PIKEY PEAK AND EVEREST BASE CAMP TREK

On arrival at Kathmandu airport, you will be met by a representative from Sherpa Expedition & Trekking who will take you to your 3-star hotel. You can rest at your hotel or stroll around Thamel and do some last-minute shopping and take in the sights.

The first leg of our journey takes us from Kathmandu to Dhap Bazaar. We follow the Sunkoshi River until we reach Ghurmi. Along the way, you can sit back and admire the ever-changing Nepali countryside of dense forest, terraced rice fields, and numerous rivers. We eventually reach Dhap Bazaar where we can stroll around the markets and admire the unique dress of the Sherpa villagers.

After leaving the border village of Kerung we follow the trail to Jhapre. Along the trail, we will stop and admire Buddhist monasteries and the incredible unspoiled landscape where orchids grow at random among the forests. On arrival at Jhapre we can watch the mesmerizing rituals performed at the monastery. .Lunch and dinner included.

Today we reach the second-highest point of the trek and along the trail, we pass Mani stones, stupas, and ancient Buddhist monasteries. Breakfast, lunch & dinner included.

Our trek today takes us to a superb vantage point where the views of the Himalayan Range extending from Kanchenjunga to Dhaulagiri will take your breath away. Of course, the view of the world’s highest mountain is visible from this location. There are often yak grazing alongside the trail and at times the yak herders will offer you fresh yak milk. After taking in the expansive panorama from Pikey Peak we will head down to the Junbesi Valley where we stay the night. Breakfast, lunch & dinner included.

Junbesi is an ideal village to spend the day exploring its bazaar and Buddhist monasteries in the surrounding hills. Looking northward is a view of Mt. Numbur (6959m)- known in Sherpa as Shorong Yul Lha (god of Solu). Choling Tibetan monastery is well worth a visit and was founded by Trulsuk Rinpoche who fled to Nepal from Rongbuk Gompa in Tibet with a large group Anis (nuns) and monks in the 1960s.

From Trakshindu we head along a trail to Dudh Koshi (milk river) and on to Kharikhola Village (2010m) we ascend to Bupsa (2360m).

Following the trail today offers us views of Mt. Khumbila and Mt. Cho Oyu (8201m). The trail continues into a deep gorge Keep before ascending to a ridge overlooking the Sherpa village of Paiya (Chitok) and continuing to Surkhet, Chaurikharka (2630m) before arriving at Ghat where we stay the night.

Today we trek through the valley with the Dudh Kosi River at our side. On several occasions, you cross the Dudh Kosi River on suspension bridges before climbing higher before reaching the small village of Jorsale in the Khumbu region – just south of Namche Bazaar. After a two hour trek, you will finally reach Namche with some fascinating views along the way, including some spectacular views of captivating Mt. Everest (Sagamartha in Nepali). You enter the Sagarmatha National Park at Jorsale where authorities will check your license. Continuing on for another 5 or 6 hours of fairly hard going we arrive at Namche Bazaar.

The fairly even trek, taking around 5 hours, to Tengboche zigzags, taking us past many valleys before arriving at Kenjoma, where it connects with the path from Khumjung just before passing many Mani stones (stones inscribed with sacred Buddhist prayers). The views of Everest and Mt. Ama Dablam are nothing short of breath-taking along this section of the trek. We pass the small village of Sanasa from where the path descends to Phunki Thanga (3250m) before a steep ascent through pine forests while passing more Mani stones as the trail hugs the slope before reaching Tengboche (3870m). Tengboche is famous for its sublime views of many of the world’s tallest peaks, such as Kwangde (6187m), Tawachee (6542m), Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse (8501m), Amadablam, Kantega, and Thamserku. Tonight we stay at Tengboche.

Today we head downhill on a 3 to 4-hour trek passing through forests before crossing the Imja Khola passing through the village of Pangboche, memorable for its fields encompassed by rock walls. Tonight we stay at Dingboche.

Today’s trek passes many Chortens (Tibetan shrines & tombs) taking around 1.5 hours before reaching the village of Thugla (4600m) where we have lunch at its tea house. After lunch, we head towards some towering peaks, such as Mt Pumori (7161m) and Mt. Nuptse (7861m) before reaching Lobuche Village (4940m). We then pass through an open valley before arriving at Thukla after leaving the Pheriche Aid Post at Pheriche (4371m). The aid post is manned during the peak trekking seasons We then descend to the yak pastures of the small settlement of Lobuche. Today's trek will take around 5 hours. Tonight we stay at Lobuche.

This morning we will begin with a two-hour trek to Gorakshep. The trail is initially quite easy, but progressively becomes more difficult. Along the trail we have some fantastic views of several towering peaks, such Everest, Nuptse and other enormous peaks. The trail continues for about 150 metres before traversing a moraine and then gets easier before arriving at Gorakshep, one on the world’s the world's most isolated and highest settlements. After stopping for lunch we trek toward EBC following a trail alongside the Khumbu ice sheet. The trek around the ice sheet takes around 1.5 hours before crossing the glacier and into the region of EBC (5360m). At base camp you will have an opportunity to meet other climbers and share stories. From EBC you will have views of the Khumbu ice sheet and glacier with its frightening and dangerous crevices. We will then descend to Gorakshep, a journey of 6 to 7 hours.

The early morning trek to Kalapathar (5550m) from Gorakshep will take around two hours. After a short climb to Kalapathar you will have uninterrupted views of Everest and other towering peaks. The magnificent photos of Everest seen on the internet are taken from this vantage point. From here we head down to Gorakshep, a fairly easy downhill trek. At Gorakshep we stop for tea and a snack before continuing on our descent to Pheriche. After accomplishing your goal of reaching EBC and experiencing high altitude climbing, you will sleep soundly at Pheriche. Today’s trek will take between 7-8 hours.

From Pangboche we retrace our steps descending to the Imja Khola and then up through the rhododendron forest to Tengboche monasteries. For some, this will be an opportunity to see the nuns perform their religious ceremonies at the Tengboche Monastery. After lunch at Tengboche, we continue our trek across the hillside blanketed by colorful rhododendron and juniper trees. After crossing the bridge over the (milky river) Dudh Koshi River our trail continues through the Dudh Koshi gorge descending rapidly through the pine forests before reaching Sansa. Along the way we keep our eyes peeled for wildlife, such as (Himalaya Thar) mountain goats, snow leopards and colorful pheasants while passing through the forest. After passing a Chortens we reach the Army camp at Namche Bazaar where we stay overnight.

It is a fairly long day with a 7-hour trek from Namche to Lukla, which is mostly downhill with several sections of level ground. We leave the Sagarmatha National Park and eventually reach Lukla where we stay overnight.

Our morning flight will have us reach Kathmandu in around 30 minutes. During the flight you will have a birds-eye view of many of the world’s soaring peaks in the Himalaya Ranges. Your guide will escort you from the airport to your hotel.

Our representative will take you to the airport around 3 hours before departure. This is only ‘farewell’ until we see you again for your next expedition into the Himalaya region.