Everest Base Camp Trek (16 Days)AttractionsOverviewWhy we love itItineraryDates & PricesWhat’s includedImportant notesAttractionsOne of the most popular classic routes with fantastic views all along the way.Tengboche Monastery the largest temple in the Khumbu region of Nepal.Memorial of Chukla Lare. Dozens of memorial monuments, cairns and prayer flag in honour of climbers and Sherpas who perished on mount Everest.Namche Bazaar, the beautiful Sherpa and trade centre of Khumbu region.OVERVIEWIn The Footsteps Of The GreatThe Everest Base camp trek is not surprisingly extremely popular as it offers incredible views, an insight into Sherpa culture as well as wildlife and interesting vegetation. It is also quite a challenge and will result in a great sense of achievement for trekkers. The traditional trek to Everest Base Camp follows the route taken by the great expeditionary Everest climbers.Some incredible scenery can be enjoyed along the way such as the monastery at Tengboche and views of Ama Dablam. This is one of the most attractive views en route. The traditional trek to Everest Base Camp follows the route taken by the great expeditionary Everest climbers. Along the way you will be rewarded with incredible views of Everest, Nuptse and Lhotse as well as Ama Dablam. The trek is also littered with colourful prayer flags, mani walls and monasteriesBe prepared to see some amazing sights, and remember take the right clothing; its cold up here at the top of the world!Why we love it ?Guest HouseMountain viewCampingHikingDiningItinerary Day 1: Arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu and transfer to your hotel.Upon your arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, you will be warmly greeted by a representative from Apoorva tours who will welcome you with Khada/garland (this is a welcoming Culture in Nepal). We will then drive you to your hotel and get you booked in so you can unwind from your travels, rest and relax. Later we will show you around the popular for tourist area that is the Thamel District where you will find all the services you require including restaurants, supermarkets ATM machines and money exchange facilities. In addition if you have forgotten anything you may need on the trip you will have an opportunity to buy it now.Once back at your overnight hotel we will have a chat about the upcoming tour and possible options, and you will get to meet our team and the guides who will accompany you throughout the tour. ACCOMMODATIONLUNCH HOURSSIGNAL Day 2 Flight to Lukla airstrip & trek to Phakding (2,652m/8,700ft)Early today morning we will be driven to Kathmandu airport for our flight to Lukla. Landing at Lukla airport is a memorable experience in itself. The 30 minute flight offers outstandingly beautiful views of the middle hills and mountains of Nepal. At Lukla we will meet the porters who will carry our main luggage from place to place as we go. We will then start our trek for real as we head on towards the small village of Phakding which we will reach after a three and half-hour trek on a gradual downhill trail. Phakding nestles on the bank of beautiful Dudh Kosi River. Here we will stay overnight at a Local Lodge. ACCOMMODATIONLUNCH HOURSSIGNAL Day 3 Phakding to Namche Bazaar (3,440m/11,283ft)After breakfast we start our hike to Namche Bazaar. The route is mainly uphill and crosses several suspension bridges from which we will have spectacular views of the valleys and gorges below. Our efforts will be handsomely rewarded by views of the phenomenal beauty of the Himalayan peaks and the captivating destination town of Namche Bazaar which is the main trading centre and hub for the Khumbu region. The Sherpas who are world renowned for their mountaineering skills are largely from the Namche Bazaar area. Perhaps the most famous amongst the Sherpas is Tenzing Norgay who was given the birth name of Namgyal Wangdi but is better known as Sherpa Tenzing. Along with Edmond Hillary he was the first person to climb Mount Everest.There was an expedition much earlier in 1918 where Mallory and Irvine made an attempt using the most primitive of equipment, some believe they made the summit but both perished close to the top, we are not sure if it was on the way up or on the way down. The Sherpa tribe have their roots many centuries ago in Tibet. Sherpa households in Namche bazaar have benefited from tourism and many run the lodges and hotels.Overnight at Namche Bazaar. ACCOMMODATIONLUNCH HOURSSIGNAL Day 4 Acclimatisation day at Namche BazaarToday is set aside for the acclimatisation process. The best way to achieve this is to make a brisk uphill climb and back down again. We will be climbing up to the famous Everest View Hotel. On our way we will pass past the Syangboche Airport which is essentially a helipad. Once we arrive we can take a hot drink and enjoy a panoramic view of the awe-inspiring peaks including Mt. Everest itself.In 2004 the Hotel Everest View was listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the Highest Hotel in the world at 13,000ft (3,962.4m).You may also wish to make a visit to the Sherpa Museum situated above Namche. Some of the breathtaking views we will witness en-route include Ama Dablam, Tawoche, Everest, Kantega and Thamserku.On our return we will pass through Khumjung village and possibly stop by to see the Edmund Hillary Hospital and School. Once back at Namche Bazaar we will return for our overnight stay in our local lodge. ACCOMMODATIONLUNCH HOURSSIGNAL Day 5: Namche Bazaar to Tengboche: 12,664ft (3,860m)As we are now at high altitude 3,440m (11,283ft) we need to walk at a moderate pace and keep hydrated. Our trek today follows an uphill trail to Tengboche. On reaching Tengboche we will check into a local lodge and have time to explore the splendid surroundings against a backdrop of the Himalayan Mountains. One of the more inspiring views is the towering peak of Ama Dablam (6,812 m / 22,349 ft). The nearby Tengboche Monastery is world famous and well worth a visit.Tonight we will be staying at a local lodge. ACCOMMODATIONLUNCH HOURSSIGNAL Day 6: Tengboche to Dingboche in Imja Valley (4,358m/14,295 ft)Todays trek is initially a gentle climb enabling us to enjoy magnificent views of Everest as well as Lhotse, Kantega and Thamserku.In Nepal Everest is more correctly called Sagarmatha meaning appropriately “Goddess of the Sky”. Tibetans call it “Chomolungma”.The Name “Everest” was in tribute to a Welshman “George Everest” who was the Surveyor General of India and commissioned the survey that led to the first calculation of its height in 1856. Although Everest himself never actually set eyes on the mountain!We now descend to the Imja Khola and cross the bridge before climbing up an open trail to Pangboche.Dating back three centuries the Pangboche Gompa is thought to be one of the oldest monasteries in the Everest region.We now cross the river again and take a gradual trek up to the Dingboche village where we will stay overnight at a local lodge. ACCOMMODATIONLUNCH HOURSSIGNAL Day 7: Dingboche to Lobuche (4,928m/16164 ft)Today our walk starts with a steep ascent followed by a more moderate walk but still gaining altitude. Leaving the tree line behind us we reach a bleak and rock-strewn trail. We continue north-west past the village of Pheriche to the tiny settlement of Dugla.We now take a winding trail northwards on the Khumbu Glacier moraine. This short section is nevertheless demanding section and we are getting higher at 16,404ft (5,000m). As the climb reaches its high point, we arrive at a collection of memorials to climbers who have died in their endeavours in this region. We should stop for a while to pay our respects to some of the most prominent Everest pioneers. As well as some of the better known western climbers, there are memorials to Sherpas who have achieved fantastic feats. One is to a phenomenal mountaineer Babu Chiri Sherpa who I had the privilege of meeting before his tragic death. From here the climbing moderates as we walk alongside glacial moraine for about an hour before we reach Lobuche. Where, if the conditions are right, we will be treated to a sparkling sunset view of Nuptse. We will stay here overnight at a local lodge. ACCOMMODATIONLUNCH HOURSSIGNAL Day 8: Lobuche to Gorakshep (5,160m/16,929ft)From Lobuche we follow the undulating and rocky trail to Gorakshep which trails alongside glacial moraine. Once we reach Gorakshep, we will take lunch at the lodge where we will be staying tonight.In the afternoon we have an option to climb Kalapathar which is recognised as being perhaps the best vantage point from which to view Everest. Many of the posters depicting a panorama of Everest are shot from Kalapathar at 5,643 m (18,514 ft). At the summit of Kalapathar we will additionally be treated to a panorama of many beautiful mountains including Lhotse, Nuptse, Ama Dablam, Taboche, Cholatse, Lobuche East. Towering behind you is the astonishing wall of Pumori which looks incredibly close as it rises majestically above us.We will stay here overnight at a local lodge ACCOMMODATIONLUNCH HOURSSIGNAL Day 9: Gorakshep to Everest Base camp (17,598ft /5,364m) then Back to Gorakshep.We now head of for Everest Base Camp. The walk is largely on the glacier and not technically difficult. The route meanders up and down as we progress. We will witness remarkable melt patterns as the sun melts the ice around the protrusions leaving glistening pools below. Everest Base Camp is located at the foot of the Khumbu Glacier and is surrounded by some of the most prominent peaks in the world. We will have stunning views of Pumori, Khumbutse and Nuptse. ACCOMMODATIONLUNCH HOURSSIGNAL Day 10: Gorakshep to Pheriche 13,780ft (4,200m).It is now time to start our steady descent. Our route crosses the stream at Thugla, we now avoid the trail to Dingboche and head off along the attractive route for Pheriche. Here there is a health centre and, of course, the lodge where we will stay ACCOMMODATIONLUNCH HOURSSIGNAL Day 11: Pheriche to Namche BazaarThe route from Pheriche to Namche Bazaar is full of natural splendour. Since we will be descending the walk becomes easier and the more we descend the lower is the risk of altitude sickness. We pass once again through Tengboche and then take a steep descent from Tengboche to Pungi Thenga.The trail continues over the Dudh Kosi River on a suspension bridge.At length get a glimpse of Namche Bazaar where we will have our overnight stay. ACCOMMODATIONLUNCH HOURSSIGNAL Day 12: Rest Day at Namche BazaarThis is really a free day, but from Namche there are some really interesting one day hikes you may wish to consider, for example you could hike 10km to the Thame village which is home to important sherpas. At about 200 meters above the village you will find the oldest monastery in Khumbu region of Nepal. It was founded in or around the 17th century and sits at 3,800 meters with fantastic views of the Himalayas. ACCOMMODATIONLUNCH HOURSSIGNAL Day 13: Namche Bazaar to LuklaToday is the last trekking day of our tour which will be completed when we reach our destination for today which is the village of Lukla. After breakfast at the lodge we will start our trek by following the trail largely downhill until we reach Monjo. The trail continues alongside the Dudh Koshi River past Phakding to Lukla. Now we can relax and celebrate our achievement and reflect on our superbly successful adventure. This will be our last night spent in a local lodge. ACCOMMODATIONLUNCH HOURSSIGNAL Day 14 Lukla to KathmanduAt 9,383ft (2,860m) above sea level our flight from Lukla Airport is a fantastic way to return to Kathmanduand and say goodbye to the Everest region. As we wait for our flight we will see aircraft taking off and landing on the uniquely sloping runway which ends with a precipitous drop into the valley below, fortunately the aircraft take to the air well before the end of the strip is reached. Once on board we have another chance to take a mid-air view of the scenery and the stunning mountains which surround us. From Kathmandu Airport we will be driven back to our hotel.The final part of our trip is yet to come tomorrow with a fascinating tour of the historic city of Kathmandu.At our hotel we can unwind and relax before we have a stroll around Thamel and return to our hotel for the night. ACCOMMODATIONLUNCH HOURSSIGNAL Day 15 Sights of KathmanduFollowing breakfast at our hotel we will set off on our tour starting with the Pashupatinath Temple then the Bouddhanath Stupa and on to Patan CityToday’s tour will uncover some of the many historical, spiritual and cultural riches of Kathmandu which boasts no less than seven UNESCO Cultural Heritage Sites. The buildings and monuments display a significant variety of historic and artistic accomplishment.The Pashupatinath Temple – is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is an Elegant and highly decorative Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. The Temple sits on the banks of Bagmati River and is noteworthy for its pagoda style of architecture and its gilded roof. The rafters feature members of Shiva’s family and its silver plated entrance doors are bordered by statues of deities. Entrance is restricted to Hindus but its exterior is remarkable and well worth the visit. Outside you will see many holy men (Sadhus), and the river banks are a popular place for Hindu cremations. It is one of the most important Temples for Hindu devotees worldwide. During February or March, the day of Maha Shivaratri (an annual festival dedicated to the Hindu God Shiva) is celebrated here.We will visit the Bouddhanath Stupa which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is the holiest Tibetan Buddhist Temple outside of Tibet. It is over 328ft (100m) diameter and wall-to-wall length is about the size of a football pitch. Boudhanath is among the largest Stupa in Nepal and one of the largest in the world. The Stupa has 4 eyes which represent the all-seeing ability of the Buddha; they face four prime directions constantly looking out for virtuous behaviour and human success. The Stupa’s nose symbolizes Nirvana.We will then drive to Patan city to visit more UNESCO world heritage sites including Patan Durbar Square where we will find the Krishna Temple, the Golden temple and the Patan museum.On our return the rest of your time is free for individual activities. ACCOMMODATIONLUNCH HOURSSIGNAL Day 16: DepartureAfter breakfast, the morning is free for you to undertake individual activities. But please be ready 3 hours before your flight so we can drive you to the airport in time for your return flight home. ACCOMMODATIONLUNCH HOURSSIGNALOur PriceAt Apoorva tours we recognise that not all of our visitors require a set and rigid experience, and there are many options based on the potential tours we have identified. We hope that these have whetted your appetite. Also we realise cost is a prime factor in choosing a tour so we wish to give you the best overall package to suit your needs.Please contact us with your requirements and we will tailor a package for you. No need to hesitate, it costs you nothing and you can always say no.Our overriding aim is to give you the best, and your satisfaction is our rewardWhat’s includedThings to see & doJoin those who have been privileged to follow the most famous route to the ultimate base camp.This famous classic route takes you high in the Himalayas in the footsteps of the great explorers.Test yourself at altitudeOn the balcony of the Everest View Hotel enjoy a snack and great views of Everest.Relax in awe inspiring SceneryNear Namche you will find the visitor centre packed with information about the Everest region and famous expeditions.Visit the Tourist Visitor centreBack in Kathmandu you can grab a few bargains to take home as gifts or souvenirs.Grab a bargainVisit one of Kathmandu’s many restaurants serving cuisine from across the globe.Eat out in styleThere are many places where you can see, enjoy and join in with local song and dance.CultureImportant notesA Few reasons to choose our Tour packageIf your vacation involves any degree of risk or is subject to weather conditions our guides and tour leaders are instructed to make any essential changes to the itinerary that are required for your own health and safety. Your well being is important to us and we want your tour to be memorable for all the right reasons. However we will always make every effort to ensure that you are happy and that your hopes and expectations are realized.Live Your Dream ExperienceTop Reasons to VisitHistory and TemplesKathmandu is a city of temples and palaces as well as being a bustling and lively place. It is packed with world heritage sites and the tour of this amazing historic city is not to be missed.The road to the top of the WorldFollowing a spectacular flight to Lukla you will follow the route taken by generations of great mountaineers past remarkable scenery all the way up to the starting point for the expeditions to the roof of the world.Ancient MonasteriesTengboche is home to the largest Buddhist Monastery in the Khumbu region at 3,930m above sea level it provides a panoramic view of the Himalayan Mountains. Tenzing Norgay was once sent to Tengboche Monastery to train as a monk.