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Nepal Expedition
2009 - Monday 30th March - Saturday 18th April |
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Original Trip Itinerary
| As you will have seen if you have been following the trip updates this itinerary no longer applies due to the problems with flying into Lukla Airport. For the new itinerary use the link above. | |
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Introduction Starting with a spectacular flight from Kathmandu to Lukla, the group then trek through the heart of Sherpa country. This challenging trek ends with an early morning ascent of Kala Pattar (18,188ft/5,545m), which overlooks the Everest Base Camp and offers superb views of Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse and Makalu. |
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Day 1 - Monday 30th March:
Depart London Heathrow Fly from London Heathrow departing 15:05. There will be a short stopover en-route at Doha. |
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Day 2 - Tuesday 31st March:
Arrive at Kathmandu Arrive Kathmandu at 08:30. The group will be met and transferred to the hotel. Overnight at Shangri-La Hotel. |
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Day 3 - Wednesday 1st April:
Shiva School Project - Kathmandu Area Shiva are a Bristol-based charity who support several schools near to Kathmandu by providing funds for building improvements, teachers, books and other important learning materials and equipment. The group will visit Northpoint School to see the work that has been done. They may also go to St Michael's school where they will get an extremely warm and colourful welcome. There will be ample opportunity for the group to interact with the school children and take part in question and answer sessions. Overnight at Shangri-La Hotel. |
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Day 4 - Thursday 2nd April:
Fly to Lukla, Trek to Chumoa (9,000ft/2,743m). 5-6 Hours. The group will be transferred from the hotel to the airport for the flight from Kathmandu to Lukla. This is one of the most spectacular flights in the world. Twin Otter aircraft fly this route above contrasting country, with the snow line of the Himalayan range to the north and rugged foothills of Nepal immediately below and stretching away to the south. After the landing at the airstrip in Lukla the group will head north-west, through the village of Lukla and descend to the Dudh Khosi river at Phakding (8,698ft/2,652m). Overnight Lodge. |
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Day 5 - Friday 3rd April:
Trek to Namche Bazaar (11,300ft/3,445m). 6 Hours. Shortly after leaving Chumoa the group will meet the confluence of the Imja Drangka and the Nangpo Drangpo, which combine to form the Dudh Khosi. Crossing the river on a high bridge they will leave Solu District, enter Khumbu and start the steep climb to Namche. Near the halfway point up the hill, views of Everest 29,028ft/8,850m) and Lhoste (27,916ft/8,511m) come into sight. Namche is the most prosperous and largest town in the Khumbu. Thamserku (21,806ft/6,648m) and Kwangde (20,417ft/6,224m) loom to the east and west and the sacred mountain Khumbila (18,729ft/5,707m) dominates the skyline to the north behind the village. Overnight lodge. |
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Day 6 - Saturday 4th April:
Trek to Thame (12,467ft/3,801m). 6 Hours. This is a day spent heading north-west, up to the Nangpo Drangpo valley (Bhote Khosi). They will traverse westwards with views of Kwangde (20,806ft/6,343m) and the waterfalls cascading off its flanks. Along the Bhote Khosi the trail contours high above the bank, through yellow and white rhododendron forest. They then cross a tributary valley (Kyajo Kola) and look back down the valley for fine views of Thamserku (21,806ft/6,648m) and Kusum Kangru (20,896ft/6,370m). The final part of the walk is a climb through rhododendron forest to pasture land in front of Thame. This is where Tenzing Norgay, the first Sherpa ever to climb Mt. Everest, lived for many years with his first wife. An hours climb reaches the fascinating cliff-side monastery. From here they can contour above the village, then climb across the ridge to view the route to the Nangpa La, a pass to Tibet frequency used by the Sherpas and their yaks during the monsoon. Overnight lodge. |
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Day 7 - Sunday 5th April:
Trek to Khunde (12,598ft/3,840m) 6 Hours. They will walk back down the valley by way of Thamo, a hillside nunnery. Crossing back over the Kyajo Kola they will take the high trail which by-passes Namche and ascends towards the very high airstrip at Syangboche and on to Khunde. Overnight Lodge. |
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Day 8 - Monday 6th April:
Rest Day - Acclimatisation To assist with acclimatisation another day is spent in Khunde. The group may visit the controversial Everest View Hotel (lots of good stories behind that!), the clinic in Khunde and the Khumjung school. The more energetic can take a packed lunch and go for higher things! It is possible to climb the ridge above Khunde, to (13,904ft/4,238m), to view Mount Everest and Ama Dablam. They can also visit the memorial to Sir Edmund Hillary's wife and daughter who were tragically killed in an air accident. Overnight lodge. |
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Day 9 - Tuesday 7th April -
Trek to Thyangboche (12,670ft/3,863m). 5 Hours. The trail descends from Khumjung with chortens forming a dramatic view of Ama Dablam (21,964ft/6,779m), flanked by the towering heights of Sagarmatha (the Nepalese name for Everest), Lhoste and Nuptse. They then descend through moss-covered rhododendron forest, watching for blood pheasant and the Impayan pheasant in the undergrowth. They then cross the Dudh Khosi at Phungithanga and climb through rhododendron forest to a saddle on a forested ridge, the site of Thyangboche and the main monastery of the Khumbu area. Thyangboche lies at the base of Kangtaiga and the spur of this ridge affords panoramic views of the main peaks of Khumbu including Everest, Lhotse, and Ama Dablam. Overnight lodge. |
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Day 10 - Wednesday 8th April
- Trek to Dingboche (4350m). 6 Hours. They will probably be woken in the early hours, while it is still dark, by the sound of horns and cymbals as the monks have their first prayers of the day. Leaving Thyangboche, the path descends through trees to Deboche. After crossing a bridge over a picturesque gorge, the path gradually climbs, with stunning views of Ama Dablam ahead. There are numerous fantastic photo opportunities in both directions, and frequent chortens and mani walls to pass, as height is gained to reach the village of Pangboche. This is a very picturesque village with stone walled fields and there is a very interesting monastery of the Khumbu region, possibility dating back as far as the first introduction of Buddhism into the Khumbu. From Pangboche the path ascends above the village, the sparse landscape reflecting the height. |
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Day 11 - Thursday 9th April:
Rest, Exploration and Acclimatisation.
There are several opportunities for interesting acclimatisation walks in this region. It is possible to walk up the ridge behind the village to make an energetic ascent of Naga Dzong Ri. This is a steep but not technically difficult ascent to a summit at 5083 metres, from where there are stunning views of Makalu and Amphu Laptse. They can take in the small temple of Nagartsang Gompa on the way down - there is a nice sheltered terrace here from where they can enjoy the views. In the afternoon they might care to walk across toe the village of Pheriche to visit the Himalayan Rescue Association clinic - one of the doctors there often gives a talk about high altitude acclimatisation in the afternoon. If none of these appeal it is possible to walk up the valley to the yak grazing pastures at Chukhung (4,730m) - a 4-5 hour round trip. Overnight lodge. |
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Day 12 - Friday 10th April:
Trek to Lobuche (4,931m). 5-6
Hours The group will ascend the ridge to a large chorten above Dingboche village and then it is an easy walk up a wide, grassy plateau. The peaks of Tawoche and Cholatse tower above and it is possible to see Pheriche in the valley below to the left. At the tiny hamlet of Duglha they will reach a jumble of rocks which marks the terminal moraine at the base of the Khumbu glacier. They then ascend this moriane to reach the top where there are many memorial cairns to those who have died on Everest. The landscape is now wild and rocky and there is a real feeling of being high in the mountains. Following the often frozen stream at one side of the moraine they will soon reach the cluster of houses at Lobuche. This rather bleak spot was once a yak grazing settlement and was then inhabited only during the summer months but now it is open throughout the winter serving trekkers and climbers ands it the jumping off point for Everest Base Camp and Kalar Pattar. Sunset over Nuptse is particularly spectacular from here. Overnight lodge. |
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Day 13 - Saturday 11th April:
Ascend Kala Pattar (18,188ft/5,545m) 8 Hours After an early start the group will head north-east, along the true right hand side of the Khumbu Glacier through jumbled moraine and shattered rock; there is almost no vegetation here. Even so, small convoys of delightful Tibetan Snowcock can be seen. The climax is the climb of Kala Pattar (18,188ft/5,545m) for views of the giants of the earth; Pumori (23,436ft/7,145m), Everest, the Tibetan peak Changtse (24,764ft/4,501m), Nuptse, Lhotse and countless other needles and snow fluted ridges. From Kala Pattar they will be looking down on Everest Base Camp. A trip to the actual Base Camp of Everest is usually omitted. The Khumbu Icefall obstructs views from the base camp. From the ascent of Kala Pattar the group will return to Lobuche for the night. Overnight lodge. |
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Day 14 - Sunday 12th April:
Trek to Pangboche (4,000m) 4 Hours It is a pleasant walk to descend, first to Pheriche for lunch, enjoying beautiful views of Amadablam and Taboche along the way. They then descend further to Pangboche, the highest all year round settlement in the valley. If they did not have time to visit the gompa on their way up they should have time now. Overnight lodge. |
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Day 15 - Monday 13th April:
Trek to Mong La (3,973m) From Pangboche the group takes a wonderful high trail above the Imja Drengkha river. This trail undulates along the valley side and they will have fabulous views across to the mountains and Thyangboche perched on its ridge. Finally after about 2-3 hours they will round a corner and the isolated village of Phortse lies below them, situated in a spectacular spot on a promontory overlooking the Dudh Kosi in one direction and the Imja Drengka in the other. They will walk down through the village and then descend more steeply through birch and rhododendron forest to the river (looking out for musk deer and pheasants in the lovely quiet woods). They then cross the river and then a small pass marked by a chorten, birth place of Lama Sagwa Dorje. Mong La looks down on the junction of the Dudh River coming down from the Ngozumpa Glacier up in the Gokyo of pleasant lodges and a very large chorten and prayer flags. The views from here are absolutely magical, particularly of Ama Dablam (6,814m). Overnight lodge. |
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Day 16 - Tuesday 14th April:
Trek to Monjo - 6-7 hours. From Mong La the group will traverse across the hillside and then descend on steep stone steps to Tashinga (last chances for souvenir shopping with the Tibetan ladies!). They then climb to Kangzhuma and take the high trail which roller coasters round the hillside high above the Dudh Kosi River. Again the group will have fabulous views of the mountains across the valley - principally Thamserkhu and Kang Taiga. They then descend into Namche before making the knee crunching descent back down to the valley. The warmer climate should offer a good opportunity to finally shed a layer or two. Trek back down the Dudh Kosi valley for a short way past the checkpoint at Jorsale to Monjo. Overnight lodge. |
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Day 17 - Wednesday 15th April:
Trek to Lukla (9,449ft/2,880m) 6-7 Hours. Most people head towards Lukla with a heavy heart. There is something very special about the setting, the villages and the people of the high Khumbu hills and valleys and these memories will help them up the deceptively long, final climb into Lukla. Overnight lodge |
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Day 18 - Thursday 16th April:
Fly to Kathmandu. Another chance to enjoy this great flight. Transfer to Shangri-La Hotel. |
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Day 19 - Friday 17th April - At
Leisure in Kathmandu An opportunity to relax and reflect on their adventures and to complete and sightseeing and last-minute shopping. Overnight Shangri-La Hotel. |
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Day 20 - Saturday 18th April -
Fly to London Heathrow Transfer to the airport and depart Kathmandu. Arrive London same day. |
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