GOKYO – EVEREST TREK

DAYS 1 and 2. FLIGHT SPAIN – KATHMANDÚ AND ARRIVAL IN NEPAL
Reception at the airport and transfer to the center of Kathmandu, Thamel neighborhood.

Hotel accommodation, Kathmandu.

DAY 3. KATHMANDÚ
Breakfast.

After breakfast we will start our tour of Kathmandu, visiting the beautiful complex of Swayambhunath. It is one of the highest points in Kathmandu, so you can enjoy magnificent views of the city. If the day is clear you will even be able to see the Himalayas. In Swayambhunath you can see magnificent buildings built with the three types of traditional Nepalese architecture. The most popular of all is the fantastic Swayambhunath stupa, also called the Monkey Temple. Then we will move to the shore of the Bagmati River, to visit the Hindu temple of Pashupatinath. Foreigners are not allowed to enter, but from the other side of the river you can observe, always with great respect, the funeral rites of the cremations of Hinduism. Another must-see on any Kathmandu itinerary is the Bouddhanath Buddhist Zone. It is the most important monument in the Tibetan neighborhood of Kathmandu. The most impressive thing about this place is its giant spherical stupa, one of the largest in the world. There you can also visit several monasteries of Tibetan Buddhist monks. To conclude we will visit, in the heart of the city, the fabulous Durbar Square. Very well preserved Newari architecture, magnificent temples and statues, and above all an incredible setting in this imperial square. Be sure to haggle and buy something in the lively street market. Very close to Durbar Square is the Kumari Ghar. It is a beautiful palace of Newari architecture located in the heart of Kathmandu.

Hotel accommodation, Kathmandu.

DAY 4. FLIGHT TO LUKLA AND TREKKING UNTIL PHAKDING (2652M) – 3 HOURS
Breakfast dinner.

Transfer in the morning to the airport to take the flight to Lukla. Organise the equipment and start the trek to the village of Phalding. On the way we will be able to observe the green valley with beautiful views over the Kusum Kangguru (6,367 m).

Accommodation in guesthouse.

DAY 5. TREK UNTIL NAMCHE BAZAAR (3441M) – 6 HOURS
Breakfast, lunch, dinner.

Our trek will follow the valley of the Dudh Kosi river, ascending between pine and cedar forests of the Himalayas until we reach the capital of the Sherpas, Namche Bazaar. The village of Namche is a historic crossing point for Nepalese and Tibetan merchants who exchanged salt, meat and textiles. Today it has become the center of operations for treks and expeditions heading towards Mount Everest. We will stay two days in Namche to acclimatize well. In this period we will visit the local markets and explore on foot.

Accommodation in guesthouse.

DAY 6. ACCLIMATION, WALK TO EVEREST VIEW HOTEL (3900M) – 3/4 HOURS
Breakfast, lunch, dinner.

Acclimatization day, we will walk up the mountain until we reach the Syangboche airport (3700m) and then climb up to the Mt. Everest View Hotel to be able to contemplate a beautiful panoramic view of Everest, Lhotse, Ama Dablam, Tawache etc. On the way back, after lunch, we will visit the Sherpa Culture Museum and the Mount Everest photo gallery photo exhibition.

Accommodation in guesthouse.

DAY 7. TREK TO PHORSTE THANGA (3680 M) OR DOLE (4200M) – 5 HOURS
Breakfast, lunch, dinner.

We will start on an easy trail until we reach Kyangjuma and then ascend through the valley between rhododendron, juniper and large coniferous forests. Along the way we will pass by numerous Kharkas, Sherpa settlements used for grazing yak herds. Then we will pass through Tongba (3950m) and Gyele (3960m) before reaching Dole. The views from there over the Khumbila and the Tawache (6542m) are magnificent.

Accommodation in guesthouse.

DAY 8. TREK TO MACHHERMO (4470M) – 5 HOURS
Breakfast, lunch, dinner.

We will ascend to Lambara at 4220 m and Luza at 4360 m. This stretch of road is steeper and climbs through juniper bushes. We will pass next to some Kharkas before crossing the low buttresses of the mountain and in this way we will reach Machhermo (4410m). Locals say that here in Machhermo is where the Yeti killed three yaks and wounded a Sherpa woman, in 1974, this event is considered to be the most conclusive proof of this being’s existence.

Accommodation in guesthouse.

DAY 9. TREK TO GOKYO (4790M) – 4 HOURS
Breakfast, lunch, dinner.

We will start the day by climbing a promontory with excellent views of both the valley we are leaving behind and Cho Oyu (8201 m) which dominates the valley to the north. Beyond this hill the valley widens and the trail passes through Pangka (4390m) and then descends a little before beginning the ascent to the terminal moraine of the Ngozumpa glacier. We will climb the steep moraine until we reach a small lake (4650m) where ducks and other birds are commonly sighted. Then the path climbs again and we reach the end of the stage (4790m).

Accommodation in guesthouse.

DAY 10. ASCENT TO GOKYO RI (5483M) – 5 HOURS
Breakfast, lunch, dinner.

We will get up early for the ascent to the Gokyo Ri, where we have a panoramic view of the Mahalangur Himalaya. It will take us about 3 hours to reach the summit and this will provide us with excellent views over the peaks of Cho-Oyu, Gyachung Kang, Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, Cholatse, Tawache and also a beautiful view of the Ngozumpa glacier, the largest in Nepal. After the activity, we will descend back to Gokyo to rest, eat drink tea.

Accommodation in guesthouse.

DAY 11. TREK TO THANGNA (4500M) – 4 HOURS
Breakfast, lunch, dinner.

Trekking to the foot of the Cho La pass.

Accommodation in guesthouse.

DAY 12. CROSSING THE COLO CHO LA (5300M) AND TREK TO DZONGLA (4710M) – 7 HOURS.
Breakfast, lunch, dinner.

This will be the longest trekking day and therefore we will have to wake up around 5 in the morning to get to the top of the hill at around 9 or 10 to enjoy favourable weather conditions. Crossing the pass in bad weather, wind or snow can be an exposing experience, hence our early start.. From above, if time permits, we will be able to enjoy some beautiful views before descending to Dzongla.

Accommodation in guesthouse.

DAY 13. TREK TO LOBUCHE (4910M) – 4 HOURS
Breakfast, lunch, dinner.

Today we have a quiet and rested day ahead with a short walk to Lobuche and time to rest from yesterday’s exursion.

Accommodation in guesthouse.

DAY 14. TREK TO EVEREST BASE CAMP (5400M) AND BACK TO GORAK SHEP (5181M) – 8 HOURS
Breakfast, lunch, dinner.

A walk of about two hours will take us to Gorak Shep and then continue to Everest Base Camp. The height gain is not excessive but the road makes numerous ups and downs, which combined with the altitude make the day hard and demanding. After around 3 hours we will arrive at the Base Camp, where we will be able to observe the giant waterfall of the Khumbu, around which the expeditions going to the summit of Everest have to circumnavigate. Return in the afternoon to Gorak shep.

Accommodation in guesthouse. 

DAY 15. ASCENT TO KALAPATTAR (5545M) AND TREK UNTIL PERICHE – 7 HOURS
Breakfast, lunch, dinner.

The day will begin with the ascent to Kalapattar (5545 mtrs.), The classic viewpoint of Everest, where we will be able to contemplate a colossal panoramic view of Everest and Nuptse as well as other imposing peaks such as the Pumori. Then we will descend again to Gorak Shep to have breakfast and continue our downhill trek to Periche (4200m).

Accommodation in guesthouse.

DAY 16. TREK TO NAMCHE BAZZAR (3441M) – 6 HOURS
Breakfast, lunch, dinner.

Little by little we will be leaving behind the great mountains and crossing the villages and hanging bridges over the Imja Khola River. We will pass through the Tengboche monastery (3,860 m), the most important in the Solo Khumbu region. Descent to Pungki Thanka and ascent to Namche.

Accommodation in guesthouse.

DAY 17. TREK TO LUKLA (2800M) – 6 HOURS
Breakfast, lunch, dinner.

Descent through the Dudh Kosi valley to Lukla.
Accommodation in guesthouse.

DAY 18. FLIGHT BACK TO KATHMANDÚ (1310M)
Breakfast.

30 minute flight to Kathmandu. If weather permits, we can see some mountains from the air. Arrival before noon in Kathmandu. In the afternoon we will have free time.

Hotel accommodation, Kathmandu.

DAY 19. VISIT TO PATAN AND BHAKTAPUR (VALLEY OF KATHMANDÚ).
Breakfast.

Visit to the Kathmandu Valley. Bhaktapur, the city of devotees, is the third of the medieval cities alongside Patan and Kathmandu. Bhaktapur is a true open-air museum, a maze of cobbled streets where Hindu temples and Buddhist shrines proliferate, as well as religious works of art on squares, streets and facades of buildings. Durbar Square is a succession of temples, monasteries and beautiful buildings with elaborate wood carvings on doors and windows around the royal palace. We will visit Chyasilin Mandap, the reconstruction around the original metal structure of a striking octagonal temple destroyed by the 1934 earthquake, the water cistern with a picturesque crocodile-shaped fountain, and the Temple of Pashupatinath; the oldest temple in the square which is dedicated to Shiva and is known for it’s striking erotic figures. After a five-minute walk we find another historic square, Taumadhi Square dominated by the spectacular Temple of Nyatapola (1702) and dedicated to the goddess Lakshmi, with its five roofs at 30m. is the highest in Nepal. Another point of interest is the Plaza de los Alfareros which is everything related to the world of ceramics. In Patan we tour around Durban Square, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The square is full of ancient palaces, temples, shrines, and sculptures. A long corridor divides the square and makes our visit easier. On one side are the Vishwanath Temple (1,627), a fantastic two-roofed pagoda with wooden friezes and stone carvings dedicated to Shiva. There are statues of Nandi and Ganesh, and the access stairs are protected by two elephants. Nearby is the Jagannarayan Temple (1,565), the oldest in the square.

Hotel accommodation, Kathmandu.

DAY 20. KATHMANDÚ FLIGHT – SPAIN
Breakfast.

Breakfast at the hotel. Free in Kathmandu until the time whn we will transfer to the airport to take the flight home.