Everest Base Camp & Kala Patthar Trek - 17 Days

Day 01: Arrival in Kathmandu (1400m)

Upon your arrival at the Tribhuwan International Airport in Kathmandu, a representative from Marron Treks will receive and transfer you to your hotel. After you are greeted with welcome drinks at the hotel, we will have a quick pre-trip meeting to discuss on the necessary formalities and trekking itinerary. You can then check in to your room, freshen up and rest. Or if you are not one of those “lay back” types, you can take a stroll around the vicinity of your hotel and get the feel of this hyperactive capital city of Nepal. On the streets, people seem to be on sheer rush, barely noticing one another, but if you utter “Namaste”, they will definitely reciprocate with a smile! Well, that’s Nepal’s Nepalese for you. Overnight at a hotel in Kathmandu; breakfast included.

Day 02: Kathmandu city sightseeing (1400m)

Short stroll in the evening yesterday might not have acquainted you to Kathmandu. So we want to make sure that you know this city like you know yourself. Once done with your breakfast, let’s hop in to our reserved vehicle and then head on for a comfy ride with one of our experienced city guides. You will be visiting the most renowned historical/cultural landmarks in Kathmandu. Our guide will take you to the Pasupatinath Temple (the most revered Hindu shrine), Swayambunath (the Monkey Temple) and Kathmandu (Basantapur) Durbar Square. All these sites are enlisted in the UNESCO world’s heritage list. After this informative and interesting tour, we drive back through the busy and noisy streets of Kathmandu to the serene premises of your hotel. The best use of the remaining time can be made by shopping the trekking goodies. Most of the items are available on rent and our guide will help you identify the best renting outlet. So, after you have hoarded all the handy gears for your trek, get back to the hotel. Overnight at a hotel in Kathmandu; breakfast included.  

Day 03: Fly from Kathmandu to Lukla (2840m/45min) & Trek from Lukla to Phakding (2610 m/ 3 - 4 hrs trek)

We take an early morning flight Lukla after breakfast. After 45 minutes, we land at the Tenjing Hillary airport in Lulka, picturesquely surrounded by mountains. Halting a bit for some unpacking and arrangements, we then proceed for our trek through the village of Lukla until we reach Phakding. Chaurikharka School, Chablung, Tharo Koshi, Ghat etc are some of the sites that entice you along the trail. Overnight at teahouse in Phakding; breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
 

Day 04: Trek from Phakding to Namche Baazar (3440m/ 5 - 6 hrs)

The trail leads us along the Dudh Koshi River, through the pine forest and many suspension bridges, including the very famous, Hillary Suspension Bridge. The route then leads straight up beyond a waterfall, from where we get a breathtaking view of Mt. Thamserku (6608 m). Advancing further, we come to a check post which also happens to be the entrance to Sagarmatha National Park. As we continue our ascent through the forests and bridges, we approach the confluence of Dudh Koshi and Bhote Koshi Rivers. Trudging up further for about 2 hours brings us to Chautari (resting place), wherefrom we can relish the splendid sight of the Mt. Everest almost belittling the Lhotse-Nuptse ridge. Passing through one last settlement, the Jorsale village, we ultimately reach Namche Bazaar in about 2 hours. Namche Bazar is the administrative center of the Khumbu region and is also the gateway to the Mount Everest. Overnight at teahouse in Namche Bazzar; breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

 

Day 05: Rest day in Namche Bazaar for Acclimatization; Visit Namche Gompa (3440m/3-4 hrs)

This is a rest day to replenish the calorie used so far and in fact to get acclimatized for the steeper climbs in the days ahead. It is recommended to be on the move even in the rest day rather than being static. So, just to ensure that we are motile, we can spend the day exploring the market at Namche Bazaar and pay a visit to the Namche Gompa, which is just about 30 minutes hike from Namche Bazaar. The best way to make use of this acclimatization day is to take a fairly challenging uphill hike to the Hotel Everest View. This is an exclusive vantage point to witness the splendid mountainous vistas of Ama Dablam, Lhotse, Tawoche, and of course, the mighty Everest. About six hours of rigorous walking, should provide us a good acclimatization. In the evening, we can stroll around the Namche Bazaar . This administrative hub of the Khumbu region houses all the government offices and has all the modern amenities like- internet cafes, restaurants, ATMs etc. Overnight at teahouse in Namche Bazaar; breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Day 06: Trek from Namche Bazaar to Tengboche (3860m/ 5 - 6 hrs )

As we resume our trek this morning, proceeding towards Tengboche, the fascinating sights of Mt. Everest, Mt. Nuptse, Mt. Lhotse, Mt. Thamserku and Mt. Ama Dablam, greet our eyes. The trek is smooth most of the times but occasioned by trivial ups and downs. We can catch quick glimpses of musk deer, Himalayan thar and multicolored pheasants on the way. The trail then winds down to Kayangjuma, leading us to Sansa, which happens to be the junction to Everest base camp and Gokyo valley. Continuing our way through the pine forests, we cross a bridge decked with prayer flags over the Dudhkoshi River and arrive at a settlement called Phunki Thenga. A tough climb through the pine forests again from thereon, gets us to Tengboche, which is famous for its biggest monastery- the Tengboche monastery. It was founded by a monk from Khumjung. According to the legends, Lama Sange Dorje flew over the Himalaya and landed on rocks at Pyangboche and Tengboche, leaving his footprints. Overnight at teahouse in Tengboche; breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Day 07: Trek from Tengboche to Dingboche (4410m/ 5 - 6 hrs)

We relish the morning view of the Tengboche Monastery which looks awesome with the back drop of snowcapped mountains. After capturing the scenes on our stills, we kick off our trek again with number of chortens, mani walls and small villages passing by as we advance further. We continue through Pheriche and then enter the Imja Valley. As we approach the Lobuche River, we descend only to make our ultimate uphill ascent to Dingboche. Once here, you will be able to behold the barley and buckwheat fields guarded by stone frontiers in order to do away the adverse winds and grazing animals. Overnight at teahouse in Dingboche; breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Day 08: Rest Day In Dingboche; Hike to Chhukung (4730m) and back to Dingboche (4410m/ 3-4hrs)

We set aside one more day in Dingboche for acclimatization, keeping in mind, our climb above 5000 m in the days ahead. Resting does not mean being static, so after breakfast, we will head off to one of the most popular hiking destinations, Chhukung (4,730 m). This is a vantage point that caters you the sensational views of three super peaks of the world, viz. Mt. Lhotse, Mt. Makalu and Mt. Choyo. Besides, you can also relish the beauty of Imja Khola valley as well the eye-catching fields and pastures of Dingboche. Overnight at teahouse in Dingboche; breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Day 09: Trek from Dingboche to Lobuche (4910m/ 5 - 6 hrs)

Every next day now, gets us to a higher elevation. We commence the trek making our way to Duglha through the Khumbu Khola valley. The trail almost seems to be encircled by the mountains. We then arrive at Dusa, a yak herder’s place and advance further through Phulung Karpo, the campsite of the first ever mountain expedition in 1953. Relishing the view of Mt.Pumori (7165 m), we cross a small wooden bridge and ascend to Duglha. We continue to trudge up the terminal moraine of Khumbu glacier to a ridge top, Chupki Lhara. Here you can find an array of stone flags symbolizing the incredible 10 times Everest summiter, Late Babu Chiri Sherpa. The trail now dives down to Khumbu glacier moraine, putting us face to face with the peaks like Pumori, Mahalangur Himal, Khumbutse etc. Bidding farewell to the Khumbu glacier, we make our way forward, alongside a stream and finally get to Lobuche. The high altitude could pose a difficulty in breathing. Overnight at teahouse in Lobuche; breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Day 10: Trek from Lobuche to Gorakshep (5140m)/ Gorakshep to Everest Base Camp (5364 m)/Everest Base Camp to Gorakshep ( total trekking hours : 9 - 10 hrs)

All geared up for the challenging ascent ahead, we trail along the lateral moraine of Khumbu glacier. Passing through a pyramid signpost, the apexes of north ridge of Mt. Everest, Mt. Pumori and Mt. Nuptse etc greet our eyes. We continue the uphill trudge to Thangma Riju, from where we can again enjoy the seemingly 3D view of the surrounding mountains. Pursuing the steep ascent further through the torrent of Changri glacier, we can behold Kala Patthar- a grayish monticule overlooked by Mt. Pumori. Once in Gorakshep, we almost seem to be hemmed by the snow clad mountains. Here we take a sojourn and have our lunch. We then enthusiastically resume our trek, trailing towards the Everest Base Camp. Bidding farewell to the dry lake bed of Gorakshep, we advance further and come across the Indian Army Mountaineers’ Memorial. Once at the Everest Base Camp, we can see the mountaineers’ tents scattered like colorful gems against the usually grey backdrop. Being at the base camp, we can actually sense the oddities withstood by the mountaineers on their way to the summit. Indulging ourselves at the base camp for some time, we make our way back to Gorakshep for overnight halt. Overnight at teahouse in Gorakshep; breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

 

Day 11: Trek from Gorak Shep to Kala Patthar (5550m) to Pheriche (4240 m/ 8 - 9 hrs)

Get ready for the ecstasy! Despite the predawn darkness, piercing chilly wind and dripping mercury levels (-10 to -14 deg cel), we set off to Kala Patthar as it happens to be the vantage point of relishing the captivating view of Mt. Everest and several other peaks. As we make our meticulous ascent to Kala Patthar, we see the mountains like Lingtren, Khumbutse and Changtse, hooding up gradually to reveal their majesty. We can’t help panting, so we need to stop at different points to catch our breath and at same time click anything that tempts us. After trudging up for several hours, we eventually reach Kala Patthar. Here, you will literally be flabbergasted to witness the grandeur of one massif after another. Spend some time here, let the panorama be embossed in your mental memorandum!! We then make our way back to Gorak Shep for breakfast. In the afternoon, we have our lunch and then descend down to Pheriche, where we halt overnight. Overnight at teahouse in Pheriche; breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Day 12: Trek from Pheriche to Kyangjuma (3780 m / 5 – 6 hrs)

After an adventure packed previous day, we gear up for another fresh day. We cross the Khumbu stream and then embark the primary Everest route, passing through several villages such as Tsuro Wog, Orsho and Shomare until we reach Pangboche, at the base of Ama Dablam. Advancing further, we pass through two more villages, viz. Dingboche and Tengboche. A steep descent of about 500 m through the rhododendron bushes and fir trees awaits us. After that, we cross the bridge over Dudhkoshi River and passing through the villages Tashinga and Sansa, we arrive at Kyangjuma, another serene village. Overnight at teahouse in Kyangjuma; breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Day 13: Trek from Kyangjuma to Monjo (2835 m/ 4 – 5 hrs)

Continuing our happy way back, we trail along the curvy and steep maze to Namche Bazaar. If you are lucky enough, you might just be able to spot some wild lives like mountain goats, snow leopards and colorful pheasants on the way. From Namche, we take a steep downhill route and cross the suspension bridge over Dudhkoshi River. Before arriving at Monjo, we need to cross the Dudhkoshi River at more point. We come out of the entrance of the Sagarmatha National Park , which finally gets us to a tranquil Monjo village. Overnight at teahouse in Monjo; breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

 

Day 14: Trek from Monjo to Lukla (2840m/4 – 5 hrs)

Probably, the last long walk in the trip, but mind you, it’s not strenuous at all! The route is occasioned by trivial ascents and descents but most of the part is flat. It’s almost like rewinding back your journey. We walk through the open plains, rhododendron and pine forests and Sherpa villages. Crossing the Dudhkoshi River through suspension bridges at three different points, we push ourselves for the last 45 minutes’ ascent from Chheplung. Yes, we are now at Lukla! Thus, with tired legs but content eyes, our trek eventually winds up. Let’s relax and celebrate this accomplishment with the entire crew members! Overnight at teahouse in Lukla; breakfast, lunch and dinner included.  

Day 15: Flight from Lukla to Kathmandu (1400m/45min)

Ambulating on the lap of super mountains for almost two weeks and cuddling some sweet and sour memories, we take a flight back to Kathmandu from Lukla. Upon arrival at KTM, check in to the hotel for overnight stay. You can refresh and relax to do away the fatigue. Overnight in hotel in Kathmandu; breakfast included.
 

Day 16: A free day in Kathmandu

This is a free day in Kathmandu to fulfill anything that you missed out spotting in this energetic capital of Nepal. You can indulge yourself in shopping or strolling around some of the cultural and historical landmarks of Kathmandu. Thamel is your hot spot for shopping where you can haul all the souvenirs representing Nepal and its culture. May be that in addition to your interesting trip anecdotes, you would also want to take back some stuff for your friends and relatives. In the evening, a farewell dinner with a range of traditional Nepali cuisines, will be hosted by Marron Treks. Enjoy the dinner, pack/prepare yourself for a flight back home and have a beauty sleep. Overnight in hotel in Kathmandu; breakfast  and dinner included.

Day 17: Final departure

Unless you would want to extend your trip and try out some of our other adventurous packages like Bungy Jumping, Mountain Biking, Jungle Safari, White Water Rafting, Golfing & Paragliding etc., this will be your last day in Nepal. A representative from Marron Treks will escort you to the airport for the final departure to your homeland. Have a safe flight back home. Please let us know about your desire for trip extension so that we can make the necessary arrangements.

  Important  Snippets  

The itinerary prescribed above is the standard template of the trip plan offered by Marron Treks which can be readily customized to match the guests’ preferences. However, the guests are expected to understand that the execution of the trip plan might be circumvented by an array of uncontrollable factors like bad weather, political turmoil, strikes, blockades and other unforeseen contingencies. Besides, the domestic flights in Nepal could be subjected to delays or cancellations owing to adverse weather conditions or technical glitches. It is worth mentioning that the flights cannot be operated in the condition where the visibility is less than 1600 meters. Under such abnormal circumstances, the trip plans might undergo slight or sharp alterations, taking into consideration, the best interest of the clients. Wherever the changes are made, Marron Treks cannot be held responsible for the consequences. Nevertheless, we shall endeavor our level best to make sure that the trip is carried out with respect to the original trip specifics.

Accommodation:

While you are in Kathmandu, we opt to accommodate you in 3 star or 5 star hotels like Hotel Royal Singhi (3 star), Hotel Manaslu (3 star), Radisson (5 star), Yak & Yeti (5 star) or similar.

During the trek, you will be accommodated in a Tea House/ Lodge or Trekking Inn. Most of these lodges and teahouses cater good services and are equipped with modern amenities. We will endeavor to provide you the best accommodation available along the route so that you get a good night’s rest in a hygienic milieu.

Meals:

We never compromise with the quality of food and the health of the trekkers as well as the crew members. Generally, we opt for the fresh and nutritional local community food available in the Everest Region. You could make your delicious pick from an array of traditional food like Sweet Potato, Buck Wheat Barley etc. . This way, you could not only get the real sense of the local culture and life patterns but also contribute to promoting the locally available resources of organic food and beverages. Besides, a wide range of Continental, Chinese, Italian and Indian cuisines like Pizza, Spaghetti, French Fries, Soups, Breads, Masala Curry etc. are also available in the restaurants for your retreat.

Porter and Staff Care

When it comes to high altitude trekking, porters and staff members make up a pivot. Marron Treks ensures that all the porters and staff members going to high altitude conditions, are provided with adequate clothing and equipments.

Best Months

The periods between the months of January-June & September-December are considered to be the best for Everest Base Camp and Kala Patthar Trek.

Any Experience Required?

There is nothing hard and fast about trekking experience. Any adventure enthusiast, with a generic physical aptitude can definitely relish the thrill of this trek.

Difficulties

Difficulty here is actually synonymous to ‘high altitude’. As this trek involves some seriously high altitude climbing above 5000 meters, one is likely to experience some problem in breathing owing to the deteriorating oxygen level. But as this is something which is anticipated, we do have enough precautionary measures to tackle it.

Our Guides

Guides play a significant role during the trek. They are the ones who literally decipher the trekking codes for you so that you could actually connect with the nature, culture and people along the way. We have helpful and dedicated trekking guides, who are fairly literate, multilingual speakers and are very well versed to the culture, life patterns and every single detail pertaining to the Everest region. Thus, in the company of our professional Sherpa guides, your trek becomes not only entertaining, but also equally informative.

Travel Insurance

It is advised that you arrange your travel insurance before leaving your homeland. The main thing is to make sure that your insurance covers you for both- medical as well as evacuation costs. Having a travel insurance with you, makes your trip secure and hassle free.

For more queries, visit our FAQ section or contact us directly at  marketing@marrontreks.com

DFStarting Price: USD XXXX (On request) on twin sharing accommodation basis.

For other special requirements or bigger group deals, kindly mail us directly at: marketing@marrontreks.com

Cost Includes

• Airport pick-up and drop services.
• Guided sightseeing tour of Kathmandu city.
• Applicable domestic airfare as per the itinerary.
• Hotel accommodation in Kathmandu on “BB” basis as per itinerary.
• Entrance and monumental fees during the sightseeing in Kathmandu as prescribed in the itinerary.
• All ground transportation costs in accordance to the itinerary.
• All trekking accommodation costs on full board (B, L, D) basis as per the itinerary. The accommodation will be in the guesthouses/ lodges/ teahouses on twin sharing basis but occasionally in the common dormitory (esp. during peak tourist seasons).
• Four seasonal sleeping bag (to be returned after trip completion) duffel bag, t-shirt and Cap (provided as complimentary gears).
• A comprehensive medical kit (will be carried by the trekking guide).
• Salary to guide and porters for the trekking period.
• Personal insurance for crew members.
• All applicable tourist fees, conservation fees, "special permit" fees & TIMS fees necessary for trekking.
• All government and local taxes.
• Farewell dinner with live Nepalese cultural program.

Cost Excludes

• International airfare and departure taxes.
• Personal travel insurance.
• Lunch & dinner expenses incurred before or after the trekking period.
• Emergency rescue evacuation (to be covered by the client's travel insurance).
• Nepal entry visa fee – Visa can be obtained upon your arrival at the Tribhuwan International Airport in Kathmandu. (Tourist Visa with Multiple Entries for 15 days costs US $ 25 or equivalent foreign currency, Tourist Visa with Multiple Entries for 30 days and 90 days costs US $40 and $ 100 respectively. You will need a valid passport and 2 copies of your recent PP sized photos)
• Tips to the guide, porter, driver, hotel and tea-house staffs (Tipping is expected).
• Bar bills, alcoholic drinks & beverages.
• Excess baggage charges (luggage allowance for domestic airlines in Nepal is 20 kgs.)
• Personal insurance and other expenses of personal nature (phone calls, laundry, battery recharge, extra porters, bottle or boiled water, hot shower etc.).
• Cost of personal trekking gears and equipments (kindly refer to our equipment lists:http://http://www.marrontreks.com/itineraries/196-26/everest-base-camp-and-kala-patthar-trek-17-days.html#equipment-list ).
• Cost incurred due to the addition of extra days or change in the real course of the itinerary because of bad weather conditions, political turmoil or any other unforeseen contingencies.
• Garbage deposit fees (refundable).
• Any other expenses not mentioned in the 'Cost Includes' section above.

Departure Date

Marron Treks has calibrated fixed departure dates for all the trek packages. We operate group as well as individual/private treks. Please pick the most palpable date for you and book your trip now. If the dates below don’t fit your schedule, kindly contact us directly and let us know about your preference.