The Khumbu area is probably the most famous mountain region in Nepal, if not the world. Here, the Himalayan giants of Everest, Lhotse and Ama Dablam tower over its valleys and to say the views are awe-inspiring is an understatement. This majestic place is the homeland of the Sherpas, a people of Tibetan origin, renowned for their extraordinary achievements in mountaineering.
This well-paced trek offers excellent views of the mountains, including Everest, and visits Sherpa villages and Buddhist monasteries, without going to extremes of altitude. Landing at the tiny airstrip of Lukla, the trek begins with a descent to the Dudh Kosi, a raging river fed from the highest peaks. Following the river upstream, the trail winds through pine forests and the terraced fields of potato and buckwheat, cultivated by the surrounding Sherpa villages. Domed chortens and Mani walls, consisting of stone tablets engraved with prayers, line the trail and are a reminder of the importance of Buddhism in the region. Continuing on the main Everest Base Camp route and now in view of the world's highest summit, we climb steadily to reach Namche Bazaar, a lively regional centre for Sherpa culture and trade. We have a rest day here to acclimatise and explore the maze of back streets and market stalls, soaking up the atmosphere of this unique Sherpa town. Climbing above Namche in full view of shapely Ama Dablam, we reach the village of Kunde and neighbouring Khumjung, whose children are believed to be reincarnations of past lamas. The panorama of soaring peaks and icy ridges becomes ever more dramatic on the approach to Tengboche, where we visit the famous monastery and arrive at the high point of our trek. Retracing our route back to Lukla, we enjoy our last memorable views of this beautiful region and its mountains before flying back to Kathmandu.
Fitness & Experience : This trek follows the Everest Base Camp trail, which is well maintained and not particularly difficult. Regular walkers, once acclimatised, should not experience problems and the days are well paced and not too long.
|