Arun Valley to Everest Base Camp Trek - 22 days

You arrive in the lively capital city of Nepal, Kathmandu. The sights of snow-capped mountains surrounding the green hills and valley look mesmerizing as you land in the Tribhuvan International Airport. After completing the customs and checks, head to the terminal where our representatives from Third Rock Adventures are waiting for your arrival.

You will be transferred to your hotel based in the tourist hub of the city, Thamel. After relaxing at your hotel, you can either visit our office located nearby or stroll around the streets of Thamel to enjoy the evening market. Enjoy the welcome dinner with authentic Nepali dishes and drinks.

Overnight stay at a hotel in Kathmandu.

After having breakfast, you have a cultural sightseeing tour planned for the day, along with some trip preparation in between. Kathmandu is a treasure trove filled with rich heritage and ancient history safeguarded in the form of temples, shrines, palaces, most of which fall under the UNESCO World Heritage Site list. First, we will guide you to the Kathmandu Durbar Square situated near Thamel, in Basantapur/Freak Street. Its courtyard is known for the ancient Shah dynasty palace, which was transformed into a museum. You also come across many shrines and temples with intriguing statues of deities.

From there, drive to Swayambhunath stupa, located atop a hill of the city's western outskirts, to witness a wide-angle view of the city. Alternatively, you can visit Boudhanath Stupa, one of the biggest dome stupas globally, located in the city's northeast. Then the tour proceeds to Pashupatinath temple, one of the holiest Hindu temples in the world.

Also, on this day, as advised and assisted by your guide, you will collect the required permits and complete the documentation during the day. Also, hire or buy any trekking equipment or clothing as required.

Overnight stay at a hotel in Kathmandu.

Head to the domestic terminal of the airport for a flight to Tumlingtar city in eastern Nepal. The flight is short and scenic, with the views of the Arun river seen from above. Tumlingtar is the entrance to the Makalu region and serves as a starting point for some Everest region trekking trails. Upon reaching the city, the trek begins towards Chewabesi.

Chamlang and Makalu peaks are visible along the trail you share with locals and mules carrying cardamom for trade-in nearby towns. Cross a narrow suspension bridge over the Arun River. The area is predominantly inhabited by the Kumal tribe, along with a few Bahun, Chettri, and Rai settlements living harmoniously. Following the river bed, traverse along with the terraced farms, villages, and small huts to reach Chewabesi for the night stop. Have lunch and interact with the locals residing in the area.

Overnight stay in Chewabesi.

Enjoy breakfast, then start the initial phase of your day by trekking to Balwa Besi village. Continue trekking to a forested area with cash and food crops like cardamom, banana, and papaya grown along the way. There are a couple of 'chutara' (rest-stops) at a distance along the route, so if you are tired, you can rest there. From the viewpoint of high boulders, you can see the Arun River cutting the valley in between, flowing swiftly.

After having lunch at a stop, continue with the climb to a small hamlet, Marduwa. There are many small settlements with mud-brick houses and terraced fields. In a short while, you will reach an intersection of an old trail that went from Dingle. You will head to the wider trail near a group of banyan trees. Take an ascent in the thickening forest followed by an eventual descent to Irkhuwa River. Before reaching Gothe Bazar, the route follows a riverside trail after crossing a couple of bridges.

Goethe Bazaar is a lovely settlement inhabited primarily by the Gurung and Rai community, who sustain crop production. After settling down, you can head out to interact with the people and witness their unique dress, language, and traditions.

Overnight stay in Gothe Bazaar.

Leaving Gothe, initiate the trek along the bank of Benkhuwa Khola, passing through rice paddy fields. Locals have grown citrus fruits and banana groves in the area as well. Continue to the easy trail and cross a bridge. Heading to the north river bank, you will come across a paper factory that produces Nepali paper from a locally grown Lokta plant. Crops are a vital source of income to the Rai and Sherpa settlement living in the area. In a short while, you arrive at Dobhane.

Overnight stay in Dobhane.

Take a nice walk passing the rice terrace fields and the small settlements into the subtropical forested trail. Continue your walk to Tendo village, where you find a school and a wide flat land used by many as a campsite. The track is generally flat, with occasional descents to the riverside. Passing the tallo Phedi villages clustered with slate-roofed houses head to the south bank for the strong river following the Irkhuwa valley. After crossing a bamboo bridge, pass Sanu Khola to reach Salpa Phedi.

The Rai community inhabits Salpa with a couple of guesthouses and campsites. After settling down, visit the nearby stupa and gompa.

Overnight stay in Salpa Phedi.

Starting with a steep descent from Salpa Phedi, the trail reaches the confluence of Irkhuwa and Sanu Khola river. The beautiful landscape changes as you ascend to higher elevations. Walking past the rhododendron forest, you go to Thulophokte, a Sherpa settlement with a couple of lodges and a campsite. Visit the small Chochen gompa of the Gelugpa sect, built a long time ago. There are many beautiful Mani walls along the way with Buddhist prayers and drawings carved on them.

With a few more steps, you reach Salpa pass, which brings you to Solukhumbu. There are good views of Mt. Dudh Kunda (6,465m) and Makalu from the top of the pass. Some tourists go to the nearby Salpa Lake (3,414m) and the Shilicho viewpoint. From the pass, it is a 2-hour descent to Sherpa village called Sanam. From there, the trail passes the rhododendron forest towards Siare, a small settlement. Taking a left to descend, you will eventually reach Gudel.

Gudel is a big village mainly inhabited by the Kulung tribe. From here, you can see views of the mesmerizing Mt. Chamlang (7,319m/24,012ft) and Mera Peak (6,476m/21,247 ft).

Overnight stay in Gudel.

The initial leg of the trek stretches across a bridge passing the Hinku river, which flows from Mera Peak. Continuing ahead, you reach Bung village, which lies 54km south of Mt. Everest, bordering the Hunku Drangka in the east. It is primarily inhabited by the Rai community known best for growing rice in this fertile land. Passing through the farmlands and small settlements, you will reach Khairaule village. You pass a school and an iron bridge to a small trail up the hill. Walkthrough stone steps leading to a beautiful rhododendron forest. You come across a small stupa with some mani walls along the route, then continue to Charikot. The trail to the northeast from here will take you to Panch Pokhari, five beautiful mountain lakes. However, we take the western course leading to Surkie La Pass.

Colorful prayer flags and wonderful mani walls welcome you to the top of the pass. After enjoying the distant mountain views, take a descent down a steep path through the rhododendron-clad forest into a yak grazing pasture called Gai Kharka.

Overnight stay at Gai Kharka.

Today's trail in the Hinku Valley takes you towards Dudh Koshi River Valley. There are a lot of Ascends and descents continuing to the Hinku Khola River. Trek to the north and cross the Pangmum La pass, which is a relatively easy climb. After enjoying the views of Kusum Kanguru and Mera Peak, proceed on to Kharte.

Overnight stay in Kharte.

You will enter the Dudh Koshi valley as you head towards Phakding village on this day. Along the way, you witness your first view of the snow-capped peaks such as Khumbila, Sherpa, Gyachen Kang, and Kusum Kangaru. Descending along the main Jiri trail, you move to Puiyan village. Puiyan, a small yet beautiful settlement on the foot of a towering hill, is the gateway to the Mera Peak trek.

Leaving Puiyan, follow the Dudh Koshi river towards Chauri Kharka before ascending to a high waterfall. Chauri Kharka is also regarded as the breadbasket of the Khumbu region as the grounds are fertile enough to grow food crops like barley, wheat, and green vegetables. The route eventually joins Phakding. Walking on the stone steps, passing mani walls, you head to a tea house for the night.

Overnight stay in Phakding.

Early in the morning, walking beside the Dudh Koshi River passes by a scenic pine forest towards a small village of Benkar. Witness the views of Thamserku peak towering above the valley. Walk along a long suspension bridge shared with donkeys and mules carrying a heavy load for trade. 

Continue to the village of Monjo while enjoying views of Khumbila peak. Monjo is a gateway to the Sagarmatha National Park; hence, you must show your permits and documents and purchase an entrance ticket at the Monjo checkpoint. Here, take a descent to the river crossing a suspension bridge towards Jorsale village from where Mt. Everest is visible at a distance.

After lunching at Jorsale, the trek stretches to a steep forested area until you reach the confluence of the Bhote Koshi and Dudh Koshi rivers. Before reaching Namche Bazaar, the trail climbs to Tope Danda, a vantage point from where an expansive view of Namche town is visible. Upon reaching Namche Bazaar, head to a tea house, take some rest, and drink local butter tea.

Overnight stay in Namche Bazaar. 

Namche Bazaar is the busiest and the liveliest town in the Khumbu region as it is the commercial hub and starting point of many Everest region treks. On Saturday's Namche is filled with locals and traders from nearby villages who come to sell and buy various products. There are many ATMs, Cybercafes, shops, bakeries, and restaurants in the area. You can get yourself a decent pizza and espresso, which you might be craving.

On your first acclimatization day after the long trek, have a lovely breakfast in the morning, then opt for a hike to the nearby noteworthy areas. Visit the famous Khunde Hospital, set up by Sir Edmund Hillary. Explore the Namche Monastery to understand the Buddhist heritage and hike to Everest View Hotel for up-close views of Mt. Ama Dablam and Mt. Everest, a famous viewpoint. 

Overnight stay in Namche Bazaar.

Leaving Namche Bazaar, take the northern trail towards Tengboche village. Walking on the sandy Dudh Koshi river trail, you come across an inclination and walk past a flight of stone steps. Today, throughout the route, observe the mesmerizing views of Mt. Everest, Lhotse, Mt. Ama Dablam, and Nuptse, some of the highest peaks in the world.

Continue walking into a plush forest towards a suspension bridge over the Phunki Tenga river, passing a rocky trail. Along the zig-zag path, you may witness the beautiful Himalayan Griffons nesting in the high cliffs above. A steep rocky route along the rhododendron-clad forest will take you to an Army checkpoint. Tourists in the past have encountered rare musk deer and blood pheasant in the trial. Taking a steep climb from there, you will reach the village of Tengboche.

Upon arrival, you can settle down, then drop your belongings at a tea house and head to visit the Tengboche Monastery. The monastery is renowned for being the largest in the Khumbu region. As you near the monastery, your eyes immediately catch the breathtaking views of Ama Dablam towering behind it. Locally known as Dawa Choling Gompa, the buildings of the Tengboche monastery occupies a large vicinity. Explore the paintings, statues, shrines, stupas, mani walls, and prayer wheels in and outside the buildings. A visit to the monastery offers a precise depiction of the ancient architecture and heritage of the Buddhist religion and Sherpa community. Return to your tea house in the village.

Overnight stay in Tengboche.

Leaving behind the amazing Tengboche village, head to a higher elevation passing the Milingo nunnery, home to the local nuns in and across the area. Crossing the trail to the amazing Imja Khola gorge, you will eventually reach Pangboche village. Many mountain goats/rams climb on rugged cliff terrain to find food.

Pangboche is yet another significant village in the area because of the Pangboche Monastery, the oldest monastery in the Khumbu region. Tourists and local pilgrims come to visit this particular monastery as well. Continue to the Lobuche river trail proceeding to Sombare village. From there, Dingboche is a couple of hours away. You will see a sudden change in the climate, so make sure to cover yourself during the windy evening and night.

Overnight stay in Dingboche.

You need to take an acclimatization day at Dingboche to cope with the increasing altitude and decreasing air pressure. It is best if you take some rest then opt for a hike to a nearby viewpoint. After having some late breakfast, carry your small day pack and head to Nagarjun hill crossing the 5,000m mark.

It is a short hike up to the hill, starting with a steep climb on non-technical sections with loose rocks. Take smaller steps and follow your guide. In a short while, you will reach Nagarjun Hill, which is known locally as Nankartshang, named after a Buddhist hermit. Among the many amazing sights seen from the top, Mt. Ama Dablam and Imja glacier are the most significant. After taking some clips and enjoying the views, head back to Dingboche and take a rest.

Overnight stay in Dingboche.

Start the trek by heading to the foot of the Khumbu Glacier, which falls in the Lhotse-Nuptse ridge. It is the highest glacier in the world and the largest in Nepal. Continue to Dugla village for lunch. From there, you take the steep zig-zag climb to Thukla Pass. It is known best for hosting memorial stupas in honor of the brave mountaineers who had lost their lives in their expectations of Everest. One among the memorial stones is alpinist Scott Fischer and his team members who lost their lives in the 1996 climb. This ill-fated expedition has been turned into a highly revered movie titled 'Everest.'

The adventurous trek never ceases to excite you as you move to one of the highest elevated small Sherpa settlements in the world. There are many lodges and tea houses to house tourists who stop here during their Everest trek or expeditions.

Overnight stay in Lobuche.

Leaving behind Lobuche, the trail proceeds to Gorak Shep. As a long trek followed by a hike to the much-awaited Everest Base Camp, you will begin the trek even before dawn. Making your way to Gorak Shep, take small steps as the temperature keeps dropping, and the trail gets tougher. During the 1952 Swiss Expedition, Gorak Shep was the original base camp for Everest. However, to make the trial a little easier, the base camp was shifted near Everest, giving birth to Everest Base Camp.

Leave your belongings in the tea house, carry only the essentials, and head on a hike to Everest Base Camp (5,364m/17,594ft). After walking an hour and a half in the rugged terrain with loose stones, gravel, and icy slopes, you reach Everest Base Camp! It is one of the most intriguing days of the entire Arun Valley to Everest Base Camp trek.

The welcoming views of the 8,000m mountains of the Khumbu region will wash away all of the tiredness. Note that you cannot see the top of Mt. Everest from the base camp, but the dramatic views of the Khumbu glacier and Khumbu Icefall are visible. After the amazing experience, a ton of photos, retrace your steps back to your tea house in Gorak Shep. The trail may be slippery due to all the snow, so be mindful when you take small steps.

Overnight stay in Gorak Shep.

On this day, you will hike to Kala Patthar viewpoint, the highest point of this trek at 5,550m/18,209ft. One does not simply complete the Everest Base Camp trek without hiking to Kala Patthar's viewpoint. The reason might be to enjoy the top of Mt. Everest and the surrounding high mountains. Watch your step along the rocky terrain as you reach the viewpoint. Kala Patthar is translated to 'black rock' as it is a ridge sitting on the southern edge of Pumori peak.

The peak of the highest mountain in the world, Mt. Everest (8,848.86m/29,031.7ft), is seen clearly from here. Moreover the 360 degrees view of the surrounding gigantic mountains like Cho Oyu (8,188m/26,864ft), Nuptse (7,861m/25,791ft), Lhotse (8,516m/27,940ft), Changtse (7,543m/24,747ft), Pumori (7,161m/23,494ft) and more add beauty to the hike.

Take some pictures, enjoy the moment, then retrace your steps to Gorak Shep. Gather your belongings and trek towards Pheriche village. The trek in the downhill trail is more accessible as the altitude drops. Pheriche village is predominantly known for farming potatoes and buckwheat, which the locals grow most times of the year.

Overnight stay in Pheriche.

Following the Imja river towards Tengboche, you will bid goodbye to the amazing views of Ama Dablam, Cho You, and Mt. Everest. The trek is easier and much faster than the other days. Continue your walk after lunch towards Namche Bazaar. After a long hike in the icy Everest region, you can enjoy a warm bath at your tea house in Namche. Also, enjoy the cafe and bakery goods.

Overnight stay in Namche Bazaar.

Leaving Namche Bazaar, take a trek along the Dudh Koshi riverside to Jorsale village. The views of Mt. Everest become more distant as the trail proceeds to Phakding village. Walking on the stone steps towards a lush green forest, you will eventually reach Pasang Lhamu Memorial Gate, the entrance to Lukla.

Lukla is a small yet commercially significant town in Khumbu known for having a small airport, a gateway for tourists to explore the Everest region. There are numerous tea houses among settlements, providing essential to standard facilities. Enjoy your last day in Khumbu by interacting with locals, having locally brewed drinks, and enjoying authentic delicacies.

Overnight stay in Lukla.

After having breakfast, have a final glance at the amazing Khumbu region and bid farewell to the friendly locals as you board a flight to Kathmandu from Tenzing Hillary Airstrip. The flight is thrilling as it takes off, offering views of mountains. Upon landing in Kathmandu, our team will transfer you to your hotel in Thamel.

Most tourists generally prefer strolling around the streets of Thamel looking for souvenirs like Dhaka cap, Pashmina Shawls, Thangka paintings, and more to take back home. 

Overnight stay at a hotel in Kathmandu.

Our representatives will drop you off at the Tribhuvan International Airport after breakfast on your final day in Nepal. After bidding a farewell with a heavy heart, you board a flight home. You will remember the wonderful trek from the lush green Arun Valley to the Sherpa settlement in the Khumbu, along with up-close views of the highest mountain in the world.

For a similar adventure in the Everest or other trekking regions of Nepal, please contact us again.