The trek will last 17 days (KTM to KTM) plus 4 nights in Kathmandu.
DETAILED PROGRAM: After spending two days in Kathmandu organizing the luggage and buying the last bits and pieces, it is time for real adventure.
DAY 1: We leave Kathmandu and fly to Lukla 2400m. The same day we'll reach the village of Phakding 2600m (2h30min) where we stay for the night. All the way through the loop we'll find nice lodges where we can sleep and get warm food served. Lodges are something in between hotels and huts. Food are generally good although some lodges are placed at very high altitude in remote places.In the lodge there is always a big dining room with fire place in the middle and table placed all around it. The lenght and the difficulty of the days changes randomly, but the loop is made as such that one can have one hard day and one easy day in a row.
DAY 2: The second day we walk to Namche Bazar 3400m (about 5-6 h). The path is always very good, until a certain point even Yaks can manage to climb up the valley, and cross over 5300m cols. Namche is the biggest village in the Kumbu area. It sits in a kind of anphitheatre with already stunning view on the mountains.
DAY 3: The following day is normally a rest day in order to well acclimatize. Nonetheless, it is a good plan to have a short walk up to the Everest view lodge (1h30min). It is placed at the top of the hill, and as the name says one can admire the Everest summit, the Ama Dablam, the Tawoche, the Tamserku and the impressive south face of Lothse.
DAY 4: The following day is another relatively easy day up to Thame 3820m (3h30 min/4h). The path is still confortable and enjoyable, although one starts feeling the altitude. Thame village lies on a huge flat field, a balcony facing some of the most beautiful mountains in the area: the Kantega, the Tamserku, the Kusum Kanguru and many other peaks reaching 6500m. Here the lodge (Everest Summiter lodge) is property of Apa Sherpa, the one who has climbed 18 times mount Everest!! 20 minutes above the village there is a monastery which is nice to visit. Therefore leave your bags at the lodge ad go for it
DAY 5: the valley widens up sensibly, less and less villages are met on the way. Today goal is Langden village 4400m, about 6h gentle walk. It is made of 3 houses, one of which is the lodge...quite a primitive one in the dining room building, but proper rooms with bathroom are built next door. From here one can admire the summit of Cho Oyu 8201m and the mountains sourrounding the Nang pa Lah, col over which tibetans cross over to Nepal to go and sell various items at the Namche Bazar market.
DAY 6: The following day is one of the toughest of the trek. One has to cross the Renjo Pass at 5340m to go down to Gokyo village. It will take about 4.5/6h to reach the col and another 1.5/2h to walk down. The climb is long but after a rough beginning it becomes gradual. From Everet to Lothse to Nupse to Makalu to Pumori...all the most impressive mountains of the world are just there few meters away! wow, that moment will stay in our mind for a while. The walk down to Gokyo is not the nicest one but the disappointment for walking on screed and steep morains is taken away from the view. The village (4790m) lies just on the edge of a big blu lake and has great panorama on the Cho Oyu, especially at sunset time!
DAY 7: Easy day. Gentle walk to the village of Dragnag 4700m (2.h30min) crossing the Nagozumpa Glacier. DAY 8: the goal of the day is Dzonglha village 4830m. This is the longest day in the trek. The path is relatively gentle for the first 2h30min up to a first col. Than one loses some altitude to a lake, and than the path starts climbing up very steep to the Cho La Col 5420m (4h30min from starting point). Now, the way down follows first an easy glacier (most likely no rope and crampons are needed), than a morain and a flat field to the village. In the foreground one can admire the majestic west face of the Ama Dablam showing off inthe middle of the Himalayan chain. This last peak, very famous for its unmistakable shape, shines at sunset time givinig the chance of incredible pictures.
DAY 9: is base-camp time!!! (4900m) It is just about 2h walk but one will need the time for setting up and get confortable at BC. The path goes parallel to the one leading to Everest Base Camp, therefore the view in spectacular over Mount Everest, Lothse, Nupse, Pumori. The tents are set close to a lake where one can wash cloaths (remember bio soap only, not chemicals!!!!!).
DAY 10: from here there are two options: either go straight up to the top (but it is very long: 1100m vertical climb) or what we suggest is to make a high camp at 5400m. It will take only 2h30min to get to high camp, therefore one can still have a rest in the morning and oganize the equipment needed for the climb, and than, after lunch, make the walk.
DAY 11: Summit day 6013m! The advantage of sleeping high up at 5400m is that one can get up later inthe morning when the Sun shines and the temperature is little warmer. From here only 600 vrtical meters are between you and the summit. It will take about 3h30min/4h climb. The way up is not very technical but challenging enough. One feel the altitude and breath hard. But the fixed ropes will make life little easier taking away the psychological component of a possible fall. The slopes are steep on the second half but one is never on a sharp ridge. From the top the view is probably the best in the area, more impressive than other trekking peaks: one can admire all the Solokumbu mountain range, many 8000m peaks can be seen such as Everest, Lothse, Makalu, Kanchenjunga, Cho Oyu, and hundreds of other beautiful mountains, maybe not famous but worth the same. It is a fairly relaxing environment, the fatigue is taken away by the marvellous view.Going down is fairly easy as one abseils along the ropes. The same day one will walk back down to base camp.
DAY 12: back to civilization! Way to Dingboche (4360 m). The paths become more crowded but the marvellous view on Ama Dablam, Cholatse and Tamserku repays the loss of sauvage. The village of Dingboche is situated just under the west face of the Ama Dablam, and looking at the changing of colors on the mountains given by the sunset, seen from the terrace of the lodge is an experience out of time.
DAY 13: The path keeps going down, but the distances are still long: not less than four hours walking. The view on Ama Dablam changes continously, the south face with its ridge that signs the way to the top comes into view. The Lhotse becomes slowly smaller. The shape of Tamserku instead, with its huge north face, cuts the view of the way down to Tengboche village (3870 m), today’s destination. Tengboche is risen around a very important Gompa (Buddhist Monastery), and life in this village is signed by the activities of the monks.
DAY 14: After a ripid descent, the way back seems to be endless, up and down for four hours, but finally the circle closes: Namche Bazar is reached again. The first step back to civilization, few more conforts can be found such as street market and internet connection.
DAY 15-16: the way joins the path were had been left days before. From Namche Bazar to Lukla one follows the same path as on the way over. The valley narrows up, many tourists look at you warried from you exhausted and sad expression like saying: "i made it, it was good, it was a hell of a job...but i don't want to go back to work"! The day after you'll be back in Kathmandu.
Dates: departures 25 april, 2 may, 17 october, 13 november, 21 november 2009. Dates can be flexible depending on group availability.
