DAY 1: ARRIVE IN KATHMANDU
Upon your arrival in Kathmandu, our local team warmly welcomes you at the airport. You will then be escorted to the hotel, where you can enjoy some well-deserved relaxation. The itinerary includes a briefing about the trek's progress and presentation, followed by leisure time. If you arrive in the morning, you'll have the entire day at your disposal. This can be used for rest or for those interested, to explore the surroundings freely. It's an ideal chance to deeply experience Nepalese culture and indulge in the local culinary delights.
Transport: By private vehicle
Accommodation: nights at the hotel
DAY 2: PREPARE FOR TREKKING AND EXPLORE KATHMANDU VALLEY (1350M)
Have breakfast and then you have the whole day to explore the best Kathmandu Sightseeing spots with your guide. You can visit and explore one of the most famous Shiva temples, Pashupatinath, recognized as the monkey temple; Swyambhunath, the largest Stupa in the world, also called Boudhanath Stupa; and finally the Royal Palace, Kathmandu Durbar Square. The next day, you will begin your trek on the Annapurna Circuit, so you have to check your equipment to make sure that you are ready for your adventure and climb. Have dinner and stay overnight in the same hotel in Kathmandu
Day tour
Final altitude: approximately 13,50 m
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: night in the hotel
DAY 3: KATHMANDU - FLIGHT TO LUKLA (2850 M) - PHAKDING (2660 M) OR MONJO (2835 M)
Either a morning transfer to Kathmandu airport or a very early departure (around 2 a.m.) for Ramechhap airport and breakfast organized on your arrival before your flight to Lukla. This visual flight, which can only be carried out in good weather conditions, offers a magnificent panorama of the Himalayas. On arrival in Lukla, the organization of loads with porters and sherpas starts the trek.
NB:
— Depending on the congestion at Kathmandu airport, the Nepalese Civil Aviation Authority (CAAN) may decide to operate all flights to Lukla, either from Kathmandu airport or Ramechhap airport.
— If the flight is canceled for weather reasons, it will be postponed until the next day. You will spend an additional day at the hotel in Kathmandu or Ramechhap.
Positive altitude difference: 200 to 350 m.
Negative height difference: 400 m.
4 to 5 hours of walking.
Accommodation: lodge.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Transfer: 4 to 5 hours drive and 15 minutes flight (from Ramechhap) or 30 minutes drive and 45 minutes flight (from Kathmandu).
DAY 4: PHAKDING OR MONJO - NAMCHE BAZAR (3440 M)
Right bank, left bank of the Dudh Kosi (the “river of milk”), the path cut into the rock and lined with crops rises abruptly to Namche Bazar. The capital of the Sherpa country is the heart of the Khumbu region and is home to many small shops, and Tibetan souvenirs.
Positive altitude difference: 850 m.
Negative elevation: 150 to 300 m.
5 to 6 hours of walking.
Accommodation: lodge.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 5: NAMCHE BAZAR - EVEREST VIEW POINT (3860 M) - NAMCHE BAZAR
Day of acclimatization and discovery of the villages overlooking the capital of the Sherpa country. Climb through a small forest towards Syangboche. On the heights, the first discovery of Ama Dablam, Everest, Lhotse, and all of upper Khumbu. Passage to Khumjung and Khunde. Possibility to visit Khumjung Hillary High School and Khunde Hospital: both establishments were built on the initiative of Sir Edmund Hillary. NB: possibility of a quieter day if you wish.
Positive altitude difference: 700 m.
Negative altitude difference: 700 m.
5 to 6 hours of walking.
Accommodation: lodge.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 6: NAMCHE BAZAR - THAME (3820 M)
Leaving Namche Bazar, the path passes through pine and rhododendron forests and passes many small villages, such as Thame, dominated by a nunnery, which we can visit. You will discover significant wildlife: musk deer, pheasants, Himalayan tahrs... After crossing the steep and bubbling Bhote Koshi torrent, the path climbs steadily to the village of Thame.
Positive altitude difference: 650 m.
Negative height difference: 250 m.
5 hours of walking.
Accommodation: lodge.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 7: THAME - SUMDUR PEAK LOOKOUT (4960 M) - THAME
Day to perfect our acclimatization. We leave for the ascent of Sumdur Peak (4960 m), a viewpoint with an extraordinary panorama of Cho Oyu (8201 m) and numerous “7000”. In the distance, the secret valley of Nangpa La and the border of Tibet. Everest is also reaching its summit!
Positive altitude difference: 1100 m.
Negative altitude difference: 1100 m.
6 to 7 hours of walking.
Accommodation: lodge.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 8: THAME - MARULUNG - LANGDEN (4350 M )
Regular elevation on the left bank of Bhote Khosi, in mountain pastures punctuated by small villages occupied in spring and summer. Taranga is, according to legend, the village of the yeti! In the absence of a snowman, we find delicious potatoes there. Lunch in Marulung. Above Marulung, vegetation and homes become rarer. Passing through Arye, the last inhabited hamlet in the valley, we head towards Nangpa La (5716 m), too far to be reached during the day. The pass is open to caravans of yaks led by Tibetan merchants coming to trade in Khumbu. Sumptuous panorama of Cho Oyu and numerous peaks between 6,000 and 7,000 meters. Stopover at the village of Langden.
Positive altitude difference: 630 m.
5 hours of walking.
Accommodation: lodge.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 9: LANGDEN - RENJO PASS (5365 M) - GOKYO (4750 M)
Well acclimatized, we can calmly approach this long and beautiful day. From the pass, the view of the series of highest peaks in the world stretching towards the east (Everest, Makalu, Pumori, etc.) and Lake Gokyo below is fantastic. The south wall of Cho Oyu is very close. Descent to the Gokyo glacier, which must be crossed before reaching the banks of the lake of the same name.
Positive altitude difference: 1100 m.
Negative altitude difference: 600 m.
7 to 8 hours of walking.
Accommodation: lodge.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 10 : GOKYO - ASCENT (OPTIONAL) OF GOKYO PEAK (5360 M) - DRAGNAG (4700 M)
Short stage. We take the path that will take us to the foot of Cho La and we cross the terminal tongue of the Ngozumpa glacier, in a spectacular maze of rocks and ice. Night in the hamlet of Tarnak (Dragnag), located at the foot of Cho La, which we will cross tomorrow morning. For those who wish, get up early and climb Gokyo Peak (5360 m): view (comparable to that of Renjo Pass) of the highest peaks, Everest, Makalu and Cho Oyu, of the nearby Cholatse and glaciers.
Positive altitude difference: 800 m or 200m.
Negative height difference: 900 m or 300 m.
2h15 (without the ascent of Gokyo Peak) of walking - 5h30 (with the ascent of Gokyo Peak) of walking.
Accommodation: lodge.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY11: DRAGNAG - CHO LA (5420 M) - DZONGLA (4840 M)
The climb is gradual until a steep final slope which leads to the pass (5 hours of climbing). A new valley opens before us, rewarding our effort; first views of Ama Dablam. Easy descent (short passage on a glacier without danger) towards the hamlet of Dzongla.
NB: the passage of Cho La can only be undertaken in good weather and without fresh snowfall. The guide is the sole judge of the conditions.
Positive altitude difference: 800 m.
Negative altitude difference: 550 m.
6 to 7 hours of walking.
Accommodation: lodge.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 12: DZONGLA - LOBUCHE (4930 M)
Walk on the mountainside. Magnificent view of the north face of Jobo Lhaptshan, the Nuptse, Pumori, Everest, Lhotse, and Ama Dablam.
Positive altitude difference: 220 m.
Negative height difference: 120 m. 3h30 walk.
Accommodation: lodge.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 13: LOBUCHE - EVEREST BASE CAMP (5364) - GORAKSHEP (5160 M)
Bumpy journey through the moraines to the real Everest base camp. Uncomfortable, but the contenders for the summit live there for two months! You are at the foot of the formidable Ice Fall. The seracs are falling... Great atmosphere and a fantastic landscape! Return by the same path to Gorakshep.
Positive altitude difference: 400 m.
Negative height difference: 200 m.
7 hours of walking.
Accommodation: lodge.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.
Day 14 GORAKSHEP - KALA PATTAR (5630 M) - LOBUCHE (4930 M)
Get up early in the morning to enjoy the sunrise and climb the southern slopes of Kala Pattar, at the foot of the Pumori pyramid. Unforgettable view of the South Col, a key passage in the ascent of Everest, and of almost the entire ascent route. Return to Gorakshep and descent to Lobuche.
Positive altitude difference: 570 m.
Negative altitude difference: 790 m.
6h30 walk.
Accommodation: lodge.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.
DAY 15: LOBUCHE - KONGMA LA (5535 M) - CHUKHUNG (4700 M)
To reach the slopes of Kongma La, cross the Khumbu glacier. Steady climb to the pass, at the foot of Nuptse, bird's-eye view of the ice river and the Everest valley. Long descent towards Chukhung, in an exceptional cirque, at the foot of the legendary south face of Lhotse.
Positive altitude difference: 670 m.
Negative altitude difference: 850 m.
8 hours of walking.
Accommodation: lodge.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.
DAY 16: CHUKHUNG (4700 M) - DINGPOCHE - TENGBOCHE (3860 M)
Beautiful descent into the Khumbu valley, winding under the faces of Ama Dablam. You find permanent housing and agricultural activity in the village of Dingpoche, then, gradually, the forests. Stop at Pangboche, with Ama Dablam in sight, then at Tengpoche, where we settle in for the night.
Positive elevation: 100 m.
Negative altitude difference: 1000 m.
5 to 6 hours of walking.
Accommodation: lodge.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.
DAY 17: PANGBOCHE - NAMCHE BAZAR (3440 M) - MONJO (2835 M)
Descent to Monjo, which shortens the next day's stage towards Lukla.
Positive altitude difference: 350 m.
Negative altitude difference: 1300 m.
6 hours of walking.
Accommodation: lodge.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.
DAY 18: MONJO - PHAKDING - LUKLA (2850 M)
We already know the path having taken it on the way up.
Positive altitude difference: 350 m.
Negative altitude difference: 350 m.
5h30 walk.
Accommodation: lodge.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.
DAY 19: LUKLA - KATHMANDU
As for the outbound flight, flight from Lukla airport, either directly to Kathmandu or to Ramechhap airport with a transfer to Kathmandu. If direct flight to Kathmandu, free day in Kathmandu. If flight to Ramechhap, transfer and arrive in Kathmandu early in the afternoon. In Kathmandu, explore the dynamic Thamel district and its colorful bazaars, an ideal place to make your last purchases. In the Kathmandu valley, the traditional village of Bhaktapur will amaze you with its 17th-century architecture.
NB: as the flight is subject to weather conditions, a delay in the rotation day is possible. If the flight is postponed until the next day, you will spend an extra night at the lodge in Lukla.
Accommodation: hotel.
Meals included: Breakfast
Transfer: 4 to 5 hours drive and 15 minutes flight (if via Ramechhap) or 30 minutes drive and 45 minutes flight (if direct Kathmandu)
DAY 20: FINAL DEPARTURE TO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
Free time depending on the departure time of your flight and our representative will drop you at the airport, ending your journey in Nepal. We hope to be of service to you again. Thank you and safe travels.
Accommodation: Hotel
Elevation: 1440 m
Meal: Breakfast
Activity: Departure at international airport