Day 1 Arrival in Kathmandu
Meet our representative at Kathmandu airport and transfer to hotel.

Day 2 Kathmandu - Lukla - Phakding
We take the short but spectacular mountain flight to Lukla (2.800m.), and set off on the first short leg of our trek, heading northwards up the valley of the Dudh Kosi (or 'Milk River'). We descend from the small plateau, which only just manages to hold Lukla airstrip, down into the forested valley. The trail crosses several tributary streams and we have some tantalising views before reaching the small settlement of Phakding (2.650m.). In Phakding we will spend the night.

Day 3  Phakding - Namche bazaar
We cross the Dudh Kosi by the first of several bridges built by the Himalayan Trust. Continuing gradually up the valley the trail undulates through the forest through Benkar and Chumoa before reaching Monjo where we will have lunch.

After lunch we enter the Sagarmatha National Park and we follow the Dudh Kosi further north, crossing from one bank to the other. This day's walk takes us through magnificent forests of rhododendron, giant fir and magnolia trees, and both in spring and autumn the ground is bright with flowers. After Jorsale (2.800m.) the trail climbs over a spur and alongside a dripping moss-grown cliff, to cross the west fork of the river, the Bhote Kosi, and start the steep climb to Namche Bazaar.

About 300 m. up this ascent we should have a first view, cloud permitting, of the summit of Everest appearing behind the great ridge of Nuptse-Lhotse. Another 300m. of climbing brings us to Namche Bazaar, administrative centre of the Khumbu region and headquarters for the Mount Sagarmatha (Everest) National Park. Namche is a prosperous Sherpa town and an important trading centre with a weekly market.

Day 4 Namche Bazar (dayhike to Thame Buddhist Monastery)
We spend today acclimatising to the altitude, exploring fascinating Namche Bazaar and its surrounding villages like Khumjung, a chance to introduce ourselves properly to the Sherpas and their way of life.

But we start the day with a visit to Thame monastery, set high on a hillside above Thame. This is the first Tibetan Buddhist monasteries that we will visit on this trek. The paintings and frescoes that adorn the inside of the temple are spectacular, seconded by only the amazing scenery of the mountains surrounding us.

Return to Namche and if there is time in the afternoon visit the National Park museum.

Day 5 Namche Bazar - Thengboche Monastery
Start to walk up to the spectacular situated Everest View Hotel where we have tea. We will be rewarded with excellent views of the Mount Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse, Ama Dablam and many other magnificent Himalayan peaks.

The fantastic panorama of mountains surrounding us includes Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse and Ama Dablam. Thengboche (3.860m) has long been a sacred spot. The Lama Sange Dorje, who first brought Buddhism to the region, is said to have flown from his monastery in Tibet over the Himalaya, landing and leaving his footprints here and at Pangboche.
Visitors should be careful to respect the spirit of this special place, particularly by observing the ban on killing or hurting any living creature in the area.

Thengboche is home to the region’s largest monastery, a destination for monks of all ages throughout the country to practice and study Buddhism. The public is invited to witness their puja ceremonies, where they chant prayers and perform rituals inside the ornately decorated gompas

Day 6 Thengboche - Pangboche - Dingboche
Very early wake up call and visit the impressive morning puja in Thengboche Monastery. Breakfast after the puja and start todays trek to Pangboche.

Pangboche, at 3.985m is the highest permanent settlement on the approach to Everest and in the upper village there is a gompa (monastery) founded by the lama Sange Dorje. Pangboche offers great views on what many people consider as the most beautiful moutainpeak in the Himalayas, Mount Ama Dablam.

We descend throughout most of the morning into the Imje Khola only to once again gradually ascend as we follow the river northward, past more mani walls and through a few small villages. The valley ahead will begin to open up as we approach the confluence of the Lobuche Khola, descend into the khola and begin the last and steepest climb of the day up to Dingboche (4400m).
We are now on the northwest side of Ama Dablam and despite the fact that we have changed our view by 90 plus degrees over the last few days, it still appears as monstrous tooth with incredibly steep sides tapering up to a near perfect pointed peak.

Dag 7 Dingboche (restday or dayhike)
We spend a day at Dingboche (4.400m) to continue our acclimatisation. Those adapting well to the altitude can climb Nangkartshang Peak at 5.100m for great views of Chalotse, Tawoche and Mount Ama Dablam.

Day 8 Dingboche - Lobuche
Back on the trek again, the trail from Dingboche ascends, emerging onto the terminal moraine of the Khumbu Glacier from where we have a beautiful panorama of the peaks lying on the Nepal-Tibet border. The trail then eases off as we follow the valley to Lobuche (4.900m) a tiny hamlet with a few teahouses. The sunset on Nuptse is not to be missed.

Day 9 Lobuche - Gorak Shep - Everest Base Camp / Kala Pattar - Lobuche
Another long day and again we leave very early. Trekking across a glacier, the trail winds up and down through fascinating ice seracs to the area known as Everest Base Camp, where, usually in spring, we may see some of the expedition teams as they prepare to climb the mountain. From the Base Camp we get fantastic close up views of the Khumbu Ice Fall and we can appreciate just how difficult it is to negotiate a route through the huge blocks of ice. We descend from the Base Camp to Gorak Shep and then further down to Lobuche.

Day 10 Lobuche - Pheriche - Pangboche - Tengboche
Retracing our steps along the terminal moraine we descend into the Pheriche valley with spectacular views of Ama Dablam.

We join the main Imja Khola Valley, which we follow down to Pangboche through an alpine meadow landscape with superb views looking back to the great ridge of Lhotse-Nuptse that hides the lower slopes of Everest.
We drop down to the rushing Imja Khola and then walk through the peaceful rhododendron forests, to the village of Devoche and then Thengboche at 3.860m.

Day 11 Tengboche - Namche Bazar
From Thengboche we descend off the ridge and walk back to Namche Bazaar along a beautiful undulating trail high above the Dudh Kosi from where we still can see Mount Everest.

Day 12 Namche Bazar - Phakding - Lukla
We descend from Namche Bazaar and will have lunch in Monjo, where we finally leave Sagarmatha National Park again. After Monjo last part of the trail, pass Phakding and just before Lukla climb the short distance to the famous Lukla airstrip.

Day 13 Lukla - Kathmandu
We fly back to Kathmandu and transfer to our hotel.
Spend the rest of the day at leisure. Occasionally the flight back from Lukla is cancelled. In this case we would try to fly back to Kathmandu on the morning of the next day.