Before we go further, let’s clarify the word ‘luxury’ in this context. Trekking to Everest Base Camp is never going to be an easy trip but neither does it have to be Spartan-like conditions! On our Luxury Everest Base Camp Trek, you will have the same experiences as everyone else on the trail (including the aching muscles) but we will ensure that at the end of the day you have somewhere warm and very comfortable to spend the night. This will refresh you for the next day’s trek.
Highlights
- Fly into the famous and exceedingly high altitude Hillary Tenzing Airport at Lukla
- Be awed at the closeup views of Mt Everest from both Kalapatthar, the Everest Viewpoint, and Base Camp.
- Watch the sunset over Everest
- Be spiritually moved at Tengboche Monastery, the highest in the region.
- Feel the chill, emotionally and physically gazing over the Khumbu Glacier and Icefalls.
- Be astounded that people from Sir Edmund Hillary’s era could survive in the virgin surroundings.
- Learn about Sherpa peoples and their lifestyles.
- Spot unique and exquisite flora and fauna in Sagarmatha National Park.
- Relax in the comfortable Yeti Mountain Home lodges.
Introduction
This Luxury Everest Base Camp Trek is the same as all Everest Base Camp Treks. Except we will provide you with the best possible accommodation along the trail.
At three points, namely Phakding, Lukla and Namche Bazaar this means you will be staying in the Yeti Mountain Home luxury lodges. Designed for luxury and based on the traditional designs of the Khumbu (Everest) Region, these are the five-star hotels on the Everest trails!
You will get your first glimpse of the beauty of this region from the short flight into Lukla. Flying directly to through the mountains, this airport sits at 2,860m.
On arrival in the early morning trekkers set off to descend to the first stop. Phakding lies around 4 hours walk from Lukla. Set on the riverside, you can relax in the gardens of Phakding Yeti Mountain Home for the rest of the afternoon.
From now on the days consist of around 5 hours of trekking. Some days are longer at 7 to 8 hours. But we build in acclimatization time and never force clients to go faster than their ability. The trails pass through forests of alpine trees and through picturesque Sherpa villages.
Not to mention the raging rivers you will cross until you reach the well-known market town of Namche Bazaar. Here again we overnight in a Yeti Mountain Home. With a spa and wellness centre and well-stocked bar, we suggest you might want to enjoy these facilities fully on the return journey!
While in Namche we take the opportunity to acclimatize to the altitude with a rest day. However, the best way to acclimatize is to remain active so you might want to hike to Khumjung Village to visit the school set up by Sir Edmund Hillary.
As well as following in the footsteps of famous mountaineers, the highlights of this trek include the mountains. Of course! Our first great panoramic view comes at Tengboche Monastery where we can see breathtaking views of Mt Everest, Ama Dablam, Thamserku, Nuptse and Lhotse. For those who enjoy the spiritual, it is possible to meet some of the monks living here.
Aside from the mountains, this area has an abundance of flora and fauna. It falls within the Sagarmatha National Park and the Sacred Himalayan Landscape initiative of the World Wildlife Fund.
As you would expect, the trails passe the glaciers and icefalls and takes you up to Kalapatthar, otherwise known as the Everest Viewpoint. Here is the closest you will get to Everest without a climbing permit and expedition team! The views are beyond words, Everest, Mount Pumori and Amba Dablam seem to be within arm’s reach.
During this part of the trek we use the best available lodges but once we return to Namche Bazaar we will again stay at the Yeti Mountain Home and perhaps have just one or two drinks at the bar. Or a lovely spa treatment. For our final night in the Khumbu Region, we stay at the Yeti Mountain Home at Lukla. And yes, go on and treat yourself to another spa. For when else are you going to have a massage high up in the Himalayas!
Itinerary
Day 01 Arrival in Kathmandu
You will be met at Tribhuvan International Airport by our staff who will take you to your hotel.
Your hotel is in the heart of the area known as Thamel, which caters mainly to tourists with its bars, shops and restaurants. Depending on your arrival time you will have time to take a look at some of the souvenir items on sale or purchase some snacks for your trek.
This evening you will be able to ask questions and meet your guide.
Meals not included.
Overnight in Aloft by Marriott/ Hotel Mulberry or similar
Day 02 Kathmandu to Lukla: Flight and Trek to Phakding (2,651m) 4 hours drive, 20 or 40 minutes flight, 3-4 hours trek
There has been a change of regulations making it very possible that flights to Lukla will operate from Manthali Airport in Ramechhap District.
This means a four-hour drive from Kathmandu to Manthali during the night in order to reach the early morning flight to Lukla. The flight itself will make up for the road journey as it is a spectacular and exciting 20 minutes flight through the mountains. On arrival in Lukla, we start out trek with a 3 to 4-hour hike to the village of Phakding.
All meals included
Overnight in Phakding at Yeti Mountain Home
Note: should you wish to avoid the 4-hour road journey, please talk to us about taking a helicopter directly from Kathmandu to Lukla. This will incur an additional expense.
Day 03 Phakding to Namche Bazaar (3,440m) 5 – 6 hrs trek
After a great breakfast, we head off through the forests and yak pastures to reach the entrance of Sagarmatha National Park. We reach Namche Bazaar today, the largest Sherpa market town in the area. Again we stay in a luxurious Yeti Mountain Home lodge which will be our home for two nights.
All meals included
Overnight at Namche Bazaar, in YMH
Day 04 Acclimatization Day in Namche Bazaar
Now that we are on the borderline of what is considered ‘high altitude’, we will stop and acclimatize in Namche. Since the best way to acclimatize is to be active we will hike to Khumjung Village to visit the school Sir Edmund Hillary set up.
Meantime, all around us are stunning mountains: Kwangde (6,011m), Thamserku (6,623m), Kangtega (6,782m), Nuptse (7,861m), Lhotse (8,516m), Ama Dablam (6,812m) and the biggest of them all, Mount Everest (8,848m).
All meals included
Overnight in Namche Bazaar, in YMH
Day 05 Namche to Tengboche (3,856m) 5-6 hrs trek
The trails today take us past Buddhists shrines known as stupas, and walls with Buddhist prayers carved into them, known as Mani walls.
With colourful prayer flags fluttering overhead and the snowcapped mountains behind, we reach Tengboche Monastery amidst a feast of photographic delights!
All meals included
Overnight at Tengboche or Deboche (15 mins hike away)
Day 06 Tengboche to Dingboche (4,380m) 4 – 5 hrs
Today’s hike is challenging. Firstly we follow the Imja River before climbing up to desolate fields where potatoes are grown. Dingboche is the highest Sherpa village in the region with stunning views of Ama Dablam. Since we arrived quite early, after lunch the afternoon is free for mountain gazing!
All meals included
Overnight at Dingboche
Day 07 Acclimatization Day in Dingboche
Today we enjoy another day of acclimatization – vital for our continued good health. There are a few hikes which are possible today. One is a 4 or 5 hour round trip to the base of Nangkar Tshang Peak. Here you will find sacred sites to explore. And naturally mountain views – Mt Makalu makes a grand appearance.
All meals included
Overnight at Dingboche
Day 08 Dingboche to Lobuche (4,938m) 4 – 5 hrs
After a relatively gentle climb up to the Pheriche Valley, the trail takes us through yak pastures and alpine scrub. Continuing on to Thokla Pass it becomes more difficult yet the view more than makeup for it! Nuptse, Lhotse Shar Lhotse plus more equally as grand 7,000m peaks can be seen. We need to cross the pass in order to reach Lobuche where we stop for the night. Unfortunately, it’s not the prettiest village on the route but the surrounding scenery makes up for this.
All meals include
Overnight in Lobuche
Day 09 Lobuche to Gorakshep (5,160m) 2-3 hrs plus 4 hrs
This is the day we ascend to the wonderful Everest viewpoint that is Kalapatthar. First of all, we have to trek through rough terrain to Gorakshep, a small settlement where we can have lunch.
Then we hike up Kalapatthar. At 5,545m this is the highest place you can trek to in the country without a climbing permit! Kalapatthar means black rock and it is actually a ridge, not a mountain. We will return to Gorakshep to overnight.
Sunset over Everest is an amazing sight, as you might imagine. If the weather is not clear on the day we plan to ascend, then we may wait until the following day for sunrise.
Equally as stunning! If it is that we have to wait for the following sunrise, we will use this day to go to Everest Base Camp. Please note this is not the same area as expeditions are setting up camp before their attempt to summit, but we can see the camps ahead of us. We do not wish to disturb the climbers or pass on any potential colds or flu when they are making their climb of a lifetime!
All meals included
Overnight at Gorakshep
Day 10 Gorakshep to Pheriche (4,371m) 4 hrs plus 4hrs
Today we will hike up Kalapatthar if we did not get there the day before. On the other hand, if we did not visit Everest Base Camp the day before (because we climbed Kalapatthar) we will head there today. Either trip takes 3 to 4 hours return from Gorakshep.
We return to Gorakshep for breakfast and to collect our bags before heading to Pheriche. Which is approximately 4 hours away.
All meals included
Overnight in Pheriche
Day 11 Pheriche to Namche Bazaar (3,440m) 6 – 7 hrs
Today we descend quite a lot. But naturally, this is the Himalayas so there are some uphills too. The closer we get to Namche Bazaar the more green the landscape gets.
It’s a long day of walking, and we are tired from the long day on Day 10. But keep going – a great dinner, a fabulous hot shower and comfortable bed await you at the wonderful Yeti Mountain Home. Doesn’t it feel more luxurious at the end of the trip than when you started?
Beer and wifi await you, and you might want to have that massage also if there is time. If not, don’t worry, there is another chance for a massage tomorrow evening!
All meals included
Overnight in Namche Bazaar in YMH
Day 12 Namche to Lukla (2,860m) 7 hrs
This is our final trekking day. It’s a long ascent into Lukla where we overnight to await our early morning flight. Take one last look at the fabulous mountains and breathe in that precious Himalayan air. On the positive side, another night at a luxurious Yeti Mountain Home.
All meals included
Overnight in Lukla in YMH
Day 13 Lukla to Kathmandu (1,400m) 20 or 40 minutes flight, 4 hours drive
This morning we fly back to either Kathmandu or Manthali Airport (depending on prevailing regulations at that time). In either case, we will be back in Kathmandu in time for you to do some shopping and enjoy a farewell dinner with all the group and team tonight.
Meals: Breakfast and farewell dinner
Overnight in Kathmandu in Aloft by Marriott/ Mulberry Hotel or similar
Day 14 Departure from Kathmandu
Your final breakfast in Nepal before our representative takes you to Tribhuvan International Airport for your onward flight.
If you are staying longer in Nepal, please note hotel check out is at 11 am.
Meals: breakfast only
