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max-altitude

Max. Altitude

5,545 m
best-season

Best Season

Oct -Dec & March-May
activity-icon

Activity

Trekking
start-end

Start / End Point

Kathmandu/Kathmandu

Overview of Original Way to Everest

Life Himalaya Trekking presents an awesome classic adventure following early pioneers and mountaineers’ route on the “Original Way to Everest”. This is the same original and scenic trail to reach higher Khumbu and Everest base camp.

Truly a mesmerizing walking journey, starting with an interesting overland drive from Kathmandu to a lovely town at Jiri (also known as Switzerland of Nepal) and heading further at Shivalaya village to begin this wonderful adventure following Tenzing-Hillary footsteps to Everest base camp.

On this Original Way to Everest enjoy the low Solu areas which are of mixed tribes Tamang-Magar-Rai and predominately of Sherpa people; this makes this walk far more interesting to witness the culture and traditions of the hills and farm life villages in the backdrop of high snowcapped peaks.

Original Way to Everest Trip Summary:

OvernightsHotels and in nice local Lodge on trekking.

Trek Grade: Moderate to Adventurous with high altitude.

Highest pointAt Everest base camp 5,364 m and at Kalapathar top 5,545 m

ActivitiesScenic drive – trekking and sweeping flight with sightseeing tour.

Trekking duration: 18 nights & 19 days (From Jiri-Shivalaya ending at Lukla)

Total Trip21 nights & 22 days (Kathmandu to Kathmandu)

Season: All months of the year except June to August (monsoon months).

Highlights of Original Way to Everest

  • Mesmerizing high country walks following Tenzing & Hillary footsteps to Everest.
  • An amazing trekking with day to day impressive views of hills and mountains,
  • Exploring Solu and Khumbu areas with traditional Sherpa villages of Buddhist cultures,
  • Tour of interesting old monasteries in the shade of high Mt. Everest.
  • An exciting scenic drive with panoramic flight from Lukla to Kathmandu

Original Way to Everest Itinerary

day 01 Arrival in Kathmandu and transfer to hotel

At Kathmandu Tribhuvan International Airport on fresh arrival where you will be warmly received by Life Himalaya Trekking staff and then transfer to your hotels in the hub of Kathmandu city.

After refreshment, our guide/leader will brief you on the Original Way to Everest base camp trekking, includes other information related to this trip, includes welcome dinner in a nice Nepali restaurant with cultural programs.

nepal-culture

max-altitude

Maximum Altitude

1,300 m.
meals

Meals

Dinner
activity-icon

Trek Duration

15 min Drive
accommodation

Accomodations

3 Star Hotel

day 02 Drive to Shivalaya via Jiri

A long day journey, so starting early morning from Kathmandu for the drive to Jiri unto Shivalaya village, this interesting scenic drive passing through interesting towns and villages through Himalayan foothills, through towns of Dhulikhel, Charikot and then to Jiri after few good stops drive continues on the winding dirt road to the first overnight stop at Shivalaya village a fair size village with number of lodges for travelers.

max-altitude

Maximum Altitude

1,900 m.
meals

Meals

Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
activity-icon

Trek Duration

7 hours Drive
accommodation

Accomodations

Lodge

day 03 Trek to Bhandar (Chyangma)

From Shivalaya walk to Bhandar is a moderate trek, after a long day drive of the previous day, the morning starts with an hour slow ascend to a small village of Sangbadanda, then on the gradual path passing rural farm villages and mixed forest, then reaching stream with a climb through the cool shade of rhododendron pine, oaks tree lines, after few hours of morning walk reaching at Deurali pass at 2, 715 meters.

After a break here for lunch, a long descend for nearly two hours to Bhandar village for overnight stop, the walk passes an interesting large Stupa enclosed inside a wall and then through villages and farm-fields till Bhandar or Chyangma village, this area is of mix tribes of people Tamangs, Newars, but predominantly Sherpa people.

max-altitude

Maximum Altitude

2,195 m.
meals

Meals

Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
activity-icon

Trek Duration

5 hours Trek
accommodation

Accomodations

Lodge

day 04 Trek to Sete

Morning walk continues with an downhill walk into cool shade of forest and farm terraces and passing several farm villages to reach at Kenja village at 1,634m, Kenja a nice moderate size village, situated in a warm valley just beneath the high hills of Lamjura and Pikey danda, offering views of Numbur peaks.

After Kenja, a steep uphill climb all the way to overnight stop at Sete village from here onwards the temperature gets cooler.

max-altitude

Maximum Altitude

2,575 m.
meals

Meals

Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
activity-icon

Trek Duration

6 hours Trek
accommodation

Accomodations

Lodge

day 05 Trek to Junbesi via Lamjura-la

Starting the trek with a cool morning then heading towards Lamjuta-la pass with a slow steep climb into the dense forest of rhododendron, pines, and oaks trees then through many small farmlands and hamlets.

After few hours of steady uphill walk reaching the top of Lamjura pass with a big stupa and lodges, from here a long descent through a forest of firs and rhododendron trees all the way to Sherpa village at Toctoc, from here continue to walk on the gradual winding path to Junbesi.

From the ridge looking at Junbesi way below, then with a final descend to Junbesi, a nice large village inhabited mostly by Sherpa people, this village with a nice interesting monastery and a high school sponsored by Sir Edmund Hillary Trust.

max-altitude

Maximum Altitude

3,530 m.
meals

Meals

Breakfast, Lunch and DInner
activity-icon

Trek Duration

6 hours Trek
accommodation

Accomodations

Lodge

day 06 Trek to Nunthala (Manidingma)

After a wonderful time at Junbesi, morning walk leads on the winding smooth path with first glimpse of Mt. Everest with other snow capped mountains, after a break here head down to the river, after crossing the bridge with short climb to Ringmo village, stop here for lunch as time permits after leaving Ringmo, an hour of gradual slow climb into forest of pines and rhododendron trees then reaching at Takshindu pass at 3,070m marked with mani and chortens with grand views of Numbur, Kusum Kangguru, Thamersarkhu and Kantega peaks.

From here a long downhill walk to Nunthala through Takshindo village with an old monastery, continue descend through the forest and then reaching a farmland on the outskirt of the village, after reaching the bottom of Takshindo hill a short walk to Nuntahla also known as Manidingma, a large mid hill village of Rai tribe and Sherpa people.

max-altitude

Maximum Altitude

3,530 m.
meals

Meals

Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
activity-icon

Trek Duration

6 hours Trek
accommodation

Accomodations

Lodge

day 07 Trek to Bupsa Danda

The air gets much cooler as the walk leads closer to the Khumbu area after being in the Solu region, morning walk starts with a downhill through the forest area to the bridge over Dudh Kosi River, from here crossing the raging Dudh Kosi River.

Then leading on the slow winding uphill trail to Jubing village, around this area are warm with citric trees and plants, after Jubing following an uphill path to Kharikhola 2,200m, a large village with Sherpa and Magar inhabitants, after a  break here heading towards next hill.

After crossing a river tributary of Kharikhola, then it leads to a steep climb for an hour to our overnight stop at Bupsa a small village, located on the ridge overlooking fabulous views of rolling hills and valleys.

max-altitude

Maximum Altitude

2,250 m.
meals

Meals

Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
activity-icon

Trek Duration

6 hours Trek
accommodation

Accomodations

Lodge

day 08 Trek to Surkhe

From Bupsa a slow with steady walk reaching into the Khumbu region as the air gets much cooler from here onwards, morning walk starts with an uphill climb through mixed alpine forest and some small wild and bird life, like pheasant, which is abundant along this area.

The walk continues climbing over Kharte Dande passing at 3,880m high above the Dudh Kosi river, morning walk reaches Paiya village at 2,800m, a nice place in the middle of a forest.

From Paiya after lunch, walking on the winding trail, with a view of Lukla town and its airstrip, from the ridge top, our route descends to Surkhe village for the overnight stop, Surkhe located just below Lukla.

max-altitude

Maximum Altitude

2,295 m.
meals

Meals

Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
activity-icon

Trek Duration

6 hours Trek
accommodation

Accomodations

Lodge

day 09 Trek to Phakding

After Shurke morning heads towards the main trekking trail passing Muse and Chowri-Kharka farm village near below Lukla. Being in an isolated area for many days, from here onwards on the famous route to Everest Base Camp where the trail from Lukla joins at a small Choplung village, walking is easier and pleasant on the gradual path all the way to Phakding.

With a few small ups in between, reaching Tarhe Khola, with a wonderful view of Kusum-Kanguru 6,369m, after crossing the bridge with a short climb reaches to Ghat village, from here onwards an hour of pleasant walk to Phakding village for overnight stop by the bank of Dudh-Kosi River.

7 Days short Everest base camp trekking trail

max-altitude

Maximum Altitude

2,640 m.
meals

Meals

Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
activity-icon

Trek Duration

4 hours Trek
accommodation

Accomodations

Lodge

day 10 Trek to Namche Bazaar

After a nice morning, the walk continues crossing bridges over Dudh Kosi River passing several interesting villages of Toc-Toc, Bhenkar, and Monjo arriving at Sagarmatha National Park entrance gate.

From here on the river bed for a few hours and after the last bridge a steep uphill to Namche Bazaar, at Namche with facilities of good restaurants, pubs, cyber café, post office, and banks.

Everest-Base-Camp-Weather

max-altitude

Maximum Altitude

3,440 m.
meals

Meals

Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
activity-icon

Trek Duration

5 hours Trek
accommodation

Accomodations

Lodge

day 11 Rest day at Namche Bazaar for acclimatization and excursion

An ideal and perfect place for rest with acclimatization day, before heading higher altitude area, morning a short hike to Everest View Hotel or walk up on top a hill of Namche for views of Everest, Amadablam and adjoining peaks, visit the museum.

View-of-namche-bazar-and-mount-thamserku

max-altitude

Maximum Altitude

3,880 m.
meals

Meals

Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
activity-icon

Trek Duration

2 hours Trekking
accommodation

Accomodations

Lodge

day 12 Trek to Thyangboche

From Namche on gradual scenic path with downhill to Imjatse river at Phunge-Tenga for lunch, and then uphill through rhododendron, pines, firs tree forest with views of snowcapped peaks.

On reaching Thyangboche visit famous Buddhist monastery with magnificent panorama of Mt. Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse, Kangtenga, Thamasarku, Kwande and majestic Amadablam.

max-altitude

Maximum Altitude

3,867 m.
meals

Meals

Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
activity-icon

Trek Duration

5 hours Trekking
accommodation

Accomodations

Lodge

day 13 Trek to Dingboche

Morning downhill walk for few hours over Imjatse River, after the bridge walk on an open country where tree lines fades for few short juniper and  dwarf rhododendron bushes, uphill for a while to reach at Pangboche village at 3,900 meters. Last permanent village before Dingboche and beyond, from here a slow climb to Somara for lunch and continue walk with climb to Dingboche village for overnight stop, located in Imjatse valley with panorama of mountains.

max-altitude

Maximum Altitude

4,260 m.
meals

Meals

Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
activity-icon

Trek Duration

5 hours Trekking
accommodation

Accomodations

Lodge

day 14 Trek to Lobuche

After a great rest at morning walk with steep climb for an hour commanding excellent views, and then on gentle trail to Thugla for lunch where Khumbu glacier melts into a raging river, here trail from Pheriche joins after a break a steep climb for an hour to Thulga pass, with stone memorials of unfortunate climbers who died climbing Mt. Everest, Lhotse and other high mountains. From here a nice pleasant walk brings to Lobuche for overnight stop.

Ama dablam seen from dingboche village on everest highway in nepal

max-altitude

Maximum Altitude

4,930 m.
meals

Meals

Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
activity-icon

Trek Duration

5 hours Trekking
accommodation

Accomodations

Lodge

day 15 Trek to Gorak Shep and Everest Base Camp

Today reach the highlight of this adventure at Everest Base Camp, walk for few hours with short steep climb in between over glacier and moraine, reaching Gorakshep, beneath Mt. Pumori and Kalapathar.

Walk continues towards Everest Base Camp, at base camp enjoy the view of Khumbu Ice Fall and glaciers, after a lifetime experience return back to Gorakshep for overnight stop.

Entering-Everest-Base-Camp

max-altitude

Maximum Altitude

5,364 m.
meals

Meals

Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
activity-icon

Trek Duration

6 hours Trekking
accommodation

Accomodations

Lodge

day 16 Hike to Kalapathar trek to Pheriche

Early morning hike on top Kalapathar at 5,545 meters, highest point of this adventure, offering incredible views of mountains including Mt. Everest at close distance, after a great moment return to Gorakshep for breakfast and continue walk to Thugla, and then downhill to Pheriche windy valley after a nice pleasant walk reaching at Pheriche for overnight stop.

Kalapatthar view

max-altitude

Maximum Altitude

4,240 m.
meals

Meals

Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
activity-icon

Trek Duration

5 hours Trekking
accommodation

Accomodations

Lodge

day 17 Trek to Thyangboche

Return journey much easier on losing heights every few hours, walking downhill with few short ups to Pangboche and then to the bridge with two 2 hours climb to Thyangboche for overnight stop.

max-altitude

Maximum Altitude

3,867 m.
meals

Meals

Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
activity-icon

Trek Duration

5 hours Trekking
accommodation

Accomodations

Lodge

day 18 Trek to Monjo

After a great time descend to Imjatse River, with steep climb for an hour to Sanasa, from here on gradual path with short ups and downs to Namche Bazaar, a break here and then walk back to Dudh Kosi river valley and to Monjo for overnight stop.

max-altitude

Maximum Altitude

2,860 m.
meals

Meals

Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
activity-icon

Trek Duration

6 hours Trek
accommodation

Accomodations

Lodge

day 19 Trek to Lukla

Morning walk to Phakding from here a pleasant walk back to Lukla with last climb, on reaching Lukla celebrate last night dinner with fellow trekkers and staff.

Panoramic view of Lukla Airport, village, and Kongde Peak in the background

max-altitude

Maximum Altitude

2,840 m.
meals

Meals

Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
activity-icon

Trek Duration

4 hours Trek
accommodation

Accomodations

Lodge

day 20 Fly back to Kathmandu and transfer to respective hotels

From Lukla taking an early morning flight back to Kathmandu with views of mountains, at Kathmandu domestic airport our staff transfers you back to respective hotels with rest of the day free at leisure.

max-altitude

Maximum Altitude

1,300 m.
meals

Meals

Breakfast
activity-icon

Trek Duration

30 min
accommodation

Accomodations

Hotel

day 21 Flight to Kathmandu free day with sightseeing tour

We reserve this day in Kathmandu as spare day in case of flight delay and cancellation in Lukla, due to bad weather which might happen sometimes, as the Himalayan weather can be unpredictable if all goes according to our program, enjoy a free day with sightseeing tour of Kathmandu-Patan and Bhaktapur.

max-altitude

Maximum Altitude

1,300 m.
meals

Meals

Breakfast and Lunch
accommodation

Accomodations

3 Star Hotel

day 22 International departure homeward bound.

Last day in amazing Nepal and its massive Himalaya, after a memorable and fantastic adventure on the Original Way to Everest trekking experience, Life Himalaya staff transfer you to Kathmandu international airport for your flight back home or to your next respective countries.

max-altitude

Maximum Altitude

1,320 m.
meals

Meals

Breakfast
activity-icon

Trek Duration

15 min Drive

Original Way to Everest - Essential Information

Life Himalaya Trekking presents an awesome classic adventure following early pioneers and mountaineers route on “Original Way to Everest”. This is the same original and scenic trail to reach higher Khumbu and Everest base camp.

Truly a mesmerizing walking journey, starting with an interesting overland drive from Kathmandu to a lovely town at Jiri, (also known as Switzerland of Nepal) and heading further at Shivalaya village to begin this wonderful adventure following Tenzing-Hillary footsteps to Everest base camp.

On this Original Way to Everest enjoy the low Solu areas which is of mix tribes Tamang-Magar-Rai and predominately of Sherpa people, this makes this walk far interesting to witness the culture and traditions of the hills and farm life villages in the backdrop of high snowcapped peaks.

Crossing several high passes leading into lovely woodlands of tall rhododendron-magnolia-oaks-firs and pine tree lines visiting impressive villages of Kenja-Sete-Junbesi-Nunthala-Kharikhola to reach the main popular trail near Lukla.

From here on the mainstream trekking routes to Everest base camp with interesting time around famous Namche and scenic Thyangboche Monastery as the walk leads to higher moonscapes country enclosed within world highest peaks at Everest base camp.

After visiting spectacular areas of ice and snow fields beneath towering Everest then heading back downhill to Lukla for short scenic flight back to Kathmandu, on completing most enjoyable and fascinating Original Way to Everest.

Original Way to Everest Trekking offers views of Mt. Everest (8,848m / 29, 028ft) Lhotse (8,516 m-24,940 ft), Nuptse (7,855m-25,772 ft) and Lho – La or Khumbutse peak (6,036 m – 19,992ft) Mt. Lingtren (6,749 m / 22,142 ft) Changtse ( 7,583 m / 25,230 ft) Mt. Pumori (7,161 m / 25,772 ft)  Amadablam ( 6,812 m / 22,480 ft) Kangtenga (6,782 m / 22, 380 ft) Tharmarserku ( 6,623 m / 21, 855 ft)

Kwangde (6,011 m / 19,837 ft) Kusum Khanguru (6,373 m / 21,030 ft) holy peak of Khumbi-la (5,761 m / 19,012 ft) and as far world’s 5th highest Mt. Makalu (8,463 m / 27, 766 ft) with trekking peaks Island Peak / Imjatse (6,160 m / 20,328ft) Lobuje Peak (6,119 m / 20,192 ft) Pokhalde ( 5,806 m / 19,159 ft) and many other smaller unnamed peaks.

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