Everest The Hard Way

DAY 1

Arrive Kathmandu

Arriving at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, you'll be met and receive a private transfer for the short distance into central Kathmandu and to the "KGH" Hotel in the heart of the Thamel district. You'll be given a briefing on your forthcoming adventure, and in the evening, you can take dinner at your leisure in one of the many choices of cafes and restaurants in Kathmandu, although the open-air courtyard cafe of the KGH Hotel is as good as anywhere.

IMPORTANT NOTE: During certain months flights to/from Lukla are changed from Kathmandu to Manthali, which is several hours from Kathmandu! You may wish to consider allowing an extra day for this eventuality. See our FLIGHTS TO LUKLA INFORMATION for more.

Accommodation: KGH Hotel, Kathmandu
Included Meals: None

DAY 2

Fly to Lukla & trek to Phakding

A private transfer to the airport for the 40-minute spectacular flight to the airstrip at Lukla Here you'll meet your porter team, and then your first day of trekking is actually downhill and relatively short as you descend a trail to the bottom of the river valley below. It's around 3–4 hours of walking to the village of Phakding (2610 m), and your overnight stop is staying in a typical trekking lodge. The walking distance is around 10 km, with an approximate 650m descent and 390m ascent.

Accommodation: Trekking Lodge, Phakding
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Find out more about Trekking Lodges

DAY 3

Trek to Namche Bazaar

Today's walk begins in a straightforward manner as you follow the trail alongside the river and through pine forests to Jorsale. You'll cross the river a couple of times by suspension and plank bridge, and in around 2 hours, you'll hopefully get your first glimpse of Everest's summit poking over the Nuptse ridge in the far distance. It's then a stiff climb of 2–3 hours as the Everest Base Camp trail winds its way up and up to the Sherpa capital of Namche Bazaar. Walking time is approx. 5–6 hours to an altitude of 3440m. Altitude gain: 800m. The distance today is around 10 km, with 1150 m of ascent and 400 m of descent.

Accommodation: Trekking Lodge, Namche Bazaar
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

DAY 4

Acclimatisation Day

At 3440 m, you really have to have an acclimatisation day today and let your body take it easy. Namche is a fascinating place to explore, with plenty of souvenir shops, cafes, and bars, as well as a particularly good German bakery! If you like, you can take an acclimatisation walk up to the Museum of Sherpa Culture. Near the museum is an excellent Everest viewpoint and magnificent views of the iconic peak of Ama Dablam.

Accommodation: Trekking Lodge, Namche Bazaar
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

DAY 5

Trek to Thame

A stiff climb out of Namche is rewarded by spectacular views. The walk continues to skirt the ridge and then along the Bhote Khosi River through various villages, and perhaps all of a sudden you've realised that the trails have become much quieter too. The lesser number of trekkers is also a good indicator that for the following days the lodges will be more simple and basic. Crossing a river by means of a suspension bridge, the final part of today's trek is the climb up to Thame (3825m). The distance covered today is around 8.5 km, with 740 m of ascent and 500 m of descent, and should take around 6 hours of walking.

Accommodation: Trekking Lodge, Thame
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

DAY 6

Trek to Marulung

Not many trekkers head this way as you ascend to Tangmote and then further up to Marulung (4215m). A shorter day of around 4 hours of walking, covering some 8 km, but with 490 m of ascent and 150 m of descent. NOTE: As tomorrow you will be crossing the Renjo La you can always add the option of an additional night in Marulung to for addtional acclimatisation or simply rest up or explore further up the valley and walk to the tiny village of Arye (4400m). It's a lovely walk in itself, and the scenery in this rarely visited valley is just beautiful. Perhaps, if you're feeling good, you can go further and towards the glacier that comes off the Nangpa La. Alternatively an additional acclimatisation day could be spent at Thame instead from where there are quite few options for an acclimatisation hike.

Accommodation: Trekking Lodge, Marulung
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

DAY 7

The Renjo La to Gokyo

It's been the toughest day so far on the trek, as there's over 1100m of ascent required to reach the Renjo La (5340m). A very early start is required for this very long day. The trail that winds its way up to the Renjo La is often stone-stepped, but it's a fair old slog at these high altitudes for sure. Prayer flags indicate the pass itself, and from here there are truly gobsmacking views of Everest and the surrounding peaks. The pass and part of the ascent and descent may be snow-covered. It's steep at first as you drop down from the pass and onto a well-made trail down to Gokyo. The walking distance is 11km, with about 1200 m of ascent and 820 m of descent. Walking time is usually around 10 hours.

Accommodation: Trekking Lodge, Gokyo
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

DAY 8

Gokyo Ri and trek to Dragnag

The mountain known as Gokyo Ri (5360m) is a classic Everest view point, and other than the extra hard effort and additional determination due to the high altitude to ascend, it is not technical at all. You'll need to leave just after dawn, and it's a steep trail that zigzags its way up the mountainside to the view point. There's around 600m of ascent and descent for Gokyo Ri. But it is most definitely worth it. Back to the lodge for breakfast, and then down to one of the lakes to take the trail you saw yesterday across the Ngozumba Glacier. The route itself is well marked with cairns and takes under an hour. A little way up from the glacier, you reach Dragnag (4700m). The lodges for the next few days will become increasingly simple and basic. Walking distance today (excluding the Gokyo Ri climb) is around 6km with 430 m of ascent and 520 m of ascent over 4 hours of walking.

Accommodation: Trekking Lodge, Dragnag
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

DAY 9

The Cho La crossing to Dzongla

The Cho La is a glaciated mountain pass that reaches 5425m. The route involves crossing a boulder field and an old moraine. At times it is very steep, and a bit of straightforward scrambling is required as there are bits of loose scree. You may be amazed at how well your laden porters manage this whilst you're huffing and puffing you're way up. The pass itself is often snow-covered, and we do recommend you have a walking ice axe and in-step crampons with you for this. NB: in-step crampons are not mountaineering crampons. Do ask us if you are unfamiliar with these. After enjoying the great views from the pass you head down a usually glaciated section to pasture lands below and onto Dzongla (4830m). It's a tough day of around 9hrs walking the 9km distance and involves around 930m ascent and 840m descent.

Accommodation: Trekking Lodge, Dzongla
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 10

Trek to Gorak Shep

You continue descending and drop down to join the main EBC trail at Lobuche. From here, you walk steadily uphill alongside the moraine of the Khumbu Glacier and onto Gorak Shep (5140m). It's around 12km walking distance today. Quite a long day, though, with 7-8 hours of walking and around 870 m of ascent and 550 m of descent.

Accommodation: Trekking Lodge, Gorak Shep
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

DAY 11

Everest Base Camp

Today you will walk up to EBC and then back to Gorak Shep. The round trip sounds easy—just under 7km with under 200 m of ascent and descent. But it generally takes a good 6 hours to get to EBC and back at this high altitude. Still, you should have a good hour or so to appreciate EBC itself. The summit of Everest cannot be seen from EBC, but there are some pretty impressive views of the tumbling Khumbu Icefall and the west shoulder of Everest. During the trekking season, there is little in the way of activity at EBC (other than curious trekkers), and whilst it is from Kala Patar that the best views of Everest can be had on the Everest Base Camp trek, you kind of have to come to EBC to say you've been there.

Accommodation: Trekking Lodge, Gorak Shep
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

DAY 12

Kala Patar and to Pheriche

We firmly believe that the 'jewel in the crown' of this trek is the view from the top of Kala Patar and not EBC itself. Hoping for the often clear morning weather, it takes around 2 hours to follow the now well-worn trail to Kala Patar (5500m) and the classic view of Everest. Returning to Gorak Shep, you walk back down to Lobuche and then onto Pheriche (4270m), where there is also a permanent clinic staffed by western doctors during the main trekking season. Today's walk of just over 16km takes around 7-8 hours, with around 500 m of ascent and 1400 m of descent.

Accommodation: Trekking Lodge, Pheriche
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

DAY 13

Trek to Phortse

You're essentially heading down today, and the walk to Phortse takes around 6-7 hours to complete the 14km distance with around 450 m of ascent and 1300 m of descent.

Accommodation: Trekking Lodge, Phortse
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

DAY 14

Trek to Monjo

A long descent down to the river and then up a zig-zag trail to the Mon La. A slight deviation off the main EBC trail, which you now rejoin and descend to Namche, and a couple of hours of mostly downhill, and you're in Monjo. The distance is around 14km with 650 m of ascent and 1350 m of descent and takes around 6-7 hours of walking.

Accommodation: Trekking Lodge, Monjo
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

DAY 15

Back up to Lukla

At first, you continue to head down the valley, passing through Phakding, and then to climb back up to Lukla. The distance is around 13.5km with about 850m ascent and 820m descent and it takes about 5 hours of walking.

Accommodation: Trekking Lodge, Lukla
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

DAY 16

Fly to Kathmandu

An adrenalin-filled takeoff from Lukla for the short flight out of the Himalayas and back to Kathmandu. A private transfer will take you from the airport back to the KGH Hotel. However, you may wish to consider some additional contingencies for this trek, whether it be for any delays or cancellations that can and do occur for flights both to and from Lukla or any difficulties that may arise on the trek.

Accommodation: KGH Hotel, Kathmandu
Included Meals: Breakfast

DAY 17

Depart Nepal

A private transfer will take you to the airport for your return international flight.

Included Meals: Breakfast

Of course, there's no reason to depart today; your Nepal holiday can be readily tailor-made.