Stupas and temples dot Kathmandu’s sprawling low-rise cityscape, ancient as they are spiritual. The scent of burning dupa wafts through the bustling streets of hawkers selling everything from kashmir to silver. There is an excitement in the air, one of adventure and the exotic. Kathmandu has intoxicated intrepid travelers for decades, offering instant journeys into the mind and providing rooms and nourishment for those seeking adventure further afield.

Our home in Kathmandu is the palatial (literally) Shanker Hotel. This beautiful hotel was once the royal residence of the rulers of Nepal between 1894 and 1964. Large rooms adorned with wood paneling and marble bathrooms, the Shanker is the perfect place to start and end our Everest journey. (D)

See some of Kathmandu’s most culturally significant sites up close with our friendly and knowledgeable tour hosts. We’ll lead you up the stairs to the white dome of Boudhanath Monastery and down to the banks of the Bagmati River where Hindu temples of Pashupatinath attract religious followers. Over dinner, we’ll review our itinerary for the days ahead and answer any questions about what to expect. Tonight you can explore Lazimpat, one of Kathmandu’s most upscale neighborhoods, as plenty of lounges and restaurants are within walking distance of your hotel. Be sure to get enough rest, however; our great adventure begins tomorrow! (B)

Namche Bazaar seems like the real gateway to Everest, spread out on terraces, surrounded by snow capped peaks, one feels in realm of giants.

To reach Namche we will need to gain several hundred meters in elevation. Long suspension bridges make our trekking easier, shortcutting long descents into a valley before heading back up. But there is one long ascent on a shallow gradient that will take us all the way to Namche. And seeing this beautiful town, perched on the side of a mountain, only brings a smile to every visitor. Awaiting you is a comfy bed, a lovely shower and delicious food. Oh, and incredible panoramic views.(B, L, D)

We will explore the area around Namche. Depending on how you are feeling we will head up for our first great view of Everest. For those needing a bit more time, we will also look at Everest from the Tenzing Norgay Museum and then wander around the edge of Namche before heading back into the village for a coffee and some lunch (or maybe a massage). (B,L,D)

Today we will hike to the “Valley inside the Clouds”, Khumjung, before arriving at the Everest View Hotel. 

The trail continues up and around a large knoll just above Namche Bazaar. Views of Ama Dablam and Everest now become ever-present. We will visit Sagarmatha Next, a fantastic organisation helping to keep the region clean by collecting rubbish and recycling it. By the way they also serve great coffee and have a fascinating 3D interactive display where you can climb Everest in 3 minutes. We continue on to the Everest View Hotel, our home for the next 3 nights. Each room opens up to views of the highest mountains on the planet, Nuptse, Lhotse and Everest. (B, L, D)

Today we will head down to Khumjung the “Village in the Clouds”. There we will visit Sir Edmund Hillary’s School and the local Gompa which is home to a “Yeti” scalp. For those wishing for an easier day, you will taken for a short walk through the forest, maybe a cake in Khumjung and then onto traditional Sherpa potato pancakes or thukpa making in a local home; delicious. From there we will head back to the Hotel.

For those feeling more energetic, we will trek to Mong La with incredible views of Ama Dablam and then on to Phortse, a remote village at the intersection of the Everest Base Camp trek and the trail leading to Gokyo. Lunch will be taken there before heading back to the Everest View Hotel. (B, L, D).

For the early birds, sunrise over the Himalaya is a wonder to the eyes. The highest peaks ignite first, like burning torches in the dark, the light slowly engulfs the deep valleys and ravines exposing a winter wonderland.

After breakfast we will retrace our footsteps somewhat, heading back toward Khumjung and diverting off to Khunde. Here we will have lunch and then take on Khunde Peak, a 4200-meter “hill” that provides us with incredible views of glaciated valleys and frozen summits surrounding us. For those who want to take it a little easier we will stop at Hillary’s Lookout with incredible views of Everest and down toward Namche Bazaar.

Back to the Everest View Hotel for an afternoon nibble and aperitif. (B, L, D)

The day we have all been waiting for. This morning we will be picked up by helicopter at the hotel and flown over Everest Base Camp. We will land nearby at Kala Patthar at 5600 meters with better views of Everest than at Base Camp. To stay too long may cause some guests problems as the altitude is 5600 meters, a full 1800 meters higher than we have been sleeping.

We will see the full extent of the Khumbu glacier which spills from the Everest massif, and see the very summit of Everest itself. The magnitude of the vista is difficult to describe. Gigantic and all surrounding, white mountains, glaciers, skyrocketing stone cliffs dominate every perspective. You are among the giants now.

From base camp, we will fly back to Kathmandu, a journey of about 1.5 hours. There will be incredible views of the valley along which we trekked and then down into the farmland and ultimately the Kathmandu valley itself.

Our night will be spent again at the Shanker hotel. (B, L, D)

Today we bid Nepal farewell for our flight back home OR maybe stay on for a few more days and head off for a wonderful Safari. (B)