Key Information
Book this Nepal trek and get a complimentary one hour Trekker’s’ massage after the trek is over. The masseuses will be from a marginalized community. This is part of our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
Note: You can pre-book a seat on a direct helicopter flight from Kathmandu to Lukla and return for an additional US$350 per person each way. You will avoid the 4-5 hours drive to or from Manthali. For example – if you decide to book a helicopter seat for both ways – US$700 extra needs to be added.
This trek has been designed to give you a meaningful and value-added experience by learning in-depth about the Sherpa people you will encounter, the villages you will stay at, and their famous residents. Our team will ensure that you are given the facts, the healthiest and most varied meals in the Himalayas, to enjoy your vacation to the fullest.
We are pioneers in culinary trekking in the Himalayas. We provide a varied, exciting menu on treks throughout the Himalayas. Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free meals can be catered for upon request, and other special diets can be accommodated with advance notice.
Trekking is not only fun, but it is beneficial for you. It helps in detoxifying the body while also nourishing the soul. Although to provide a better experience, we also tailor our meals to include superfoods as part of the ingredients to keep you fit and healthy while assisting in acclimatization to high altitude. The combination of hiking in the pristine mountain air and healthy food makes trekking with us a complete Wellness adventure. Read More on Food and nutrition on our treks.
The trek will begin after a short, scenic flight to Lukla in the Khumbu region. This trek has been designed to take you through the Everest region’s famous and less busy trails. We have selected lodges owned by exciting characters with stories that will enchant you. Likewise, we have picked less active lodges.
Staying in locally run tea houses along the way, you walk to the villages of Phakding and Namche Bazaar, the Sherpa capital of the world. Namche Bazaar is a bustling little town with numerous cafes, restaurants, shops with essentials for trekkers, bars, and even laundry service.
This trek’s numerous highlights are visiting villages home to World record-setting/breaking Sherpas. You will even stay and dine at the homes of two of these famous Sherpas. One of the spiritual highlights is the Tengboche monastery, which offers an incredible panorama of Mount Nuptse 7901 meters, Lhotse 8501 meters, Ama Dablam 6812 meters, and of course, Mount Everest! This monastery was first built in 1916 and has been rebuilt twice. It was damaged by the 1923 earthquake and a fire in 1989. The current building was rebuilt after the fire. The renowned Abbot of the monastery, Lama Ngawang Tenzing Jangpo Rimpoche, passed away quietly on the 9th of October 2020.
You will encounter various wildlife and birds that are both residents and migratory. The wildlife population has increased since the Sagarmatha National Park was established in 1976, and it was Nepal’s first national park to be inscribed as a World Heritage site in 1979.
Note: Flight to Lukla and back can be delayed or cancelled due to poor visibility. We ask you to have buffer days of a few days in case your flight to Lukla is affected.
Arrive in Nepal’s capital, Kathmandu. Our representative will meet you at the airport and bring you to your hotel. You will be given a briefing for the trek by your trek leader.
In the morning, we have a walking tour of Ason (an old spice market), a walk through Kathmandu’s busy streets and a 4-5 hour drive To Manthali in the afternoon to catch the flight to Lukla the following day.
Note: You can pre-book a seat on a direct helicopter flight at an additional $350 per person to avoid the 4-5 hours of drive to Manthali.
We fly to Lukla (2,800m) and start our trek. We aim to trek towards Monjo (5 hours trek) if our flight lands in the morning; otherwise, we stay at the village of Phakding (3 hours trek).
We follow the Dudh Koshi River, crossing a suspension bridge on the Kyashar Khola, and pass through Jorsalle, the entrance to Sagarmatha National Park. We have about one hour of trekking in a combination of flat, some short steep ascents, and descends to a high suspension bridge. There is a steep ascent of 2 hours after the bridge to Namche Bazaar. We stay in a lodge that is at the top of Namche Bazaar.
We rise early and climb for views of Mt. Everest and other peaks, with time to look through the Sherpa museum and cultural centre. The private museum and cultural centre are within the compound where we stay. This lodge owner is a conservationist and a photographer. You can buy scenic posters and postcards made by him.
We trek to the village of Thame (3,700m). You will encounter very few trekkers on the trail as this is away from the main route to Everest base camp (EBC). Instead, the course takes you through some small villages, and forested areas, with Mount Kongde towering on the opposite side of the valley. We will stay in a lodge owned by Apa Sherpa, who holds the world record of 22 successful ascents of Everest.
We retrace our steps to the ‘fork’ on the trail and begin climbing towards the Shyanboche airstrip, where we stop for lunch. Then, we trek to the village of Khumjung (3,790m) via Khunde village. We will visit the hospital in Khunde village and the school at Khumjung, built by Sir Edmund Hillary. The villages of Khunde and Khumjung lie below the protector deity mountain Khumbila.
We start our trek by descending towards Kyangjuma, where we are back on the main trail to EBC. We might be able to see our national birds – Impeyan Pheasants feeding on the fields on our downhill hike. Next, we start descending to Phunki Tenga. We have a steep climb to the ridge where the famous Tengboche Monastery is located for the next two hours. We visit the monastery, admiring the surrounding peaks (if the weather allows). This is a popular and bustling place. Finally, we trek downhill to Deboche at 3790 meters, less busy.
We have an excursion trek to the village of Pangboche (3,860m). We cross the Imja Khola on a suspension bridge, walk through rhododendron and pine forests, and pass many stone-carved walls. Finally, we get very close to Mount Ama Dablam at 6812 meters.
We will either have early lunch at Pangboche, or our staff will arrange for a picnic lunch to be had on the trail to Phortse village. This village is off the busy Everest trail. We can go spotting Musk Deers and Impeyan Pheshants – our national birds.
Your trek leader will have exciting stories to tell while the Chef will prepare another one of his healthy and nourishing meals.
We head down to the Dudh Koshi river and climb up a steep hill to Tengboche Monastery. Then, we retrace our steps back towards Kyangjuma (3,700m). It is a tiny settlement of just three lodges. We will be staying in an inn owned by a two-time Everest summiteer. This place is busy in the mornings, with trekkers on the way to EBC. They stop for hot drinks, enjoy the stunning mountain views, and do some souvenir shopping. Only a handful of other trekking companies book this lodge.
We will hike back to Namche on a trail we had bypassed while enjoying the panoramic views. We pass through Namche Bazaar, and, after the long downhill stretch, we follow the turbulent Dudh Koshi River back to Monjo (2,840m), where we stop for lunch. Finally, we continued our walk to Phakding village for the night.
After enjoying a pleasant walk through the densely populated area between Phakding and Lukla, we finally relax over a drink to celebrate your achievement and absorb the beautiful experiences you’ve shared as a group.
Flight to Manthali and drive back to Kathmandu 4-5 hour drive.
Note: You pre-book a seat on a direct helicopter flight to Kathmandu for an additional $350 and avoid a 4-5 hour drive from Manthali.
In the morning, we have a walking tour of Ason (an old spice market) and walk through Kathmandu’s busy streets – this tour will take place if you did not do it on day 2.
You will be brought to the airport 3 hours before your departure time for your international flight.
Cost Includes:
Despite the exceptional circumstances in which we find ourselves at the moment, we don’t want you to give up your holiday – and we want you to be able to book your trip without any worries.
To provide additional security for your booking, we have introduced a new rebooking and cancellation policy so that you can easily rebook or cancel your trip free of charge if the worst comes to the worst.
For new bookings made between May 10th 2021, and December 31st 2022, you may cancel your complete package (activities, hotels, tours, excl. flight) free of charge up to 30 days before your departure and get 100% of your money back. However, to stay flexible, we recommend that you choose a flexible fare when booking your flight.
Stay flexible with our new rebooking service until shortly before your departure. For new bookings made between May 10th and December 31st, 2021, you may rebook your package (activities, hotels, tours) free of charge up to 30 days before your departure (subject to availability). Rebooking is only allowed once, and you must inform us 30 days before your planned departure. Any additional costs incurred due to changes in your schedule or upgrades, such as additional fees in high season or upgrades to your accommodation, will still apply. To remain flexible, we recommend that you choose a flexible fare when booking your flight.
Trek FAQ
Most of our clients have completed their treks from 3 years old to some in their 70s with almost no exercise or training.
Do you offer hotel/airport pick-up?
We offer hotel and airport pick-up. As you continue with your booking, there will be an option to input flight details or hotel names.
Do I need a Visa?
A visa for Nepal can be acquired on arrival at the Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu, and at border entry points in Kakadvitta, Birgunj, Bhairahawa, Nepalgunj, Gaddachowki on the Nepal-India border, and Kerung on the Nepal-China border.
A visa can also be obtained outside of Nepal at the nearest Nepal Embassy or Diplomatic Mission.
For more information, go to the Department of Immigration, Kalikasthan, Kathmandu.
What should I bring on a Trek?
Being adequately equipped is one of the keys to a successful trek. For information to help you select the best type of clothing and equipment for your trip, please see our Clothing and Equipment Guide.
Also, see our Links page for details of specialist retailers who will offer further advice and assistance with purchasing new clothing or equipment.
If you have more questions, please check this article to reference equipment to pack or contact us.
Is this trip safe for solo/female/LGBT+/minority/POC travelers?
You are safe as long as you respect the culture, do not show affection in public, and dress decently (this won’t pose too much problem as you will be covered up in layers to stay warm).
Here are some helpful articles:
Am I too old to go trekking?
Arriving at Kathmandu airport.
Should I bring cash or ATM cards?
What to pack for a trek?
Do I need to train for a trek?
What is a typical day on a trek like?
What is the food like on the trek?
The Benefits of using trekking poles.
What do I need to know about high altitudes?
High altitude myths.
How to trek safely?
For more articles, you can go to our blogs.