Everest Express

Day 1: Kathmandu

Today is an arrival day and no activities are planned, so you may arrive at any time. Please ask at the hotel reception for suggestions of things to see and do in Kathmandu. A pre-departure meeting takes place this evening at the hotel. Please also check the noticeboard for details of this meeting and for any other messages from your tour leader. Please also bring your passport and travel insurance documents to the meeting. Afterwards we have the opportunity to go out for an optional group dinner.

Day 2: Phakding

(Walking time: approx 3 hours) In the morning we fly from Kathmandu to Lukla (2827m). The flight itself is awe-inspiring as we fly parallel to the Himalayan giants bordering Nepal and Tibetan China. Flight time is about 40 minutes and we land at an airstrip built by Sir Edmund Hillary and the Sherpas in the mid-1960s. After landing we meet our porters who will carry our equipment during our trek. We also have time to explore the village before hitting the trail. The trek starts with a descent towards the Dudh Kosi River, where we join the main trail to Namche Bazaar. (Dudh means 'milk' – the waters of the river are a strong milky white from glacial melt.) The walk is easy and after passing through the small village of Ghat (2550m), we soon reach our lodge at Phakding.

Day 3: Monjo - Namche Bazaar

(Walking time: approx 8 hours) It is a long day, but also essential that we ascend slowly on the route that eventually leads to Everest Base Camp. Sensible acclimatisation will ensure we are feeling good on our final days approaching the peak of Everest. We make a start from Phakding and cross the river to walk through tracts of blue pine and rhododendron forest that is very spectacular in the spring, when the flowers are in bloom. We cross the Dudh Kosi at Benkar and enjoy great views of the snow-capped peaks of Kusum Kanguru (6369m) and Thamserku (6623m). From here it is only a short walk to Monjo (2835m), where we arrive in time for lunch. Then the walking gets a little tougher and includes a steep ascent to Namche Bazaar. It is a short walk to the entrance of the national park, where our permits are checked before we descend quite steeply to again cross the Dudh Kosi to Jorsale (2805m). The trek continues upstream on generally flat terrain, crossing back to the right bank, to the confluence of the Bhote Kosi and Dudh Kosi rivers. After crossing a large and stable suspension bridge high above the river we climb steeply to the village of Namche Bazaar. A slow and steady pace is recommended on this section of the climb and we are encouraged to make the most of the fantastic photographic opportunities as the peaks of Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse and Taweche come into view for the first time. You may notice you are travelling a little more slowly as the effects of altitude start to become apparent. Take your time on this path which is used by the local peoples as a 'foot highway' on this important trading route. At Namche we stay in a lodge in the heart of the village and there is plenty of time to bargain in the shops for Tibetan artefacts or relax and marvel at the beautiful scenery.

Day 4: Namche Bazaar

(Acclimatisation Day) We stay at Namche for a second night to allow for proper acclimatisation to the high altitude and to enable full exploration of the town and its surrounds. Namche is a prosperous village, situated in a large, protected hollow. It gained its importance during the period when Tibetan salt was traded for the lowland grains of Nepal. Today quite an amount of trade continues at Namche and Tibetans are sometimes seen in the village trading rugs and Chinese-made goods, clothing, salt and dried meat. It is recommended that you take the opportunity to see both the sunrise and sunset views from the national park headquarters above the village. The panorama can be stunning at both times of the day with a superb view of the Khumbu peaks, including great sightings of Everest. After breakfast there are various options, including perhaps a walk towards Thami (3810m), up the beautiful and generally flat Bhote Khola River Valley, with a series of great peaks rearing to well over 6,000 metres just to the west. Alternatively you can visit the national park headquarters to see the interesting displays of Sherpa lifestyle and culture. Your guides will be on hand to offer advice and to escort you on the walks. Another option is the steep climb out of the village bowl to the flatter areas around and above Shyangboche where beautiful views abound.

Day 5: Monjo

(Walking time: approx 4 hours) In Namche Bazaar where enjoy a final opportunity to visit the shops in the bazaar. We then descend steeply down to the large suspension bridge over the Dudh Kosi and follow the trail through Jorsale and back to Monjo, where we spend the night.

Day 6: Lukla

(Walking time: approx 5 hours) There is no rush today as we retrace our steps back to Lukla. We take lunch in Phakding and although, the final ascent up to Lukla is a surprise for most trekkers, reach the airport in the early afternoon. Lukla is famous for its end of trek celebrations, although we should not overdo it, as the plane ride back to Kathmandu is not best enjoyed with a hangover!

Day 7: Kathmandu

We rise early in the morning to be ready for the arrival of our aircraft for the flight back to Kathmandu. We are met at the airport and transferred to our hotel, located in the Thamel district of Kathmandu, where we spend our final night.

Day 8: Kathmandu

Our adventure to the Everest Region sadly ends in the morning. You can extend your stay in Kathmandu or why not join another of our trips from Kathmandu to India?

Tour Grade: Trekking

Think about the feeling you get after completing one of the world’s great treks: seeing Machu Picchu through the Sun Gate after gruelling days on the Inca Trail; looking down on Africa from its summit, Kilimanjaro; relaxing by Pokhara’s perfect lake after tackling Annapurna’s rugged tracks. The legs might ache but the feeling of pride in your achievements is overwhelming. More than that though, trekking gets you up close and personal with the world’s finest landscapes and many interesting cultures. Walk through remote jungle to visit the tribes of northern Thailand and Vietnam, or explore China’s iconic Tiger Leaping Gorge by foot, and you’ll find the country opens up in a whole new way, the slow pace all the better for appreciating the surroundings. It’s definitely better to travel than to arrive – particularly when the travel’s all on your own steam.