We will meet you at Kathmandu International airport and transfer you by private coach to the very comfortable and 'famous' Kathmandu Guest House situated in the very centre of the Thamel tourist district. After you have booked in to your room (sole occupancy of a garden facing en-suite room) and freshened up we will have a meeting to introduce everyone and have a quick presentation about the trip. A group dinner will follow at the hotel and after this most people will turn in for a much needed sleep after their long journey to Nepal

We have organised two brilliant tours for you today to absorb your new surroundings and to immerse yourself in the Nepalese culture yet still allowing you to have a relaxing day with some free time to explore this amazing city. After breakfast we are taken by private bus to the Monkey Temple at Swayambunath where our expert local guide will give us a fascinating tour of this stunning place and also point out the distant Himalayan Peaks from our elevated position. We return to the Kathmandu Guest House for lunch at Cafe Bahal and then in the afternoon take an exhilarating rickshaw ride around the city’s famous Durbar Square where again we will have an expert tour guide. Before dinner we will give you a short multi media presentation about your trek outlining some of the health and safety issues and looking at altitude sickness. This is a great opportunity for any questions that any group members have to be answered. We have dinner this evening at the famous 'Rum Doodles' where you will experience great food in appropriate surrounds as the walls are adorned with Everest memorabilia including the Everest Summiteers board signed by the many who have scaled this lofty height.

n early start today for our flight to Lukla. Flights to Lukla operate within the constraints of the weather at Lukla itself and if there is cloud in the morning we may have a delay. The airport in Lukla has recently undergone an extensive upgrade and the old gravel landing strip of legend and notoriety has been replaced with impressive new tarmac and there is also a modern stone-built terminal building. With clear weather we get fantastic views of the mountains and as we turn into the deep gorge of the Dudh Kosi valley we can look ahead and see Everest itself. But most people will have their sights firmly set on the approach to Lukla and our exciting descent to the runway. Depending on our arrival time we may have lunch in Lukla or start trekking directly, walking down for 45 minutes to the Dudh Kosi valley. When we hit the valley we follow the course of the river northwards, staying at all times on the east bank. After another couple of hours or so we come to the village of Phakding where we cross a stunning suspension bridge over the mighty Dudh Khosi. We stop and camp for the night just the other side of this bridge.

Immediately after leaving Phakding we cross the Dudh Kosi River.We get our first good views of the mountains when Thamserku (6608m) appears at the head of a narrow valley. The path crosses back to the other side of the river and passes through the Sagarmatha National Park gates at Monjo where we show our permits. We then continue along an undulating riverside path until a final suspension bridge is crossed just below ‘Namche hill’. From here it’s all up hill for a good hour with the possibility of a glimpse of Everest to our right. Namche Baazar,the principal village of the Khumbu region is reached and you will hear the ever present 'chick chink' sound of stone masons hard at work. Your efforts for the ascent of the hill climb is rewarded with a scrumptious cake from Herman's Bakery which will soon replenish the energy levels. We stay at the excellent Hotel Kangri run by our good friend Dorgee Lama Sherpa for the next two nights which is located in the centre of Namche and where you will find comfortable,clean accommodation and a wide selection of excellent food including 'Yak' steaks.

We spend the day acclimatising in and around Namche with a short hike to the village of Khumjung to visit the Sir Edmund Hillary School. A short and very enjoyable walk takes us to the famous Everest View Hotel where we have lunch and hopefully if the weather is clear we will have superb views of Everest, Lhotse and Ama Dablam whilst enjoying our lunch out on the large patio veranda. A short walk back to Namche via a ridge may provide us with the opportunity to see Himalayan griffon or lammergeyer soaring on the thermals rising above the Dudh Khosi 1000m below. What a fantastic sight!

We head north into the remote Nangpa Valley. Until very recently this valley was off limits to trekkers because it was a main access route to the Nangpa La, a high pass linking Nepal with Tibet. For hundreds of years, many Tibetan traders have traveled this route, bringing a variety of Chinese goods on their yaks to sell in Namche Bazaar, but the ease with which China can be reached was in the past sufficient reason for the Nepalese Government to keep tourists out of the area. However, the catastrophic downturn in tourism following September 11 has forced the Nepalese Government to open up many previously restricted areas in a desperate attempt to kick-start the tourism industry which is the country’s main earner of foreign currency. We camp at the village of Marulung (4150m) or just above at Lungare.

We continue trekking up the remote Nangpa Valley to our camp at the pastures of Chule, situated at the snout of the Nangpai Glacier. After pitching our camp and having lunch we leave our camp in-situ and trek further up the Nangpa valley. At the farthest reaches of the valley lies the superb Nangpai Gosum (7352m) and on the western side of the Nangpa La the spectacular peak of Jobo Lapsang (6668m) rises up. We should be able to reach an altitude of over 5000 metres at the collection of shepherd’s huts at Lunag (5090m) before returning to our camp.

We descend down the Nanga Valley for some distance before beginning the steep climb up to the small lake of Renjo Tsho, effectively the high camp for the crossing of the pass.  

big day over the Renjo La (5340m). We leave our camp after an early breakfast and climb into a wide corrie making for the ridge line ahead of us. The actual pass is only a small notch and the final section involves some very easy scrambling. When we come over the pass we are greeted with a fantastic panorama looking out over the turquoise lakes at Gokyo and across the Everest massif. We descend over rough glacial slabs and moraine to our campsite in a secluded location on the western shore of Gokyo’s main lake, away from the lodges and other trekkers.  

We make the fantastic ascent of Goyko Ri(5357m) and absorb the stunning views of Everest , Cho Oyu and the many other majestic summits that surround us from this amazing viewpoint. The Gokyo lakes below us are simply stunning with the green or cobalt blue appearance that they take on. Our return trip on Gokyo Ri can be around 3-4 hours so we can use the rest of the day for relaxing and simply enjoying this beautiful location.

We trek down into the Gokyo valley and cross a grassy lateral moraine which gives access to the boulder strewn Ngozumpa Glacier. The path is very clearly defined across the glacier and there are no particular difficulties, apart from the general roughness of the terrain. In places, huge boulders are perched precariously on ice ridges and marvel at the spectacular crashing and reverberating sounds of boulders crashing into the many small glacier lakes that we pass. After about 90 minutes we reach the far side of the glacier and head past the yak herder houses at Tagnag. We then ascend over a small grassy col (4800m) to a very pleasant campsite below the Cho La  for the crossing the following day.

Today we ascend and cross our second big pass, the Cho La. An easy rocky gully ascends diagonally up to the col which is very easily crossed even with the remnants of snow that is often found here. Whilst we climb to the col we are in shade which can be chilly but as soon as we emerge at the col we are normally blessed with bright sunlight and can look up towards Lobuche Peak (6145m). We trek along the side of the small level glacier for about 20 minutes until we reach the far side of the col and can look down to the meadows of Dzongla. Although the descent from the pass appears steep, the path finds an ingenious way down a rocky gully which poses no particular difficulty. We emerge at the foot of a huge rocky buttress to delightful grassy pastures. On reaching this area our fantastic team of Sherpas and porters will have our lunch well under way and we can relax and enjoy the magnificent views of Ama Dablam and Tawoche Peak. We continue on an easy sandy path to the yak herders huts at Dzongla and camp here or just below with superb views of the huge and menacing north face of Cholatse (6440m)  

Today is a reasonably short day and easy day and this gives a great opportunity to recover from our previous day's exertsions.The lake of Chola Tsho lies below us and late in the Autumn season this may be frozen over. We stay on a high path above the lake and contour around the hillside to the Khumbu valley. We get our first views of the moraine-covered Khumbu Glacier whilst the symmetrical pyramid of Pumori (7145m) is now seen to the north. We descend into a grassy valley beside the glacier and follow this easily to the small collection of lodges at Lobuche (4930m). We are now in the heart of the Everest area and although the world’s highest mountain is not yet visible the spectacular peak of Nuptse (7879m) towers above us. Sunset on its fluted face can produce some fantastic photographs.

A short but spectacular day today as we trek on a rough path high above the Khumbu glacier to Gorak Shep (5200m). Consisting of just a handful of basic lodges and yak herders huts, this is the last habitation before Everest base camp. We camp here on the sandy flats, and in the afternoon we can make the ascent of Kala Pattar (5545m) for the classic views of the world’s highest mountain. The best time to be on the summit of Kala Pattar is the late afternoon when the sun is setting in the west away from the mountain. Pumori stands imposingly in front of us and our panorama stretches across the Lho La Pass to Changtse in Tibet.  

From Gorak Shep we descend a short scree gully down to the moraine covered Khumbu Glacier. The route to base camp is generally well-defined with a series of cairns marking the way. However, there is scope to get lost so it is best to keep the porters and trek leader in sight at all times. We walk on the glacial ice which is pitted with many small stones and as we approach the base camp area the occasional ice tower juts up. This is not a snow-covered glacier so any crevasses are clearly visible and do not present any difficulty. After three or four hours we arrive at the base camp area, which is a sprawling mass of tents during the main Spring climbing season. Although we cannot see the summit of Everest from base camp the Khumbu icefall is right in front of us and we may be able to see the black dots of climbers descending through this chaotic jumble of ice blocks. To the west we get a new perspective on Pumori and can pick out the usual route of ascent, while to the south we have a panorama of lesser Khumbu peaks including Cholatse, Taboche and Kwangde.  

We have a free morning at Everest Base Camp. This will provide an opportunity to trek to the foot of the Khumbu icefall or perhaps chat with some of the climbing teams here. After an early ‘brunch’ we head back down the glacier to our campsite at Lobuche.  

From Lobuche we retrace our route for a short way and then continue descending to the small collection of buildings at Dugla (4600m). We continue down the broad valley to Pheriche (4240m) where we have lunch. This sprawling village is home to the Himalayan Rescue Association and there is a small medical post here staffed by western volunteers. We cross the Dudh Kosi by a small wooden bridge and continue on a delightful path high above the river to the village of Pangboche. There are superb views of Ama Dablam (6856m) from all along the trail, offering varied perspectives on this famous peak. The monastery in Pangboche is believed to have been founded around 1667, which makes it the oldest Sherpa gompa in the Khumbu. This gompa was home to one of the Khumbu's famous yeti scalps until it was stolen under mysterious circumstances in 1991. Perhaps if we have any budding Inspector Jacques Clouseau's in our party we may be able to open then shut this case once and for all?

This is our final day in the high mountains and we will make our way to Namche Bazaar. Although we are leaving the Khumbu now, this is one of the best days walking on the entire trek. The path initially descends to the river below Pangboche and crosses via a rickety suspension bridge spanning a narrow chasm. We then climb up through pretty forest to the famous Gompa at Tengboche. Here we can gaze back north at the fantastic panorama which includes Everest, Lhotse and Ama Dablam, whilst to the east we can see Kang Tega and Thamserku. We will also be able to visit the Gompa which has been newly built since the old one was destroyed by fire in 1989. We then begin the long descent down a seemingly endless series of zig zags to the Dudh Kosi at Punki Tenga. Here we will stop for lunch and enjoy this lovely little setting where musk deer sometimes graze before heading uphill towards the lodges at Sanasa. From here the path contours around the hillside in a superb high level traverse where we often have the opportunity to see Himalayan Tahr (goats). when back to Namche we again stay at the Hotel Kangri with our fabulous hosts Dorgee and Nima Sherpa. We can relax in the evening after hot showers and a hearty meal and perhaps visit one of the highest pubs in the world where we can sign one of our t-shirts and have it displayed on the wall or ceiling.

We build this additional day into the itinerary to cover any flight delays,bad weather and also to allow us extra time if we feel there is a requirement for extra time to acclimatise.

Today we retrace our steps to Lukla. With being so acclimatised and having a good level of fitness now you will find that trekking to Lukla in one day as opposed to the two that we had taken on the way up very easy and most people make this trek between 4 - 6 hours. We will stop at Phading for lunch before making the final easy ascent back out of the valley floor to Lukla. We will stay at the Himalayan Lodge which has recently been renovated and extended and this is a wonderful place to spend the last night with our Sherpa's, porters and camp cooks enjoying a group dinner. Expect to be singing and dancing with our friends before the night is out especially as there is a tendency for the local brew of 'Chang' to appear!

Saying goodbye to our Sherpa's and porters we board our flight and make the exciting one hour flight back to Kathmandu. On our return to Kathmandu we are transferred to the impressive Park Village Resort which is only a 20 minute drive in a private coach. Here you will spend the next two days relaxing in complete luxury in your suite which you have to yourself. You have the remainder of the day to yourself to enjoy some space and reflect on the trip you have just done. Make use of the fantastic range of facilities that the hotel has especially the infinity pool which is great for soothing those aching muscles.

fter a quiet morning catching up on much needed rest and after lunch at the hotel, we transfer you into the Thamel District of Kathmandu for the afternoon where you can explore on your own and enjoy browsing the the many shops. Be prepared to haggle as is the norm here. We can provide some lessons in the rules of haggling - above all enjoy it as it is a great experience if you have never done this before. We return to the Park Village Resort at a pre-arranged time later in the day. As this is our last night together as a group we have arranged a special dinner at the hotel. The standard of catering is very high and you will be impresses by the level of cuisine here. After dinner and over a relaxing drink we will show you a preview of the 'uncut' version of our trekking film that we have just captured over the last 2 weeks. The conference rooms here at the hotel are comfortable and well equipped with the latest audio visual facilities. You will be impressed with the film shown on large screen. Additionally we can look at the many digital images that our staff have taken throughout your expedition. You will receive the professionally edited version soon after your return home.

fter breakfast we have arranged for those who are interested a visit to the sleeping monolith of Vishnu which is only a short 10 - 15 minute walk from the hotel. This is a nice way to end your time in Nepal and an opportunity to stretch you legs before you flight home. We have lunch at the hotel and then transport you to Tribhuvan International airport to catch you flight. Our staff will see that your departure goes as smoothly as possible and take care of every detail including arranging your departure tax which is part of your all-inclusive package with us. We will say our farewells at the airport.