EBC Trek and Fly Back by Helicopter  - 12 Days

After landing at the Tribhuwan International Airport, we will be greeted by a representative of Himalayan Glacier who will drop us off at our hotel. We then check-in at the hotel, freshen up and take a rest. In the evening a welcome dinner will be hosted by Himalayan Glacier. Overnight in Kathmandu.

We take an early morning regular flight to Lukla by a Twin Otter plane which is where all Everest treks begin. We meet the rest of our team in Lukla and start trekking from there. We walk on a trail that gradually descends to Cheplung village from where we get a glimpse of Mt. Khumbila, a sacred mountain which has never been climbed. From here, we gradually descend until Phakding. Overnight in Phakding.

Our trail passes through a pine forest and we continue our walk on the trail that goes up north through the Benkar valley. We cross Dudh Koshi River and pass Chumoa and Monjo villages before reaching the entrance of the Everest National Park. After entering the park, we ascend on a steep trail with incredible views. Ascending further, we reach Namche Bazaar which is the biggest town in the Everest region. Overnight in Namche Bazaar.

Spending one more day in Namche Bazaar will help us get used to the high altitude and thinning oxygen in the air. We tour the primary town of the Everest or Khumbu region which has government offices, ATMs, internet cafes, shops, restaurants, and a colorful market. We can hike-up to Sagarmatha National Park and enjoy the sunrise over the Himalayas including Mt. Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse, Ama Dablam, Thamserku, Kongde and so on. If we are interested in a day hike, we can trek to Khumjung village. Today we also visit the Hillary School and a monastery which houses a yeti scalp!  Overnight in Namche Bazaar.

This segment of the trek includes the famous descent to the Dudh-Koshi River and the equally famous ascent along the rhododendron forests to Tengboche. While descending to Dudh Kish River, we enjoy the views of mountain tops like Mount Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse, Ama Dablam, Thamserku, Kongde and so on. Upon reaching Tengboche, we visit Tengboche monastery-the largest monastery in the region and soak in the views of Everest, Ama Dablam and other peaks. Overnight in Tengboche.

We descend and trek through forests filled with a variety of lush trees – birch, conifers and rhododendrons. This journey again rewards us with tremendous views of Mt. Everest, Lhotse, and Ama Dablam. The picturesque trail dips down to Devuche, crosses the Imja River and takes us to Pangboche. The upper Pangboche trails reward us with a more pristine view of the Himalayas and the Pangboche Monastery. The trek moves ahead towards the Imja Valley, Lobuche River and ultimately begins climbing up to Dingboche. Overnight at Dingboche.

Dingboche is a popular stop for trekkers and climbers headed to Mt. Everest, Ama Dablam or Imja Tse. The village is beautiful with an array of fields enclosed by stone walls to protect barley, buckwheat and potatoes from the cold wind and grazing animals. We spend a day at Dingboche for acclimatization. We take day hikes to either Nagarjun Hill or Chukkhung Valley for great views of Makalu, Lhotse, Chalotse, Tawache and Ama Dablam.

We start the day with a gradual climb to Duglha at the end of the terminal moraine of the Khumbu Glacier. From here, we climb up a steep trail to Chupki Lhara, where we find an array of stones with prayer flags used as memorials to Scott Fischer (American mountaineer) and 10-time Everest submitter Babu Chiri Sherpa (Nepali mountain guide) who perished on a mission to climb Everest.  Next, we continue to the Khumbu Glacier moraine and find ourselves facing several great peaks – Khumbutse, Lingtren, Pumori and Mahalangur Himal. The trail then eases off as we follow the valley to Lobuche. Overnight in Lobuche.

We take the trail to Everest Base Camp through the once vast Gorak Shep Lake. Continuing straight ahead, we come across the Indian army mountaineers’ memorials. The path from here can be misleading; hence, it is important that we follow our lead Sherpa diligently. The walk is strenuous due to thin air in the high altitude. We pass through rocky dunes, moraine and streams before reaching the Everest Base Camp. Upon reaching the Everest Base Camp, we see tents of mountaineers that stand out in bright colors against the monotony of gray surroundings (especially in the spring). Nuptse, Khumbuste and Pumori are the mountains we can view from the base camp. We get back to Gorak Shep for a good night’s rest. Overnight in Gorak Shep.

We prepare for an early morning departure amid pre-dawn darkness and cold temperatures (-10 to -14 C). Plus, there is always the potential for chilly winds which are quite common. Familiar peaks such as Lingtren, Khumbutse, and Changtse tower are seen to the east even as Everest begins to reveal itself. But, it is upon reaching Kalapatthar (5,545m/18,192ft) that we get to see 360 degree up-close and formidable views of Mt. Everest. We take pictures, enjoy the magnificent mountain panorama, and then return back to Gorak Shep for a good night’s rest.

Those participants who visit Everest Base Camp today will have an early breakfast to start early as Everest base camp hike takes longer than the hike at Kalapatthar. We descend down to Gorak Shep and take a helicopter ride to Lukla. We fly over the serene waters of the Gokyo Lake which holds deep cultural significance for the Nepalese. After admiring the lake’s tremendous beauty, we continue our helicopter ride to Lukla. Overnight in Lukla.

We catch an early morning flight to Kathmandu after our long mountain journey. After reaching Kathmandu, we can take a rest or do some souvenir shopping. If we want to explore any other areas of Kathmandu, we may do that today. Our guides can help you with both souvenir shopping or sightseeing. There will be a farewell dinner in the evening to celebrate the successful completion of our journey. Overnight in Kathmandu.

Our Everest adventure in Nepal ends today. A Himalayan Glacier representative will drop us off at the Tribhuwan International Airport a few hours before the scheduled flight.