Everest Explorer

Day 1: Kathmandu - Welcome to Nepal!
Upon arrival at the Kathmandu International Airport, you will be met and greeted by your AAW guide/driver and transferred in a private car to your hotel. The rest of your day is free to explore the bustling streets of Kathmandu, the largest city in Nepal and one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Your first day here will no doubt be a sensory overload, as you immerse yourself in the exotic sights, sounds and smells of this ancient metropolis (the earliest known inscription found here dates back to 185 AD!). Your guide will be at your disposal for anything you might need or anywhere you want to go.     (No Meals)

Day 2: Kathmandu - Explore Kathmandu
After a hearty breakfast at your hotel, you will begin your full-day exploration of the colorful city of Kathmandu. First, you will visit Durbar Square, a cluster of temples and palaces, some of which date back to the 12th century! This UNESCO World Heritage Site is located opposite the royal palace and is home to the Temple of the Living Goddess, where the much venerated living goddess Kumari resides. She is worshipped by both Hindus and Buddhists alike. Also, within the square is Kasthamandap, a temple rumored to be made from the timber of a single tree. It is believed that the city is named after this building, with the word Kastha meaning wood and Mandap meaning pavilion. You will then explore Swayambhunath, a 2,000-year-old Buddhist stupa located atop a hill overlooking the city. This beautiful golden and white stupa is also known as the “Monkey Temple,” for the holy monkeys residing in parts of the temple. Your next stop will be Pashupatinath, the oldest Hindu temple in Kathmandu. Though only Hindus may enter, you will be able to see the gorgeous temple, which is located amidst lush greenery along the Bagmati River. To finish the day, you will visit Boudhanath, the largest stupa in Nepal and a very important Buddhist holy site. Your evening will be free to relax and enjoy dinner at one of the many unique restaurants near your hotel. (B)

Day 3: Kathmandu to Monjo - Fly to Lukla & Trek to Monjo (5 hours / 9,300 feet)
This morning, you will board a flight from Kathmandu to Lukla (9,000 ft / 2,743 m). The fantastic views from this scenic flight and the landing at the small mountain airstrip is something you will be talking about for many years to come. After meeting your sherpa trekking crew, organizing your packs, and loading your dzos (a pack animal that is a cross between a yak and a cow), you will be ready to begin your trek! It is about a three-hour trek to Phakding (8,700 ft / 2,652 m), where you will stop for lunch. You will then trek down a steep stony path to meet the trail coming up through Chaurikharka, encountering porters, local sherpa villages, trekkers, dzos, colorful tea houses and lots of prayer flags along the way. The path contours the mountainside, requiring you to travel over suspension bridges and under large cliffs, before your arrival at Monjo. (B, L, D)

Day 4: Monjo to Namche - Trek to Namche Bazaar (3 hours / 11,317 feet)
Though physically, this will be one of the hardest days on your trek, it will also be one of the most rewarding. You will trek slowly, taking ample time to enjoy all of the sights along the trail. A short time after leaving Monjo, you will reach the entrance of Sagarmatha National Park, which became the first national park in the Himalayas in 1976. You will then walk to Jorsalle village and continue trekking by the river until reaching the last bridge over the Imjatse River. From here, though the walk is difficult – a winding uphill path - the views are spectacular. As you climb, you will catch your first glimpse of Mount Everest and the stunning snowcapped panorama of the Himalayas. Finally, you will arrive at the famed Namche Bazaar, the gateway to the high Himalayas. This beautiful village is nestled in a terraced amphitheatre and is filled with colorful houses, roaming dzos, and travelers from every corner of the world. The narrow streets at its center are a mixture of internet cafes, souvenir shops, and stores where you can rent/buy almost any equipment you want. You will have the afternoon to explore this mountain town (and check your email!), visit the local monastery, or simply relax as you acclimatize to the altitude gain. (B, L, D)

Day 5: Namche to Tashinga - Trek to Tashinga (3 hours / 11,317 feet)
Today, you will enjoy a short three-hour trek to Tashinga along an almost level path – a welcome break after yesterday! After an hour, you will reach the first teahouse, aptly named “Good View Lodge.” The path then moves down into the forest, traversing to the village of Tashinga. From here, you will enjoy breathtaking views of Ama Dablam, Thamserku, the Taboche Peak and Khumbila. The afternoon is free for you to relax and continue acclimatizing. (B, L, D)

Day 6: Tashinga to Thyangboche - Trek to Thyangboche (6 hours / 12,722 feet)
Looking across the valley this morning, you will be able to see the path sloping diagonally up towards the famous monastery of Thyangboche, the spiritual center of Khumbu and a training center for new monks. You will first descend steeply in a series of zig-zags to the Dudh Kosi River, where you will cross a suspension bridge in the lee of a gigantic overhanging cliff (10,498 ft / 3,200 m)! A little further on, you will reach the small hamlet of Phunki Tanga, where you will stop for a cup of tea. Then you will begin the three-hour climb to the monastery, walking first along a steep path in the pine forest, and then emerging along a gentle trail that rises like a ramp to the monastery. The setting is nothing short of magical, with majestic views of Ama Dablam and Mt. Everest. You will have the chance to explore the visitor’s center and even sit inside the temple for afternoon prayers with the monks. After lunch in one of the local lodges and time to enjoy your well-deserved views of Everest, you will return through the forest to Tashinga. (B, L, D)

Day 7: Thyangboche to Namche - Return Trek to Namche (4 hours)
The walk back to Namche is easy and extremely scenic, along a winding downhill path. You will visit the more traditional sherpa villages of Khumjung and Kunde, which are built into the mountain bowl and are filled with colorful prayer flags. In Khumjung, you will have the opportunity to visit a monastery that is home to a purported yeti scalp! And in Kunde, you will be able to visit the famed Kunde Hospital, which is funded by the Sir Edmund Hillary Trust. After your exploration of these small villages, you will enjoy a pleasant walk back to Namche. (B, L, D)

Day 8: Namche to Mende - Trek to Mende (5 hours / 12,300 feet)
Today, you will trek across the top of Namche Bazaar and then up the Nangpo Dzangpo valley to the lodge at Mende. You will take the high level path across the top of the township before turning off the main trail at Tshro and trekking slowly through a valley that is closed off by the holy peak of Khumbui Yul Lha (18,900 ft / 5,761 m). As you travel through the valley, you will come across a few lone houses and some small fields, before crossing the river and climbing steeply up the hillside to the village of Mende. From your lodge in Mende, you will enjoy incredible views of the entire valley. (B, L, D)

Day 9: Mende to Monjo - Trek to Monjo (5 hours / 9,000 feet)
Before heading back to Monjo, you will visit a monastery that is a steep 30-minute ascent above Mende. The main temple is only 40 years old and, until recently, was used as a school for Western Buddhists. It has a remarkable meditation room built underneath a huge rock. After a thorough exploration of the monastery, you will return to Mende and take the lower path to Namche, where you will have time to do some last minute shopping. Then, you will begin the descent to Monjo, along which you will enjoy stunning views of Ama Dablam. (B, L, D)

Day 10: Monjo to Lukla - Trek to Lukla (5 hours / 9,000 feet)
This morning, you will trek back to Lukla, passing through the village of Phakding. You will have the chance to visit the monastery at Gumila, before retracing your steps back to Lukla. (B, L, D)

Day 11: Lukla to Kathmandu - Fly to Kathmandu
Today, you will fly back to Kathmandu, where you will have the evening free to relax after your incredible trekking experience! (B, L, D)

Day 12: Kathmandu to Chitwan - Chitwan National Park
After breakfast, you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Bharatpur. Upon arrival, you will be taken to your lodge to settle in and have lunch. Chitwan National Park, established in 1973, was the first national park in Nepal and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is home to 400 rhinos and 80 tigers, as well as 50 other species of mammals and over 400 types of birds. While the grass and dense forest makes it difficult to spot tigers or leopards, you are almost certain to see rhinos, monkeys, deer, and all kinds of exotic birds. After lunch, you will have the opportunity to learn about the majestic elephant and maybe even take your first elephant ride! Your evening will be free to relax at the lodge. (B, L, D)

Day 13: Chitwan National Park - Explore Chitwan
You will wake up early today for an unforgettable morning elephant ride through Lamital, an area of the park where you can usually spot a lot of animals! After breakfast, since you will most likely be sore from your elephant ride, you will enjoy a relaxing float trip down the Rapti River in traditional dug out canoes. Along the way, you’ll be able to observe aquatic life, animals on the riverbank and perhaps even the rare gharial and the marsh mugger crocodiles. At the end of the ride, you will visit the Gharial Conservation Project at Kasara, a captive breeding and release program to help repopulate the critically endangered gharial crocodile. After a visit to the park headquarters, you will take an educational walk through the jungle to the lodge for lunch. You may have the opportunity to watch elephants bathing and then later you will visit a nearby ethnic Tharu village, where you will be able to meet the colorfully dressed villagers and get a glimpse into their day-to-day lives. After dinner at the lodge, you will enjoy a cultural dance program performed by the local villagers – you may even be invited to join in! (B, L, D)

Day 14: Chitwan National Park - Explore Chitwan
Today, you will have the entire day to explore more of this beautiful park – participating in a variety of activities, such as elephant rides, nature walks and bird watching!  (B, L, D)

Day 15: Chitwan to Kathmandu - Fly to Kathmandu
After your flight back to Kathmandu, you will visit Patan City, whose ancient name is Lalitpur, meaning “City of Beauty.” Packed with ancient temples, wooden carvings and Buddhist monuments, this breathtaking city truly lives up to its name. You will then drive to the Bajrabarahi Temple, which is dedicated to the boar-headed goddess who is the protector of livestock. After a hot lunch at the temple, you will take an easy one-hour walk through terraced rice fields to the ancient and rarely visited Newari village of Bungamati, whose people are regarded as the original inhabitants of the Kathmandu Valley. The village, which dates back to the 16th century, has streets too narrow and fragile for cars, offering you an intimate glimpse into the lives of the Newari people. You will then be transferred back to Kathmandu to do any last minute shopping or sightseeing before your flight home tomorrow. (B, L, D)

Day 16: Kathmandu - Return Flight Home
After breakfast, you will be transferred to the airport for your return flight home. (B)