Enjoy some of the most remote, scenic and challenging hikes in Nepal passing through the Sherpa homeland of Khumbu in the Everest Region. Take the path less traveled and pass through remote uncrowned areas along a hilly route to reach Everest. We will pass along a tranquil turquoise river viewing the diversity of the region as we change altitudes to capture jungle vegetation, terraced rice fields and snow-capped peaks along the way. Learn the ways of the mysterious Sherpa culture while taking a unique path including all the highlights of the Khumbu Region including sights of Everest, the Gokyo Lakes, Gokyo Ri and timeless untouched Sherpa villages to create the adventure of a lifetime.
The region below Lukla is home to the devout Buddhist Sherpa group. This mysterious group is known for their many gompas, ancient traditions and history for aiding travelers on their way to Everest. Further south you will find the Roi people know for wearing colorful lungis, woven vests, khukri knives and golden nose rings. The Roi practice a religion know as Mudam which is an ancient form of Animism performing many rituals with local holy men.
Upon your arrival in the Kathmandu airport (TIA), you will be greeted by a representative from the Good Karma Trekking team holding a sign with your name in the parking lot. After a brief introduction, you will be escorted to your hotel. After check in, and welcome drinks you will be free to explore around the backpacker haven of Thamel.
Today after breakfast we will start a guided tour to several of the most historical and spiritual attractions in Kathmandu including Durbar Square, and Pashupati temple that are both Unesco World Heritage Sites. You will also visit the famous 'Monkey Temple' (Swayambunath) and Buddhists shrine (Buddha Nath) that is one of the large Stupas in the world. Afterwards, you will meet with your trek leader for a briefing and a short question and answer section about your trip. You will also have time to shop for any additional trekking equipment with staff assistance if necessary.
We will take a short scenic flight to Tumlingtar located in Eastern Nepal to begin our trip through the Arun Valley. We will spend the day exploring the small town and its bustling street market before resting for the evening at a local guesthouse.
We will begin our journey through the valley following a small path connecting a series of small villages and guesthouses each with their own architecture and customs. Walk alongside mules and locals as we pass a suspension bridge along the Arun River. We continue along the riverside through traditional terraced fields before arriving at Chew Besi for lunch and some rest. We continue until we reach the town of Kartiki Ghat known for its bees and honey as we camp along the riverside.
We continue to the peaceful village of Balwa Besi along peaceful streams and a series of local suspension bridges passing through a tropical forest home to a wide range of flora and fauna. We move along a red mud path before stopping for lunch in Charlissay before entering the dense forest along the Irkhuwa River. We cross from Rai to Gurung territory passing several mixed ethnicity villages before arriving in Goethe Bazaar for the evening.
We continue through the papermaking town of Dhobani crossing a rusting path before passing over a quaint bamboo bridge. We continue past several simple villages build out of tradition materials with thatched roofs before starting a steep climb past a fishing area passing the famous waterfall steps before reaching Tala Phedi. After a short rest we will continue our tropical hike before arriving at our grassy campsite where we will spend the evening.
We take a short but challenging hike up to Jau Bari to break up the most strenuous uphill climb into two days. We will reach our Sherpa village destination with plenty of time to make camp offering views of the regions we have previously hiked including Salpa Phedi.
We take an early morning climb along a steep stone path offering views of towering hills and terraced fields lying below. We continue through a rhododendron-encrusted forest before stopping to explore a local Sherpa gompa before continuing to Guranse to take in a spectacular sunset over the scenic plateau.
We continue our climb into the Khumbu Region along a windy path before passing through a forest along several mani walls on the way to the Lidung Kohla. We then reach the town of Sanam known as the “land of the sky” by locals famous for its traditional yogurt. We will take some time to explore the village and meet with some locals to learn more about the culture and traditions of the local people.
We continue along a winding trail past a traditional fompa at Nimtsola before continuing along the hills and terraces leading to Gudel home to views of several quaint mountain villages. We will take time to explore this traditional village and its charming and hospitable inhabitants.
Today we will take a rest to fully explore the scenic and enchanting village of Gudel. Wander around the surrounding areas or chat with some locals to learn more about the town and lifestyle of the scenic mountain town.
We begin a long hike past the river over a long wooden bridge before passing the town of Bung on a traditional rock trail. Bung is known for its traditional millet beer and fruit market. We will continue to past the entrance of the Makalu Barun National Park before reaching a level grassy path on the way to Kiraunle where we will explore the famous and mysterious gompa before making camp for the night.
We continue to a scenic mountain crest past covered chortens and mani walls along a rhododendron forest. We reach the Surkie La pass and continue along a ridge offering the best views of Karylung, Khatang and Numbur. We take a steep descent along a bamboo forest to our hilly destination of Najing Dingma offering panoramic views making for a wonderful sunset destination.
We continue our trek to the seasonal grazing settlement of Gai Kharka located above the Inkhu Khola River. We move along a very steep bridge and slowly gain altitude passing by traditional Tibetan prayer flags before passing the grassy plateau of lower Shubuche. We will continue to the scenic village of Pangum known for its distinct architecture before taking in a panoramic sunset after crossing the river to Pangum.
We continue along a path featuring numerous mani walls along a wooden trail before stopping to rest at the town of Kharte. We reach the Khari La pass offering our first views ofKhumbu Yul Lha, and Gyachen Kang before continuing down a rocky trail to Puiyan. We continue along a small ridge to our destination of Phakepani where we will stay at a friendly guesthouse to stay with a local Sherpa family for the night.
We head out on a small pass through the hamlet of Surkhe offering views of the Kongde Massif and Lukla. We continue along a suspension bridge through Lukla and past several fields growing barley, vegetables and potatoes. We connect to the main Everest route at Lukla and will be joined with many more travelers as we continue our ascent through the Khumbu Region. We pass along the Dudh Kasi river along a shaky bridge offering views of the serene gokyo lakes and the Karylung peak. We then arrive in the town of Phakding for some rest at a local guesthouse.
Following breakfast we embark on a pleasant slightly uphill journey with multiple crossings over the Dudh Koshi River and magnificent views of Mt. Thamserku (6,608m/21,675ft) from the Benkar village. We will continue toward the entrance of Sagarmatha National Park at Monjo, where our trekking to register as official visitors to the region. Following a peaceful and serene descend and a gradual walk we will arrive in Lorsale. The enjoyable walk through the riverbed lead to the Hillary Suspension Bridge. As we continue our climb l towards Namche Bazzar, views of Kwangde Peak, its sister peaks, Kusum Kangaru, Mt. Everest, Lhotse, Tawache, are available and we will take a break at Chautara here to admire the view. Finally, we reach the bustling village of Namche Bazzar, the main gateway of the Khumbu region.
This is first scheduled 'acclimatization' day for this trek. It is advisable to stay active and keep moving during the acclimation period to familiarize your lungs with the thing air. We either spend the day taking a day hike to Thame or visiting Khunde or carry out relaxed exploration of Namche Bazaar itself. Namche Bazzar is the main center of the Everest (Khumbu) region and has government offices, ATMs, Internet cafes, shops, restaurants, a bakery and a colorful market each Friday Saturday evening. We will travel to the Tourist Visitor Center near Sagarmatha National to learn about the first climbers in Everest, Sherpa culture and the various plant and animal life of the Everest region. We also take an interesting side trip up to Khumjung to climb up to the famous airstrip at Syangboche offering timeless views of the highest mountains on Earth. The Khumjung valley is surrounded by the snowy peaks of Kongde and Thamserku and the sacred peak Khumbila which hosts a well-known monastery that houses a yeti scalp. We will stay overnight in Namche Bazaar.
We will continue through the traditional Sherpa villages of Khunde and Khumjung along a ridge offering views of Everest, Lhotse and Nuptse. This area is home to many local yaks and scenic gompas so we will continue at a leisurely pace to enjoy the sights. Khumjung is home to a famous monastery, which is home to a Yeti scalp along with interesting mountaineering and religious information. We will then continue along a scenic forest to Kyangjuma to catch a scenic Everest view sunset.
Today we continue uphill en route to Dole. The most strenuous ascent of the day comes along the pass to Mong La, a very charming town perched on the base of Mt. Khumbila. An ancient historical Chorten stands at the centre of the settlement where we will stop to admire the views of the surrounding snow-capped mountains and valleys while we have our lunch. The trail offers an abundance of plant vegetation including wildflowers and Rhododendrons while some will spot wild pheasants, mountain goats, and musk deer along the way. As we continue we will pass through forests, water falls and bridges before reaching Dole for the night.
We begin by climbing through a scenic ridge above the Dole as the trail passes via Lhabarma at 4220m to Luza at 4360m. The path is steep in most places and surrounded bu thorny bushes on the way to Lhabarma. Offering good views of Cho Oyu, Kantega, and Thamserku the trail takes us through many summer settlements and the charming hamlet of Luza (4360 m). While we ascend from Luza we will see the Dudh Koshi valley, which is a deep canyon with ridged sides. Walking along the path above Dudkoshi while passing through some small hamlets, we reach Machhermo. Machhermo is the last major settlement on the way up to Gokyo. The beautiful stream flowing down from the Kyajo Ri and Phari Lapche mountains runs through the middle of village before draining into the Dudh Koshi. The town is famous as the site where the Khumbu people spotted a Yeti in 1974. We will have the chance to visit the Himalayan Rescue Hospital here for a lecture regarding the altitude sickness, its precautions, and primary treatment.
Day 22Machharma - Gokyo (4800 m/15,744 ft): 4-5 hrs
Today, we climb through the Chorten ride offering views both down the valley and of Mt. Kangtega, Thamserku, as well as northern part of Cho-Oyu (8153m). Beyond the ridge the valley widens as the trail passes through Chorten and reaches Pangka (4480 m) after a gentle walk. Phangka is the site of a famous avalanche that tragically killed 40 people in 1995. We will descend along the riverbank before beginning to climb up to the terminal moraine of the Ngozamba Glacier. After a steep climb along the moraine, we cross an iron bridge over an stream that leads to the first lake, known as Longpongo at 4690m, where we get chance to observe ancient the Lama footprints timelessly captured in stone. At the sight of the second lake, Taboche Tsho you become mesmerized by the shimmering turquoise blue sheet of water sparkling in the sun. We will arrive at the third lake following surging stream before arriving at Gokyo village next to Gokyo lake. Cho-Oyu Mountain serves as an excellent backdrop offering spectacular sights combining the lakes with untouched mountains. After lunch, we will explore around Dudh Pokhari Lake before returning to Gokyo for the night.
Today is full day rest or an acclimatization. If the weather is good, we may take the opportunity to climb Gokyo Ri today instead of tomorrow to enjoy the scene from the best viewpoint of Everest Region. This view is a famous vantage point offering views of a series of six lakes in the region. The then trail continues along another lake before reaching Scoundrel’s Viewpoint that offers astounding views of Cho-Oyu, Gyachung Kang, Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse, and Makulu. We will continue until we reach Cho Oyu Base Camp and its breathtaking scenery surrounded by Cho Oyu and Gyachung Kang. The Northern part of the lake provides fabulous views of Cho-Oyu Base Camp and bNgazumpa, the largest glacier in the world. We will then return back to Gokyo village for the night.
If the weather was not appropriate for Gokyo Ri yesterday it will be completed today. Gokyo Ri is the highlight of this trip. Early morning, we will hike up the to Gokyo Ri (Gokyo Peak). Climbing to Gokyo Ri can be strenuous as the path is steep takes about 3 to 4 hours to reach the top. The hike includes vies of Gokyo village on the edge of lake beside Cholatse and the broad Nogzumpa Glacier. At Gokyo Ri we will be surrounded with panoramic views of mountains like Kusum Kanguru, Thamserku, K 43, Kangtega, Taboche, Cholatse, Makalu, Lhotse, Nuptse, Everest, Changtse, and Pumori. Our Gokyo Ri visit will provide unforgettable life time memories before we continue our trek down to Gokyo for the night.
We continue along the west bank of the river along the lakes to the hamlet of Na before crossing along the western side of Cholatse and Taboche. We will stop to admire the perfect views of Cho Oyu and the Valley before continueing to Phortse. We will visit the famous Phortse gompa before exploring the narrow alleys of the regions oldest village.
Today offers a much easier walk down to the lower altitudes following the same route back along the terminal moraines at Dughla. As we pass the wide valley of Khumbu Khola, we will see the beautiful Sherpa villages of Pheriche, Orsho, and Shomare. We might take a different trail to visit the Gompa in Upper Pangboche or take the regular trial to reach Pangboche. From Pangboche we retrace our footsteps down to the Imja Khola and up through the forest to Debuche. Before visiting nuns at the Debuche monastery. If we are trekking during the full moon of November or December, we might get and opportunity to witness the Mani Rimdu festival in the monastery at Tengboche. After having lunch at Tengboche, we continue through the hillside blanketed by rhododendron and juniper trees. After lunch, we will cross the prayer flag bridge over the Dudh Koshi River before passing the Dudh Koshi gorge descending rapidly through the pine forests. As the path approaches Sansa. We may spot mountain goats, snow leopards, colorful pheasants and other animals indigenous to Khumbu. After passing Chorten, we reach the army camp camp hill offering one last look at Lhotse, the tip of Everest and Tengboche. After a short walk well will arrive back at Namche
The trail descends steeply downward so we need to walk slowly and under control as our shaky legs continuously battle the rocky terrain. After crossing the suspension bridges over the fast flowing Dudh Koshi and its tributaries the trail becomes more level and natural. Although we are travelling the same route down, you will see completely different views offering looks at a mixture of open plains, rhododendron and pine forests surrounded by snow covered peaks. We pass through the Sherpa villages' noticing impressive faith in Buddhism and culture of prayer stones and flags along the way. On arrival in Lukla, we will relax before culminating our trek on a happy note with a small overnight celebration featuring local song and dance in Lukla.
Flights to Kathmandu are usually scheduled for morning due to potential complications with afternoon wind patters. We fly back to Kathmandu after our long mountain journey where you can rest and relax throughout the day in your hotel or continue to familiarize yourself with Kathmandu. This is a great time to venture out in Thamel for typical Nepalese goods and souvenirs with staff assistance if desired. Take time to shop and explore before the celebration dinner in Kathmandu.
If you schedule allows it you will have a free day to explore the spiritual city of Kathmandu. Wander the backpacker haven of Thamel, visit new temples or do some souvenir shopping at the charming shops. We will arrange a farewell diner for your last night ensuring you try all of the local dishes and native cuisines.
Depending on your flight time you may be able to see a few more attractions in Kathmandu before departing approximately 3 hours before the scheduled flight time. You will be escorted to the airport with a representative from Good Karma trekking staff. After our farewells, you will have plenty of time to plan your next adventure in Nepal with Good Karma, as one time is never enough.
Includes
Airport pick up & Transfer to hotel
Hotel accommodation in Kathmandu on BB basis (Tourist Standard Hotel to Five Star deluxe Hotel in Kathmandu as you prefer)
Government license holder Trekking Guide.
Trekking porter /Sherpa who will carry your bag pack during the trekking.
Three time meal during the trekking Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.
Down jacket, four seasonal sleeping bag, Good Karma Trekking duffel bag, t-shirt, and trekking map (down jacket and sleeping bag are to be returned after trip completion)&( optionally if you have your own bags, down jackets and wants to use your own you are free to bring them)
Kathmandu valley sightseeing tour with private vehicle as mentioned in itinerary
Trekking guide and porters accommodation, fare, meal, equipments and salary & Insurance
All program as mentioned in itinerary.
Government Tax and office service charge.
Welcome Dinner
Airport drop
Excludes
Nepal Visa fee
International airfare to and from Kathmandu
Extra night accommodation in Kathmandu
Lunch & Dinner during Kathmandu stay
Personal expenses (phone calls, laundry, bar bills, battery recharge, extra porters, bottle or boiled water, Soft drinks such as cola, , shower & any Purely personal nature expenses etc)
From the moment we stepped outside Kathmandu airport we knew we were in good hands. Raj and his professional team had taken care of everything. Our trek to Everest Base Camp is one we will remember for a long time. From accomodation, to meals, guide and porters. Everything went smoothly. Even the tricky weather in Lukla didn't hold us up too much. The tour of Kathmandu was great and we especially enjoyed the opening dinner that Raj planned for us.
I highly recommend Good Karma Trekking.
We are planing to return to Nepal and trek the Annapurna Circuit. We will definitely book with Raj and Good Karma Trekking again.
Best travel agency, very helpful and friendly staff. They offer great possibilities for trekking, excursions, help take care of all permits. Great company, wonderful trip, friendship for life. I would recommend!
Booked my first trip to Nepal with Good Karma after some recommendations on Tripadvisor. From my first email I was impressed with the level of attention I received and how flexible they were (something I couldn't get with several other other companies I and contacted). Had a great trip including sightseeing in Kathmandu and trekking to Everest base camp, and everything went extremely smoothly (except for the weather). Just returned from my second trip there and already planning my third. Its an amazing country, and Raj and the Good Karma team made it a great experience. Happy to answer any questions people have.
Kind, attentive, honest, dedicated attention is awaiting on your travels with Good Karma. I went to the Everest Base Camp(14 days), Bhutan (4 days) and the Chitwan game preserve (3 days) with them and was very well treated at a great price.
I recommend them for travel in Nepal under reliable conditions.
I will be glad to answer any inquiries on their subject.
A perfect travel partner on the foothills of Hiamalayas. I can proudly recommend my near and dear to Good Karma. Thanks a lot Good karma for excellent services on our trek.
I have traveled in many countries, but my experience in Nepal was special, thanks to Raj and his team who organized the exceptional way to all desired goals in this expedition which I had in Nepal and Tibet this autumn. I hope with all my heart to revisit again because I really miss Nepal. I started learning Hindi language since a few days.
So, Raj, Biji, I feel like I will visit you again! There are a lot of places that I have not seen yet! GOOD KARMA TREKKING is the best Agency for me!
Raj was knowledgeable and more than accommodating during our travels. We used Good Karma Trekking to book a trek to Annapurna, do white water rafting, and visit the elephants. It was one of the best trips I've had in my life and I've been to over 50 countries now. I would strongly recommend them to anyone who is traveling to Nepal and seeking a professional and friendly travel agency
BOOKING WITH KARMA: I booked a one-person tour to the Annapurna Circuit during the off season in August. During my inquiries with various trekking companies, Raj from Good Karma replied promptly and was always making sure that my needs were met before, during and after the trek. He was very flexible with whatever mode of transportation I desired to use even if it was just a couple of days in advance (including a flight from Pokhara to Kathmandu with two days notice) . THE TOUR: The tour itself was amazing. True, the Annapurna Circuit can be done with no guide. But Raj provide me with none other than a Sherpa guide would allowed for easy communication with locals and got the best rooms and meals in all the lodges. He also knew where the shortcuts are and made sure my safety was a priority (specially with altitude sickness). TRANSPORTATION : Always keep in mind that Nepal is not the most developed nation in terms of infrastructure and road systems. I highly recommend getting a private vehicle. The drivers that Raj provides are some of the best I've seen even though they drive like maniacs. I felt relatively safe compared to a tourist bus/local bus. These are worse and the safety standards are very low OVERALL: I highly recommend this tour company. Make sure you communicate with Raj constantly so he knows what your needs are.
Had an unforgettable experience trekking the Annapurna Circuit with Good Karma in 2012. Nabraj and his team are knowledgable, passionate and great hosts, and are genuine in providing the best experience possible. They went above and beyond to cater to our interests and provided outstanding hospitality. Nabraj has become a good friend since, we are regularly in touch and I look forward to joining Good Karma on a trek again soon!
I worked with Good Karma Trekking a few years ago when they organized a trip through Nepal, Tibet and Bhutan for me and a group of almost 30 people. They were the best choice for our trip. The hotels they booked, the accommodation, the vehicles used for our transportation were all top class. Raj and his team really know their country (and the neighboring countries) and are able to custom made programs that suit each and every individual on a group, no matter the size. We particularly enjoyed the trips around Kathmandu valley, up to Nagarkot, down in the jungle in Chitwan and resting at the foot of Anapurna in Pokhara. Raj even organized some trips that were not in the initial schedule and which were greatly appreciated - for instance the visit to Kopan Monastery in Kathmandu.
I was also on the group that took a tour of Tibet with Good Karma Trekking. Everything went smooth, from crossing the border into China to altering the program so we could stay at a lower altitude when some of our colleagues felt sick.
For all of us on that trip Raj also became a good friend and we kept in touch ever since.
Whenever I hear someone thinking of visiting Nepal I always recommend Good Karma Trekking. I am also sure that next time myself and any other member of the group would want to go to the Himalayan region Good Karma Trekking would be our first choice.
I went on a one month trip to Nepal with Good Karma Trekking, and I must say it was really amazing! Well worth the time and the cost of traveling there! Part of what made my experience so wonderful was the guide that I had. His name is Raj Ghimire, and he is the sole proprietor of GOOD KARMA TREKKING LTD. He is a truly honest guy, with a very kind heart, and I believe that he would give you the BEST Nepal experience, no matter where in the country you want to travel. When my friends and I were over there, he treated us like family (no, I'm not exaggerating), and I still stay in touch with him. His rates are GREAT too! And if you need porters, tea house reservations, or a personal driver to show you Kathmandu or Chitwan Park, he did ALL of these arrangements for us.
This was literally the best experience I've had with a travel company anywhere in the world. They are efficient, culturally smart and very friendly. They even went out of their way to help with issues that were not necessarily part of our contract. I will definitely trust them to organize any trip for me in the future.
Good Karma organized everything for my trip including city tours, travel, hotels and trekking. They were very professional and helpful creating a trip that included what i wanted to see and not just the standard itinerary. The owner Raj even helped bargain for lower prices on souvenirs and trekking equipment while i was in Kathmandu. He also showed me some of his favorite restaurants and some of the local specialties and offered me some wild honey from his home town. The trek went great and the guide was very knowledgeable about the trails and flora and fauna of the himalayas. I have done a trip with abovethehimalays before and the service and price of Good Karma was much better. I would suggest this company to anyone looking for an authentic experience.
We had a great experience with Good Karma Trekking in Kathmandu, Nepal. Raj, the owner of the company, was very helpful. He has an excellent knowledge about the Kathmandu area, and generally about Nepal. He is more than a usual travel agency, passionate about his work, and about promoting the Nepal sights. I am sure that we will use his services again when we return to Nepal, hopefully soon.
Your Good Karma always brings you upto Good Karma trekking. Leave everything on their hand and simply discover your Good Karma. They are perfect to plan your Nepal, Tibet, India and Bhutan program.
I met Raj in Kathmandu through a mutual friend and I've been amazed by his hospitality and generosity. They gave me all the informations I needed about the transportation, treks and more! Thank you for your kindness and your support and I really hope to meet you again! Cheers
Fantastic experience with Good Karma Trekking. Always keen to help and to make sure you are well taken care of in Nepal. Would not hesitate to recommend them to friends and family!
I was In Nepal last year and I really enjoyed the time. I must say that the service offered by Good Karma Trekking is excellent. I would recommend it to all, if you went to Nepal.
I used Good Karma Trekking for a first trip to Nepal in Nov 2011 and from the moment of contact the trip went very smoothly. I would highly recommend this company and would be happy to be contacted independently to provide a review.
En 2012 tuve el agrado de conocer a Nabraj Ghimire en Katmandú. Su ayuda en una país desconocido me sirvió de mucho. Es una persona honesta y desinteresada que realiza su trabajo con vocación.
