trip
NEW Trip – Ladakh Mountain Biking AdventureView Trip Details

12 Days$1590USD

Activities
  • 8 day trek
Accommodation
  • 3 nights hotels
  • 5 nights private eco campsites
  • 3 nights eco lodge
Meals
  • 11 Breakfasts
3
Introductory

Traveller Rating

 

 
 

Trip highlights


  • Trek the Everest region your own way with complete flexibility
  • Explore the heartland of the Sherpa culture as you ascend the scenic trails to Thyangboche Monastery
  • Feel the exhilaration of witnessing Everest for the first time
  • Relax in comfort with our stand high tents, raised camp bed, mattress and pillows
  • Experience a spectacular Himalayan mountain flight to Lukla

This superb new style of trekking is ideal for friends, couples or families who are keen for the flexibility that a self guided trek offers with all the World Expeditions supports and responsible tourism practices working in the background. In Kathmandu, you'll be met by our local staff who'll provide you with maps, route descriptions, accommodation voucher and luggage tags for the trek. A short flight to Lukla will see you on your way, ascending the trails toward Thyangboche staying at our eco campsites and lodges with porters to carry your luggage to the next nights camp. The trek route is a fantastic introduction to trekking in the Everest region offering great mountain scenery, immersion with the Sherpa culture and an adventure where you set the pace and the choice of starting your trek any day of the week in season.

Trip Code: EVS

You will be met by a representative of World Expeditions and transferred to the hotel. Remainder of the afternoon at leisure. A pre-trek briefing will take place around 4.30pm where arrangements will be made for the distribution of your kit bag, sleeping bag and down/fibrefill jacket. A representative from World Expeditions will run through the route notes, answer any questions you have regarding the trek and help you settle in with a welcome drink on offer. If there are other self guided trekkers arriving today, you'll also meet them at the briefing. There are a million things to see in Kathmandu and you will be free to wander the town and explore the valley in the afternoon. The old Royal Palace, Durbar Square and the tourist quarter of Thamel are all worth a visit. The evening is free for you to enjoy this bustling, vibrant city.

Meals:  Nil

Depending on the season, you will either have a free day to explore Kathmandu's bustling streets and significant landmarks or embark on a bus ride to Ramechap, a small town that operates flights to Lukla, the gate way trekking in the Everest region. Overnight: Radisson Hotel or Private eco-camp *NB: Domestic flights to/from Lukla may operate from Manthali Airport, Ramechap during spring and autumn trekking seasons (March to May and October to December). This is determined by the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal and dates are subject to change. You will be briefed on flight arrangements locally.

Meals:  B

You will be transferred to the airport for the 45 minute flight to the STOL airstrip at Lukla. This was the airstrip built by Sir Edmund Hillary and his friends to service the Everest Region when he began his work of building schools and hospitals for the Sherpa people. It is a memorable flight, with marvellous views of the Eastern Himalaya. At Lukla you will be immediately impressed by the scale of the huge peaks that surround the village, but this is only a foretaste of what is to come. Your porter will meet you to take your kitbags and, after consulting your route notes, you'll head downhill towards the Dudh Kosi, named "Dudh" (milk) Kosi (river) because of its colour, a raging river that flows from the highest peaks. The broad and well-marked trail meanders around fields of potatoes and buck-wheat, and passes through small villages, as you pass rows of tree dahlia to make your way to the first campsite at Ghat, where you will sign in on arrival. Whilst you may feel like continuing and indeed, the days walk is short, the night here is imperative to ensure good acclimatisation for the trek ahead.

Meals:  B

Following tea or coffee in your tent to welcome the day and breakfast in our comfortable dining room, you'll set out on the days walk, using the map and route notes provided. Per our safety protocols, it is important that you 'sign out' of the campsite prior to leaving. Sections of today's walk are through pine forest, and cleared areas reveal terraced fields and a variety of crops. Expect to pass small groups of donkeys, yaks and dzopko carrying trading goods and trekking gear along the trail. A dzopko is a yak-cow crossbreed while a yak is a full-blood long haired male, more commonly found at higher altitudes. You will pass through a variety of small hamlets as we slowly gain altitude. Spectacular mountain peaks unfold above us, and seem to hover above the tree-line as they rise above the deep river valley. Shortly after leaving camp you will cross the Kusum Khola, a tributary stream to the Dudh Kosi, and the peak of Kusum Kangru (6369 m) can be seen to the East at the head of the valley. Further along the trail, across the valley to the North-West, Nupla (5885 m) and Kongde Ri (6093 m) rise above the forested ridges. At a turn of the trail, Thamserku (6808 m) rises majestically, seemingly from the river floor and you will see your first Mani walls today. These stone structures are a compilation of many stone tablets, each with the inscription "Om Mani Padme Hum" which translates to "Hail to the jewel in the lotus", and is mantra (chant) venerated by Buddhists and Brahmans alike. Buddhists will walk to the left of these Mani Walls and chortens, but you may notice that people of the lowlands who have no knowledge of Buddhism do not follow this ceremony. The camp for the night is our private eco camp site located above Monjo. After signing in, the night is at leisure.

Meals:  B

This morning we cross the green/aqua waters of the Dudh Kosi and pass through the gates of the Sagamartha National Park. The establishment of this national park is a significant attempt to stem the use of fire-wood in the area. Self-contained trek groups must use only kerosene fuels for cooking, a philosophy we follow everywhere in Nepal, whether we are in a national park or not. Tea-houses and lodges are encouraged to use kerosene, yak dung or electricity but unfortunately continue to use mostly fire-wood for cooking, heating and for hot water for trekker's showers. This practice continues to deplete the forests. We follow the river course to the confluence of the Dudh Kosi and the Bhote Kosi and cross a spectacular high bridge before commencing our ascent to the village of Namche Bazaar, the Sherpa "capital" of Nepal. It is a tough climb as the trail passes through forest of pine to a vantage point that provides our first view of Mt Everest. The trail continues to climb and meander to Namche and the sight of this prosperous village spread within a horse-shoe shaped valley opposite the beautiful peak of Kongde Ri is worth every step. After lunch you may wish to peruse the Tibetan trader's stalls or the Sherpa shops in search of a bargain. Overnight: eco-lodge

Meals:  B

Our trek will start with an incline to Syangboche airstrip and along the ridgeline towards Everest View Hotel. We are welcomed with magnificent views of the surrounding mountains including Everest, Lhotse, Thamserku, Khangtega, Ama Dablam and many more. After a quick break, we continue towards Khumjung and visit Sir Edmond Hillary’s famous “Schoolhouse in the clouds.”This school was the first in the entire Khumbu region being built in 1961 with the help of the Sir Edmund Hillary and the Himalayan Trust. The school originally opened with only two classrooms but has since expanded to cater for over 350 students. We descend and follow the trail for approx 25 minutes to our new exclusive campsite at Kyangjuma. For those who are feeling the early effects of altitude can opt for a shorter acclimatization walk of around 2 hours directly from Namche to Kyangjuma. Overnight: Private eco-campsite

Meals:  B

The walk to Pangboche is one of the most spectacular trekking days in Nepal. The trail meanders easily around the ridges and Everest can be clearly seen on the horizon ahead before we descend through splendid rhododendron forests for lunch. After lunch we cross the Dudh Kosi and begin the ascent to the top of a long ridge which flows from the summit of Kantega. Our trail takes us through pine and rhododendron forest, and, as this is a devout Buddhist region, the wildlife is unharmed and not too shy. As a result there is a possibility that we may see Himalayan Thar, Musked Deer or pheasants in the forest and around our campsite. As we approach the ridgeline we pass through a traditional gateway and around a chorten before cresting the ridge onto a wide grassy meadow at the monastery village of Thyangboche. The monastery was re-built with the assistance of Sir Edmund Hillary after it was destroyed by fire in 1989. The views of the Everest massif, as well as all the other major peaks of the area are astounding. After a rest and visit to the monastery we head downhill to our private eco campsite at Pangboche.

Meals:  B

If the weather is clear, the mountain views from Thyangboche monastery as you pass through are outstanding - Everest, Lhotse and Nuptse are at the head of the valley, their line of sight flanked by Taweche on one side and Ama Dablam on the other. Almost directly above are Kantega and Thamserku. Completing a 360 degree panorama of mountains are Khumblia and Kongde Ri which encircle you from across the valley. It is a comfortable day’s walk, with time to explore some unique and more traditional villages. As you near the villages, you will pass through terraced fields that are home to a brightly colored pheasant, the Danphe Pheasant, the national bird of Nepal. Khumjung is where Sir Edmund Hillary built his “Schoolhouse In the Clouds” and the famed Khunde hospital is close by. World Expeditions supports both of these famous community facilities, as well as the many other projects operated by the Himalayan Trust. There will generally be the opportunity for you to visit the hospital and school. You will also be able to see the monastery at Khumjung where you may have the opportunity to see the “scalp of a yeti”. Nearby on a hilltop, with views of the mountains, is the Everest View Hotel, a joint Nepali - Japanese project, where you can stop for refreshments before passing through the yak breeding farm and descending to Namche where you'll stop for the night. Overnight at our private eco campsite.

Meals:  B

This morning you will farewell the 'Sherpa Capital' and begin your return journey. The trail meanders through the forest to the valley floor to follow the Dudh Kosi downhill, and out of the national park to the camp at the small settlement of Monjo. Overnight at our private eco campsite.

Meals:  B

Retracing your steps along the valley, you'll pass through a variety of settlements and forests before an undulating climb to Lukla. Here you can savour your final mountain sunset of the trek as you complete this exhilarating journey. The last evening of the trek is a good time to farewell your porters who will return to their villages from here and to reflect on your trek in this magnificent place.

Meals:  B

Today you will fly to Kathmandu, a thrilling takeoff followed by a patch work quilt of terraced fields, forest and villages, with the Himalaya chain to the north. On arrival, you'll be transferred to your hotel. The rest of the day is your own to do some last minute shopping or sightseeing.

Meals:  B

After breakfast arrangements cease unless further arrangements have been made. If you are travelling by aircraft to further destinations you will be transferred to the airport.

Meals:  B


Map

Elevation

The map and elevation chart are for illustrative purposes only and meant to provide general guidelines.
On self guided trips, actual route information provided before departure will be more detailed.


Inclusions

  • 11 breakfasts
  • good quality accommodation in Kathmandu
  • accommodation in a combination of our comfortable eco lodges and private eco campsites with off the ground camp beds, mattresses and pillows
  • self guided trek, information pack including route notes and map provided per room booked
  • airport transfers if arriving on day 1 and 12
  • private transportation
  • Flights Kathmandu/Lukla/Kathmandu US$368 approx
  • 15kgs luggage allowance on Kathmandu/Lukla flights
  • the use of a World Expeditions trek pack which includes a quality sleeping bag, down or fibre fill jacket and sleeping bag liner (valued at over US$500)
  • souvenir World Expeditions kit bag
  • all park entrance fees and trekking permits
  • porter to carry all personal equipment (1 bag of 15kg max pp)
  • insurance, protective clothing, food and shelter for porter
  • emergency hotline and support from our office in Kathmandu
  • Beverages including 4 litres of boiled drinking water a day, tea, coffee and hot chocolate with breakfast

  • International flights
  • Lunch & dinner
  • Bottled water, aerated & alcoholic drinks
  • Items of a personal nature such as phone calls, laundry, etc
  • Tips
  • Airport and departure taxes
  • Visa
  • Travel Insurance
  • A guide - this is a self guided itinerary

Departure dates

Daily between October to mid-May

Notes

Note:
This trip is not suitable for solo travellers. Please contact our team for alternate tour suggestions.

Dates don't fit?
Create a Private Trip

If you have your own group, talk to us about turning this itinerary into your own private adventure.

Priceper person from

$1590USD

Your trip price includes:

  • Internal flight valued at USD$368
Options & Supplements*
  • Single SupplementUSD$230
*Prices listed are per person

Essential Information

Ready to book? Make sure you download and read the detailed Self Guided Everest Trek trip notes which contains all the essential information you need to know before booking. Once you’ve booked, we will supply you with a Pre-Departure document which contains a detailed gear list and other important information to help you prepare for your adventure ahead.


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