Everest Base Camp

The trip starts today in Kathmandu, the busy, colourful and chaotic capital city of Nepal. Your Leader plans to meet everyone in the hotel reception for a welcome meeting at 5 pm. For those that wish, there is the chance to go out together as a group for dinner afterwards. There are no other activities planned for today. Should you miss the welcome meeting, your leader will leave any essential information and details of the best time to catch up with them, at the hotel reception. If you would like to receive an airport transfer today, you'll need to arrive into Kathmandu Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM). You should allow at least 45 minutes to reach our hotel in central Kathmandu as traffic congestion in city can be bad. Depending on the arrival time of your flight, you may wish to explore the city. Our hotel is located a short walk from the lively Thamel area - home to a multitude of outdoor gear, souvenir shops, great bookshops and a huge variety of restaurants - it's a fun place to wander.

It's an early start this morning as we travel out of Kathmandu on our 265 km drive to Salleri, which should take around 9 hours. We travel in 4WD vehicles especially adapted for the roads, as once outside the Kathmandu Valley the asphalt roads soon give way to unsealed roads. The long drive is a scenic one, with snow-capped mountains ever present in the distance, as we travel alongside rivers and through lush forests. As we pass through Pattale Village at an elevation of 2,840 metres, we catch our first distant glimpses of the high mountains with Mt. Makalu visible in the distance. Finally, we reach the charming mountain town of Salleri, the administrative headquarters of the Everest region where we will spend our first night in a cosy mountain lodge.

We meet our friendly Sherpa crew this morning, and after our trek briefing we embark on our trail into the Everest region. Passing through the lively Salleri Bazaar, we head off into the forests towards Phaplu. The walk passes through dense woodlands and terraced fields, passing by small Sherpa and Rai settlements. The trail takes us uphill from Ringmo Village, offering beautiful views of Buddhist Chortens (shrines). We reach the high point of today's walk - Takshindo La pass at an altitude of 3,081 metres, where we are treated to stunning mountain vistas. Today's walk ends in the small village of Takshindo where we spend the night in a traditional teahouse. Nepal's teahouses are ubiquitous in these mountain regions - they are local homes converted to offer guests basic accommodation with a warm welcome. Rooms are sparse and facilities are often outside and communal, but there's a warm and cosy central dining area that a provides a great place to relax, eat and share stories with fellow trekkers. Today's 16 kilometre/10 mile walk is expected to take around seven hours with a total ascent of 720 metres/2300 feet and a descent of 10 metres/30 feet.

We set off this morning for the village of Kharikhola, stretching our legs as we pass fields filled with maize, millet, potatoes and of course rice, and passing many small settlements along the way. This area is known for having a diverse number of communities including Sherpa, Magar, Rai, Tamang and Chettri settlements. We'll no doubt encounter a number of sherpas along the trail, skilfully transporting an array of items up and down the mountain, often fixed to their head using a strap so their hands are free and the bulk of the weight is spread across their backs and their strong necks. Nowadays there are strict upper weight limits on how much the sherpas can carry to avoid overloading. Today's 12 kilometre/7 mile walk is expected to take around six hours with a total ascent of 80 metres/250 feet and a descent of 900 metres/3000 feet.

Leaving Kharikhola behind this morning we make our way back onto the trail and upwards towards the small village of Paiya. Today's walk criss-crosses small streams and passes waterfalls as we head up the Khumbu Valley and towards the high point of today's trek - the Kari La Pass (3,000m) which offers beautiful views of the surrounding hills and forests. Also seen along the trail are yaks - these cantankerous animals serve a multitude of purposes in this difficult environment - from transporting people, heavy goods and food up and down the mountain, whilst also providing milk and meat to locals and trekkers alike. Part of the experience of hiking in this area is spending some time taking a break at one of the many teahouses dotted along the trails, and enjoying a refreshing chai whilst soaking up some of the warm Nepali hospitality. Today's 12 kilometre/7 mile walk is expected to take around six hours with a total ascent of 680 metres/2200 feet and a descent of 120 metres/400 feet.

This morning's walk takes us onto the main Everest trail, towards the village of Phakding. We snake our way up through Surke village which, although not on our trail today, is nearby to the famous village of Lukla. Lukla is known for having one of the shortest runways in the world at 527 metres in length, it also has a steep gradient of 11.7% to aid take off and landing. Only the most skilled pilots in Nepal are allowed to take off and land here, and only in specialist light aircraft. As there are no roads in the region, the airport is also an important place for bringing in vital supplies for the communities that live in the Khumbu Valley. Our walk ends today in the settlement of Phakding. Today's 14 kilometre/8.5 mile walk is expected to take around seven hours with a total ascent of 40 metres/ 130 feet and a descent of 200 metres/650 feet.

Now on the Everest trail proper, we start to see the surrounding scenery change as we ascend in altitude over 3000 metres. The walk criss-crosses suspension bridges that sit high above the Dudh Khoshi River, a glacial river than starts high in the Himalayas. At Monjo village we catch a glimpse of Thamserku Peak (6,608m), before our permits are checked and we enter Sagarmatha National Park. We ascend out of the dense pine forests on a zig zag trail that climbs all the way up to the amazing town of Namche Bazaar, the spiritual home of the Sherpa community. Today's 10 kilometre/6 mile walk is expected to take around six hours with a total ascent of 1050 metres/ 3450 feet and a descent of 270 metres/900 feet.

Today is a free day to explore the bustling town of Namche Bazaar. The town acts as a gateway to the higher Himalayas and sits in a horseshoe-shaped valley which is surrounded by snow-capped peaks. It is home to the famous Sherpa community, renowned for their excellent mountaineering skills and ability to thrive in extreme high-altitude conditions. The town also acts as a trading centre between Nepal and Tibet and still today has a bustling Tibetan market. Today has been left free to explore the narrow streets, bazaars and teahouses of Namche. There will also be a short, optional walk up to the air-strip at Syangboche and on to the mountain viewpoint where, if the weather is favourable, we may just catch our first glimpse of Mount Everest. Today's optional 6 kilometre/3.5 mile walk is expected to take around four hours with a total ascent of 480 metres/ 1570 feet and a descent of 480 metres/1570 feet.

Recommencing our trek today, we ascend out of Namche and round a corner to get another great view of Everest, along with the other 8,000m + peaks of Lhotse and Nuptse. The walk then takes us through forests of rhododendron and pine, and onwards to the Tengboche Gompa. This Gompa is the largest monastery in the Khumbu region and a focus for the area's deep spirituality. This beautiful monastery houses a 20-foot sculpture of Buddha and is home to a number of monks and nuns. From Tengboche we continue on, with the trail descending through a forested area to the village of Deboche. Today's 11 kilometre/7 mile walk is expected to take around four hours with a total ascent of 480 metres/ 1570 feet and a descent of 60 metres/200 feet.

Today is all about the changing landscapes as we ascend above the tree line and the greenery gives way to a lunar-like landscape of rocky plateaux. We start amongst coniferous forests before descending to the banks of the Imja Khola river, crossing it via a sturdy footbridge. We pass alpine meadows with views of the dramatic Ama Dablam (known as the Matterhorn of the Himalaya) as we head towards Pangboche. From here we start to ascend a path that takes us above the tree line for the first time to the village of Dingboche, where we will spend the night. Today's 9 kilometre/5.5 mile walk is expected to take around seven hours with a total ascent of 590 metres/2000 feet and a descent of 40 metres/150 feet.

Today has been left free to relax in the small village of Dingboche. After a relaxed breakfast there will be an optional acclimatisation walk up to Nangkartshang Peak. From this vantage point, we enjoy stunning panoramic views of Mount Makalu, Mount Lhotse and the Imja Valley. After some time soaking up the scenery, we trek back down to Dingboche, concluding today's trek after approximately 3 hours of walking. This relaxed walk will offer the body a good opportunity to further adjust to the altitude. This afternoon there is the opportunity to visit the Lehara Foundation to relax and enjoy a sports massage. This foundation is a non-profit organisation and a chosen charity of the Explore Foundation, the charity arm of Explore. The Lehara Foundation has provided opportunities for local people to become qualified as massage therapists, in a region with very few other employment opportunities. As well as providing benefit to our fatigued muscles, any massages taken will also directly contribute towards the good work the Lehara Foundation is doing. It is recommended to book your massages in advance following this link: https://lehara.au2.cliniko.com/bookings?appointment_type_id=1382324282478041712&embedded=true . Massages could be taken here or at their Namche clinic on Day 8 or 15. Today's optional 4 kilometre/2.5 mile walk is expected to take around four hours with a total ascent of 680 metres/2250 feet and a descent of 680 metres/2250 feet.

We climb further up the Khumbu Valley this morning as the scenery becomes more and more barren, and we may encounter our first traces of snow, depending on the season. On our way along the rocky, uneven terrain we will spot the twin peaks of Taboche and Cholatse as well as the rounded peak of Pumori towering high at 7145m. We overnight in Leboche, the last permanently inhabited (and highest) village along the trail. Today's 8 kilometre/5 mile walk is expected to take around six hours with a total ascent of 580 metres/1900 feet and a descent of 80 metres/250 feet.

We leave early this morning, layered up as we ascend the trail towards Everest Base Camp. Our trek starts with a gentle ascent initially which later develops into a steeper ascent for about half an hour. A descent then brings us to Gorak Shep (5150m) where we will pass the teahouse that we will use for tonight's stop. The trail splits at this stage and goes to the small peak of Kala Patthar one way and Everest Base Camp along the other. We will take the Base Camp route and head out onto the incredible Khumbu Glaciar where the climbers of the high mountains make their camp. Depending on the season (Mar-May), there may be the possibility to meet climbers and their crew at the camp on their way up the mountain. Once we have explored the Base Camp and seen all it has to offer we will retrace our steps back to Gorak Shep where we will spend the night. Today's 12 kilometre/7.5 mile walk is expected to take around nine hours with a total ascent of 500 metres/1640 feet and a descent of 40 metres/140 feet.

We have a challenging day ahead of us today as we ascend to the highest point of the trip - the summit of Kala Patthar at 5645 metres above sea level. The walk takes us up a steep and rocky ascent, sometimes scrambling up and across large rocks and small boulders up to the top where we find Nepali prayer flags to signify the summit. On a clear day we can enjoy majestic panoramic views of the surrounding mountains, including Everest and the South Col, Lhotse, Nuptse, Pumori, Ama Dablam, Cho Oyu and of course the sprawling and infamous Khumbu Icefall. After taking in the views we retrace our steps, past Gorak Shep and on to Pheriche, back down to an elevation of 4,200m and our overnight stop. Today's 12 kilometre/7.5 mile walk is expected to take around nine hours with a total ascent of 480 metres/1600 feet and a descent of 1075 metres/3500 feet.

Following the western bank of the Imja Khola, we continue our descent today, passing through Shomare, and the familiar villages of Pangboche, Debuche and Tangboche on our way back to the heart of the Khumbu region, Namche Bazaar. As well as a market, shops and cafes, there are some great lively bars in Namche, so it's an ideal place to share a celebratory beer with our fellow trekkers and local support crew. Alternatively, if your muscles are sore and you feel in need of a good sports massage, the Lehara Foundation also have a clinic in Namche. Pre-booking is advised. Today's 19 kilometre/7.5 mile walk is expected to take around eight hours with no ascent and a descent of 960 metres/3150 feet.

Continuing our descent, we walk amongst stunning mountain landscapes, and back amid lush forests now that we are down below the tree line once again. There is plenty of time to stop along the route, with tea breaks taken in a couple of the Sherpa villages along the route, and a nice relaxed break for lunch in Phakding. We end our walk today in the village of Surke. Today's 18 kilometre/7 mile walk is expected to take around eight hours with a total ascent of 20 metres/65 feet and a descent of 1040 metres/3400 feet.

The trail today takes us through forests of rhododendron and oak and past fields of rice and vegetables, as we descend along a steep trail to Bhupsa village. Our trek continues alongside Khari Khola stream, leading us to the village of Jubing after approximately 7 hours of trekking. The day's journey is a mix of landscapes, and lots of small villages as we now find ourselves at the lower altitudes. Today's 14 kilometre/8.5 mile walk is expected to take around seven hours with a total ascent of 110 metres/350 feet and a descent of 610 metres/2000 feet.

Today's walking has a mix of up and down hill as we continue to make our way through beautiful forests of pine and oak, crossing streams and passing through small villages. We continue to follow Khari Khola stream which leads us to the village of Jubhing after approximately 7 hours of trekking. Today's 14 kilometre/8.5 mile walk is expected to take around eight hours with a total ascent of 1390 metres/4500 feet and a descent of 350 metres/1150 feet.

Our final day of walking sees us crossing a mixture of landscapes that include forests, terraced farms and Sherpa and Rai settlements as we make our way to Phaplu. This area of the lower Khumbu Valley feels a world away from the upper Khumbu region, with far fewer trekkers and smaller, charming farming communities which gladly welcome us in from the trail for refreshing tea and snacks. Our walk today ends in the village of Phaplu. Today's 12 kilometre/7.5mile walk is expected to take around seven hours with a total ascent of 120 metres/400 feet and a descent of 478 metres/1550 feet.

We bid farewell to our trek support crew today as it is time to give our feet a well-earned rest and travel by 4WD back to the capital, Kathmandu. The drive takes us along winding roads and past rivers and small villages before we start to see encounter more civilisation and move onto sealed roads as we reach the greater Kathmandu valley. From here we drive into the city, a drive of around 8-9 hours.

This morning we have arranged a walking tour visiting the bazaar and the Durbar Square area, the centre of old Kathmandu. Much of the day to day life of Kathmandu takes place in the bazaar: a fascinating mixture of people selling fruit, vegetables and spices; potters spinning their wheels to produce small household bowls and containers for temple offerings; devotees visiting their favourite gods at temples and small shrines dotted along the sides of alleyways; rickshaw wallahs honking their horns and the ever present sacred cow wandering amongst it all. We also visit Boudhanath, the largest stupa in the country and a destination for Buddhist pilgrims from all over Nepal. This afternoon has been left free to relax, or perhaps explore the city further. The colourful Thamel district is a popular place to wander around and is great for some last minute shopping, whilst the historic city of Bhaktapur offers a glimspe into the life of the Newar Kingdom between the 12th and 14th century.

The trip ends in Kathmandu after breakfast.