The dates have now been finalised. This is what the schedule will look like:
2nd October : Delhi-Kathmandu
3rd October: Kathmandu (1355m)
Rest day for getting permits and any remaining equipment as well as sorting out timezone issues.
4th October: CHUMOA (2743m)
The flight from Kathmandu to Lukla has to be one of the most spectacular in the world. Twin Otter fly this route contrasting country with the snowline of the Himalayan range to the north and rugged foothills of Nepal immediately below and stretching away to the south. The landing at Lukla air strip (2800m) adds considerably to the general excitment and expectation. After a sort out and a cup of tea the trail leads north west and descends to the river at Phakding (2652 m). Spend the night at this nice village along the Dudh Kosi river.
5th October: NAMCHE BAZAR (3445 m)
Follow the Bhote Kosi through forest and pasture land. Along a valley dotted with small Sherpa settlements. Cross the Bhote Kosi and climb steeply along Switch backing trail to large Sherpa village. Views of Everest (8848 m) and Lotse (8511 m) come into sight. This prosperous town is the largest in Khumbu. A traditional trading center, the Bazaar is held every Saturday. The wares on display include grains and vegetables tennis shoes and trinkers as well as hand woven aprons and Tibetan boots. Thamserku (6648 m) and Kwangde Ri (6224 m) loom to the east and west, and the sacred mountain Khumbila (5705 m) dominates the skyline to the north behind the village.
6th October: NAMCHE BAZAR
Rest day. On may also pay a visit to the National Park centre or pay further visits to the centre of Namche to look around the bazaar.
7th October: KHUMJUNG (3791 m)
We take this day easy, with a slow and gradual walk through the Syangboche airstrip, visiting the famous Everest View hotel to the scenic village of Kunde first. This is where Sir Edmund Hillary established the first Sherpa school and hospital. Volunteers from all over the world come here to teach and assist in health education. Stay the night at Khumjung, one of the most beautiful in Khumbu. Its symmetrically laid out stone houses house the families of many of our Sherpas. Visit the Khumjung monastery and the school of painting. The Sherpa may extend their hospitality and offer a tea time visit to one of these houses an experience. 3 hrs.
8th October: THYANGBOCHE (3863 m)
The trail descends from Khumjung with chortens framing a dramatic view of Ama Dablam (6696 m) and Kangtaiga (6779 m) flanked by the towering heights of Sagarmatha (the Nepalese name for-Everest), Lhotse and Nuptse. Descend through moss covered rhododendron forest, watching for blood pleasant and the Impayan pheasant in the undergrowth. Cross the Dudh Kosi at Phungithanga and climb through rhododendron forest to the saddle at the top of the hill. Here lies, Thyangboche the main monastery of the Khumbu area.
The views from here are unforgettable. Thyangboche lies at the nase of Kangtaiga and the spur of this ridge offers panoramic views of the pain peaks of Khumbu including Everest, Lhotse, Ama Dablam, Thamserku, Tawoche and Khumbila. Note : Thyanboche Monastery was burnt down in January 1989. It was reconstructed in April 1990.
9th October: DINGBOCHE (4412 m)
Descend from Thyangboche and again cross the Imja Khola, then side hill gradually to Pangboche. An interesting gompa site above the main village. The trekker is in the midst of the Himalayas here, with spectacular views all around. For acclimatisation there is a need to spend two nights around the 4268 m level and Dingboche lying in a sheltered spot above the Imja Khola is generally more attractive than Pheriche. It is however of note that the Himalayan Rescue Association have their aid post at Pheriche. Five hours.
10th October: DINGBOCHE
A day walk up to Ckukung is highly recommended. The route gradually ascends to the few scattered stone huts that make up the settlements to the south are every changing views of Ama Dablam and to the north the massive walls of the Nuptse ridge and the south face of Lhotse. Five hours.
11th October: LOBUJE (4931 m)
The route past Pheriche stants over a ridge and stays above the village. It joins the trail below Thugla. Beautiful views of Cholatse (6442 m) across the valley. After another steep ascent the trail climbs up and over the terminal moraine of Khumbu Glacier. Up and along the west lateral moraine of glacier the trail is rough in parts. Start and rugged beauty creates almost a moonscape. Campsite at Lobuje a windswept collection of huts tucked in a narrow meadow between the glacier and the Lobuche Peak (6156 m). Tawache and Nuptse are particularly spectacular from Lobuche, towering almost 2 kms directly overhead. Five hours.
12th October: GORAKSHEP (5160 m)
Early start essential. Travel along the Khumbu Glacier through jumbled moraine and shattered rock. Climb Kala Pattar (5545 m) for views of the gaints of the east, Pumori (7145 m), Everest, the Tibetan peak Changtse (7550 m), Nuptse, Lhotse and countless other needles and snow fluted ridges.
13th October: PHERICHE (4240m)
A trip to the actual Base Camp of Everest might be possible depending on conditions and whether or not an expedition is present or not. If no expedition is present at the Base Camp a route is a most impossible to find. Back track along the same route and then descend gradually until one reaches the village of Pheriche. Total including BC visit approx 8 hours.
14th October: PHORSTE (3847 m)
Continue descending. Pass through Pangboche. Stay high on the west bank of the river to the Sherpa village of Phortse, which lies on the lower southern flank of Tawache, directly across the valley from Thyangboche. Approx 4 hours.
15th October: KHUNDE KHUMJUNG
Descend through forest to the Dudh Kosi. A very pretty crossing point leads to a steady climb to a chorten offering wonderful views back across the valley to Phortse, Thyangboche and their surrounding mountains. A traverse leads to a classic descent down a giant rock pathway hewn out of the mountainside. A plod up the valley leads back to the twin villages. Time 5 hours.
16th October: KONJO/JORSALE (2850m)
The route home leads back through Namche and off down the hill. There are some nice campsites close to the National Park boundary. Five hours.
17th October: LUKLA (2804 m)
From here the walk to Lukla takes about five hours of which the last 1.30 hr ae rather surprisingly hard work. We have a nice house as a base at Lukla with a good campsite above the airstrip.
18th October: Lukla-Kathmandu
One of the most exciting take-offs in the world wings the Twin Otter high above the Dudh Kosi for the 45 minutes flight back to Kathmandu.
Depending on weather conditions, fly back to Delhi the same day.
Categories: Everest Base Camp 2008, Travel
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