NEPAL
TREKKING IN THE KHUMBU
Trekking in the Khumbu area is absolutely fantastic, stunning and incredible!
Hundreds of mountains drawing multiple shapes in the landscape and shining from sunrise to sunset.
I would say we will explore the entire area fairly well making a big loop starting from the village of Namche Bazar. But the actual trekk begins in Lukla, where the airplain lands on an "interesting" landing pist: about 200m long, in the middle of the mountains and up-hill...and you are flying on a 15 sits helix-engined aircraft!!!!
The trek will last 17 days (KTM to KTM) plus 4 nights in Kathmandu. The local "Monviso Treks Agency" will take care of organizing the trip in the mountains providing porters, guides, food (full board during the trek), lodging, round trip flight from KTM to Lukla, and 4 nights in KTM (B&B), airport transfer.
Also personalized programs can be arranged.
TREKKING MAP
DETAILED PROGRAM:
Choongba Sherpa, the chief of Monviso Treks Agency, will welcome us at the airport and lead us at first to the Hotel (normally high standard), anf than through the beauties of the city.
After spending two days in Kathmandu organizing the luggage and buying the last bits and pieces, it is time for real adventure. We leave for the mountains!!!
DAY 1: We leave Kathmandu and fly to Lukla 2400m. The same day we'll reach the village of Phakding 2600m (2h30min) where we stay for the night.
All the way through the loop we'll find nice lodges where we can sleep and get warm food served.
Lodges are something in between hotels and huts. It means one can find a double room with 2 bads (sometimes a private bathroom is available), and common toilet where one can wash (here and there also a pay shower is available).
Food are generally good although some lodges are placed at very high altitude in remote places.
In the lodge there is always a big dining room with fire place in the middle and table placed all around it. As there is no wood in the area (too high) the fire place runs with Yak poop properly dried out in the Sun and collected throughout the year.
The lenght and the difficulty of the days changes randomly, but the loop is made as such that one can have one hard day and one easy day in a row.
DAY 2: The second day we walked to Namche Bazar 3400m (about 5-6 h). The path is always very good, until a certain point even Yaks can manage to climb up the valley, and cross over 5300m cols. Namche is the biggest village in the Kumbu area. It sits in a kind of anphitheatre with already stunning view on the mountains. One can still find all kind of mountaineering equipement here if had forgotten some down the valley.
DAY 3: The following day is normally a rest day in order to well acclimatize. The first 4-5 days it is very important to take it easy and don't push yourself too much, even if one feels like having loads of energies left...trust me you'll need them later!
Nonetheless, it is a good plan to have a short walk up to the Everest view lodge (1h30min). It is placed at the top of the hill, and as the name says one can admire the Everest summit, the Ama Dablam, the Tawoche, the Tamserku and the impressive south face of Lothse.
Until this village one meets quite few people on the way as it is a common path to get acces to 3 different valleys. But things will change as one goes up.
DAY 4: The following day is another relatively easy day up to Thame 3820m (3h30 min/4h). The path is still confortable and enjoyable, although one starts feeling the altitude.
Thame village lies on a huge flat field, a balcony facing some of the most beautiful mountains in the area: the Kantega, the Tamserku, the Kusum Kanguru and many other peaks reaching 6500m. People in general are always very welcoming. Here in particular we enjoyed food and recovery. Also, this lodge (Everest Summiter lodge) is property of Apa Sherpa, the one who has climbed 18 times mount Everest!!! I haven't met him but he must be a though guy eh?!?!?!
20 minutes above the village there is a monastery which is nice to visit. Therefore leave your bags at the lodge ad go for it. One can laso see how the valley continues and the next day route.
DAY 5: the valley widens up sensibly, less and less villages are met on the way. Today goal is Langden village 4400m, about 6h gentle walk. It is made of 3 houses, one of which is the lodge...quite a primitive one in the dining room building, but proper rooms with bathroom are built next door.
From here one can admire the summit of Cho Oyu 8201m and the mountains sourrounding the Nang pa Lah, col over which tibetans cross over to Nepal to go and sell various items at the Namche Bazar market.
DAY 6: The following day is one of the toughest of the trek. One has to cross the Renjo Pass at 5340m to go down to Gokyo village. It will take about 4.5/6h to reach the col and another 1.5/2h to walk down.
The climb is long but after a rough beginning it becomes gradual. The arrival at the col is probably the most beautyful view point in the whole loop. all the biggest moutains inthe range suddenly appear to your eyes, and one just thinks somebody has put a postcard in front of him/her. From Everet to Lothse to Nupse to Makalu to Pumori...all the most impressive mountains of the world are just there few meters away! wow, that moment will stay in our mind for a while.
The walk down to Gokyo is not the nicest one but the disappointment for walking on screed and steep morains is taken away from the view. The village (4790m) lies just on the edge of a big blu lake and has great panorama on the Cho oyu, especially at sunset time!
DAY 7: Easy day. Gentle walk to the village of Dragnag 4700m (2.h30min) crossing the Nagozumpa Glacier. It is actually a black glacier flowing down from the Cho Oyu, coverd by screed and big bulders. From the arrival point, the view changes again as geting closer to the Cholatse Peak and the Cho La col. The small village is made again of 3 houses (lodges), with kind people waiting for tourists to come. The place is remote and wild.
DAY 8: the goal of the day is Dzonglha village 4830m. This is the longest day in the trek. The path is relatively gentle for the first 2h30min up to a first col. Than one loses some altitude to a lake, and than the path starts climbing up very steep to the Cho La Col 5420m (4h30min from starting point). From this point one can finally see the Lobuche peak 6143m, and eventually people reaching the false summit early in the morning. Now, the way down follows first an easy glacier (most likely no rope and crampons are needed), than a morain and a flat field to the village. During the way also the Nireka peak can e seen (it is another trekking peak) and the path is surrounded by steep rock faces. In the foreground one can admire the majestic west face of the Ama Dablam showing off inthe middle of the Himalayan chain. This last peak, very famous for its unmistakable shape, shines at sunset time givinig the chance of incredible pictures.
DAY 9: Day 9 Base-camp time!!! (4900m). We aim for the Lobuche Peak summit 6013m, and finally one gets close to the real challange of the holiday and starts feeling very excited. BC is just about 2h walk but one will need the time for setting up and get confortable at BC. The path goes parallel to the one leading to Everest Base Camp, therefore the view in spectacular over Mount Everest, Lothse, Nupse, Pumori.
The tents are set close to a lake where one can wash cloaths (remember bio soap only, not chemicals!!!!!). Monviso Treks agency provides a 5 star service and professionality throughout the trek. But we were impressed with the quality and variety of food here at base camp.
DAY 10: from here there are two options: either go straight up to the top (but it is very long: 1100m vertical climb) or what we suggest is to make a high camp at 5400m. It will take only 2h30min to get to high camp, therefore one can still have a rest inthe morning and oganize the equipment needed for the climb, and than, after lunch, make the walk. The tent placemet high up is extraordinary for view, i would even call it romantic. Such a mixture of colors and shapes...
the sunset on the Nupse is quite stunning. It keeps shining till the very last second of light!
Day 11: Summit day Lobouche Peak 6013m! The advantage of sleeping high up at 5400m is that one can get up later inthe morning when the Sun shines and the temperature is little warmer, and a proper acclimatization. From here only 600 vrtical meters are between you and the summit. It will take about 3h30min/4h climb. The way up is not very technical but challangin enough. One feel the altitude and breath hard. But the fixed ropes will make life little easier taking away the psychological component of a possible fall. The slopes are steep on the second half but one is never on a sharp ridge. From the top the view is probably the best in the area, more impressive than other trekking peaks: one can admire all the Solokumbu mountain range, many 8000m peaks can be seen such as Everest, Lothse, Makalu, Kanchenjunga, Cho Oyu, and hundreds of other beautiful mountains, maybe not famous but worth the same.
It is a fairly relaxing environment, the fatigue is taken away by the marvellous view. Going down is fairly easy as one abseils along the ropes. The same day one will walk back down to base camp.
DAY 12: back to civilization! Way to Dingboche (4360 m). After the isolation of the basecamp the last part of the trekking joins the route back from Everest basecamp. The paths become more crowded but the marvellous view on Ama Dablam, Cholatse and Tamserku repays the loss of sauvage. On the way down to Dingboche one encounters a sort of memorial place that commemorates alpinists and sherpas who died in the Himalayas. A little stupa marks the point of entrance in the Dingboche valley. The stupa sits on a hilltop where a great view opens to one’s eyes with the impressive Lhotse southface in foreground.
DAY 8: the goal of the day is Dzonglha village 4830m. This is the longest day in the trek. The path is relatively gentle for the first 2h30min up to a first col. Than one loses some altitude to a lake, and than the path starts climbing up very steep to the Cho La Col 5420m (4h30min from starting point). From this point one can finally see the Lobuche peak 6143m, and eventually people reaching the false summit early in the morning. Now, the way down follows first an easy glacier (most likely no rope and crampons are needed), than a morain and a flat field to the village. During the way also the Nireka peak can e seen (it is another trekking peak) and the path is surrounded by steep rock faces. In the foreground one can admire the majestic west face of the Ama Dablam showing off inthe middle of the Himalayan chain. This last peak, very famous for its unmistakable shape, shines at sunset time givinig the chance of incredible pictures.
DAY 9: Day 9 Base-camp time!!! (4900m). We aim for the Lobuche Peak summit 6013m, and finally one gets close to the real challange of the holiday and starts feeling very excited. BC is just about 2h walk but one will need the time for setting up and get confortable at BC. The path goes parallel to the one leading to Everest Base Camp, therefore the view in spectacular over Mount Everest, Lothse, Nupse, Pumori.
The tents are set close to a lake where one can wash cloaths (remember bio soap only, not chemicals!!!!!). Monviso Treks agency provides a 5 star service and professionality throughout the trek. But we were impressed with the quality and variety of food here at base camp.
DAY 10: from here there are two options: either go straight up to the top (but it is very long: 1100m vertical climb) or what we suggest is to make a high camp at 5400m. It will take only 2h30min to get to high camp, therefore one can still have a rest inthe morning and oganize the equipment needed for the climb, and than, after lunch, make the walk. The tent placemet high up is extraordinary for view, i would even call it romantic. Such a mixture of colors and shapes...
the sunset on the Nupse is quite stunning. It keeps shining till the very last second of light!
Day 11: Summit day Lobouche Peak 6013m! The advantage of sleeping high up at 5400m is that one can get up later inthe morning when the Sun shines and the temperature is little warmer, and a proper acclimatization. From here only 600 vrtical meters are between you and the summit. It will take about 3h30min/4h climb. The way up is not very technical but challangin enough. One feel the altitude and breath hard. But the fixed ropes will make life little easier taking away the psychological component of a possible fall. The slopes are steep on the second half but one is never on a sharp ridge. From the top the view is probably the best in the area, more impressive than other trekking peaks: one can admire all the Solokumbu mountain range, many 8000m peaks can be seen such as Everest, Lothse, Makalu, Kanchenjunga, Cho Oyu, and hundreds of other beautiful mountains, maybe not famous but worth the same.
It is a fairly relaxing environment, the fatigue is taken away by the marvellous view. Going down is fairly easy as one abseils along the ropes. The same day one will walk back down to base camp.
DAY 12: back to civilization! Way to Dingboche (4360 m). After the isolation of the basecamp the last part of the trekking joins the route back from Everest basecamp. The paths become more crowded but the marvellous view on Ama Dablam, Cholatse and Tamserku repays the loss of sauvage. On the way down to Dingboche one encounters a sort of memorial place that commemorates alpinists and sherpas who died in the Himalayas. A little stupa marks the point of entrance in the Dingboche valley. The stupa sits on a hilltop where a great view opens to one’s eyes with the impressive Lhotse southface in foreground.
The high altitude pastures surrounding the area are the natural environment of the yaks. Nepali people use these animals for carrying around heavy weights, for their meat and their milk.
The village of Dingboche is situated just under the west face of the Ama Dablam, and looking at the changing of colors on the mountains given by the sunset, seen from the terrace of the lodge is an experience out of time.
The village of Dingboche is situated just under the west face of the Ama Dablam, and looking at the changing of colors on the mountains given by the sunset, seen from the terrace of the lodge is an experience out of time.
DAY 13: The path keeps going down, but the distances are still long: not less than four hours walking. The pastures leave the way for little tree forests. The view on Ama Dablam changes continously, the south face with its ridge that signs the way to the top comes into view. The Lhotse becomes slowly smaller. The shape of Tamserku instead, with its huge north face, cuts the view of the way down to Tengboche village (3870 m), today’s destination.
Tengboche is risen around a very important Gompa (Buddhist Monastery), and life in this village is signed by the activities of the monks. To light a selfmade candle in front of the golden Buddah statue, and assisting at the ritual prayers of the Lamas at sunset and sunrise time and, why not, try to meditate a little with them, is a way to fulfil the feelings of peace given by the mountains.
Tengboche is risen around a very important Gompa (Buddhist Monastery), and life in this village is signed by the activities of the monks. To light a selfmade candle in front of the golden Buddah statue, and assisting at the ritual prayers of the Lamas at sunset and sunrise time and, why not, try to meditate a little with them, is a way to fulfil the feelings of peace given by the mountains.
DAY 14: After a ripid descent, the way back seems to be endless, up and down for four hours, but finally the circle closes: Namche Bazar is reached again. The first step back to civilization, few more conforts can be found such as street market and internet connection.
DAY 15-16: the way joins the path were had been left days before. From Namche Bazar to Lukla one follows the same path as on the way over. The valley narrows up, many tourists look at you warried from you exhausted and sad expression like saying: "i made it, it was good, it was a hell of a job...but i don't want to go back to work"!
The day after you'll be back in Kathmandu.
What doesthe cost NOT include: the flight from and to Nepal, extras, beverages other than 1 tea or coffee cup at meal.
Price: 2425 Euros/person, minimum 4 people.
Dates: departures 25 april, 2 may, 17 october, 13 november, 21 november 2009.
Dates can be flexible depending on group availability.
Also personalized programs can be arranged.
For further info please contact: nepalkumbu@gmail.com
