Kathmandu: The ancient Nepali Kingdom
Kathmandu serves as Nepal's political and cultural capital. Kathmandu is a place where old traditions coexist with the most cutting-edge technology. The travelling eyes may linger on an intricately carved wooden window frame, an 18th-century bronze sculpture, or the spiritually uplifting temple or stupa, but it is the grandeur of the past that enchants them.
Like any big city, Kathmandu has grown rapidly in the last decade, but despite the noise and bustle that comes with big cities, the people remain as kind as ever.
Kathmandu is blessed by a Living Goddess and is embellished by innumerable ceremonial processions and festivals that take to the streets now and then with hordes of followers seeking blessings, all while maintaining its old traditions. These religious celebrations are full of legends and are quite a spectacle, with chariot processions and masked dancers who are frequently possessed by deity spirits.
Make sure to roam around the city and UNESCO declared world heritage sites of the Durbar Squares in Kathmandu, Bhaktapur and Lalitpur; the money temple quite popular as Swyambhu, find peace in Boudhanath Stupa and embark on spirituality at Pashupatinath temple. Wait, there’s more! Explore the local bazaars at Asan and spend the night in the touristic Thamel!
Thamel is also an excellent place to purchase hiking and mountaineering equipment, also travel accessories and souvenirs.
Lukla: Start your Everest Trek!
Lukla is a town in the northeastern part of Nepal, in the Khumbu section of the Solukhumbu District. It is a famous destination for travellers to the Himalayas near Mount Everest located at 2,860 meters (9,383 feet). Although Lukla means “a place with numerous goats and sheep", the region now has only a few goats and sheep.
Because of the large number of trekkers, vacationers, and mountaineers who visit each year, Lukla has evolved into a commercial destination. Consequently, despite its tiny size, the town is buzzing with hikers on their way to EBC.
Lukla has a small airport that serves the region, as well as many tourist and trekker-friendly shops and lodges that serve western-style meals and trail supplies. Lukla airport serves as your entry to the Everest Trekking region. The airport at Lukla is listed among some of the world’s most thrilling airports!
What is it about this flight that makes it so thrilling and fascinating? It is, in fact, the landing strip of Lukla Airport. At 525 meters (1,729 feet), it has one of the world's shortest runways and one of the highest airports at 9,334 feet (2,845 m).
Phakding: Have a First day trekking experience
Phakding is a small village located in Nepal's Khumbu region. It is located at an altitude of 2,610 meters in the Dudh Kosi river valley, about north of Lukla and south of Monjo, and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979.
The Everest Base Camp trek trail begins in Lukla, and Phakding is a first night experience to stay at the mountain and it is popular place for trekkers taking the Gokyo Ri or Tengboche routes to Sagarmatha (Mount Everest). The village's major purpose is to serve the tourism industry, and it contains several guesthouses. Phakding is also a stoppage for the travellers to acclimatize and prepare mentally for their rigorous journey to the base camp.
Namche Bazaar: The Gateway to Everest!
Expeditions to Everest and other Himalayan peaks in the Everest Region start from Namche Bazaar. It has grown into a small, vibrant market town selling anything from Tibetan antiquities to trekking and climbing gears and anything else you might need on your journey. The tourist centre at park headquarters provides thorough information on the Everest region's several climbs, a memento from various mountaineering expeditions and information on the Sherpa lifestyle and culture.
Namche, a historic trading town noted for its handcrafted yak cheese and butter, is a must-visit. It is located nearby an arch-shaped mountain with panoramic views of the Himalayan peaks from all points within the valley. Despite its expansion, Namche Bazaar has been preserving its historical culture, traditions, and real friendliness. There is also a typical pub, Wi-Fi, and a pool table with the usual assortment of motels, restaurants, and equipment stores. Because acclimatization is a gradual process, stopping here for a couple of days to get acclimatized by hiking up and down in the area is a good option.
A visit to Syangboche or many Sherpa settlements such as Thame, Khumjung, and Khunde, which are only a few hour hikes from Namche, are good ways to pass the time while getting acclimatized. You will feel rejuvenated after an acclimatization hike around Namche Bazaar, such as a trek to the Hotel Everest viewpoint. Hiking in the surrounding areas rewards you with panoramic views of mountains such as Mt. Everest, Tawache, Ama Dablam, and the Khumbu Himal.
Every Saturday, Namche hosts a weekly market fair. Traders flock to Namche Bazaar to set up stalls at the weekly market fair. On Saturdays, a variety of things are on show at the market. Traders from Tibet sell a variety of Chinese items.
Lukla is used to transport the remaining food and merchandise of Nepali and Indian origin. Popularized as the Sherpa capital, interacting with them may be something you want to take home as a unique memory.
Syangboche and the hotel you must visit!
Syangboche is a must-visit the village when you are en route to Everest Base Camp. There’s a famous hotel located there: Everest View Hotel. You must have read about this hotel in some other blogs as well. In 2004, the Everest View Hotel set a Guinness Record for the Highest Placed Hotel in the World. Because there is no road, the hotel has its helipad. You can also observe awe-inspiring snow-capped 360-degree mountain views from the hotel. Mt. Everest, Ama Dablam, Khumbu Himal, and Tawache are a few mountain peaks that will leave you mesmerized, and they are all stunning. Syangboche is one of the most visited locations on the Everest Base Camp Trek.
Takashi Miyahara, a Japanese-born Nepalese tourism entrepreneur, envisioned this hotel after seeing the breathtaking splendour of snow-capped peaks such as Everest. Yoshinobu Kumagaya, a Japanese architect built the state-of-the-art hotel. Building the hotel was quite difficult granted that you need to transport a lot of construction materials high up in the Himalayas. The task began in 1960 with the assistance of native Sherpas. Porters and helicopters transported all of the construction materials. The hotel was finally erect in 1971, and the doors were open to the public.
Tengboche: Monasteries, eccentrics and more!
Tengboche, located on a hill across Imja Khola, is the most common night halt after Namche. Nestled on the lap of ancient Khumbila and across the gorgeous Ama Dablam, Tengboche is a magical place to visit.
Tengboche offers a breathtaking vista of the Himalayan peaks, including Tawache, Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse, Ama Dablam, and Thamserku. Tenzing Norgay was born in the village of Thani and was sent to Tengboche Monastery to become a monk. He was the first man to reach the peak of Mount Everest with Sir Edmund Hillary.
Tengboche Monastery is one of Nepal's most well-known monasteries, owing to its unrivalled view of Mt. Ama Dablam. The monastery is a Buddhist stronghold in the Khumbu region with a resident Rinpoche who blesses pilgrims, climbers, and travellers.
Across the gorge from Khunde, the monastery locates on a high ridge. In 1989, a fire destroyed the original Tengboche Monastery and later on reconstructed with a more substantial construction.
Tengboche Monastery holds the vibrant Mani Rimdu festival every October, which accounts for Buddhist celebrations with religious gatherings, singing, ritual dances, and reenactments of famous peoples' lives. Visitors are welcome to join in the festivities, and many trekkers plan their treks around the festival. You can have a tour of the monastery during the afternoon.
Dingboche: Acclimatize and adjust!
Dingboche is a popular stopping point for trekkers and climbers en route to Mount Everest for Everest Base Camp, Ama Dablam, or Imja Tse. You can usually accomplish your acclimatization by spending two nights here.
The majority of Dingboche constitutes lodges and tenting areas relying mainly on tourism. The Imja River runs right through the town to the east.
There is a helicopter landing pad near Moonlight Lodge, just west of the Imja River. Dingboche is home to a satellite-based Internet cafe and also one of the world's tallest billiard parlours.
The kilometres of Mani walls created with stones of various sizes that cover the entire Valley of Imja are one of Dingboche's distinguishing features. These stones are removed to plough the soil, then heaped one on top of the other to form kilometres of walls.
Lobuche: The trail to the wonderland!
Lobuche is a small village in Nepal's Khumbu region near Mount Everest. It is one of the final overnight lodging stations on the "path to base camp," a trek climbers take on their way to Everest Base Camp when attempting an ascent of Everest via the southeastern route. It's also a popular stopping point for local trekkers.
The Lobuche peak is famous for peak climbing. Appreciate adventure sports? Then, this is it. The stunning mountains and natural splendour that you witness from Lobuche will take your breath away and leave you stunned.
Gorakshep: The last hotel stop!
Gorakshep village is located within the Sagarmatha National Park and serves as a hub for Sherpa guides, porters, and tourism businesses. On the Everest route, it is the final stop for lodging. There are no choices for accommodations above the location other than camping in a tent.
Thus, trekkers arriving from Lobuche leave their luggage in Gorakshep guesthouses and hike to EBC. Rather than being a cultural community, Gorakshep is more of a rest point for trekkers. Experience the unsung song of wilderness at Gorakshep while spending the night here!
The natural WONDERS of the Everest Base Camp Trek
Everest Base Camp
The 'Everest Base Camp' is the main attraction of the Everest Base Camp Trek at the end of the day. Being at the Everest Base Camp is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. You're standing in front of the world's tallest mountain peak, surrounded by gorgeous snowcapped peaks.
You're up in the camp, in front of some of the world's tallest mountain peaks. You get a close look at the gorgeous mountain peaks and sense distinct energy surrounding you. There will be other trekkers with you who will experience the same aura as yours in the Himalayas. You can also observe some climbers preparing for the summit.
There will also be some who have recently completed the expedition and are preparing to return to Lukla. When you embark on this trek with your friends or family, it becomes an unforgettable experience that you will remember for the rest of your life. It's a one-of-a-kind experience.
Kalapatthar
Your Everest Base Camp trek may feel incomplete without your short hike to Kalapatthar. So why do you think is Kalapatthar a must-visit place? You'll experience a never-before-seen view of snow-capped, massive mountains that will take your breath away.
As you ascend the grassy slope up the mountain, you'll gradually gain a better perspective of mountain ranges, massive glaciers, and Gorakshep below. Hiking up right below Mt. Pumori is also a unique experience.
You can observe the Kalapatthar summit slightly below Pumori from the lower viewpoint. Along with Mt. Everest, you can also view massive peaks like Pumori, Nuptse, Ama Dablam, Changtse, and Lingtren. The vista of the Khumbu glacier is also a spectacular sight.
Pheriche: Rest your tired souls!
Pheriche is a village in eastern Nepal's Khumbu region. It is quite a popular halt for trekkers and climbers! In Pheriche, a primary hospital is run by the Himalayan Rescue Association (HRA), based in Kathmandu. Pheriche was predominantly a farming community that raised potatoes, buckwheat, and yaks.
However, many of its men are now employed as guides and porters by trekkers throughout the summer. On their route to or back from the Everest Base Camp, trekkers and climbers can stay at a range of lodges. Pheriche is also a crucial acclimatization stopover.
Outfitter Nepal will be there for you at all times to dedicate our services to make your Everest base camp trek one of the most memorable in 2022. Let us know if you have any reservations, suspicions, or questions in the comments area below or keep in touch directly.
So, what's keeping you from making the trek to Everest base camp in 2022? When nature provides you with such a dreamy real-life fairy tale aesthetics! Trek with Outfitter Nepal and return home with loads of memories!
