Two Passes Trek

Day 02 - Kathmandu Valley Sightseeing Programme and Preparation for the trek. After breakfast the day will start to our guided trip to cultural world heritage sites in Kathmandu valley; the pilgrimage sites of Hindus temple Pashupatinath, the world biggest Bouddhanath stupa and visit Swoyambhunath Stupa also known as monkey temple. After exploring the surrounding areas visit historical Kathmandu Durbar Square . Evening pre-trip discussion and introduce with our fellow trekking staff for your adventure trip.  

Day 03: – Kathmandu/Lukla (2,840 m) by flight. Trek to Phakding (2,652m) 3 – 4 hours walk.  In a very first exciting day of  Trek there is 15-20 mins  drive to Kathmandu airport and fly to Lukla(Tenzing Hilary Airport)  at 2800m  for about 35-40 mins. leaving the Lukla you will pass level above the village Kyangma,Muse,Chaurikharka and Cheplung after around40-50mins  of  walk. After continuing north of Cheplung there is first view of dudhkoshi river,  

Day 04: – Trek to Namche Bazaar (3,440m) 5 – 6 hrs walk.We will continue up the banks of the Dudh Koshi, crossing it twice by suspension bridges before reaching the Khumbu National Park. We will then cross the confluence of the Dudh Koshi and the Bhote Koshi on a high suspension bridge before climbing steeply for about two hours up ‘Namche Hill’ to reach Namche Bazaar. This is a prosperous trading town and the capital of the Khumbu Region. Many Tibetans cross the nearby border to trade their wares and the local market is a fascinating spectacle. This is a good place to buy genuine Tibetan artifacts. Just across the valley to the east stand the impressive peaks of Thamserku and Kangtega.  

Day 05: – Acclimatization in Namche Bazaar.Today we spend a rest day in Namche Bazaar for better acclimatization. In the morning, we will walk up to Khumjung and glance-by the school as well as visit the Everest View Hotel (3,900m) before returning to Namche for lunch. The afternoon may be spent shopping or exploring the nooks and crannies of this ancient settlement.  

Day 06: Trek to Thame (3,844 m) 4 – 5 hrs walk.From Namche, we leave the main Everest Base Camp trail behind us and journey north-west towards Tibet. We may meet Tibetans coming over the high passes and down the valley to trade their goods in Namche Bazaar. Thame is famous for being the birthplace of Tenzing Norgay.  

Day 07: Trek to Lungden (4,380 m) 5 – 6 hrs walk.We will not find many more until we arrive at Gokyo, as Thame tends to be the limit of exploration for most people. So, the high valley beyond the village remains the simple domain of yaks, farming and Sherpas. Today we walk-by some very old, authentic Himalayan Villages that blend almost invisibly into the landscape. We eventually reach the small village of Lungden for the night.  

Day 08: Cross Renjo La (5,388 m) to Gokyo (4,791 m) 9 – 10 hrs walk.Today, is a long walking day. It is a steady walk on a mostly path to reach beautiful, deserted valley, just below the Nangpa La. This pass is an historical and important trade route between Tibet and Nepal. It is still in use today, despite attempts to control the flow of goods and migrants over its’ snowy reaches. The ascent of the Renjo-la is up a good but rocky path, which the locals frequently cross with yaks. The climb is bound to feel tough at these altitudes, so we make an early start to give ourselves plenty of time. Once on top of the pass, the views towards Everest to the east are some of the best. For a keen photographer, being within the mountains yet faced with such an expansive and open vista never fails to surprise, with Everest, Cho Oyu, Gyanchung Kang, Makalu, Nuptse and Ama Dablam all laid out before us. Having taken some time to enjoy these views, we begin the descent to Gokyo Lakes, down a fairly rough trail at first, before continuing steeply down a blunt ridge to eventually reach more level ground. From here we skirt the north side of the Dudh Pokhari travelling eastwards towards Gokyo Lakes.  

Day 09: Explore Gokyo Ri (5384 m) & trek to Dragnak (4700 m.) 7 – 8 hrs walk.Today, we climb up the first of the 3 Peaks in our itinerary – perhaps the finest viewpoint in the world! From the top, we will get stunning views of Everest and other peaks such as Cho Oyu. We start early so we can witness the ink-black sky yield to the sun as it rises in the east and gracefully bathes first Everest’s tip and its great south-west face with an incandescent orange glow. We’ll be there after two to three hours of zig-zagging our way to the top. As soon as we are ready, we set off on the trail once more, heading now for the far side of the glacier to camp at Dragnak. The route across the moraine of the glacier is mostly on sandy trails that weave amongst the ‘moonscape’ of the glacier. On the far side, we reach the small hamlet of Dragnak having walked about 3 hours from Gokyo.  

Day 10: Cross Cho La (5,368 m) to Dzongla (4,830 m) – 9 to 10 hours.Toda, is also a long walking day, as we tackle the second of the High Passes. We need to set off very early in the morning to ensure that we cross the Cho La and descend to Dzongla in good time. At first, we make a very gradual ascent alongside the river up a small valley to eventually reach a sandy ridgeline. This gives a great view of the Cho La ahead and of some daunting 6,000m peaks to the north and south: Nirekha Peak, Kangshung Peak and Cholatse, among them. We make a long, gradual descent on a pleasant grassy path to reach a lunch stop below the pass. After lunch, the ground becomes steeper and rockier; it is time to pack away our trekking poles. The route weaves around boulders at first, before climbing up onto stonier ground. There is a final steep section to reach the pass itself. This is on loose ground, which can often be icy, so we need to take great care; it might be necessary to fix a short section of rope as well as to use crampons, which we will have with us just in case. The top of the pass is glaciated and we walk across a flat section of snow for about 15 minutes before dropping off the side and back onto rock. With Dzongla below us and now in sight, we pick our way down the far side of the pass and descend into a lovely valley. A stream that meanders along the bottom leads us to our campsite where we take a well-deserved rest.  

Day 11: Trek to Gorakship (5160 m.) 5 – 6 hrs walk.In the morning, if we have not done so already, we have another chance of reaching the top of Kalapattar. Without a need to rush, we retrace our steps back, alongside the Khumbu Glacier, to reach Lobuche, where we spend the night. Tomorrow is another big day, as we plan to tackle the third of the High Passes, to place us ready and in position for the last of our 3 Peaks. About three hours beyond Lobuche, we reach Gorakshep.  

Day 12: Trek to Everest Base Camp (5,360m) and back Gorakshep – 5 to 6 hrs walk.We explore the surrounding area and visit the real Everest Base Camp. The trail leads on to the moraine of the Khumbu Glacier as it weaves between mounds of rubble. After about 3 hours, we will eventually reach base camp near the foot of the Khumbu Icefall. Base Camp is actually spread over quite a wide area and we will spend some time wandering through it and getting a sense of what it must be like to be camped there for two whole months, whilst attempting the mountain.  

Day 13: Gorakshep (5,160 m) to climb Kalapattar (5545m) & trek to Lobuche – 6 – 7 hrs walk.We strike out for the top of our second Peak, Kalapattar – the Black Rock. This is best tackled in the late afternoon to be on the top in the early evening, as the sun to the west will illuminate Everest with a kinder and more generous light for photographs, than when it’s in the eastern sky. If we each have a warm jacket and hat, it won’t matter if we’re on top as the sun sets, to see the alpenglow slip off Everest’s summit, as the lights in the lodges far below will guide us like stars and continue back to Lobuche.  

Day 14: Trek to Tengboche (3,837 m) 6 – 7 hrs walk.Following the main Everest trail down the beautifully scenic valley, we pass through Pangboche at the base of Ama Dabkam and cross the river before climbing to the monastery at Tengboche. Some time exploring the famous monastery.  

Day 15: Trek to Monjo (2,835 m) 6 – 7 hrs walk.From Teangboche, a steep descent leads through bird-filled rhododendron bushes and fir trees to the Dudh Koshi at Phunki Dingma. From here, we have to climb up the opposite bank but now with a huge advantage compared with those toiling in the opposite direction and yet to become accustomed to the rarefied air. .We continues on the path leading back to Namche Bazaar. We should have enough time in Namche to shop and relax in the bakery with a coffee and a cake, or even to check the Internet. We sweep down the steep descent of Namche Hill back to the suspension bridge over the Dudh Koshi and into the small village of Monjo.  

Day 16: Trek to Lukla (2,840m) 4 – 5 hrs walk.The trail now flattens out and we cross the river twice more before a rising traverse up the hillside, past numerous teahouses to Lukla. Our last day of steady trekking will be a real joy as, at lower altitudes and nothing left to prove, we can soak up the atmosphere in each of the villages as we amble through. All excess energy is guaranteed to be exhausted at our party this evening with our Nepalese crew.  

Day 17: Lukla to Kathmandu by flight (35 min flight).Catch Lukla to Kathmandu by schedule flight. We will be met at the domestic airport in Kathmandu. Drive to hotel in Kathmandu.

Day 18: Departure transfer to airport. MountainMate representative will pick you up from your hotel to drop you at the international airport for departure.