Everest Dingboche Valley Trek

Lukla Altitude: 2,860 meters
Phakding Altitude: 2,610 meters
Flight Duration: 35-40 minutes
Trek Distance: 8-9 kilometers
Trek Duration: 3-4 hours

Your trip starts with an early morning flight from Kathmandu to Lukla which is one of the most thrilling flights on the planet. The plane ascends over rolling hills and rivers, giving you marvelous views of the Himalayas, before landing at Lukla Airport, which is on a hill slope.

At the airport, there will be your guide and he will take you to your trekking crew and serve you a delicious breakfast. After a short break, you will begin to walk on the world-famous Everest trail.

The Lukla to Phakding trek is an easy and gradual descent that lasts about 3-4 hours. The path goes through beautiful Sherpa villages, suspension bridges with colorful prayer flags and pine and rhododendron forests. En route, you will pass Chheplung and Ghat and finally reach Phakding, a nice, quiet village beside the Dudh Koshi River.

Stay in a local teahouse for the first night. You will have time to relax, have a hearty meal and prepare your body for the more difficult days of the trek ahead.

Namche Altitude: 3,440 meters
Trek Distance: 10-12 kilometers
Trek Duration: 5-6 hours

After eating breakfast in Phakding, the trek continues northerly along the Dudh Koshi’s sides. Crossing several suspension bridges with fluttering prayer flags in the mountain breeze, you will move forward. You will walk past small hamlets such as Toktok, Benkar, and Monjo before entering the Sagarmatha National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage listed area.

The path slowly goes up through pine and rhododendron forests, with the river’s sound vibrating underneath. The landscape becomes more and more spectacular as you see the Thamserku and other white-capped summits behind.

The Hillary Suspension Bridge to Namche Bazaar is the last part of the day but the most difficult one. It is a sharp ascent that gives you the first view of Everest if the sky is clear.

Namche is the biggest Sherpa community in the Khumbu area. It is a bustling trade center filled with cozy teahouses, bakeries, shops, and internet cafes. Once you reach here, have a hot meal and recuperate before venturing towards the more remote trails of the Everest region.

Hotel Everest View Altitude: 3,880 meters
Trek Distance: 4-5 kilometers
Trek Duration: 2-3 hours

After the two-day period of steady ascent, today is set aside for acclimatization at the strategic location of Namche Bazaar (3,440 meters). This is the necessary aid to your body for getting used to the higher altitude.

You can take short hikes to the height and then sleep at the previous lower elevation of Namche. A scenic hike to the Everest View Hotel, one of the highest-located hotels in the world, will be the morning’s first activity. The trail gives a breathtaking opportunity to see the peaks of Mount Everest, Ama Dablam, Lhotse, and Nuptse.

The path leads to the villages of Khunde and Khumjung, areas of the main cultural settlements of the region with their rich tradition and hospitality. Visit the Khumjung Monastery, where a real Yeti scalp is said to be preserved. Likewise, tour the Hillary School that was founded by Sir Edmund Hillary as a form of support for local education. Then, you will be back at Namche Bazaar in the afternoon.

For the rest of the time, you can visit the local bakeries and markets or even take a trip to the Sherpa Museum to discover the mountaineering history. This day not only acclimatizes your body but also deepens the connection with the rich Sherpa culture and the awe inspiring Himalayan environment.

Tengboche Altitude: 3,867 meters
Trek Distance: 10-11 kilometers
Trek Duration: 5-6 hours

The day’s hike leads to the most picturesque and spiritually rewarding part of the Everest Base Camp trek. Starting from Namche Bazaar, the trail first winds around the slopes giving the best view of the four tallest peaks in the world, Mount Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse and Ama Dablam. Then it goes up and down between the red rhododendron and green pine trees with the view of Dudh Koshi River some distance below.

You will walk past small settlements like Kyangjuma and Phunki Tenga and cross a hanging bridge before starting the uphill hike through the aromatic woods. While it is tough the views and fresh mountain air that come with every turn make you want to go further.

The moment you get to Tengboche, the ancient Tengboche Monastery which is the biggest one in the area, gives you calm spiritual vibes and vistas of the Ama Dablam and Everest mountains. The sunset here is wonderful with mountains bathing in the golden light.

After touring around the monastery grounds, you will spend a night at a nearby teahouse. You will enjoy a warm meal and get time to immerse yourself in the tranquil atmosphere of this spiritual Himalayan village.

Dingboche Altitude: 4,410 meters
Trek Distance: 11 kilometers
Trek Duration: 5-6 hours

The hike from Tengboche to Dingboche presents a stunning combination of the calmness of nature and dramatic high mountain views. After having breakfast, the hike gently begins to go downward through the rhododendron, birch and conifer trees with fresh air and birds’ sounds.

The trail rises again when you are walking over the Imja Khola River, traversing small Sherpa towns like Debuche and Pangboche. Ama Dablam, Thamserku, and Kangtega take over the horizon with their snow-covered tops shining under the sun. As you move forward, the forest slowly gives way to the wide and open alpine meadows.

When you pass Pangboche the scenery turns into a wild highland region with little vegetation and vast, gusty, cold valleys. The decrease in the amount of oxygen in the air will be noticed as you go up, so maintaining a slow but steady pace is important. Finally, you will arrive at Dingboche, a broad area embraced by huge mountains and plots of land divided by stone walls.

The afternoon is ideal for a slow walk through the village. You can take amazing pictures with Ama Dablam soaring up to the south and the Lhotse-Nuptse wall that stretches to the north.

It’s your free day today, which is meant to give you time to explore this mountain hamlet and adjust to the thinner air. You can take short hikes to the nearby viewpoints that are both rewarding and beneficial.

The much-visited hike is to Nangkartshang Hill (around 5,100m). While the path is steep, you are treated to the enthralling vistas of Ama Dablam, Makalu, Lhotse and the huge Imja Valley below the mountains. The hike takes about two or three hours and offers one of the best panoramic views from the top throughout the trek.

After coming back to Dingboche for lunch, you have the options of either taking the afternoon shower, visiting the village, or simply chatting with other trekkers in the warm tea houses. The stone-walled fields and quiet alleys of Dingboche create a serene atmosphere that beautifully contrasts with the severity of the neighboring mountains.

The night is an opportune time when Dingboche sky is filled with an infinite number of stars and the ridges of mountains shimmer in the moonlight. It is a serene and awe-inspiring moment before you retrace your steps on the trail.

Trek Distance: 11-12 kilometers
Trek Duration: 5-6 hours

After the exploration and acclimatization day in Dingboche village, a descent to Tengboche is the next step. The trail presents a delightful view of Ama Dablam, Lhotse, and several other peaks slowly revealing themselves in different directions.

While descending, the thickness of the air increases and walking is not as hard as during the climbing process. The track also leads through small Sherpa villages and alpine pastures giving you a chance to enjoy the Kumbu region’s cultural and natural charm.

Along the path, you’ll pass through Pangboche where the ancient monasteries and prayer walls are adjacent to the trail. The last part to Tengboche has you going through the rhododendron forests and crossing the suspension bridges above the glacial streams.

When you reach Tengboche, the tranquil mood allows you to take a break and think about the trip that you have done so far. You can devote the evening either to enjoying the view of the mountains or joining the monastery’s evening prayers.

Monjo Altitude: 2,853 meters
Trek Distance: 15-16 kilometers
Trek Duration: 5-6 hours

After a serene night at Tengboche, the path drops to the valley along the Dudh Koshi River with eye-catching views of Everest, Ama Dablam, Thamserku and more. The village of Phunki Tenga goes by after which you will cross a suspension bridge.

Then the tranquil uphill trail leads you in a gentle manner towards Namche Bazaar. This mountain town, which is bustling with cafes and shops is a nice place to take a break for refreshments.

From Namche, you will make a long descent at a slow and steady pace down the trail heading towards the Sagarmatha National Park entrance. The path winds across the Dudh Koshi Valley with its serpentine rivers, hanging bridges, and tiny villages like Jorsalle.

The forests and the river sounds are your companions till Monjo, where the day’s trek ends. It is a peaceful village in the lap of nature where you stay at the comfortable lodges after a long day of a downhill walk from Tengboche.

Trek Distance: 12-14 kilometers
Trek Duration: 5-6 hours

The last part of the Everest Dingboche Trek retraces from Monjo to Lukla. The trail at first goes down gently, following the Dudh Koshi River through pine and rhododendron forests. You will pass familiar villages like Phakding, Chheplung etc. On the way, you will cross several suspension bridges with prayer flags.

Trailing towards Lukla, the route is gradually uphill, the final climb of the trip. You will finally get in town the very place where your Everest experience started. In the evening, you will often have a small party with your fellow trekkers, guides and porters.

The celebration with a warm meal and shared laughter in Lukla’s comfortable lodgings makes the night memorable. Plus, the stunning views of the surrounding mountain peaks give an appropriate close to the lifetime journey across the Khumbu region.

Kathmandu Altitude: 1,400 meters
Flight Duration: 35-40 minutes

After an early breakfast in Lukla, you will take a short walk to Tenzing-Hillary Airport for the picturesque flight back to Kathmandu. If the weather is good, the quick 35–40 minutes trip will give you the last opportunity to see the Himalayas, including the views of Everest and the adjacent peaks. As the aircraft makes a downward movement, the mountain scenery slowly changes into the green hills and the busy Kathmandu Valley below.

When you reach Kathmandu, we will get you transferred to a hotel where all the city’s luxuries await you, mainly the hot showers, tasty food, and a much-needed nap. You can spend the rest of the day resting, buying gifts to take home, or going to see the lively streets of Thamel.