Tour Plan
1
Day 01 - Arrive at Tribhuwan International Airport (TIA) Kathmandu
You will be welcomed by our staff and transferred to your hotel. Our airport representative will explain the program upon arrival.
Overnight at hotel
2
Day 02 - Kathmandu Valley Sightseeing Tour
Kathmandu valley Sightseeing tour will start early in the morning. The holy Pashupatinath temple will be our very first visit. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, Pashupatinath is one of the four most important religious sites in Asia for devotees of Shiva. Built in the 5th century and later renovated by Malla kings, the site itself is said to have existed from the beginning of the millennium when a Shiva lingam was discovered here. It lies on the banks of the Bagmati River and is one of the most revered holy sites of the Hindu people. The Pashupatinath is built in the pagoda style architecture and contains many smaller shrines outside the main temple as well. It is also the cremation site of many hindu people and sometimes, it can be observed.
The nest site of the tour is the holy Bouddhanath stupa. The Buddhist stupa of Boudha Stupa dominates the skyline; it is one of the largest unique structure's stupas in the world.The influx of large populations of refugees from Tibet has seen the construction of over 50 Gompas (Tibetan convent) around Bouddhanath. The Stupa is on the ancient trade route from Tibet which enters the Kathmandu Valley by the village of Sankhu in the northeast corner. Tibetan merchants have rested and offered prayers here for many centuries. When refugees entered Nepal from Tibet in the 1950s, many decided to live around Boudhanath. The Stupa is said to entomb the remains of Kassapa Buddha.
The next site, in the tour, is the Kathmandu Durbar Square. It is known as the Hanuman Dhoka Durbar Square, a name derived from a statue of Hanuman, the monkey devotee of Lord Ram, at the entrance of the royal palace. The Durbar at the Durbar square was the royal Nepalese residence until the 19th century and was where important ceremonies, such as the coronation of the Nepalese monarch, took place. The palace is decorated with elaborately-carved wooden windows and panels and houses the King Tribhuwan Memorial Museum and the Mahendra Museum are located here. Time and again the temples and the palaces in the square have gone through reconstruction after being damaged by natural causes or neglect. Presently there are less than ten quadrangles in the square. On 25 April 2015, an earthquake with an estimated magnitude of 7.9 hit the region and severely damaged the Square, reducing several buildings to rubble. The oldest temples in the square are those built by King MahendraMalla (1560–1574). They are the temples of Jaggannath, KotilingeswaraMahadev, Mahendreswara and the Taleju Temple. More and more temples and statues were added to the Square under different ruling kings over the time. It is one of the most architecturally intricate showcases of Nepali art and the unique Newa architecture.
Then finally, the last site of the tour will be the Swayambhunath Stupa- an ancient religious architecture at the top of a hill in the Kathmandu Valley, west of Kathmandu city. Swayambhunath is probably the most sacred among Buddhist pilgrimage sites especially for Tibetans and followers of the Tibetan Buddhism. We were breathless and sweating as we stumbled up the last steep steps and practically fell upon the biggest vajra (thunderbolt scepter) that I have ever seen. Behind this Vajra was the vast, round, white dome of the stupa, like a full solid skirt, at the top of which were two giant Buddha eyes wisely looking out over the peaceful valley which was just beginning to come alive. The complex consists of a stupa, a variety of shrines and temples, some dating back to the Licchavi period.
After visiting each site, we will head back to the Hotel.
Overnights stay at the Hotel in Kathmandu. Breakfast included.
3
Day 03 - Fly to Lukla and trek to Phakding (2652m/8699ft) Duration: 3 hrs
Early morning you will be dropped to airport for Lukla flight. The flight to Lukla is a lifetime experience in itself though it is a short flight. The airfield is at high evaluation and the difference between the two ends of the runway is about 60 meters! From Lukla, you will make your way to Phakding, a beautiful settlement situated at the edge of Khumbu’s Dudh Koshi River Valley. Along the way, you can catch amazing glimpse of the Kusum Kanguru Peak.
Overnight stay at the guesthouse. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
4
Day 04 - Trek to Namche Bazaar (3440m/11283ft) Duration: 6 hrs
We follow the Dudh Kosi, ascending through Himalayan pine and Doedar cedar forests, to the village of Namche Bazaar which is a historic trading post where Nepalese and Tibetan traders exchange salt, dried meat and textiles. It still remains the central trading centre in Khumbu for Himalayan and lowland merchants. You will spend two days in Namche for acclimatization, visit local markets and spend time with your team. On the hike we capture our first glimpses of Everest and neighboring peaks.
Overnight stay at the guesthouse. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
5
Day 05 - Namche Bazar - Everest View Hotel - Return
Today is the day for acclimatization. We will hike to Syangboche Airport (3700m), supposed to be located in the highest altitude in the world. Then we walk to the Everest View Hotel for great panoramic views of Everest, Lhotse, Amadablam, Tawache etc. On the way back, we will visit Sherpa Culture Museum and Everest Photo Gallery.
Overnight at guesthouse, breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
6
Day 06 - Trek to Tengboche (3860m/12660ft) Duration: 5 hrs
Today’s destination is to reach the Tengboche village. For that you will then have a leisurely hike uphill through the rhododendron woodlands and pass by the Imja Khola to Tengboche- the spiritual hub of the region. All along the way, you will get the company of peaks like the Ama Dablam and the Everest Himal. At the village, you can also visit the famous Tengboche Monastery.
Overnight stay at the guesthouse. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
7
Day 07 - Trek to Dingboche (4410m/14464ft) Duration: 5 hrs
We descend through a beautiful forest then cross the Imja Khola via suspension bridge towards Dingboche. You will pass through many smaller settlements on the the way, like Pangboche and Orsho. On the way you will find Mani stone walls carved with prayers and colorful prayer flags swaying gently by the Himalayan cool breeze. At Dingboche, known as “the summer valley” of the region, you can relax and take in the mesmerizing views of the Everest peak that tower over the village quite dramatically. You will enjoy the views of Mt. Amadablam, Mt. Lhotse & other peaks as well.
Overnight stay at the guesthouse. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
8
Day 08 - Dingboche to Nagerjun (5100m/16728ft) and return Duration: 5 hrs
Today is reserved for acclimatization. Today, you will have a hike up the Nagerjun Hill that is situated near Dingboche. The hike uphill is rather strenuous, but the effort for the journey is worthy because of the panoramic views of the Imja valley which can be seen from the top. You can also enjoy majestic views of the Himalayan peaks like the Ama Dablam, Lhotse, Nuptse and Everest among many others. After spending some time at the vantage point, you will hike back down.
Overnight stay at the guesthouse. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
9
Day 09 - Trek to Lobuche (4910m/16105ft) Duration: 5 hrs
We begin the journey from Dingboche towards the small settlement of Lobuche today. The hike takes you to pastures and pastures to lush woods and to Lobuche which is a small settlement near the foot of the Lobuche peaks. Along the journey, you can also get good views of peaks like the Lingtern, the Pumori and the Khumbutse Himalayan peak.
Overnight stay at the guesthouse. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
10
Day 10 - Trek to EBC (5364m/17594ft) then back to Gorekshep (5181m/16994ft) Duration: 8 hrs
Today is one of the most anticipated days of the trek. From Lobuche, you will make your way towards Gorekshep (the last settlement) before the Everest Base Camp. From Gorekshep, you will finally hike along the Khumbu glacier moraine towards the base camp. There is not much elevation gain, but there are a lot of ups and downs and, combined with altitude, this can be a tiring portion- but the journey is worthy. From the base camp, you can see the glacier as well as the Khumbu Ice Fall. This is the point from where the Everest expedition begins. After spending some time at the base camp of Everest, you will return back to Gorekshep.
Overnight stay at the guesthouse. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
11
Day 11 - Hiking to Kalapattar (5545m/18188ft) - Gorekshep then Dzongla (4830m/15840ft) Duration: 7 hrs
The hike, from Gorekshep to Kalapatthar, will be started early in the morning. Kalapatthar is one of the best vantage points in the region. It presents panoramic views of the entire Mount Everest massif. You can catch the view of the sunrise amidst the Everest peaks from here. The phenomenon is quite ethereal. After viewing the breath-taking view of the Everest peak, you will have a hike back down to Gorekshep for hot and fresh breakfast and then descend to Dzongla.
Overnight stay at the guesthouse. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
12
Day 12 - Trek to Dragnak/Thangna (4700m/15415ft) via crossing Cho La pass (5420m/17780ft) Duration: 7 hrs
We begin the day by climbing to Chola crossing over and descending once more to Thanga.
Overnight at guesthouse, breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
13
Day 13 - Trek to Gokyo lake (4790m/15710ft) Duration: 2-3 hrs
We trek to Gokyo Lake crossing over Ngozumpa Glacier (a large glacier in the Himalayan 36 Kilometers in Length). Gokyo village stands by the third lake and Cho-Oyu Mountain as a backdrop sets an amazing spectacular sight at this juncture. After lunch, you may explore around the Lake, Dudh Pokhari.
Overnight at guesthouse, breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
14
Day 14 - Hiking to Gokyo RI (5483m/19083ft) and trek to Dole (4200m/13775) Duration: 7 hrs
Gokyo RI is the most adventurous of this trip. Early morning, we hike up to the Gokyo Ri (Gokyo Peak). Climbing to Gokyo RI is obviously tiring but adventurous as it is steep up and takes about 3 to 4 hours to reach at the top of the pick. Looking at Gokyo village on the edge of third lake overlooked by Cholatse and the broad Ngozumpa Glacier are mind blowing. We feel as if we are in heaven when we are surrounded by panoramic mountains like Kusum Kanguru, Thamserku, K 43, Kangtega, Taboche, Cholatse, Makalu, Lhotse, Nuptse, Everest, Changtse, and Pumori. Sight of sunrays kissing the Everest that towers over all surrounding peaks is amazing. Our Gokyo Ri visit will be unforgettable life time memories. We trek down to Gokyo, take breakfast and trek down to Dole.
Overnight at guesthouse, breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
15
Day 15 - Trek to Namche (3440m/11285ft) Duration: 6 hrs
We descend to Phorste Tenga (3680m/1270ft) and start steep climbing to Mong- la Danda (4940m/16200ft) then descend to Kyangjuma (3550m/11645ft) and at last easier trail leads to Namche. It takes us about 6 hrs for the trek.
Overnight at guesthouse, breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
16
Day 16 - Trek to Lukla (2800m/9184ft) Duration: 7 hrs
The trek continues along the Dudh Kosi River to the small mountain airstrip at Lukla from where you will catch your return flight to Kathmandu on the next day.
Overnight at guesthouse, breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
17
Day 17 - Fly back to Kathmandu
Today, you will have a short flight from Lukla back to Kathmandu. You can see the peaks once again for the last time before you land at the bustling city. You will be taken to your Hotel from the airport.
Overnight stay at the Hotel. Breakfast included.
18
Day 18 - Leisure day
As per your inclination, you can take rest or roam the day in Kathmandu.
Overnight at hotel, breakfast included.
19
Day 19 - Farewell
Approximately 3 hours before the scheduled flight, a representative of our team will take you to the airport.
19 Days / 18 Night
Max People : 1
Everest Chola Pass Trek (ECP Trek) Khumbu region
