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Find out what happens on each day of the Everest Base Camp trek.
We arrive in Kathmandu and transfer to our hotel in the Thamel area. We then have a half-day to explore the sights, sounds and smells of this frenetic city. Kathmandu is a labyrinth of streets and markets, crowded with exotic produce and friendly people. You could visit the central Durbar Square, packed with Buddhist stupas and home to the Old Royal Palace, buy any last minute trekking equipment, or haggle for souvenirs at the many shops and stalls. Night in hotel. (Dinner not included).
Today we have a tour around Kathmandu to take in some of the incredible sights, such as Bodhnath and Swayambhunath (more commonly known as the monkey-temple), buddhist temples swathed in prayer-flags, and the many markets around the city. We will see as much as we can before returning to Thamel for our evening meal and final packing session. Night in hotel. (Lunch not included).
We take a stunning early morning flight from Kathmandu to Lukla, ‘Gateway to the Everest region’. Lukla is perched at 2840m above the Dudh Kosi or ‘River of Milk’ – so named because of the pale milky appearance of the glacier melt-water. We are now in the region of the legendary Sherpas and you will notice the difference in the faces of the people you meet here to those from the Kathmandu valley. After lunch we trek north towards Phakding (2610m) along a meandering trail which is lined with mani stone walls. These are made with hundreds of stone tablets and giant carved boulders, brilliantly decorated with brightly-coloured paints. The Buddhists believe these to be sacred and so as a sign of respect we pass them in a clockwise direction. Night in teahouse.
Trek approx 3 hours
We head onwards and upwards through a forest of rhododendron, magnolia and giant fir trees. We continue steadily up Namche Hill before arriving at Namche Bazaar (3440m), a delightful mountain village and the Sherpa ‘capital’ which is an important meeting and trading point for the local people. Night in teahouse.
Trek approx 5 – 7 hours
We take a day to rest in Namche where we can explore the markets (which sell everything a trekker could ever need!) or happily laze around in the sun. Acclimatisation is extremely important and by using these acclimatisation days correctly we greatly improve our chances of reaching our goal of Kalapatar, which lies at an altitude of 5545m.
The trail turns north-east from Namche along a tributary valley and as our climb approaches the holy ground of Tyangboche the mountain views become more dramatic with every step. From the top, on a ridge above the much-photographed gompa (monastery), we’ll be rewarded with an unrivalled view of Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse, Ama Dablam, Kwangde and Kangtega. When we reach the picturesque ‘summer village’ of Dingboche (4100m) we take another acclimatisation day. Nights in teahouses.
Trek approx 3 – 6 hours daily
We leave Dingboche, passing frozen rivers dotted with stone houses, as the trail ascends gently towards Lobuche (4910m). Over the next two days we climb to the renowned look-out point of Kalapatar (5545m), where we will be rewarded with a massive sense of achievement as we take in the breath-taking surroundings. We then head for base camp where many a climber has set off to climb the world’s highest mountain! Nights in teahouses.
Trek approx 4 – 8 hours daily
We retrace the trail with comparative ease to Lukla, via Pengboche, home to Khumbu’s oldest gompa and yeti relics. Our bodies are acclimatised to the altitude and the further we descend the fitter we feel. Nights in teahouses.
Trek Approx 4 – 8 hours
We fly from Lukla to Kathmandu and spend the rest of the day sightseeing, exploring, shopping or just relaxing in Kathmandu’s numerous cafés and roof-top restaurants before spending the evening celebrating our achievements. Night in hotel (Dinner not included).
Free time to explore Kathmandu before transferring to the airport for our flight back to the UK.
NB: Due to the nature of adventure travel, our tour operator, Discover Adventure, reserves the right to change the route or itinerary for safety reasons should local conditions dictate.
Email hiking@macmillan.org.uk|
Call 020 7840 7887 Fax 020 7840 4717 Write to Team Macmillan, Macmillan Cancer Support, 89 Albert Embankment, London, SE1 7UQ