Everest Sherpa Cultural Trek

Upon your arrival at Kathmandu airport, a Wind Horse representative will meet you and transfer you to the hotel. The rest of the day is at your leisure until the evening. Later in the evening, there will be a briefing followed by dinner, along with a cultural performance, at a traditional Nepalese restaurant. Overnight in Kathmandu

Today, you will visit three UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the Kathmandu Valley: Kathmandu Durbar Square, Boudhanath Stupa, and Pashupatinath Temple.

Kathmandu Durbar Square is one of the three Durbar (palace) squares in Kathmandu valley. Kathmandu Durbar Square is rich with its intricate wood carving and its history. Also known as the “Musuem of Temples” there are over 50 temples in the square. You will explore the area around the former palace of the kings of Nepal, viewing various temples and monuments.

Following the visit, you will drive to Boudanath Stupa. Boudanath Stupa is one of the largest Buddhist stupa in Nepal and also a World Heritage Site. Boudanath signifies peace and tranquility, and is a Centre of religious and spiritual significance. You will see thousands of pilgrims circumambulating the stupa, you will circumambulate with pilgrims and visit the surrounding monasteries.

Afterward, you will proceed to Pashupatinath Temple. The Pashupatinath temple is situated on the banks of the Bagmati river and is one of the most revered Hindu temple in Nepal. The main temple complex is not accessible to non-Hindus, but you can explore around the periphery of the temple complex which is quite large and impressive. Overnight in Kathmandu.

The mountain flight into Lukla is spectacular, and the landing is an exciting experience. One end of the runway is 60 meters higher than the other. The flight is typically on a small Dornier or Twin Otter aircraft, with duration of around 25–30 minutes.

Upon arrival at Lukla (2860m), you will meet your porters before commencing the trek towards Phakding. You will begin your Everest Sherpa Cultural Trek from Lukla. You will descend gradually for about 2 hours to Thado Koshi, and then you will make your first ascent, gradually uphill all the way to Phakding (2610m). It takes about 2 hours from here to reach Phakding. Overnight in Phakding.

Following the Dudh Koshi River, the trail traverses through Sherpa settlements such as Bengkar and Chumao, and then enters into the Sagarmatha National Park at Monjo. You will than cross over the Hillary suspension bridge, and continue with a steep uphill climb to Chautara, where you get the first glimpse of Everest through the trees.

You will continue the ascent until you reach the vibrant Namche Bazaar (3440m), the pulsating heart of the Sherpa community, offering accommodations, cafes, and stores vending souvenirs and trekking essentials. Namche Bazaar serves as an ideal location to procure any forgotten items and acclimatize to the altitude for the remainder of the day. Overnight in Namche Bazaar.

Leaving the classic EBC route, you will continue on a less travelled path to Thame. The trail ascends through a stunning landscape, with Kongde Ri to the left and Khumbi La to the right. The trail then descends to a junction, gradually rising towards the delightful villages of Phurte, Thamo, and Samde.

Following the trail, you’ll then descend towards a bridge spanning a narrow fissure, where the vibrant wall paintings of Guru Padmasambhava grace the surroundings amid the roar of rushing waters. Crossing over the bridge, you will arrive at the Khumbu Hydro electricity power plant. Hereafter it is a steep climb lasting about an hour before reaching the scenic village of Thame.

Situated at a significant crossroads, Thame has a rich history as a crucial point along the ancient trade route connecting Tibet via the Nagpala Pass. Thame is also home to some distinguished mountaineers including Appa Sherpa, who holds the record of summiting the Everest for 21 times, and it is also the childhood home of Tenzing Norgay Sherpa.

You can take the opportunity to explore the village , visit the ancient Thame monastery, interact with the locals, and immerse yourself in the rich cultural heritage of the region. Overnight in Thame.

After breakfast, you will retrace your steps toward Khumjung. The trek begins with a descent to the Bhote Koshi River, you will cross over and hike past the villages of Samde and Thamo, eventually reaching Phurte.

From Phurte, the trail gradually ascends until you reach a junction. Here, the trail splits, with one path leading to Namche and the other to Khunde and Khumjung. You will take the left trail that passes by the Syangboche airstrip. The hike continues with a gradual uphill climb until you reach Khumjung village.

Khumjung is a large, traditional Sherpa village nestled at the foothills of Mt. Khumbila. The village is known for its stone houses, beautiful landscapes, and the famous Khumjung Monastery, which is said to contain the legendary Yeti scalp.

In the afternoon, you will explore the village, visit the Khumjung Monastery, and see the historic Khumjung Hillary School, founded by Sir Edmund Hillary. Overnight in Khumjung.

You will commence your trek with a descent with great views of Mt. Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse and Ama Dablam toward phortse. Along the way you might also get to witness some wild life such as the Himalayan Tahr, Musk Deer, and Pheasant monal.

The trail gradually goes down past Kyangjuma, and eventually reaches Sanasa. From Sanasa it is a steep uphill climb to Mong La pass with spectacular views of Ama Dablam and Kumbila. You will then descend to Phortse Tenga, cross over the Dudh Koshi river, climb up through rhododendron forest, and finally arrive at Phortse.

Phortse is a unique Sherpa settlement off the trail from the main EBC route. Phortse offers a unique opportunity to immerse you in the local culture and hospitality of the Sherpa community. Overnight in Phortse

After breakfast at Phortse, you will begin your hike towards Pangboche. Today will be a short day considering other days. Leaving Phortse, you will climb along the upper ridge above the Imja Khola with the beautiful view of the Tengboche Monastery, the valley below, and the mountains around.

You will gradually make your way toward Pangboche. It is an easy hike, offering views of the Tengboche Monastery just across the valley. Pangboche village is one of the oldest permanent settlements in the Khumbu region. It provides a unique opportunity to immerse you in the rich cultural heritage of the Sherpa people. Overnight in Pangboche.

Today, you will begin your journey back towards Namche Bazaar, it is a steep uphill trek through rhododendron forests, passing Deboche on your way to Tengboche. Tengboche is renowned for being the largest and most prominent monastery in the Everest region. After exploring the Tengboche monastery, you will descend towards Phunki Thenga.

From Tengboche, you’ll descend to the Dudh Koshi River, crossing it at Phunki Thenga, and then gradually ascend to Sanasa. From Sanasa, you’ll take the lower route, passing through Khumjung village, and continue past the Everest View Hotel and the Syangboche airstrip, eventually arriving at Namche Bazaar. Overnight in Namche Bazaar.

On the final day of your Everest Sherpa Cultural trek, you’ll descend back down to the Dudh Koshi River, retracing your steps through the picturesque landscapes. The journey will take you across numerous suspension bridges, past the villages of Jorsale, Monjo, Bengkar, and Phakding.

The final stretch from Ghat to Lukla presents a challenging, steep climb of approximately 3 kilometers. On arrival at Lukla, you will have the sense of accomplishment of this incredible journey. Overnight in Lukla.

Early morning, we will fly back to Kathmandu. The rest of the afternoon is free for you to choose to rest, relax, pursue your interest, or explore the vibrant city further. Overnight in Kathmandu.

Today has been set as a contingency day, in case the flight from Lukla gets canceled due to the unpredictable mountain weather, which is unfortunately quite frequent. In the event if everything goes as planned, you may spend this day as you please. You might wish to go souvenir shopping or, if you prefer, you can request a sightseeing tour of the Kathmandu Valley. Overnight in Kathmandu.

Transfer to the airport for your departure flight.