TREK ITINERARY
EVERESTTREKKING – MARCH 15 TO APRIL 11 2017
This season we are trying something a little different. Firstly, we will fly to Phaphlu (weather permitting) which is a much safer airstrip for landing. We will trek over Taksindo La, Kharikhola, Poyan and Ghat, joining the main Everest trail to Jorsale, above Lukla. The other major difference is that we will trek to Everest Base Camp first and THEN Gokyo. Dorje, our Nepali guide, assures me that the Cho La is just as difficult from either side. I have come to realise that although Gokyo is stunningly beautiful the EBC is often a first priority, perhaps even a long-held dream. So we will make sure you make that goal first.
Because of the longer itinerary (28 days) I have to ask for $4400 AUD. The porters need higher salaries these days and we have a Nepali porter for each customer, carrying just one bag and walking with you each day. This is not typical.
For comparison I believe World Expeditions charge $3700 for this trip but complete it in just 20 days. Must be jogging! The latest trend with major trekking companies is to provide lodging and breakfast ONLY.
On trek and in Kathmandu ALL your accommodation, meals and transport are covered. Alcohol and soft drinks the only extras. We cover permits, porter insurance and internal flights. We will have a Nepali guide AND ME!
This is not an easy trek but I have made a very achievable itinerary. I have also made provision for a slightly less arduous ascent to Gokyo if Cho La is just a bit too challenging. I plan to take the easier route myself. With a porter each we always have options.
In Kathmandu we will have two nights in a comfortable small hotel in the outer suburb of Kopan. We will go into Thamel for gear shopping, banking and last-minute shopping on 16 March. Real gear is a fair bit cheaper here and labels I call ‘North Fake’ are widely available. Lightweight super-down jackets $40, water bottles $5, fleece jackets or vests $10 to $20. You get the idea. Have a look at the ‘What to Wear’ page on my website at www.slowtrekking.com for more info. Also ‘Health Issues’ while you are there. You can email me at teresadb@hotmail.com or vonschwichtenberg@gmail.com with any questions large or small. I will be back in Australia on Tuesday 20th December, in Melbourne if you want to meet for a chat. I will be there until the trek in March.
So, here is our planned itinerary. I always like to point out that these things are not written in stone. We may have to adapt to conditions on the ground – weather, health, etc. Bear in mind that on our last trek to this region the Cho La was not open. Let’s trust our karma and hope for the best.
DAY 1: Wednesday 15 March 2017 |
Arrive in Kathmandu from ‘wherever’. We will meet you and bring you to the hotel. In the late afternoon we will walk over to Bouda for dinner. It is the biggest stupa in Nepal, newly restored after the earthquake, and very atmospheric in the evening when the Buddhist community comes out to do ‘kora’ circling the stupa. |
DAY 2: Thursday 16 March |
A very busy day. Into Thamel for banking, gear shopping, etc. while I finalise your permits . In the evening we will hold a pre-trek briefing. |
DAY 3: Friday 17 March |
Fly up to Phaphlu in a light aircraft. This is a nice, long, flat airstrip at 2500 metres, we may stay here overnight. To be decided. There is a beautiful old monastery just at the end of the airfield. If the weather is dodgy and prospects for better weather are doubtful we will quickly organise a jeep (or two). The drive takes all day but is on a sealed road (mostly). We may trek up to Taksundo La on the first day if our flight is early, putting the whole schedule one day ahead. We will then use this day where we find it is needed. |
DAY 4: Saturday 18 March |
A long day up to Taksindo La (3070 m). This is mostly on a sometimes- jeepable road but there is very little traffic. The incline is gradual. We trek through agricultural landscapes and then beautiful forest. The lodge is perched on a ridge and affords spectacular views of the big peaks in the middle distance. Ringmu is an option, one hour below the top if we are too tired. |
DAY 5: Sunday 19 March |
Now, for a few days, we head into an area I have not trekked yet; something I always look forward to. I will quote from Dorje’s notes. Down, down, down to Dudhkosi River, cross on a big suspension bridge to Jubing for lunch and the last hour climb up to Kharikhola (2040 m). |
DAY 6: Monday 20 March |
Kharikhola to Poyan (2700 m). First we climb two hours to Bupsa and then another one and a half hours to Kharte. (2800m). From there we have a long ridge walk through bamboo to Poyan. I find that Dorje sometimes under-estimates the time required (for me anyway). He has written 6 hours trekking for this day so I am just thinking ‘all day’. |
DAY 7: Tuesday March 21 |
Today we trek on a gradually downhill trail to Surke then gradually up to Chaurikharka. We then join the Lukla-Namche trail near Phakding. We will finish at Ghat (2600 m). A busier trail with trekkers who have flown into Lukla, we follow the river valley on well-made trails. |
DAY 8: Wednesday March 22 |
Ghat to Jorsale (2750 m). An easier day, up and down across the river on suspension bridges. Into the Sargamartha National Park. Staying in the river valley which is intensively farmed on the flats and flanked by steep wooded hillsides and towering peaks like Kussum Kangaru. The Nirvana Garden is a tranquil little lodge with big beds and hot showers. |
DAY 9: Thursday March 23 |
It is a bit of a climb up to Namche Bazaar at 3440 m but we should be there in time for lunch. Namche defies description, you have to see it for yourself, but it has cafés, internet, gear shops and throngs of trekkers. Don’t pet the yaks! |
DAY 10: Friday March 24 |
We will be fairly well-acclimatised because of the way we trekked in but we will still climb up and over Kunde and Kumjumg (the first Hilary school) and then down to Kangzuma (3550 m) which is almost the same altitude as Namche. Stupendous views of Thamserku, Ama Dablam, Lhotse and, the big one, Everest. |
DAY 11: Saturday March 25 |
The day starts with an easy downhill trek to Phunki Tenga and then a long, hot climb up to Thangboche (3860m). Views from here are often wonderful. There is a large monastery. A half hour amble downhill through stunted rhododendron woods brings us to Devouche. Two maps I have consulted say 3820m. Hard to believe as it is a fairly steep downhill run from the ridge. |
DAY 12: Sunday March 26 |
Today I would hope we make Dingboche at around 4400m. Pangboche, for lunch, is at 3930 m. It could be a bit optimistic so we will just have to see how we go. Altitude will be the issue. The trail is beyond spectacular, often high above the icy green waters of the river. Stunted vegetation, tundra, cedar and azaleas just a foot tall. |
DAY 13: Monday 27 March |
If we made it to Dingboche yesterday we have a very easy ascent of less than 200 metres over about five kilometres to Togla. If we stopped at Pangboche we can still trek to Pheriche (4200m) for lunch and then climb up to Togla (4600) in the afternoon. If we lose a day here because we need more acclimatisation we can make it up later. (Kangzuma to Phakding is an easy enough day on the way back). We will keep our options open. |
DAY 14: Tuesday March 28 |
It is not far from Togla (4600 m) to Lobouche (4910 m) BUT it does start with a stiff climb up a zig-zag trail to Togla Pass. It is only about an hour but at this altitude you will feel it. From there onwards the trail ascends quite gradually until it is almost flat for the last hour. Lobouche is just a few lodges. A ten minute walk and then a ten minute climb brings you to the bank of the massive Khumbu Glacier. Amazing to stand quietly and listen to the river of ice creaking and cracking as it inches downhill. Keep warm. |
DAY 15: Wednesday March 29 |
It is a deceptively easy-looking trail at first but at this altitude any uphill walking, however slight, is hard. Then it gets harder. Clambering over rather jagged rocks on an ill-defined trail uphill to Gorak Shep (5100 m) is tough going but you will get to the lodge for lunch. The lodges at Gorak Shep are nothing to write home about. If the weather is good this is an ideal time to trek out to Everest Base Camp after lunch. You will be wearing ALL your clothes tonight but there will be a yak-dung fire in the dining room after five. |
DAY 16: Thursday March 30 |
Hopefully we get a clear morning for the climb up to Kala Pattar. If the weather was brilliant yesterday afternoon we might have reversed these activities. Kala Patter is at 5550 so it is a 450 metre climb, hard going at this altitude. It is said to be one of the best views in the world and certainly gets you ‘up close and personal’ with Everest. Keep your camera batteries warm in your sleeping bag overnight. Last time I was there the weather was cloudy so we headed off back downhill straight after breakfast. Just saying. |
DAY 17: Friday March 31 |
“A Team’ |
DAY 18: Saturday April 1 |
“A Team’ |
DAY 19: Sunday April 2 |
‘A Team’ |
DAY 20: Monday April 3 |
You will probably want to climb Gokyo Ri this morning. Some mad types will ‘go the early’ to see the sunrise. I did it at nine o’clock last time. It was still lovely. The B Team, which will be me and anyone else who felt the Cho La was too hard, will join you today. Let’s see what sort of shape we are in when we get there. |
DAY 21: Tuesday April 4 |
Down, down, down. Some members of the B Team may want to climb Gokyo Ri first. Or not. We will be aiming for Dole (4200) . However, the last two times I was on this trek we got held up at Machermo with heavy snow. Beautiful scenery whizzing past as you trek easily downhill, no longer fighting gravity. |
DAY 22: Wednesday April 5 |
We are not sure how far down we came yesterday but we are sure to make Kangzuma. It is a nasty climb up to Mong Danda which is nearly 4000 metres but the trail after that is gloriously easy downhill till near the end when it climbs gently up to Kangzuma at 3550. Well-made trails and unbelievable scenery above and below. It is a longish day with downs and ups but sets us up for the last couple of days. |
Day 23: Thursday April 6 |
Today we should just nip around the corner for two hours back to Namche (3440). However, if we took an extra day acclimatising around Dingboche in the first week we will just drop by Namche and then trek down to Phakding(2610), or thereabouts. All fairly straightforward downhill trekking. |
DAY 24: Friday April 7 |
We can spend the morning in Namche and then slowly trek down to Phakding. (These days may be slightly different depending on how the rest of the trek has panned out). Should be relatively easy. |
DAY 25: Saturday April 8 |
From Phakding (2610) it is fairly gentle up and down through the valley, crossing the river here and there. Save a little energy though as the trail climbs steeply back up to Lukla (2840) for the last hour of the day. |
DAY 26: Sunday April 9 |
We will book our flights out of Lukla for this day and, as long as flying conditions are good we will be in Kathmandu for breakfast. Be prepared though. We landed in Kathmandu last time just as the sun was setting. Any flight which gets you back on the day you planned would be considered a success. No plans for the rest of the day. |
DAY 27: Sunday April 10 |
Hopefully, we flew down yesterday but this day is kind of spare, just in case. If we are in Kathmandu we will go into Thamel and shop and do a little sightseeing. Big pizza dinner anyone?? |
DAY 28: Monday April 11 |
Some folks are booked to fly out today, but not until late. We can arrange some kind of sightseeing for you or you can spend some time in our local area. Our project for kids, computers and sewing are here and there are lots of interesting little workshops. Kopan Gomba is marvellous and just a half-hour walk away. If your flight is not yet booked I suggest today late in the day or tomorrow morning. |
It certainly is a big trek but only a couple of the days are really long or arduous. I do it and I am 62 and no athlete. If you like the idea but don’t want to do all of it, or leave out the hardest parts, we will organise it for you.
YOU CAN DO THIS!
Places are limited so do get in touch soon if you would like to be included.
Cheers, Teresa didi
teresadb@hotmail.com OR vonschwichtenberg@gmail.com
Lots more information, pictures and reports of previous treks on the website at www.slowtrekking.com.