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Itinerary for Mt. Everest
March 25 – 27: Travel from
your home port to Kathmandu. All flights cross the dateline and a day is
consequently lost. Arrive in Kathmandu, where a Mountain Madness guide will
meet you. On your way to the hotel, we stop by our office, Mountain Madness
Pvt. Nepal Ltd. Check into the Yak & Yeti Hotel, a classic five-star hotel
located in the Durbar Marg district. Great food from all over the world,
fabulous shopping and Durbur Square, with its numerous temples and markets,
are nearby.
March 28: While we wrap up last minute paperwork with the Nepali Government,
you will have a casual day of shopping for souvenirs in the streets of
Kathmandu, visiting the palaces, Thamel District, Hindu temples and shrines,
Buddhist stupas, or just relaxing at the hotel. Favorite destinations are
Swayambunath, a Buddhist temple with prayer flags descending from the highly
ornate steeple and situated on a small hill that offers outstanding views of
the city. Or you can join the thousands of Hindus who venture to the
Pashupatinath temple, one of the most famous Hindu temples in Nepal and the
most famous Shiva temple in Asia.
March 29: We fly to the Himalayan foothills where we will begin our trek into
the Khumbu region. The views from the plane are amazing, providing panoramic
views of terraced hills and the distant Himalayan giants. After landing in the
village of Lukla (9,350 feet) we will meet our staff and porters and continue
on about two and a half hours to Phakding (8,700 feet).
March 30: We continue trekking along the banks of the Dudh Kosi, crossing this
majestic river many times on wild suspension bridges laden with prayer flags.
After entering Sagamartha National Park at Jorsale, the trail climbs steeply
with breathtaking views up to Namche Bazaar, the gateway to the Khumbu region
at 11,300 feet.
March 31: Today is a rest and acclimatization day in Namche. Namche is a
colorful village with many wonderful and interesting shops and vendors,
fabulous food and stunning views of the surrounding mountains. An early hike
above town before the clouds move in will reward climbers with a spectacular
Himalayan sunrise and views of Everest, Lhotse (the 4th highest peak in the
world), and the beautiful Ama Dablam. On the way down, we can visit the Sherpa
Museum that displays an exhibit on traditional Sherpa lifestyle as well as a
fabulous photography collection. A local Nepalese naturalist takes all photos,
and in one room the Sherpa traditions are highlighted, while in another Sherpa
high altitude climbers are presented.
April 1: The trek continues along the Dudh Kosi with rushing clear blue rivers
and magnificent views of the mountains. We will stay the night at Thyangboche
monastery at 12,887 feet where you will find one of the best views in the
world. Inside the monastery are incredibly ornate wall hangings, a 20-foot
sculpture of Buddha, and the musical instruments and robes of the Lamas. If
our group is lucky, we will get to see the Lama perform a ceremony and listen
to the mystical chanting and music. Remember to bring lots of film!
April 2: From Thyangboche the trail drops to Debuche, crosses a wild bridge on
the Imja Khola, and then climbs to the village of Pangboche where incredible
mani stones line the path. The uphill trek continues, taking us to the quaint
traditional Sherpa village of Dingbouche (14,250 feet) with its exquisite
views of Lhotse, Island Peak, and Ama Dablam.
April 3: Another rest day. There is the option of taking a light
acclimatization hike up the valley for better photo shots of the valley and
mountains of the Khumbu region.
April 4: From Dingbouche, the trail traverses along farmlands and meadows
before continuing up the terminal moraine of the Khumbu Glacier. Our path
skirts along the glacier’s edge to the Italian Research Station where we are
treated to great Italian food, showers and real beds!
April 5: After an early morning start, we ascend Kala Pattar (18,450 feet) and
enjoy famous views of the Himalayas; then descend from this viewpoint and
continue on to base camp on Khumbu Glacier, at the foot of the icefall.
April 6 - May 4: We arrive at Everest base camp (17,500 feet) on the jumbled
moraine below the infamous Khumbu Icefall. There we spend some time
acclimatizing. The next weeks are spent negotiating the Khumbu Icefall,
entering the Western Cwm, and climbing to lofty Camp III (23,500 feet). Our
objective for the next 3 to 4 weeks is to establish and stock three camps
above base camp and to acclimatize for the climb to the summit. We sleep at
Camp III for a night or two before heading down to base camp to rest before
our summit bid.
May 5 - 9: With everybody fit and acclimatized, we head back to base camp. For
the next 5 days rest is top priority. We visit with trekkers, eat, rest, eat,
rest, and prepare for the summit bid.
May 10 - 31: We climb to camp II, then to camp III and finally to the South
Col where we place our final camp at 26,000 feet. Our summit target date is
between May 15 through the 25. We are prepared to stay at base camp to wait
for good weather or until the monsoon arrives at the end of May. Mountain
Madness service continues as we head back down to Kathmandu (3-5 days); we’ll
fly out of Lukla. Hotel accommodations with breakfast and dinner in Kathmandu
for the night of our return and the next night are included in your package.
However, if individuals want to make a faster return to Kathmandu or deviate
from the trek back down from other points along the way, they are free to do
so at their own expense.
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