Day 01: Arrival day in Kathmandu (1,300m/4,264 ft)
Upon your arrival in the Kathmandu airport (KTM) you will be greeted by a representative. You will be then transferred to local hotel. After check-in, you can either take a rest, hang around in the city, visit our office; it all depends upon your interests and condition.
Day 02 : KTM Sightseeing Tour & Preparation
We start a guided tour to four of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Kathmandu: Kathmandu Durbar Square, Pashupatinath, the Buddhist shrines of Boudhanath and Swayambhu. The day will also be for finalizing official procedure and other necessary arrangements. You will be also briefed on the nature of the expedition, equipment, and team composition. You can also make your last minute buying of personal items as you will be heading to the Himalayas tomorrow.
Day 03: Drive from Kathmandu (1350m.) to Dolakha to Shigati (950m.) Trek to Suri Dobhan
From Kathmandu, we head northeast on the Friendship Highway which connects Kathmandu with Lhasa. A Lamosangu, we leave the Friendship Highway and take another way to Jiri. Earlier the motor-able road used to be only up to Dolakha. But nowadays because of the Tamakoshi hydropower construction works, we can drive up to Shigati. From Shigati we trek to Suri Dobhan for our overnight stay.
Day 04: Trek from Suri Dobhan to Jagat (1440m/4723 ft): 5/6 hrs.
Trek along the river, and then continue on the flat land. We cross several streams and jungles with varieties of orchid, rhododendron and other vegetation. Cross the suspension bridge to reach Jagat, a small town with people of different ethnicities.
Day 05: Trek Jagat to Simigaun (1,990m/6527 ft) : 5 hrs
At first, we follow the normal flat path, then the trail ascends and descends through the jungle. The trail follows the river bank. As the valley narrows, we cross the suspension bridge over the river. A steep climb takes us to the Sherpa village of Simigaon, spread on the terrace of the mountainside. The village is mostly inhabited by Buddhists and there are also a few Hindus.
Day 06: Trek Simigaun to Kharka (2,900m/9512 ft): 6 hrs.
We pass by a few more Sherpa settlements. On a clear morning, the views of Gaurishankar above the Rolwaling Valley is fascinating. From the ridge top at Simigaun, we continue towards the Rolwaling Valley. The trail climbs a rocky, wooded ridge with beautiful pine forests. Descent again to the river of Rolwaling Khola.
Day 07 : Trek Kharka to Beding (3,690m/12,103 ft) : 4 hrs
Our trail ascends uphill through different varieties of plants and Rhododendron trees. Continue along left bank of the Rolwaling Khola. Continuing along the deep river valley, we arrive at a tributary river from Gaurishankar. Enjoy the unfolding views of the Gaurishankar. The trail rises further until we come across an easy and relatively flat terrain. Finally, we arrive at the Sherpa village of Beding located by the river.
Day 08 : Trek Beding to Na (4,180m/13710 ft) : 5 hrs
An easy walk along the northern bank of the Rolwaling River begins our today’s trek. We pass across the summer village of Beding, several yaks grazing and people busy in their fields of buckwheat and barley. The Cristine formed by the 6000ers such as Chekigo, Bamango, and Konyklemo rise on the immediate left of the village. We arrive at a monastery believed to be a meditative place of the Buddhist Guru Padma Sambhava. Walking along the valley floor, we finally reach the summer village of Na surrounded by potato fields.
Day 09: Trek Na to Tso Rolpa Lake (4,588m/15048 ft): 7 hrs
At first trek through the leveled plane and gradually ascend to witness the Himalayan Lake filled with the chilling water of the glaciers. The views of Menlung and Tibetan Side Mountains add glory to the unfolding vista. We trek along the right bank of the river and then cross the river to climb up the rocky lateral moraine of the Glacier. We then walk to Tso Rolpa for the night.
Day 10: Tso Rolpa to Trakarding Glacier (4800m/15744 ft): 4 hrs
Early morning trek to head toward Trakarding glacier. Walk past the glaciers throughout the day and explore the beauty of the surrounding. The trail will still be ascending through some rock climbing and a gradual walk on the glacier moraine, occasionally passing rocks overhangs.
Day 11: Trek to Tashi Lapcha Base Camp (5,010m/16432 ft): 5 hrs
The walk follows high slopes above the glacier to avoid the lower section, but further up we have to trek along the center on the hard rocky glacier. The steady walk leads us to the lowest point of the icefall and then climbing to the easiest point to gain the Drolambau glacier. Here we will be surrounded by superb high mountain scenery. Continuing further downhill, we camp at Tashi Lapcha Pedi Camp at the foot of Tashi Lapcha, surrounded by absolutely grandiose mountains over 6000m with 360-degree panorama.
Day 12 : Cross Tashi Lapcha Pass (5,755m/18876 ft) : 5 hrs
Continue trekking to Trashi Lapcha Pass (5755m). From the pass, the view of senior Khumbu peaks is magnificent. Some hundred meter downhill trek under the overhanging rock, we camp at a superb location, with magnificent sunset views.
Day 13: Ascension Pachermo (6272 m/20572 ft) – Thengpo (4370 m)
We climb again to the neck of Trashi Lapcha and from there we start the ascent of Pachermo. The snow slopes lead us to the final ridge, sometimes requiring fixed ropes. From the Pachermo summit, enjoy the fantastic views of the Khumbu peaks including Everest, Makalu among others. Descend to Col then to Thengpo. The Pachermo ascent takes about 5 to 6 hrs and then another 3 to 4 hrs descend takes us to Thengpo.
Day 14: Reserve Day
There is no such guarantee that we can get quite a favorable weather especially on our planned day for the Parchemo summit, so this day is used as a contingency. If weather became exceptionally unfavorable we wisely have to postpone the program of smiting the peak. Sometimes somebody in the group may get some problems in acclimatizing well enough; then the day can be used in that condition too.
Day 15: Trek to Thame (3,820m/12530 ft) : 5 hrs
Today you will be experiencing a bit easy walking, the walk from here will be enjoyable most of the way to Thame. A gradual descend brings us to Thame Village, the first hint of civilization since Bedding. There is a very old and interesting Monastery at the upper end of the village. Now you have a glimpse of first really good views of the great peaks of the Khumbu including Mt Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse, Ama Dablam, Thamserku and Kusum Kangaru.
Day 16: Trek to Namche Bazaar (3,440m): 5 Hrs
At Thame, the old trade route over the Nangpa-la into Tibet branches North, following the Bhote Koshi, which incidentally is the 2-3 river so named on this trek. The trail descends gently at first and then steeply to a bridge over the river Dudh Koshi at Phunki Tenga. Passing by several villages and numerous tea shops, the trail ascends steeply to Sanasa where local Sherpa people sell the Tibetan goods. The way from Sanasa to Namche has small ups and downs with the view of forests, scenery, and mountains.
Day 17: Trek Namche to Lukla (2,840m)
The trail descends steeply downward so we need to walk slowly and under control as our shaky legs continuously battle the rocky terrain. After crossing the suspension bridges over the fast flowing Dudh Koshi and its tributaries the trail becomes more level and natural. Although we are traveling the same route down, we feel completely different views. We snap a mixture of open plains, rhododendron and pine forests, and in the distance snow covered peaks. We walk through the Sherpa villages’ noticing impressive faith in Buddhism and culture of prayer stones and prayers flag while we walk through the villages. On arrival in Lukla, we stretch those sore legs and recall the experiences of the last couple of weeks. We experience the culmination of a fantastic trek on a happy note with everyone back safe and sound with a smile on their faces!
Day 18: Flight: Lukla – Kathmandu. Hotel Overnight.
We fly back to Kathmandu after our long mountain journey. The early morning flight drops us at Kathmandu. You can rest and relax throughout the day in your hotel. If interested, take some gifts home from Nepal for friends and relatives, visit some nearby shops or venture out in Thamel for typical Nepalese goods which can be assisted by our guides or you can do it yourself too. If you want to explore any other areas of Kathmandu take the time to do that today.
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