Everest Base camp trek from Jiri

On reaching Kathmandu via respective airlines, our TH staff will be received with courtesy transfer to hotels in the centre of Kathmandu around the Thamel area, an interesting area with many shops, stores, and excellent world-class restaurants, with time for a short walk. To buy necessary items for the trip, our guide will inform and brief us at the hotel regarding trekking and other important things.

A long day's journey, so starting early morning from Kathmandu for the drive to Jiri, this interesting scenic drive passes through interesting towns and villages through the Himalayan foothills, through towns of Dhulikhel, Chrikot, and then to Jiri for an overnight stop. Jiri is one of the nice towns often called the Switzerland of Nepal Himalaya.

After a good stop in Jiri, starting the first day walk, leaving behind Jiri and the motorable road behind, the walk continues with a climb to a hilltop with fabulous views of the surrounding scenery with Jiri town below, and then descending towards a river valley to Shivalaya village for an overnight stop, a fair-sized village with some lodges for travellers. 

From Shivalaya to Bhandar a nice and moderate trek, starting the morning walk with an hour-slow climb to the small village of Sangbadanda, then on the winding gradual path passing many farm villages and forested area, reaching a stream with a climb through the cool shade of rhododendron pine, oaks tree lines, after few hours of good walk reaching Deurali pass top at 2, 715 meters, after lunch at Deurali a long downhill for about two hours to reach Bhandar village for overnight stop, passing into interesting large Stupa enclosed inside a wall and then through villages and farm-fields till Bhandar or Chyangma village is reached, this village with mix tribes of people Tamangs, Newars, but predominantly Sherpa people.

The morning walk continues downhill into the cool shade of forest and farm terraces, passing several farm villages, to reach Kenja village at 1,634m. Kenja is a nice, moderate-sized village, situated in a warm valley just beneath the high hills of Lamjura and Pikey danda, offering views of Numbur peaks. After Kenja, there are steep uphill climbs all the way to an overnight stop at Sete village. From here on, the temperature cools.

Starting the trek with a cool morning then heading towards Lamjuta-la pass with a slow steep climb into the dense forest of rhododendrons, pines, and oaks trees then through many small farmlands and hamlets, after a few hours of steady uphill walk reaching the top of a Lamjura pass with a big stupa and lodges, from here a long descend through forest of firs and rhododendron trees to Sherpa village at Toctoc, from here continue walk on the gradual winding path to Junbesi, from the ridge looking at Junbesi way below, then with a final descend to Junbesi, a nice large village inhabited mostly by Sherpa people, this village with a nice interesting monastery and a high school sponsored by Sir Edmund Hillary Trust. 

After a wonderful time at Junbesi, a morning walk leads on the winding smooth path with the first glimpse of Mt. Everest with other snow-capped mountains, after a break here heads down to the river, after crossing the bridge with a short climb to Ringmo village, stop here for lunch as time permits after leaving Ringmo, an hour of gradual slow climb into a forest of pines and rhododendron trees then reaching Trakshindu pass at 3,070m marked with mani and shortens with grand views of Numbur, Kusum Kangguru, Thamersarkhu, and Kantega peaks. From here, a long downhill walk to Nunthala through Takshindo village, with an old monastery, continues descending through the forest, then reaches farmland on the outskirts of the village. After reaching the bottom of Takshindo hill, a short walk to Nuntahla, also known as Manidingma, a large mid-hill village of the Rai tribe and the Sherpa people.

The air gets much cooler as the walk leads closer to the Khumbu area after being in the Solu region, the morning walk starts with a downhill through the forest area to the bridge over the Dudh Kosi River, from here crosses the raging Dudh Kosi River, then leading on the slow winding uphill trail to Jubing village, around this area are warm with citric trees and plants, after Jubing following an uphill path to Kharikhola 2,200m, a large village with Sherpa and Magar inhabitants, after a break here heading towards next hill, after crossing a river tributary of Kharikhola, then it leads to a steep climb for an hour to our overnight stop at Bupsa a small village, located on the ridge overlooking fabulous views of rolling hills and valleys. 

After Surkhe, head towards the main trekking trail, passing Muse and Chowrikharka farm village near Lukla. Being in the isolated area for many days, from here onwards on the famous route to Everest Base Camp where the trail from Lukla joins at a small Choplung village, walking is easier and pleasant on the gradual path to Phakding with a few small ups in between, reaching at Tarhe Khola, with a wonderful view of Kusum-Kangru 6,369m, after crossing the bridge with a short climb reaches to Ghat village, from here onwards an hour of pleasant walk to Phakding village for overnight stop by the bank of Dudh-Kosi River.

The morning walk starts with an easy walk with a few ups following the river Dudh Kosi most of the way, crossing the same river by suspension bridge reaching Monjo village a nice village with lodges catering the trekkers for many years, a view of Thermasharkhu peak and Khumbi-la mountain the patron god of Khumbu area, Monjo is the entrance of Sagarmatha National Park at the park entrance a rest after getting the permits to travel this area requires Park permits with fees. As well, TIMS (Trekking Information Management System) continues walking after a brief rest here, crossing the bridge over the Dudh Kosi and heading to Jorsalle village for lunch. This is the only village for 2-3 hours till Namche is reached. From here walk on the river bed for a while and then after crossing the last bridge over Imjatse River (which joins Dudh Kosi) an uphill walk for a few hours through a beautiful alpine forest lined with rhododendrons, pines, and fir trees with the awesome mountain scenery of Kwangde, Kusum Kanguru if the day is a clear view of Mt. Everest and Lhotse also, after a hard climb of few hours reaching famous Namche Bazaar the Sherpa capital of Khumbu region with many houses with lodges, hotels, pubs, restaurant with fresh bakery and cyber café, health post, post office, and banks.

It is important and necessary to have a rest day or 2 nights at this altitude to safeguard from AMS (Acute Mountain Sickness), where drinking plenty of fluids helps, but not alcoholic drinks, which dehydrate you. In Namche optional walks around the neighboring area up to Everest View Hotel (believed as world's highest hotel at 3,880 meters) a 2-3 hour hike with promising mountain views of Mt. Everest and the magnificent Ama Dablam peak, or a walk to the top of Namche hill with an aerial view of Namche with Mt. Everest, Lhotse, Tawache, Tarmasarku, Kwangde, and Ama Dablam peaks and visit the interesting museum with full of information of this Khumbu area, afternoon at leisure to browse around the bazaar with nice stores, this place is flooded with locals and trekkers on Saturday big market.

Morning with a short climb to the ridge above Namche and then on the pleasant walk for the first half of the day with views after views of mountains and surrounding beautiful landscapes, and into nice woodland and then on the downhill slope for an hour to reach lunch break at Phungi-tenga, located in a gorge by the river Imjatse and in the middle of alpine woodland.After a refreshing moment, starting with an uphill for 2 hours through nice tree lines of rhododendrons and pines with beautiful views of snow-clad peaks, and finally reaching the famed Tengboche Monastery (Gomba) for an overnight stop.

This beautiful scenic spot offers tremendous views of peaks that encircle this place with Mt. Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse, and towering Mt. Ama Dablam, Kangtenga, Thermasharkhu, and Kwangde peaks, afternoon visit this interesting monastery with Lama and monks chanting prayer at the main hall statue of Sakyamuni Buddha and with thanka paintings around the wall and ceiling and then visit the small museum.

After an interesting, impressive time here, a morning walk leads to a descent through a nice, serene forest, passing a few prayer walls, and then crossing a bridge over the raging Imjatse River. After the bridge, a slow uphill walk with a few steep climbs and descents to Pangboche village (the last permanent village on the route to Everest base camp)

From here a short steep climb to Shomare a small settlement popular stop for lunch on the route trekking higher, after lunch a gradual uphill climb on the windy exposed terrain and crossing the same river and with a climb for an hour reaching our overnight stop at Dingboche a nice place located at the start of Imjatse valley beneath the towering Ama Dablam North Face and Mt. Lhotse with nice views of Island / Imjatse peak towards east.

From Dingboche with good night's rest, the morning walk leads to a short climb over a hill festooned with prayer flags and Buddhist payer monuments, overlooking superb views of Imjatse Valley, Ama Dablam North Face, Island / Imjatse Peak, and world’s 5th highest Mt. Makalu towards east the peaks of Twache and Cholatse looks closer from this spot, from here on the gentle uphill path leading to a small place at Thukla for a lunch stop, where the trail from Gokyo via Tshola and Pheriche meets. As well, the Khumbu glacier melts into the torrential river. After a nice break, there is a steep climb for an hour to the cairn of Thulga Pass top, where many tombs and memorials are placed for the unfortunate mountaineers. From here, a good walk for another hour brings you to Lobuche for an overnight stop, with more than good lodges around beneath the Lobuche East and West Peaks.

Today, this awesome journey leads to our goal and highlight of this great trip, a morning walk on the gentle slope for a few hours, passing near the meteorological stations of glass pyramids managed by Nepal and Italian scientists on the glacier of this area. From here walk leads over the rocky moraine and ice and below Khumbu glacier with views of Everest, Nuptse, and Mt. Pumori. After crossing the moraine area, reach Gorakshep, located on the route to Everest base camp and Kalapathar climb, with Mt. Pumori soaring above this flat valley. After a good rest, continue walking for 2-3 hours to Everest Base Camp through glacier and moraine sections. on reaching Everest Base Camp, grand views of Nuptse, Lho-la, Changtse in Tibet, and the top of

Everest with its notorious Khumbu ice falls and glaciers at a near distance from the base camp. This desolate but tremendous spot feels out of this world. During the high expedition season around April and May, this place is flooded with different groups of expeditions. After an overwhelming moment, retrace the walk back to Gorakshep for an overnight stop after feeling high and at ease after reaching the goal of this trip.

Yet, another highlight of this trip to be accomplished climb to the top of Kalapathar the highest point of this adventure at 5,545 meters offering a stupendous panorama of surrounding mountains with Mt. Pumori high above the rocky top of Kalapathar and a view of Mt. Everest at a mere distance, the climb leads for two hours on the steep path, on reaching enjoy the glamorous views on the highest spot of this adventure, from here reach Gorakshep for breakfast and continue descend towards Lobuche and to Thukla and then on the new trail to Pheriche, walk leads downhill for an hour and into the windy valley floor walking for an hour to Pheriche located on a wide valley with windy afternoon with views of Cholatse, Tawache and Ama Dablam, this place with HRA station (Himalayan Rescue Association).

From Pheriche, a nice walk to the river and then a short climb with a downhill towards Somare and Pangboche village on the same trail to Tengboche for an overnight stop in these beautiful surroundings.

After a wonderful time at Tengboche Monastery, with the sound of the monks and lamas chanting Morning Prayer, we headed downhill to cross the Imjatse River, then climbed for an hour, and gradually retraced our journey back to Namche Bazaar and Monjo. After a rest and lunch stop, afternoon downhill to Monjo and back to Dudh Kosi Valley, crossing the same river a few times, and back at the national park entrance/exit gate, and then to Monjo for the overnight stop.

Today is the last day of trekking: a pleasant walk retracing the same trail, passing through the villages of Phakding, Benkar, Ghat, and Choplung. From here, the last climb of this trip is for an hour to Lukla. On reaching Lukla in the afternoon or at lunchtime, there will be time for a stroll around Lukla bazaar.

Morning transfer to Tenzing-Hillary Airport at Lukla, as per the flight time board. The small plane, a Dornier or Twin Otter, for a short, scenic 35-minute flight brings you to Kathmandu, and then transfers you to your respective hotels, with the afternoon free for leisure and souvenir shopping.