Everest View Trek Nepal & Bhutan Tour - 18 Days

After arrival at the Tribhuwan International Airport (TIA) in Kathmandu, you will be greeted by our representative from Himalayan Trekkers and transferred to the hotel.
After checking in and having some rest we will be discussing the trek details and necessary equipment that you need while trekking. We will organize a welcome dinner at the traditional Nepalese restaurant with a fine meal in the evening. 

If your arrival time happens to be before noon, you could have guided sightseeing of some of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the Kathmandu Valley such as Pashupatinath Temple, Boudhanath Stupa, and Budhanilkantha Temple which are close to the airport. 

Early in the morning, you will be transferred to the airport for a 35-minute daring flight to Lukla (2,800m/9,186ft) above green scenery and snow-capped mountains. This is one of the most exciting routes in the world on a hillside encircled by huge mountain peaks. Lukla is a gateway to every Everest trekking trail and here we meet our crew members. After a short tea break in Lukla town, our real walking journey begins. 

We will arrive at a Cheplung town after an hour of gentle descent, where we will enjoy a view of Mt. Khumbila along the other peaks. We steadily descend from Cheplung till we reach Phakding.
For the accommodation, we have a short but most exciting hike and have a side trip to a nearby monastery.

Before setting out on the trek to the largest Sherpa village, Namche Bazaar, we take a hearty breakfast at our lodge in Phakding. Our trail leads us across the Dudh Koshi River on a huge suspension bridge, then through a lovely pine forest to Monjo, the entrance to the Sagarmatha National Park. From here, the first glimpse of Mt. Everest will appear.

 We will further walk to the Jorsale village from where we will get a closer look. We will take a break here for lunch while taking in the beauties of pine tree plantations, honeycombs, and Everest vistas. After lunch, continue climbing to Tope Danda, a mountaintop that provides views of the Namche hamlet below. The trailhead will lead us to our destination, Namche Bazaar, which is the busiest settlement in the Khumbu region.

This is the planned acclimatization day for this trek. Today is a wonderful day since we will be visiting the famous Hotel Everest View at Syangboche. We will eat our breakfast at Namche Bazaar and start our short climb up to a ridge in Syangboche hamlet. With only a few climbs, twists, and turns, we reach the highest elevation hotel at the elevation of 3962 meters, Everest View Hotel offering the 360-degree panoramic vista of the peaks including the Everest, Lhotse, Ama Dablam, Cho Oyo, Nuptse, Lhotse, and Thamserku. Take a warm lunch or a cup of hot coffee at the hotel relishing the presence of the snow-capped peaks surrounding you. 

After spending a good time with many photographs and videos, we will trek back to Namche Bazaar via some Sherpa Villages on the way. You are free to wander about the Namche market, talk to the locals, and perhaps buy up a souvenir or two for the remainder of the day. You can also visit the ancient Namche Monastery which houses many wonderful Tibetan deities Thangkas. Also, Namche Bazaar gets ready for the weekly market fair every Saturday morning, which brightens up the town. 

We begin our trek to Thame after breakfast in Namche, which takes about 5 hours. We will walk through a lovely pine forest and see typical Sherpa houses. This route is a part of the Tibet entry route and was the traditional migration track from Eastern Tibet, 800 years ago. The trail then descends sharply to Sanasa, where local Sherpa people sell Tibetan products, passing by several villages and numerous teashops.

There are little ups and downs on the journey from Sanasa to Namche, with views of forests, countryside, and mountains. The route today offers spectacular views of Kongde Ri. We continue our trek after lunch along with the monastery and arrive in the settlement of Samden, from which we descend towards the Bhote Koshi River. After a half-hour climb from here, we reach Thame. It is a small Sherpa village on the Tibetan border that's also home to Ang Rita Sherpa, the woman who holds the record for climbing Mt. Everest ten times without oxygen.

Leaving Thame village behind, we start our today’s trek to the stunning Khumjung Village, which is encircled by the sacred Khumbila Mountain, Kondge, Thamserku, and Thamserku peaks. Once we reach the village, we take a brief rest at our lodge. Later, we will explore the important landmarks of the village such as Khumjung Monastery which is famous for housing the Yeti scalp. 

We will also explore the Edmund Hillary School which was built in 1961 by Sir Edmund Hillary’s Himalayan Trust. The school has grown from 2 classrooms to pre-school, primary, and secondary divisions with over 200 students. You can also visit the Edmund Hillary Hospital, also built by the same Himalayan Trust in the Kunde village. We might encounter yaks and yak herders today along with the Sherpa farmland and their exciting culture.

Early morning breakfast and we follow the uphill trail from the Khumjung leads to Tengboche village. Firstly, we descend towards the Dudh Koshi River with a spectacular view of the mountains like Ama Dablam, Kangtega, Lhotse as well as Everest on the backdrop. Then, our trail continues through the small villages, and forests of firs and pines. 
The views of Ama Dablam (6696m) and Kantega (6779m), as well as Everest (8848m) and Lhotse (8848m), are breathtaking (8501m). 

Tengboche, the Khumbu's largest monastery appears suddenly in front of us after a few hours of a good trek. The lovely gompa (monastery) is surrounded by pines, azaleas, and colorful rhododendrons, with a spectacular panoramic vista of Everest, Lhotse, and Ama Dablam. We explore the surroundings in the evening and spend an overnight there. Tengboche offers a huge number of rest houses and resorts, as well as large camping areas.

We descend from Tengboche to the Dudh Koshi River amid rhododendron plants and fir trees. Before arriving in Kyangjuma, we pass via the settlements of Tashinga and Sanasa. The pristine beauty of Kongde, Everest, Makalu, Pharchamo, Cho Oyu, Thamserku, Kangtega, and Kusum Kanguru may be seen along route. We initially stop at Namche Bazaar before continuing to Monjo. 

The trail winds its way through the dense forest, with various ups and downs. A steep descent leads us to a bridge over the Dudh Koshi River, which we cross to exit Sagarmatha National Park. Then we continue to Monjo for an overnight stay. 

Today is the last day of our trekking. We begin the hike after breakfast by following the Dudh Koshi River to Lukla. After walking from Monjo to Ghat, our lunch stop, we will continue through villages like Chumoa, Benkar, Phakding, and Chuthawa, eventually arriving at the Pasang Lhamu Memorial Gate, which marks the end of the trek. 

Once we reach Lukla, we will bid farewell to some of the crew members. We check in at our accommodation and rest. If you like to be occupied, you can do lots of things here. You can visit the stores, bars, and cafes or explore the corners of the village. 

Say goodbye to the Everest Region after breakfast today. We board an early morning flight back to Kathmandu. After check-in formalities at your hotel in Kathmandu, you are on your own. You can explore the corners and streets of Kathmandu more likely Thamel and its surrounding areas either by foot, bicycle (you can rent it), or rickshaw (a three-wheeled cart).  
Other options include treating your muscles at a massage center or Spa. 

Today is an extra day to rest or to explore the valley. If you did not visit the Pashupatinath Temple and Boudhanath Stupa on the arrival day due to your flight time, you will explore them today. 

After breakfast, we will start our guided sightseeing of the significant historical and cultural wonders of the Kathmandu Valley by visiting the most renowned and the most important Hindu pilgrimage site, Pashupatinath Temple. It is one of the oldest temples in Nepal and is located on the banks of the sacred Bagmati River. Dedicated to the Hindu God, Lord Shiva, the temple welcomes the most pilgrims from all over the world during the auspicious day called Shivaratri. The main premises are not open for the non-Hindus but the surrounding areas are open to all the visitors. 

From the temple, we drive for a few minutes to Boudhanath Stupa, one of the biggest Buddhist Stupa in Asia. Mandala-styled, white Dome with wide Buddha eyes, Golden spires, and prayer flags, stands proudly between the Tibetan communities. This is one of the favorite destinations both for the locals and the foreigners. As we enter the premises, you will feel the peacefulness, hear the chanting, and smell the scent of the burning Himalayan herbs. Tibetan culture has hugely influenced the area and the stupa represents Tibetan Buddhism, i.e. Mahayana Buddhism. 

Patan Durbar Square which lies in the Lalitpur district, one of the three cities of the old Kathmandu Valley will be the last sightseeing site for today. Patan Durbar Square features beautifully preserved temples and palace complexes and is quite famous among the local visitors. The site is very significant and showcases pre-historic Nepal when it used to be ruled by various Kings. 
Then, you will be dropped off at your hotel. You can take a rest and prepare for tomorrow’s trip to Bhutan. 

After early morning breakfast, you will be transferred to the airport for a breathtaking flight to Paro International Airport in the country of Thunder Dragon, Bhutan. As your plane starts to descend into the high mountains, you will see no airstrips or cities, but instead will be treated to views of the coming Paro valley, alpine forests, small monasteries, temples, and farmhouses. 

On arriving in Paro, you will be greeted and transferred to the hotel by a Bhutanese representative. Following a quick rest and lunch, we will proceed to the Ta Dzong, Bhutan's National Museum. Hundreds of historic Bhutanese antiques and artwork, such as traditional garments, ceramics, scrolls, and statues, are on show, as well as an extensive exhibit on Bhutan's ecology and animals. We then walk down for a short distance to the Rimpung Dzong, which is known as the fort with heaps of jewels. It lies just below the Ta Dzong as is also known as Paro Dzong. The complex of courtyards and buildings is home to exquisite artworks, meditation rooms, and prayer wheels. 

We will also see Khichu Lhakhang, Bhutan's oldest monument. This is Bhutan's oldest temple, with two orange trees in the courtyard that are claimed to provide fruits all year which are believed to be never plucked instead they ripen and fall to the ground. The size of the Lhakhang is modest but houses 108 temples, built to tame a demon.
We then head to explore the Drugyal Dzong (Bhutan Victory Fort), which was built in the mid-seventeenth century to commemorate the Bhutanese victory over Tibetan invaders. If the weather is clear, we can get a view of the sacred Mount Jhomolhari from here. 

You can experience the evening and night lifestyle after your guided sightseeing. You can explore the markets, restaurants and some shops on your own. 

We wake up early in the morning to hike to the most popular landmark in Bhutan, Taktsang Monastery is also known as Tiger’s Nest Monastery. It was built in the 17th century where the second Buddha and the founder of Buddhism in Bhutan, Guru Rinpoche Padmasambhava was believed to have flown to this spot on the back of a Tigress and meditated in one of the caves for 3 years, 3 months, 3 weeks, 3 days, and 3 hours. Once the exploration is completed, we will head downwards to the valley floor. We might take our lunch at the cafeteria halfway to the trail or at the hotel. 

Then, we leave Paro and drive towards the capital of Bhutan, Thimphu city. You can explore the streets, shops, restaurants, and markets in the evening. 

On the day of exploring Thimpu, we will visit some of the most popular places here. We will go to Sangaygang, a high-altitude field of Bhutanese prayer flags. Then, you will witness the National Takin Research Centre, the Folk Heritage Museum, the National Painting School, the Weekend Market, and the Motithang Mini Zoo.

We will visit the Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Memorial Chorten, which was created in his honor. Bhutanese structures are all built according to national construction principles and are ornately carved and ornamented. If time permits, we make our visits to the Changgangkha Monastery and the Majestic Thimphu Dzong also known as Tashichho Dzong which is the largest landmark of Thimphu. The fortress presently serves as the government's seat, housing the King of Bhutan's office.

We will also visit the craft mart on Norzin Lam, as well as some of the capital's cottage businesses, such as the traditional paper producing factory, which is good for souvenirs.

Soon after breakfast, we leave for Punakha, the former capital of Bhutan via Dochu La Pass (3,100 meters) for a quick break and to take in the landscape. The pass is one of Bhutan's most beautiful and is also one of the country's few motorable passes with 108 whitewashed stupas built in the memory of 108 Bhutanese soldiers who lost their breaths during the war against Indian Assamese soldiers. The Punakha Valley welcomes you after an hour and a half from the pass. 

Upon arrival at Punakha, we will have lunch and visit the Punakha Dzong in the evening. Punakha Dzong is Bhutan's second largest dzong and is recognized for its magnificent architecture. It is strategically located between two rivers, the Pho Chu (male) and the Mo Chu (females), which have distinct color variances in their water and are also considered the most beautiful in the country. During the spring season, exquisite lilac-colored jacaranda trees grow around the dzong, making it more attractive. 

We start our drive towards the Gangtey and reach Wangduephodrang to have our lunch, which is the opposite way of the Thimphu road. We pass by many villages and stop in the lovely village of Sopsokha, just before the Lobesa junction to see the famous Fertility Temple. We pay a visit to Wanduephodrang Dzong, located at the formation of two rivers. We also visit the Dang Chu forest, which is full of bamboo and oak tree. 

After a few hours of driving, we will arrive in Phobjikha Valley ( 3000 M). The limitless meadows and mountains, as well as the small flowers dancing on the meadow hills, are breathtaking. The valley of Phobjikha is well known as the home of black-necked cranes. The Gangtey monastery that is perched atop a hill overlooking the Phobjikha Valley is also worth a visit here. Admire the magnificent views of nature and learn about the region's rich culture and history by visiting Gangteng Gompa. 

Today, we drive back to Paro via Dochu La Pass where we will spend some time exploring the Druk Wangyal Monastery. On the way, stop by Simtokha Dzong, the Kingdom's oldest fortress, which houses the School for Buddhist Studies at present. After exploring, our drive continues and halts in Thimphu for lunch. On arriving in Paro, check in and relax. Spend your quality time on your own. 

You will be driven to the airport early in the morning for a picturesque journey back to Kathmandu or you can take connecting flights to Delhi, Calcutta, Bangkok, and Singapore to your home country. 

If you flew back to Kathmandu, our staff will receive you and drive you to your hotel. The remainder of the day is on your own. You can visit the shops, markets, or streets to buy souvenirs, visit the spa for relaxation, or request guided sightseeing of the unexplored sites in Kathmandu Valley. 

Your trip to these amazing Himalayan nations comes to an end. After spending more than 2 weeks here in Nepal and Bhutan, you will be flying back to your home or another destination. You will be transferred to the airport 3 hours before your scheduled flight and exchange our goodbyes