Tour overview

This 12-day trek will take you to the exact place where Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay planned their assault on the world’s highest peak Mt. Everest (8848m). The trail takes you near lakes, over glaciers, and through the distinctive Sherpa villages that are home to probably the most skilled and respected high altitude climbers in the world. Their skills and ability to adjust to high altitudes has made it possible for many expeditions to scale these soaring 8000-meter peaks.

This well-known trek and popular trek in the World Heritage Listed Sagamartha National Park takes you to Kala Patthar, a popular viewpoint where the views are truly stunning as you gaze over the vast landscape and snow-covered peaks that tower above. The flora and fauna, such as Nepal’s national flower – the rhododendron, musk deer and the always present yak’s grazing add to the appeal of this adventure.

We begin our 12 day trek with a short 30 minute scenic flight to Lukla, where we put on our boots and head off on the trail to Phakding Village. We then head to the meeting point for many treks and expeditions, the Sherpa town of Namche Bazaar, a lively modern town. From Namche Bazaar we head to Tengboche and its renowned Buddhist monastery, Dawa Choling Gompa. From the monastery you will hear echo the unforgettable mantras of the monks and nuns that create a tranquil and peaceful atmosphere. Sherpas nearly always pray before heading to the mountains, believing prayer will ensure a safe passage. The next village we come to is Thukla from where we begin heading to higher elevations. We then come to Lobuche (4,940m /16,210 ft) from where we have panoramic views of the Himalayas. Our next stop is Everest Base Camp (5364m), the highest point on the trek. This is where you can think just how Hillary and Norgay felt as they planned their ascent of the highest peak in the world, keeping in mind this was 67 years ago and they did not have technology like we do today to assist them. 

The next stunning feature of this trek is the gigantic Khumbu Glacier, rising from (4,900m/16,100ft) at its lowest point to (7,600m/ (24,900ft) at its source higher up the mountain. Gorak Shep (5,185m) and Kala Patthar viewpoint are next stops on the trail. To ensure we get the best views from Kala Patthar we will get up very early in the morning when the air is pure and the light is perfect to catch the splendor of the sun rising over the mountains. Mt. Everest and the Khumbu Glacier and their pure whiteness are clearly observable from here. We then head back to Gorakshep, Pheriche, Namche Bazaar and to where we began our trek at Lukla. Our flight from Lukla will draw attention to the vastness of the Himalayas below, even more so now that you have been among and humbled by those glorious mountains. 

Sherpa Expedition Teams will organize your permit and take care of all meals and accommodation on the trek.

Itinerary

Routes