From Namche Bazaar to Tengboche and Ama Dablam
Everest Lodge to Lodge
Overview
Trek into the cloud-perched villages of the legendary Sherpa realm below mighty Everest. Our beautifully designed journey is the ideal Himalayan experience, with superbly accomplished Trek Leaders who welcome you into the heart of Sherpa life. We'll explore the lively town of Namche Bazaar, remote Phortse, well off the main trekking route, and venerated Tengboche Monastery (12,650'). We also visit Pangboche, with its yeti legends, and have an option to hike to Ama Dablam Base Camp. You've come for the mountains, but the Sherpa people will capture your heart. Sherpa-owned lodges provide a convivial place to stay.
Arrive: Kathmandu, Nepal
Depart: Kathmandu, Nepal
Highlights
- Enjoy perfectly paced hikes each day that bring you to beautiful Sherpa villages
- Meet the Sherpa people in their homes, shops, and monasteries
- Savor breathtaking vistas of some of Nepal's most famous mountains
- Stay in the Khumbu's best lodges
Itinerary
From Kathmandu, travel to Lukla—the “airstrip in the air” at 9,350 feet, and hike to our lodge, set along the Dudh Kosi River. We hike further the next day to Namche Bazaar, the charming Sherpa trading center, with two nights to acclimatize. Dramatically set in a horseshoe-shaped bowl, the town is headquarters of Sagarmatha National Park. Glorious mountain vistas surround us on our day hike up to the twin villages of Khunde (12,600') and Khumjung (12,400'). In Khumjung, we may visit the Hillary School and the village monastery, with its purported yeti scalp.
A hike past mani (prayer) walls brings us to Tengboche Monastery, festooned with Tibetan prayer flags and always humming with activity. Tengboche is surrounded by dramatic mountains, including Kangtega and Thamserku. From Pangboche, site of the oldest monastery in the region, our optional day hike up to Ama Dablam Base Camp (15,400') gives us phenomenal panoramas of stunning Ama Dablam.
We traverse the Imja Khola Valley, enjoying views of Tengboche and Ama Dablam as we make our way to tranquil Phortse, a town set off the main Everest route. After a last view of Everest’s distant summit, fly to Kathmandu on Day 12. Depart on Day 14, or extend for a spectacular Everest overflight, game viewing at Tharu Lodge near Chitwan National Park, or a stay at Tiger Mountain Pokhara Lodge for stunning Annapurna views.
Please note the Mani Rimdu Festival departures are 15 days in length (one day longer than our standard trip) and spend an extra night in Deboche.
Accommodations
Scroll through our signature accommodations for this trip below. Although it is highly unlikely, we may make substitutions when necessary.
What the Trip is Like
This trip is Level 5, Strenuous. Most hiking is between 9,000 and 12,000 feet, and the maximum sleeping elevation reached is 12,660 feet (at Pangboche, we will visit the monastery located at 13,000 feet and there is an opportunity to hike even higher).
Review Trip Level Details
Trail conditions can be primitive, and there is a good bit of up-and-down (often 2,000- to 3,000-foot gain or loss in elevation per day). For the most part, you can hike at your own speed; the group will spread out along the trail during the day to cover a normal maximum of 8 to 10 miles per day (3-6 hours of hiking). Trip members carry only a daypack with camera, jacket, rain gear, water bottle, and other small necessities.
Although you carry only a daypack on the hikes, there are steep ascents and descents, so for your own enjoyment, we recommend you make a special effort to be in good physical condition. Daily brisk walking and/or regular hiking (or using a stair-climbing machine at your gym) are excellent preparatory exercises. You should wear sturdy, well-broken-in hiking boots for maximum comfort on the trail.
Hiking distances on trek are normally measured in hours, not miles, since maps aren't really accurate enough to assess how far we walk up and down winding mountain trails. On a typical trek day, wake-up is around 7:00 am. After packing up our duffels and having breakfast, we set off on the trail. There is always a guide in the lead and a "sweeper" who trails behind the slowest hiker to ensure that no one is lost on the trail. We ask you not to hike ahead of the leader because trails are often not well-marked. We typically walk for three to four hours in the morning, then stop for a leisurely lunch of an hour or more. After lunch, we walk for another three hours or so until we reach our next night's lodging, where we can enjoy a cup of tea and relax before dinner.
All our meals are taken at the lodges. On our exploration days, we occasionally have more time in the morning or afternoon near the lodge to rest or for further individual exploration. Temperatures drop quickly as the sun falls behind the peaks, and it's easy to get chilled after exerting yourself for several hours, so have an extra layer of clothing ready.
Our lodge-based treks are led by an experienced English-speaking Sirdar (leader) who is ably assisted by a team of assistants and a trail crew. He and his team have a deep connection with the Himalayas and are wonderful trailside companions, hiking with you throughout each day on the trail, providing good company, and making sure that you are comfortable and hiking at a pace that suits you.
Client Testimonials
"Perfection!"
Charlene R.
Scottsdale, AZ
"This was an awesome trip. Even if you've seen pictures of the Everest mountain range, up close and personal, it's breathtaking!! Pictures can't do them justice—a land of giants. The itinerary is incredibly well thought through—WT has this down pat through years of tuning and feedback."
David M.
Atherton, CA
"This trip was beyond all expectations."
Giovanna M.
Boise, ID
"This was an outstanding experience. The cultural experience was beyond that of any trip I've taken."
Glenn K.
Enid OK
"This was an outstanding adventure travel experience! The trekking, scenery and cultural experiences were phenomenal!"
Helane L.
Salt Lake City, UT
"Could not have been better—itinerary, staff, organization, food, everything was perfect. WT did a fantastic job."
Ivy S.
Brooklyn, NY
"This was a magnificent trip, perfect from beginning to end. I loved every minute of it."
Julie O.
Alexandria, VA
"The trip was awesome. Amazing scenery and the cultural experience was great."
Ken G.
Orlando, FL
"This trip was epic! Harder than anticipated but really seven vacations wrapped into one! A lifetime of memories."
Lynn M.
Huntington Station, NY
"Niraj was by far the best guide I have ever had for any trip. He was brilliant, engaging, funny, extremely kind and overall a true gem. Wilderness Travel is very fortunate to have him. He made the trip a success."
Madeline G.
Oakland, CA
"The trip was masterfully designed. We had an absolute ball. Nepal is a beautiful country with wonderful people. The memories we took home will be cherished for a long time to come."
Matthew F.
Fort Worth, TX
"I have nothing but raves for the trip—the design, the people, the accommodations, the logistics."
Roni L.
Laguna Beach, CA
"Everest Lodge to Lodge was everything I hoped for and more."
Samantha L.
New York, NY
"A great trip! Bala and his staff were wonderful and took care of us like we were a part of their family. I will never forget the first views of the mountains, the smiling people, the temples, the prayer wheels, the food, our fellow travelers, everything that made it one of life's great adventures."
Woody H.
Evergreen, CO
Other Trips You Might Like
Browse All Trips
Book your trip today
Our Area Specialists know every detail about our tours. They will be happy to answer any questions and help you choose the journey that’s right for you. Contact us to learn more or book your trip today!
Itinerary
Submit the form below to download itinerary
Trip Levels
With more than 200 different adventures to choose from, we want to help you find the trip that’s right for you. Our Trip Level system ranks each trip in two ways: a number rating from 1 to 6 according to the activity, and general travel rigors. 1 is the easiest and 6+ the most difficult—see descriptions below for explanations of each number. A plus (+) sign means the trip is a bit more strenuous than other trips of that level. The detailed explanation of each trip—below the bar with the number rating—is perhaps more important, specifying activities, altitudes, hiking, and travel conditions. The Detailed Itinerary, available by download or mail, gives further information. Our Area Managers can also answer questions and guide you to the trip that best suits your interests.
Level 1 – Easiest
Non-camping journeys, optional walks, little elevation gain or loss.
Level 2 – Easy to Moderate
Hotel nights and/or safari-style camping, hikes of two to four hours on some days. Other physical activities are sometimes included, such as optional sea kayaking.
Level 3 – Moderate
Half- to full-day hikes (3-6 hours) over rolling countryside on most days, occasional steep trails. Many of our hotel-based walking tours are in this category, as are our snorkeling adventures.
- Tuscany & the Cinque Terre
- Argentina: Hikes and Estancias of Patagonia
- Palau Snorkeling & Sea Kayaking
- Some trips with minimal hiking but rugged travel conditions or long drives, such as Tribal Ghana, Togo & Benin, are Trip Level 3.
Level 4 – Moderate to Strenuous
Full-day hikes (4-6 hours), mountainous terrain, significant elevation gains and losses (hiking up or down as much as 3,000 feet) on many days. Altitudes no greater than about 10,000 feet.
Level 5 – Strenuous
Full-day hikes (4-8 hours), mountainous, steep terrain (hiking up or down as much as 3,500 feet) on many days. Trips with hiking at average altitudes of 10,000 to 12,000 feet are in this category.
Level 6 – Very Strenuous
Full-day hikes (5-8 hours), mountainous, steep terrain (hiking up or down as much as 3,500 feet) on many days. Most hikes take place at altitudes above 10,000 feet, with some days ascending as high as 18,000 feet.