Everest Otherwise

The day starts early with a short flight to Lukla, the starting point of your trek. From the air, you discover the Langtang ranges, the Jugal Himal and Rolwaling, as well as Gaurisankar and Menlungtse. This first glimpse of the Himalayan landscapes marks the beginning of your adventure in Népal.

Your trek begins at the gates of Khumbu, at the entrance to the village of Lukla. Throughout the day, several stops allow you to meet the locals, take photos and enjoy the landscapes dotted with snow-capped peaks reaching 6,000 meters. Along the way, you pass near the imposing Thado Kosi mani stone, before going around the numerous chortens and prayer mills of Sano. The afternoon is free. If you wish, you can climb up to a small gompa overlooking the village. At the end of the day, you gather around an aperitif by the fire, followed by dinner.

After breakfast, you head towards the Monjo Village. The trail follows the right bank of the Dudh Koshi, crosses the Phakding village, then crosses several suspension bridges over the river. You continue your trek through a pine forest and several small villages. A break along the way allows you to admire Thamserku peak, which reaches 6,623 meters. After a few hours of hiking and crossing more suspension bridges, you reach the small Monjo village.

Shortly after leaving Monjo, you reach the entrance to the Sagarmatha National Park. While your guides take care of trekking permits, you can observe the 3D map and consult the information panels.

You then continue your walk for about forty minutes along the Dudh Koshi, before crossing its tributary, the Bhote Koshi. You then begin the ascent to Namche, a lively Sherpa capital dotted with many colorful shops. The trail gradually moves away from the river and winds uphill to the tree line, before opening onto an altitude basin where the village of Namche is located.
Day 4 – Acclimatization in Namche and Himalayan panoramas

The day begins with a short acclimatization walk to help you gradually adapt to the altitude. Your guide takes you to various viewpoints where you can observe the Lhotse, Nuptse, Everest and Ama Dablam, dominating the deep surrounding valleys.

The afternoon is free to enjoy the shops and cafés of Namche.

If you feel fit enough, you can continue to the villages of Khumjung and Kunde, where a clinic and school were able to open thanks to the Sir Edmund Hillary Foundation.

Day 5: From Namche Bazaar to Thame between forests and villages

You leave Namche Bazaar by taking a balcony trail through pine and rhododendron forests, dotted with numerous small villages. Away from the valley leading to Everest, this region is less frequented by trekkers.

As you walk, you can observe local wildlife, including musk deer, pheasants and Himalayan tahrs, before crossing the Bhote Koshi river.

If you wish, you can complete this day with a visit to the gompa located above Thame.

Day 6 - Excursion to Sumdur viewpoint

You set out for an easy walk along the Sumdur ridge to the Sumdur viewpoint.

From this vantage point, the panorama opens onto the Tibetan border, with the deep valley of Nangpa La, Pasang Lhamu Peak, Cho Oyu rising to 8,201 metres, as well as numerous peaks ranging between 6,000 and 7,000 metres.

Day 7 – From Thame to Kongde through Khumbu landscapes

After breakfast, you set off for a day of trekking among rhododendrons, bamboos and pine forests. You follow the old route used by Khumbu Sherpas before 1950, now renovated and offering many viewpoints over the Khumbu mountains.

From Thame, approximately 30 minutes of walking brings you to the Khumbu power station, located downstream on the other bank of the Bhote Koshi. Fifteen minutes later, you cross Pare, a small traditional Sherpa village.

You continue through a forest of pines and bamboos to the foot of the glacier descending from the northeast face of Kongde Ri. From there, you enjoy views of Everest, Lhotse and Ama Dablam. Your lodge, situated at 4,250 meters altitude, overlooks the Namche valley and offers views of Everest, Lhotse, Thamserku and Ama Dablam.

Day 8 - Kongde Ri excursion

For those wishing to undertake the Kongde Ri (5,000 m) excursion, the day starts very early. Allow 2 to 3 hours of walking to reach the summit of the peak. From the summit, you enjoy a panorama over the Khumbu valley and four peaks: Everest, Lhotse, Makalu and Cho Oyu.

Back at Kongde, you have lunch on the terrace with views of the villages of Namche and Khumjung. The rest of the day is free for you to relax or take further walks in the area.

After breakfast in Kongde, you begin your descent towards Phakding. Along the way, you enjoy views of the Dudh Koshi valley, Mount Thamserku (6,623 m) and the Kangtega range. You continue your trek through the forest, cross the village of Toktok, then reach Phakding.

You have approximately 3 hours of trekking left to reach Lukla. This final stage of your trek ends with an ascent with a positive elevation gain of 200 meters. Along the way, you can stop for a drink and, if you wish, visit Chaurikharka school as well as the Kyongma monastery. Upon your arrival in Lukla, it's time to say goodbye to your trekking team, before spending your last night in the mountains.

Upon your arrival at Kathmandu airport, you are transferred to your hotel, where you can rest for a while.

You then set off to enjoy the atmosphere of Thamel. In the evening, you share a festive meal, an opportunity to reflect on the memorable moments of your adventure in Népal.