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ITINERARY
DAY
01:Arrival
Kathmandu. We will be met by our support staff and transferred to the
hotel in Kathmandu. Remainder of the day can be spent resting, shopping
and sightseeing. You are on your own for the evening.
DAY 02:
This morning, Sangeeta Tuladar our Kathmandu
tour guide for many years will meet us in the lobby of our hotel at
0900hrs. Today we will be taken on tour to Durbar Market and the Monkey
Temple and return to the hotel for the afternoon where you will be on
your own for relaxing, last minute shopping, packing etc.
DAY 03:
0600hrs we meet in the lobby for coach transfer to the airport for our
40-minute flight to Lukla. Upon arrival we will be met by our Sherpa
Sardar of many years, Ang Nima Sherpa who will organize our porters for
today's journey to Phakding
LUKLA
2800 meters-
Landing here on the small
carefully loaded twin otters signifies the beginning of the adventure.
As you approach you can see a cliff in front of you, the stall alarm
sounds and you quickly come to a stop on the uphill landing strip. Lukla
Airstrip is port of call for Yaks, porters, Mountaineering expeditions
and Trekkers.
Goods and people are delivered here in the morning hours prior to
the afternoon mountain weather setting in.
Your trek begins today slowly toward Mt. Everest, following
ancient trading routes still used by Rai Magar, Tibetan, Brahmin and
Sherpa traders on their way to and from Namche Bazaar.
The trail climbs through Mushe and Chaundrikartka at 2680 meters
to Chablung, then drops to Ghat at 2550 meters where we will spend the
night in a quaint little house along side the river.
From here on the trek is pretty much up, up, up.
DAY
04: Early morning
starts in the Khumbu Valley. Rise around 0700, bags packed and ready for
your porters to collect from your rooms. Breakfast around 0730 and on
the trail at 0800. Today is one of the hardest days of your trek. Walk
for 2.5 hours stopping for a leisurely lunch break in the village of
Monjo, which is also the gate to the park headquarters. While enjoying
the views from the deck and the morning sun your lunch will be served
here. Ang Nima will take care of your park entrance detail on your
behalf at the post. Your arrival in Namche Bazaar can be anywhere
between 2:00pm to 4:00pm. You will be staying at Mingma Sherpa's home.
Mingma's family is long
time friends of Peak Freak Expeditions. This
family is related to the Tenzing Norqay family, first Sherpa to summit
with Sir Edmund Hillary. There will be many photos and gear from past
expeditions lying around in the home. Young Tenzing Norguay Sherpa
(grandson) also brings groups to this home and it is not uncommon to run
into him here at auntie's house.
NAMCHE BAZAAR: 3440 meters-
Namche Bazaar is a village lying at the junction of the Dudh Koshi and a
lateral valley that leads to frontier pass of Nangpa La 5500 meters.
It is tucked away in a "bowl" at a height of 3440
meters. The first Europeans entered it in 1950 and many more have come
since then. However, the
basic character of the village remains unchanged. It has an airplane landing strip high above and a temple with
a stream of clear water flowing past it.
Prayer flags, inscribed with words "Om mani padme hum"
flutter from every rooftop and every house has a cottage industry where
Yak wool is spun and woven into carpets.
Facilities like a bank, a post office, hotels and shops where one
can purchase climbing equipment as well as tinned food have sprung up
over the years.
Namche Bazaar is the major
regional training center, and contains the headquarters of the
Sagamartha (Nepalese for Everest) National Park. There is plenty to do
around Namche Bazaar and a day should be spent here acclimatizing
Day
05:
No rush this morning. No need to pack as you will spend one more
night here. Today is acclimatization day. You will trek only 1 hour up
to the Sherpa villages of Kunde and Khumjung.
This is an important step to help your bodies acclimatize to the
new altitudes you will endure in the days to come. Visit the Sir Edmund
Hillary School in Khumjung or enjoy a pastry in the highest bakery in
the world. Lunch will be prepared and served to you in Ang Nima's own
home in Kunde. The view of Mt. Ama Dablam, Everest, Nupste and Lhotse
from Ang Nima's house is one of the most photographed in the world.
After lunch return to Namche Bazaar.
KHUMJUNG- KUNDE: 3750 meters- A day hike to Kunde - Home of the Sir
Edmund Hillary
Hospital where we are given a tour of the facility and a lecture on
altitude
sickness if the doctors are not too busy.
Canadian and New Zealand doctors do two year stints here all on a
volunteer basis. Khumjung: home to many of our climbing Sherpas.
This is also the home of famous gompa where the skull of supposed
Yeti (the Abominable Snowman) is preserved under the supervision of the
head Lama. To many visitors
to the region, the skull seems ore like the outer skin of Himalayan
Brown Bear, and this is borne by the report of a scientific exploratory
expedition conducted by Sir Edmund Hillary, a copy of
which is kept in the gompa.
Day
06:
Back on schedule with the 0700 start. Today you will find to be very
exciting as you officially make your journey up the Everest valley.
Walking for about 5 hours directly underneath majestic peaks with Mt.
Everest in the distance as your guide. Stop for tea at the Ama Dablam
guesthouse owned and operated by Lhakpa Dorjee (who summited with the
first Canadian on Everest Laurie Skreslet from Calgary) the trail winds
along the top of the valley offering incredible views. At lunchtime you
will drop down to the river for a wonderful lunch at the village of
Phunki. This will be your last blast of rich air before making your way
up to the top of the hill to Tengboche. Upon arrival in Tengboche you
may arrive in time for a tour of the monastery. If not, catch the monks
in the morning for a chant. You are welcome to go inside the monastery
and join in with the monks magical morning chant at 0600.
TENGBOCHE: 3870 meters-
Thee most famous monastery in all of
Nepal is here, the Tengboche monastery. It is one of the important
centers of Buddhism in the region. The largest gompa in the Khumba
region, it was
built in 1921 and then destroyed due to a fire in 1989
and has been carefully rebuilt partly with a
foreign aid and volunteers. From
Tengboche, one gets a panoramic view of the Himalayan giants Kwandge,
Tawache, Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse, Ama Dablam, Kantenga, and Thamserk.
The sunset here is amazing.
Day
07: Just as amazing as sunset is from this location, so is
sunrise. Be sure your camera is loaded during your time in Tengboche.
After your morning monastery visit and breakfast head out on the trail
to Pangboche. Today's walk will take you across the Dudh Kosi river,
through a rhododendron forest and up to Pangboche for lunch then on to Dingboche.
PANGBOCHE:
3860 meters-Pangoche
is the highest year-round settlement in the valley where the Imja Khola,
coming from the right joins the Dudh Koshi river a little above the
village. It has a famous
gompa that is thought to be the oldest in the Khumbu region. Buddhism is
believed to have been introduced to the Khumbu region toward the end of
the century by Lama Sange Dorjee. According
to the legend, he flew over the Himalayas and landed on a rock at
Pangboche and Tengboche, leaving his footprints embedded on the stone.
He is thought to have been responsible for the founding of the first
gompas in the Khumbu region.
While at Pangboche we will enjoy a hot lunch while visiting with Ang
Nima Dorjee's in his home with his wife and children. Many climbing
expeditions stay here to retreat from the thin air at base camp prior to
their summit pushes and to load up on fresh food and richer air.
Nima Dorjee and his wife Lhakpadi are well known to climbers for
providing the best French Fries in the valley. After lunch make your way
by
Dingboche,
about 2 to 2.5 hours walk. Spend the night in the Snowlion Lodge owned
by our ground operator's family in Nepal. This is a well-appointed
lodge, nice rooms, roaring hot fire in the spacious dinning common room.
Day
08: Later than normal
start, no packing required. You will return here tonight to sleep. Today
take in the acclimatization hike to the village of Chukung. There is not
much up here for a village. There are only a couple of homes. Mainly
occupied in the summer months for potatoe gardens and yak grazing.
Mingma from Namche's daughter runs a home up here. You will enjoy a high
altitude lunch in her home and lay low for the afternoon on her deck
getting your body used to the altitude while taking in the stunning
views of Lhotse and the backside of Mt. Ama Dablam. A rare opportunity,
not many groups make it up this way. Only climbers attempting Island
Peak make it up this valley. In the Afternoon you return to Dingboche for the night.
Day
09: Start as per normal up at 0700 on the trail by 0800-
trek for 4 to 5 hours. The trail climbs
to Phalang
Karpa at 4340 meters then Dugla (lunch stop) at 4620 meters before
reaching Loboche at 4930 meters.
The
trail looks down on Pheriche (place of the high altitude medical
facility). Today you will stop for lunch at Dugla and if acclimatization
is working well for you, make your way to Lobuche for 2 nights. Stay in
Loboche Lodge. You will start to feel the effects of altitude now and
accommodation is not as comfortable as it was lower in the valley. We do
offer tent backup if the remote accommodation is not suitable or
overcrowded.
Day
10: Day of rest, up whenever, no packing. Today you will
either want to lay low, resting, meeting mountaineers and trekkers in
the area acclimatizing or take in a more aggressive day attempting the
summit of Kala Pattar. Non-technical hike, no climbing skills or
equipment required. Return to Loboche lodge for nights stay.
LOBOCHE:
4930 meters -
Loboche has seen had many improvements in
the last couple of years. Mainly since the book “Into Thin Air”
wrote it up as being (a less than desirable place to rest). Due to the
increased numbers visiting this area new lodges are being built and are
now somewhat comfortable.
KALA
PATTAR: 5545 meters
EVEREST BASE CAMP 5300 meters- Kala
Pattar is a small mountain 5545 m high on the southern flank of Pumori
(7145m). It is a trekking
peak and every year tourists climb the peak to enjoy the fantastic
panoramic views it offers of the Khumbu glacier, Everest and nearby
peaks like Lhotse and Nuptse. The
east Makalu, Ama Dablam, Pumori, and Cho Oyu are visible. From here you can look down onto Everest &
Pumori Base Camp, as it is higher. The views of Everest are far superior
to being at Everest Base Camp itself.
Day
11:
Up early 0600 for a full day- 7 hours trekking on the rocky
moraine to Everest Base Camp. Upon arrival enjoy the comfortable
expedition style stay in tents. Meals are with the expedition and you
will be included in the excitement of climbers starting to make their
summit bids around the time we arrive, weather permitting.
Stay over at Everest Base is only included when Peak Freak's is
operating an Everest climbing expedition. When no expedition this
day can be used as a flexible day for weather, acclimatization etc.
Day
12: Today we say our goodbye's and retrace our tracks back to Lukla. Our
first stop is Pheriche, stay in a lodge.
Day
13: Trek to Namche Bazaar- stay in teahouse. We are warming up now and the
air is getting richer which seems to energize everyone. Upon arrival in
Namche enjoy Cappuccino and fresh baking at the local bakery. A nice
treat after several days on the dusty trail. Showers and laundry
services are available here to freshen up for the trip out.
Day
14: Trek to Lukla-stay in a lodge and enjoy a farewell dinner from the
Everest region sherpa families.
Day
15: Fly to Kathmandu- end of trek. You
will be met by our staff and transferred to the Nirvana Garden Hotel.
Evening on your own. Enjoy one of the many great restaurants. Refer to
the document:
Day
16: You are on your own
today. We highly recommend a self- guided tour t to Pashupatinath
and Bhaktapur or we can hook-up with one of our favorite guides..
Day
17:
Departure to your hometown or stay on to enjoy optional tours
such as the Chitwan Jungle Safari and River Rafting.
THIS
TREK INCLUDES
-based on two sharing- single supplement is $200US.
- 4 nights accommodation in Kathmandu in Tourist Class Hotel
- All airport/hotel/airport transfers in Kathmandu
- Guided sightseeing tour in Kathmandu
- Sherpa guides, Western guide, Yaks and porters
- Inter-Nepal flights and Inter-Nepal air taxes
- 12-day trek- staying in Sherpa Lodges and base camp
- 15 day if going to Everest BC.
- Base Camp equipment and camp crew
- 3 meals a day while on trek
- Park permits and Nepalese Agency fees
- Bon Voyage dinner party
DOES NOT INCLUDE
- Meals in Kathmandu and optional tours
- Nepal Departure tax of $16.00US, Nepalese entry visa of $30.00US
- Drinks including mineral water, laundry, showers and tips
- Personal spending money, travel accident insurance and all other
items of a personal nature
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INFORMATION
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