Everest Thame Legendary
Moderate
Legendary Thame is based on the Delux lodges of Yeti Mountain Home in Phakding, Namche, Thame, Monjo and Lukla. This program is specially designed to cater trek & pilgrimage combined together in which the trekker can enjoy the taste of the adventure tourism along with the ancient monastery along the trail with its historic value. Thame is at the end of Khumbu Valley and iconic value of Thame is its terrain the people which are untouched by the effects of modern civilization. Overall this place is internationally recognized as the home of world famous Mountaineers such as renowned Tenzing Norgay Sherpa: the first ever Mount Everest summiteers in the mountaineering history, Ang Rita Sherpa: recognized as snow leopard and Apa Sherpa: a World Recorder Everest nineteen times Everest Summiteers.
Thame used to be the trade point between Nepal & Tibet and not to forget the birthplace of famous Everest Summiteers like Tenzing Norgay Sherpa and Appa. The other main attraction of this package is Kongde lodge which is the lodge located at the highest altitude of the world which offers a spectacular view of series of Mountain. One would be spellbound by the view that Kongde offers.Yeti Trail is based on our comfort mountain lodges – Yeti Mountain Home, situated around the trans-himalaya Range at Khumbu. The five lodges are located in Lukla, Phakding, Namche, Thame & Kongde which lie in the main trekking trail to Everest region. Every individual site of the lodges is chosen taking precaution for environmental impact approved by the Government providing the best view. Each room is designed to offer the guests with modern comfort.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Kathmandu (1300m)
Welcome to Nepal! Upon your arrival in Kathmandu Airport, you’ll be met at the airport by our representative (they’ll have the YMH signboard if you’ve booked direct or the logo of your agent if you are through your agent).There’s a short drive to the Gokarna Forest Resort, our peaceful haven on the outskirts of Kathmandu. This is your hotel base before and after trek. Your program on the hotel will be on Bed & breakfast plan.
You’ll be served with welcome drink and will start briefing about your programs and collect necessary documents for permit for the trekking.
Hotel: Gokarna Forest Resort
Day 2: Fly to Lukla (2860m) and trek to Phakding (2651m) - 3 hrs walk
We make an early start to take a spectacular, short mountain flight to Lukla, the start point for our trek. Watch out for the Langtang and Jugal ranges then the Rolwaling Himal, Gaurisankar and Menlumtse before getting your first glimpse of Everest on the flight. Our trekking crew meets us at the Lukla airstrip and we’ll spend a few minutes sorting out bags etc before setting off through this winding village to the trek start proper at the Khumbu ‘gateway’. It’s gently downhill on pitched stone trails through low rhododendron forest, small ‘garden’ farms and old and new hamlets to the banks of the foaming DudhKoshi River. There will be plenty of short stops to meet the locals, take photographs and just soak up the scenery and the clear mountain air as we meander along, the undulating trail glimpsing views of 6000m snow-capped peaks high above. Passing the enormous mani stone at Thado Koshi we meander up through the many chortens and prayer wheels of Sano and along to our destination of YMH Phakding in time for a late lunch. The afternoon is free to rest in the riverside gardens or sun lounge. For those who wish to we’ll make a short trip up to the higher village and delightful tiny gompa perched on the valley side. Gather again for pre-dinner drinks round the fire followed by evening meal.Meals: BLD
Hotel: YMH Phakding
Day 3: Trek to Namche (3440m) - 6 hrs walk
After breakfast at lodge, we trek to Namche following with the left bank of DudhKoshi River.While following the level path along the right bank from the resort, Thamserku 6623 m looms skyward on the opposite bank. After crossing a stream and climbing the terraced hill from the DudhKoshi route, you arrive at Banker. Walking on the riverbed on the left bank, through a forest you arrive at Chumow where you can visit the Vegetable Farm. Walking along a path with many ups and downs, crossing a stream you pass by a small village located at 2840 m gaining with 230 m from Phakding named Monjo. You stop for lunch here. Then from Monjo, descending stone steps you come to a suspension bridge, and, after a short climb you reach Jorshale. This is the entrance to the National Park, and you must wait here while your guide pays the entrance fees.
Walking beside the river, you reach a forested mountainside and pass a rocky area. After crossing a high, winding path, you descend to the riverbed and reach a V-shaped valley. The river forks here: the right stream is the DudhKoshi and the left is the BhoteKoshi that leads to Nangpa La. Crossing another suspension bridge and walking a short distance alongside the BhoteKoshi, you ascend to TupDhara where you will get the first view of Mount Everest. From here you ascend gradually up to Namche Bazaar (The Sherpa capital). Dinner at the evening is included.
Optional Activity: Hike upto the Pema Choling Monastery
Meals: BLD
Hotel: YMH Namche
Day 4: Acclimatisation hike to Khumjung village (3790m) - 4 hrs walk
Today we’ll take a gentle walk to gain a little height and then have the afternoon free to explore the shops and cafes of this delightful little town.Your guide will take you to a couple of wonderful viewpoints to see the ‘rockstars’ of the mountain world spread out before you: Lhotse, Nuptse, Everest, Ama Dablam... they ring the deep valley sides in a magnificent arena. You should also be able to see the trails to Everest. If you’re feeling energised we’ll continue on to the delightful villages of Kumjung and Kunde with their health post and school both started by the Sir Edmund Hilary Fund.
After lunch, you are free to head down to the Namche market to browse the shops, chat to the locals and maybe pick up a souvenir or two. You may also see the Tibetan traders who make a yearly journey over the high passes (Nangpa La) from the Tibetan plateau with their yaks laden with goods to sell at the markets. Late in the afternoon there’s an option to visit Namche Monastery. The monastery is about 80 years old and has beautiful Thanka paintings of Tibetan deities. You are most welcome to burn a butter lamp for your loved ones.
Meals: BLD
Hotel: YMH Namche
Day 5: Trek to Thame (3820m) - 5 hrs walk
After breakfast at Namche, begin your walk to Thame, which should take approximately 5 hours walk. You will pass through a beautiful pine forest and typically Sherpa homes.This trail forms part of the entry route to Tibet, which passes at Nanga La, near the 8,012-metre peak of Cho Oyu, first climbed in 1954. It is also the historical route that the Sherpa’s migrated from eastern Tibet 800 years ago.
A lunch stop is made at Thamo. It’s also the home Ang Rita Sherpa, who holds the record for scaling Mt. Everest ten times without oxygen.
After lunch you ascend gradually up passing a monastery where nuns live and finally you come to village of Samden. From here you descend down to the bridge and crossing BhoteKoshi River and a half an hour ascent up to reach Thame Village, where you stay at Yeti Mountain Home, your base for the next two nights.
Optional Activity: Ceremony at the Thame Monastery
Meals: BLD
Hotel: YMH Thame
Day 6: Hike to Sumdur peak (4800m) - 5/6 hrs
After breakfast at lodge, take a half-hour walk up to Thame Monastery. This monastery is located in the Khumbu region, 200 metres above the village. It is set on the southern slope of Sumdur Mountain under a very high rocky cliff, noted for its rock formations, which are mentioned in five books on the history of the region. The monastery was built in the 14th century. From the monastery you trek back to the lodge, arriving in time for lunch.After lunch you can also visit the home of two famous Sherpa’s One Tenzing Norgay and Appa Sherpa who has now climbed Mount Everest 20 times. Thame is one of greatest village of Solukhumbu where many young High altitude climbing Sherpa’s have climbed Mount Everest at least 6 to 18 times ... Very beautiful village with very humble Everest summiteers ...
Meals: BLD
Hotel: YMH Thame
Day 7: Trek to Monjo (2850m) - 5 hrs
Heading back towards Lukla, we first spend an overnight at Monjo. From our high perch above the DudhKosi river the trail before reaching Phakding where we spent a night while coming up and descends quite steeply and trekking poles are highly recommended. There is no hurry and along the way we have the chance to spend time in a number of small Sherpa settlements, situated off the main trail and unused to seeing trekkers. Finally, we reach the Everest Trail and continue our trek to Monjo.Meals: BLD
Hotel: YMH Monjo
Day 8: Trek to Lukla (2860m)
Our last day trekking, with a bit of a sting in the tail! It’s around three hour walk to Lukla, with the last hour or regaining 200m+ height – it’s uphill. On the way we’ll have some drink stops and a chance to visit Chaurikharka High School and Kyongma Monastery. On reaching Lukla we could take a quick stop for a congratulatory group photo at the ‘gateway’ arch then we’ll check-in to our lodge for lunch and a rest. The afternoon is free to explore – you may like to visit the PasangLhamu Foundation hospital or potter up to some nearby hamlets. We celebrate our success on the trail with a final. This is also a good time to give your gratitude to your porter and trekking crew for their wonderful support and to bid them farewell. Dinner at the hotel in included.Meals: BLD
Hotel: YMH Lukla
Day 9: Fly back to Kathmandu
Wave goodbye to the Himalaya on a short, but spectacular flight back to Kathmandu! In clear weather this can be one of the highlights of your tour, with amazing views of the surrounding mountains.On arrival in Kathmandu we’ll transfer to Gokarna Resort. Then you’ve free time to relax or head into the city. We find most people want to simply unwind and enjoy the hotel facilities – whatever you choose, we’ll help!
Meals: B
Hotel: Gokarna Forest Resort
Day 10: In Kathmandu with half day sightseeing tour
After enjoying a leisurely breakfast at the hotel, we’ll be met by our guide for our day trip to a few of the Kathmandu valley’s most spectacular and important sights and some vibrant, colourful markets.With a meld of three ancient capitals and their associated palaces, temples and markets of Kathmandu has a lot to offer culturally and historically. However, we’re mindful not to overload you on your first day so will ensure the day has a good balance between sightseeing, exploring and relaxation time.
The exact itinerary may change depending on the local conditions but we shall most likely visit:
- Pashupatinath, one of the most important temples in South Asia to the Hindu God, Lord Shiva.
- One of the three Durbar (Palace) Squares , a complex of palaces and temples which was formally the social, religious and administrative focal point of the ancient city.
- Boudhananath Stupa, a wonderful Buddhist site centred on a huge Stupa topped with the all-seeing eyes. If possible we’ll come here in the early evening to soak up the atmosphere of hundreds of Tibetan and Sherpa peoples walking their devotional khora.
Meals: BLD
Hotel: Gokarna Forest Resort
Day 11: International Departure
Final departure depending on your flight schedules.Essential Info
Visa
Most nationalities require a visa for Nepal, which can be obtained in advance or on entry. If you wish to apply before departure the current visa cost is £20 for a 15 day visa and £35 for a 30 day visa for UK passport holders. The current cost of a visa on arrival is US $25 for 15 days, US $40 for 30 days or if extending your stay $100 for 90 days. All are multiple entry. The visa on arrival fee can be paid for in cash in US Dollars, Pounds Sterling or Euros. You will also need a passport photo. Application forms are available in the immigration hall (or for electronic passports there are visa registration machines which, after inserting your passport, automatically fill out a form for you). You must firstly join the queue to pay the visa fee, and then go to the relevant immigration desk to obtain your 15, 30 or 90 day visa stamp. There can be long queues for visas on arrival.Non UK nationals should check requirements with their nearest embassy (a few nationalities are not permitted visas on arrival).
Vaccinations
There are no mandatory vaccination requirements. Recommended vaccinations are: Polio, Tetanus, Diphtheria, Typhoid, Hepatitis A. The risk of malaria is present in certain regions only (such as Chitwan); you may wish to consult your GP or travel health clinic for further advice. Dengue fever is a known risk in places visited. It is a tropical viral disease spread by daytime biting mosquitoes. There is currently no vaccine or prophylaxis available for Dengue, and therefore the best form of prevention is to avoid being bitten. We recommend you take the usual precautions to avoid mosquito bites. Most of our trips to Nepal go to high altitudes where there is a risk of being affected by Acute Mountain Sickness. Our itineraries are designed to enable everyone to acclimatise to these altitudes, but you should be aware that it is still possible for you to be affected. Please refer to the TRIP NOTES for complete advice on AMS.Eating & Drinking
Breakfast is included throughout the trip and all meals are provided while camping (all breakfasts, 3 lunches and 2 dinners).Breakfast is included throughout the trip and all meals are provided while camping. On trek the breakfast will be a set menu usually consisting of porridge and toast. Any additional items that are not included in the set menu should be ordered and paid for separately. We do not include lunch and dinner in the tea-houses, allowing you to choose what you want to eat and when. Although most lodges have almost identical menus, they are reasonably extensive and offer a varied selection, ranging from traditional Nepalese dal bhat to pizza and apple pie.
Although meat is available in the tea houses, we advise against eating it on trek. The meat has often been carried in the heat from lower altitudes for several days before reaching the lodges, and can cause stomach upsets or illness. Germs can also be spread by handling dirty money - we recommend using hand sanitiser.
If you buy imported food and drink whilst on trek you will spend more than the suggested amount.
Drinking Water
Staying hydrated is important when undertaking any physical activity but particularly so at altitude where it is generally recommended to drink at least 3-4 litres per person per day.
We strongly encourage you not to buy bottled water on trek as this contributes to the growing problem of plastic pollution in Nepal’s trekking areas.
All tea houses will provide cold water free of charge, if requested. Although this should not be drunk untreated, we recommend that you bring a reusable bottle with a wide opening (Nalgene or similar) with you and use a SteriPEN to treat it with. A SteriPEN is a handheld UV water purifier – small, lightweight and battery powered so easy to pack for a trek. In Nepal’s trekking regions most of the bottled water isn’t strictly ‘mineral water’ anyway but is UV treated, so it’s exactly the same technology. It’s quick to use, far more effective than purification tablets, and the water is ready immediately. It’s fine to use a SteriPEN on non-boiled water so long as it isn’t cloudy or full of sediment (which is uncommon in these regions).
SteriPENs are widely stocked on Amazon, outdoor shops and other online retailers; look for the latest models but avoid USB charging ones. Better still, a SteriPEN will pay for itself over the course of the trek and you won’t leave behind a single plastic bottle – you will end up spending the same or even less than you would on bottled water, plus you can keep it for future trips.
If you prefer not to invest in a SteriPEN, the tea houses also sell boiled water for approx. Rs150-300 per litre (the price increases the higher you trek) which should not require treating. This is also perfect for a bedtime refill as it can double up as a hot water bottle.
While camping boiled water is supplied for drinking.
Weather
The main trekking season in Nepal is from October to mid-May when daytime temperatures at most altitudes are generally comfortable for walking, the sky is clear much of the time and rain and snow are occasional occurrences. Daytime temperatures will vary from 15ºC to 35ºC in the Kathmandu Valley to around 10ºC at 3,600m and progressively lower the higher we go.Different seasons offer different advantages for trekking.
Post Monsoon/autumn: Mid-September to November. This is the main trekking season in Nepal. Day temperatures in Kathmandu are approximately above 20ºC. Skies are usually clear and days on trek are sunny and mild with clear mountain views. At the highest altitudes although the days can be nice and sunny the temperatures can drop to 10ºC and much lower. Nights will be colder with temperatures dropping as low as minus 10ºC and lower at the highest altitudes.
Pre-monsoon/spring: March to May. Both day and night temperatures will be warmer in general but haze will often build up in the afternoons. It is very hot in the lowlands and temperatures rise to 35ºC in Kathmandu. Flowers bloom in this season and this is one of the reasons people chose to trek in spring.
Snow can be expected on any departure, usually at the higher altitudes. Summit day will be a very early start (usually about 2am) and will be extremely cold. Although mostly it is calm and clear on summit day the mountain does occasionally get high winds. You need to be equipped for temperatures as low as minus 25ºC plus wind chill on summit day.
Please remember that in any mountain area the weather is never wholly predictable and you should be prepared and equipped to deal with any differences in weather beyond the conditions described above.
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Let us know which trip you would like to join. For trips that require a certain level of skills and prior experience, we will ask you to provide us with details so that we know the trip is the right one for you.We will send you a form for you to complete your personal details, medical and fitness information. We will also send you our bank details for you to make payment – we will tell you how much and how to pay.
When you are ready, simply complete the form and send it back to us and let us know once you have deposited the relevant funds into our bank account.
We will send you back a written acknowledgement and other information about your trip such as a gear list and any other relevant information specific to your trip.
Of course, at any time leading up to your trip, if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us as we will want to give you as much information as you need so that you can feel comfortable and excited about your forthcoming adventure.
We look forward to having you on an adventure with us!