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Tour
code: NCE
Your Classic Everest trek to Everest Base Camp is graded as C+
and takes you over the original trail of the famous early
mountaineering expeditions. In those days, the walk actually started
from Kathmandu and took months to complete, but the advantage of the
road to Jiri has softened this somewhat. You will be trekking through
the Solu Khumbu region, home of Mount Everest and the hardy mountain
people renowned in mountaineering lore - The Sherpa. During your trek,
you will pass through many paces of interest such as Namche Bazaar,
the Sherpa "Capital" of this area, Thyangboche Monastery and
Pangboche Monastery where the famous Yeti scalp is held. The highlight
of your trek is Everest Base Camp, the scene of triumph and tragedy,
legends and myths. However, most prefer to go on a day excursion to
Kala Pathar, which towers over the Everest Base Camp, where
magnificent views of Everest and a bird's eye view of the longest
glacier in Nepal, the Khumbu Glacier, can be obtained, for memories
that will last a lifetime. We conclude our classic "walk-in" trek by returning to Kathmandu on an exciting scenic flight from Lukla airstrip high above the Dudh Kosi of the Khumbu valley. Grade The
fact that there are so many days walking, together with the high
altitudes aspired to, means that health and fitness is very important,
and this trek is therefore graded C+. Whilst it can be quite warm during
the day, it can also be very cold at night - sub-zero temperatures at
higher altitudes are normal. The early stage of the trek crosses the
grain of the land so there is much uphill/downhill walking: ascents
total 10,728m (35,200ft) and descents 7,955m (26,100ft).
Allowance has been made for altitude conditioning but, as on any
high mountain trek, there is no actual guarantee that you will be free
of acclimatisation problems. Should you experience serious effects of
the altitude you will have to descend to a lower height until you
recover. In the interests of your safety and the well-being of the group
the Trek Leader’s decision on this will be final.
Above
3,900m (13,000ft.) the temperature drops to below freezing when the sun
goes down (4pm) - on sunny days. Temperatures as low as -20 C have been
recorded at night at higher altitudes. Springtime is much warmer but,
paradoxically, snowfalls are more likely.
The
following itinerary is intended as a working guide only and is subject
to variation as a result of local conditions, weather and government
restrictions. We reserve the right to alter (lengthen or shorten) the
trek at any time if necessary. This
trek involves internal air travel within Nepal: please be aware that
delays do occur on these flights because of bad weather - and because it
is Nepal.
You
then drop down to the river (Likhu Khola) and climb up 1000 meters to a
small village on the edge of a rhododendron forest; one of the biggest
climbs early in the expedition. We use trails seldom walked by the
westerners, and this gives you a chance to experience trekking "off
the beaten track" and away from the main trails. At Gole Gompa, you
will find your first Gompa or Buddhist monastery. There are many in this
area and one of the largest in Nepal, Thuptencholing, with over three
hundred monks, is at the head of the valley. Above Gole Gompa the trail
gradually winds its way up through coniferous forest and pasture where
the locals from PikeKhop and Sete graze their sheep. The night's camp is
at Jhasa Bhajyang and the following day you'll take the easy climb up to
the top to be greeted with a wonderful mountain panorama where nearly
the whole of the Nepalese Himalaya is spread before you. Makalu
dominates the east and you will have your first glimpse of the massive
bulk of Everest. On a clear day you can see right past the Langtang
Range to Annapurna Himal in the West. Mt Numbur fills the foreground.
Heading down, camp at Loding and then trek onto Beni, in the Solu
Valley, the administrative capital of the Khumbu and home to the vast
majority of trekking staff and very Swiss in appearance.
Much
of the walking in this area involves comparatively gentle gradients, and
naturally we proceed at a leisurely pace due to the altitude. The
temperatures drop dramatically: winter daytime temperatures can be
around 15C so warm clothing is essential in your daypack. From
Orsho we walk on to Dingboche, a picturesque village just under
AmaDablam..
All
general equipment and cooking equipment is provided. A
detailed list of other recommended clothing and equipment will be sent
with confirmation of booking.
A
typical day begins just after 6 a.m. with an early morning mug of tea
served through the tent flap. After a hot breakfast, during which the
camp will be struck and the porters loaded, we begin our walking in the
pleasant cool of the morning. Lunch is around 11 a.m. This
mid-day break usually lasts about an hour or so. After walking
for three hours or so in the afternoon, we will aim to pitch camp around
4 p.m. You will have an hour or so to relax and reflect before the day
is rounded off with a hot three course meal. However, for contact with
local people, there may be the opportunity of visiting a nearby village.
*
Flights from the UK are
included in the full package price and their prices depend upon
the date and the carrier. We may use return flights London
Heathrow/Kathmandu using the scheduled services of Qatar. *
Accommodation at a good standard of hotel in Kathmandu on twin
share B&B or the nights
listed in the itinerary. *
Nepali Welcome dinner and hotel transfers. *
All internal transport by private bus, flight from Lukla. *
Entrance fees into any Monasteries.
*
Use of trek pack (duvet jacket, poncho, sleeping bag and mat, and a
duffle bag). *
All meals on trek *
Fully supported camp services *
All airport transfers. *
Group leader, Tour Escort with a comprehensive medical kit including
portable oxygen supply.
Items
of a personal nature: Passport, visas, insurance, immunization fees,
meals other than breakfast in Kathmandu: ( budget
up to £15 per meal without drinks). Drinks, tips &
gratuities, departure tax. Health
Matters Docume Single
Supplement Is
not available on trek. However we can organize a single room while in
Kathmandu. Books
& Maps There
are accounts of the most important great expeditions such as John Hunt The
Ascent of Everest. Reinhold Messner The
Crystal Horizon. Sun
19th Sept – Sat 16th Oct 2004 Sun
3rd Oct – Sat 30th Oct 2004 Sun
31st Oct - Sat 27th Nov 2004 Sun
26th Dec – Sat 22nd Jan 2005 Sun
3rd April – Sat 30th April 2005 Sun
1st May - Sat 28th May 2005 Sun
15th May – Sat 11th June 2005
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