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Everest Base Camp - Heli Tour

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Kathmandu, Nepal 14 DAYS Starting at $3,100
MARCH-MAY AND SEPTEMBER-NOVEMBER

Overview

More than just reaching Everest Base Camp, this trek offers amazing experiences from start to finish. It is also one of the most classic routes in Nepal.

This itinerary is designed around a trekking route from Lukla to Everest Base Camp to Pheriche, maximizing the potential for a transformative experience on the trail. From Pheriche, we arrange a heli-tour back to Kathmandu to minimize some of the toil in hiking down from Pheriche to Lukla and expedite the return to the city. This shortens the overall itinerary by 2-3 days. 

What to expect in Kathmandu

You may have started this journey with an interest in the mountains of Nepal but no trip is complete without a good experience in Kathmandu. From the moment you meet your guide at the airport in Kathmandu, you are in good hands. There is no need to navigate the airport scene or figure out how to find your hotel in the back alleys of Boudha or Thamel. Don't worry, there is ample opportunity to get out and explore. You will be able to immerse yourself in the bustling network of alleys, streets, and buildings as you take in the city. Our guides, however, take care of the details so you can take in the surroundings. Your time in Kathmandu will also include good food, getting to know your guide, and an orientation for the trek. By the time we depart the city, everyone will be prepared for the mountains and your cultural curiosity will have been stoked.

Lukla - The Flight of a Lifetime

Lukla is one of the most thrilling airport locations in the world. The whole experience is unlike anything else. Situated on a mountainside, right in the midst of stunning Himalayan peaks, this airport serves the entire region as there are no roads that reach Lukla. One must fly or walk to get there. Yak caravans come all the way to the door to load gear and supplies headed toward Namche Bazaar and beyond. Once we've landed, we will gather our bags, stop for a quick tea, and begin trekking down the valley toward our first evening destination, Phakding.

Working Our Way Up

Slowly, slowly. This is the mantra for trekking up the Khumbu Valley. There will be several steep switchbacks throughout the valley and the first one is encountered on the way up to Namche Bazaar. Slow and steady is the name of the game. Our itineraries are designed around and average of 4-6 hours of trekking each day. We move at a calculated pace so we do not burn you out too early or rush the acclimatization process. This is by design. As we move from village to village, we leave each morning after breakfast, stop for lunch along the way, and arrive mid afternoon to rest for the next day.

Acclimatization Days

Climb high, sleep low. On multiple occasions throughout the itinerary, we schedule acclimatization hikes to help facilitate our adjustment to the high altitudes encountered throughout the trek. On these days, we will depart the village, climb to higher destinations (often viewpoints to see peaks like Everest, Ama Dablam, etc...), possibly visit other villages, and then return to the same place we began for a second night of sleep at the same resting altitude. This helps the body adjust and reduces the risk of altitude sickness as we keep moving up the valley. 

Quit Yakking, Start Packing

Once we depart Namche Bazaar, the serious work begins and we will travel through Deboche, Dingboche, and Lobuche. Don't think of this as busy work. Each of these stops and the trail segments between them are valuable experiences and they delight the senses. Along the way we move beyond forests to being well above the tree line and your surroundings will start to match what you've imagined the Himalayas look like. It's like being in another world!

Everest Base Camp and Kala Pathar

Once in the Base Camp region, we include two days in this itinerary to maximize your experience. From base camp, Mt. Everest is barely visible because of the way surrounding peaks block the view. For this reason, we plan a climb up Kala Pathar to catch the evening light on the slopes of Everest. A subsequent visit to Base Camp will put you on the Khumbu Glacier and provide you time to explore a portion of the site before we head back down the valley toward Pheriche. 

Soar through the Himalayas

After one night in Pheriche, you will return to Kathmandu via helicopter. This shortens the trekking itinerary by two full days, allows for a more reliable departure from the region, and on clear days it provides stunning views of the mountains on the way back to Kathmandu.