After breakfast, our guide will take you to the Swayambhunath Temple. Swayambhunath Temple, also known as the Monkey Temple, is a revered and historic Buddhist stupa atop a hill in Nepal’s Kathmandu Valley. It represents Buddhism and Hinduism. The sound of revolving prayer wheels, burning incense, and waving colorful prayer flags in the breeze will welcome you as you ascend the hill. When you reach the summit, you’ll be drawn to the enormous stupa with eyes painted in each cardinal direction. From the pinnacle of Syambhunath stupa, you will get to witness the stunning view of the Kathmandu Valley.

Spending a few hours exploring and discovering this stupa’s beauty, we drive to our next attraction of today, Kathmandu Durbar Square. The Kathmandu Durbar Square, also known as Basantapur Durbar Square or Hanuman Dhoka, is an astonishing attraction with history, culture, and beautifully built architecture tucked away in the middle of Nepal’s capital city. It draws tourists from all over the world. As you enter, you can witness the Kumari Ghar (the Temple of the Living Goddess) standing in the middle of the square. Also, you can visit the 17th-century royal Palace that now functions as a museum. Travelers to Nepal should make time to view Kathmandu Durbar Square, as it is the most culturally and religiously diverse region in Nepal, and witness the monuments, art, architecture, culture, and many idols that showcase the talents of several artists and craftspeople spanning several centuries.

Later in the evening, you will visit the Pashupatinath Temple on the northeastern side of Kathmandu, around 3 km east of the Kathmandu Durbar Square. Pashupatinath Temple, devoted to Lord Pashupatinath (Lord Shiva), is a destination for pilgrims and devotees. Lord Shiva, known as the god of change and destruction, is one of the main gods in Hinduism. The temple is a center of worship for followers of Lord Shiva, drawing pilgrims and visitors from all over the world and the local populace. You can witness the Sandhya Aarati, where oil lamps are lighted, and the pundits chant devotional songs. The soul-stirring music, the captivating glow of the lamps, and the rhythmic clap sound of devotees and visitors create a calm and contemplative ambiance.

After this, we will drop you off at your hotel, where you can have dinner and rest.

Overnight at Kathmandu.

Our guide will pick you up from your hotel early in the morning and drive you to the airport. We will take a scenic flight to Lukla, which will take about 30 minutes. Once we reach Lukla, we will trek to Phakding.

The journey from Lukla to Phakding, which passes by the charming Chaurikharka village on the left, would take around three hours. The trail then goes via Chheplung (2660m), Thado Koshigaon (2580m), where there is a view of Mt. Kusum Khangkaru (6367m), Nuring (2492m), and ends in Phakding.

The Phakding route provides an opportunity to visit the charming settlement of Phakding and enjoy a gorgeous vista of the neighboring villages and lush farmlands in Nepal’s lower Everest region.

Overnight at Phakding.

After breakfast, we will journey through a breathtaking pine forest to Monjo Village and the Sagarmatha (Everest) National Park via the Hillary Suspension Bridge and the Dudh Koshi River. After passing through Phakding village, take advantage of the first view of Mt. Kongde Ri (6186m) to your right. Following a rather hilly road, we reach Bengkar settlement on the river’s corner and Monjo settlement on its left. Sagarmatha (Everest) National Park, one of Nepal’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites, borders the Monju settlement.

We stop at the checkpoint, sign in, and give the officials our paperwork. We continue our hike from there, passing via Jorsalle Village (2740m) and Large Dovan (2830m) and across one of the highest bridges in the Everest region, which crosses the Dudhkosi River. After that, we’ll need an hour to ascend the challenging trek and arrive at Chautara, Everest’s first viewpoint.

We will walk for about an hour and then reach Namche Bazar, the capital of the Sherpa people. This excellent location is significant for trading for the Sherpa people, and visitors may also purchase locally made handicrafts.

Overnight at Namche Bazar.

Take today off to recover from the high-altitude weather. The plan is to hike in high levitation and spend the night in lower levitation. We seize this excellent opportunity to spend the morning at the Everest Photo Gallery and the Sherpa Culture Museum.

Trekking to the Everest View Hotel begins at 3,700 meters above sea level and passes via Syangboche Airport, the world’s highest airport. We continue our trek to the Mt. Everest View Hotel for panoramic views of Everest, Lhotse, Ama Dablam, Thamserku, Kongde, and much more.

The Sherpa people are well-known for their culture, traditions, and way of life in the Everest region of Nepal. We will explore Khumjung village (3,780m), interact with the locals, and learn about their way of life. Later, we will visit Khumjung High School and interact with the faculty, staff, and students. Also, we will visit the Khumjung Monastery, which depicts Tibetan Buddhism. There, we can discover the enormous statue of Guru Rinpoche and witness the scalp of an old Yeti. Later, we will return to Namche.

Overnight at Namche Bazar.

Today, we will trek to Tengboche (3,860 m). From Namche, we ascend to the hill and descend until we reach Sahanasa. From Sahanasa, we will leave the trail to Gokyo Lake, choose the classic Everest Base Camp trail, and descend until we reach the Dudh Koshi River. We will cross the river through the suspension bridge and ascend for 2-3 hours, taking us to Tengboche.

Tengboche village is named after the oldest and most influential monastery, Tengboche Monastery. This monastery is believed to have a strong connection with the Rongbuk Monastery of Tibet. Also, Tengboche offers breathtaking views of various snow-capped mountains, such as Mt. Everest (8,848m), Ama Dablam (6856m), Thamserku (6608m), Lhotse (8618m), and others. If you are lucky enough to be here during festival time, you could be part of the festival doing dancing, eating, and much more.

Overnight at Tengboche.

The journey will change from this day, and you will face a few challenges. We will have our early breakfast and ascend towards the base camp. We will cross the suspension bridge of the Imja River and climb through the juniper forest to reach Pangboche. This route of the Khumbu Valley is peaceful and quiet. Continuing our walk, we will witness snow-capped peaks above 6000m, including Thamserku (6,618m), Taboche (6,542m), etc. Ascending further, we will be taken to Ama Dablam Base Camp.

Once you reach the base camp, you will be surrounded by giant peaks, including Everest and Lhotse. Enjoy the moment, take a rest, and prepare yourself.

Overnight at Ama Dablam Base Camp.

Reaching the base camp is a huge success as you have ascended about 600m. For this reason, we will acclimatize for today in the base camp. And, if needed, we will do short hikes (normal walks around) and get tips and training from our sherpa guides.

This day is very important as today you will get to discover your team closely. Your guide will organize a meeting where he/she will share the details about the routes, use of gear and tools, and safety rules to be followed. Before going to bed, organize all your things and pack your bags properly.

Overnight at Ama Dablam Base Camp.

Finally, it is time to level up the expedition. These ten days are crucial as you will level up for any physical and mental challenges and adjust to the higher altitude and thin air.

During this period, we will do regular hikes between camps and return to base camp for rest. For the 10 days, this schedule will be repetitive, and you will be skilled and have the potential to do a successful Ama Dablam Expedition.

Firstly, we will target Camp I, where the trails are less steep and moderate but require good physical and climbing skills. You will spend the night at Camp I and adjust to the higher altitude. Then, you will return to base camp.

Once you are habitual to Camp I, as per guide instructions, you will be ready to take steps towards Camp II. Once you reach Camp II, you will spend the night and return to base camp to rest and recover fully. During the rest and recovery days, you need to drink an adequate amount of water, eat healthy and enough food that helps in fast muscle recovery, and sleep around 7-8 hours. This rotation will help you achieve the summit with confidence, ease, and less risk.

Expeditions are more about safety, so follow the guide’s instructions and get used to the ropes and other tools that might be helpful during the final push to the summit.

Finally, the day came when we will march towards the summit of Ama Dablam. We will have an early breakfast and march before dawn towards Camp II. Before marching, the guide will again check the equipment and recite the guidelines. Also, ensure you are fully hydrated and carry a quick, high-energy snack. The route is the same as the one you took when hiking between the camps during the practice days, but you need to be very careful and focused. Today, you will be sleeping at Camp 2.

On the second day, our destination will be Camp III. The route today will be steeper and snowier, so you need all your strength and skills to avoid delaying the whole team and reach Camp III on time. You should regain your strength, so you need to eat well and stay hydrated for quick recovery.

The third day is the summit push day, and the guide will confirm the weather and team status. If everything is fine, then we move towards the summit. The trail might differ from the previous camp trails, so you should be aware, follow your guide, and keep in check with the rope. The 10-12 days of climbing practice will make today’s journey much easier than it seems.

Once you reach the Ama Dablam’s Summit, the moment there is a memory for a lifetime. You will witness the giant peaks, including the Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse, etc. Due to the higher altitude and thin air, we will not stay there for long. So, enjoy the moment, capture the memories, and embrace the beauty of the surroundings.  After staying at the summit for a while, we head back before the high wind affects our walk. Today, we should rest in one of the camps (Camp III, Camp II, Camp I) to acclimate appropriately and not be affected after getting to a lower altitude.

The fourth day is a spare day (for the summit push) if the first day is unsuccessful or hampered by the weather. You can use this day as an acclimatized day in the lower camp or return to the Ama Dablam Base Camp.

Once we return to base camp, we should cherish the moment spent at the summit and the overall experiences of this expedition with the friends and staff who joined us in this thrilling journey to Ama Dablam. So, we should stay here for the night and celebrate.

After breakfast at the base camp, we start our journey to Namche. The excitement of reaching the summit and the expedition slowly fade away as you return, but the memories and experiences you carry with you will last forever.

You can enjoy the scenic route to Namche. Once you reach Namche Bazar, you can stroll around the bazaar and buy some gifts or memorable items. Also, Namche is home to the world’s highest Irish bar, and there’s nowhere better than the bar to spend the evening.

Overnight at Namche.

Today is our last day in this region, and we will head back to Lukla, the starting point of our trek. We will try to remember the journey and share our experiences in our group.

Overnight at Lukla.

Today, we will fly back to Kathmandu from Lukla and leave the Everest Region behind. However, you can still enjoy the breathtaking view of the mountains from the air.

Once you land in Kathmandu, you will be dropped off at your hotel. In the evening, you can stroll around Kathmandu attractions like Thamel, Basantapur Durbar Square, and Durbarmarg.

Overnight at Kathmandu.

This is your day after such a long and challenging expedition. You can rest, stroll around Kathmandu, buy a few souvenirs, explore art and culture, get a body massage, and do much more.

Overnight at Kathmandu.

This is your final day in Nepal! After a decent breakfast, we will ensure you enter the Tribhuvan International Airport a few hours before the flight to your onward destination. If there is enough time, you can do last-minute shopping or eat something delicious you love the most here in Nepal.

Once we reach the airport, we will farewell you with the “Khada” and garland. You aren’t leaving Nepal, though you are taking it to share with your loved ones.

Farewell!