Lhasa Culture Tour

Day 1: Arrive in Kathmandu (1,400 m)

Our airport representative will be receiving you at Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu and s/he will be displaying an Ace the Himalaya signboard outside the airport terminal. You will be then transferred to your respective hotel in our private tourist vehicle.

Note: If you happen to arrive after 4 pm you would be briefed about the trip by our guide, this will be the pre-trip meeting for you, so please make sure that you ask all the questions. But if you arrive earlier than 4 pm, your pre-trip meeting would be on that very day at our office. During the meeting, we will introduce your trek leader/guide. For the meeting, please make sure you bring the passport, three copies of passport-size photos and a readable copy of your travel insurance policy. During this meeting, please clear the due balance, if any, and sign the legally binding trip form as well as the non-liability disclaimer.

Overnight at a hotel. No meals included.

Day 2: Guided Sightseeing in the Kathmandu Valley

After a hearty breakfast, your sightseeing trip will start. You will have a private vehicle and a professional tour guide at your disposal. Today we will visit some heritages listed below:

Pashupatinath Temple:
Pashupatinath Temple is one of the most significant Hindu temples of Lord Shiva in the world, located on the banks of the Bagmati River. Though you are not allowed to go inside the temple as it is strictly for Hindus only, you can clearly see the temple and the activities from the eastern bank of the Bagmati River. It is a square two-tiered pagoda temple built on a single-tier plinth which is famous all over the world.

Boudhanath Stupa:
Boudhananath is one of the holiest Buddhist sites in Kathmandu. It was built in the 5th century with four pairs of eyes of Lord Buddha in four cardinal directions keeping an eternal watch over the people and their doings. You will find Buddhist pilgrims from Tibet going round the stupa spinning the prayer wheels.

Bhaktapur Durbar Square:
Visit the Bhaktapur Durbar Square, the royal residential quarter of King Bhupatindra Malla, famous five-storied pagoda temple of Nyatapola , Batsala temple, Bhairavnath temple, Duttatraya temple, Pujari Muth and Palace of 55 windows.

The rest of our time in Kathmandu is free for further exploration and some last-minute shopping in Thamel area for trekking essentials.

Overnight at a hotel. Breakfast included.

Day 3: Fly to Lukla (2,804 m) and Trek to Phakding (2,610 m) – 3 hours

An early morning start takes us to the Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu for the 35-minute scenic flight to Tenzing and Hillary Airport at Lukla (2,804 m). On arrival at the airport, the guide will brief you and introduce our porters before we begin our trek towards Phakding (2,610 m).

After landing we have time to explore the village while our Sherpa crew sort and load our trekking equipment. Then we begin our trek by descending towards the Dudh Kosi River where we join the main trail to Namche Bazaar, located just above Chaunrikharka (2,713 m). The walking is easy. After passing through the small village of Ghat (2,550 m), it is a short walk to Phakding.

Overnight at a guesthouse. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Day 4: Trek to Namche Bazaar (3,441 m) – 5.5 hours

We continue trekking along the banks of the Dudh Koshi, crossing the majestic river many times on exciting suspension bridges laden with prayer flags. After entering the Sagamartha National Park, the trail climbs steeply with breathtaking views. Namche Bazaar (considered the ‘Gateway to Everest’) is home to many quality restaurants, hotels, lodges, shops, money exchange services, internet cafes and bakeries. Namche is the biggest town along the Everest trail.

Overnight at a guesthouse. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Day 5: Namche Bazaar Acclimatization Day

We will spend a day in Namche Bazaar in order to acclimatize and adjust to the thinning air. We will trek a short distance to a museum that is celebrated for its exhibits of the traditional customs of the Sherpa people. We will also hike up to Syangboche Airport and the Everest View Hotel, one of the highest-placed hotels in the world. From this point, we can see rewarding views of the Himalayas including Mt Everest.

Overnight at a guesthouse. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Day 6: Trek to Tengboche (3,860 m) – 5 hours

The trek continues along the rushing glacial waters of the Dudh Koshi with magnificent views of the mountains. We’ll have trekked to an altitude of 3,860m upon reaching Tengboche. Inside the monastery are incredibly ornate wall hangings, a 20-foot sculpture of Buddha, and the musical instruments and robes of the Lamas. The group will be taken to observe a prayer ceremony either in the evening or in the morning depending on how the trekking goes this day.

Overnight at a guesthouse. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Day 7: Trek to Dingboche (4,350 m) – 5 hours

From Tengboche, the trail drops to Debuche, crosses another exciting suspension bridge on the Imja Khola, and climbs to Pangboche amongst thousands of mani stones. Our uphill trek continues, taking us to the quaint traditional Sherpa village of Dingboche with its exquisite views of Lhotse, Island Peak, and Ama Dablam. We take our time, so we avoid getting affected by the altitude.

Overnight at a guesthouse. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Day 8: Acclimatization Hike to Nangkartshang Peak (5,083 m) – 4 hours

This day is planned as acclimatization day. We don’t make progress towards Everest Base Camp. Instead we will take a hike to Nangkartshang Peak just above Dingboche. The peak is an excellent view point especially of the gorgeous Ama Dablam. If weather is clear, we will get to see Ama Dablam from its summit to its feet. You can spend the afternoon strolling around the village or resting.

Overnight at a guesthouse. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Day 9: Trek to Lobuche (4,910 m) – 5 hours

Today, the trail continues along the lateral moraine of the Khumbu Glacier and passes by stone memorials for climbers who have perished on nearby summits. We continue to climb as we are heading to the village of Lobuche which is located at the foot of giant Lobuche peak. Some breathing problems may arise today due to the altitude.

Overnight at a guesthouse. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Day 10: Trek to Everest Base Camp (5,365 m) and then Back to Gorak Shep (5,180 m) – 8 hours

This is a big and difficult day walk along the Khumbu Glacier and up to Everest Base Camp at 5,365 m, the closest you can get to Mt. Everest without mountaineering equipment. During spring, there will likely be expedition teams about to attempt the summit. The view of the Khumbu Icefall from Base Camp is spectacular. We return back to Gorak Shep for the night.

Overnight at a guesthouse. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Day 11: Morning hike up to Kala Patthar (5,555 m) & descend to Pheriche (4,200 m) – 7 hours

This will be one of the most difficult yet rewarding days of the trek. Most of the morning is spent climbing  Kala Patthar, a small peak at 5,555 m. The ascent is demanding but the climber gets the most magnificent mountain panorama – Everest, the highest point on the planet at 8,848 m, towers directly ahead and on all sides loom the giants such as Nuptse, Pumori, Chagatse, Lhotse and countless others. We make a quick descent to Gorak Shep and have hot breakfast, and then trek down to Pheriche.

Overnight at a guesthouse. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Day 12: Trek to Namche Bazaar (3,441 m) – 7 hours

Leaving the mountains behind us, our descent takes us through Pangboche and Tengboche before continuing to the town of Namche Bazaar. We arrive back to Namche in the afternoon.

Overnight at a guesthouse. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Day 13: Trek to Lukla (2,804 m) – 6 hours

This is our last day of trekking as we return to Lukla where the trek began. We enjoy this time to reflect on the trek as a group and the personal achievement of all those who took part. The afternoon is free, so you can wander about, relax and enjoy a hot shower! In the evening, have a few celebratory drinks and dance with your trekmates.

Overnight at a guesthouse. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Day 14: Morning Flight from Lukla to Kathmandu

Enjoying the last glimpse of the mountains we have recently visited, the 35 minutes scenic flight takes us back to Kathmandu. On arrival in Kathmandu, we are met and transferred back to our hotel.

If you are interested in extending the trip, there are many options such as Chitwan jungle safari, river rafting adventure, Kathmandu shopping tour, mountain biking and other activities.

Overnight at a hotel. Breakfast included. Dinner and Spa included.

Day 15: Transfer to the International Airport for Your Final Flight Departure

The trip concludes – our airport representative will drop you to Kathmandu’s Tribhuwan International Airport for your flight departure from Nepal.

Breakfast included.