20 DAYS EVEREST TRADITIONAL TRAILS

TREK # 21
20 DAYS EVEREST TRADITIONAL TRAILS
EVEREST BASE CAMP TREK

Day 01: JIRI.
The road from Kathmandu now extends as far as Jiri almost into Sherpa Country. The 6 to 8 hours drive is in itself interesting passing through divers countryside, crossing the Sunkoshi river (river of gold) and climbing high over forested ridges before reaching Jiri. The first day, the camp is gradually located fairly near Jiri which has become somthing of a boom-town since the road was built.

Day 02: BHANDAR (2195m).
The trail leeds up the east ridge of the river, through Tamang villages, to Kharubas Pass (2713m) climbing through rhododondron forest. Past old water mills and Mani Walls to Budlers Pass, marked by Mani Walls. Descend to Chyangma has some Tamang and Newari people but is predominantly Sherpa. Mani Walls welcome the travelers to the village. An interesting shop display Chang (local Beer) bottles, tea Churns, essential items of Sherpa homes. Continue past Mani village to a grassy field campsite.

Day 03: SETE (2575m).
Steep descend through forest then more gradually past terrace fields to Phedi, a small Chhetri settlement. Cross suspension bridge and walk along rive too Kenja at the juntcion of two rivers, a bustling Bazar with a primary School, tea-house and fabric shops. The village population is a combination of Sherpa, Newar and Chhetri, climb steeply through rhodondron forest. View to the south of receding hills and lush valleys. Mani Walls mark the entrance to the monastery village of Sete, the first Tibetan Buddhist
monastery on the Everest trail. A visit to the hilltop monastery is worthwhile.

Day 04: JUNBESI (2675m).
Climb up to Lamjura Pass (3530m) through pine forest, the trekket is met by a mass of colour (in season) as the pass is ascended through a rhododondron forest. Some unnamed rocky summits as the head of the Rolwaling Valley are visible from the Pass. Lamjura marks a transition point between the receding hills to the southwest and the Solukhumbu Valley ahead. Descend through rhododondron and pine trees to Thakdor, a sherpa village with a huge carved Mani rock. Continue down through fields of premulas down to Junbesi, a large Sherpa village with a Chorten, large monastery, and a School build by Sir Edmond Hillary. Nice views of Number (6957m),.
Camp near this very interesting village. 7Hrs.

Day 05: TAKSHINDU (3200m).
The trail climbs out of the Junbesi valley and side hills, running north and traversing high above the nest river valley to the east. A glimps for Everest summit pyramid is possible on a clear day. Continue along the ridge to Salung, a Sherpa village with small water spun prayer wheels. Descend through pine forest and grassy slopes to the Ringmo khola. Cross the river and climb through the Apple orchards of the Sherpa village of Ringmo. Takshindu Pass (2988m) with shorten marking the top of the pass set off the towering views of Kangtega (6779m) and Thamserkhu (6623m) across the Dudh Koshi Valley, drop down through forest to the pagoda like monastery of the Takshindu, 5 Hrs.

Day 06: KHARI KHOLA (2027m).
Descending steeply to Manidingma, a Rai and Sherpa village by a stream continue through mustard field and through forest with chance of seeing Languor. The descend continue into the valley of the Dudh Koshi, which drains the southern slope of the Everest massive cross suspension bridge and gradually climb to
Jubing, arrive village with bamboo stands aroud its houses, continue to the Magar and Sherpa villages of Khari Khola, with water mill and Mani Walls which has a colourful market every Wednesday. 5 Hrs.

Day 07: PUIYAM (2773m).
Cross small river, then steep climb climb to Kharte through rhododendron and Oak trees as well as the Fragrant Dhampe. Continue through forest to Khate danda, with a chance of seeing pheasant. Descend to river, thriough rhododendron and brich pine, and bamboo to camp in forest near the stream. 5 Hrs.

Day 08: PHAKDING (2611m).
Trails continue to travers high above the river, nice view of the valley, including the air-strip at Lukla. Along, steep descend to small river at Surkya. Continue to village of Chauri Kharka, set among the terraces on the hillside. Camp near bridge at the Phakding. At the site of the brideg is a brightly painted Mani Rock, carved in commemmoration of several families who diewd when Dudh Koshi became a raging torrent from an avalanche that originated high on the slopes of Amadablam (6812m).

Day 09: NAMCHE BAZAR (3440m).
Follow the Bhote Koshi through forest and pasture land, along the valley dotted with small Sherpa settlement. Cross the Bhote Koshi and climb steeply along switech- backing trail to large Sherpa village of Namche. Everest (8848m) and Lhotse (8516m) come into site. This prosperous town is the largest in Khumbu. A traditional trading centre, the Bazar is held every Saturday. The wares on dispaly including grains and vegetables, tennis shoews and tricots as well as hand-woven aprons and Tibetan boots. Thamserkhu (6623m) and Kwangde (6011m) loom to the east and west and the sacred mountain Khumbila (5707m) domitanes the sky-line to the north behind the village. 6 Hrs.

Day 10: NAMCHE BAZAR - Rest and acclimatization day.

Day 11 : THENGBOCHE (3875M).
Today we walk along a very pleasant trail under the soaring peak to Thamserku and steadily descending to the Imja river and lunch at Phunki where there are a series of water driven prayer wheels. In the afternoon, we climb steadily for about 2 hours to Thyangboche Monastery (3875m) and the views from here are magnificent. The Monastery is literally surrounded by mountains. Yaks graze on the small meadow and the monks drone through their prayers. Surely, this is one of the most beautiful spots in the world.

DAY 12 : Rest and acclimatization day at Thyangboche.
This is a day to relax and enjoy the magnificent scenery that surrounds you. Everest Lhotse, Nuptse, Taboche (6367m). You can visit the Monastery and the monks will happily show you around. This is just the spot for a rest day.

DAY 13 : DINGBOCHE (4360m).
We move up the Imja river valley to Pangboche (3900m). We stop here for lunch and visit the Monastery and look at the 'Yeti Sculpt'. In the afternoon we continue on to the summer village of Dingboiche (4360m). The scenery all day is superb.

Day 14: LOBUJE (4930m).
We walk up a small ridge and then contour around the base of the Khumbu Glacier and have a light lunch at Dhungla (4600m) From here, we have a short steep climb to the terminal moraine of the glacier from where the views are stunning. We contour round the moraine again to camp at the foot of the Lobuje Ice Fall (4930m).

Day 15 : LOBUJE - EVEREST BASE CAMP (5545m) - LOBUJE.
Today, we climb Kala Pathar. The actual distance is not so far but we take it very slowly to compensate for the altitude stopping at Gorekh Shep (5288m) for a light lunch. We then take the climb to Kala Pathar (5545m). This is a hard pull but the view from top surpasses anything you can imagine. All around us flow huge glacier ice. The mountains of Pumori (7145m), Lingtren (6697m) and Khumbutse (6623m) separate us from Tibet, and just over the Lho La pass. We see the huge rock of Changtse (7550m) in Tibet itself. But the queen of them all- Sagarmatha (Everest) towers over everyone. This is the Roof of the World. We return to Lobuje at our camp.

Day 16: TENGBOCHE.
We retrace our steps along the glacier to Pheriche (4260m) and stop for lunch. In the afternoon, we take the lower trail to Pangboche and Thyangboche and camp.

Day 17: KHUMJUNG (3779m).
Descending to Imja river we climb to Khumjung for lunch. Excellent views all day and camp at Khumjung (3779m).

Day 18: PHAKDING.
Descending, pass through Namche Bazar passing under the towering Kongde ridge (6186m) and follow the Dudh Koshi to Phakding to camp.

Day 19: LUKLA.
We walk to Lukla and enjoy a farewell party with our trek crew.

Day 20:
Fly back to Kathmandu.