October 8 – 21, 2017
Your Guides: | Himalaya Specialists, Jerry Lapp + Ang Dendi Sherpa |
Tour Sketch: | Trekking through the lower Everest Region while staying at the area’s best lodges each night ~ optional extension to Everest Base Camp |
Adventure Rating: | Medium ~ we’ll have plenty of views, culture and adventure without walking to extreme altitudes |
Low Point: | 8,400 ft in the village of Phakding, our last night trekking |
High Point: | 16,150 ft on the optional Sumdur Ridge day hike |
Highlight: | exploring the old trading post and Sherpa capital of Namche Bazaar? dodging yaks? great lodges every night? |
Room & Board: | Four-star or otherwise exceptional hotels in Kathmandu ~ while trekking we’ll stay in comfortable lodges with en suite bath, warm dining rooms, and always, a room with a view |
Cost: | $3,699 covers almost all of your expenses in Nepal over 14 days, including guides; porters; transfers; domestic flights (2); all hotels in Kathmandu; all lodges on trek; meals throughout; double occupancy ~ international airfare not included, but expect East Coast round trip tickets to be in the range of $900 – $1,300 ~ single occupancy, add $850 |
Bonus! | Everest Base Camp extension ~ add $500 and seven days to transport yourself to the infamous Khumbu Icefall at the very foot of the world’s highest peak |
The beauty of the Everest Region goes far beyond its sunny skies, jagged, vertical terrain, and friendly Sherpas. It’s laced with a series of well-maintained trails that lead from village to village, giving even the most non-adventurous among us a chance to march around the massive mountains of the world’s highest peak.

Beyond that, this particular trek winds up each day’s hike with a stay in the nicest, warmest, most comfortable lodges that the High Himalaya have on offer. Private rooms, check. Ensuite bathrooms, check. Views, outrageous. Friendly, glowing dining rooms – every evening. Furthermore, you’ll be escorted throughout by two-time Everest summiteer, Ang Dendi Sherpa (above left), and his team of precocious porters who will carry your backpack, but more importantly, are overwhelmingly optimistic and great travel companions. Your cultural liaison and tour designer is former Kathmandu resident, now Lancaster, PA resident, Jerry Lapp.
This is a fully supported trek with a fantastic crew of Sherpa guides and porters . . . you’ll carry only a small daypack with snacks and a few extra supplies each day. It’s your vacation! As well, you’re welcome to hike at your own speed, confident that a trusted staff member will be nearby.
FastFacts for EverestTrekkers
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- 9 days of trekking
- 14 days in Nepal
- 16 days door-to-door from North America
- highest lodge . . . 13,940 ft – we’ll arrive acclimatized
- Sherpas speak their own Sherpa language + Nepali, and often English as well
- Buddhism is the religion of Everest . . . we’ll visit a number of monasteries along the way

We’ll spend two nights in most of our villages, giving us plenty of time to explore our surroundings. This also gives us great opportunities to get to know our hosts! Significant day hikes will be offered on the days we’re not moving onward to the next village. Our highest night will be at the Kongde Hotel, perched on a hanging ridge across the canyon from Namche. Its views of Everest and the entire area are unmatched anywhere in the Khumbu.
Everest Base Camp extension . . . add $500
If you’re like me, sometimes you don’t know when to say enough is enough. Does it really make sense to fly halfway around the world, trek to within a few days of the world’s highest peak, but not go there? Details on this seven-day add-on are below, at the bottom of this page.

Exceptional Everest Tour Outline
- Day 1 Fly from North America to your layover city
- Day 2 Fly onward to Kathmandu, Nepal
- Day 3 Tour Kathmandu, a virtual living museum
- Day 4 Fly to Lukla and trek to Monjo
- Day 5 Hike to Namche Bazaar
- Day 6 Acclimatization day w/ ascending day hike
- Day 7 Trek to Lawudo Monastery and Thame
- Day 8 Day hike the spectacular Sumdur Ridge
- Day 9 Trek to the remote Kongde Hotel
- Day 10 Day hike to Farak Ri, astounding overlook
- Day 11 Descending trek to the village of Phakding
- Day 12 Trek to Lukla, relax and watch the airplanes
- Day 13 Fly to Kathmandu, check into hotel
- Day 14 Free day to take in all of Kathmandu
- Day 15 Depart Kathmandu to layover city
- Day 16 Fly return flight to North America
The Detailed Plan of Attack (subject to change)
Day 1 |
Depart North America ~ October 7, 2017Fly from North America to your layover city; most major U.S. airports have high-quality, one-stop flights to Kathmandu, Nepal. Although it’s not included in the package cost, Skychasers will arrange a group flight from Philadelphia or New York for those who would like to travel together. |
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Day 2 |
Kathmandu Arrival; Tour begins today ~ Oct 8Upon arrival at Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan International Airport, those traveling on the group flight from the East Coast will be met by our driver who will take us directly to our hotel overlooking Tibetan Buddhism’s holiest site in Nepal, the Boudha Stupa. If arriving in Kathmandu independently, you will be met at the airport by myself or a member of our staff. Airport transfer, dinner, hotel included. |
4,500 ft ~ 1,371m |
Day 3 |
Tour Kathmandu, living museum of culture and chaos ~ Oct 9From our grand station overlooking the pilgrims circumambulating the Boudha Stupa, we enjoy a relaxed rooftop breakfast. After breakfast, we’ll give our hiking legs their first minor test by taking the 45-minute walk to Pashupatinath, the Hindu cremation ghats and temple complex. The area is also home to an immense amount of activity ranging from flying monkeys to ganja-smoking sadhus, Indian holy men. We’ll walk to the historic Dwarika’s Hotel for afternoon tea or cocktail hour, as you wish, before returning to Boudha for free time and dinner. B/L/D, Pashupatinath entrance fee, hotel. |
4,500 ft ~ 1,371m |
Day 4 |
Fly to Lukla and trek to Monjo ~ Oct 10 8 mile hike
We’ll head to the domestic airport after an early breakfast for our soaring shuttle flight alongside the spine of the Himalaya to Lukla, our portal to the world’s highest mountains. To be sure, the Lukla landing is a great adventure, but it’s merely a harbinger of things to come. With plenty of time in the day left to hike, we set off to the north. As we walk upvalley, the jagged summit of Kusum Kanguru comes into view above the northeast foothills. Oddly, our first few hours lead us downhill to a large village before ending the day with a gradual uphill. Along the way, there’s plenty happening; trekkers, yaks, lodges, and a delicious lunch stop. B/L/D, trekking & tims permits, deluxe lodge. |
9,348 ft ~ 2,850m |
Day 5 |
Hike to Namche Bazaar ~ Oct 11 3.75 miles
Namche Bazaar’s a definite highlight, but it’s going to make us work a bit to get there. Shortly after our walk commences, we enter the borders of Sagarmatha (Everest) National Park before diving down once again to the riverside. Our crossing brings us to the last town of the area, Jorsale. For the next hour, we’re undulating along the banks of the river as it roars beside us. Our final river crossing is on a high, swinging bridge lined with prayer flags. This bridge also signifies the start of the infamous “Namche Hill” . . . one step at a time will find you in Namche in 2 hours, but not before you get your first glimpse of Everest a few minutes above the bridge! Spend the rest of the day visiting Namche’s bakeries, pubs, and coffee shops. B/L/D, deluxe lodge. |
11,300 ft ~ 3,445m |
Day 6 |
Rest/acclimatization, Khumjung day hike ~ Oct 12 4 miles
This is a classic day in the Everest region . . . starting with a slow hike up and out of Namche Bazaar. As we wind our way upward, the monster mountains of the Khumbu slowly come into view . . . first ThamSerku, then Ama Dablam, the Lhotse-Nuptse wall, and behind that, Everest. From the high outdoor patio of the Everest View Hotel, we’ll order tea and coffee, and sit, sometimes in silence, sometimes sharing thoughts with friends, but always in awe. We’ll continue our walk down into the large Sherpa village of Khumjung, enjoying pastries from its famous bakery, eventually eating lunch, and maybe visiting the local Edmund Hillary School. In the afternoon, we’ll continue our looping walk, heading to the Syangboche Airport before descending back down to the comforts of Namche Bazaar. B/L/D, deluxe lodge. |
11,950 ft – 3,643m |
Day 7 |
Trek to Lawudo Monastery and Thame ~ Oct 13 8 miles
A hearty, hot breakfast fuels our gentle ascent westward out of Namche Bazaar. Presently, we enter a forest where there’s a good chance to see the Himalayan tahr, the local version of the mountain goat. Traversing the hillside, we have excellent views across the valley to the jagged peaks of Kongde. I have a friend, Pemba Tenzing, who’s a monk at one of the high Buddhist monasteries above the trail, so we’ll stop in to see him, check out the meditation cave (below), and eat a traditional Nepali lunch. As we begin our afternoon hike, our destination of Thame will be visible upvalley. If we’re feeling relaxed and happy, we can take a detour to the high Thame Monastery as we roll into town. Otherwise, we’ll head straight into Thame, enjoying its remote situation with towering peaks above. B/L/D, deluxe lodge. |
12,464 ft ~ 3,800m |
Day 8 |
Day hike the spectacular Sumdur Ridge ~ Oct 14 5.6 miles
Today will suit everyone’s tastes. Feeling a little tired? Spend the entire day eating and sleeping the day away. Want a little exercise to shake out the cobwebs? Hike up to the Thame Monastery and watch the mountains roll by while enjoying a meal in one of the adjoining restaurants. Or, maybe you want to hike higher than you’ve ever been, with the bonus that it’s the hike of a lifetime? Trek Sumdur Ridge (see photo below), the spectacular, exposed ridgeline above Thame. The trail begins gently, crisscrossing its way up to the monastery. From there, it traverses west, then climbs steeply, gaining the ridgeline at 14,075 ft. Once on the ridge, the views are full-on 360° for the final 2,000 vertical feet. You’ll feel the altitude, but will be well acclimatized to this point to make it a reasonable day. Our Nepali staff will carry your daypack, the pace will be slow, and we’ll stop a lot to take pictures, let the breath catch up, and enjoy a packed lunch on the summit. Challenge your world! The numbers? 3,686 ascent + 3,686 descent, 5.6 miles round-trip, 6-8 hours. B/L/D, deluxe lodge. |
16,150 ft ~ 4,923m |
Day 9 |
Trek to the remote Kongde Hotel ~ Oct 15 7.5 miles
Very few Everest trekkers ever make it up to the Kongde Hotel. Even though it’s in the middle of all the action, it’s perched on an inaccessible ridge high up on Kongde Peak – no village, no lodges, just the Kongde Hotel. The trail from Thame has been carved into the side of the mountain and weaves in and out of the tortured landscape to ascend across the rugged hillside. This is the most challenging day of the trek, but also the most rewarding . . . as we hike the final twists and turns to Kongde, the entire Everest region unfurls above and below us. Enjoy the sumptuous dinner – you’ve earned it! B/L/D, deluxe lodge. |
13,940 ft ~ 4,250m |
Day 10 |
Day hike to Farak Ri, astounding overlook ~ Oct 16 3.7 miles
If you chose not to hike Sumdur Ridge from Thame, Farak Ri is a kinder, gentler alternative. Walk upwards out of the Hotel to a high point above a mountain lake, reaching the “Ri” in a couple hours. Because we’re a few thousand feet above the Hotel, the views will be better, looking down to Namche Bazaar far below, and Everest far above. A quick hour brings us back down to our beloved Hotel in time for lunch followed by an afternoon of true rest, lounging in the sun high above it all. B/L/D, deluxe lodge. |
13,940 ft ~ 4,250m |
Day 11 |
Descending trek to the village of Phakding ~ Oct 17 4.8 miles
The numbers tell the story of the day . . . we’re going downhill all day. Well, five miles downhill doesn’t really take all that long, but wear your thick socks, batten down your laces, and let it roll. We’ll have spectacular morning views of the elusive spire of Kusum Kanguru before entering the greenery closer to the valley floor. Peace and quiet accompanies our first hours as well, negotiating the craggy terrain below the Kongde Hotel. This comes to a rather abrupt, and maybe welcome, end when we arrive at the junction of the main Everest trail. From there, it’s another hour to our evening lodge, nesting high above the tumbling, milky Dudh Kosi River in our backyard. B/L/D, deluxe lodge. |
8,620 ft ~ 2,628m |
Day 12 |
Trek to Lukla, relax, watch the airplanes ~ Oct 18 4.5 miles
I’ve always wanted to arrive early in Lukla, but have never gotten it done . . . it’s endlessly fascinating to watch the airplanes fly in and out of Lukla, seeing firsthand the skills of Nepal’s immensely talented pilots. With a hike of only 4.5 miles today (and clear skies), we have a chance at some quality time on the rooftop of the Buddha Lodge overlooking the takeoffs and landings. But first, our trek has one final twist; our “downvalley” trek actually traverses upwards along the side of the valley, so we get to finish in grand style . . . with an uphill. Remember though that we were downhilling all day yesterday . . . our quads and toes will be happier with a finishing ascent. B/L/D, deluxe lodge. |
9,365 ft ~ 2,365m |
Day 13 |
Fly to Kathmandu, check into hotel ~ Oct 19
Take your pick for the highlight of the day: the mountain flight to Kathmandu? checking into our pristine hotel, most likely the legendary Hotel Yak & Yeti? taking a dip in the pool? being propelled by something other than our legs? These are all great, but usually pale in comparison to showering and eating. Oh yes, our food will be delicious on trek, and there will be showers, but Kathmandu is a veritable smorgasbord for foodies, there’s endless hot water, and you’ll be able to throw on very clean clothes at the end. If any of you are itching to get out, I love Kathmandu and am always ready to show you a new adventure. Most however are content to eat, shower, rinse, repeat, so there will be very little beyond that on our agenda today. B/L/D, airport transfer, 4 or 5-star hotel. |
4,500 ft ~ 1,371m
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Day 14 |
Free day to take in all of Kathmandu ~ Oct 20OK, today’s not exactly free, but if you’d rather enjoy the hotel pool, you’re more than welcome. But remember, I lived in Kathmandu for five years and I will show you the best the city has to offer – with a little crazy thrown in. Breakfast will be in the hotel garden and will be long and leisurely as we continue to try to nip the trekking calorie burn in the bud. Following will be a morning of relaxation, then a short walk to the tourist district of Thamel for lunch. From there we’ll walk into the very heart of old town Kathmandu just to test each and every one of our five senses. Then it’s onward to Indra Chowk, the bead market, and Kathmandu Durbar Square and its collection of ancient pagoda-style temples. As dusk approaches, we’ll taxi to Swayambhunath, aka, “The Monkey Temple” (photo below) brave its 365 ever-steepening steps to arrive at a mini-summit with a Buddhist stupa and a lot of monkeys. This shrine shows us a phenomenal mix of Tibetan Buddhism from the north and Indian Hinduism from the south meeting and mixing in Kathmandu. A farewell dinner ends our day with a bang! B/L/D, 4 or 5-star hotel. Click & drag the 360° photo below of the Swoyambhunath Temple to look all around & up & down ▼
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4,500 ft ~ 1,371m |
Day 15 |
Depart Kathmandu to International Layover City ~ Oct 21Most international flights depart Kathmandu in the afternoon or evening, and, we’ve only just scratched the surface of this ancient city, so we’ll most likely have time to take in another eye-popping temple or plaza and do a bit of shopping before we’re due at the airport. B/L, airport transfer. |
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Day 16 |
Fly from International Layover City to North America ~ Oct 22Expect to arrive on your doorstep sometime today! |
See Everest Base Camp Extension, below . . .

Everest Base Camp Extension; add $500
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If you’re like me, sometimes you don’t know when to say enough is enough. Does it really make sense to fly halfway around the world, trek to within a few days of the world’s highest peak, but not go there? Your only medicine may be this seven-day add-on that will take you to the very foot of Everest. The extension matches up exactly with the first eight days of Exquisite Everest, above, then, on Day 9 treks to the village of Mong La instead of the Kongde Hotel, before continuing onward and upward to Everest Base Camp at 17,400 ft.

Lodging along the extension is much more basic, however, you’ll still feel like you’re being spoiled along the way. Porters and guides, meals and lodges are all part of the deal. In addition, you’ll get a chance to trek, not climb, to 18,400 ft, one of the few places in the world where mere mortals can reach such high-flying altitudes. Here’s your trekking timetable, starting from Day 9, where the paths diverge . . .
Base Camp Extension Outline
- Day 9 Trek to Mong La mini-pass (instead of the Kongde Hotel) 13,000 ft
- Day 10 Trek to Pangboche 12,986 ft
- Day 11 Trek to Dingboche 14,140 ft
- Day 12 Acclimatization/day hike to Nangarchang Peak 16,120 ft
- Day 13 Trek Dingboche to Lobuche 16,190 ft
- Day 14 Trek to Gorak Shep 16,970 ft; day hike to Kala Pathar summit 18,400 ft
- Day 15 Day hike to Everest Base Camp 17,400 ft
- Day 16 Trek Gorak Shep to Pheriche 14,000 ft
- Day 17 Trek to Sanasa 11,830 ft
- Day 18 Trek to Phakding (deluxe lodge) 8,620 ft
- Day 19 Trek to Lukla (deluxe lodge) 9,365 ft
- Day 20 Fly to Kathmandu
- Day 21 Kathmandu touring
- Day 22 Kathmandu departure to international layover
- Day 23 Fly international layover to North America

Everest Base Camp ~ the Numbers & Plan of Attack
Day 9 |
Trek from Thame to Mong La mini pass instead of the Kongde Hotel ~ Oct 15 9.5 miles
Our next adventure, the road to Everest Base Camp, starts by heading back towards Namche Bazaar before climbing up to the plateau of Khumjung. As the pyramid of Ama Dablam comes back into view, we cut off onto the Gokyo Valley trail before a long, gentle traversing ascent to Mong La. Mong La is perched on a 13,000 ft ridge that descends from the sacred summit of Khumbi La and is easily one of my favorite overnights in Nepal. The views are 360° from every room in this tiny village. B/L/D, mountain lodge. |
13,000 ft |
Day 10 |
Down, then up to Pangboche ~ Oct 16 5.5 miles
There are few trails in the Everest area that I haven’t traveled, one of the reasons I’m really looking forward to the afternoon part of today’s trek. After a hot breakfast and good-byes in Mong La, we have a long downhill to the Dudh Khosi River, followed by a shorter uphill to the village of Phortse. Phortse is a popular training center for Sherpas going into the mountaineering industry. We’ll grab a bite to eat here before working our way to the top of the village and the trail towards Pangboche. The trail then turns decidedly high and remote as it winds in and out of the rugged base of Tawoche Peak, with no real villages until we reach Pangboche. B/L/D, mountain lodge. |
12,980 ft |
Day 11 |
Trek gradually upward to Dingboche ~ Oct 17 4.2 miles
There’s an old Buddhist monastery that’s reputed to house a Yeti scalp in the upper reaches of Pangboche. Because our road is not particularly long today, we may take a post-breakfast detour up the hill to check out the scalp? Before we exit Pangboche, we’ll inquire about the condition of the less-traveled trail on the other side of the river, underneath Ama Dablam. If it’s a go, we’ll head that way, otherwise, we’ll stick to the known trails far above the true right bank of the Imja Khola River. As we approach the village of Pheriche, we’ll take a fork trail to the right which presently arrives in the town of Dingboche. B/L/D, mountain lodge. |
14,140 ft |
Day 12 |
Rest/acclimatization/day hike from Dingboche to Nangarchung Peak ~ Oct 18 3.7 miles
One of the best ways to acclimatize to high altitude is to follow the old adage, “climb high, sleep low”. And, that’s exactly what we’ll do today w/ numbers that look great for acclimatization. Winding our way out of Dingboche, we’ll gain access to the nearby ridge to the north, then following the hairpin trail, head steeply up to Nagarchung Peak. Back in Dingboche for the afternoon, there’s plenty to do including a snooker hall! B/L/D, mountain lodge |
14,140 ft |
Day 13 |
Spectacular trek to Lobuche ~ Oct 19 5.2 milesClimbing out of Dingboche again, we’ll gain the beautiful plateau-type ridge above the village of Pheriche. We’re walking on a true tabletop, maybe call it a balcony trail, with crisscrossing Yak trails everywhere and the occasional ancient stone tea house. After crossing a rushing river, we arrive in the village of Dughla where we’ll likely take a tea break. After lunch and ever ascending, we slowly arrive in the Khumbu Valley which leads to Everest. Our trail intersects with the trail coming in from the Cho La pass, but it doesn’t add much traffic because it’s a fairly remote, difficult pass. Eventually we’re led into the village of Lobuche with its namesake peak towering high above us.
B/L/D, mountain lodge |
16,190 ft |
Day 14 |
High trek to remote Gorak Shep, hike to Kala Pataar viewpoint ~ Oct 20 5.2 milesBefore Base Camp moved to its current location at the base of the Khumbu Icefall, it was in Gorak Shep. The Khumbu Glacier “flows” down the valley behind town, while in front, there’s a large, oddly flat area that looks like the remnants of salt lake. Because it’s the last village before Base Camp, oodles and oodles of people come and go from and to here. There are only a few lodges and in high season, they do as best they can to accommodate everyone with hot food and a warm stove. Our trek in from Lobuche isn’t that long, so we’ll have time to tackle the high point of our Tour, the 18,400 ft peak of Kala Pathar. This peak is actually a ridge running off the ice pyramid of Pumori, one of the high points of which gives us incredible sunset views onto the Sout Face of Mt. Everest.
B/L/D, mountain lodge |
16,970 ft |
Day 15 |
Day hike to Everest Base Camp, return to Gorak Shep ~ Oct 21 4.7 miles, round tripRemember this gem today . . . “if trekking Everest Base Camp was easy, everyone would do it”. It’s not a very long day today, but the trails are rugged, sometimes icy, and your entire day will be spent between 17,000 and 17,600 ft. Bottom line? You may end up a little more tired than the numbers might suggest, but you’ll also end up at a big, big goal, the base camp of the world highest mountain, Mt Everest. Congratulations . . . this is one goal that’s worth fighting for!
B/L/D, mountain lodge |
16,970 ft to 17,553 ft and return |
Day 16 |
Descending trek to Pheriche ~ Oct 22 7 milesAs we descend down the same valley that we hiked up, we’re going to use as many different trails as we can to give the feeling of a loop trek instead of an out and back. This brings us into the town of Dughla around lunch time, again, and from there, we’ll take the lower “flat” trail into the town of Pheriche. There’s a high-altitude medical clinic here, so if you suspect your body has been unduly tortured by the trek, the clinic is a great place to confirm!
B/L/D, mountain lodge |
14,000 ft |
Day 17 |
Trek to Tengboche Monastery, then Sanasa ~ Oct 23 9 milesOur destination today, the Tengboche Monastery, occupies a high place in Everest lore. Traditionally, beginning with the very first expeditions, Everest climbers had to stop at the monastery to perform a puja, or blessing ceremony, for their climb. These pujas and blessings are still bestowed on Everest climbers to this day. The monastery sits on a commanding ridge in the center of the Khumbu region. We’ll take our time walking here today as it’s not a particularly long downhill trek.
B/L/D, mountain lodge |
11,830 ft |
Day 18 |
Trek to beautiful lodge in Phakding ~ Oct 24 9 miles
The numbers tell the story of the day . . . we’re going downhill a good part of the day. Wear your downhill socks, batten down your laces, throw some Icy Hot on your quads, and let it roll. An hour into our hike, we’ll cruise one last time through the town of Namche Bazaar before spectacular morning views of the elusive spire of Kusum Kanguru come into view. As we descend, we walk into the greenery on the valley floor of the Dudh Kosi River. From there, it’s another couple of hours to our evening lodge, nesting high above the tumbling, milky river in our backyard. B/L/D, deluxe lodge. |
8,620 ft |
Day 19 |
Final ascent to Lukla! ~ Oct 25
I’ve always wanted to arrive early in Lukla, but have never gotten it done . . . it’s endlessly fascinating to watch the airplanes fly in and out of Lukla, seeing firsthand the skills of Nepal’s immensely talented pilots. With a hike of only 4.5 miles today (and clear skies), we have a chance at some quality time on the rooftop of the Buddha Lodge overlooking the takeoffs and landings. But first, our trek has one final twist; our “downvalley” trek actually traverses upwards along the side of the valley, so we get to finish in grand style . . . with an uphill. Remember though that we were downhilling all day yesterday . . . our quads and toes will be happier with a finishing ascent. B/L/D, deluxe lodge. |
9,365 ft |
Day 20 |
Fly to Kathmandu, check into hotel ~ Oct 26
Take your pick for the highlight of the day: the mountain flight to Kathmandu? checking into our pristine hotel, most likely the legendary Hotel Yak & Yeti? taking a dip in the pool? being propelled by something other than our legs? These are all great, but usually pale in comparison to showering and eating. Oh yes, our food will be delicious on trek, and there will be showers, but Kathmandu is a veritable smorgasbord for foodies, there’s endless hot water, and you’ll be able to throw on very clean clothes at the end. If any of you are itching to get out, I love Kathmandu and am always ready to show you a new adventure. Most however are content to eat, shower, rinse, repeat, so there will be very little beyond that on our agenda today. B/L/D, flight, airport transfer, 4 or 5-star hotel. |
4,500 ft |
Day 21 |
Free day to take in all of Kathmandu ~ Oct 27OK, today’s not exactly free, but if you’d rather enjoy the hotel pool, you’re more than welcome. But remember, I lived in Kathmandu for five years and I will show you the best the city has to offer – with a little crazy thrown in. Breakfast will be in the hotel garden and will be long and leisurely as we continue to try to nip the trekking calorie burn in the bud. Following will be a morning of relaxation, then a short walk to the tourist district of Thamel for lunch. From there we’ll walk into the very heart of old town Kathmandu just to test each and every one of our five senses. Then it’s onward to Indra Chowk, the bead market, and Kathmandu Durbar Square and its collection of ancient pagoda-style temples. As dusk approaches, we’ll taxi to Swayambhunath, aka, “The Monkey Temple” (photo below) brave its 365 ever-steepening steps to arrive at a mini-summit with a Buddhist stupa and a lot of monkeys. This shrine shows us a phenomenal mix of Tibetan Buddhism from the north and Indian Hinduism from the south meeting and mixing in Kathmandu. A farewell dinner ends our day with a bang! B/L/D, 4 or 5-star hotel. |
4,500 ft
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Day 22 |
Depart Kathmandu to International Layover City ~ Oct 28Most international flights depart Kathmandu in the afternoon or evening, and, we’ve only just scratched the surface of this ancient city, so we’ll most likely have time to take in another eye-popping temple or plaza and do a bit of shopping before we’re due at the airport. B/L, airport transfer. |
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Day 23 |
Fly from International Layover City to North America ~ Oct 29Expect to arrive on your doorstep sometime today! |