Leave UK for Kathmandu.

Arrive in Kathmandu and transfer to Hotel Manang where we will stay for the next two nights.

Today is free to rest or explore the hustle and bustle of this fascinating city with its innumerable ancient buildings, markets and shops. There is the chance to visit the NLT workshop and buy products from the NLT shop. Tonight we will have dinner and learn more about the challenge ahead.

After an early breakfast we transfer to the domestic airport where we will catch our flight to Lukla. Lukla is unique: a Hillary team built the airstrip as part of the Khunde Hospital project in 1965, envisioning it as a makeshift strip to handle emergencies at the hospital – it is now the third busiest airport in Nepal. If the weather permits we will leave Kathmandu by 8am and arrive in Lukla by 8.45am. Here we will be met by our trekking crew, who will organise our luggage while we enjoy some refreshing tea before we begin our trek to Phakding. As we leave Lukla the trail meanders down to Chaurikhaka before we begin to head up the Dudh Khosi valley with the river on our left. Just before we reach Phakding there is a large bridge where we can look down to the surging river, which eventually finds its way to the Ganges. Tonight we will have our first experience of Himalayan camping.

As we leave Phakding the trail heads north up the Dudh Khosi valley. After crossing a stream there is a small village called Banker where we will see a beautiful carved stone prayer wall. On the cliffs above the river it is possible to see musk deer and Himalayan tahr. The trail is interspersed with rhododendron, magnolia and fir forests as we follow it to Jorsale, the entrance gate to Sagarmatha (Everest) National Park, where our trekking permits will be checked. Before we reach Namche Bazaar we will cross a long suspension bridge over the confluence of two rivers – the Dudh Khosi from the east and the Bhote Khosi from the west. We then have a steep climb up to Namche Bazaar, which we will take slowly allowing for the altitude. After the climb we will be rewarded with a view of Everest peeking over the ridge of Nuptse. We will camp here, at the "Gateway to Everest", for the next 2 nights. Namche is a historic trading post where Nepali and Tibetan traders exchanged salt, dried meat, gold and textiles. Besides being a superb place to shop for traditional crafts, Namche remains the central trading post in the Khumbu, attracting Himalayan and lowland merchants. Tomorrow we will have chance to explore this busy market town and its wonderful surrounding vistas.

We spend today in and around Namche in order to acclimatise ourselves to the altitude. Namche is situated on the lap of the Khumbu Himal range and is the administrative centre for the Khumbu region. There will be the opportunity to trek to the Everest View Hotel, where you can see some of the most spectacular views of the region including Mount Everest, Lhotse, Lhotse shar, Ama Dablam, Kang Tega, Rowaling Himal and more. Once back in Namche the rest of the day is free to explore this bustling village. There are innumerable shops for souvenirs and hiring equipment whilst there is also internet access and a bank. Or, you can simply relax in a café and enjoy a pastry whilst taking in the incredible scenery.

This morning we head west out of Namche and follow the Bhote Kosi valley past a large array of prayer flags, mani stones and chorten. Following the contours of a hill on a fairly level path we pass through a forest of pine, birch and juniper on the way to Phurte, where there is a forest nursery. After crossing a ridge we continue into a side valley until reaching Thamo village. This is an interesting Sherpa village, home to many of the Sherpa who have climbed Everest. After having lunch we will re- trace our steps to Namche to overnight.

We leave Namche and after a short ascent the path levels out as we follow the contours around Mung Danda. After 2 hours of trekking we reach the village of Kyangjuma. Just before this village is the first view point of Ama Dablam, Lhotse Shar, Taboche and Kang Taiga, where we will stop to drink in the spectacular views. Our path continues through birch and rhododendron forests before we begin to descend through the forest to Techinga Losasa where we stop for lunch. After lunch we descend for approx. 1 hour until we reach a wooden suspension bridge and we cross over the Imja Khola. From here our path climbs for approx. 3 hours to Tengboche, the cultural and religious centre for the people of the Khumbu. Beautiful water driven prayer wheels line the trail, which switchbacks through fir forests. We take this climb slowly due to the altitude and each stop brings stunning views of Kwangde and Kangtega while there is also the chance of spotting a Golden Eagle. The end of our climb and the entrance to Tengboche is marked by a painted arch said to cleanse visitors before entering this sacred area. Our climb is rewarded by what is said to be one of the best views in the world - Kwangde, Tawachee, Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse, Ama Dablam, Kantege and Thanserku provide the most spectacular Himalayan panorama.

As we leave Tengboche the trail drops down through a conifer forest past the small settlement of Devoche and a small nunnery. After crossing the Imja Khola on a steel bridge, the trail ascends past some magnificently carved mani stones to Pangboche at 3860m, where we will stop for lunch. During the lunch break there is a chance to visit the gompa at upper Pangboche, which is the oldest in the Khumbu and once contained relics that were said to be the skull and hand of a Yeti, but were stolen in 1991. After lunch we continue along the yak pasture, passing beneath the towering Ama Dablam. After crossing the Lobuche Khola on a wooden bridge the path follows the Imja Khola to Dingboche, the highest permanently inhabited village in the Khumbu, where we will camp for the night

Today we will have the day free to rest and allow for further acclimatisation in order to prepare ourselves for climbing Kala Pattar. There will be the opportunity to walk up the valley to Chhukung (4413m), a small summer village near the head of the valley, which is about a 3 – 4 hours walk. The rest of the day is free to either explore further or relax and take in the stunning surroundings.

Leaving Dingboche, we walk up a small ridge and then follow the contour round the base of the Khumbu glacier until we reach Dhugla (4600m). After lunch we have a short, steep climb to the terminal moraine glacier, where we will enjoy the stunning views. Our trail passes through a famous Sherpa memorial (a row of stone monuments), built to commemorate the many Sherpa whose lives have been claimed on expeditions to Mt. Everest. We continue round the glacier to camp at the foot of the Lobuche ice fall. Tonight we can enjoy the sunset on Nuptse, which seen from Lobuche, is truly a memorable sight.

We have an early start following a trail along the western side of the broad Khumbu valley, which ascends gently through meadows beside the glacial moraine. The climb becomes steeper and the ground rougher as it crosses several side moraines. The actual distance is not great but we will take it very slowly to compensate for the altitude, stopping at Gorakshep, which has acted as a base camp for past Everest expeditions, for a light breakfast. We then climb Kala Pattar, this will be a hard climb and a true challenge but the views from the top will be worth it, as all around us will be a huge glacial ice flow. The mountains of Pumori (7145m), Lingtren (6697m) and Khumbutse (6623m) separate us from Tibet and just over the Lho La pass we see the huge rock of Changtse (7550m) in Tibet itself, but the queen of them all is Sagarmatha which towers over everyone. After savouring the 360º views of the Himalayan giants, which are beyond description, we will descend to Gorakshep to camp.

Today we follow the Khumbu moraine glaciers to Everest Base Camp. Sometimes the trail will be on the stony moraine and sometimes across the glaciers themselves. Views will include the 15 metre high seracs of ice, a feature peculiar to Himalayan glaciers. When we reach Base Camp we will be able to catch a glimpse of the Khumbu ice- fall and the crystal clear glaciers. We will also be able to see the Everest Expedition teams who stay here for a long period to acclimatise before attempting the ascent of Mount Everest, Lhotse and Lhotse star. We then descend to Lobuche where we will camp for the night.

Today we descend to Tengboche following the same trail that we climbed earlier in the week. As we are going downhill we will be able to cover a greater distance, as we will be reducing our altitude. At Periche we will have the chance to visit the Trekkers Aid Post run by the Himalayan Rescue Association and talk to the doctor there.

We begin with a steep descent to the bridge at Phunki Khola, on the same path that we climbed earlier in the week. After crossing the bridge we climb through rhododendron and blue pine forest until we reach Kumjung, a picturesque village, dominated by the Sherpa people. There will be the opportunity to visit the beautiful monastery here.

We start the day with a visit to the "Schoolhouse in the Clouds", a secondary school founded by Sir Edmond Hillary. After the visit we begin trekking on a relatively flat trail to Syangboche, where we descend to Namche. From here we retrace our steps to Phakding, stopping at Jorsale for lunch.

We continue our descent down the Dudh Koshi River . As we near Lukla the trail makes a steep ascent for approx. 45mins. There will be some free time to explore Lukla where you can visit the Porters Progress Project and the North Face Lodge, which shows an Everest AMEX film. Tonight we will stay in Lukla to be ready for our flight back to Kathmandu tomorrow morning.

After an early breakfast we walk to the airstrip to catch our flight to Kathmandu. There is the option of a visit to the Lalgadh Leprosy Services Centre, which needs to be booked on registration. If you go on this visit you will catch a connecting flight to Janakpur and the rest of the day will be spent visiting Lalgadh Leprosy Services Centre, Nepal’s busiest leprosy services centre, funded by the Nepal Leprosy Trust.

Today is either free in Kathmandu or if you are visiting Lalgadh the visit to the hospital will continue this morning. After the visit you will transfer to Janakpur airport for our return flight to Kathmandu. Tonight we celebrate our achievements with a celebration dinner.

Transfer to the airport to catch our return flight to the UK.

Arrive in the UK