Trip Includes
- 9 Nights mountain lodges with necessary facilities on twin sharing basis.
- Three meals a day in the lodges during trekking.
- Kathmandu-Lukla airfare.
- Chartered helicopter for a return flight
- English speaking certified trekking Guide.
- One porter for every two trekkers.
- Trekking permits
- Trekking crew insurance.
- First Aid Kit
- Sleeping bag for use during trekking.
- A down jacket for the use during trekking.
- A duffel bag for you to use during trekking or keep with you.
Trip Does Not Include
- Hotels and services in Kathmandu.
- All expenses of personal nature such as drinks, tip, laundry, phone, etc.
- Extra expenses or loss caused due to nature and unforeseen events such as flight cancellation, road blockade, civil unrest, illness, accident, etc.
- Emergency medical transportation and evacuation expenses.
- Travel Insurance.
- International airfare to and out of Kathmandu.
- Meals other than listed in the itinerary.
- Personal trekking gears.
Trip Activity Level.
The Kala Pattar and Everest Base Camp Trekking is strenuous graded trekking, involving very high altitude that can pose a serious risk to an unprepared traveler. Most of the camp stops are at 3500m (11, 480ft) or higher and we have at least six nights at the altitude of 4000m (13, 120 ft.) or higher. We attaint the highest elevation of 5416m/17769ft on the top of Kalapattar, and our highest camp will be at Gorakshep at 5170 m/16,961ft. Everyone will experience some degree of altitude sickness when we reach at the elevation of 3000 m (9,840 ft.) or higher. But our itinerary is planned for a gradual gain of altitude and allows proper acclimatization. You are recommended to begin preparation several months ahead of the trip. We advise you to do some jogging, cycling, swimming or aerobics that helps build stamina in your body. It also increases your confidence level and of course, minimizes the chances of getting acute mountain sickness. We have to avoid dehydrating, and so we advise you to consume 3-4 liters of water daily and also liquid food in meals. Not sure if it has any medical grounds, but our Sherpa guides recommends garlic soup to treat the effects of the altitude. If you have any heart, lungs, or blood diseases, please, do consult with your physician before you sign up for this trip.
Besides the altitude, we must prepare for the harsh weather. While days are warm and sunny, temperatures during the morning, evening and nights can often be freezing below freezing point. We need protection against the intense ultraviolet rays as well as dry winds.
The trail has guesthouse accommodations with basic facilities with exception to some western standard hotels. Forget about the heating system of the west and developed countries. During the peak season, the guesthouses can be cramped with trekkers, and you have to be ready to sleep anywhere- in the dining room or kitchen! A hot shower will be a luxury, and if it exists, we have to pay extra. Usually, we don’t dare to take our clothes off, due to cold. Food and water quality will be low, and its recommended to pack vitamin supplement, dry foods, energy bars, etc. on your own to maintain your calorie requirement.
A typical trekking day
Each morning after packing our bags and having a good breakfast, we set off on the day's walk. All we need to carry is a small day pack containing a water bottle, camera, sun cream, hat, rain jacket, and warm jumper, just in case. The porters will carry the rest of our gear for us.
After walking for 3-4 hours, we stop for lunch at around midday. The afternoon's walk is generally shorter, and we usually arrive at our destination in time for afternoon tea. The remainder of the afternoon can be spent exploring the village, doing a bit of washing or simply relaxing with a good book. On some days we will arrive at our destination by lunchtime and the entire afternoon will be free.
After dinner, the evening will often be spent playing cards and reliving the day's adventures, before heading off to bed for a well-earned sleep. In the Everest Region and as at other High Himalayan region the temperatures are as follows from 2000m onwards.
Accommodations and facilities during trekking
We will sleep in the local lodges and eat our meals in the kitchen. The lodges or guesthouses are basic, and there will be dorm-style rooms with futon or foam mattress and quilt or blankets. We try to get a private room for two persons as far as possible. Toilet will be squat style. Hot shower, if it exists in the lodge, will be a luxury and is not included in the room rent. Local Sherpa families run the guesthouses. Staying in guesthouses allows befriending the locals and fellow international trekkers like you. We do not book the lodges in advance, but our guide will choose the best lodge available. Places like Lukla, Phakding and Namche Bazaar, has recently some upmarket accommodation which costs from $150 to $250 a night. The cost of this trip does not consider those upmarket accommodations
The trip does not include the accommodations in Kathmandu, but we will be more than happy to book it for you. You should plan a minimum of two nights before the trip and one night after the trip in Kathmandu.
Meals during trekking
Our trekking cost includes standard breakfast, lunch, and three-course dinners, followed by tea or coffee. The family cooks meals. As individual order takes time for a group, our Guide will order a set menu. Although the food is usually plentiful and delicious, you should be aware that the menu is not often extensive. Most teahouses offer a variety of rice and noodle dishes, as well as soup and seasonal vegetables. A variety of cereals, bread and egg dishes are generally available for breakfast. There will also be plenty of snacks available such as biscuits, chocolate, and soft drinks (extra cost). And in some areas, you will find fresh fruits in season. You can buy packaged water (bottled mineral water) from a local lodge and shop en route. Or you can also ask your guide to fill up your water bottle with boiled water and treat with water purification pills. Some lodges charge extra for filling up a bottle for the cost of boiling the water.
Guide and support staff
You will have local English speaking certified Guide, accompanying you as from Kathmandu. All Highland Asia Guides are trained by KEEP (Kathmandu Environmental Education Project) on first aid, environment, conservation, and biodiversity. As required by law, all our trekking guides are licensed by the Tourism Department’s academy. Most importantly, they are professional, helpful, and always willing to provide you with personalized care and services.
Your guide escorts you along the trail, selects the lodge for accommodation or camping site and help you choose your meal and deals with local bureaucracy whenever required. As you pay all trekking charges in advance, the guide will take care of all the purchases or charges on the way. We provide one porter for every two trekkers, and he carries 15 kilograms (33 lb.). We will hire porters locally at the village where your trek begins from, if not hired from Kathmandu. The guide and porters will have proper clothing and boots to survive the harsh weather of the mountains.
Packing Suggestions
- Kitbag (provided locally by Far & High Adventure travel.
- Radial compression sack (for the down jacket and pile pants, etc.).
- Down sleeping bag, 5 degrees F (Available on rental in Kathmandu).
- Walking-stick, collapsible.
- Cameras and film rolls.
- Medical and first aid kit.
- Toiletries kit (soap, shampoo, razor, toothbrush, etc.).
- Repair kit (tape, glue, safety pins, sewing kit, batteries, etc.).
- Water bottle (quart or liter).
- Iodine (Polar-Pure) for water.
- Boots (light-weight Gore-Tex).
- Tennis shoes.
- Shower thongs.
- Wool socks (2 or 3 pairs).
- Polypropylene socks (2 pairs).
- T-Shirts (2).
- Supplex nylon pants/shorts (convertible: these are wonderful).
- Nylon wind/rain suit (jacket and pants, breathable).
- Polyester pile jacket and pants.
- Down Jacket (available on rental in Kathmandu).
- Wool/Polypropylene long underwear (shirt and pants).
- Underpants (3 or 4).
- Woolen gloves.
- Woolen hat.
- Belt.
- Wristwatch.
- Matches and lighter.
- Swiss Army knife.
- Comb.
- Capilene shirt.
- Bandana.
- Pack towel.
- Gator Aid (for rehydration).
- Flashlight with headband and batteries.
- Spare glasses.
- Clip-on sunglasses.
- Sunscreen and lip guards.
- Lonely Planet: Trekking in the Nepal Himalaya (guide book).
- Notebook and pens.
- Padlocks and cable (for private room doors, securing pack).
- Luggage locks.
- Extra zip-lock bags.
Vaccinations
There is no mandatory vaccination unless you have traveled to the countries infected by Yellow Fever within the past six months. You must consult your physician for the proper advice. Most travelers consider vaccination against rabies and Hep A. As the trip involves high altitude, participants with heart and lungs issues, diabetic issues must consult with their physician before you sign up for this trip. You are responsible for determining that you are fit for the travel.
For general travel health advice and information on vaccinations, please, visit the site of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
International and Internal Flights
You need to book your international return airfare to Kathmandu on your own, or we can help you with that. This trip involves a domestic return flight to Lukla from Kathmandu which will be taken care of by us. The internal airfare is quoted separately in the trip cost section.
Passport Visa and Permits
Your passport must be valid six months beyond the last date of your trip. Make sure you have at least one blank visa page. Please provide us a color scans of your passport and headshot photo so that we can ready your trekking permit before your arrival in Kathmandu.
Booking and payment schedule
US$ 300 deposit is requested, along with the completed booking form. You can charge a credit card. Balance payment is due 90 days before the trip date. Balance payment by credit card attracts an additional 3.5% fee. For detailed information, please, visit Booking Terms and Conditions.
Travel Protection Plan
We plan and do our best to make your trip smooth and seamless. There may still be chances of unforeseen events and conditions such as illness, accident, inclement weather, flight cancellation or missed connection, loss of baggage, etc. that may cause interruption or delay or total cancellation of your trip putting your hard-earned travel investment in jeopardy. It’s also possible that you may need medical assistance, emergency evacuation, or medical transportation when you are traveling in remote areas. Far & High's cost does not cover any of these expenses or losses. So we strongly recommend you that you should protect yourself and your travel investment against those unfavorable conditions. We strongly encourage you to buy travel insurance for the protection of your travel investment and cover the expenses due to unforeseen events.