dossier
Everest Base Camp
Grade
This trek isgraded ‘Challenging Plus.’ Some days on this tour are quite tough.You will either reach Everest Base Camp OR climb Kala Pattar not both options. You will have to decide this as a group, with your leader along the way,depending upon group progress and response to altitude. The early stages though are less strenuous than its high points mid-trek, hopefully giving you time to acclimatize. As with all high mountain walks physical fitness is essential and previous walking experience is very important. While it can be quite warm during the day, it can also be very cold at night - subzero temperatures at higher altitudes are normal. Time allowances have been made for altitude conditioning but, also as on any high mountain trek,there is no guarantee you will acclimatize according to plan. Should you experience serious effects of altitude you will have to descend to alower elevation until recovery. In the interests of your safety and the well being of the group the Trek Leader’s decision on this will be final.
Climate
The weather can never be totally predictable in the mountains, but we generally expect clear and settled conditions during the months of our treks. Temperatures at night and in the early morning may be below freezing point, but typical daytime trekking temperatures are pleasant.
A bit about your Lodges
We will use family-runlodges, so clients have a unique opportunity to mix with local people. It will be dormitory style of 4,3,2 bed rooms. The toilets are normally outside. The lodges are comfortable and warm - so it makes good sense to use their facilities.
Equipment & Clothing
All general equipment andcooking equipment is provided.
Also provided free of charge is a Trek Pack including a sleeping bag, insulated sleeping mats,down/fibrefill jacket, waterproof poncho and duffle bag and T-shirt.
A detailed list of other recommended clothing and equipment will be sent with confirmation of booking.
Included
All ground transport as specified in the itinerary, bed and breakfast accommodation in Kathmandu, halfday excursion of Kathmandu. All meals while on trek, services of leader, trek crew and porters, trekpack and trek permits.
Not Included
Passport, visa, insurance, immunization fees, meals other than breakfast in Kathmandu (budget US$30 per meal without drinks), airport transfers and taxes.
The Trekking Day
A typical day begins just after 7 a.m. After a breakfast, during we begin our walking in the pleasant cool of the morning. Lunch is around 11 a.m. or so. This mid-day break usually lasts about an hour or so. After walking for three hours or so in the afternoon, we will aim to arrive at the tea house around 4 p.m.You will have an hour or so to relax and reflect before the day is rounded offwith an evening meal.
Health Matters
Get your vaccinations for Typhoid, Hepatitis A. Diptheria and Meningitis are also suggested. Some doctors may recommend Rabies Vaccine as this may be carried by Monkeys and dogs. Ifyou are visiting The Chitwan National Park or the ‘Terai’ you should take anti-malarials, but you won’t need these if you are just going toEverest.
A medical kit will accompany the trek. We do, however, recommend that each person carry a small personal first aid kit. A suggested list of contents will be sent to all members, as well as more general information on health matters.
Documents
A visa is required for Nepal, and you must have a full, valid passport which has to have a minimum of 6 months validity from your date of return. Visas for Nepal when applying directly with the Nepal Embassy will cost US$40 for a single entry.
Books & Maps
For information on the sights of the Kathmandu valley, its history and culture, we suggest ‘RoughGuides’ & ’ Lonely Planet travel guides’. A good general guidebook (although without so many hints) is the Insight Guides series Nepal. There are many books on Trekking in Nepal. Perhaps the most well known are those by Stephen Bezruchka, or Stan Armitage. A usefully realistic account of what happens on trek is found in Mike Harding's Footloose in the Himalayas.
There are accounts of the most important great expeditions such as John Hunt The Ascent of Everest. Reinhold Messner The Crystal Horizon.
A trekking map is issued to you at your trek briefing in Kathmandu.
Itinerary
The following itinerary is intended as a working guide only and is subject to variation as a result of local conditions, weather and government restrictions.
We reserve the right to alter (lengthen or shorten) the trek at any time if necessary.
1000 = 3281ft. 1km = .62miles
This trek involves internal air travel within Nepal. You should be aware that delays can occur on these flights because of bad weather, and because it is Nepal!
Day 1: Arrive Kathmandu. You will be met on arrival and transferred to a 4 * hotel. Evening pre-trek briefing before your traditional Nepali evening meal.
Day 2: Half-day sight seeing (private bus) sightseeing tour around Kathmandu with its many temples and pagodas. In the afternoon your trek packs will be issued and other pre-trek matters are dealt with followed by rest of the day free.
Day 3: Early in the morning we transfer to the Domestic Airport to board our flight. This sometimes involves a period of waiting around, so remember to pack a book in your daypack! Once up and away, our destination on this breathtaking flight is the village of Lukla, perched above the Dudh Kosi (River of Milk, so named because of its pale colour from glacier melt). Years ago, Lukla (2827m) was a herding pasture (its name means “Placefor Sheep”), but it is now the gateway to the Everest region and hundreds of trekkers pass through this prosperous village. Buy your lunch from any of the many lodges in Lukla and commence to Phakdingma (3 hrs, 2652m) heads downwards and you will immediately notice the difference between the Nepalis of Kathmandu and the local Sherpa people who migrated from Tibet 500 years ago.Their dress is very similar to that of the Tibetans and their language is closely related, although not easily understood by modern-day true Tibetans.You will notice Mani walls on the trail, made up of hundreds of carved stone tablets and giant carved boulders, brilliantly decorated with brightly coloured paints. Buddhists hold these sacred and always seek to gain merit in their next life by praying as they go past. As a sign of respect for local beliefs, please always pass these clockwise. 2 hours, 2652m.
Day 4: to Namche Bazaar. After your first night’slodge at Phakdingma, the trail follows the river through stands of pine and oakas far as Jorsale, where it starts to rise and rhododendron, magnolia and giant fir trees predominate. Here we start up the famous Namche Hill, your first big climb where a slow, steady pace is essential. This is an excellent place to learn from the masters - the porters. Their ability to climb such hills with enormous loads is done through technique, and following them allows you to learn the rhythm that makes such hills seem almost effortless.
At the top is Namche Bazaar, stone built houses in terraces up the hillside. A delightful village for the visitor, it is also an important workaday trading center for the locals. 6hours, 3446m.
Day 5: in Namche Bazaar: A rest and acclimatisation day is spent here allowing time for sightseeing, side tours or just relaxing in the sun!
Day 6: to Thyangboche. Leaving Namche, and gaining height along the valley above it, the mountain views start to open out and get even better as we approach the holy ground of Thyangboche and its world famous Gompa (Monastery) where the Rimpoche resides. (Lama reincarnate). Traditionally expeditions to the high mountains receive their blessing from the High Lama, but from a trekkers' point of view, Thyangboche is the place where one of the best mountain panoramas can be found: Kwangde, Tawoche, Nuptse, Lhotse, Kangtega, Ama Dablam and Everest loom above. The walk up the ridge behind the Gompa is definitely worth the small effort required! 4 hours, 3867m.
Day 7: to Dingboche. Carrying on from Thyangboche, we pass through Pangboche and then there is Chumjung where the Gompa holds the famous Yeti scalp, viewable for a small donation (which happily goes to the upkeep of the Gompa). From here on we leave the tree line for high altitude country where agriculture is only barely possible and the lives of the local Sherpas are spartan by any standard.
From Orsho we walk on to Dingboche, a picturesque village just under AmaDablam.
Much of the walking in this area is comparatively gentle gradients, although we proceed at a leisurely pace due to the altitude. The temperatures drops dramatically and winter daytime temperatures can be around 15C so warm clothing becomes essential in your daypack. 5 hours, 4343m.
Day 8/9: at Dingboche: we have an acclimatisation day here either to recuperate or, for the more energetic, an excursion to the rocky peaks just above the village for again magnificent views - Makalu, Island Peak (goal of many amateur mountaineers and Alpinists) and Lhotse, whilst Ama Dablam, being nearer, seemingly towers above them all.
Day 10: to Lobuche. After Dhugla comes Lobuche, often reached after walking past frozen rivers where stone houses sit in an icy wilderness of stunning beauty with views of the Khumbu icefall, Pumori and many small peaks being visible from ridge tops on the track. 4hours, 4930m.
Day 11: A day excursion to ascend Kala Pattar: 8 hrs. A day excursion will venture out to Kala Pattar which, at 5,545m/18,192ft gives stunning views of Everest and the surrounding area and is perhaps the highpoint of your spectacular journey in every sense of the word OR depending on group decision going to Everest Base Camp 8 hours, 5400m. Camp at Periche3930m.
Day 12: to Pangboche 6 hrs,3901m.
Days 13/15: Finally, the next three days are spent retracing our steps to Lukla. The continually descending terrain and loss of altitude enables us to do this surprisingly quickly.
Day 13: to Khumjung 6hrs, 3796m.
Day 14: to Monzo 6hrs, 2835m.
Day 15: to Lukla. Your last evening in this spectacular area is spent in this wonderful village and a party at the Paradise Lodge is not unknown! 6 hours, 2827m.
Day 16: Early morning sees you taking off from the short and steep Lukla airstrip and having the pleasure of the spectacular mountain flight back to Kathmandu where we will be met at the Domestic Airport terminal and transferred to the 4*hotel. The rest of the day is free.
Days 17: Free in Kathmandu to shop, try out the restaurants inThamel, and continue your explorations of this fascinating city. Also surely an absolute "must" are the outlying towns of the Kathmandu valley, Baktapor and Patan, with their exotic temples, streets and squares.
Day 18: Departure day: You will be transferred to the International Airport for your flight home.
Each day may vary from this schedule as walking times differ with every group, some taking longer and others takes less, plus trails and lodge conditions need to be taken into account. The guide in charge of your trek will alter the schedule if necessary.