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

At Kathmandu Durbar Square, we will explore the area around the former palace of the kings of Nepal, viewing various temples and monuments. Following that, we will drive to Boudhanath Stupa, the largest Buddhist stupa in Nepal. Here, we will circumambulate with pilgrims and visit the surrounding monasteries. Afterward, we will proceed to the holiest Hindu temple in Nepal, Pashupatinath Temple. The evening is free for you to shop for any last supplies or gear needed for your upcoming trek. 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 a duration of around 25–30 minutes.

Upon arrival in Lukla (2800m), you will meet your Sherpa guides and porters before commencing the trek towards Phakding. Your permits will be entered and checked at the park entrance. Begin the trek by descending gradually for about 2 hours to Thado Koshi, then gradually ascend, crossing several suspension bridges, passing through villages, and finally arriving at Phakding (2610m). Overnight in Phakding

Following the Dudh Koshi River, the trail traverses through Sherpa settlements such as Bengkar and Chumao, and then enters Sagarmatha National Park at Monjo. Crossing over the Hillary Hanging Bridge, continue with a steep uphill climb to Chautara, where you get the first glimpse of Everest through the trees. Continue the ascent to 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.

Explore the Museum of Sherpa Culture which offers a fascinating insight into the rich heritage and traditions of the Sherpa community, and also visit the Everest Photo Gallery. After that you will proceed to ascend the hill towards the Hotel Everest View. Hotel Everest View would be an adventure in itself, given its remarkable location and the stunning vistas it offers of Everest and the surrounding Himalayan peaks.

After soaking in the panoramic views, you’ll descend back towards Syangboche village, where you can appreciate the local atmosphere and perhaps engage with the residents to learn more about their daily lives and cultural practices. Overnight in Syangboche.

Leaving your hotel, you will begin the trek towards Khumjung and connect with the primary EBC trail to Tengboche. As you hike along, you’ll gradually descend into the Dudh Koshi valley, passing numerous lodges and prayer wheels powered by water.

Hereafter, it is a steep ascent of about 600m to reach the ridge-top of Tengboche, famous  for being the largest monastery in the Everest region. You will explore the Tengboche monastery and then descend to Debuche village.  After crossing the Imja Khola river, you’ll continue uphill amid Rhododendron filled  forests and past traditional mani walls to Pangboche. Overnight in Pangboche.

Starting from Pangboche, the high trail along the Imja River presents breathtaking vistas of the surrounding mountains, and the panoramic view of Tengboche Monastery perched atop its ridge. Following roughly two to three hours of trekking, you’ll arrive at the serene and lesser-explored village of Phortse. Positioned majestically on a stunning promontory, Phortse offers awe-inspiring views of both the Dudh Kosi River and the Imja River.

Departing from Phortse, you will continue with a descent into the river valley, followed by an ascent towards Mong La. En route, the trail winds through dense, verdant forests, offering opportunities to glimpse wildlife such as the Danphe pheasant and musk deer in their natural habitat. As the trek progresses, the path leads to the final descent towards Thashinga, situated at an altitude of 3450 meters. Thasingha presents splendid vistas of Ama Dablam and the majestic Everest. Overnight in Thasingha.

Setting off from Thashinga, the path initially follows a small trail before merging with the main route heading towards Khumjung, a journey spanning approximately an hour. Khumjung stands as the first village along this trail, succeeded by Khunde, famed for the prestigious medical center founded by the Sir Edmund Hillary Trust.

The journey continues further through a scenic route to Tshro, a quaint hamlet visible as you ascend towards the head of the valley. Cross the river, past by small hamlets, you will follow the old Tibetan trade route. 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. Continuing on, the trail ascending sharply, leading to the captivating village of Thame, nestled amidst the awe-inspiring backdrop of snow-capped peaks. Overnight in Thame.

Leaving Thame, you will retrace your steps to Phurte and then follow the lower trail to Namche Bazaar. After 3-4 hours of easy walk, you will arrive at Namche, where you will settle for lunch and may be a short exploration.

We will then continue our long descent towards Monjo, crossing the Sir Edmund Hillary Bridge. Overnight in Monjo.

Our last day of trekking is gradually downhill till Phakding. You will have a chance to visit the Gumila monastery from Phakding by walking a little more than a half-hour from the main trail. From Phakding, continue following the river valley for a bit and then climb the side of the ridge to Lukla (2840m). 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. 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.