Everest... the roof of the world... The peak, which is like a magnet, attracts the most daring and desperate adventurers. The mother of all mountains, which has seen the deaths and births of history's greatest mountaineers. This is the peak that everyone has heard about and only few have seen with their own eyes.
Trekking to Everest base camp gives you the opportunity to enjoy the views of the world's highest peak and the giants surrounding it for many days in Sagarmatha National Park.
The mountain air and the images of the majestic Himalayas and the buzzing energy of nature are something that will stay with you for the rest of your life.
In addition to the mountain peaks, you will be introduced to the culture, life and religious monuments of one of the most amazing countries in the world – Nepal.
Trekking to Everest will be an unforgettable adventure which will change you and change the world around you!
We also recommend trekking to Everest through Gokyo. It's a little harder, more beautiful and a couple of days longer.
We do not cancel or reschedule groups. If the manager approves the ticket purchase, you can safely buy it. There will be no cancellations through our fault.
The experienced team leaders of KULUAR will accompany the group during the whole trip, they will make your trip as memorable and safe as possible! They have been to Nepal many times and know it in detail.
We have a list of verified lodges and try to book only the best. Where possible, with in-room amenities. In Lobuche, we spend the night at the Pyramid Hotel – with hot showers and unlimited tea. At this altitude, it's really a luxury!
In Kathmandu, we stay in a good hotel, understanding that you will want maximum comfort after the trek.
A team leader or our Nepali partner will pick you up at the airport and take you directly to your hotel. The guide will tell you and show you where to change money, buy souvenirs and equipment, what and where to eat...
The manager, who will consult you before the trip, was in Nepal herself and will tell you the details from personal experience!
Over 12,000 participants have already traveled with Kuluar and 98.7% have been satisfied. We are sure you will be too!
GROUP GATHERING IN KATHMANDU
From the first steps out of the plane, at Tribhuvan airport, you realize that you have entered a completely different world. A world that is strikingly different from everything familiar and Western. It can even be confusing. That is why at the exit of the airport there will be a person with a "Kuluar" flag waiting for you – it can be your guide or our Nepali assistant. Together you drive to a hotel in the heart of Thamel, the tourist district of Kathmandu. A short rest after the road, and go ahead – explore the new world of Nepal, one of the most amazing countries in the world!
In the late afternoon when the group is ready to pack up, our guide will give you a briefing about the trekking route to Everest and the special features of the country, check your gear and answer all your questions. We'll try not to stay up late, because tomorrow we have an early flight to Lukla.
Lukla is the heavenly gateway to Sagarmatha Park. We arrive at the small and one of the most interesting airports in the world, Tenzing-Hillary Airport, named by the first mountaineers to summit Everest back in 1953. Here we are greeted by porters and a local guide. While they share the load, we can have breakfast at one of the lodges.
The first day's trek to Everest base camp is very short, only 8 km. The trail descends smoothly, leading us among thickets of rhododendrons, and soon the first big snowy peak, Kusum Kangaroo (6367 m), will appear. Very beautiful, steep and harsh mountain – here they are, the real Himalayas!
On the way we pass several villages where we can see the simple life of local people. After a couple of hours we arrive in Phakding, another village on the route, almost entirely composed of tourist lodges. Here we spend the night.
In the evening we go to the Buddhist monastery a few hundred meters above, to do puja with all comers.
Dear friends, today we will see Everest for the first time! We walk up the Dudh Kosi River, constantly crossing from bank to bank on the famous suspension bridges – a special attraction. Soon we come to the Hillary Bridge. If you've seen the movie Everest, you'll probably recognize this place. Just beyond the bridge begins a steep climb to Namche Bazaar, in the middle of which there is the Everest observation deck. Yes, the stone giant from this distance does not look huge and the biggest. Another hour and a half of a climb, and we are in the capital of the Sherpas. We check in to the hotel, have a rest and go for a walk to the observation point. It is good for acclimatization.
The altitude is the main difficulty on the trek to Everest. It is important not to hurry up, not to slack off, and to approach acclimatization with maximum responsibility. Every evening the guide of the "Kuluar" club will lead the group to small expeditions, and twice we will have two day-trips, so the organism will get used to the lack of oxygen. Today is the first one. But on the days we do not sit in one place, we go up higher and explore the surroundings.
Just above Namche we will see the peaks of Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse, Ama Dablan, Taboche, Arakamtse, Kongde Ri, Tamserku. A panorama that takes your breath away! We continue our hike to the Everest view hotel and the village of Kumjung, where we will see the Yeti scalp and the Hillary School. If we have the energy and will, we will climb 4000 m up to the Hillary Monument.
We drive up the beautiful and surprisingly flat road to Tyangboche with the best views of Ama Dablan. We pass the stupa of Tenzing Norgei, again recalling shots from "Everest". Look carefully around, there are chances to see wild goats and Himalayan deer. We descend to the Dudh Kosi River, cross the bridge, and here we have a two-hour-long climb. It's not easy, but we can do it!
Thiangboche Monastery is the most revered among the Sherpas in the Sagarmathi (Everest) region, we will stay at a nearby lodge. And in the evening, to make our trek to the top of the world a success, we will go to a puja.
Still admiring thickets of rhododendrons, we continue our trek to Everest base camp. Remember better the greenery of the trees, because today, after the village of Pangboche, we will leave the forest area. The scenery will get more and more ascetic, the vegetation will get lower, and the mountains will get higher and closer. It will take us about 6 hours to get to the fairly large village of Dingboche (4360 m), where we will stay for the next two nights.
We pause on our trek to Everest and become more accustomed to the altitude. We have two choices: to walk to the base camp of Island Peak (6189 m), the most popular trekking peak in Nepal. This time we are not going to climb up, but enjoy the spectacular views from below. The wall of Lhotse (8516 m), which rises for three vertical kilometers right in front of us, will do just that!
The second option is to go to Chukung Ri Peak, which offers unique views of Ama Dablam and the whole valley. We can climb to the altitude of 5070 m, which is good for acclimatization. We recommend this option.
The views become more majestic with every gained meter. We spend the night in a very special place, the Pyramid. It is an Italian science lab that has recently become accessible to regular trekkers. There are hot showers, delicious food, unlimited WI-FI, phone charging, unlimited tea! Just a paradise place at an altitude of 5050 m. For the walk we will go out to the nearest ridge, which offers great views of the Khumbu glacier moraine, Nuptse and Pumori peaks.
The long-awaited day, the high point of the whole trek to Everest! Today we will visit a base camp full of climbers (if in spring) or desert (in fall). Regardless of the season, Everest Base Camp (5335 m) and the Khumbu Icefall make the strongest impression on all participants. It is the furthest point of the route for us, but for the courageous climbers it is just the beginning of the most difficult climb to the top of the world. We return to Gorak Shep for the night and get ready for tomorrow's climb.
We wake up early in the morning because today we have to climb a real Himalayan peak – Kala Pattar, 5648 m. Yes, compared to nearby Pumori (7161 m) and Everest (8848 m) it looks very small, but it is a couple of meters higher than Elbrus! We leave around 4am and meet the sunrise closer to the summit. The disk of the sun appears smoothly from behind the slopes of Everest, illuminating and giving life to the world around. This image will stay with you for the rest of your life!
After the descent we have breakfast, pack our bags and start driving down. Today we will try to go down to Pangboche (3900), a village with coffee, cakes, mobile connection and electricity. If it gets hard, we can stop in Ferich (4200).
Exhausted from the altitude and missing the benefits of civilization, we go down to Namche Bazar. Here we have a real culinary paradise and a nice hot shower! We take a rest, have some cheesecakes and drink real coffee. We can afford to relax a bit, because the main goals of the trek to Everest Base Camp are achieved.
We take the familiar path, winding along the river bank among pine forests, down to Lukla. On the way we cross 6 hinged bridges, which do not cause such excitement and commotion as it was at the beginning of the expedition. And of course that's because we are experienced trekkers!
We pray to the gods for good weather and take the morning flight to Kathmandu. We check in to the hotel, and then it's a free program. Those who want may rest, and those who are not tired may buy exotic souvenirs. Most often from Nepal come singing bowls, statues of Buddha, mandalas, scarves made of pashnina and yak wool, a variety of spices and masala tea. And, of course, everyone buys Nepali hats.
A sightseeing day, it can also be a back-up day in case you don't leave Lukla on time.
We will visit the Swayambunath Monkey Temple located on the top of the hill. In addition to the monkeys, of interest are the many Hindu and Buddhist temple structures all in one place. Also, the hill offers the best views of the entire Kathmandu valley, and in clear weather you can see the snowy peaks in the distance.
After Swayambu we drive to Pashupatinath, the largest temple complex of Hinduism, where the sadhus who have renounced the worldly pleasures reside and are cremated. A lot of people want to be burnt in this place, so we will definitely see this ritual. After seeing enough, we drive to the largest Buddhist stupa in the world – Bodnath. It was destroyed by a massive earthquake in 2015, but has been fully restored. We walk the bark around the stupa and enjoy the purity and power of the place.
Filled with the energy of Nepal and images of the Himalayas, we return home with a lot of impressions. We come home to return to this wonderful country later for another trek or climb.
TRIP TO CHITWAN + 3 DAYS
Additionally, after the trek you have the opportunity to go to Chitwan National Park to ride elephants through the jungle, take narrow boats on the river with crocodiles, see the dancing of the local natives and much more. Allow +3 days for this at the end of the program. Our guide will help you with your tour arrangements. See more about Chitwan in the video:
A manager will advise you on equipment, help you find the best flight, share information on hotels and excursions. You make your own payments and purchases. If you want the manager to buy the ticket for you, it's possible, but for extra money, because it's a big responsibility. More in the article: additional services and service fee.
Depending on weather conditions, condition and general wishes of the group, the guide has the right to make changes to the route.
Visas for 15 days stay in Nepal are taken directly at the border. The cost of the visa is $30. Here you can find detailed instructions on visa application >>. To get a visa, you need only a valid passport, valid for more than 6 months from the date of return flight.
To participate in the hike, you must be free of diseases incompatible with active tourism: the list is here.
After the trek to Everest, we recommend the following routes:
You should buy tickets beforehand, as soon as we confirm your participation in the trek. The cheapest way to fly is with AirArabia and FlyDubai, the flight costs $500-700. Also fly Turkish Airlines, Qatar, etc., with more convenient connections, but ticket prices start at $1000 and higher. Please note that luggage may not be included in the price, and you must order an extra 20 kg at the time of purchase, or take a package at once, including 1 piece of luggage. When you check in at the airport, you may be asked to show your card with which you paid for your tickets – don't forget it!
You need to be in Kathmandu on the first day of the program during the day, time is not important. If you take the morning flight then you will have time to have a rest from the trip, if necessary, go to the market to buy some equipment, change currency. Next day at about 6 am we fly to Lukla.
We recommend taking return tickets for evening flights on the 15th or the next day, as there is a possibility of delays or postponements of domestic flights.
If you plan to visit Chitwan National Park (elephant safari through the jungle, canoeing on the river with crocodiles...), then add +3 days.
After purchasing tickets, send the details of your arrival/departure flights to your manager.
To participate in the program you need a good insurance which is valid up to 6000 m altitude, covers mountain tourism and includes helicopter evacuation. Please do not neglect this point. It has saved some members thousands of dollars. Our insurance recommendations can be found here: "Insurance for Kuluar Hikers"
Cell phone service, 3G, is available on the trek all the way to Pangboche. For some reason, it works poorly in Lukla, but it works well in other places. In Dingboche, Ferich, Dugla, Lobuche there is no connection. In Gorak Shep it comes up again, weak, but it works.
Wi-Fi, Everest link is a system that provides good wi-fi throughout the trek. It is sold by card, they are for 200 mb, cost about 500 rupees respectively. Note: Internet works for 15 hours after activation, there is a link to the device. This is a good option, not very expensive and fast. Namche Bazaar has free wi-fi in the cafés.
Electricity – there is normal only up to Pangboche, further on there are solar panels. Accordingly, the prices for charging will be large, about 1000 rupees per power bank.
Type of power outlets in Nepal
In Kathmandu, we will stay at the Hotel Arts 4*. Standard accommodation in 2-bed rooms.
During the trek, we live in lodges, which are tourist shelters with public showers and toilets (sometimes in the room). Food we order in the same lodge where we live. Rooms are very simple, small, for 2-3 people, not heated. Of furniture, there are often only beds. Beds are made with linens, but it is recommended to take your sleeping bag and sleep in it. Upon request, you can ask the hosts for a blanket. Electricity is available in almost all the lodges, but in the rooms there are rarely outlets.
There are gas showers along the whole route, but the higher you go, the worse it is. Good showers are in Namche Bazaar and Lukla, where we try to stay in rooms with showers in the room.
To better understand the living conditions, we highly recommend watching some examples of lodges from our treks. Click on the name: a nice lodge in Namche Bazar with a shower in the room, a basic lodge in Dole – no shower and with ice in the washbasin, cool rooms at the Eco Resort in Gokyo, a standard lodge in Chukung, a mug of tea after a night in a room in Gorak Shep. Even if you sleep in other localities, the lodges will be about the same level.
On the 8th day of the trek overnight stay is planned in "Pyramid" at an altitude of 5050 m, where you can enjoy comfortable rooms, hot showers, free charging and unlimited tea/coffee, delicious food.
Individual accommodations are possible for the entire program, it costs +$250. Be sure to notify your manager in advance.
The menu in all the lodges is extremely varied (different types of eggs, pasta, soups, potatoes, pizza, rice). An interesting feature is that the same dishes in different lodges can be cooked differently and taste completely different! Food prices increase proportionally with altitude. On average, it will take $15-$25 per day to get a decent meal.
For an example, we recommend looking at some of the most expensive prices on the trek in Gokyo Village, and here's a folder with photos of menus and food from other lodges on the trek to Everest. On the trek to Annapurna, the prices are cheaper, but the procedure is similar.
Let's just say that some people really like Nepalese food, but there are those who "don't" like it. Meat on the trek is usually scarce, you can take some bacon and a sausage stick with you.
Porters are people who carry your things for money. Maximum weight of one porter is 24 kg. The cost of this service is about $20 per day, but you can take one porter for two – it will be two times cheaper! It is not customary to feel sorry for porters, no matter how much they might carry. Nor is it customary to invite them to your table. Porters have their own room in the lodges, where they eat and sleep with their friends. The best thanks on your part would be a tip equal to the porter's daily wage. So prepare an extra $20-30 to tip the porter and the Nepali guide. For more details about the porter's work, you can read our article "Porter on the trek – to take or not to take".
As in other regions of Nepal, there are two seasons for trekking in the Himalayas, spring (mid-March to late May) and fall (mid-October to mid-December). If you go in early spring, you should be prepared for the fact that there is still a lot of snow on the pass and the approaches to the lakes, and the lakes themselves are hidden under the ice. Closer to the middle of April the first lakes will melt, the snow on the trail will remain only on the approach to the base camp. A big plus during this period is the blooming rhododendron forests, which against the background of snow-white mountains create incredible contrasting pictures. In the afternoon in spring the sky is often covered with clouds and at about 3 or 4 o'clock in the afternoon it may rain or snow. But by this time we usually arrive at the boat house. Also, spring is the active season for climbers of Everest and Lhotse, so the sections of the classic trail will be oooh-full of people and cargo animals. But there is an upside to this - April and May are the base camp full of life, with lots of tents and would-be climbers. Autumn is warmer, there are hardly any clouds, the snow is already melted everywhere; base camp is empty.
Most of the trek is at moderate altitudes. Temperatures will be around +20 degrees during the day and can drop to freezing at night. At the highest overnights the temperature can drop to -15 outside, and to 0...-2 in the rooms. Rains are not frequent. Characteristic weather for the mountain regions is clear mornings and cloudy evenings.
The currency of the country is the Nepalese rupee. The exchange rate is approximately 100 rupees to 1 dollar. You can exchange at the hotel reception or at the exchange office, with which we have long had an agreement for a more favorable rate. The teamleader will take you to the right place. It's noteworthy that Nepalis are very careless about paper money - so don't be surprised if you get a bundle of rupees punctured with a stapler - it's quite normal. All expenses en route are in rupees only. Exchange about $500 for them before the trek. Bank cards are only accepted at some points in Kathmandu, so be sure to take cash. Also, there are big restrictions on ATM cash withdrawals and fees are racked up.
You should buy souvenirs at the stalls in Thamel (the tourist district of Kathmandu), not at the sights. Always haggle with Nepalis; sometimes the price can be discounted several times over.
If you want to see the top of the world - Everest from the best angles, want to spend maximum days among the Himalayan mountains, enjoy the scenery on Ama Dablam, Cho Oyu and other beautiful peaks - this program is for you. The high mountain lakes of Gokyo with their incredibly turquoise water make the route especially attractive. Also this trek will be interesting for lovers of climbing to significant heights. We will have three such points: Gokyo Ri (5330 m) and Kalla Pattar (5645 m), as well as Cho La Pass (5367 m). We will have only a couple of days of greenery on the route. We spend most of our time among the majestic giants and Himalayan plateaus. Due to the fact that most of the hikers, porters and yaks follow the classic route, we will hardly meet any people on the trail, which is also a huge plus if you are looking for solitude with nature.
Thanks to the fact that we sleep and eat in lodges, the backpacks along the route will be relatively light. Besides there is always a possibility to rent a porter, and we recommend to all the participants. He will carry the main part of your luggage (up to 12 kg), and you will have small rucksack with warm jacket, water, documents and money. The trek to the Everest base camp via Gokyo Lake is not the easiest. It is desirable to have previous trekking experience or good physical fitness. The best preparation for the trek is running (about 6-8 km 2-3 times a week), squats, cardio exercises, which will not only increase your stamina, but also train your legs for the daily treks. The better your fitness, the easier you'll tolerate altitude, acclimatize, and enjoy the trek and the scenery around you more.
Everyone probably knows that Nepal is famous for extremely cheap travel gear. Well, it really is! You can buy a flicer for $5, a down jacket from $30, trekking poles from $10. But you have to understand that despite the tag - it's not branded equipment, but made somewhere in the local basements. There are stores with the original, but prices are the same as ours. In general, do not necessarily carry a whole pile of equipment from home, most you can buy cheap already on the spot. Tourist stores simply unreal number. Read more about equipment in a separate article =>>.
Total mandatory expenses not included in the price will be about $600-800 (of which airfare Lukla – Kathmandu – Lukla $375) + airfare to Kathmandu.
For $110 you can book a porter (carrying your 12 kg) for the whole trek. For those who have little experience in trekking, we strongly recommend ordering a porter at once and not to spoil the experience of the trek with a heavy backpack.
*Please, pay your attention: it's not the manager's task to choose a flight for each participant. The manager gives general recommendations, based on their experience, and shares the flights of other participants, so you can fly together. It's up to the participant to select and purchase their own convenient airfare. If you want a manager to buy you an air ticket, book a hotel or an additional excursion, read the conditions on the page: additional services.
To reserve your spot in the group, you need to make a $200 prepayment. This money is needed for passes and hotel reservations. Methods of payment and conditions of return in case of refusal or departure from the route here. The rest of the payment you are to give to your guide on the first day of the program.
Dear friends, we kindly ask you to pick up dollar bills of 2003 or newer. Dollars from the 90s are not accepted in many countries, and we sometimes have problems with local partners. Thank you for your understanding and new dollars to all:)
