12 days Everest Dingboche Trek

12 days Everest Dingboche Trek

On the 12-day version of this itinerary, you'll trek from Lukla to Namche Bazaar—a famous trading village between Tibet and Nepal. Continue from village to village, enjoying views of Ama Dablam, the "Matterhorn of Nepal." You'll learn about Sherpa culture along the way, culminating with the Buddhist monastery at Tengboche, and finally Dingboche before returning to Pokhara.

Itinerary

Day 1: Welcome to Kathmandu!

Pass By: Thamel, Kathmandu 44600 Nepal
It's a beautiful flight into the Kathmandu Valley with views of the Himalaya and terraced valley floor. Upon arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport, one of our representatives will greet you and transport you to your hotel.

Depending on your arrival time, you'll have time to explore the city. Some popular sights include Kathmandu’s Durbar Square and its narrow alleyways teeming with small shops, ancient temples, and local restaurants. There's also Swayambhunath temple, where you can watch the sunset over the valley and the Himalaya to your north.

The tourist hub of Thamel is a good place to grab your first meal, with a variety of restaurants to chose from offering both Western and local Nepali dishes. Then, if it's not too late, head to the busiest bazaar in the city, Asan Tole, which offers an authentic display of spice, fish, and vegetable stands that make for great photo ops. Practice some basic Nepali phrases and chat with friendly locals!

No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Overnight at hotel in Kathmandu

Day 2: Explore Kathmandu with Guided Day Tours

Stop At: Kathmandu Durbar Square, Kathmandu 44600 Nepal
Kathmandu has a special atmosphere during the early morning hours when the city is slowly coming to life yet not too chaotic. It's a great time to walk and explore the streets or have a chai overlooking one of the local courtyards or durbar squares.

After breakfast, there are then a number of ways you can spend your day given the numerous famous sights around the Kathmandu Valley. We provide a local English-speaking guide who knows the city well and can explain the history and significance of the sights (along with a private jeep to take you around).

Kathmandu Durbar Square (World Heritage Site)
This complex of palaces, courtyards and temples, built between the 12th and 18th centuries, used to be the seat of the ancient Malla kings of Kathmandu. There are also three museums inside the palace building.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Swayambhunath Maha Chaitya, Kathmandu 44600, Nepal
You can watch over the valley from the top of a hillock on its western side. Swoyambhu is also known as Samhengu and the Monkey temple because of the countless monkeys living in the premises.


Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Pashupatinath Temple, Pashupati Nath Road, Kathmandu 44600 Nepal
Pashupatinath is one of the most sacred Hindu shrines in the world and lies 5 kms east of the city center. The richly-ornamented pagoda houses the sacred Linga, or phallic symbol, of Lord Shiva.


Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Boudhanath Stupa, Boudh, Kathmandu 44600 Nepal
It is 2500 years old Buddhist stupa in the Valley built in 5th century with four pairs of eyes of Lord Buddha in four cardinal directions keeping an eternal watch over the people and their doings. You will find Buddhist pilgrims from Tibet going round the stupa spinning the prayer wheels.


Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Asan, Between Durbar Square and Thamel, Kathmandu 44600 Nepal
Asan is a very popular and crowded local market in Kathmandu. It is inhabited by mainly Newar people (indigenous people of Kathmandu).Meanwhile, people from all over the nation and even foreigners are regular customers and visitors there.


Duration: 1 hour

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at hotel in Kathmandu

Day 3: Flight from Kathmandu to Lukla, Trek to Phakding (8,563 feet / 2,610 m)

Stop At: Lukla Airport Viewpoint, 56000, चौरीखर्क 56000, Nepal
After breakfast, you'll fly to Lukla (30 minutes) and land on a steep mountain runway, which brings you to the start of your trek. Try to get a window seat on the left-hand side of the plane and keep your camera close: The flight takes you between mountains and through valleys, with great views of the Himalaya on clear days.

You'll then trek a short distance today through local villages where you'll likely encounter fellow trekkers, locals, and yaks with their tinkling bells. (Having an easy first day is intentional, allowing you time to get used to the higher elevation.)

Continue through the Dudh Koshi Valley on a well-marked trail and stay overnight in Phakding.
Duration: 4 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight at teahouse

Day 4: Trek from Phakding to Namche Bazaar (11,290 feet / 3,440 m)

Stop At: Phakding 56000, Nepal
After breakfast in Phakding, you'll start a steady and steep incline towards Namche. This is a challenging day as you'll start to feel the altitude. The route also consists of a number of high suspension bridges over the Dudh Kosi River that you need to cross.

Just beyond the village of Monjo is the entrance to the Sagarmatha National Park, which was set-up in order to protect and preserve the fragile mountain environment (your guide will cover your permit fees here). The trail gets steeper along the way, and if the weather is clear, you will get the first glimpses of Mount Everest.

When you arrive at Namche, settle into your accommodations and explore the town. Namche is a great place to stock up on supplies as there are numerous small shops selling snacks and trekking gear, as well as restaurants and bars. If here on a weekend, check out the Saturday market—a meeting place for the Hindu traders from the lowlands and the Tibetan yak caravans that have crossed the glaciated Nangpa La.
Duration: 5 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight at teahouse

Day 5: Rest day in Namche Bazaar, Optional Day Hike

Stop At: Main Street, Namche Bazaar 56002 Nepal
Today is a rest day, so feel free to sleep in and relax this morning. Namche, tucked between two ridges amidst the giant peaks of the Khumbu, is an ideal place to spend a day acclimatizing to the new altitude.

There is an abundance of lodges, tea shops, and souvenir stands that you can visit. You can also head to the Khunde Hospital set-up by Sir Edmund Hillary, or take a highly-recommended one-hour walk up to the Everest View Hotel above Namche for views of notable peaks like Ama Dablam, Nuptse, Lhotse, and Everest. There are also good views from the Sherpa Culture Museum just above town.
Duration: 5 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight at teahouse

Day 6: Trek from Namche Bazaar to Tengboche (12,687 feet / 3867 m)

Stop At: Tengboche Gompa, Sagarmatha, Tengboche 56002 Nepal
After breakfast in Namche, you'll follow the trail along the side of the valley high above the Dudh Kosi River. You'll get your first views of the Khumbu region's giant peaks: Mount Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse, and Ama Dablam. Pass by several villages and numerous tea shops, and descend steeply to a bridge over the river at Phunki Tenga. The village is an ideal stopover for lunch and you can rest before making the steep climb to Tengboche.

Although this next zigzag path is tiring, your views will include beautiful rhododendron forests, colorful birds, and superb mountain scenery. Tengboche is famous for its legendary monastery, the largest in Khumbu, and a spectacular panorama of the aforementioned peaks can be seen from where you'll stop for the night.
Duration: 5 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight at teahouse

Day 7: Trek from Tengboche to Dingboche (14,304 feet / 4360 m)

Stop At: Dingboche View Point, Khumjung 56000, Nepal
After breakfast, take some extra time to enjoy the scenery around Tengboche Monastery before you start today's journey. With mountains in the background, the monastery looks even more beautiful in the morning sunlight.

Once you set out, choose the upper trail for better views on the way to Pangboche village where you'll pass several stupas, Mani walls, and small villages. Stop for lunch at a place that serves delicious food with a fantastic close-up view of Mount Ama Dablam.

In the afternoon, walk north to Pheriche or take the eastward trail beneath the towering north face of Ama Dablam. From here, the walk is fairly moderate as you enter the Imja Valley, which gradually unfolds as you approach the confluence of the Lobuche River. Descend towards the river and begin the last and steepest climb of the day up to Dingboche.

On arrival, you will see a stunning set of fields enclosed by stone walls to protect barley, buckwheat, and potatoes from the cold winds and grazing animals
Duration: 4 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight at teahouse

Day 8: Trek from Dingboche to Tengboche

Stop At: Tengboche Gompa, Sagarmatha, Tengboche 56002 Nepal
Today, you'll take the reverse route from Dingboche and trek back to Tengboche where you'll stay the night.
Duration: 4 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight at teahouse

Day 9: Trek from Tengboche to Monjo

Stop At: Tengboche Gompa, Sagarmatha, Tengboche 56002 Nepal
After breakfast in Tengboche, you'll return to Namche Bazaar for lunch and any last-minute shopping before starting your hike down to Monjo. The route takes you steeply down along the Dudh Kosi River. You'll cross the river and follow it to Jorsale, and then continue crossing the river a few more times to Monjo where you'll stay overnight.

Duration: 8 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight at teahouse

Day 10: Trek from Monjo to Lukla

Stop At: Lukla Airport Viewpoint, 56000, चौरीखर्क 56000, Nepal
After breakfast in Monjo, begin the final day of the trek as you head along the Dudh Kosi river to Lukla. You'll first walk from Monjo to Ghat and stop for lunch before continuing to make your way through villages like Chumoa, Benkar, Phakding, and Chuthawa, eventually reaching the Pasang Lhamu Memorial Gate signifying the end of the trek. Though most of the route is an easy downhill slope, the last section of trail before arriving takes you uphill—a fitting way to finish.

With Lukla's handful of shops, bars, and cafes—and even a faux Starbucks!—there are plenty of things to occupy your time as you reflect on your experience.
Duration: 7 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight at teahouse

Day 11: Flight from Lukla to Kathmandu

Stop At: Thamel, Kathmandu 44600 Nepal
After breakfast in Lukla, you'll take an early morning flight back to Kathmandu.

Upon arrival, you'll be transferred to your hotel and will be able to enjoy the rest of the afternoon and evening at your leisure. Explore Kathmandu's streets on foot, bicycle, or rickshaw, perhaps shopping for souvenirs or seeing anything you may have missed at the beginning of your trip.

Other ideas include rewarding your muscles after the trek with a massage service at Seeing Hands (services are offered from the visually impaired), or the more upscale Kinjalla Spa. You can also take an early evening yoga class at Pranamaya Yoga, with two locations in Thamel and Patan.

In the evening we will have a farewell dinner in a traditional Nepalese restaurant with cultural performances.


Duration: 4 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight at hotel in Kathmandu

Day 12: Depart Kathmandu

Pass By: Airport Parking, Kathmandu 44600, Nepal
It's time to say farewell to Nepal.

Enjoy your last moments in Kathmandu with breakfast in a café, a city stroll, and/or souvenir shopping. A representative will meet you at your hotel and drive you to the airport for your return flight home. It's good to be at the airport at least 2 hours prior to departure.



Meals included:
• Breakfast
No accommodation included on this day.