Perhaps the best-known festival on this list, Holi is a crazily colourful and playful event held over 2 days. It is celebrated in the Terai on one day, and in Kathmandu and the hill regions on the next day. People smear coloured powders on their friends, relatives and family members, as well as taking part in giant water fights using coloured water and water balloons.
11 March 2025: Arrive Kathmandu and transfer to Hotel.
12 March 2025: Full day guided sightseeing
Sightseeing around the Kathmandu valley, taking in such sights as Swayambhunath, one of world's most glorious, ancient, enigmatic and holiest of Buddhist Chaitya, Bhoudenath, a colossal and ancient Stupa; Guheshwari and Pashupatinath with its two tiered golden roof and silver doors. Holi Festival starts on this day so expect to land up being "coloured."
13 March 2025: Holi
Free time in Thamel to experience the Holi Festival
14 March 2025 : Drive Kathmandu (1,310m) - Rammechap - Flight to -Lukla (2,840m). Trek to Phakding (2,610m)
We drive away from Kathmandu around 02h00 for Rammechap to catch the flight to Lukla. Our early morning hike begins with a flight into Lukla - 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. We then hike through the small village of Ghat (2550m) to Phakding
15 March 2025 : Phakding (2,610m) Namche bazaar (3,440m).
After leaving the village of 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 need to be checked. The climb then starts with a downhill trek to the river and then all the way back up again 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 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.
16 March 2025 :Namche bazaar (acclimatisation 3,440 m)
We will spend time here on short treks 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 before we continue our ascent. A slow and steady pace with adequate time for acclimatisation is key to a successful trek. So we hike up to Everest View hotel for just that, a view of Mt Everest, assuming the weather is clear.
17 March 2025 : Trek from Namche to Tengboche (3,860m)
With incredible views of the Thamserku we steadily descend to the Imja Khola where we see a series of water driven prayer wheels at the little river spot of Pungi Tanga. After a lunch break we begin the slow long steep climb to the famous Tengboche (Thyangboche) Monastery (3,860m) - one of the most beautiful places in the world. Apart from natural scenery and mountain views, many festivals take place here, such as Mani Rimdu festival. This festival is performed at the monasteries in Tengboche, Chiwang, and Thame. This sacred ceremonies are held for nineteen days; culminating in a 3-day public festival. Lamas and monks dress in colourful attire with elaborate masks and dance to the victory of Buddhism over Bon. We will get amazing views of Mt. Ama Dablam, meaning Mother's Charm Box. According to legend, Lama Sange Dorjee, who came from Tibet's Rongbuk Monastery, founded Thyangboche Monastery in the 17th century. Thyangboche was destroyed by an earthquake in 1933, rebuilt and again badly damaged by a fire in 1989. Construction of the present monastery was completed in 1992. We may continue down to Deboche for the night where it is warmer and accommodation options better.
18 March 2025: Tengboche to Pheriche (4,312m) (5 hrs).
We set off up the Imja Khola valley towards Pangboche at 3,900m and stop for lunch. Later, we will visit the Monastery and look at the Yeti scalp before moving on towards the summer village of Pheriche (4,260m).
19 March 2025: Trek Pheriche to Lobuche (4,920m) (4-5 hrs).
We ascend up a small ridge and contour around the base of Khumbu Glacier and stop for lunch at Dhugla (4,600m). After lunch, we take a steep ascent to the terminal moraine of the glacier from where the views are breathtaking. We continue again along the moraine and overnight at the foot of the Lobuche Ice Fall (4,930m).
20 March 2025: Trek 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.
21 March 2025 : 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, to Lobuche and then head to Dingboche (4,410m)
22 March 2025: Dingboche to Tengboche (3,860m)
Today we have a relatively easy walk along the Imja Khola with a visit to the Gompa at Pangboche, before climb up to Tengboche Monastery.
23 March 2025: Tengboche to Namche (3,440m)
We have a long descent down the right flank of the Dudi Kusu will take us to the village of Phakding.
24 March 2025: Namche to Phakding (2,610m)
We continue down along the gorge of the Dudh Kosi to the village of Phakding.
25 March 2025: Phakding to Lukla (2,840m)
We walk through town to the little airstrip of Lukla
26 March 2025: Flight: Lukla - Rammechap. Drive to Kathmandu (1,310m).
27 March 2025: Departure.
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