Nepal
To get our mini brochure for this holiday please click here, and we will email you a PDF copy.
Day One: Arrive in Kathmandu
Arrive at Tribhuvan, Kathmandu’s international airport, where you will be collected and transferred to your hotel. After check-in, the rest of the day is free to explore the chaotic capital of Nepal. Wander through its colourful backstreets, crammed with bright clothes and craft shops, to Durbar Square and the old Royal Palace. Or escape the chaos on a trip to Swayambhunath: This Buddhist temple on a hill just outside the city draws visitors with resident monkeys, stunning city views and a golden stupa. Relax this evening for the start of your trek tomorrow.
Overnight in Kathmandu (elevation 1,400m)
Classic - Fairfield by Marriott Hotel
Premium - Gokarna Forest Resort
Meals included: None
Day Two: Get Set, Go
After breakfast, it’s back to the airport for your 45-minute onward flight to Lukla*, a popular starting point for treks to Everest. Sitting at 2,630m, this town is where you’ll meet your trekking crew, including the porters who will carry most of your baggage for the duration of the journey. It’s downhill today, as you descend through rhododendron forest on your way to the tiny village of Phakding. On a mountain path punctuated by stupas and mani (walls of stone inscribed with mantra), you’ll be heading for the ice-blue waters of the Dudh Kosi river, the highest river in the world. Then you’ll follow the water all the way to your stop for the night, in time for dinner.
*Please note: Adverse weather conditions can sometimes prevent flights from Kathmandu to Lukla. In the event of a flight cancellation, we may attempt to helicopter you to Lukla, or you may spend an extra night in Kathmandu and take a flight on Day Three, shortening the number of nights spent in Namche Bazaar. If weather conditions look unlikely to improve, we may suggest deviating to the Annapurna Heli-Hike itinerary.
Overnight in Phakding (elevation 2,610m)
Meals included: Breakfast; lunch; dinner
Classic - Local Tea House Phakding
Premium - Yeti Mountain Home Phakding
Trekking time: 3 hours
Day Three: In Sight of Everest
After breakfast, it’s time to walk onwards to Namche Bazaar, a village surrounded by snow-capped peaks that’s home to many of the Everest sherpas. Along the way, you’ll criss-cross over the Dudh Kosi river on dizzying suspension bridges strewn with prayer flags, and pass local children, shepherds – and their yaks – all of whom use the path daily. As the trek gets tougher, you’ll be rewarded with unforgettable mountain scenery and, after crossing into the Unesco-listed Sagarmatha National Park, you’ll begin to glimpse the region’s tallest peaks through the valleys. In the village of Chautara, you’ll stop to wonder at the view of Tawache, Kwangde Peak and the other magnificent mountains. A final push brings you to Namche Bazaar, where you’ll eat and rest at your lodge.
Overnight in Namche Bazaar (elevation 3,440m)
Classic - Local Tea House Namche
Premium - Yeti Mountain Home Namche
Meals included: Breakfast; lunch; dinner
Trekking time: 5 to 6 hours
Day Four: Awe-inspiring Altitude
Be sure to look out of the window as soon as you wake up: one glimpse of the surrounding mountains and you’ll be ready to go. After breakfast, it’s time to acclimatise to the high altitude, on a short hike around Namche. Climb upwards to the airstrip at Syangboche, with its perilous runway crowded by peaks, and then to the Everest View Hotel, one of the highest hotels in the world, with incredible views over the Everest range. Then you’ll continue onwards to Khumjung, a small village in a valley surrounded by mountains including Khumbila, thought by locals to be home to a god and therefore too sacred to climb. The monastery here is home to a famous ‘yeti scalp’. Once in the village, you will have lunch and visit the Hillary School. Founded by the famous mountaineer Sir Edmund Hillary, the school has many pupils who get here everyday via the mountain path from Namche. Spend some time in the village before heading back to Namche for dinner.
Overnight in Namche Bazaar (elevation 3,440m)
Classic - Local Tea House Namche
Premium - Yeti Mountain Home Namche
Meals included: Breakfast; lunch; dinner
Day Five: Monastery in the Mountains
After breakfast, you’ll trek to the village of Tengboche, famous for its monastery and incredible setting. As you climb higher along the ridge line, you’ll notice the paths narrowing, the trees thinning and the temperature dropping. Views of the Himalayas will frame your walk until, on arrival in Tengboche, you are completely surrounded by peaks. Spend time soaking up the atmosphere of Tengboche Monastery, home to 60 monks and one of the largest in the mountains. Here, bright paintings adorn the walls, and chanting and the sound of prayer bells fill the air. Trekkers often stop here on expeditions to light candles and ask for blessings on their journey. Your own trek ends here – in the morning, you’ll catch a lift even higher.
Overnight in Tengboche (elevation 3,870m)
Classic and Premium - Local Tea House Tengboche
Meals included: Breakfast; lunch; dinner
Trekking time: 5 to 6 hours
Day Six: On Top of the World
(Please note, Day Six itinerary is subject to weather conditions.*)
How’s this for a high point? After breakfast, you’ll be collected from your hotel, ready to fly by privately chartered helicopter to the edge of Everest.* On this adventure, you’ll come face to face with the rock and ice of the world’s most famous peak, seeing Everest from a dramatic viewpoint so high that the trekkers far below at Base Camp look as tiny as insects. You’ll make a short stop at Kala Patthar, 5,643m above sea level and known for its incredible views of Mount Everest (the world’s highest webcam is located here). There’ll be time for photos before your pilot takes you back to Lukla to refuel before your onward helicopter flight to Kathmandu.
*If weather conditions prevent the helicopter from taking off, we will try again the following day before your onward flight to Kathmandu. You will then have an extra night in Tengboche and one less night in Kathmandu.
Flying time from Tengboche to Kala Patthar is around 15 minutes, from Kala Patthar to Lukla is 25 minutes and from Lukla to Kathmandu is one hour. The stop at Kala Patthar is very short, in order to avoid altitude sickness.
The helicopter can accommodate a maximum of three adults per holiday, with a luggage allowance of one small back pack (5-7 kg) per person for three travellers and 10 kg per person if two people. The rest of the luggage should be left in Kathmandu.
Overnight in Kathmandu
Classic - Fairfield by Marriott Hotel
Premium - Gokarna Forest Resort
Meals included: Breakfast
Day Seven: Kathmandu
After breakfast, you’ll travel nine miles east of Kathmandu to Bhaktapur – the ‘Place of Devotees’. Populated since the 9th century AD, this UNESCO Heritage Site city is a beautifully-preserved glimpse into medieval life. Though a few of its monuments were destroyed in the tragic earthquake of 2015, there is still so much to see. On a morning exploration with a private guide, you’ll notice buildings decorated in the intricate wooden sculptures that Bhaktapur is famous for, as you wander streets where goats rest in the shade, artists workshops open onto the cobbles and men in traditional dress carry produce high on their heads. You’ll see Durbar Square, packed with intricately-decorated temples and monuments including the shining Golden Gate and Palace of 55 Windows, as well as the five-storied Nyatapol Temple – renowned for its beautiful 16th-century decorations. Then you’ll return to your hotel for a well-earned afternoon of rest and relaxation. Alternatively, there’s the option of mastering the art of Nepalese cooking with a local family in their home (please see the Extras tab). Book this extra, and you’ll be taught how to prepare dal bhat (rice and lentils), momo dumplings and chicken curry, before settling down to eat your feast for either lunch or dinner.
Overnight in Kathmandu
Classic - Fairfield by Marriott Hotel
Premium - Gokarna Forest Resort
Meals included: Breakfast
Day Eight: Homeward Bound
Time to bid goodbye to an amazing country, with your flight home. A private transfer will take you to the airport.
Meals included: Breakfast
Overall meals included: 7 Breakfasts; 4 lunches; 4 dinners
What's included:
- Private English-speaking guides unless stated otherwise
- Private transfers and internal flights unless stated otherwise
- Meals as listed
- Mandatory taxes and service fees
- Entrance tickets and permits unless stated otherwise
- Helicopter flight over Everest Base Camp
What's not included:
- International flights to/from experience: call 0208 251 0425 for AX specially negotiated flight rates
- Optional extras listed
- Tips for guides, drivers, hotel and restaurant staff
- Any visa, customs, airport taxes or similar charges before or after the holiday
- We cannot guarantee the included hotel breakfast for early departures
- Drinks during meals unless stated otherwise
- Personal expenses, such as laundry
Be sure to bring: Hiking boots; appropriate cold weather clothes; sunscreen and sunglasses.
SUITABILITY FOR FAMILIES : Suitable for families with adult kids.
If you intend to travel solo, contact us on 0208 251 0425
To check out our Annapurna Heli-Hike in Nepal, click here!
GETTING THERE
Typical return Economy flights from London cost around £500 per person and take approximately 13 hours depending on exact flight configurations and layover times.
Experience start point: Tribhuvan Airport Kathmandu (KTM).
End point: Tribhuvan Airport Kathmandu (KTM).
Ready to book