Everest & Khumbu Valley Trekking Itinerary

Morning depart from the hotel for a short drive to Kathmandu domestic airport where a small aircraft take you to Lukla with short scenic flight of 35 minutes with wide range of mountain views including Mt. Everest, on reaching at Lukla the gateway to high Khumbu and Everest areas.

In Lukla with time for rest and getting refreshed our walk starts passing shops and stores around Lukla markets and then downhill for a while with short ups and on gradual winding trail past Sherpa farm villages and around Buddhist monuments with views of Kusum Kanguru and Kwangde and finally reaching our overnight stop at Phakding village by the Dudh Kosi River.

Our second day starts with an easy morning walk with few ups following Dudh Kosi River most of the way and crossing the same river several time to reach at Monjo a nice village with views of Thermasharkhu peak and Khumbi-la mountain (patron god of Khumbu Sherpa).

From Monjo starts Sagarmatha National Park where trekking and park permits are checked here, after a brief moment continue walk crossing over Dudh Kosi to Jorsalle village for lunch, the last village till Namche is reached.

From here walks leads on river bed for a while and then over a last bridge and into lovely alpine forested areas of rhododendron, pines and fir trees with views of Kwangde, Kusum kanguru, on a clear afternoon view of Mt. Everest and Lhotse can be seen as well.

After few hours of uphill climb reaching at famous Namche Bazaar for overnight stop, here you can find wide facilities with excellent lodges, hotels, pubs, restaurants, fresh bakeries, cyber café, health post, post office and banks. 

A necessary to have a rest day for acclimatization using two nights at this altitude, here at Namche one can take a short hike to the top of Namche hill with view of Mt. Everest, Lhotse, Tawache, Tarmasarku, Kwangde and Amadablam peaks, visit the museum with information of the Khumbu area, afternoon at leisure or walk around the bazaar with nice shops and stores, Namche is flooded with locals and trekkers on Saturday colorful market.  

After a wonderful time in Namche Bazaar with short excursion around scenic view point and park museum, morning walk leads at the top ridge of Namche Bazaar, where our route diverts further north towards Syangboche with uphill for an hour, Syangboche with an old short and small airstrip where charted helicopter and smaller lands occasional, from here a nice walk with short ups and then downhill to Khunde village located on a glacial valley which is mere distance from Khumjung village beneath holy Khumbi-la peak at 5,761 m / 19,012 ft high the patron god of Khumbu Sherpa.

At Khunde visit the local hospital built and founded by Hillary Foundation offers grand views of surrounding peaks and then a short pleasant walk leads at Khumjung village for overnight stop.

At Khumjung with time tour of old Khumjung monastery (the one and only monastery treasuring scalp believed of a Yeti kept in a glass box with donation one can see the rare Yeti scalp). Khumjung also has the only high school which was built by Hillary Foundation as well. 

After a nice stop on the glacial valley at Khumjung with eye catching views, morning walk leads downhill to join the main trail at near Shanasa village. From this spot our route diverts away from the main Namche-Everest base camp trail towards quiet areas towards Gokyo Lake.

The path climbs with steep climb to reach a Mong 3,973 meters with amazing views and then downhill walk to Dudh Kosi River at Phortse Thanghka for lunch.

After Phortse, continue walk to Dole as the trail climbs steeply out of the valley through a patch of rhododendron forest which gives way to juniper and conifers trees. In the spring time this place will be magic with wild flowers in full bloom. This path passes summer Yak pastures.

The trek leads past Tongba and Gyele villages to reach at Dole with super view of Khumbila and Tawache 6,542m.

Morning walk from Dole climbs along the side of the valley, where rhododendron forest stops, giving way to smaller bushes of juniper as you gain altitude slowly. Finally walk leads on level path for an hour to Lhabarma Kharka and to Luza at 4,390m; and then skirting around a ridge with downhill to Machherma village. Arriving at Machherma for lunch and overnight stop with time in the afternoon for short walk or just relax.

From this small settlement our walks continues to Gokyo 3rd Lake, following a scenic path to Pangka small area and then descend slightly, following one of the glacial fed rivers which flows from Ngozumba Glacier of high world 6th highest Cho-Oyu and other adjoining peaks.

Walk leads to a climb by the side of a glacier, passing first lake and the second lake, crossing the path to reach at third lake known as Dudh Pokhari or Gokyo Lake a summer settlement with fantastic views of Mt. Cho Oyo and Gyachung Kang that reflects on emerald green waters of Gokyo Lake.

Today full rest day at Gokyo with morning optional hike and climb up to Gokyo-Ri one of the highlight of the adventure, Gokyo-Ri a scenic view point at 5,357m with stunning panorama of world’s four highest mountains of Mt. Cho Oyo, Mt. Everest, Mt. Lhotse as far towards Mt. Makalu with Gyachung Kang, Cholatse and Taweche peaks. After a wonderful moment at Gokyo Ri, head downhill to Gokyo for lunch with rest of the afternoon free and relax enjoy the surrounding views.

Today a short walk with lunch and overnight stop at Thagnag also called as Dragnak, morning leads to a short walk of few hours to Dragnak above Na, a small temporary settlement of few simple lodges located at the foot of Ngozumba glacier and on the base of Chugyuma or Tsho-la (Cho) pass, afternoon free preparation for next early climb up at Thso-la pass.  

Starting early morning with steady climb to reach the top at Tsho-la pass after a strenuous walk uphill of 3-4 hours, from the top close views of Cholatse and Nirekha peaks then descend to a small hidden valley at Dzong-la for overnight stop.

In snow condition this route can be quite difficult and the guide will decide whether it is possible to proceed or retrace to another safe area.

After Dzongla, climb uphill for short while then on nice path to reach above Thugla ( Dugla) on the midway of Pheriche-Dingboche and Lobuche, with views of Taboche, Cholatse, Lobuche, Pumori, Amadablam. Climb to a ridge of Thug-la pass with many stone memorials of unfortunate climbers died on Everest-Lhotse-Pumori expeditions. From this lovely spot an hour more of pleasant walk brings you at Lobuche on route Everest base camp. 

Today reaching highlight of the adventure at Everest Base Camp, walk for few hours with short steep climb in between over glacier and moraine, reaching Gorakshep, beneath Mt. Pumori and Kalapathar.

Walk continues towards Everest Base Camp, at base camp enjoy the view of notorious Khumbu Ice Fall and glaciers, after a grand time with experience of a lifetime adventure at base camp retrace the journey back to Gorakshep for overnight halt.

Early morning hike on top Kalapathar at 5,545 meters, highest point of this adventure with marvelous views of mountains including Mt. Everest at mere distance, after a great scenic moment descend to Gorakshep for breakfast and continue walk to Thugla, then downhill to Pheriche around windy valley with nice scenic walk to reach at Pheriche for overnight stop.

Pheriche with many good lodges and a health post of HRA (Himalayan Rescue Association) 

Return journey is much easier losing heights every hour with downhill walks and some few short ups to Pangboche and then over a bridge with another hour of climb to Tengboche for overnight stop.

Morning catch stunning views of mountains with the sound of prayer and then heading back on the same route back to Namche past Lobesa, Shanasa with views of peaks, from Namche a long downhill walk back to Dudh Kosi River valley gorge and then few hours of good walk ends the day at Monju for overnight stop near the entrance of Sagamatha National Park. 

Our last day walk of the wonderful adventure leads you back to Lukla following the same trail towards Phakding-Benkar and Ghat villages and then an hour climb brings you at Lukla for last and final overnight in the comfort of a nice lodge / hotels with ample time to roam around Lukla. 

Morning as per your flight time for Kathmandu transfer to Lukla airport also named as Tenzing-Hillary airport (tribute to legendry climbers who conquered first on Mt. Everest in May 29th 1953). Soon on getting a boarding pass board on a small plane for sweeping scenic flight back to Kathmandu. On reaching at Kathmandu domestic airport transfer to your hotels with time in the afternoon for individual activities and shopping souvenirs includes farewell dinner in authentic Nepalese restaurants with folk cultural programs.