HIGH PASSES OF EVEREST

24 days from GBP2,249 to GBP2,449 including flights

Tripcode: TNG

Itinerary

Day 1: Depart London in the evening by the scheduled services of Gulf Air for the overnight flight to Kathmandu.
Day 2: We arrive in Kathmandu and transfer to our hotel. Those on Land Only arrangements will join us in the evening at the Royal Singi Hotel.
Day 3: Today there is a half-day tour of Kathmandu, led by a trained local guide. The tour visits the Durbar Square in the heart of the old city. Here is the old Royal Palace, with its intricate woodcarving and four fine towers. Outside is Kumari Chowk, home of the Kumari, the young girl who is revered as a living goddess. All around is a maze of temples and images, such as the terrifying Black Bhairab, and Shiva and Parvati gazing benignly down on their subjects. Leading away from the square in all directions are narrow alleys, full of the most amazing variety of shops and stalls. The afternoon is free for individual sightseeing � you may like to visit the monkey temple at Swayambunath, one of the largest Buddhist Stupas in the world at Bodnath, or the most important Hindu temple in the valley at Pashupatinath. There will also be a full trek briefing today.
Day 4: We fly to the mountain airstrip of Lukla (2,800m), and set off on the first short leg of our trek, heading northwards up the valley of the Dudh Kosi (or 'milk river'). We descend from the small plateau, which only just manages to hold Lukla airstrip, down into the forested valley. The trail crosses several tributary streams and we have some tantalising views before reaching the small settlement of Phakding (2,650m), where we will spend our first night.
Day 5 - 8: We spend today acclimatising to the altitude, either exploring Namche Bazaar or taking an optional daywalk. There are several possibilities including visiting the large Sherpa villages of Kunde and Khumjung with excellent views of Everest and many of the surrounding mountains. We can perhaps stop for tea at the spectacularly situated Everest View Hotel. Returning to Namche there is time to see the National Park museum with interesting displays. From Namche Bazaar the trail climbs eastwards and follows the Dudh Kosi again, high above the riverbed. Passing through Sanasa we descend gradually to the village of Teshinga, after which the trail drops more steeply to the river to cross it at the small settlement of Phunki Tenga at 3,250m Here the flow of water is used for both secular and sacred tasks, turning several flour mills as well as a series of prayer wheels. Climbing steeply beyond these we enter the forest and continue up to the saddle where in a clearing surrounded by rhododendrons and conifers we come to Thyangboche at 3,870m. From here we have a fantastic panorama of mountains surrounding us including Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse and Ama Dablam. Thyangboche has long been a sacred spot. The Lama Sange Dorje, who first brought Buddhism to the region, is said to have flown from his monastery in Tibet over the Himalayas, landing and leaving his footprints here at Pangboche. Visitors should be careful to respect the spirit of this sacred place, particularly observing the ban on killing or hurting any living creature in the area. Because of the ban the wildlife is usually unafraid and previous groups have spotted musk deer in the area. Although the monastery was burned down a few years ago, the reconstruction is progressing quickly, thanks to a magnificent fund raising effort on the part of Sir Edmund Hillary. The trail from Thyangboche leads downhill through a forest of conifers, birch and rhododendrons. The trail passes the nunnery at Deboche to cross a wooden bridge over the rushing Imja Khola, whose valley we now follow. We begin to climb again, passing some beautifully carved walls. The trail then enters Pangboche, at 3,900m, the highest permanent settlement in this valley. We are above the tree line now passing through an alpine meadow landscape where we may catch a glimpse of the rare Impeyan pheasant, the national bird of Nepal. Following a ledge above the river, the trail veers to the left and climbs to a small ridge and then drops down to Pheriche. Pheriche is a summer settlement and here the great peaks of Ama Dablam, Tawoche and Chalotse surround us.
Day 9: The trail ascends the valley gradually with the views slowly opening up around us. From the teahouses at Dugla we have a steep climb to the terminal moraine of the Khumbu glacier. Cairns built in memory of climbers who lost their lives on Everest mark the edge of the glacier. From here an easy walk brings us to our camp at Lobuje (4,930m), a tiny years (yak pasture) with a few teahouses in the summer. The sunset on Nuptse towering above us is not to be missed.
Day 10: We are now surrounded by giant Himalayan peaks; Everest, Nuptse, Ama Dablam and Pumori tower above us and the sight of their snows glowing gold and pink at sunrise and sunset is quite unforgettable. A very long day today as we follow the Khumbu Glacier northwards to Gorak Shep (5,288m) and climb the small peak of Kala Pattar (black rock) at 5,545m to look down over the base camps of the various Everest expeditions. This climb affords a most magnificent view of the Khumbu Glacier and above all a close up sight of the world's highest mountain. The British in the 19th century named this peak after Sir George Everest, the head of the Survey of India, but to the Nepalese it is Sagarmatha (Head of the Waters) and to the Sherpas it is Chomolungma (Mother of the World). We descend back to Gorak Shep and retrace our steps to Lobuje for the night.
Day 11 - 12: Following the terminal moraine of the Khumbu glacier we head off down the valley a short way before turning off above the Chola Cho lake towards our next pass, the Cho La. Above us are the twin peaks of Tawoche and Chalotse. Passing the small yersa at Dzanghla we camp at the base of the pass. For the energetic there will be chance today to ascend Awi Peak, 5,245m. The ascent of the Cho La is quite steep and not easy, especially in heavy snow conditions. At the top of the pass (5,420m.) we cross the smooth gently sloping surface of the glacier itself - a true mountain experience - as snow peaks and glaciers now surround us. The descent is steep at first on the rubble of the moraine and then the trail becomes easier as we finally reach the small house at Thangna where we camp. We now climb onto the terminal moraine of the Ngozumpo Glacier, which is the largest in the Nepal Himalaya. After crossing the glacier we reach Longpongo, the first of the glacial lakes. A short walk then brings us to the summerhouses and walled meadows set next to the azure blue lake at Gokyo (4,750m).
Day 13: A day to explore the magnificent scenery at Gokyo. There is chance to ascend Gokyo Peak (5,360m.) set above the lake to enjoy probably the most magnificent mountain panorama in the Khumbu. Mountains surround us and include four of the seven highest peaks in the Nepal Himalaya: Cho Oyu, Everest, Lhotse and Makalu. It is also possible to visit some more glacial lakes even further north towards Cho Oyu base camp.
Day 14: Trek to Dzongla; optional trek up Awi Peak.
Day 15 - 16: A fairly long day today but an amazing walk through the magnificent glacial systems in this area. From camp the trail winds up onto the glacial moraine of the Sumna glacier and then drops down to a sandy area. The trail weaves its way through this dry glacier through Dzibko and on to Lunak. Tibetans often camp here as there is water and some old herders huts. From Lunak the trail climbs steeply up to the confluence of the Lunak glacier and the Nangpa glacier. The trail is indistinct in places but there should be plenty of yak dung to follow! We follow the Nangpa glacier to Kachung. We are well above the glacier and have amazing views looking down to the huge ice seracs below us. Kachung is our highest camp at 5,200m and is set just below Nangpai Gotaya, a southern spur of the impressive Nangpai Gosum (7,352).
Day 17: A very long (but optional) day today as we walk to the Tibetan border. Leaving very early we descend onto the rocky glacial moraine of the Nangpa glacier. Ahead of us we can see the pass in the far distance but to get there we must cross from one side of this magnificent glacier to the other. Walking on the glacier is amazing and we must take care as the seracs and crevasses surround us. The trail changes from year to year but is marked by yak dung from the hundreds of Tibetan traders who bring their yaks across the pass regularly. Halfway we pass through Dzasampa (5,400m), a small campsite actually on the glacier, where the Tibetans camp with their yaks. The trail continues to zig zag up and down and back across to the right side of the glacier again for the final steeper climb up onto the ice and snow. We eventually come to the top of the glacier from where it is an easier 45mins walk to the very top. Finally we will spot the prayers flags which mark the top of the Nangpa La (5,710m) and the border between Nepal and Tibet. The views are worth all the effort of the climb. Ahead we can look down and across onto the barren Tibetan plateau and to our right is Cho Oyu. Other peaks and glaciers surround us and a marker post at the top is the border between Tibet and Nepal. We return to Kachung the same way.
Day 18 - 19: A short day today with chance to enjoy the scenery and explore the villages in this beautiful valley. The trail drops easily through Marylung and on down to the river. We then contour in and out of the valley for a couple of hours to Thame. We should be there by lunchtime and the afternoon is free to explore and maybe climb up to the small monastery above the village. Thame is famous for the many Everest summiteers it has produced. Tenzing Norgay's family lived in Thame and Apa Sherpa, who climbed Everest for the 17th time in 2007, has a teahouse in the village.
Day 20 - 21: We follow the main trail back down the valley to Lukla.
Day 22: We fly back to Kathmandu and spend the rest of the day at leisure. (In case we experience difficulty flying out of Lukla today we can try again on the morning of day 24).
Day 23: We have some free time this morning in Kathmandu for last minute sightseeing or shopping. We leave Kathmandu in the afternoon for the flight to London with a plane change en-route. Those not travelling back to London with the group will leave us in the hotel by midday.
Day 24: Arrive London.