Finding Nirvana In Nepal : September & October

Day 1: Depart the U.S. for Nepal 

 

Day 2: En route to Kathmandu

 

 Day 3: Arrive in Kathmandu 4,265 feet. Met upon arrival and transfer to our group hotel.  On arrival at Kathmandu Tribhuvan International Airport you will be received by our local representatives and transferred to our group hotel. Your Western trip leader or Sherpa guide will give you a brief  orientation of the Kathmandu area and other related information that you might require while in Nepal. Your trip guide will collect your airline tickets and passport for safe keeping and so we can reconfirm your return flight from Kathmandu. 

 

Day 4: After an early breakfast, you will be transferred to the domestic terminal of the airport - a short drive of 20-30 minutes - to take a 45 minute flight to Lukla, landing at 9,184 feet. A 5-6 mile hike (3 hrs) to Phakding at 8,699 feet.  Upon arrival, you will be met by your trekking guide. In Lukla you will have time to wander around, while your Sherpa Crew prepares the various loads of group gear for the porters. Depending on the time we get away from Lukla, we will take lunch either before setting off or en route to Phakding. The walk is gradual most of the way, with few uphill sections after the Tarhe Khola, where we get superb views of Kusum-Kangru (6,369 meters). After crossing a short suspension bridge, we encounter a short climb that brings us to Ghat Village. Another 1.5 hours of gradual hiking brings us to Phakding Village where we will spend the night near the bank of the Dudh-Kosi River. 

 

Day 5: To Namche Bazaar 11,283 feet. Approx. 5-6 hours of trekking. Lodge from Phakding, after crossing the suspension bridge spanning the Dudh-Kosi, the walk is pleasant with only a few short, steep uphill and downhill sections and magnificent views of Thermasarkhu (6,608 meters) can be seen from the village of Benkar. We will now start to encounter other trekkers on this section of trail as we finally arrive at the small village of Monjo.  A short while out of Monjo we come to the entrance of Sagarmatha National Park, where your trekking permit is checked. From here a short descent brings us to another suspension bridge over the Dudh Koshi River and the village of Jorsalle. This is the last village and the only place to shop until Namche Bazaar. We now follow the riverbed to a bridge over the Imja Tse River and then along a winding uphill path to Namche Bazaar. As you climb higher the peaks of Kwangde and Kusum Kanguru come into view and then, higher still, we’ll see the Mount Everest-Nuptse Wall, Lhotse and Taweche Peak. A 1 to 2 hour uphill hike brings us to the famed capital of the Khumbu - Namche Bazaar. With its colorful houses filling an impressive U-shaped amphitheater bowl, this is a site to be seen. 

 

Day 6: Acclimatization day at Namche Bazaar Lodge. Suggested activities include a hike up to  Syangboche Village for spectacular views of Mount Everest, Lhotse and Ama Dablam, a short uphill walk to the Sagarmatha National Park Headquarters, a magnificent spot perched on top of Namche Bazaar with a breathtaking view of the surrounding snow capped giants and the valleys down below. There is also an interesting museum with a wide collection of information regarding the Himalaya’s geography, culture, mountaineering history and exhibits on the area’s flora and fauna. Today is for wandering around the area and gaining well needed acclimatization. There are many shops in Namche selling souvenirs, internet cafes and a local market. 

 

Day 7: Trek to Tengboche. 12,684 feet. Approx 5 hours of trekking. Lodge. The first half of today’s trek is fairly “easy” after the 20 minute climb to the ridge above Namche Bazaar. Once at the top near the park museum the walk follows a gradual trail with a few short and steep up and downs. All this way overlooking the giant snow peaks of Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse, Ama Dablam, Thermasharkhu and Kwangde-Ri. After about two hours we arrive at Shanasa, where it has been somewhat common to see the colorful Danphe pheasant (Impeyan Pheasant) the national bird of Nepal, the elusive musk deer, and sometime even a herd of Himalayan Thar (mountain goat). The trail now descends to the Imja Tse River at Phungitenga (10,660 feet), a small settlement with a couple of teahouses situated in an alpine wood of silver fir blue pines, rhododendron, magnolia and birch trees. At Phungitenga there’s an interesting prayer wheel propelled by water from the nearby streams. Enjoy this as the next hour is a strenuous hike on a winding wooded trail. After this steep ascent, the grade eases to only gradual uphill for another hour. Just before Tengboche there’s a religious Buddhist entrance gate and then your reach Tengboche, one of the most beautiful places in the entire Himalaya. The first thing that comes to your eye is the impressive Tengboche Monastery or Gompa. Then, as the scene opens up, the exquisite peak of Ama Dablam stands sentinel above a large field of tented campsites, teahouses and lodges. Still, Everest looms above the Nuptse Wall to the north with Lhotse and Lhotse Shar towards northeast. About Tengboche Monastery: This place, the Tengboche valley, As if descended from the realm of gods. The people of the world rush to come and see it. Encircled by Snow Mountains, open pastures and great forests, Deer abound in this place, which resounds fresh and peaceful. Flowing rivers swirl gently by,  Pure water endowed with eight great qualities. Here the auspicious of natural goodness is supreme.

 

Day 8: Trek to Monjo Village. 9,220 feet. 6-7 hours of trekking. Lodge. After a leisurely morning soaking in the beauty of this picturesque village we will make the trek to Monjo stopping in Namche Bazaar for lunch. Alternatively, for those with the extra energy and wanting a longer hike, we can take a side trail to the village of Khumjung (12,430 feet) in the Green Valley before dropping down to Namche Bazaar and continuing on to Monjo. This optional hiking day will take approximately 10 hours. This alternate route offers outstanding views of Ama Dablam (Mother’s Charm). 

 

Day 9: Trek to Lukla. 5 hours of trekking.  The last walking day of our great trek has arrived. On this good path to Lukla, you can walk or “run” at your best pace enjoying the scenery. Apart from few short uphill sections, the only long climb will be just before reaching Lukla (of course) and will take approximately 45 minutes from a place called Choplung or from the big old oak tree. We will spend the night in a local lodge. 

 

Day 10: Fly from Lukla to Kathmandu.  Our flight back to Kathmandu is usually scheduled for the morning. This scenic flight from Lukla takes about 45 minutes. Arriving at the Kathmandu domestic terminal, you will be transferred back to the group hotel. 

 

Day 11: Optional morning Everest Flight, afternoon guided sightseeing tour and time for independent activities and shopping. Hotel. This morning you have the option to take a morning Everest Flight. Those interested will be transferred to the airport for the 1 hour scenic flight and transferred back to the hotel afterwards. Please note that these flights are weather dependent. Full refunds are provided if the flight is cancelled. In the afternoon we will have a half-day guided sightseeing tour of some of the city’s main attractions, including the Buddhist stupa of Boudanath, Swyambhunath (The Monkey Temple) and the ancient kingdom of Patan. You’ll also have time for independent activities, wandering the maze of streets in Thamel and souvenir shopping.  Mount Everest Scenic Flight (optional) If your trip itinerary includes a free morning in Kathmandu (and it certainly will), one of the most dramatic additions to your Nepalese travel experience is to take the early morning scenic flight to Mount Everest.  Note: if interested in this flight please let us know as soon as possible so we can arrange seats in advance. The day begins with an early alarm call to your hotel room. With the hint of dawn on the horizon, you are driven through the waking city to the domestic airport to board the special mountain flight. Even at this hour the terminal is a bustle of activity. Trekkers, climbers and Sherpas of various expeditions haul equipment onto airport scales, in readiness for flights into the mountains. With little luggage beside your cameras and spare film you are quickly through to departure. Your flight takes priority and as the distant Himalayan range catches the light of the sun you find yourself boarding the aircraft. You take a window seat (only window seats are sold on mountain flights) and while you check your equipment the pilots ready for take off. As the plane lifts into the clear morning air the city drops away below and the peaks of the Himalaya seem to rise with you. On the first leg of the trip, you are quite distant from the main chain of the Himalaya allowing for spectacular panoramas and an opportunity to view at close hand the incredible terracing and scattered villages of the foothills. You fly along the chain until reaching the vicinity of Makalu and Kangchenjunga, you head right into the mountain heart. Spectacular though the views have been up to now, the close encounter with Lhotse, Cho Oyu and Everest on the return leg will surpass everything. As you fly past the beautiful fluted ridges of Gauri Shankar you feel the plane bank to the south and begin the approach back to Kathmandu. Transfer to hotel.   

 

Day 12: Transfer to the airport for your international return flight. Based on your departure time, you will be transferred to the airport approximately 3 hours prior to your departure time.   

 

Day 13: Return home.