You are met at the airport and then transferred to your Hotel. Your guide will brief you on your trip.

On arrival at Lukla, check-in at the Summit Lodge, Lukla. After an early lunch, take a walk up Bom Danda (app. 3000m) to its village, an ideal way to acclimatize and prepare for the days ahead. Walking along, you get very good views of Lukla and its airfield. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight. Overnight ? Everest Summit Lodge, Lukla.

An early start after breakfast is planned to avoid the rush of trekkers and porters arriving from Kathmandu. Passing by lovely Sherpa settlements, along gentle undulating trails, and enjoying the marvelous scenery of the Dudh Kosi valley, we arrive at the village of Phakding (8700'/2652m). After a break for lunch, we continue on for approximately three more hours to Monjo. The sounds of plodding porters with transistor radios stuck to their ears, the cacophonic mix of myriad languages, strange-sounding birds, the sight of porters, loads aside, resting outside tea houses, weather-beaten, windblown trekkers winding their way back to Lukla, prayer flag a-flutter, the brightly painted tea houses and of course the dramatic scenery are memories to treasure of this first day on the trail. Overnight - Everest Summit Lodge, Monjo

A principal benefit of walking as far as Monjo on the second day is that you can walk up the steep hill to Namche when fit and fresh in the early morning. You leave Monjo and continue to the park gates of the Sagarmatha National Park at Jorsale where you complete entry formalities. You then walk on alongside the river to arrive at the confluence of the Imja Drangka and the Nangpo Drangpo, which combine to form the Dudh Kosi. Crossing the river on a high bridge you start the steep climb to Namche. Near the halfway point up the hill, if the sky is clear, your first views of Everest and Lhotse come into sight. You then continue the climb, less steeply now, to Namche. Namche is the largest and most prosperous village in Khumbu. Thamserku (6,618m) and Kwangde (6,224m) loom to the east and west and the sacred mountain Khumbila (5,707m) dominates the skyline to the north behind the village. The narrow streets at its center are a mixture of traditional and modern, with Sherpa homes mingled with cafes, handicraft shops, and shops selling or renting trekking and climbing equipment, foodstuffs and vegetables, tennis shoes, and Tibetan boots. Don?t be surprised if, after the exertion of the climb and the rise in elevation, you feel a little tired and headachey. You will feel better after a cup of tea and a rest. Overnight Hotel Namche.

We?ll have some time in the morning to visit the Sagarmatha National Park Visitors Center and Museum, where there are terrific views of the Everest region and numerous educational displays on the culture, geography, geology, climatology, and wildlife within the park and the Khumbu. A great way to kick-off the cultural experience! You will slowly ascend to the village of Khumjung in a spectacular position. This is an extremely ugly, Alcatraz-like building and although out of keeping with its surroundings there are really superb views from its terrace. You can enjoy a cup of tea or a hot lemon while looking out at Everest and other Himalayan giants.It might also be possible to visit the clinic in Khunde and the Khumjung school (both projects supported by the Himalayan Trust). The picturesque little gompa in Khumjung, set in a grove of trees above the houses of the village, is also well worth a visit. On payment of a small donation to the caretaker you may be allowed to see the so-called head of a yeti which is kept there. The trail descends from Khumjung with chortens forming a dramatic frame to a view of Ama Dablam (6,696m), and Kang Taiga (6,779m), flanked by the towering heights of Everest, Lhotse, and Nuptse. You descend from the village, first through walled fields and then through rhododendron and blue pine forest to the village of Tashinga Overnight Everest Summit Lodge, Tashinga.

This morning, looking across the valley, you will be able to see the path sloping diagonally up towards the famous monastery of Thyangboche, but first you have to descend to the river. This takes half an hour to an hour, descending steeply in a series of zig-zags to the Dudh Kosi River. Here you cross a suspension bridge in the lee of a gigantic overhanging cliff (3,200m/10,499ft). A little way further on is a small hamlet, Phunki Tenga, where you could stop for a cup of tea. It is 2-3 hours from the bridge to reach the monastery at a slow, even pace. At first you climb steeply up through a pine forest, thankfully in the shade, and then emerge to walk up a long gentle straight path that rises like a ramp to the monastery. Emerging at the top, there is a mandala gateway and a huge chorten which you pass before your first sight of the gompa. The setting is nothing short of magic and it is incredible to think that the temple was burnt down only a few years ago and was re-built largely through the efforts of the Sir Edmund Hillary Trust. There is a very good Visitors? Centre and in the afternoon it is possible to sit down inside the temple for afternoon prayers. Conch shells are blown, the monks arrive and visitors are expected to sit quietly on the right-hand side of the temple. A small donation is appreciated. Then, leaving Thyangboche, your path descends through trees to Deboche where the small and atmospheric nunnery is well worth a visit. You pass further houses and ?mani? walls as the path continues along the river valley amongst the trees. After crossing a bridge over a picturesque gorge, the path gradually climbs, with stunning views of Ama Dablam ahead. There are numerous fantastic photo opportunities in both directions, and frequent chortens and mani walls to pass, as height is gained to reach the village of Pangboche. This is a very picturesque village with stone-walled fields and there is a very interesting monastery set in trees at the top of the village. This is probably the oldest monastery of the Khumbu region, possibly dating back as far as the first introduction of Buddhism into the Khumbu. There used to be a ?yeti? scalp and claw kept here but they were stolen some years ago. Overnight Everest Summit Lodge, Pangboche.

Ama Dablam (6,812m /22,349ft) is one of the most loved and admired mountains in Khumbu. After crossing the Imja Drangka river, followed by a gradual ascent until Lhabarma you are suddenly standing right in front of the mountain ridge. You can walk to its foothill and absorb the enormity of the mountain. Ama Dablam Base Camp sits at 4,576m/15,013ft on an open yak pasture beneath the west face, with the summit some 2,300m almost straight up above. The climbing route follows the southwest ridge ? the right-hand skyline as you look at it ? moving onto the face above the hanging glacier three-quarters of the way up. Base Camp affords particularly fine views of Kan Tega (6,783m/22,254ft), Thamserku (6,618m/21,712ft) and Tawoche (6,542m/21,463ft). If your trek coincides with the main climbing season it is more than likely that you will find climbing groups at Base Camp either acclimatizing or fixing the route. With a pair of binoculars, it may well be possible to see climbers descending the 50/60 degree ice slopes from the summit. In 1998 an Austrian parapeted off the summit reaching base camp in under 10 minutes ? substantially quicker than the normal 2-day descent! Return to Pangboche. Overnight Everest Summit Lodge, Pangboche.

You leave Pangboche on a path that ascends above the village with the sparse landscape now reflecting the height. You pass some yak herders? cottages and walled fields at Orsho before crossing a stream and making a final steep ascent to Pheriche. The village of Pheriche is set in a stunning position, surrounded by high peaks. In summer months they grow barley here ? possibly the highest altitude in the world at which this crop is grown. Depending on the time you arrive here, and your energy levels, there may be time for an optional afternoon walk.
Overnight tea house.

This morning you ascend the ridge to a large Chorten above Dingboche village and it is then an easy walk up a wide, grassy plateau. The peaks of Tawoche and Cholatse tower above you and it is possible to see Pheriche village in the valley below to your left. At the tiny hamlet of Duglha, you reach a jumble of rocks that marks the terminal moraine at the base of the Khumbu glacier. You ascend steeply up this moraine to reach the top where there are many memorial cairns to those who have died on Everest. The landscape is now wild and rocky and there is a real feeling of being high in the mountains. Following the often frozen stream at one side of the moraine, you soon reach the cluster of houses at Lobuche. This rather bleak spot was once a yak grazing settlement and was then inhabited only during the summer months but now it is open throughout the winter serving trekkers and climbers and is the jumping-off point for Everest Base Camp and Kalar Pattar. Sunset over Nuptse is particularly spectacular from here. It is worth walking over to the moraine to view the moraine-covered glacier behind it. Overnight tea house.

Return to Gorak Shep (5,165m/16,945ft). 6-7 Hours
This is the big day for the trek to Base Camp. An early start is essential to get there before any cloud comes down and it will probably be very cold when you set off. Make sure to have something for breakfast even if you don?t feel like it as you will need the energy. You are at a high altitude, so take some snacks to keep you going along the way, and be sure to have your water bottle filled when you set off. Leaving Lobuche you head north-east, along the side of the Khumbu Glacier through jumbled moraine and shattered rock. There is almost no vegetation here. Even so, small covers of the delightful Tibetan Snow Cock can often be seen along the way or heard calling from the hillsides. You make several energetic ups and downs across the moraine and descend to Gorak Shep where it is worth having a reviving cup of tea and a snack. From Gorak Shep it is still a long, fairly arduous trek to base camp, initially following the top of the moraine and then descending onto the boulder-strewn glacier. In the climbing season, you may follow mountaineering groups, or yaks carrying supplies, but at other times there are just a series of small cairns along the route. After a couple of hours you reach the base camp area from where, although you do not have views of the actual summit of Everest, there are sensational close-up views of the terrifying Khumbu ice-fall and the surrounding scenery of ice seracs and tumbled rocks. At this altitude, the return to Gorak Shep will feel like quite a long way and will use up your remaining reserves of energy. Overnight tea house.

Trek Down to Pheriche (4,371m/14,340ft), 7 Hours
At Gorak Shep you will be ideally placed for an ascent of Kala Pattar in the clear of the morning before cloud comes in to obscure the summit of Everest. Although not far this is a tough ascent of approximately 2-3 hours until you finally reach the rocky summit of Kala Pattar at 5,545m ? quite literally the high-point of your trek. From the summit of Kala Pattar, there are great views of the summit of Everest as well as other Himalayan giants - Pumori (7,145m), the Tibetan peak Changtse (4,501m), Nuptse, Lhotse and countless other needles and snow fluted ridges. You can also look down on the Khumbu glacier where base camp is located during the climbing season in late spring. You will then descend to Gorak Shep and take the trail back down to Lobuche. From Lobuche you follow the path down as far as Dughla and then instead of taking the trail back to Dingboche you descend to the flat valley bottom. It is then quite a short distance on the flat to reach Pheriche where you will stay for the night.

Today we leave the mountains behind and fly back to Kathmandu. Please note that flights into Lukla are sometimes delayed due to weather conditions either in fog-bound Kathmandu or windy Lukla; be reassured that our staff in Lukla and in Kathmandu will be doing everything possible to minimize the inconvenience caused if this happens. Your patience in the trying circumstances, which can occur, will be greatly appreciated. Your final day of leisure in Kathmandu does of course provide a valuable ?cushion? against missing your flight home, should the Lukla flight be delayed. On arrival in Kathmandu, you will be met and transferred to the Hotel.

You will be transferred to the airport.