10
th October, 2009: Arrive at Kathmandu International
Airport . Transfer to hotel and overnight in Kathmandu.
11 th October, 2009: Preparation
day for the trek. Overnight in Kathmandu.
12 th October, 2009: Fly from Kathmandu
to Lukla (2886m), approximately 30 minutes. Trek from
Lukla to Phakding (2640m), approximately three hours.
Overnight in Phakding.
13 th October, 2009: Trek from
Phakding to Namche Bazaar (3440m), approximately 4½ hours.
You will trek, crossing rivers on high suspension bridges.
Beyond Monjo (2800m) you will enter the Sagarmatha
National Park which was set up in order to protect
and preserve this fragile mountain environment. You
then ascend quite steeply to Namche and along the way,
if the weather is clear, catch your first glimpse of
Mt Everest in the distance. You can also enjoy views
of Mt. Kusum Kangaru, Thamserku, Konde-Ri and Tawache
Peak. Namche Bazaar is the main trading village in
the Khumbu region and holds a busy Saturday market.
It is also a meeting place for Hindu traders from the
lowlands and the Tibetan yak caravans that have reached
the town by crossing the glaciated Nangpa La. Overnight
in Namche Bazzar.
14 th October, 2009: Acclimatization
day in Namche. Namche is tucked away between two ridges
amidst the giant peaks of the Khumbu and has an abundance
of lodges, tea shops and souvenir shops as well as
a magnificent outlook. It is an ideal place to spend
a rest day for acclimatization to the high altitude
before heading off towards Tyangboche. There is a choice
of two possible acclimatization walks on this day.
One to Khunde Hospital which was set up by Sir Edmund
Hillary, or one to Syangboche (3800m) where the Everest
View Hotel is situated offering (subject to weather)
outstanding views of Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse, Ama Dablam,
Thamserku and Kusum Kangaru. There are also good views
from the National Park Centre and Museum just above
the town. Overnight in Namche Bazzar.
15 th October, 2009: Trek
from Namche Bazaar to Tyangboche (3867m), approximately
5 hours. From Namche, the t rail contours around the
side of the valley, high above the Dudh Koshi, offering
your first really good views of the great peaks of
the Khumbu including Mt Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse, Ama
Dablam, Thamserku and Kusum Kangaru. Passing by several
villages and numerous tea shops, the t rail descends
steeply to a bridge over the river Dudh Koshi at Phunki
Tenga (3250m).The village has an excellent place for
lunch and you can take a short rest before making the
steep climb to Tyangboche. Tyangboche is famous for
its legendary monastery, the largest in the Khumbu
region. Overnight in Tyangboche.
16 th October, 2009: Trek from
Tyangboche to Dingboche (4410m), approximtely 5 hours.
You gradually descend through a forest, cross the Imja
Khola and climb steadily up to the village of Pangboche.
This is directly opposite to Ama Dablam (6856m) and
has exceptional views of the mountain, with a gompa,
mani walls and scattered pine trees in the foreground.
As you gradually ascend, you find thick forests. A
further 2 ½ hours walk brings you to Dingboche.
Here you can see Sherpa people working hard on agricultural
land. Overnight in Dingboche.
17 th October, 2009: Rest at Dingboche
for acclimatization and a local excursion. Here you
can climb steeply up to Nakartsang Gompa for the rare
outstanding view of Mount Makalu (8463m) along with
Lhotse, Island Peak, Baruntse, Ama Dablam and Thamserku.
18 th October, 2009: Trek
from Dingboche to Chhukung (4730m), approximately 4
hours. The t rail gradually ascends up to the Chhukung.
On the way, you can see summer huts made especially
for keeping livestock in during the summer time. O
vernight in Chhukung.
19 th October, 2009: Trek from
Chhukung to Chhukung Ri (5546m) to Lobuche (4910m)
via Dongla (4620m), approximately 6 hours. From Chhukung
Ri you can have a view of Mt. Nuptse (7896m), Mt.Lhotse
(8511m), Baruntse Peak (6800m), Ama Dablam (6856m),Thamserku
Peak (6608m.), Konde Ri Peak (6187m), Tawoche Peak
(6542m.), Cholotse Peak (6441m) and more. Now, you
begin your trek to Lobuche via Dongla giving you panoramic
view of the mountains along the way. The teahouse at
Dongla is a good spot to have lunch, before zigzagging
up through the boulders of the glacier's terminal mo
raine. At the top of this climb there are stone caves
built as memorials to the many Sherpas who have died
while climbing Mt Everest. The path then climbs gently
along the glacier, to eventually reach the cluster
of houses at Lobuche. Overnight in Lobuche.
20 th October, 2009: Trek from
Lobuche (4910m) to Gorakshep (5140m), approximately
3 ½ hours. You will have lunch and a rest at
Gorakshep, and if everyone feels fine, you can walk
to Everest Base Camp (5486m), approximately 4 ½ hours
round trip. The trek is on glacier and snow-capped
rocks and you can also see many small frozen lakes
around Everest Base Camp. Overnight in Gorakshep.
21 st October, 2009: Trek
from Gorakshep to Kala Patthar (5545m) for sunrise
and down to Pheriche (4243m), approximately 6 hours.
From Kala Patthar you will have a panoramic view of
Mt. Everest and many other mountain peaks like Mt.
Pumori, Mt. Lingtren, Mt. Khumbetse, Mt. Nuptse, Mt.
Lhotse, Mt. Ama Dablam, Mt. Thamserku and many more. Pheriche
is known as the Windy Town and is home to the Himalayan
Rescue Association Aid Post, manned by foreign volunteer
doctors. Here you can see the perpendicular walls of
Cholatse and Tawache. O vernight in Pheriche.
22 nd October, 2009: Trek from
Pheriche to Phortse (3810m), approximately 4 ½ hours.
The t rail descends to Pangboche and then wiggles up
and down to Phortse. On the way there is an opportunity
to see wild life in and around the area such as mountain
goats, musk deer and many species of Himalayan birds.
There are village monasteries in Pangboche and Phortse
rich in the cultural heritage of the Sherpa people.
The old monastery in Pangboche is believed to have
been established during the 16th century and Pangboche
village is known to have the highest permanent settlement
throughout the year. Overnight in Phortse.
23 rd October, 2009: Trek from
Phortse (3810m) to Khumjung (3790m), approximately
3 ½ hours. The t rail here descends for nearly
twenty minutes and ascends up steeply for almost one
hour to Mongla (4000m). From this spot, you can see
the panoramic view of Ama Dablam, Thamserku, Kusum
Kangaru, Konde-Ri and Tawache Peak. The t rail then
follows an up and down route to Khumjung. Khumjung
village is believed to have the largest settlement
of the Khumbu region. There is a well-equipped high
school and hospital built by the late Edmund Hillary
in the 1960s. Not limited to this, the skull of a Yeti
is housed in an old monastery. Overnight in Khumjung.
24 th October, 2009: Trek
from Khumjung to Thame (3800m), approximately 4 hours.
In Thame you can visit many ancient monasteries and
experience the real Sherpa culture. Overnight in Thame.
25 th October, 2009: Trek from
Thame to Monjo (2835m), approximately 6 hours. Trekking
on this day is little bit easier in comparison to
other days. Monjo is a small village and the area
is mainly for agricultural. O vernight in Monjo.
26 th October, 2009: Trek from
Monjo to Lukla (2800m), approximately 4 ½ hours.
This day the t rail gradually descends and ascends
back to Lukla. Overnight in Lukla.
27 th October, 2009: Early morning
flight back to Kathmandu taking approximately 30 minutes.
Overnight in Kathmandu
28 th October, 2009: Today, you
will visit VSN’s projects within the Kathmandu
Valley. You will visit Brighter Future Children’s
Home, Shining Stars Children’s Home, as well
as other children’s homes supported throughout
Kathmandu. In addition, you will see the ongoing build
of the new permanent facility for Shining Star’s
Children’s Home, for which you have done your
fund raising.
The past seventeen days of strenuous effort will
seem even more meaningful as you see the great strides
being taken to help deserving children in one of the
poorest nations in the world. Not only will you see
firsthand where your donations will be spent, but you
will be forever changed upon seeing the work done to
combat the circumstances and obstacles faced by these
wonderful children.
We will finish the day with a celebratory dinner
in one of Kathmandu’s restaurants. Overnight
in Kathmandu.
29 th October, 2009: Airport
transfers and departure from Kathmandu
