The unbelievable view from Gokyo Ri

Our ultimate, ultimate Everest trek starts in the lowlands of eastern Nepal and culminates in glorious panoramic views of the highest mountains on earth.

Photo by Brian McGilloway

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The Ultimate Ultimate Everest Trek

From the Eastern Hills to the Himalayan Heights
with Gary McCue

Trip Leader extraordinaire Gary McCue has long wanted to do the Everest trek beginning in the lowlands of East Nepal’s Arun River region, an area steeped in exploration history. This is the pioneering route taken by the first Everest reconnaissance expeditions from the south in 1950 and 1951, led by British mountaineer/explorers H. W. Tilman and Eric Shipton respectively. This remote area has a diversity of natural beauty and interesting cultures, including the animist Rai people, subsistence farmers and stock raisers who made up many of the Gurkha soldiers of the British and Indian armies. Our trek takes us through lush river valleys and terraced foothills that see few trekkers, leading to the Sherpa trading town of Namche Bazaar and three high passes—the Kangma La, Cho La, and Renjo La—connecting the beautiful high valleys of the Khumbu. The Himalayan views-especially from Kala Patar and Gokyo Ri-are simply incredible!

Highlights

  • Follow the explorers’ route from the lowlands of the Arun River Valley to the base of Everest
  • Explore rarely trekked areas of eastern Nepal and off-the-beaten-path trails of the Khumbu, including Ama Dablam Base Camp, Island Peak Base Camp, Cho Oyu Sanctuary, and the newly opened Renjo La
  • Hike up Kala Patar for close-up views of Everest, visit Everest Base Camp and see the Khumbu Icefall

Details

  • 37-day trip begins and ends in Kathmandu
  • 4 nights in hotels, 5 nights in lodges, 27 nights camping
  • All meals included except 3 lunches and 2 dinners
  • 32-day trek on moderate to steep trails, 5-8 hours a day, altitudes between 1,500-18,365 feet

Tour Costs

$6195 (13-15 members)
$6595 (10-12 members)
$6995 (7-9 members)

Single supplement: $530
Internal airfare: $365 (subject to change) (Kathmandu/Tumlingtar; Lukla/Kathmandu)

Taj Mahal Extension from: $1925
Scenic Everest Flight from: $235
Tiger Tops: Royal Chitwan National Park Extension from: $235
Lhasa Extension from: $985

Prices are for 2010 dates

Departures & Leaders

Oct 25-Nov 30, 2010  Gary McCue

Itinerary at a Glance

Days 1-3
Kathmandu / Tumlingtar / Khartiki Ghat

After a day to explore Kathmandu, we fly to Tumlingtar at 1,500 feet and start our trek with a walk along the banks of East Nepal’s Arun River.

Days 4-10
Rai and Sherpa settlements

We trek along the Irkhuwa Khola, a tributary of the Arun, then up through forests of rhododendron, oak and fir, passing through Rai and Sherpa settlements and enjoying stunning views of four of the five highest mountains in the world—Kanchenjunga, Makalu, Lhotse, and Everest—from the top of the higher passes. At Pangum Pass (10,400'), we cross the watershed between the Hinku Khola and Dudh Kosi areas, and continue to an area settled by Tibetan immigrants about 450 years ago.

Days 11-19
Namche Bazaar / Ama Dablam Base Camp / Island Peak Base Camp

We enter the heart of the Solu Khumbu, the homeland of the Sherpa culture. Passing below the airfield at Lukla, we climb to Namche Bazaar (11,300'), the administrative and commercial center of the region and gateway to the high Himalaya, and continue to Tengboche (12,665'), the largest Buddhist monastery in the Khumbu and its spiritual center. From here we hike to the base camp of Ama Dablam (22,467'), nestled below one of the most striking mountains in the world, and over rocky moraine to the base camp of Island Peak, one of the most popular trekking peaks in Nepal.

Days 20-28
Kala Patar / Everest Base Camp / Cho La

We cross the Kangma La to Lobuche and hike up Kala Patar (18,365') for classic close-up views of Everest, and to Everest base camp (17,600') for an incredible view of the Khumbu Icefall. Crossing the snow-covered Cho La Pass into the Gokyo Valley, we hike up Gokyo Ri for unbelievable panoramas of the valley’s deep turquoise glacial lakes and the stunning Himalayan foursome of Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, and Cho Oyu, and on to the sanctuary of Cho Oyu (26,906') the sixth highest mountain in the world.

Day 29-37
Renjo La / Namche Bazaar / Kathmandu

From Gokyo, we cross the remote Renjo La (17,716') and descend through Sherpa villages to Namche Bazaar. We continue hiking to Lukla, from where we fly back to Kathmandu and depart on Day 37.

This is the Itinerary-at-a-Glance. For the complete trip description, Download Full Trip Brochure

Optional Extensions

If you would like to extend your adventure, we offer the following options: