Everest Base Camp Trek and Kala Patthar Ascent

Arrival in Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal. Please arrive by 13:00 local time. A team representative will meet participants at the airport. Transfer to the hotel and check-in. Once the group has assembled, the guide checks that every participant has suitable footwear, warm clothing, a sleeping bag, and everything else needed for the trek. Any missing items can be purchased tomorrow in Kathmandu. In the evening, we gather for a welcome dinner, get to know the team, and discuss the route.

One day remains before the trek begins. We check the equipment once more and, if necessary, go to the shops for any missing items. We pack the luggage to be carried by porters separately and prepare the backpacks we will carry each day. Free time can be spent walking around Kathmandu. In the evening, there is a group briefing and an early bedtime.

Breakfast at the hotel in Kathmandu, then transfer to the airport. Check-in, baggage weighing, and a direct flight to Lukla. We collect our luggage, meet the local team, and set off toward Phakding. The first trek is short, giving us time to gradually settle into a walking rhythm. On the way, we cross the first suspension bridge in Nepal.

After Phakding, we continue ascending through the valley. We cross Hillary Bridge, decorated with prayer flags. Beyond the bridge, the climb to Namche Bazaar begins—the main settlement in the Khumbu region. The houses stand on a wooded slope, and the town resembles a large amphitheatre. We check in, rest a little, and walk to the monument to Tenzing Norgay. We climb to a viewpoint. In good weather, we will see Everest and Lhotse here for the first time.

We stay another night in Namche Bazaar. After breakfast, we set out on an acclimatization hike to the Everest View Hotel. We climb above our overnight elevation and spend several hours there. Then we go to Khumjung, to a monastery that houses a relic known as the “yeti scalp.” In Khumjung, we will also see the first school for Sherpa children, built by the Edmund Hillary Foundation. After the walk, we return to Namche.

We leave Namche Bazaar and continue deeper into Khumbu. On the way, we visit the Buddhist Tengboche Monastery. It was founded in 1916; pilgrims and mountaineers heading for Everest come here. After the monastery, we continue to Deboche.

We continue gaining altitude. We cross a suspension bridge from which, in good weather, we will see Ama Dablam. The trail then leads to Dingboche. After checking in, we rest. At this elevation, it is important to drink enough fluids and pay close attention to our wellbeing.

The second acclimatization day. After breakfast, we climb above Dingboche. We spend some time above our overnight elevation and then descend back. In clear weather, Himalayan peaks are visible from here, and we will see Ama Dablam from a new angle. We return to the lodge by lunchtime. We rest for the remainder of the day.

We leave Dingboche heading toward Lobuche. On the way, we pass through a memorial to mountaineers who died in the Himalayas. We then continue climbing to the settlement. The higher we climb, the more basic the conditions in the lodges become.

Today we trek to Everest Base Camp. From Lobuche, we first trek to Gorak Shep and then continue to the camp, from which mountaineering expeditions set out to climb. After visiting the camp, we return to Gorak Shep. It is a long day, one of the longest on the route. We will spend a significant part of the route above 5,000 metres. We proceed calmly at a steady pace.

An early start and ascent of Kala Patthar. In good weather, we will see Everest and the surrounding mountains from the summit. After a short stop, we descend to Gorak Shep. We have breakfast and continue down the valley. By evening, we arrive in Pheriche, check in, and rest.

We continue descending along the familiar route to Namche Bazaar. There will be shops, cafés, and restaurants here again. After checking in, the rest of the time is free. You can rest, walk around town, or visit the Sherpa Museum, dedicated to the history and culture of the people of Khumbu.

The final walking day of the program. We leave Namche Bazaar and return to Lukla through the valleys, forests, and suspension bridges of Khumbu. Before reaching Lukla, we stop at a coffee shop and try the local coffee. After the trek, we rest and pack our things for the morning flight.

In the morning, we walk to Lukla Airport and fly directly to Kathmandu. After landing, we transfer to the hotel. Check in and rest. In the evening, the whole group gathers for a celebratory dinner and the presentation of certificates to participants.

Contingency day in case of bad weather, a delayed flight, or a cancelled flight from Lukla. If we return as planned, we will spend it in Kathmandu. You can walk around the city, see the sights, or buy souvenirs. If the group wishes, we will arrange a walking tour with a professional Russian-speaking guide. The tour is paid for separately.

Flight home. The return flight can be scheduled for any time. We arrange transfers from the hotel to the airport according to participants’ flight schedules. This marks the end of the program.