Monasteries and Sherpa Culture Trek in Everest (14 Days)

The Everest Trek with Monasteries and Sherpa Culture Tour has been especially designed for those adventurers who also wish to make a cultural journey into the Everest Region. Along with trekking in the region surrounded by Himalaya peaks, you get to visit ancient monasteries and witness cultural life of the highland Sherpas. Sherpas call Mt. Everest “Chomolongma” – or the mother-goddess.  The package would be a great introductory to those wishing for cultural insights into the Sherpa version of Buddhism. The trek passes through the verdant alpine forest and wildlife, raging glacial rivers and waterfalls, stony trails, mountains, and Buddhist monasteries. If you happen to arrive at the season of Mani Rimdu Festival, you will also witness the Buddhist dance spectacle presented each year in the Khumbu region by the monks of Tengboche Monastery.

Our Everest Trek with Monasteries and Sherpa Culture Tour begins from Lukla Airport, the Gateway of the Everest Region. We take steep ascent to Namche Bazaar, the capital of Sherpas, where we are greeted by spectacular mountain vistas. We enjoy the Sherpa village, its culture and monasteries, the mountaineers and wild life museums. From Namche, we head toward Thame, a rather less visited but an exotic Sherpa settlement. Then we discover the Khumjung Valley. From Khumjung via Phortse, Pangboche and Tengboche, we complete our loop at Namche again. Trek back to Lukla for a return flight to Kathmandu.

Itinerary

Day 01:  Arrival in Kathmandu & Transfer to Hotel
You will be welcomed by the boss of  company at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu (1300m).After completing your custom formalities (Visa, etc) pick up your luggage and look for our company display board at the arrival gate. You will be transfer to Hotel. After check in, you will visit our office; meet your trekking guide as well as other participants. Later in the evening we will organize a “Welcome Dinner” at an excellent tourist Restaurant where you will enjoy with a fine meal. Overnight at hotel.

Day 02:  Kathmandu Sightseeing and Trek Preparation
Full day of sightseeing in the very famous capital, Kathmandu. We will be visiting of the famous heritage sites in Kathmandu Nepal.

Morning, we will start from your hotel by a morning walk in the blocked alleyways of Kathmandu. Your first contact with the smiling Nepalese people. We begins to cross the nice area of Thamel, full of nice shops, bars and restaurants.

We will see during this walk many temples and stupas: it will be for you the beginning of religious lessons, making the difference between Buddhists stupas and Hindu temples. You will discover with a great surprise how these two religions live together.

We will make a stop at Thahiti Tole, then in front of Kathesimbhu stupa. Always meeting statues and local shops (suits, spices, incenses, and so on) and listening the noise of bells (and of horns), we will see Asan Tole with wonderful Hindu temples.Then Indra Chowk and Pyaphal Tole.After 2 hours of walk and of wonder, we will arrive at Durbar Square. All the most important monuments of the city are in this area. You will be filled with wonder by all these numerous such majestic and so ancient temples registered in the Heritage of the UNESCO. It is possible to spend hours, sat on the walk of one of these monuments, admiring architecture, considering the animation of places, dreaming.We will take lunch at Durbar Square in the top of a restaurant, with a great plunging view.

Afternoon, you will begin the afternoon by another walk in the streets of Kathmandu, to look at the real face of this city, with local buildings and narrow streets.

Then we will arrive at Swayambunath Stupa (Monkey Temple). It is said that Swayambunath Stupa is more than 2,000 years old, and it symbolizes knowledge. At the summit of this hill, the painted eyes on all four sides symbolize the all-seeing power of Buddha. It is an important Buddhist place where pilgrims from all over the world come.

From this place we can have a wonderful panoramic view on all the capital. So great at the end of the day, with the sunset. We will come back hotel by bus. Evening: Time for you to prepare the trek and we introduce in front of you our crew members. Dinner at hotel. Overnight at hotel.

Day 03:  Flight to Lukla & Trek to Phakding
After breakfast flight from Kathmandu to Lukla (2,800m) and trek to Phakding (2,652m). Today, we get transferred to the domestic terminal of Kathmandu airport for an early morning flight to Lukla, a gateway destination from where our trek starts. After an adventurous 40 minute flight above breathtaking green and white mountains, we reach the Tenzing-Hillary Airport at Lukla. This is one of the most beautiful air routes in the world culminating in a dramatic landing on a hillside surrounded by high mountains peaks. Here we meet our other crew members and after some packing and arrangements, we start our trek through the prosperous village of Lukla until we reach Phakding. It takes three hours walk. To assist in acclimatization, we only have a short hike today. However, if interested in additional activities we can take a side trip to a nearby monastery. Overnight at Phakding in Lodge.

Day 04:  Trek to Namche Bazaar
Morning having a breakfast after trek from Phakding to Namche Bazaar (3,440m). Today, Walking through a beautiful pine forest, the track leads us along the Dudh Koshi River through many suspension bridges, one of which is the famous Hillary Suspension Bridge. First, we catch wonderful prospect of the glistening Mt. Thamserku (6618 m). Through the settlement of Benkar, Chumoa, Monjo, we come to the check post and entrance to Sagarmatha National Park. We pass through the last village of Jorsale before reaching Namche Bazaar. The trail climbs through the forests and bridges until we reach the confluence of the Dudh Koshi and Bhote Koshi rivers. After a final steep ascent of about two hours we get first sight of Mt. Everest peering over the Lhotse-Nuptse ridge. We stop at Chautara to admire the view. We still need to hike about 1.5 hours to reach Namche Bazaar, a gateway to Mt. Everest and main trading centre of this region. It takes five hours walk. Overnight at Namche Bazaar in Lodge.

Day 05:  Rest day in Namche Bazaar
This is the scheduled ‘acclimatization’ day for this trek. Health experts always recommend us to stay active and moving during the rest day too instead of being idle. We either spend the day taking a day hike to Thame or visiting Khunde or relaxing and exploring Namche Bazaar itself. Namche Bazaar is the main centre of the Everest (Khumbu) region and has government offices, ATMs, Internet cafes, shops, restaurants, a bakery and a colorful market each Friday evening and Saturday. If we trek a few hundred vertical feet during the day, it will help us to properly acclimatize. Our guides will take us to the Tourist Visitor Center near the headquarter of the Sagarmatha National Park where we can observe an assortment of things related to the first Everest ascenders, Sherpa culture and learn about the various plant and animal life of the Everest region. Overnight at Namche Bazaar in same Lodge.

Day 06:  Trek to Thame
After breakfast ours trek start from Namche Bazaar to Thame (3,736m). Today, we come out of Namche Bazaar east past the monastery and begin with a short uphill trek. On the left we have the Kongde RI (6187 m) and the river that flows down into a ravine. On the right is the rocky Khumbi Yul La (5,765 m) and behind us is clearly visible on Kusum Kanguru (6,373 m). After an hour mostly downhill into the forest, the trip continues: the steep rise of about 50 m in altitude to reach a ridge around it. The river bed becomes closer and wider. We reach the village of Phorte and then the small town of Samde. Along stretch halfway up a slight slope leading to the bridge over the Bhote Koshi (3,650 m). Cross it and about a half hour climb brings us to Thame. It takes six hours walk. Overnight at Thame in Lodge.

Day 07:  Trek to Khumjung
After having a breakfast trek from Thame to Khumjung (3,786m).Today, we trek to Khumjung from Thame.  Climb up to the famous airstrip at Syangboche. Just above the airstrip is the Everest View Hotel, a Japanese scheme to build a deluxe hotel with great views of the highest mountains on Earth. The Khumjung valley is surrounded by the snowy peaks of Kongde and Thamserku and the scared peak Khumbila hosts a well known monastery that houses a yeti scalp. We also visit Hillary School which is at the same site. After having lunch and spending some time in Khunde, it takes five hours walk. We make today’s overnight stay at Khumjung in Lodge.

Day 08:  Trek to Phortse
After breakfast trek from Khumjung to Phortse (3,542m). Today, From Khumjung we hike to Phortse. Cross the lower slopes of Khumbila. Enjoy the mesmerizing views of Phortse; Cholatse and Taboche Also enjoy the views of Ama Dablam, Thamserku and Kangtanga among others. Phortse village lies in the Khumbu area south of Mount Everest, off the main trekking routes. It takes five hours walk. Overnight at Phortse in Lodge.

Day 09:  Trek to Pangboche
After breakfast trek start from Phortse to Pangboche (3,985m). Today, we started with a hard but short climb and then moved steadily along a ridge to Pangboche. Visit the Pangboche Gompa; see the footprint of the Lama Sangwa Dorje. The houses of Pangboche nestle above the terraced fields, such as a large crescent moon in a semicircle on the slope. This is typical Sherpa villages and Namche Bazaar’s exactly the same location. On both sides of the village attracts around a sacred grove and surrounded it like a picture frame to the village. It takes four hours walk. Overnight at Pangboche at Lodge.

Day 10:  Trek to Tengboche
Morning have a breakfast after trek from Pangboche to Tengboche (3,864m). Today, From Pangboche, we head eastward and join the Everest Base Camp main train. Then we descend to Tengboche. On the way, keep enjoying close up views of Ama-Dablam, Nuptse, and Everest. The Tengoche Monastery is the biggest Buddhist monastery all over in Khumbu region. Visit the monastery to witness the ceremony in the principal and popular monastery of Everest region. It takes two hours walk. Overnight at Tengboche in Lodge.

Day 11:  Trek to Namche Bazaar
After breakfast trek from Tengboche to Namche Bazaar (3,450m). Today, From Tengboche, we further trek down through the hillside blanketed by rhododendron and juniper trees. After crossing the prayer flag festooned bridge over the Dudh Koshi River trail then follows the Dudh Koshi gorge descending rapidly through the pine forests. The path eventually reaches Sansa which is the major trail junction in the region. The trail to Namche Bazaar clings to the steep wooded slope beyond Kyangjuma, winding through several bends. After passing a Chorten, we reach the army camp at of Namche Bazaar. On reaching our lodge, we take a nice hot shower and have very relaxed sleep in our room in Namche Bazaar. It takes six hours walk. Overnight at Namche Bazaar.

Day 12:  Namche Bazaar to Lukla
Morning After Breakfast trek from Namche Bazaar to Lukla (2,800m).Today, From Namche, the trail descends steeply downward so we need to walk slowly and under control. After crossing the suspension bridges over the fast flowing Dudh Koshi and its tributaries the trail becomes more level and natural. Although we are travelling the same route down, we feel completely different views. We snap a mixture of open plains, rhododendron and pine forests, and in the distance snow covered peaks. We walk through the Sherpa villages’ noticing impressive faith in Buddhism and culture of prayer stones and prayers flag while we walk through the villages. On arrival in Lukla, we stretch those sore legs and recall the experiences of the great Himalayan walk. It takes six hours walk. Overnight at Lukla in Lodge.

Day 13:  Flight back to Kathmandu
Today, we fly back to Kathmandu after our cultural adventure into the Himalayas. The early morning flight drops us at Kathmandu and drive to hotel after check in and rest we will begins to sightseeing another world heritages site in Kathmandu. We will take you to visit Pashupatinath; this temple lies in world heritage sites, which is very famous among Hindu all over the world. One can view the ritually burning of death body in Hindu culture. After Pashupatinath, we will walk for another world heritage site. The name is Boudhanath. During this walkway we can see deferent lifestyle and developing city.30 minutes after finally we arrived Boudhanath.This is also another world heritage sites in Kathmandu, Where one can see the Tibetan settlement and their culture, It is being home for thousands of Tibetan refugees. Millions of Buddhist people visit this place every year.

Lunch at Boudhanath with view of Buddha Stupa, you will be gaze by the Buddha eyes all the time. You will have heavenly environment.

Afternoon, its quiet relax time for you before your last destination. so, it  is  time for your shopping  different souvenirs for your family and friends in Boudhanath, also come back in Thamel and you can visit other  local market.

Evening, we will provide farewell dinner with our crew members. Overnight stay at Kathmandu hotel.

Day 14:  Last day of Yours Trip.

You are saying good bye to the mountains as your journey in Nepal comes to an end today! There is nothing to do but trade emails with your travel companions and organize your photos If you have more time. You will be transferred to the Airport before 2 hours of flight with nice farewell. On your way home you’ll have plenty of time to plan your next adventure in the wonderful country of Nepal.

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