Day 1 | International arrival in Tribhuvan Airport, Kathmandu

Welcome to Nepal! A representative from Trans Himalayan Tour will pick you up from the airport and take you to your hotel in Kathmandu. Overnight in Kathmandu.

Day 2 | Fly from Kathmandu to Lukla, trek to Phakding: 35min flight, 3-4 hrs trek. Ending Elevation: 2610m

The flight into Lukla is spectacular and the airport is situated amongst the hills at an altitude of 2860m. The landing at Lukla airport is an exhilarating beginning to the trek, with the runway being 520m long and 30m wide, along with an incline of 12 degrees. Once in Lukla, the entry point of the Khumbu valley, you will be meeting your team of guide(s) and porter(s). While you are having breakfast at a local lodge and preparing for the first day of trekking, they will be arranging the luggage to carry. Today you will head through pine and cedar woods in a dusty track studded with rocks along the Dudh Kosi river to Phakding. You pass locals going about their daily chores and you learn to go around Mani stones and cross the suspension bridges. You will also begin to gaze upon the trip’s first mountainous glory, such as the Kusum Kanguru (6367m). It is a gentle start to the Everest region trek and the night will be spent in a comfortable lodge in Phakding village.

Day 3 | Phakding to Namche Bazaar: 6-7 hrs. Ending Elevation: 3440m

The trek through the lower Khumbu valley is fairly well populated with not too extreme temperatures. The paths lead you through rhododendron and magnolia forests, and past several villages such as Chumoa and Monjo. If you visit during spring season, you might be surprised to see some cherry blossom trees along the way, especially one brought from Japan and planted by a Japanese trekker named Mr. Osawa in Chumoa. Mr. Osawa is no longer with us but he trekked with Trans Himalayan Tour every year for 20 years to go to Gokyo and Gorakshep and take an ice bath in a small lake in Gorakshep. You will be entering the Sagarmatha (Everest) National Park from Monjo as you dwell deeper into the Khumbu region. It is a strenuous hike uphill from Jorsale to Namche Bazaar with no settlements in between. The first glimpse of Mt. Everest (8848m), Lhotse (8516m) and Nuptse (7861m) can be seen from Toap Hill which is a good place for a break. Go slowly while you ascend and notable mountains include the Kongde Ri (6187m), Kusum Kang (6367m) and Thamserku (6608m).

Day 4 | Acclimatization Day in Namche Bazaar

Namche Bazaar is regarded as the ‘capital’ of the Khumbu region and the gateway to the high Himalayan treks. The village has many colorful shops and lodges where it is possible to find almost anything required for trekking. An acclimatization day is scheduled to adjust your body to the change in altitude and help avoid symptoms of Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) in higher elevation. It is recommended to take hikes to nearby side trips such as to Hotel Everest View in Syangboche or the Sherpa villages of Khumjung and Khunde.

Day 5 | Namche Bazaar to Tengboche/Debuche: 5hrs. Ending Elevation: 3860m

The view from the popular Tengboche Monastery is deemed to be absolutely amazing. The monastery is located within the Sagarmatha National Park and provides panoramic views of the highest mountains on earth with views of Ama Dablam (6856m), Kangtega (6685m), Everest (8848m), and Taboche (6542m) all appearing in close proximity. If you reach Tengboche village by 3pm, you may be able to observe the Buddhist chanting ceremony by resident monks at the monastery. As the lodges in Tengboche can be easily packed, you have the option of going further to Debuche, which lies 20 minutes ahead for your overnight stay.

Day 6 | Tengboche to Dingboche: 5-6 hrs. Ending Elevation: 4410m

The route to Dingboche would mostly be on level grounds. You move through the green and moss covered trees with glacial streams raging below. You would cross the Imja river on a steel bridge and the backdrop of Ama Dablam makes it a great Kodak moment. Pangboche would be the last forested area that you will see until your descend from Everest Base Camp. Today would be the day that you trek above the tree line and move into a completely different type of landscape all together, with plant life limited to small shrubs and grasses. The view of Lhotse, Nuptse, Island Peak, Peak 38, Tabuche, Cholatse, Ama Dablam, Kantega and Thamserku comes fully in sight during the duration of the trek.

Day 7 | Dingboche to Chukhung: 3 hrs. Ending Elevation: 4730m

Until Dingboche we were on the main trail going towards Everest Base Camp, but from here we break off and head towards Chukhung and Island Peak. The hike today will encompass walking through Imja valley and the stone-walled fields. Chukhung is a scenic village surrounded by mountains and has great views of Ama Dablam and Amphu Labtsa. From here on, the winds cut through like ice so please make sure that you wear proper layers, have a strong windproof jacket and cover your ears.

Day 8 | Acclimatization Day in Chukhung

We have set aside this day for acclimatization, and a climb to Chukhung Ri (5546m) is the perfect day hike for preparation. The peak of Chukhung lies at the head of the Imja Valley, towering over Chukhung village, which itself has wonderful mountain views. At the peak you will find yourself surrounded by mountains and glaciers at all sides. This day hike will take around 3-4 hours round trip.

Day 9 | Chukhung to Island Peak Base Camp: 3-4 hrs. Ending Elevation: 5087m

Today we will hike to Island Peak Base Camp and then take a few hours to practice training for peak climbing with our professional climbing Sherpas. The trek to the base camp is a fairly steep and winding trail, walking besides streams and through the Lhotse and Imja glacier moraines, with Amphu Labtsa appearing in the southeast. You will see that Island Peak extends from Mt. Lhotse and this peak truly is an island amidst a sea of glaciers and moraines coming down the high Himalayas. After resting at the base camp, we will being our training on peak climbing techniques which includes knowing how to use the climbing gears such as ice axe, crampons, harness, climbing boots, ropes and so forth. We will need to sleep early tonight for a very early start to the summit next morning.

Day 10 | Island Peak Base Camp (5,087m) to Island Peak Summit (6189m), back to Base Camp: 9-10 hrs Ending Elevation: 5087m

The push to the summit requires us to wake up very early for breakfast and start the climb around 2am. It is better to cross the ice before sunrise and reach the summit in the early morning to avoid the strong winds that generally comes later in the day. The trail climbs up for several hundred meters, going up steep zig-zag rock strewn trails which gets more strenuous as you gain altitude. Once this part ends, you will be on top of a narrow snow covered ridgeline and we will use fixed ropes to get to the summit. It is a long, hard and steep climb but the view from the summit and the sense of achievement will be well worth the challenge. From the peak, you can enjoy the breathtaking views of the Himalayan giants such as Nuptse, Lhotse, Lhotse Shar in the north, Makalu and Baruntse in the east and the beautiful Amadablam in the south. We will slowly make our way down to Island Peak base camp and rest for the night.

Day 11 | Island Peak Base Camp to Pangboche: 6-7 hrs. Ending Elevation: 3985m

After an arduous climb, the hike down to Pangboche will feel much easier thanks to the lower altitude. We will be following the same route back and we can take some time to enjoy the Sherpa villages of Orsho and Shomare and the beautiful scenery of the Khumbu valley. The cluster of lodges in Pangboche is surrounded by the mountainous views of Ama Dablam, Thameserku, Kantega and Kongde and the Imja Tse River flowing through the fertile valley.

Day 12 | Pangboche to Hotel Everest View (HEV): 5-6 hrs. Ending Elevation: 3880m

Today will be a mix of uphill and downhill trails to get to Hotel Everest View from Pangboche. We will pass by Tengboche Monastery and walk through forests of rhododendron and juniper trees. After crossing the Dudh Koshi river and passing by several villages to reach the green tiled Sherpa village of Khumjung, we will make our 45 minute uphill journey to the hotel. You can then relax at one of the most historic hotels in all of Khumbu, a hotel that pioneered the hospitality business in the region.

Day 13 | HEV to Phakding: 5-6 hrs. Ending Elevation: 2610m

Trekking from HEV to Phakding, you will be going back the same path you trekked many days ago. This time it is mostly downhill so it may be hard on your weary knees. During the peak seasons in spring and autumn when the helicopter shuttle is available (usually March 15 – May 15 and Oct 1 – Dec 5), you can opt to take the heli from HEV directly to Lukla and fly back to Kathmandu same day, which will save you 2 days of trekking.

Day 14 | Phakding to Lukla: 3-4 hrs. Ending Elevation: 2860m

It is a fairly relaxed trek today and you will be pushing through the final uphill back to Lukla. Enjoy the last day of trekking and celebrate the successful completion of your trek with your guides and porters!

Day 15 | Lukla to Kathmandu

After another short domestic flight from Lukla to Kathmandu, we bring you back to the city that started your journey. The day can be arranged for some sight-seeing around the famous World Heritage sights in Kathmandu, highly recommended are Patan Dubar Square, Boudhanath stupa and Swayambhunath temple (monkey temple). Overnight in Kathmandu.

Day 16 | International Departure

As this epic adventure wraps up, you may already be planning for your next trip to Nepal. A representative from Trans Himalayan Tour will escort you to the international airport in Kathmandu and we wish you a pleasant flight home. Al

Include:

 International & domestic airport pick up and drop off to and from a hotel in Kathmandu

 Overnights in Kathmandu on BB (bed & breakfast) basis in a 4/5 star category hotel

 Domestic flights and ground transportation

 Government licensed main trekking guide, assistant guide (for groups over 3 pax) and porters. One porter for      every two trekkers.

 Staff costs are included – wages, insurance, equipment, food & accommodation

 Trekking accommodation in tea houses with attached bathrooms where available

 3 meals a day including breakfast, lunch, and dinner plus tea/coffee breaks during the trek

 A 60 liter company duffel bag per person – for yours to keep

 Sleeping bags (good up to -20 degrees) and hot water bags for the duration of the trek

 First Aid kit – to be carried by the trekking guide

 Trekking permits and entrance fees

 Kathmandu valley sight-seeing tour with private vehicle and city guide as mentioned in itinerary

 All rates are inclusive of service charge and government tax

Exclude:

 International flight tickets

 Lunch & dinner outside of trekking (not included in Kathmandu/other cities)

 Nepal entry visa fee – visa is available upon arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu

 Medical insurance – please make sure you have travel insurance for Nepal

 Alcoholic beverages/soft drinks/bottled water

 Tips (tipping is expected)