Nepal is a country in a league of its own with breathtakingly beautiful scenery, a fascinating culture and friendly people. Meeting the villagers whilst trekking through this landlocked gem of a nation is one of its greatest pleasures.
Our route takes us via the Sherpa capital of Namche Bazaar through beautiful valleys, dense forests and across glacial rivers before we reach the renowned viewpoint of Kalapatar, on the approach to Everest Base Camp, and see the highest mountain on the planet. There is also time built in to trek to Base Camp itself. We also have time to explore the colourful and frenetic capital of Kathmandu.
ITINERARY
Day 1: Depart UK, fly to Kathmandu.
Day 2: Arrive Kathmandu, transfer to hotel in Thamel area. We have a half-day exploring the city and discovering the sights, sounds and smells! Kathmandu is a labyrinth of streets and markets, crowded with exotic produce and a mystifying blend of people. Visit the central Durbar Square, infused with a medieval atmosphere, overflowing with stupas and home to the Old Royal Palace. There is also the opportunity to hire/buy any last minute trekking equipment or haggle for your souvenirs at the many shops and stalls.
Day 3: We take a tour around Kathmandu and take in some awe-inspiring sights, such as Bodhnath and Swayambhunath (more commonly known as the monkey-temple): Buddhist temples swathed in prayer-flags and incredibly photogenic! Temples and palaces, markets and sadhus, we will see as much as we can before returning to Thamel for our evening meal and final packing session.
Day 4: We take a stunning early morning flight from Kathmandu to Lukla, ‘Gateway to the Everest region,’ perched above the Dudh Kosi or ‘River of Milk’ – so named because of the pale milky appearance of the glacier melt-water. We are now in the region of the legendary Sherpas and you will notice the difference in the faces of the people you meet here and those from the Kathmandu valley. After lunch we trek north down towards Phakding along a meandering trail which is lined with mani stone walls, made with hundreds of stone tablets and giant carved boulders, brilliantly decorated with brightly-coloured paints. The Buddhists believe these to be sacred and so as a sign of respect to the local culture we pass them in a clockwise direction.
Trek Approx 3 hours
Day 5: We head onwards and upwards as the trail starts to rise through a forest of rhododendron, magnolia and giant fir-trees. Our target this evening is Namche Bazaar, a delightful mountain village and the Sherpa ‘capital’, but first we must ascend Namche Hill; walking at a gentle but steady pace we finally arrive at the town that is itself an important meeting and trading point for the local people.
Trek Approx 5 – 7 hours
Day 6: We take a day to rest in Namche (3450m); we can explore the markets (which sell everything a trekker could require here!) or happily laze around in the sun. It is important to note that acclimatisation is extremely important and that by using these acclimatisation days correctly we greatly improve our chances of reaching our goal of Kalapatar, which lies at an altitude of 5545m.
Days 7 - 10: The trail turns northeast from Namche along a tributary valley and the mountain views start to open up, becoming more dramatic as the climb approaches the holy ground of Tyangboche, which is surrounded by a protected juniper forest. From here, on a ridge above the much-photographed gompa (monastery) is a mountain vista with few equals: Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse, Ama Dablam, Kwangde and Kangtega all loom above us. The village of Pangboche (3950m) is a great place to stop en route to Dingboche (4100m) so we have plenty of time to acclimatise and experience these picturesque places!
Trek Approx 3 – 6 hours
Days 11 – 14: Leaving Dingboche the trails ascend gently but still the pace is easy, it’s important not to rush in the rarefied atmosphere. We reach Lobuche (4940m), often reached by walking past frozen rivers where stone houses sit in an icy
wilderness of stunning beauty. We are en route to our final destination Everest Base Camp. Over the next two days we will climb up to the look out point of Kalapatar (5600m) and on to the infamous spot where many a climber has set off to climb the world’s Highest Mountain. Reaching Base Camp fills us with a real sense of achievement as we complete our challenge and stare in awe at the spectacular surroundings. Return to Lobuche.
Trek Approx 4 – 8 hours
Days 15 - 17: We retrace the trail with comparative ease to Lukla, via Pengboche, which is home to Khumbu’s oldest gompa, and home to yeti relics. Our bodies are acclimatised to the altitude and the further we descend the fitter we feel.
Trek Approx 4 – 8 hours
Day 18: Fly from Lukla to Kathmandu, and spend the rest of the day sightseeing, exploring, shopping or just relaxing in Kathmandu’s numerous cafes and roof-top restaurants! There will also be an opportunity to visit a children’s home, a community project supported by Discover Adventure – your tour leader will advise you further.
Day 19: Free time to explore Kathmandu before transferring to the airport for our flight back to the UK.
Day 20: Arrive London UK.
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1 comment:
Your trip will be much more enjoyable if you learn a great deal about the Sherpas who will accompany you plus the entire Everest region.
I used to lead treks to the Everest Base Camp and worked with a group of Sherpas to create the first hut-to-hut system in Nepal in 1990.
Present during the worst storm in the country's history, I was appalled at world press coverage of the foreigners who died with little mention of the Sherpas who also perished. I returned home to write their story and chose to do so in fiction to give a more intimate account. BEYOND THE SUMMIT includes a love affair between an American journalist and Sherpas guide because many women have fallen in love with these charismatic men and brought them back to the States.
Details of Sherpa culture and religion are interwoven in a tale of romance and high adventure. The story has something for everyone: a love affair between an American journalist and Sherpa guide, conflict between generations as the modern world challenges centuries of tradition, an expedition from the porter’s point of view.
Below are selections from reviews. To read the complete ones and excerpts go to www.beyondthesummit-novel.com
Beyond the Summit, is the rare gem that shows us the triumphs and challenges of a major climb from the porter’s point of view. The love of two people from diverse cultures is the fiery centerpiece of a novel that leads its readers through harshly beautiful and highly dangerous territory to the roof of the world. Malcolm Campbell, book reviewer
Conflict and dialog keep this gripping story of destiny, romance and adventure moving from the first page to the last paragraph. LeBlanc has a genius for bonding her readers and her characters. I found I was empathizing in turn with each character as they faced their own personal crisis or trauma.
Richard Blake for Readers Views.
A gripping, gut-twisting expedition through the eyes of a porter reveals the heart and soul of Sherpas living in the shadows of Everest. EverestNews.com
A hard-hitting blend of adventure and romance which deserves a spot in any serious fiction collection. Midwest Book Review
LeBlanc is equally adept at describing complex, elusive emotions and the beautiful, terrifying aspect of the Himalayan Mountains. Boulder Daily Camera
LeBlanc’s vivid description of the Himalayas and the climbing culture makes this a powerful read. Rocky Mt News Pick of the Week
A rich adventure into the heart of the Himalayan Kingdom. Fantastic story-telling from one who has been there. USABookNews.com
This is the book to read before you embark on your pilgrimage to Nepal. The author knows and loves the people and the country, and makes you feel the cold thin air, the hard rocks of the mountains, the tough life of the Sherpa guides, and you learn to love them too. This is a higly literate, but also very readable book. Highly recommended.”
– John (college professor)
Memorable characters and harrowing encounters with the mountains keep the action moving with a vibrant balance of vivid description and dialogue. Literary Cafe Host, Healdsburg, CA
This superbly-crafted novel will land you in a world of unimaginable beauty, adventure, and romance. The love story will keep you awake at night with its vibrant tension and deep rich longing. Wick Downing, author of nine novels
Such vividly depicted images of the Everest region and the Sherpa people are the perfect scenario for the romance and adventure feats narrated. It’s a page-turner, so engrossing you end up wanting to visit Nepal! Not just novel, but perfect for those seeking to get acquainted with the culture of this country.
By Claudia Fournier (América, Bs. As., Argentina)
Available through Barnes and Noble, Borders, amazon.com, Chesslerbooks.com, and the web site
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