everest Cho LA BASE CAMP itinerary
Day 1: Arrive Kathmandu
Arrival and transfer to Hotel.
Day 2: Guided Sightseeing
Guided sightseeing around Kathmandu Valley.
Day 3: Drive Kathmandu (1,310m) - Rammechap . Flight to Lukla (2,840m). Trek to Phakding (2,610m).
Our early morning starts with a 02h00 drive to Rammechap to catch the fllight into Lukla - is a lifetime experience, in itself. The airfield is on a slope and the difference between the two ends of the runway is about 460 meters! You will land on an airstrip built by Sir Edmund Hillary and the Sherpas in the mid-1960s. After meeting with guides and porters and a short break for tea we hike away from Lukla towards Everest base camp for a few hours along the Dudh Kosi River to Phakding 2,610m. Once you have trekked through the small village of Ghat (2550m), Phakding is a short walk away.
Day 4: Phakding (2,610m) Namche bazaar (3,440m).
After leaving Phakding the path takes us through a magnificent forest of rhododendron, magnolia trees and giant fir trees alongside the Dhud-Kosi river through small villages like Bekar and Monju. You will crisscross over the river a few times on high suspension bridges until you eventually come to the Sagarmatha Check Point where your permits needs to be checked. The climb then goes downhill to the river and then all the way back up to Namche. The trail heads up through blue pine forests and as you climb there are rhododendron trees which bloom in Spring time. Namche is the largest Sherpa village and is the unofficial capital of the Khumbu, gateway to the high Himalayas. This relatively small town is a bustling tourist zone and trading hub literally is perched on a sloping hill. It is surrounded on all sides by mountains, from Thamserku to Kongde Ri. Trekkers heading to Mt. Everest, Gokyo, Island Peak and many other destinations for both trekking and expedition, have at least two nights stopover in Namche to acclimatise.
Day 5: Namche bazaar (acclimatisation 3,440 m)
We will spend time here on short walks to acclimatise. Although it says acclimatisation, this means you need to walk for the principle of climb high and sleep low, meaning we gain altitude, then descend again to sleep low, enabling our bodies to better adjust to the altitude. A slow and steady pace with adequate time for acclimatisation is key to success. So we hike up to Everest View hotel for just that, a view of Mt Everest, assuming the weather is clear.
Day-6 Namche (3,440m) Thame (3,800m). (4hours).
Our hike is moderately easy and very pretty, as we head to the Sherpa village of Thame 3800m.
Day-7 Thame (3,800m) Khumjung (3,790m). (4hours).
After an early morning visit to the Thame Monastery, we trek to the serene Sherpa villages of Khunde 3890 m and Khumjung 3790m, where Sir Edmund Hillary established his first school and hospital.
Day-8 Khumjung (3,790m) Dole (4,200m). (4hours)
We now break away from the main trail to Mt. Everest, climb high on a ridge and then descend to the village of Phortse. From Phortse the trail leads through forests to Dole.
Day-9 Dole (4,200m) Machhermo (4,410m). (3-4hours)
This morning we head on a steep but beautiful climb through pine, fir and rhododendron forests to Lhabama and Luza, before we arrive at Machhermo (4410m). The settlements of Lhabama and Luza, are temporary high altitude villages where the herders live when they bring their cattle up to high summer pastures during the warmer months.
Day-10: Acclimatisation or optional hikes.
Day-11 Machhermo (4,410m) - Gokyo (Third Lake at 4,750m). (7hours)
Our first day at high altitude will be upon us. The valley opens wide as the trail passes through Pangkha. The climb to the first of the lakes is steep but the trail levels off towards the second lake at 4750 meters.
Day-12 Everest Gokyo (4,750m) Leisure Time to explore the area around the Gokyo lakes or rest, or hike up the ridge above the camp for spectacular views of the Everest trinity: Nuptse 7879 m, Lhotse 8511 m, and Everest 8848 m, as well as Makalu 8463 m looming to the east and Cho Oyu (8153 m.) to the north.
Day-13 Trek to Cho La (5,169m)
This will be the longest and hardest of the Gokyo Lakes Trek. The trail crosses the southern portion of the Ngozumpa Glacier then climbs steadily to a campsite on the 5169m Cho La Pass.
Day-14 Cross Cho La (5,420m). Trek to Dzongla (4,730m) A steep and challenging climb awaits us, as we head over rock, snow and perhaps ice with superb views of the glacial valleys of Cho Oyu and Everest. Camp will be at Dzongla 4730m.
Day-15 Trek to Lobuche (4,930m)
This morning we will hike to join the main Everest trail near the end of the Khumbu Glacier.
Day 16: Lobuche to Gorakshep (5,140m) to Everest Base (6-8 hrs).
Our distance is quite far as we walk past Gorekshep and continue to base camp Everest itself. We then retrace our steps from base camp to Gorek Shep for our night stop. If there is a chance of clear weather in the afternoon though we may ascend Kala Patthar instead and watch the sunset though what we do will be a decision with the group and guide. Overnight Lodge.
Day 17: Hike up to Kala Patthar (5,545m) return to Dingboche.
After climbing Kala Patthar for early more sunrise views across Everest, you retrace your steps to Gorekshep, down to Lobuche and then head to Dingboche (4,410m)
Day 18: Dingboche to Tengboche (3,860m)
We have a relatively easy walk along the Imja Khola with a visit to the Gompa at Pangboche, before climb up to Tengboche Monastery.
Day 19: Tengboche to Namche (3,440m)
We head down on a long descent down the right flank of the Dudh Kosi valley to Namche.
Day 20: Namche to Phakding (2,610m)
We continue down along the gorge of the Dudh Kosi to the village of Phakding.
Day 21: Phakding to Lukla (2,840m)
We walk through town to the little airstrip of Lukla
Day 22: Flight: Lukla - Rammechap. Drive to Kathmandu (1,310m).
Day 23: Departure.
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