Everest High Pass Trek, 21-day program

Arrival in Kathmandu Tribhuvan International Airport

Meeting with a representative from Matterhorn Treks & Expedition at the Airport

Transfer to hotel

Briefing about the trip activities

Free time for the rest of the day

Overnight at Hotel B/B

Sightseeing: visit to the main landmarks in Kathmandu, including World Heritage Sites: Durbar Square, the sacred Hindu temple of Pashupati Nath, the famous ‘Monkey Temple’ (Swayambhu Nath), and Buddhists shrine (Bouddha Nath)

Time for last minute shopping for personal items

Preparation for the next day

Overnight at Hotel B/B

Early start – breakfast

Transfer to the domestic airport

Flight to Lukla – Duration: 40 minutes

Arrival to the Tenzing-Hillary Airport at Lukla

Meeting with the other crew members

Trek through the village of Lukla (2,800 m)

Arrival in Phakding (2,652 m)

Optional: taking a side trip to a nearby Monastery

Overnight in lodge

Trekking time: 3 hours

Trek over the Dudh Koshi River, with amazing views of Mt. Thamserku (6,608 m / 21,675 ft)

Arrival in Benkar village

Arrival in the entrance of Sagarmatha National Park at Monjo – (permits will be checked at this point)

Descent to Jorsale, the last village before Namche Bazaar

Arrival to the Hillary Suspension Bridge

Up hill climb towards Namche Bazzar

Stop at the Chautara to enjoy the view

Arrival in Namche Bazzar, the main gateway of the Khumbu region

Overnight in lodge

Trekking time: 5 to 6 hours

First scheduled acclimatization day – Different options available:

• Day hike to Thame

• Visit around Khunde

• Relaxed exploration of Namche Bazaar

Side trip up to Khumjung: climb up to famous airstrip at Syangboche; and the famous Everest View Hotel and the Hillary School

Return to Namche Bazzar

Overnight in lodge

Departure from Namche bazaar, past a check post

Arrival in the highest hydroelectric power station in the world

Ascent towards Thamo (3,820 m), and the Khari Gompa monastery

Climb up through a rhododendron forest to pasture lands in front of Thame (3,820 m)

Overnight at lodge

Trekking time: 5 hours

Departure from Longden towards Goyko (4,750 m), via the Renjo La Pass (5,360 m)

Trekking time: 8 hours

Overnight at a teahouse with comfortable bedrooms at Gokyo

Full day for rest and acclimatization

If the weather is good, climb to Gokyo Ri (5,330 m) this day instead of the nexte one (if the weather is good) – best viewpoint in the Everest Region

Visit to two of the famous Gokyo six lakes: fourth (Thonak Tsho) and fifth (Ngozuma Tsho)

Optional: climb on a hill at the edge of the Lakes for unique views of Cho-Oyu, Gyachung Kang, Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse, and Makulu from the Scoundrel’s viewpoint

Views of the Cho Oyu Base Camp and the Ngazumpa glacier from the fifth lake.

Optional: (subject to interest and time) trek towards the sixth lake

Return to Gokyo

Overnight at Gokyo

Climb out of Goyko to a ridge

Route through the Ngozumpa Glacier

Descent to Thaknak (4,750 m)

Overnight at Thaknak

Trekking time: 2 hours

Trek to the Cho La Pass, which includes a glacier traverse on its eastern side

Climb up continuously from Phedi

Trek through the side of a frozen lake while

Pass through some crevasses before reaching Dzongla (4,830 m) – complete view of Mt. Cholatse, Mt. Ama Dablam, and the Lobuche peak.

Overnight at Dzongla

Trekking time: 7 hours

Climb down from Dzongla

Arrival in Lobuche (4,940 m)

Trekking time: 4 hours

Trek towards Gorak Shep, through the lateral moraine of the Khumbu Glacier – first view of the Kala Patthar, beneath beneath Mt. Pumori

Arrival in Gorak Shep

Ascent towards the Everest Base Camp through the Gorak Shep Lake

Suggested: visit Kala Patthar in the afternoon to view a unique sunset

Optional: hike to Kala Patthar for sunset

Overnight at Gorak Shep

Trekking time: 8 to 9 hours

Early start, with temperatures between -10 and -14 °C

Ascent to Kala Patthar (5,545 m)

Optional: participants who plan to visit the Everest Base Camp this day will need to start earlier

Return back to Gorak Shep for lunch

Descent to Lobuche (4,940 m)

Overnight at Lobuche

Trekking time: 6 hours

Trek to the Khumbu Glacier

Climb up Kongma La (5,535 m)

Visit to the pyramid shaped Italian Research Center (5,000 m)

Unique views of Cholatse, Pokalde, Nuptse, Lhotse, Makalu and Ama Dablam

Walk through stony trail – Descent to the Niyang Khola valley

Arrival in Chukkung (4,730 m)

Overnight at Chhukung

Trekking time: 7 to 8 hours

Depart from Chhukung towards Pangboche Village, via Khola

Visit to a famous old monastery at Pangboche

Descent towards the alpine desert and back into greenery of pine forests

Ascent to Tengboche (3,860 m) through a steep uphill

Visit to the famous Tengboche Monastery

Overnight at  Tengboche

Trekking time: 5 hours

Descent towards Namche Bazaar (3,440 m), with access to guest houses and lodges, telecommunications, internet and various leisure and traditional Tibetan and modern western medical facilities

Overnight at Namche

Trekking time: 4 hours

Steep descent downward on rocky terrain towards Lukla (2,800 m)

Crossing of the suspension bridges over the Dudh Koshi

Landscape: a mixture of open plains, rhododendron and pine forests, and in the distance snow covered peaks

Walk through the Sherpa villages’ with the impressive Buddhist culture of prayer stones, Mani stones and prayer flags

Overnight at  Lukla

Trekking time: 7 hours

Early morning flight to Kathmandu (1,350 m)

Transfer to the hotel

Optional: do some last minute shopping or explore sights in Kathmandu

Overnight at Hotel B/B in Kathmandu

Three options:

• to have the full day at leisure

• extend your trip

• or take time to explore the Thamel for last day shopping

Farewell dinner

Overnight at Hotel B/B

Transfer to the International Airport

Departure to your next destination

End of program