Trip Itinerary
DAY 1 – ARRIVAL IN KATHMANDU (elev. 1350 m/4,429 ft.)
DAY 2 – SIGHTSEEING IN KATHMANDU VALLEY
DAY 3 – TRAVEL TO SYABRU BESI (elev. 1550 m/5,085 ft.)
DAY 4 – TREK TO LAMA HOTEL (elev. 2380 m/7,808 ft.)
DAY 5 – TREK TO LANGTANG VILLAGE (elev. 3430 m/11,254 ft.)
DAY 6 – TREK TO KYANJIN GOMPA (elev. 3730 m/12,238 ft.)
DAY 7 – ACCLIMATIZATION DAY
DAY 8 – TREK TO LAMA HOTEL (elev. 2380 m/7,808 ft.)
DAY 9 – TREK TO THULO SYABRU (elev. 2210 m/7,349 ft.)
DAY 10 – TREK TO SHIN GOMPA (elev. 3330 m/10,925 ft.)
DAY 11 – TREK TO GOSAIKUNDA (elev. 4460 m/14,633 ft.)
DAY 12 – TREK TO GOPTE (elev. 3440 m/11,286 ft.)
DAY 13 – TREK TO MALEMBHIGAON (elev. 2560 m/8,399 ft.)
DAY 14 – TREK TO TARKE GYANG (elev. 2590 m/8,497 ft.)
DAY 15 – TREK TO SERMATHANG (elev. 2610 m/8,563 ft.)
DAY 16 – TREK TO MELAMCHI PUL BAZAR, DRIVE TO KATHMANDU
DAY 17 – DEPARTURE
Detail Itinerary
DAY 1 – ARRIVAL IN KATHMANDU (elev. 1350 m/4,429 ft.)
Arrive with a feeling of excitement as you deplane here at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu. It doesn’t take long to pass through passport control and to get your baggage. Once you are out the door, you see a sign with your name on it. It’s your friends from mountain path with a private car to take you to your hotel where you can rest and relax in the evening from your long flight to the magical land of Nepal.
DAY 2 – SIGHTSEEING IN KATHMANDU VALLEY
Your city guide from Mountain path teams arrives to take you on a private tour of the Kathmandu Valley. The Valley is big: 570 km2 (220 mi2). Within the green mountains that surround it are many villages along with some major cities including Kathmandu. There are seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites within the Valley. We will have time to visit just four of them. You get to pick the ones that interest you the most. Choose from ancient cities, amazing temples or royal palaces from times gone by. You travel with city guide and private car. In the evening, enjoy a welcome dinner with traditional Nepali cuisine as well as a Nepali cultural program with your friends at Summit International Travel & Tours. Most travel companies hold the welcome dinner the first night when visitors are tired from the long flight and unable to enjoy the program. We know that the flight is tiring, so we wait until the second night when you are fully rested and can enjoy it to the fullest. Get a good night’s sleep because tomorrow the real adventure begins.
DAY 3 – TRAVEL TO SYABRU BESI (elev. 1550 m/5,085 ft.)
Today is a journey northwards from Kathmandu as we make our way to the village of Syabru Besi. Situated on the west side of the mighty Trisuli River, it is a pretty village, nestled in a lovely valley. The journey here takes us along the new route to Tibet. There are wonderfully scenic villages as we follow over the Trisuli River to reach our destination. It takes around seven hours to reach Syabru Besi where we spend the night at a good hotel with great food.
DAY 4 – TREK TO LAMA HOTEL (elev. 2380 m/7,808 ft.)
The trek begins today as we cross the Trisuli River and make our way along the Langtang Khola (river) which drains the beautiful Langtang Valley. The journey today will travel through dense forests. We cross several suspension bridges that pass above cold, fast flowing glacial fed waters. We make our way upwards as we reach the Lama Hotel where we spend the night. Lama Hotel is actually several local lodges that cater to trekkers. We choose one of them to spend the night. Trekking time is around 5 – 6 hours.
DAY 5 – TREK TO LANGTANG VILLAGE (elev. 3430 m/11,254 ft.)
It’s a day of climbing upwards to reach the beautiful village of Langtang. This village was destroyed the by great 2015 earthquake. Today it is being rebuilt by the residents with a great deal of pride. We climb above the tree line which gives us some really fine views of the snow capped peaks of the Langtang region. This place has been called The Switzerland of Nepal because of its incredible beauty. The Langtang Valley is wonderful to behold with its terraced farms and snow capped mountains. We spend the night here at Langtang Village after trekking for around 5 – 6 hours.
DAY 6 – TREK TO KYANJIN GOMPA (elev. 3730 m/12,238 ft.)
It’s a shorter day of trekking as we make our way to the tiny village of Kyanjin Gompa where we will spend two nights. Gompa means “monastery” and there is a wonderful Buddhist monastery here in Kyanjin Gompa. We stay at a small guest house here. Trekking time is 3 – 4 hours.
DAY 7 – ACCLIMATIZATION DAY
We’ve reached some high elevations, and it is necessary to allow our bodies to adjust to the thinner mountain air. Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) is a real problem and can be life threatening at high elevations if not properly managed. Fortunately, the best way to avoid it is simply to allow your body 24 hours to adjust. We spend a second night here in Kyanjin Gompa. We don’t just sit around, but take a short hike to the top of Tsergo-Ri, a trekking mountain that rises to an elevation of 4,985 m/16,355 ft. From up here, we have the most superb 360° view of the Langtang Mountain Range. We will spend around 7 hours walking up the mountain and back, returning to our guest house for the night.
DAY 8 – TREK TO LAMA HOTEL (elev. 2380 m/7,808 ft.)
To continue our trek in the Langtang/Gosainkunda region, we need to return to Lama Hotel. We travel back to Lama Hotel , taking about 5 – 6 hours to reach.
DAY 9 – TREK TO THULO SYABRU (elev. 2210 m/7,349 ft.)
We trek today through dense forests as we make our way to new trail that takes us to the Gosainkunda region. We find a new trail around lunch time at the village of Pairo. There are some wonderful mountain views along the way as we make our way to our guest house at Thulo Syabru. It’s around 5 – 6 hours of trekking.
DAY 10 – TREK TO SHIN GOMPA (elev. 3330 m/10,925 ft.)
The trail takes a sharp upturn as we trek to Shin Gompa. We move through dense forests that open up and allow us great views of the snow capped peaks. The air smells so fresh and clean up here, especially as we breath in the perfumed pine scent. This place is known not only for its monastery, but also its yak cheese factory. Yak cheese is delicious and only found here in Nepal at high elevations. Yaks don’t like warm weather so they prefer the high mountains for their homes. Shaggy and big, they are often seen carrying large loads. Their milk is very tasty, and makes for the finest of cheeses. We spend the night at Shin Gompa. Trekking time is around 5 – 6 hours.
DAY 11 – TREK TO GOSAIKUNDA (elev. 4460 m/14,633 ft.)
The Gosainkunda Lakes is a high elevation area. We pass in and out of forests. As you pass through forests, keep your eyes open for the illusive, yet playful red panda. This is their territory and these mammals are a delight to see. They look like red raccoons and are very playful. They are shy creatures, so watch for them! We will have time to explore some of the 108 mountain lakes, including the main lake with its temple. Every August, Hindus come and hold a special pooja (worship) and festival here. We will stay at a local lodge where we can enjoy the beauty of the lakes. Trekking time is 7 – 8 hours.
DAY 12 – TREK TO GOPTE (elev. 3440 m/11,286 ft.)
This day is truly challenging as we need to cross the high mountain pass of Laurebina La (elev. 4,609 m/15,121 ft.). This is a real challenge as you make your way upwards. Once you reach the pass with its Buddhist prayer flags fluttering in the ever present breeze, you will stand in awe of the incredible mountain vista. Everywhere you look will be the mighty snow capped peaks of the Himalayas! The incredible beauty will quickly make you forget the climb upwards along the trail. We admire the view, take pictures and then its downhill to reach the village of Gopte to spend the night. It is a longer day, taking between 6 – 8 hours to reach Gopte.
DAY 13 – TREK TO MALEMBHIGAON (elev. 2560 m/8,399 ft.)
It’s another long day of trekking as we drop in elevation into dense forests of oak, pine and rhododendron. If you trek this in March and April, you will find the rhododendrons in full bloom. Along the way are places where we can see the Jugal Mountains in all their glory. Our journey will take us to the Melamchi River and finally to the village of Malemchigaon. Trekking time is 6 – 7 hours.
DAY 14 – TREK TO TARKE GYANG (elev. 2590 m/8,497 ft.)
Malemchigaon is the gateway to the scenic Helambu region. We enter it today where we encounter stone villages of the Sherpa people. These villages are very compact as we spend the night at Tarke Gyang. Trekking time is between 5 – 7 hours.
DAY 15 – TREK TO SERMATHANG (elev. 2610 m/8,563 ft.)
We may not be in high elevation, but we are definitely above the Helambu Valley with its beautiful scenery. This is Sherpa country. The people here practice a different form of Buddhism known as Drukpa Kagyu Buddhism. This is the national religion of Bhutan to the east of Nepal. Their monasteries will reflect the unique difference only found here in the Helambu region of Nepal. We will tour some of these monasteries. Our destination is the village of Sermathang, taking us around 3 – 5 hours to reach there.
DAY 16 – TREK TO MELAMCHI PUL BAZAR, DRIVE TO KATHMANDU
It’s our final day of trekking as we make our way to Melamchi Pul Bazar. It is here that the road ends and we find a vehicle to take us back to Kathmandu. We trek for 3 – 4 hours, then it's about a two hour ride back to Kathmandu. We check into a three star hotel where we can get a hot shower as well as a good bed for the night. Before bedtime, we will have a victory dinner celebration with your guide and porters and friends from Summit International Travels & Tours. Enjoy the final night with your Nepali friends!
DAY 17 – DEPARTURE
Approximately three hours before your flight, you will be transferred to the airport by Mountain path Teams representatives, and then you will depart, hopefully with wonderful memories of the trip to Nepal.
Trip Facts
Country: Nepal
Area: Everest Trekking
Activities: Trekking and sightseeing
Accommodation: Lodge
Starting and ending points: Lukla / Lukla
Maximum altitude: 5545 meters
Duration of the trip: 16 Days
Grade: Streneous
Group size: 1 - 12 packs
Best season: October - December and March - May