Everest Base Camp Trek Experience the classic Everest base camp trek HIGHLIGHTS: • Stunning views of Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse and Ama dablam • Colourful Buddhist culture • Spirited Sherpa people • Up close insight of an Everest Expedition www.himalayanascent.com OVERVIEW journeys into the heartland of the Sherpa The trek to Everest base camp offers a people providing an insight into their rich comprehensive and colourful journey Buddhist culture and traditional way of through Nepal’s most famous valley, the life. Sir Edmund Hillary grew a passion for Khumbu, the home of Everest (8848m) Sherpas from his early mountaineering and Lhotse (8501m). The trail also offers years and following Everest, spent his glimpses of other 8000m giants, Cho remaining years dedicated to fundraising Oyu (8201m), Makalu (8463m) and and bringing development to the region. Shisapangma (8013m). Spring also brings climbers from around During Spring, the valley is awash with the global with Everest ambitions. You’ll flowering rhondodendron trees of various share the trail with yak and porters carrying colours and large white magnolia trees. supplies to Everest base camp (EBC). The rolling landscape varies from lush During this season, Himalayan Ascent can low alpine vegetation to dry high altitude offer you accommodation at an Everest scrub land. Inhabitating this harsh land Expedition camp. This unique opportunity are the Sherpa people, an ethnic group gives a chance to mix with excited and famous for their hardiness, spirit and anxious climbers, and highlights the mountaineering prowless. This trek operations behind an Everest Expedition. Page 2 of 15 www.himalayanascent.com Our Route begins from the gateway We acclimatise in Dingboche first before airport town of Lukla at 2840m. Following trekking the last few kilometres of a high the Dudh kosi river on the valley floor, altitude trail to EBC. the trail first passes through farming villages of mixed Tamang, Rai and Sherpa At EBC we will explore the most famous communities. We then make a sharp base camp in the world and take in the scale ascent up to Namche, the capital of the of the Khumbhu icefall. We return to Gorak Khumbu and the traditional trading centre Shep and make our way to the summit of of Sherpa people. Kala Pattar to fully enjoy unobstructed views of Everest and Lhotse. The return From here it’s a climb up to picturesque journey passes through Pheriche and Tengboche, which hosts the largest breaks at Tengboche to allow a prayer time monastery in the Khumbhu. session with the monks. Page 3 of 15 www.himalayanascent.com GRADE/FITNESS INCLUDES: This is a trek and requires no prior Trekking permits, 4 nights Kathmandu trekking experience. Good fitness is hotel, trekking guides, transport in Nepal, required as most days will involve 4-6 extensive high altitude wilderness first aid hours of trekking carrying a 5kg day pack. kit, all meals outside Kathmandu, porters The trail is non technical but will reach a to carry personal/ group equipment, down maximum altitude of 5550m. jacket, sleeping bag and expedition duffel. EXCLUDES: International flights to Kathmandu, meals in Kathmandu (USD 10-15 per meal), aerated and alcoholic beverages, personal items (e.g. phone calls, laundry), tips, travel insurance (incl. early departure, mountain rescue) and personal trekking gear. Page 4 of 15 www.himalayanascent.com ITINERARY Day 1-2 Arrival and in Kathmandu and (hopefully!) catch the first glimpses A Himalayan Ascent representative will of Everest from the plane. In Lukla we will collect you from the airport. It’s a free day meet our porters and other BC staff, and to recover from your international flight. after lunch walk to Monjo, a small village Later in the evening, there will be a group on the roaring Dudh Koshi river, which briefing and welcome group dinner. You can drains the bulk of the Everest region. The use the next day to explore the crazy, yet milky, glacier-fed waters of the Dudh Koshi wondrously beautiful city of Kathmandu. are the source of its name, which means (Swayambu and Boudhanath). It’s a city “Milk River.” We will stay in a comfortable that stimulates all senses, so be prepared lodge on the edge of the river. because Kathmandu is a city that demands attention. Day 4 Trek Monjo (2610m) to Namche (3440m) ~4 hours Day 3 Fly to Lukla (2840m) and Before leaving Monjo, we’ll drop into the trek to Monjo (2610m) ~5 hours Khumbu National Park Information Centre Welcome to the Khumbu! We will take the where you can trace our trail from a 3D exhilarating flight on a Twin Otter to Lukla model of the region. The route crosses Page 5 of 15 www.himalayanascent.com several steel suspension bridges covered panoramic view of Everest, Ama dablam with katas, white well-wishing scarves, and Thamserku. It’s just a taster for and prayer flags. From the last bridge, the spectacular scenery to come! From it’s a 2 to 3 hour hike up to Namche. On here, you can explore the villages of a clear day, you can catch your first view Khunde and Khumjung where Sir Edmund of Everest from a lookout about mid-way Hillary opened a hospital and school, up the hill. Once in Namche, you have respectively. Or the afternoon is free for the afternoon to rest, do last minute gear wandering around Namche, emailing shopping or catch locals enjoying the friends/family or relaxing over coffee and Saturday market. cakes in the bakery. Day 5 Acclimatisation day in Day 6 Trek Namche (3440m) to Namche Tengboche (3860m) ~ 5 hours The trail behind Namche is a gentle track We spend an extra day in Namche before that traverses high above the Imja river trekking higher to allow our bodies to with overlooking views of Thamserku adjust to the lower levels of oxgyen in and Ama dablam. We pass a chorten in the air. In the morning, we will walk up memory of Tenzing Norgay, Sir Edmund to the Everest View Hotel to enjoy a Hillary’s climbing partner, before reaching Page 6 of 15 www.himalayanascent.com Kyangjuma to break for morning tea and settlements leading to EBC established to admire direct views of Ama dablam. to accommodate trekkers. It is a seasonal The route drops to a crossing of Imja river village with a few fields and yaks. The followed by an up hill hike to Tengboche. afternoon is free to use internet or to do This monastery village hosts the largest some much needed laundry. There are a monastery in the Khumbhu and it will be few bakeries you can try too. our rest stop for the night. Day 8 Acclimatisation in Day 7 Trek Tengboche (3860m) to Dingboche Dingboche (4410m) ~6 hours We take a rest day in Dingboche to As we hike up the track towards acclimatise to our increased altitude gain. Dingboche, there’s a distinct change in In the morning, we’ll walk up to a lookout the landscape as we cross the 4000m to touch the 5000m mark. It’s a steep climb barrier. High altitude scrubs replace trees but the views of Makalu (8463m), Lhotse and formidable mountains suddenly (8501m), Nuptse (7861m) and on clear appear within reach. You feel instantly days, Cho Oyu (8201m) and Shispangma aware that Everest must be close! (8013m) are worth any feelings of Dingboche is the first of a series of breathlessness. After lunch, if you’re Page 7 of 15 www.himalayanascent.com feeling energetic, you can hike towards Day 10 Trek Lobuche (4910m) to Chhukung village or down to Pheriche. EBC (5364m) ~5 hours Alternatively, curling in with a book and Climbing up the trail 3 hours beyond hot chocolate is also recommended. Lobuche, we will reach the small outpost of Gorak Shep (5140m), the EBC for the Day 9 Trek Dingboche (4410m) to 1953 expedition that first climbed Everest. Lobuche (4910m) ~5 hours From here, we walk 2 to 3 hours winding Just above Dingboche and along a plateau through the rubble and scree of the of yak herder shelters, we enter a serene Khumbu glacier, to reach EBC at the base santuary of panoramic mountains. Take a of the Khumbu Icefall. moment to absorb and reflect on feelings of excitment that Everest is just around Day 11 Rest day in EBC (Spring the corner! Passing Dughla, it’s a 1 hour season only) hike up to Thokla pass (4830m) where This is a day to fully explore EBC. We will memorials have been built for fallen visit the Himalayan Rescue Association climbers. We then cross rocky terrain to clinic and learn about the volunteer work Lobuche. they do to provide medical assistance to climbers. We’ll tour the foot of the Khumbu ice fall and understand why this is one of Page 8 of 15 www.himalayanascent.com the most dangerous sections on the South early start from EBC to reach Kala Pattar route to Everest. summit (2 hour). At 5550m, this is the highest point on our trek! The summit Also, we’ll visit other campsites and chat provides a close and unobstructed view to climbers about their Everest climbing of Everest and Lhotse, undoubtably a experience. Few trekking companies can worthy reward for making the strenuous offer such an EBC experience so enjoy this climb to the summit. We drop back to unique twist of the classic EBC trek. Gorak Shep for a snack before making the descent to Pheriche. Day 12 Trek EBC (5364m) to Pheriche (4270m) via Kala Pattar Day 13 Trek Pheriche (4270m) to (5550m) to ~7 hours Tengboche (3860m) ~4 hours As we descend to lower altitudes, every From Gorak Shep and EBC, Pumo Ri step you take from here to Lukla, you will (7165m), Lingtren (6749m) and Nuptse feel rejuvenated with increasing oxygen (7861m) are clearly visible.