Travel Days: Most climbers and trekkers fly to Kathmandu via Thailand with an overnight in Bangkok. During your flight you will cross the International Date Line and travel time is approximately two days. The program start date begins on Day One in Kathmandu.

Day One: KATHMANDU  •  4,383 feet
Arrive in Kathmandu; team members are transferred to their hotel. That evening there will be a welcoming dinner and reception. (D)

Day Two: KATHMANDU  •  4,383 feet
Today the group will have a free day to explore Kathmandu’s rich and diverse culture, including the Boudhanath Stupa and Swayambunath- the Monkey Temple. Kathmandu is the largest city in Nepal and it is the cosmopolitan heart of the Himalayan Region. It is situated in a bowl shaped valley in central Nepal. The day will be filled with sight seeing, shopping for souvenirs, and enjoying the local cuisine. (B)

Day Three: LUKLA  •  9,350 feet
Today we will fly to Lukla, the last airstrip before Everest Base Camp, in STOL aircraft or helicopter. In Lukla we meet our Sherpa support team and begin the trek to Base Camp along the Dudh Kosi River to Phakding (8,700 feet). (B, L, D)

Day Four: NAMCHE BAZAAR  • 11,300 feet
Hike to historic Namche Bazaar, the gateway to the high Himalayas. The group will explore the village’s three small museums, a stupa, monastery, several cafes (locally known as bakeries) and many well stocked stores. (B, L, D)

Day Five: NAMCHE BAZAAR  • 11,300 feet
Today is an acclimatization day in Namche. We relax and explore the village, or make a hike to Thame, several hours up the valley. Thame is on the salt trading route that existed between Tibet, Nepal and India. Many Sherpa live here and it is the birth place of Appa Sherpa, who holds the world record for summiting Everest seventeen times. (B, L, D)

Day Six: Day hike to Khumjung, the location of the largest school in Khumbu - the Khumjung Hillary School. (B, L, D)

Day Seven: TENGBOCHE  •  12,687 feet
Today we climb to Tengboche, the largest Sherpa monastery in the Khumbu area. This is where we will see a clear view of Mt. Everest, Lhotse (the 4th highest peak in the world), Nuptse and Ama Dablam. We then head down to Deboche and a quiet campground in the fir and rhododendrons forest. (B, L, D)

Day Eight: Acclimatization day in the Tengboche area (12,687 feet); this village has an important Buddhist monastery, the largest gompa in the Khumbu region. Rhododendrons should be blooming here. Thyangboche will also have a panoramic view of the Himalayan Mountains, including the well known peaks of Tawache, Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse, Ama Dablam, and Thamserku. (B, L, D)

Day Nine: DINGBOCHE  • 14,450 ft
Hike via Pangboche to Dingboche at 14,450 ft. We follow the Imja River which flows directly east of the village, to a large Sherpa village in the valley, at the foot of Ama Dablam. We visit the Pangboche monastery, the central focus to some of the villages in the Nepalese highlands. (B, L, D)

Day Ten: We stay another night in Dingboche to get acclimated. From here we will take a day hike up the Imja Khola valley to Chukung (around 15,500 feet).  (B, L, D)

Day Eleven: LOBUCHE  •  16,100 feet
Ascend to the town of Lobuche below Lobuche Peak. Our trail will pass through the Sherpa memorial on the terminal moraine of the Khumbu Glacier. The trail will most likely to be covered with snow from here on out. (B, L, D)

Day Twelve: Rest day in Lobuche. Lots of good day hiking in the area or a chance to rest prior to our ascent to Base Camp. (B, L, D)

Day Thirteen: Gorak Shep  •  17,000 feet
Hike glacial moraine to Gorak Shep, the last outpost en route to Base Camp. Gorak Shep is a frozen lakebed covered with sand that sits at approximately 17,000 feet up Mount Everest. It is the final acclimatization stop on most common treks to Everest Base Camp from Lukla, following what the Dalai Lama dubbed "the steps to heaven." The trail is a very rugged and rocky. (B, L, D)

Day Fourteen: BASE CAMP  •  17,575 feet
Hike to Base Camp, 17,570 feet. Everest's summit cannot be seen from Base Camp as the camp's position allows nearby Nuptse to block the view of Everest. In order to get views of Everest within the vicinity of Base Camp, many trekkers climb Kala Pattar (18,300 feet). We will climb this either in the afternoon or possibly the next day to get a great view of the summit of Everest. (B, L, D)

Day Fifteen: BASE CAMP  •  17,575 feet
After enjoying hot tea in our tents, we have a late breakfast and soak in the morning sun. While hanging out at base camp, we can hike to the base of the icefall to get a closer view of the route that weaves its way through enormous jumbled seracs. (B, L, D)

Day Sixteen: BASE CAMP  •  17,575 feet
Explore Base Camp. Attend a morning Puja ceremony and climb Kala Pattar in the afternoon. (B, L, D)

Day Seventeen: PHERICHE  •  14,600 feet
We head back down to the “thick” air and a good night’s sleep. (B, L, D)

Day Eighteen: NAMCHE BAZAAR  •  11,300 feet
The downhill trek along the river allows for breathtaking photos of Ama Dablam that towers ominously above us, and Everest’s Southwest ridge comes into clear view. We then descend to Namche. If we are lucky, it will be market time in Namche. The food in Namche is fabulous after two weeks in the mountains: espresso, yak steaks and chocolate cake! This market is where lowland porters bearing supplies meet the highland Sherpa and Tibetan people who have journeyed over high passes from many miles away to trade food and supplies for their home or village.       (B, L, D)

Day Nineteen: LUKLA  •  9,000 feet
Our last day on the trail, we hike from Namche to Lukla, crossing eleven suspension bridges and reentering the fertile valleys of the lower Dudh Kosi. We overnight in Lukla. (B, L, D)

Day Twenty: KATHMANDU  •  4,383 feet
The scenic morning flight back to Kathmandu gives us one last chance to say farewell to the mountains. The afternoon in Kathmandu is open for exploration or just relaxing. (B)

Day Twenty one: KATHMANDU  •  4,383 feet
Depart Kathmandu and arrive home the next day (cross international date line).