Overview
The heights of trekking are not achieved in life, unless the die-hard does not attempt the Everest High Pass Circuit Trek in one lifetime. The trek is done on virgin glaciers, jagged tortuous trails, valleys of sparse settlements and ancient passes used by some who first broke the boundaries of human civilization.
The trek is all done in the Khumbu region with a bird’s eye and bewitching view of some of the highest peaks in the world under the inhabitants-the local Sherpa community who have for centuries made it their home to guide and inspire you on your conquest of your inner-self.
The trek, though arduous, takes you past boulders and flattering flags with inscribed prayers, soaring up to the peaks in reverence, giving you the sense that each part of nature is so intricately linked to human endearment. Each valley, glacier, pass, and forest you pass seems to have its own legend and myth, secretly telling you to carry on.
Itinerary
You will be met at Tribhuwan International Airport by a representative of Green Lotus Trekking holding a welcome placard and token for your overnight stay at a hotel in Kathmandu and to freshen up. Prior to dinner, a briefing will be held. You could spend the rest of the day resting or wandering around the city of Kathmandu, sightseeing.
From Kathmandu, 35 minutes or drive to Manthali/Ramechhap (474 m) – 5 to 6 hours and a 20 minutes flight to Lukla, and then trek to Phakding (2,610 m) – 3 to 4 hours. Overnight at a guesthouse.
After a short while from Pakding, you will cross the river and move up the valley; the trail stays close to the river valley—a beautiful sight with blue pine and rhododendron forest. You again cross the Dudh Kosi River at Benkar, getting glimpses of the snow-dusted peaks of Kusum Kanguru (6369m) and Thamserku (6623m). A short walk to Monjo (2835m) gets you there in time for lunch. The trek here is along flat terrain till the confluence of the Bhote and Dudh Kosi Rivers, after which you start your steep climb at a steady pace to Namche Bazaar. Here is a chance to showcase your photographic skills of Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse, and Taweche initially.
Today you will acclimatize for the day to the altitude you are at. Namche Bazaar is a prosperous town which gained popularity when salt was traded to Tibet from the low lands. It is still a market town for village rugs, Chinese-made products, clothes, salt, and dried meat. Take the opportunity to view the sunrise and set at the national park above the town and to get a stunning view of Everest and other Khumbu peaks. If not, a variety of options are available-a walk to Thami (3810m) above the Bhote Khola River Valley or to the National Park to see the interesting Sherpa lifestyle and information on the flora and fauna. Your guide will offer you advice and escort you on your walk.
The trail moves to the side of the valley, high above the Dudh Kosi. Here we get a really good view of the peaks of the Khumbu region, such as Mount Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse, and Ama Dablam. Trekking past a few villages and many tea-houses, we move down steeply to a bridge over a river at Phunki Tenga, a proper place for rest and lunch before we hit the steep climb to Tengboche, dropping off just before we hit Devuche. The trail is a taxing zigzag but is rewarded with the pretty sights of rhododendron bushes, beautiful birds, and mountain scenery.
After a short descent, you will cross the Imjo Khola (stream). The trail gradually climbs with a wonderful view of Ama Dablam (mountain) onto the village of Pangboche, from where we head towards Tawachee. The walk becomes more pleasing as you ascend high above the Imjo Khola and teahouses at Orsho, ahead of crossing the river and old glacial moraines as we head to Dingboche. You are always above the tree line and can expect a spectacular sunset. Since it is a tiring walk, it is advisable to take the advice of the guide.
At Dingboche, we get to acclimatize to the high altitude. It is a beautiful patchwork of petite fields surrounded by stone walls. The Tawachee seem to touch the heavens. Your guide may advise you on a short trip to Chukkung, a valley; it’s a worthwhile short excursion where you get to see the south face of Lhotse and Island Peak. A hike up the hill will give you a scintillating view of the fifth highest mountain, Makalu.
Early in the morning, you will ascend a small ridge behind the village above the Pherich Valley. From this height, Taweche and Cholatse are a wonderful sight. Towards the north, Lubuje Peak and the snowfields of Chola capture the skyline. Walking is quite flat, but beware of topping up on fluids. Late morning, you will cross Khumbu Khola (stream) and sit down for lunch at the foot of the moraine of Khumbu Glacier fed by Everest. The afternoon climb will be quite steep to the top of the moraine. At the top of the crest, you will pass memorial cairns of dead Sherpas and other Everest expeditions. Here you get a spectacular view of Pumori (7145m), Lingtren(6697m), Khumbutse(6623m) and Changtse(7750m) in Tibet. You will follow a stream to Lobuche. The trip may be tiring, but it is worth the while.
We follow the winding Khumbu Glacier through ice pinnacles and crevasses. Everest Base Camp does not hold any permanent settlement except the dotted camps of those aspiring to scale Everest. Later, we trek down via the Khumbu Glacier to the summer pastoral camp of the yak headers at Gorekshep.
We head first towards Kalla Pattar (Black Rocks) (55455m) to get a picturesque view of Mount Everest from an eastern angle. After an hour of the breathtaking view, we head for the day’s destination at Dzongla. From Gorakshep it is a steady descent to Lobuche along a flat river bed, and then the route moves upwards to Dzongla. On the way, we get lovely views of Lobuche, Lobuche west, Cholatse and Tabuche.
Initially, the going is on a flat stone trail across an arid valley and climbs steadily as we head closer to Cho La Glacier, a half-hour walk across an icy walk. After crossing Cho La Pass (5420m), we hike down a stony trail to Phedi. The path goes up a bit and finally goes down to Thangma on the way, giving us glimpses of Macchermo peak. From here we head to Gokyo along a glacier path to the first Gokyo lakes, following a path along the Dudh Kosi stream to the third lake.
An early morning start is best for Gokyo Ri, which is steady and unrelenting. You will be exuberant on reaching the summit with the spectacular view of the comprehensive view of 8,000 meter peaks in Nepal-Cho Oyu(8153m), Gyangchung Kang(7922m), Lhotse(8501m), Makalu(8475m), Cholatse(6440m), Taweche(6542m), Kantega(6685m), Thamserku(6808m), Lobuche(6145m) and Mount Everest(8848m). Further below is the largest glacier in Nepal, Ngozumpa Glacier. Here we get to view the entire expansion of the Himalayan range in relative peace.
We trace our steps back to the first lake to climb steadily to Renjo La Pass (5345m), then continue down via the west side of the pass till we reach Lungden, more of a small collection of huts rather than a village. All the way, we get the disappearing views of Gokyo lakes and the diminishing view of the Khumbu mountain range.
We take the eastward trail to head to Thame, a beautiful village on the western side of the Khumbu region, which joins the Rolwaling Himalayan range. On reaching Thame, we get the rest of the day to rest and explore the surrounding mountainous Himalayan scenery.
After enjoying a hearty breakfast, we begin our descent to Namche, retracing the trail we previously followed. As we trek, we pass through Pangboche village and then continue on to Tengboche village. We cross a suspension bridge and proceed along a forest trail, eventually arriving at Namche Bazaar.
Today marks the conclusion of your Everest Base Camp adventure as we make our way to Lukla. After breakfast, we depart from Namche Bazaar and begin our trek back to Lukla. Since this is your final day in the Everest region, take some time to explore the village and reflect on the unforgettable experiences you've had along the trail. Celebrate the lifelong memories you've created during this journey.
Option 1: Lukla to Manthali Flight (March, April, May, October, and November)
Flight Duration: 20 minutes from Lukla to Manthali.
Ground Transfer: Following the flight, there is a 5 to 6-hour drive to Kathmandu. Please note that driving times may vary depending on highway traffic conditions.
Transfer: Upon arrival in Kathmandu, you will be transferred to your hotel via a shared tourist vehicle.
Option 2: Lukla to Kathmandu Flight (January, February, June, July, August, September, and December)
Flight Duration: Approximately 35 minutes from Lukla to Kathmandu.
Transfer: Upon arrival at the airport in Kathmandu, you will be transferred to your hotel via a shared tourist vehicle.
Important Note: Flight operations are subject to airline decisions and may vary based on traveler volume during specific months.
Helicopter Option
Cost: USD 550 per person (based on a group of 5 passengers).
Details: For those looking to avoid the long drive from Manthali to Kathmandu during peak seasons (March, April, May, October, and November), a direct helicopter flight from Lukla to Kathmandu is available. This option provides a quicker and more convenient alternative.
The trip concludes—our airport representative will drop you off at Kathmandu’s Tribhuwan International Airport for your flight departure from Nepal.
US $1460 Per Person
Cost Includes
- Price Includes:
- All airport to hotel to airport transfers,
- Two nights Kathmandu hotel in 3 star category hotel with daily breakfast,
- Kathmandu-Lukla-Kathmandu airfare ($360 approx),
- English speaking guide and porter(s),
- Staff/Crew insurances
- Use of trek pack (i.e. sleeping bag, down/fiber filled jacket, and duffel/kit bag).
- Everest National Park and TIMS permit.
Cost Excludes
- International airfare.
- Nepal entry visa fee.
- Travel or trek insurance.
- Kathmandu lunch and dinner expenses.
- On trek meal and accommodations (allow US $20 to $25 per day).
- Gratitude or tips (allow $3 per day per person).
You can find good places to trek somewhere in the Himalayas at anytime of the year. However, for most regions, the best time is from October to May, with October to November having the best weather for trekking. During the autumn, nights are cold in the high Himalaya, but the bright sun makes for a pleasant daytime temperature (20 degrees centigrade to 5 degrees centigrade in the night). Above 3500m, the temperature range goes down to -10 degrees centigrade, and in winter (Dec-Jan), it is about 10 degrees colder.
While you do not need to be super-fit, you need to be fit enough to comfortably walk for 5–6 hours per day in the mountains on reasonable trails. Most of our customers have an interest in walking in the hills or countryside of their homeland and are used to similar daily trips.
We pride ourselves on our small group approach to adventure travel. Small groups allow you to share great company without crowding your experience. Our typical groups range in size from 2 up to 8. One of the attractions of such a trip is the chance to meet people with different backgrounds and personalities.
If this is the case, we can organize a personalized trek for you. Additionally, if you want to spend more time in Kathmandu before or after a trek, we can organize the hotels and quote you a price.
If you are a group of two or more, the trip is guaranteed to run.
Usually, our clients simply bring their existing clothing and equipment and, if necessary, supplement this with some extra items purchased cheaply in Kathmandu.
What gear to bring?
- Passport (with photocopies)
- Photos for Nepal visa on arrival:
- Travel insurance (with photocopies)
- flight tickets (photocopies)
- Daypack for daily personal items
For Trekking:
- Walking boots
- Light sandals or plimsolls to wear in the lodges
- 2 pairs of underwear.
- 2 pairs of walking socks.
- 2 thick fleece or warm shirts
- 1 pair thin thermal underwear
- Long trousers for walking (or a long skirt for women)
- T-shirt
- Shorts
- Gloves (it’s cold on the Thorung La, Laurebina Pass and Cho La)
- A warm hat which covers your ears (for the Kali Gandaki and Thorung La – it’s windy)
- Base ball caps or broad brim hats to keep the sun off (Australian Barmah recommended)
- Sunglasses (vital)
- Sun cream
- Soap dish and soap
- small towel
- Toothbrush and toothpaste.
- Wet wipes or moist towelettes
- Hand sanitizing lotion
- Head torch
- Moisturizer, Lip balm
- Tampons are hard to buy in rural areas.
- Ear plugs for light sleepers
- Toiletries
- Sheet of plastic (use as a poncho if it rains)
- 1 toilet paper roll. You can buy more on the way.
- 2 large plastic bags. One for smelly clothes, one for things that must be kept dry.
- A small, good quality padlock
- Water bottle
- Iodine tablets for water purification
- Protein bars, chocolate, dried fruits, candies, and snack foods.
Notes: All of the trekking items are available in Kathmandu at nominal prices. However, we suggest you bring hiking boots from your home country if you decide to purchase these items in Kathmandu .
Yes, all hotels provide storage facilities for free.
Personal travel insurance is not included in the tour price. It is a condition of booking a tour with Green Lotus Trekking, and your responsibility to ensure that the type of tour you are undertaking, the policy must include satisfactory cover for repatriation, high altitudes, trekking and climbing, and helicopter rescue. Please forward your insurance details (e.g. policy number, 24-hour emergency telephone number, and name of insurance company) to Green Lotus Trekking when available.
Yes. You can apply in your home country through the Nepalese Embassy or Consulate or obtain it at the airport on arrival by paying a fee as below:
- Multiple entries for 15 days: $25 USD
- Multiple entries for 30 days: $40 USD
- Multiple entries within 90 days: US $100
Notes: We suggest you bring the exact change. You also need to bring two passport-size photos.
Tourist Visa Extension
The visa extension fee for 15 days or less is US $ 30 or equivalent convertible currency, and the visa extension fee for more than 15 days is US$ 2 per day.
A tourist visa can be extended for a maximum period of 150 days in a single visa year (January–December).
Gratis (Free) Visa
A gratis visa for 30 days is available only for tourists from SAARC countries.
Indian nationals do not require a visa to enter Nepal.
Normally single trekkers have no problems fitting in with a group. Normally single trekkers share rooms or lodges with other trekkers of the same sex, but if we have an odd-number we ensure that a room or lodge is organised accordingly.
To confirm your booking, we will require a deposit of $250 for treks and $300 for peak climbing, which can be made by bank transfer or online through paypal.com (the leading transaction site). The balance is payable on arrival in Kathmandu with cash or traveler’s cheque. Alternatively, the balance can be paid by bank transfer or PayPal shortly before arriving in Kathmandu.
The following details are needed to process your trekking permit, national park permit, flight booking etc.
- Gender:
- First Name:
- Last Name:
- Passport number:
- Expiry date:
- Issue location:
- Nationality:
- Year of birth:
- Occupation:
- Your arrival details (time, date, flight number, airline):
All the above info can be sent electronically via email.
You will typically walk 4–9 miles (5-8 hours) each day. Some days may be rest days for impromptu exploration. In high and steep areas, you may move more slowly. Most people begin to feel the effects of high altitude over about 2000 meters, and your trekking pace is always adjusted to permit safe acclimatization. Our treks follow established trails used by local people. You will probably carry only a light daypack.
You can hike at your own pace, stopping when you wish. There is ample time to cover the necessary hiking distance each day with lots of stops. If you are on a private trek, you may wish to take more or fewer days to cover a given distance, or add in rest days. If you like to hike fast, your guide will be concerned that you acclimatize to high altitude effectively. You may wish to reach camp at a measured pace, but take a side hike after arriving at camp. Your guide is always interested in learning about your personal interests and accommodating those interests as the trip permits.
Altitude sickness, often known as acute mountain sickness (AMS), is a particularly important medical consideration while trekking in Nepal. Altitude sickness means the effect of altitude on those who ascend too rapidly to elevations above 3000 meters. The initial symptoms of AMS are as follows:
- nausea, vomiting
- Loss of appetite
- Insomnia or sleeplessness
- Persistent headaches
- Dizziness, light headaches, confusion,
- Disorientation, drunken gait
- Weakness, fatigue, lassitude, heavy legs, slight swelling of hands and face.
- Breathlessness and breathing irregularly
- Reduced urine output
These symptoms are to be taken very seriously. In the event of the appearance of any of the above symptoms, any further ascent should be reconsidered; otherwise more serious problems can occur, which can cause death, sometimes within a few hours. The only cure for altitude sickness is to descend to lower elevations immediately. Acclimatization by ascending to no more than 300 to 500 meters per day above 3000 meters and the proper amount of rest are the best methods for prevention of AMS.
Our itineraries are designed so that our clients ascend at a sensible and safe rate. The effects of altitude are felt by everyone, even the Sherpas, but most people find that gentle acclimatization allows them to reach their high point without any problems.
Accommodation: There are a number of lodges along the popular trekking routes in the Annapurna, Everest, and Langtang regions. These lodges are called “Tea House Lodges” and are managed by local people. Private rooms, dormitories, toilets, shower rooms with hot and cold water, and one attached restaurant are among the basic requirements for overnight accommodation at these lodges.The quality of food offered might vary from lodge to lodge, but most serve simple and hygienic meals. The teahouse trek provides you an opportunity to feel the warm hospitality of friendly Nepali hosts. The money you spend goes to the local community.
Camping Trekking
In a typical camping trip, each pair of trekkers will sleep in a spacious mountain tent with a durable rain fly and full insect netting. The tent is fitted with foam mattresses. When your campsite is near villages or lodges, you may be invited to sleep in the lodges or homes of local people.
Breakfast options include oatmeal,French toast,Chapatti, Tibetan bread, eggs, pancakes, muesli, and for lunch or dinner you can have sandwiches, soups, momo (dumplings), macaroni dishes, pizzas, noodles, steak, dal bhat (rice, lenthal, veg platter), pasta, etc.
Our trekking guides are carefully selected for their ability and are generally from Sherpa, Tamang, Gurung, Magar, and other communities from remote mountain villages. Each guide is trained in eco-friendly trekking methods and safety measures. They help to maintain your health and your happiness as well as the crew members. Our guides are committed to making sure that all our trekkers have an enjoyable trek, come back safe and are overwhelmed by their experience. Your guide will be a friend and companion, who takes pleasure in showing you his country’s specialties and, perhaps, meeting his home and family too.
The majority of the fees our clients pay go directly into the community where you trek.
Tipping is at your discretion and always appreciated. A good rule of thumb is anywhere from $2–5 dollars per day for the guide and $1.5–3 dollars per day per porter. The total amount can then be divided among the group.
Please have them contact us at any of the following numbers:
Cells: +977-9841250258, +977-9841269376
We check email frequently throughout the day, so you could also write to our email: info@green-lotus-trekking.com if it’s not urgent.
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