Ghorepani & Pun Hill Trek

ghorepani poon hill trek
Day 01: Arrival at Kathmandu and transfer to hotel.
On reaching Kathmandu via respective airlines, our TH staff will receive with courtesy transfer to hotels in the centre of Kathmandu around Thamel area, an interesting to be with many shops, stores and excellent world class restaurants, with time for short walk and to buy necessary items for the trip, in the hotel our guide will inform and brief regarding trekking and other important things.

Day 02: Fly to Lukla 2,830 m & trek to Phakding 2,640 m – 04 hrs.
An early morning start from the hotel with a short drive to Kathmandu domestic airport for super scenic flight of 35 minutes to Lukla with awesome views of mountains range, and the shortly landing at strange runways with an uphill, on reaching Lukla with time for rest and to refresh with morning tea and coffee and probably breakfast depending upon the time of arrival, from here a slow start passing the market with shops and stores in Lukla and heading downhill for a while, and then with short ups and gradual winding trail passing many farms and villages, Buddhist prayer monuments and views of snow capped peaks of Kusum Kanguru and Kwangde and finally reaching the overnight stop at Phakding by the river Dudh Kosi.

Day 03: Trek to Namche Bazaar 3,440 m – 05 hrs.
Morning walk of the 2nd day trekking starts with an easy walk with few ups following the river Dudh Kosi most of the way, crossing the same river by suspension bridge reaching at Monjo village a nice village with lodges catering the trekkers for many years, view of Thermasharkhu peak and Khumbi-la mountain the patron god of Khumbu area, Monjo is the entrance of Sagarmatha National Park at the park entrance a rest after getting the permits to travel this area requires Park permits with fees and as well TIMS ( Trekking Information Management System) after a brief rest here continue walk crossing the bridge over Dudh Kosi and to Jorsalle village for lunch, this is the only village for 2-3 hours till Namche is reached. From here walking on the river bed for a while and then after crossing the last bridge over Imjatse River (which joins Dudh Kosi) an uphill walk for few hours through beautiful alpine forest lined with rhododendron, pines and fir trees with awesome mountain scenery of Kwangde, Kusum kanguru if the day is clear view of Mt. Everest and Lhotse also, after a hard climb of few hours reaching at famous Namche Bazaar the Sherpa capital of Khumbu region with many houses with lodges, hotels, pubs, restaurant with fresh bakery and cyber café, health post, post office and banks.

Day 04: Rest day at Namche Bazaar for acclimatization and excursion.
An important and necessary to have a rest day or 2 nights at this altitude to safe guard from AMS (Acute Mountain Sickness) where drinking plenty of fluids helps but not alcoholic drinks which dehydrate you. In Namche optional walks around neighboring area up to Everest View Hotel (believed as world highest hotel at 3,880 meters) a 2-3 hours hike with promising mountain views with Mt. Everest and magnificent Ama Dablam peak, or walk to the top of Namche hill with aerial view of Namche with Mt. Everest, Lhotse, Tawache, Tarmasarku, Kwangde and Ama Dablam peaks and visit interesting museum with full of information of this Khumbu area, afternoon at leisure to browse around the bazaar with nice stores, this place is flooded with locals and trekkers on Saturday big market.

Day 05: Trek to Dole 4,200m – 06 hrs.

Morning with a short climb to the ridge above Namche and then on the pleasant walk for the first half an hour to the small tea shop of kenzoma with views of numerous mountains including mt Everest and surrounding beautiful landscapes and into a nice woodlands .

around this area might see some wildlife as this place is full of colorful Danphe pheasant (Impeyan Pheasant) National bird of Nepal and Musk Deers and Himalayan Thar (mountain goat).
After a pleasant walk from this place route diverts towards Gokyo Lake leaving the main trail towards Gokyo, leading with steep climb to Mong ridge top at 3,973 meters, from here descend to Phortse Thanghka near Dudh Kosi River.

After a brief stop here walk continues heading to Dole for overnight stop with an uphill through nice woodland of pines, birch and rhododendron trees then the vegetation changes to juniper and conifers bushes as the walk passes Tongba 3,950m and Gyele 3,960 m a small settlements before Dole, the final day walk completes at Dole with an impressive view of Khumbila and Tawache peaks.

Day 06: Trek to Machermo 4,410m – 04 hrs.
From Dole morning walk continues along the valley side to a near level path for an hour to reach at Lhabarma Kharka 4,325 m and Luza at 4,390m; after leaving these small settlement with good contouring the ridge top with views of Mt. Cho-Oyu and of Machermo village below on a glacial valley, from the ridge top descend to Machermo for overnight stop with afternoon free at leisure for acclimatization or for short walk around.

Day 07: Trek to Gokyo 4,790m – 04 hrs.
After this lovely spot at Machermo morning walk continues heading to our highlight of this trip at Gokyo Lake, as the trek slowly gains height moving further to a ridge top with grandeur view of high mountains, then reaching at Pangka a small place with few lodges, from here walk climbs to on a rocky trail into an open valley to reach the first lake, and then heading towards second lake, after passing these two glacial lakes reaching at Gokyo and its third lake which is also called as Dudh Pokhari.

Near the shore of Gokyo lake stands the lodges and guesthouses at 4,790 meters, in the early days it was a summer settlement of cattle and yak herders of Khumbu area before trekking started, on reaching Gokyo in time for lunch and overnight stop, with afternoon free for acclimatization a short walk around helps in this altitude offers fantastic views of world’s 6th highest Mt. Cho Oyo and Gyachung Kang reflecting on the emerald Gokyo Lake.

Day 08: morning hike to Gokyo Ri and trek to Thangnag 4,750 m – 04 hrs.
Starting very early morning to catch the sunrise over giant snow capped mountains from Gokyo Ri at 5,357 meters, which is the highest spot of this amazing trip, after a steep hard haul to the top looking around awesome panorama of world’s highest mountains from Mt. Cho Oyo 8,201 m straddling the border with Tibet along with Gyachung Kang, Mt. Everest 8,848 m world’s number one, then worlds fourth highest Mt. Lhotse 8,516 m, Cholatse, Taweche and to the east worlds 05th highest Mt. Makalu at 8,463 m. After a great time at the top Gokyo Ri a steep descent to Gokyo and continue walk for few hours after lunch walking along the glacier moraines to reach a small settlement at Thangnag for overnight stop on the base of Thso-la pass and at the edge of Ngozumba glacier.

Day 09: Cross Tshso-la 5,367m / 17,604 f and to Dzongla 4,850 m – 07 hrs.
Today, a great day to cross over high Tsho-la pass ( Chola) starting early with breakfast following the trail leading to a steep slope to cross a glacier on the eastern side. The ridge top of the pass at an altitude of 5,367meters might be quite arduous to cross when in snow conditions, on reaching the top offering wonderful views of high mountains with Cholatse Glacier, after a high moment then descend carefully to a small pond on route to Dzongla for overnight stop after a hard strenuous day.

Day 10: Trek to Lobuche 4,930 m – 05 hrs.
From Dzongla walk to Lobuche will be easy after the hard strenuous day crossing Tshola, morning walk follows a path that descents to yak grazing pastures.
Then it climbs to a terminal debris of Khumbu Glacier, and carries on with a nice gradual walk all the way to Lobuche for overnight stop, Lobuche a with 8-10 nice lodges tucked in a corner close to Lobuche peak.

Day 11: Trek to Gorak Shep 5,170 m and Everest Base Camp 5,364 m and return to Gorakshep – 06 hrs.
Today this awesome journey leads to our goal and highlight of this great trip, morning walk on the gentle slope for few hours passing near the metrological stations of glass pyramids managed by Nepal and Italian scientific on glacier of this area. From here walk leads over rocky moraine and ice and below Khumbu glacier with views of Everest, Nuptse and of Mt. Pumori and after crossing moraine area reaching at Gorakshep located on route Everest base camp and Kalapathar climb with Mt. Pumori soaring above this flat valley.

After a good rest continue walk for 2-3 hours to Everest Base Camp through glacier and moraine sections, on reaching at Everest Base Camp grand views of Nuptse, Lho-la, Changtse in Tibet and top of Everest with its notorious Khumbu ice falls and glaciers at near distance from the base camp. This desolate but tremendous spot feeling out of this world, in high expedition’s season around April and May this place is flooded with different groups of expeditions.

After an overwhelming moment retrace the walk back to Gorakshep for overnight stop after feeling high and at ease after reaching the goal of this trip.

Day 12: Hike to Kalapathar 5,545 m trek to Pheriche 4,130 m – 06 hrs.
Yet, another highlights of this trip to be accomplished climb to the top of Kalapathar the highest point of this adventure at 5,545 meters offering stupendous panorama of surrounding mountains with Mt. Pumori high above the rocky top of Kalapathar and view of Mt. Everest at mere distance, the climb leads for two hours on the steep path, on reaching enjoy the glamorous views on the highest spot of this adventure, from here reach Gorakshep for breakfast and continue descend towards Lobuche and to Thukla and then on the new trail to Pheriche, walk leads downhill for an hour and into the windy valley floor walking for an hour to Pheriche located on a wide valley with windy afternoon with views of Cholatse, Tawache and Ama Dablam, this place with HRA station (Himalayan Rescue Association).

Day 13: Trek to Namche bazaar– 06 hrs.
From Pheriche a pleasant walk to the river and then a short climb with a downhill towards Somare and Pangboche village . After panboche continue trek down to the river then walk almost the level route at Debuche through the green forest . After short climb to Tengboche (3867 m ) where the sits on famous Buddhist Monastery with splendid panoramic view of mountains including Mt. Everest , Trek heading downhill to Phunki thanka and cross the river then a steep climb about for an hour and with a gradual walk to Namche Bazaar .

Day 14: Trek to Lukla – 06 hrs.
Today the last walk of this wonderful adventure back to Dudh Kosi valley crossing the same river few times and to the national park entrance / exit gate and then to Monjo village after hours of walks, retracing on the same trail passing villages of Phakding, Benkar, Ghat, Choplung and from here the last climb of this trip for 45 minutes to Lukla, on reaching Lukla by afternoon or lunch time with time for stroll around Lukla bazaar.

Day 15: Fly back to Kathmandu and transfer to respective hotels.
Morning transfer to Tenzing / Hillary airport at Lukla, as per the flight time board the small plane Dronier or Twin Otter a short scenic flight of 35 minutes brings you at Kathmandu and then transfer to respective hotels, with afternoon free at leisure and souvenir shopping.

Day 16: In Kathmandu full day sightseeing tour.
Morning after breakfast at given time our city and cultural guide will guide you in and around Kathmandu at places of interest and importance, as Kathmandu Valley is full of World Heritage Sites the holy Pashupatinath temple, Bouddhanath (Little Tibet), Swayambhunath (Monkey Temple) & monasteries, ancient Kings Palaces and courtyard in Kathmandu; after an interesting sightseeing back to the hotel

Day 17: International departure for home ward bound.
Last day in Nepal, after a most memorable and overwhelming time in the high Himalaya with great service of Team Himalaya guides and staff, transfer to Kathmandu international airport terminal for your flight to respective countries.