorsale (2830m) before Namche Bazaar after cross the bridge. The trail passes Mane walls and enters in the jungle and again crosses the bridge and walk right side of the River bank upward to the Dudh Koshi River Bank and the trail brings you to the confluence of the Dudh Koshi and Bhote Khoshi River the last (fifth) suspension bridge hanging pretty high above the water surface with colorful Buddhist prayer flag weaving by winds. Then, suddenly the winding trail ascends through the forest and in 45 minutes climb on the edge of the hill you can have a view of top of the world Mt. Everest (8,848m), over the right Nupste (7,879m). The trail continues uphill to the forest to the ancient salt trading point Namche Bazaar (3,440m), after 5 to 6 hrs walking from Phakding. Stay overnight in Namche Bazaar surrounded witness the snow capped mountains and Sherpa Heritage.

This is day of rest for the acclimatization proposes before heading to high elevation. After taking a late breakfast, we walk the hill above the town for day sightseeing around Namche Bazaar, hike to the Everest View Hotel and Khumjung Village via Syangboche Airport (3,720m). Everest View Hotel is one of the best places for the outstanding mountains view including top of the world Mt. Everest, Nupste, Ama Dablam, Kangtegha, Thamserku, Kusum Khangru, Khongde and Khumbi Yu La, etc. While watching the spectacular view of mountains, the trail brings you to the Khumjung Valley; for the beautiful Sherpa heritage Khumjung village, Hillary School, an ancient Monastery with a yeti’s head, and 30 minutes walking distance to the Khunde Hospital, and then returns back to Namche via Yaks farm and Syangboche Airport. Remaning of the day, you may visit the mountaineering museum and visit the Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee (SPCC) and Head office of the Sagarmatha National Park (open 8 AM to 4 PM every day except Saturday and government holidays. Or you may spend some time interacting with the fun-loving Sherpa and Rai people in Namche Bazaar. If you are on Saturday in Namche Bazaar, you have chance to observe the weekly Saturday market south edge of the town with variety commodities. We are staying overnight at tea House.

After acclimatization last day, your body energize fully for the further journey to the Everest Base Camp. The trek begins from you hotel ascending the edge of the hill above the town nearby museum, then the trail follow the pleasant walk up above the Dudh Koshi River through the forest with wonderful views of mountains to the Kenjoma (3,556m), where the trail joins from Khumjung and another coming from Gokyo butyou are heading to the Tengboche. Further walk to the small settlement Sanasa, the trail drops continue towards Dudha Koshi Riverbank at Phunki Thanga (3,250m) through the pine forest. This is last tea house before Tengboche, so you need to have lunch before climbing to the Tengboche. The trail climbs steeply through forests from where often can be seen wonderful mountains view and amazing landscape. In about two hours ascending you will get in the edge of the hill with huge open area to the Tengbuche monastery, situated at 3,867m. The view from here is rightly deemed to be one of the world’s most magnificent including top of the world Mt. Everest (8,848m), Kwangde, Tawachee, Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse Ama Dablam, Kantega and Thamserku provide a stimulating panorama of Himalayan view. Stay overnight in Tengboche at Tea House.

Enjoying sourrended scenery with hot breakfast, we are heading to Dingboche through the rhododendron forest to Deboche (3,820m) in half an hour descending. The trail continues high above the Imza River through the forest to small settlement at Milingga and heading to the bridge over the raging Imja Khola River, bestow wonderful mountains scenery especially sky soaring towering view of Mt. Ama Dablam (6,856m). Now the trail ascends high above the river with centaury old Buddhist Chorten and colorful prayer flag to the Pangboche (3,930m) and continue upward to the Somare, Orsho (4,190m) with arid and barren landscape. Then, the trail departs right to the Dingboche from Warsa, where the left trail goes to the Pheriche. The trail steeply ascends a crest of the hill to the cairns and colorful flags after crossing the Khumbu Khola/Loboche River for Dingbuche (4,410m). The trail gently goes ascend and become bigger to the Imza Valley with seen of many tea houses and farm terrace in front of the jaw dropping view of Mt. Ama Dablam (6,856m). We are staying overnight at Tea House at Dingboche enjoying with wonderful Mother Nature.

This is the day second for the acclimatization before to Everest Base Camp. After late breakfast, we are ascending to the most popular viewpoint Nangkartshang Peak (5,083m) north corner of the town. It takes 2 hours to get to the summit of the peak with rewarding mountain scenery incredible Imza Valley and bird’s eye view of Dingboche Village. The view from Nangkartshang Peak offers Imza Glacier, Lakes and including three highest mountains in the world from the east; Mt. Makalu (8,463m), Lhotse (8,749m), Cho Oyu (8,201m), and other mountains such as Island peak (6,189m), Ama Dablam (6,812m), Kangtega (6,782m), Thamserku (6,623m), Taboche (6,542m), Cholatse (6,440m) etc. You have an option for a full day’s rest or a hike to peak up to your choice. Instead of climbing the peak, there are also some places where you can go for a day hike: up to Chhukung (4,730m) for acclimatization (point of climbing famous Island peak) or visit the Pheriche for the High Altitude sickness lecture at Himalayan Rescue Association (HRA). This is the same route for the Island Peak and Phokalde Peak. It is a gateway to Chhukung and farther beyond for the most challenging traverses towards the Makalu area and Hinko Valley via Sherpani Col (6,100m) and Amphu Laptsa Pass (5,780 m). Stay in Dingboche overnight at Tea house.

After full rest day for acclimatization, you body will well recharge for the further venture. At first the trail heading steeply up above the hill to the town, where you have climb to the peak yesterday. Then the trail hoes gradually climb up through the scenic pasturing area and summer herding dwelling to the Duglha (4,620m), after cross bridge that river flown down couple hundred meters above at Khumbu Glacier, offering stunning views of Tawachee and Cholatse. From Duglha the trail directly ascends for the 45 minutes to the Duglha Pass (4,830m), where you can see countless stone monuments with colorful Buddhist prayer flags and cairns for the mountaineer who was passed way while expedition. Then, the trail goes ahead and crosses the Lobuche Khola and walk along the right side of the river bank, often can be seen Mt. Nuptse (7,861m) and Mt. Pumori (7,165m) to the Khumbu Glacier before reaching the village of Lubuche. In this stage the effects of the altitude will be kicking in, and you can expect colder nights. Stay overnight at Tea House.

Today, the trail goes gently climbing nearby Khumbu Glacier and steady ascend to the Lobuche Pass (5,110m) with loose rocks and barren, often offers good views of Mt. Pumori and beautiful views of the Everest Base camp up above the Gorakshep. It takes 2 to 3 hours to get in the world highest tea house at Gorakshep (5,140m by lunching time. After having lunch, we are hiking toward Mt. Everest Base Camp an adventure walk through the ridge of the Khumbu Glacier, that some time miss lead trail, so you need to follow the Sherpa Guide. The trail to EBC has been changing every year due to Glacier movement. It is quite a strenuous journey due to the high altitude and thin air. The trail passes over rocky dunes and moraine and streams, till you reach the Everest Base Camp (5,360m). If you are trekking during the high expedition season in spring, you will fell like city, with many tents, kind of the mini Thamel. The walk to the Everest Base Camp takes two to three hours and after an incredible time here, return back to the Gorekshep for the overnight at tea house.

Today, very in the morning we will ascend to Kalapathar for the amazing 360 degree view of the mountain peaks including top of the world. The trip begins steep up north corner of the Gorakshep after having hot tea and some soup. In forty-five minutes ascending the trail bring you at the plateau, where the Nepalese Government held a cabinet meeting at Kalapatthar on December 4th, 2009, a week ahead of that year’s world summit on climate change in Copenhagen. Their goal was to draw attention to ramifications in the Himalaya of increased weather imbalances due to modification in climate. When reaching the top of the Kalapatthar after two hours struggle, you will feel joyful as you achieve the moment as true that you have been dreaming since begging of the journey. A black rocky peak “Kalapattar” (Nepal a Black rock) offer you beyond imagination views of mountains. The panoramic view from this spot is something to cherish, and you feel it’s worth the hard climb up to here to feel at the top of the world. You can also see the Everest Base Camp downward on the moraine of Khumbu Glacier and many mountainous scenery such as: Pumari (7,145m), Lingtren (6,695m), Khumbutse (6,623m), Changtse (7,550m), Nupse (7879m), and even top of the world Everest (8,848m) itself. After enjoying astonishing view, we will drop to the Gorak Shep for the breakfast, and we trek down retrace the previous trail to Lobuche, Dhugla, Pheriche and get in beautiful Pangbuche village (3,930m) for the overnight stay at tea house enjoy the scenery around.

After having the breakfast, the trail descends to a lower elevation from Pangboche Village. The descending walk is pleasant all the way to Tengboche Monastery (aka Gumba) followed by the large field with campsites, teahouses, and lodges beneath the soaring and majestic peaks of Ama Dablam and drop the trail to the Namche Bazaar and goes downhill through the forest to the Dudh Koshi River and Jorsale. Ascend for fifteen minutes the trail brings you at the Sagarmatha National Park Gate at Manjo. We are staying overnight at Manjo Village enjoying Sherpa culture and warm hospitality.

After a long journey to the Mt. Everest, today we walk last day back to Lukla. We descend the Dudh Koshi River and walk to the Benkar and next village Tok Tok and Phakding, Ghat along the river bank hide and seek. As this is, retrace the trail, you will remind surrounding circumstance such as Buddhist Rock painting, Mane Wall, Chhorten and colorful prayer flags, incredible mountains scenery, Unique Sherpa culture passing through the village to the Lukla. You may have to wonder around the Lukla rest of the day, meanwhile Guide will re-conform flight tickets to Kathmandu. Enjoying the last celebrates dinner with your crew with a memorable farewell and staying overnight at Tea House.

Today, we will walk to the Tenzing Hillary Airport for the Kathmandu flight. Usually, the flight Lukla to Kathmandu is operated in the morning due to the wind in the afternoon. Sometime the flight time can be delayed due to not favorable weather and other reason beyond our control, so we would like to suggest you to put at list one extra day return back to the Kathmandu. Anyway, we will fly back to Kathmandu according to our flight schedule and get back in Kathmandu in time and transfer to hotel. You are free. You may have time to relax after a long journey and take back your breath and rest at your hotel rest of day. Or further process your own destination.