Mountains & Monasteries

Arrival and transfer to the hotel.  Free day. Overnight in Kathmandu.

Upon your arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, you will be met by our staff and transferred to your Hotel. In the evening you guide will be introduced to you and a briefing session will be conducted about your trek. A free evening.

Optional Kathmandu Valley sightseeing Tour.

If you opt for it, we can organise a guided "walking tour" of Kathmandu Valley UNESCO Heritage sites: old bazaars and Durbar Squares of Patan and Bhaktapur, stupas and Temples for cultural discoveries of ancient temples and religious shrines of the three medieval kingdoms.

Drive to Manthali (nearest airport from Kathmandu).  Flight to Lukla.  Trek to Phakding (2610 m)  

Early morning drive from Kathmandu to Manthali (if getting up at wee hours is troublesome, we can travel to Manthali the evening before and spend the night here). The flight takes about 16 minutes to Lukla. The trek starts downhill to Phakding, a distance of 6.2 km, and elevation at 2610 meters. Phakding, at a lower elevation, will help with acclimatization as well. The trail is easy, mostly downhill and then flat all the way along the Dudhkoshi River. You have the option of visiting a small monastery there and enjoying some glimpses of the Sherpa culture. Overnight in a local lodge at Phakding village.

Phakding to Namche (3440 m)

The distance from Phakding to Namche Bazaar is 4.4 km, and the duration is about 4 to 5 hours with 830 m elevation gain. From Larja Dobhan, the uphill steep climb reaches Namche Bazaar. The higher suspension bridge over the Dudh Koshi River is used to reach Namche Bazaar.  Between Larja and Namche, you will have your first glimpse of Mount Everest. The trek offers amazing scenery of towering mountains of the Sagarmatha National Park while winding through traditional Sherpa settlements such as Phakding, Toktok, Bankar, Manjo, Jorsalle, and Namche Bazaar. Each village reflects the warmth of Sherpa hospitality, with prayer flags, mani stones, and suspension bridges adding to the adventure. After a rewarding day’s walk, you’ll arrive at Namche Bazaar, the bustling hub of the Khumbu region. Known as the “Sherpa capital,” Namche is a lively town with colorful markets, cozy lodges, and panoramic views of Thamserku and Kongde Ri. Overnight at a hotel in Namche Bazaar.

An acclimatization day in Namche Bazaar (3440 m)

Acclimatization is absolutely important before proceeding higher. So this is the first of two specific acclimatization days that everyone should build into their trek schedule. You can spend the day by taking a day hike to a higher elevation to Thami village, or visiting Khunde or Khumjung to explore the region and the monasteries, schools, etc., or by relaxing and exploring Namche Bazaar. The logic is to acclimatize your body well to the high elevation by the "trek high and sleep low" principle. Overnight at hotel.

Namche to Tengboche (3837 m)

There is a direct route from Namche Bazaar to Tengboche that starts at Chhorkung, winds around the hill to the tea and souvenir shops of Kenjoma, and joins the trail from Khumjung just before Sanasa. Leaving Namche, the trail contours high above the Dudh Koshi River, offering panoramic views of Everest, Lhotse, and Ama Dablam. The path passes through pine and rhododendron forests, dotted with prayer flags and small chortens, before gradually descending to Phunki Tenga.

From here, a steady climb leads to the wide meadow of Tengboche (3,867 m), home to the renowned Tengboche Monastery, the spiritual heart of the Khumbu. The monastery is surrounded by breathtaking Himalayan vistas, making this one of the most memorable stops on the journey. Tengboche Monastery is the heart of religious activity of the Sherpa people of the Khumbu region. Overnight at local lodges.

Tengboche to Dingboche (4350 m)

Beyond Tengboche, the landscape enters the steppes where the altitude starts to increase beyond the 4,000m mark. The trail descends through rhododendron and pine forests to Debuche, before crossing the Imja Khola on a suspension bridge. From here, the path climbs steadily past Pangboche, the highest permanent Sherpa settlement, with stunning views of Ama Dablam dominating the skyline and the most ancient monastery in the region. 

The landscape gradually opens into alpine meadows and stone-walled fields protecting the crops of barley and potatoes from the cold winds. It is occupied mainly during the monsoon months, when large numbers of yaks are brought here to graze in the valley pastures as you approach Dingboche (4,410 m), a picturesque village nestled in a broad valley beneath towering peaks. The views are fantastic in this valley: the towering south face of Lhotse to the north, Island Peak in the centre, and the fluted ice walls of unnamed peaks that line the southern end of the valley.  Overnight at a local lodge.

Dingboche to Namche (3440 m)

We retrace our way back to Tengboche, and the trek from Tengboche to Namche is relatively straightforward and takes around 5-6 hours. There is a monastery at Thamo and Sherpa villages in between.  Overnight at a lodge.

Namche to Lukla (2860 m)

Today is our last day trek.  We sweep down the steep descent of Namche Hill back to the suspension bridge over the Dudh Koshi and into the small village of Monjo. From Monjo, the trail now flattens out, and we cross the river twice more before a rising traverse up the hillside, past numerous teahouses to Lukla. Our last day of steady trekking will be a real joy as, at lower altitudes and with nothing left to prove, we can soak up the atmosphere in each of the villages as we ramble through. Overnight in a lodge.

Flight to Manthali and drive to Kathmandu. Hotel in Kathmandu. 

We board our early flight from Lukla to Manthali. Lukla-Manthali is about a 17-minute flight.  From Manthali we will drive about 5 hour to Kathmandu.  Overnight in Kathmandu. 

A buffer day

This day is set aside just in case the weather in Lukla affects the flight operations in and out of Lukla. This day can be used to explore the back streets, or you can have a walk around the local market to hunt for some last-minute souvenir pick-ups. Overnight hotel.

Departure transfer to the international airport.