Mindful Travel in the Himalaya with Nina Karnikowski

Own arrival in Kathmandu. In the afternoon (approx 4pm) you will meet with Nina & our local guide in the hotel courtyard for a pre-trek briefing where we will provide your trek kit bag which includes your sleeping bag and down jacket, ready for our journey into the mountains. In the evening we will share our first dinner together at Le Sherpa, a Nepali-owned restaurant focused on local organic produce and sustainability. Overnight: Nomad, Kathmandu IMPORTANT: Most flights arrive late in the evening so you will need to book a nights accommodation in Kathmandu for the day before the tour, or earlier if you would like more time to enjoy the city.

Meals:  B,D

An early wake up for a sunrise tour of Kathmandu’s streets and temples. The stillness of the city makes for a magical atmosphere and extraordinary photo opportunities. Nina will share her thoughts on what it means to take photos with intention and presence, something we will take forward in our time ahead in Nepal. Returning to the hotel for breakfast & then some free time. Late afternoon we will attend a special talk with a Buddhist teacher, to understand the spiritual underpinnings of this magical country and drop us into presence before we head into the mountains of the Everest region. Today lunch and dinner is at leisure. Overnight: Nomad, Kathmandu

Meals:  B

We transfer to Kathmadu airport for the short flight to Lukla, in Nepal’s Everest region - the cradle of Sherpa culture, which is infused with Buddhist philosophy and mindfulness. It is a memorable flight, with breathtaking views of the Eastern Himalaya. At Lukla we are immediately impressed by the scale of the huge peaks that surround the village, just a taste of what is to come. Our crew assemble and we head downhill towards the Dudh Kosi, named Dudh (milk) Kosi (river) because of its colour. The broad and well-marked trail weaves past fields of potatoes and buckwheat, and passes through small villages and rows of dahlia trees, as we make our way to our first camp. Overnight exclusive eco-comfort camp at Ghat.

Meals:  B,L,D

This morning, Nina gives a brief talk about walking with greater mindfulness, and we set some intentions for the week ahead, before beginning today’s hike. Sections of today's walk are through pine forest, with spaces between the trees revealing terraced fields and a variety of crops. We pass small groups of donkeys and yaks carrying trading goods and trekking gear along the trail, then through a variety of small hamlets as we slowly gain altitude. Spectacular mountain peaks seem to hover above the tree-line as they unfold over the deep river valley. We will see our first mani stones today, inscribed with the ancient Buddhist mantra "Om Mani Padme Hum”, which translates to "Praise to the jewel in the lotus”, and is a call to awareness for trekkers climbing the mountain trails. Overnight exclusive eco-comfort camp site located above Monjo.

Meals:  B,L,D

This morning we pass through the gates of the UNESCO-protected Sagarmatha National Park. The establishment of this national park is a significant attempt to stem the use of firewood in this fragile mountain forest ecosystem. 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 firewood for cooking, heating and for hot water for trekker's showers. This practice continues to deplete the forests. Nina will share her thoughts on what travelling lightly means & how we can do this in Nepal. We follow the river course 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. After lunch you may wish to peruse the Tibetan trader's stalls or the Sherpa shops, bearing in mind that spending our travel dollars in local economies and paying fair prices for locally-made goods is one of the best things we can do to give back to the places we’re visiting. Overnight: eco-lodge

Meals:  B,L,D

Our trek will start along a ridgeline with magnificent views of the surrounding mountains including Everest, Lhotse, Thamserku, Khangtega & Ama Dablam. After enjoying a relaxed tea and coffee break we will continue towards Khumjung village to visit Sir Edmond Hillary's famous "Schoolhouse in the clouds." This was the first school in the Khumbu region, built in 1961 with the help of 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 of different ages. After visiting, we descend and follow the trail for approx 25 minutes to our new exclusive camp a Kyangjuma. Overnight: Exclusive eco-comfort camp

Meals:  B,L,D

The walk to Pangboche is one of the most spectacular trekking days in Nepal, so we will spend part of today’s trek walking in silence, bringing complete presence to the experience. The trail meanders easily around the ridges and Everest can be clearly seen on the horizon ahead before we descend through lush rhododendron forests for lunch. After lunch we begin the ascent to the top of a long ridge which flows from the summit of Kantega. 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, or sacred meditation structure, before cresting the ridge onto a wide grassy meadow at the monastery village of Thyangboche. The views of the Everest massif, as well as all the other major peaks of the area, are astounding. Overnight exclusive eco-comfort camp at Pangboche.

Meals:  B,L,D

In the spirit of thoughtful, slow travel, today will be a day of rest. Nina will run an optional journaling workshop to help you reflect on the trek, and the rest of the day will be spent at your leisure, connecting to the environment and taking time to process the journey so far, with the backdrop of the awe inspiring mountains. Overnight exclusive eco-comfort camp at Pangboche.

Meals:  B,L,D

With Nina’s guidance, the focus of today’s walk will be on soaking up nature with all our senses - the smell of the plants and the soil, the soothing sight of the mountains, the feel of the earth beneath our feet, the gentle murmur of the trees - helping us stay focused, mindful and present. If the weather is clear, the mountain views from Thyangboche monastery as we 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 us are Kantega and Thamserku. Completing a 360 degree panorama of mountains are Khumblia and Kongde Ri which encircle us from across the valley. It’s a pleasant walk down to Kyangjuma, and as we near the village we pass through terraced fields that are home to the national bird of Nepal, the brightly coloured Danphe Pheasant. Overnight: exclusive eco-lodge

Meals:  B,L,D

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 a yak farm and descending to Namche. After a break we continue down through the forest to the valley floor to follow the Dudh Kosi downhill, and out of the national park to Monjo. Overnight exclusive eco-comfort camp, or lodge

Meals:  B,L,D

Retracing our steps along the valley, we pass through a variety of settlements and forests before an undulating climb to Lukla. We savour our final mountain sunset of the trek and have a short ceremony to close out the powerful journey we have undertaken. Our last evening of the trek is a perfect time to celebrate and say thanks to the team, especially the porters who will return to their villages from here. Overnight: eco-lodge

Meals:  B,L,D

We start the day with a stunning morning flight over forests and villages to Kathmandu, savouring a bird’s eye view of the area we have just explored on foot. The afternoon and evening is free to explore Kathmandu and the surrounding historic areas, with an option to follow a curated guide provided by Nina. Overnight: Nomad, Kathmandu

Meals:  B

We set off outside Kathmandu to visit a project World Expeditions supports in Nepal, T-HELP, whose objectives are to provide training to female farmers on organic agriculture practices as well as build business skills. We will be accompanied by Dr Ananda. We take the time to integrate everything we have learnt on this powerful journey with Nina, before our final dinner in the atmospheric courtyard of the iconic Dwarikas hotel. Overnight: Nomad, Kathmandu

Meals:  B,D

Tour arrangements conclude after breakfast. We can assist with a departure transfer to the airport or extending your stay in Kathmandu if you would like to explore the city further.

Meals:  B