Itinerary Expand allKathmandu to Kathmandu Depart London.The group flight is an overnight flight departing London this evening. Day 1 Start Kathmandu.The tour starts at our hotel in Kathmandu. There will be a full trek briefing this evening.Royal Singi Hotel Arrive Kathmandu.The tour starts at our hotel in Kathmandu. The group flights arrive into Kathmandu in the afternoon and those travelling on them will be met at the airport and transferred to our hotel. There will be a full trek briefing this evening.Royal Singi Hotel Day 2 Fly to Lukla (2800m); trek to PhakdingWe fly to the mountain airstrip of Lukla (2,800m), and set off on the first short leg of our trek, heading northwards up the valley of the Dudh Kosi (or 'milk river'). We descend from the small plateau, down into the forested valley. The trail offers some tantalising views before reaching the small settlement of Phakding (2,652m), where we spend our first night. Tea-house (sleeping altitude 2,652m) Meals included: Breakfast Day 3 Follow the Dudh Kosi and ascend to Namche Bazaar, with time to explore the Sherpa villages.Heading out of Phakding we follow the Dudh Kosi northwards. This day's walk takes us through magnificent forests with glimpses of the mountains ahead. We cross the river several times by bridges as we pass through the villages of Benkar, Monzo and Jorsale. A final bridge brings us to the foot of the steep climb to Namche. Halfway up this ascent, we may get our first glimpse, cloud-permitting, of the summit of Everest appearing majestically behind the great ridge of Nuptse-Lhotse. A last 300m of climbing brings us to Namche Bazaar, the Sherpa capital and the main town in the area. Namche is a prosperous Sherpa town and an important trading centre. It has a weekly market on Friday afternoon and Saturday morning but the town bustle all day every day with trekkers, coffee shops, bakeries and stores selling all kinds of trekking and climbing gear as well as Tibetan souvenirs. Tea-house (sleeping altitude 3,440m) Meals included: Breakfast Day 4 Acclimatisation walk to Kunde and Khumjung; descend to Kyanjuma.We climb steeply out of Namche past the airstrip at Shyangboche to the Everest View Hotel, the highpoint of our day at 3,880m. Built by the Japanese, this spectacularly situated hotel with wonderful views of Everest and Ama Dablam is an ideal place for a tea break. Descending through forest we come to Khumjung, where we have lunch close to the Sir Edmund Hillary School. After lunch, we walk up to Kunde and visit the Edmund Hillary Hospital. The twin villages of Kunde and Khumjung are set below Khumbila, the rocky peak sacred to all Sherpas. For much of the walk, we have great views of Ama Dablam and other Himalayan giants. We walk back down through Khumjumg to the monastery. Sadly it was damaged in the earthquake but is now being repaired. Inside is a small box and after paying the entry fee (which goes towards the repairs) - we will be shown the only Yeti skull in the world! Descending to the main trail we spend the night at Kyanjuma.Tea-house (sleeping altitude 3,600m) Meals included: Breakfast Day 5 Trek through the Sherpa heartland to the monastery at Thyangboche for superb mountain views.This morning we descend to the river; we cross it at the little settlement of Phunki Thangkha at 3,250m, then climb steeply through the forest to Thyangboche at 3,867m. We will be here by lunchtime and in the afternoon we will visit the famous monastery. The sunset and sunrise on the fantastic panorama of mountains surrounding us are not to be missed - Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse and Ama Dablam provide a wonderful backdrop to our teahouse. Look out for Himalayan Tahr in the forest surrounding the monastery. Tea-house (sleeping altitude 3,870m) Meals included: Breakfast Day 6 Continue up the Khumbu Valley and then the Imja Valley to Dingboche.We descend through the forest to Devoche and a little further on we cross the rushing Imja Khola, whose valley we now follow. Climbing steadily, the trail enters Pangboche, at 3,900m, the highest permanent settlement in this valley. Ascending the valley, we have lunch at Shomore, after which we leave the trees behind and cross a wooden bridge at the confluence of the Khumbu and Imja Kholas. A short steep climb brings us to Dingboche, at 4,350m, a summer settlement where great peaks surround us. Tea-house (sleeping altitude 4,350m) Meals included: Breakfast Day 7 Spend the day at Dingboche for acclimatisation.We spend the day at Dingboche to continue our acclimatisation. Those adapting well to the altitude can climb Nangkartshang Peak at 5,100m for great views of Makalu, Lhotse, Chalotse, Tawoche and Ama Dablam. There is the option to climb halfway to the peak or for the energetic it takes about 3.5hrs to the top. It’s a tough and steep climb but well worth the effort for the amazing views. We return to Dingboche for a late lunch and the rest of the afternoon is free to relax and acclimatise.Tea-house Meals included: Breakfast Day 8 Continue the ascent to Lobuje.The trail climbs steeply out of Dingboche past a chorten and ascends the valley gradually to Dugla at the end of the terminal moraine of the Khumbu Glacier. We stop here for a tea break and a snack before the steep climb up to Chukpo Lari, a beautiful, yet poignant place where there is a line of memorials in tribute to the climbers who have died on Everest and from where we have a beautiful panorama of the peaks lying on the Nepal-Tibet border. The trail then eases off as we follow the valley to Lobuje, a tiny hamlet with a few teahouses. In the late afternoon there is the option to walk up onto the lateral moraine of the Khumbu glacier and the sunset on Nuptse is not to be missed. Tea-house (sleeping altitude 4,930m) Meals included: Breakfast Day 9 Visit Everest Base Camp; overnight at Gorak Shep.Today is a very long, hard day as we leave very early, following the Khumbu Glacier northwards to Gorak Shep (5,184m). The trail undulates up and down the moraine with some short steep sections. The trail is rocky as we are now on the lateral moraine of the Khumbu Glacier. It will take us about 3 hours to reach Gorak Shep where we will have a rest and something to eat. From here to base camp and back there are no lodges so we will fill our water bottles and take some snacks for the walk to Everest Base Camp. We start by walking across the sandy flat at Gorak Shep and climb onto the lateral moraine of the Khumbu glacier. The trail ascends the side of the glacier for a couple of hours before finally descending onto the rocky glacial moraine itself. The trail winds up and down through fascinating ice seracs to the area known as Everest Base Camp, where in spring, we might see in the distance some of the expedition teams as they prepare to climb the mountain. From the Base Camp we get fantastic close up views of the Khumbu Ice Fall and we can appreciate just how difficult it is for the climbers to negotiate a route through the huge blocks of ice. Nuptse towers above us and Pumori rears up behind us. After a short photo stop by the Base Camp rock we retrace our steps to Gorak Shep. Please note that accommodation options are extremely limited at Gorak Shep and the tea house used is very basic, though the communal dining area is warm, and the food served promptly to satisfy trekkers’ appetites. Because of the high altitude the plumbing facilities can be affected and water freezes much of the time.Tea-house (sleeping altitude 5,184m) Meals included: Breakfast Day 10 Climb Kala Pattar (5545m) for classic mountain views of Everest; descend to Pheriche.We have another hard day as we climb steeply above Gorak Shep to the small peak of Kala Pattar, 'Black Rock', at 5,545m from where we can look down over the base camps of the various Everest expeditions. This climb affords a magnificent view of the Khumbu Glacier and above all a close-up view of the world's highest mountain. We return to Gorak Shep and retrace our steps to Lobuje for lunch and then continue on down the valley to the lower altitude of Pheriche for the night. (Please note that the walk to Everest Base Camp and the climb of Kala Pattar are both very tough. Sometimes we may change the order in which we tackle the walks depending on the group's ability and weather conditions). Tea-house (sleeping altitude 4,243m) Meals included: Breakfast Day 11 Retrace our steps to Kyanjuma.Descending through Pheriche, we cross a small bridge and have a short climb before descending to join the main Imja Khola Valley. We follow the valley down to Pangboche through an alpine meadow landscape. We drop down to the rushing river then walk through the peaceful rhododendron forests to the village of Devoche from where we climb back up to Thyangboche on the ridge for lunch. We descend off the ridge to Phunki Tenga and walk back up to Kyanjuma, where we spend the night. Tea-house (sleeping altitude 3,600m) Meals included: Breakfast Day 12 Descend through Namche to Monzo.The walk to Namche Bazaar takes us along a beautiful undulating trail high above the Dudh Kosi. We have some time in Namche and after lunch we descend through Namche Bazaar and pick up our outward trail again to Monzo, where we stay tonight.Tea-house (sleeping altitude 2,850m) Meals included: Breakfast Day 13 Continue to Lukla.We retrace our steps to Chaunrikhara where we start the last climb to the airstrip at Lukla. Tea-house (sleeping altitude 2,800m) Meals included: Breakfast Day 14 Fly to KathmanduWe fly back to Kathmandu and transfer to our hotel. Royal Singi Hotel Meals included: Breakfast Day 15 Free day in Kathmandu to explore the city.Today is free for sightseeing in Kathmandu (it is also a spare day to allow for any delays in the flights to or from Lukla). You may wish to visit the monkey temple at Swayambunath, one of the largest Buddhist Stupas in the world at Bodnath, or the most important Hindu temple in the valley at Pashupatinath. We offer a full range of sightseeing tours which can be booked and paid for locally. Please see the Optional Excursions section within the Trip Notes or the Exodus notice board in the hotel in Kathmandu.Royal Singi Hotel Meals included: Breakfast Day 16 End Kathmandu.For land only travellers the tour ends after breakfast. Meals included: Breakfast Fly to London.The tour ends in after breakfast. Those on the group flights will be transferred to the airport in time for the daytime flight back to London. Meals included: Breakfast
NepalMost nationalities require a visa for Nepal, which can be obtained in advance or on entry (at present, the Immigration Department of Nepal have suspended 'visas on arrival' for certain nationalities - please check if this applies to you). All Nepal tourist visas are multiple entry. We recommend that you apply in advance as queues on arrival can be very long – applications can be made directly through the Nepal Embassy (by post or in person) or through our recommended visa agency, Travcour. The current cost for a visa in advance is GB£20 for a 15-day visa and GB£35 for a 30-day visa for UK passport holders (plus processing and postage fees if applying through Travcour).The current cost for a visa on arrival is US$30 for 15 days, US$50 for 30 days, or US$125 for 90 days for UK passport holders. The fee can be paid for in any major currency at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu. On arrival in the immigration hall there are 3 queues (if you have obtained a visa in advance go straight to (3) - immigration):(Step 1) Fill in a 'Tourist Visa' form: either online before travel (recommended) via the Department of Immigration website - print the submission receipt with barcode (valid for 15 days) and bring it with you, or use the electronic kiosk machines on arrival at the airport. If using the kiosks, after inserting your passport the machine will automatically fill out an application form, take an electronic photograph of you and print a paper slip. If the machine won’t read your passport you can complete the details manually using the touch screen. We recommend taking 1 passport photo with you just in case. (Step 2) Proceed to the visa fees collection counter and pay the visa fee (we advise to take some cash) – make sure to keep the receipt. (Step 3) Lastly, go to the relevant immigration desk and present your tourist visa form, payment receipt and passport to obtain your 15, 30 or 90-day visa stamp. Please check you have been given the correct visa duration.Non-UK nationals should check requirements with their nearest embassy (a few nationalities are not permitted visas on arrival).
NepalThere are no mandatory vaccination requirements. Recommended vaccinations are: Polio, Tetanus, Diphtheria, Typhoid, Hepatitis A.There is low to no risk of malaria throughout Nepal and antimalarial tablets are not usually advised although may be considered for certain higher risk groups; you may wish to consult your GP or travel health clinic for further advice. The risk is highest in the low lying southern ‘terai’ districts bordering India.A yellow fever certificate is only required if travelling from a country with risk of yellow fever transmission or for travellers having transited for more than 12 hours through a country with risk of transmission.Dengue fever is a known risk in Nepal. 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. As of August 2019, there has been a recent outbreak of Dengue fever in southeast Nepal and we therefore recommend you take extra precautions to avoid mosquito bites (such as wearing full length trousers, long sleeves and applying insect repellent during the day as well as at dawn and dusk).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 Altitude Warning within the Trip Notes for further advice on AMS.
Hotels & Lodges The twelve nights on the trek are spent in lodges (teahouses) and the three nights in Kathmandu are in a comfortable hotel.In Kathmandu, we usually stay at the Hotel Royal Singi, a 4-star hotel located within walking distance of the Thamel district. All rooms have en suite facilities and there is a restaurant, a bar and an outdoor courtyard. There is complimentary Wi-Fi in the hotel lobby and Wi-Fi throughout. There is an Exodus desk in the hotel lobby and an Exodus representative will usually be available daily in the mornings and evenings.The teahouses are basic but adequate; please be realistic about what to expect in the mountains. The hub of the teahouse is the dining room, usually decorated with colourful traditional rugs, sometimes with a stove or heater (some lodges charge a fee to put the heater on). Most teahouses sell snacks and other essentials such as tissues, soap and toilet paper. Almost all lodges have electricity but it is not wholly reliable and lighting may not be bright enough to read by – a torch is essential. Electrical charging facilities are generally available only in the dining room (charged at approx. Rs150-350 per hour per device). Many of the lodges use solar power so sometimes there is not enough electricity for charging. Many lodges have Wi-Fi these days – in some areas it works well but in others, it is slow and temperamental.We book twin-share bedrooms throughout this trek. Beds with foam mattresses, bedsheets and a pillow are provided. Bedrooms are unheated and can get cold at night so you will need to bring or hire a sleeping bag.Most lodges have only one or two basic toilets and sometimes these are located outside the main lodge building. Toilets are usually Asian ’squat’ style; although many lodges have now installed ‘western style’ seated ones. Toilet paper is not provided so you should bring your own or buy it locally (please dispose of it in the bin provided – do not put it in the bowl). If there is not a flush handle, there should be a container of water to pour down – if it is empty (or frozen) please either refill it or ask the lodge to.Some lodges now have hot 'showers' (charged at approx. Rs250-500 per shower). Sometimes a hot shower is simply a bucket of hot water and not a showerhead.Standards of cleanliness vary especially in the peak trekking season and in winter when the water freezes at night. Please report any problems to your leader or the lodge and be vigilant in your personal hygiene regime – use soap or hand sanitizer gel before and after toilet breaks, snacks and mealtimes.As a general rule, the higher the altitude you go to, the more basic the lodges and the more expensive food and services become.Extra AccommodationIf you require any additional accommodation in Kathmandu either before or after the tour, we can book this for you (subject to availability), please enquire with your Sales Consultant.Single AccommodationIf you prefer your own room, we offer a single supplement for the three nights in Kathmandu only (subject to availability). While in the teahouses, single rooms cannot be guaranteed but if a single room is available that night, you can pay locally on a day by day basis.
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Reviewed May 2022 Nick PerryOur trek to Everest Base Camp In retrospect, the trip was the experience of a life-time, but always enjoyable at the time and we believe there are things Exodus Travels could do to make this tough expedition easier for future trekkers. Obviously the walking was tough, although my wife and I are seasoned trekkers and knew what to expect. Regarding the route itself, we did wonder whether an overnight stay at Pangboche instead of Phakding would make the trek-day to Namche easier? Also, we question whether a 'B Plan' would be possible in case of bad weather at the high end of the trail ? We reached Gorak Shep by lunch-time on 1st May and would have gone on to Base Camp, but heavy snow prevented that and in order to 'summit' we had to start early the next day to reach Base Camp, return and then walk down to Pheriche, which made for a very long day. We appreciate that it seldom snows in May, but the local people are finding that that pattern is altering as the global climate is changing. There somehow needs to be a 'spare' day in case of bad weather. Accommodation' This was probably our main area of concern; we knew to expect that these would be 'spartan' but this does not excuse the extent of filth in several cases: at Labouche, mould was clearly evident on the bedding, and at Gorak Shep, the one 'western' toilet seat was not only cracked and broken, but underneath it was encrusted with human waste. As someone once said, you can see what the bathrooms are like, but not the kitchens! As for the bathrooms in general, we found at Namche there was no washbasin anywhere except in the corridors, which was the only place where you might brush your teeth, but you obviously could not have a proper (strip!) wash in a corridor in full view of the public! There were 2 showers in that tea-house but one was filthy, obviously not regularly cleaned. At Lukla, there was an under floor water-leak, so that whenever taps were turned on in our room, the carpet in the room and outside in the corridor became immediately soaked. Showers were not available there and in a few other tea-houses - we had to rely on paying extra for a hot bowl of water. At Tengboche, we passed by several newly--built-looking hotels before reaching our tea-house which was much the poorer. (We met other trekkers who had stayed in the newer accommodation and spoke favourably. We wondered there as at Namche why Exodus appeared not to have chosen the best option for accommodation. But there were some good, clean tea-houses; Chhumoa and Khyangjuma were clean and comfortable, as was the newly-built tea-house at Dingboche, which boasted electric blankets. Could this 'luxury' not be provided elsewhere, as would make overnight stays much more comfortable - we enjoyed our two nights there. Pheriche was also clean and relatively comfortable; we saw the toilets being cleaned out by staff in the morning... The most important omission we found was means of (international) communication in the tea-houses in case of emergency. When our daughter became ill and clearly could not continue the trek down from Pheriche, we found it impossible to contact our insurers back in the UK before organising a helicopter. In order to send just one email, we used the tea-house landlord's phone positioned in one particular part of a window to get just 'one bar' of phone reception; a satellite phone in each tea-house would help in situations such as ours. Possibly the most potentially serious issue we had was on the trail out of Namche, where we encountered a herd of yaks descending towards us across the entire trail. On one side was a vertical bank, and on the other a sheer drop. The yaks were moving fast and their driver who was at the back was as much use as a chocolate fire-guard. Our tour-leader said to move to the side by the bank, but then the yaks veered in our direction, threatening to crush us against the rocks. So we were advised to swap to the other side, and the yaks followed us. Whilst they narrowly missed our daughter and me, they knocked my wife over who was scrambling to avoid being swept over the edge. The yak driver did not respond to our shouts of concern, and more worryingly, our tour leader did not appear overly concerned and just said that it was 'crazy'. I think there needs to be some extra care and training given to tour leaders to avoid what could have been a fatal accident in our case.What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? We loved trekking in the mornings especially when there was sunshine and views of the scenery could clearly be seen and we had many such mornings like this, including having breakfast outside at Khyangjuma. The acclimatisation walk above Namche to the Everest View Hotel was also fantastic, and although the weather at Gorak Shep made for a precipitous trek to Base Camp, it was amazing to see the expedition tents there and to see the snow 'formations' across the Base Camp plateau. Equally inspirational were our sherpas who made the trip for us and couldn't do enough for us, especially Lhakpa I (the older Lhakpa) and Kami who were as attentive to our comforts as they could possibly be, finding the best place to dry towels for us, always there with hot drinks and bringing/ taking away crockery at meal-times, as well as much more. When our daughter could not continue the trek due to a flu-type virus, it was Lhakpa I who stayed with her at Dingboche and Pheriche. When with us on the trail he always set a steady pace, dealt with all the paperwork at checkpoints and was clearly the most experienced among the tour leaders/ guides. But it was Kami and Lhakpa II who were with us on the icy boulder-field walk to base camp and Kami who prevented me from slipping countless times. We tipped the three sherpas generously, but would liked to have given them more. We found the Nepali people friendly and helpful, and our three Sherpas were good ambassadors for the Nepali people. We were pleased with the efficiency of the evacuation by helicopter for our daughter, which enabled us to continue with the trek. (The helicopter pilot was a Canadian who we'd met staying in Lukla - he'd also helped sort out the plumbing problems in our accommodation for us, so we were fglad the helicopter pilot who flew our daughter to Lukla was someone we knew!What did you think of your group leader? We were less happy with Aniche, our principal group leader. He put in lots of time with us when we arrived early both in Kathmandu and Lukla, helping show us round Kathmandu and waiting for several hours beyond the expected flight arrival in Kathmandu. As the trek went on, however he appeared less confident in our abilities and his own, frequently asking us if we should abandon our trek and descend, when we had slight headaches. At Gorakshep, he announced that he did not feel well and decided to leave us with our Sherpas, organising a replacement (Khusman) although the latter did not reach us until we had completed the Base Camp walk. He took a helicopter back to Lukla, then on to Kathmandu, leaving us with Khusman who had had to alter his aranged leave and family time in order to join us at Base Camp on Monday 2nd May. On our arrival in Kathmandu, Anish was there waiting for us clearly expecting to resume his position, which Khusman respected. (We wondered whether the awarding of potential tips had anything to do with this.) At dinner on one of the last evenings Anish confided that he was unsure whether high-level guiding was right for him ( given the apparent symptoms he'd had, although he didn't look that ill to us.) He speculated whether lower-level backpacking or water sports activities might suit him better. We were glad we hadn't known this at the start of the trek, concluding all in all that he didn't seem very experienced or have much self-assurance. We were pleased that Khusman was able to step into the breach at short notice, and enjoyed trekking with him. When we returned to Kathamandu and Anish re-surfaced, Khusman tactfully faded into the background.Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Make sure you have winter trekking equipment with you in case it snows on the summit attempt, even if you're told it shouldn't be necessary. Also ensure you have quick-drying towels and waterproof gear; we were lucky that the tea-houses werent that busy when we needed to dry our kit. Don't rely on Wifi - it's very patchy; an Ncell local SIM card is more useful. Get a good battery pack - it's not always possible to charge your phones. Keep a careful watch out for the yaks - they nearly did for us!!Is there anything else you would like to add? I think most points I've covered. Looking at our photos, the overall experience was great - we had plenty of 'moans & groans' but you forget these quite quickly; to reach Base Camp and return in one piece is unforgettable and you only need to do it the once!
Reviewed December 2019 Stephen SinnhuberJust amazing, and tough! My wife and I had long wanted to do this trek and when the 45th anniversary deal came up we booked last Feb. We then had months of worrying if we would make it, training, more training, buying gear, more gear etc etc! We needn't have worried. Our whole group made it thanks to Bikash and his team who were incredible throughout. Bikash ensured we ate enough (lots!), drank enough water (lots!), kept our hats on (haha) and made sure we did everything possible to avoid altitude sickness and make it. Whatever he did worked! We saw people in other groups dropping like flies and being helivac'd out. But we (11of us) were all fine! I have been on many Exodus trips but on this one the group dynamic was exceptional. The teamwork and camaraderie were second to none. I guess because the trek is very challenging. Don't underestimate this trek, it is very tough!What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Getting to base camp itself after all the self-doubt we had about making it. Sitting quietly on my own looking at the vastness of the mountains around me. It's spectacular. But everywhere you trek is spectacular. Base camp is simply a highlight among many.What did you think of your group leader? Exceptional. Bikash was a fantastic leader along with his team of Kami, Lakpar and Yak man (haha). We would not have made it without these guys!Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Do not underestimate this hike. it is tough. Make sure you are fit! It's not a race. Go as slow as you can. The guides set the pace. Follow it. Its cold so bring some good layers and rent the sleeping bag at least. The bag was very good quality. A Steripen was very useful. A thick fleece and or lightweight down/thermoball gilet (or better still jacket) is very useful inside the tea houses. Only the main room is heated and then usually only for the evening. Only eat veggie food and dont drink alcohol while on the trek. We avoided any illness as a result. Try and sit on the left of the plane going to Lukla. Luggage is advised at 5kg carry on and 10kg check in. As a result I ditched some stuff at the start hotel but it turned out we could definitely take more. One of our guys had over 14kg check-in and its very cheap to pay the extra. Handwarmers were useful but only on EBC day really. We didnt need the many we brought! The recommended money to take on the trek was spot on.Is there anything else you would like to add? This was one of the very best Exodus trips we have ever done. Amazing views, great trekking and fab company of the other clients and guides.
Reviewed December 2019 David SouthallThe most amazing trip I have ever taken with memories never forgotten. If you wish to challenge yourself and witness some of the most amazing views on the face of this planet then this is the trek for you. Yes, you need to train, Yes you need to have a positive mind set, Yes, you will get cold, Yes you will NOT be staying in 5star hotels along your trek. YES, you will find things out about yourself, YES you will do things that you never though possible. YES YES YES you will have the greatest time. Go ahead. Book it.What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Reaching Everest Base Camp as a compete team and seeing the Nepalese culture of how little they have and yet they smile every day are grateful for everything.What did you think of your group leader? Ha Ha Tenzing Sherpa was the most positive and inspirational leader anyone could ask for. His knowledge and character and laughter was simply infectious. I would request him again to guide any trip.Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Dont overpack Take enough underwear and socks Limit to a 2/3. base layers/ Mid layers and let the down jacket do the rest. Drink enough water even if you feel you are not thirsty. Avoid meat on the trek.
Reviewed November 2019 Edward CooperTrip of a lifetime! What a truly amazing trip! The trip of a lifetime in fact. Stunning views, amazing camaraderie, almost to too many fantastic memories to process. Everything from the spectacular flight into Lukla, to crossing the stunning bridges felt like such an adventure, straight out of an Indiana Jones movie. Special mention to our amazing tour leader Bikash Tamang and his amazing team (Kami Sherpa and Lakpa Cerpa) - these guys absolutely made the trip. So hard working, great sense of humour, super encouraging, super caring for the whole group, total professionals. When we return we want exactly the same team, we miss you guys!What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Too many to count - seeing Everest for the first time, visiting the Tengboche monastery, making it to basecamp and experiencing the amazing camaraderie of the whole group including Bikash Tamang and his amazing Exodus Nepal team (Kami Sherpa and Lakpa Cerpa)What did you think of your group leader? Bikash Tamang was the reason we all had one of the greatest trips of our lives. A true professional who was constantly encouraging the group and looking out for us all at every step of the way.Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Make sure you train before the trip. Don't rush. Listen to everything your tour leader says and do it. They are extremely experienced.Is there anything else you would like to add? Can't wait to go back to Nepal and have another adventure with Bikash Tamang and his team
Reviewed November 2019 Liam GivenEBC is a sensational but tough trek In common with other reviewers' comments, it should be noted that the landscape between Lukla and Dingboche is like an alpine paradise, unexpectedly beautiful valleys and rivers, criss-crossed with suspension bridges and dotted with Buddha stupas. While mostly undulating, the trail is especially difficult on days where the ascent can be two hours straight up. But the leaders are cogniscent of this and allow many water stops in between scheduled breaks. Our leader, Bikash Tamang (TNT191102), was an especially experienced and supportive leader and provided confidence to those who needed it as well as providing cultural and geographical narrative from start to finish. The only reason I am giving 4 stars instead of 5 is because of the sanitary condition of many of the lodges high up in the Khumbu region and the abysmally cold bedrooms which are not insulated or well built. Do not underestimate how cold it gets at night.What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? A visit to a hospital in PhakdingWhat did you think of your group leader? See comments above; Bikash Tamang (TNT191102), was an especially experienced and supportive leader and provided confidence to those who needed it as well as providing cultural and geographical narrative from start to finish.Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Consider grouping together and buying a helicopter flight from Ramechaap to Kathmandu on the return leg, to avoid a 6 hour horror bus journey and instead enjoy an incredible 25 minute flight over the hilltops. Amazing. Do not pay more than USD 1600 (5 people)
Reviewed October 2019 Stevie JohnsonAmazing, once-in-a-lifetime adventure - but be prepared! We have just returned from EBC, and it really was quite the adventure. Great scenery (when the clouds lifted!), fabulous trekking, lovely company and lots of laughs. We had a wonderful team - Leader Ajay ('Ozzy'), Sherpa Kaji, Norbu and Newang, our Yak man. We made it to EBC in the snow! Be as prepared as you can, expect long days trekking with lots of both up and down, embrace the culture and you'll be rewarded with incredible views and a great sense of accomplishment.What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Making it to EBC obvs, but also chatting to Sherpa Kaji (who has summited Everest 9 times), visiting the memorials, sitting in the Monastery listening to the monks chanting, seeing the expedition tents at BC, seeing the Khumbu icefall, hanging out with our trek mates..…….What did you think of your group leader? Ajay ('Ozzy') was fantastic - he looked after us so well, was a delight to be with, was open and honest about everything. Couldn't have been better.Do you have any advice for potential travellers? If you are unable to cope with squat loos, smells, very cold bedrooms, and basic living conditions, then perhaps this isn't the trip for you. If you can cope with those things, then you'll be fine, enjoy the experience and it is all so worth it. Loo roll, wet wipes, Imodium, water treatment equipment, and sense of humour are your friends. Discuss the use of Diamox with your leader. We also valued our Powerbanks, Merino underwear, hand sanitisation gel, well broken-in walking boots, and snacks (although you can buy them along the way). Oh and playing cards! Food is basic but plentiful.Is there anything else you would like to add? We were pleasantly surprised by the number of places we could actually get a hot shower. Many tea houses have invested in Gas showers, and they were very welcome (you do have to pay.) Remember prices for everything go up the further from Lukla you get. Take more ££ than you think you'll need, and make sure you change any spare back (into dollars only, not pounds) before you pass through passport control at the airport on your way out. Dengue fever is currently a significant problem in Kathmandu - take precautions to prevent mosquito bites (see trip notes).
Reviewed June 2019 paul besterbreath-taking, in both senses having done a few mountains before, I was just hoping to get a view of Everest, but was amazed at just how unexpectedly-beautiful the route was. the initial lush green valleys were replaced with breath-taking views of majestic mountains. every turn produced another stunning vista. i found it really difficult to relay just how big those mountains are to anyone who hasn't been there.What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? the sheer size of the Himalayas gives a humbling sense of ones place on earth. I simply could not go through life without seeing the "big one" up close- (relatively speaking).What did you think of your group leader? Bikash was a true gem. he is an experienced and confident leader, beyond his years. besides his general information, I learned so much about Nepalese culture from the one to one chats, while ambling at the back of the group.Do you have any advice for potential travellers? it's a challenging trip, but certainly not limited to the super-fit.
Reviewed May 2019 David HughesEverest Base Camp - a journey to heaven! This trip met and exceeded my expectations by miles! I have never seen scenery so beautiful in my life , it was truly wow! It was the hardest thing (trek wise ) I have ever done and breathing at times in the higher parts was tough but it was more than compensated by the experience. A big shout out to Bikash T ( TNT190427) who was a brilliant leader and encouraged us a long the way and ensured we paced ourselves the result of which we all made it to Base Camp! His team were all brilliant too!What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Seeing Base Camp after such a long journey to get there. I never thought in my lifetime I would see this and it literally took my breath away and was very emotional when I arrived!What did you think of your group leader? As stated above Bikash was a great leader and was certainly always reassuring me whenever I had any nervous moments and was easy to talk to and great sense of humour too !Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Do not underestimate how tough this trip is. The more preparation you put into this , the more you will enjoy it. It is worth it! Also , it gets expensive to buy snacks the further you go up, I would recommend bringing energy bars etc from home it save you money. And, finally , when the leader says pace yourself , take notice, as walking too fast is not a good idea at that altitude!Is there anything else you would like to add? Wonderful trip and life changing experience!
Reviewed May 2019 Hayley KennedyFabulous! Holiday of a lifetime! Fabulous trip. Great Guide (Bikash T, TNT190427) great staff. Great adventure.What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Reaching base camp as I’d been doing the trip for charity so felt such a sense of achievementWhat did you think of your group leader? Legend! Fab guy! Had a great team around him as well!Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Take more money than you need, electricity, wifi etc are expensive Train hard and get fit, you will enjoy it more! Work as a team to Ensure you all get there and achieve together.Is there anything else you would like to add? Excellent adventure.
Reviewed May 2019 Sophie Daubeney An experience you’ll never forget... Overall an amazing experience. Beautiful views. A unique, friendly group of fun people! There was a real team spirit, and I was never in doubt that anyone wouldn’t make it to Base Camp. The guides were fabulous, and enhanced a really special experience! Would definitely recommend this trek!What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Waking up in Kyanjumar lodge and seeing Ama Dablam towering overhead. A real pinch me moment.What did you think of your group leader? Bikash was amazing! Such a kind, patient and fun leader! Felt very supported and encouraged throughout the trip, particularly on the tougher days. He was also incredibly knowledgeable about local culture and history. Can’t recommend him enough. It must be said that all the guides and the yak man were awesome too!Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Prepare, prepare, prepare! Be of a good level of physical fitness- this trek is no walk in the park! Don’t forget the essentials; loo roll, hand sanitisers, lip balm and sun cream (don’t underestimate the importance of these small luxuries)!! And enjoy!! This trip will be once in a lifetime!
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