Sherpa Heritage Trek with Everest Heli Tour - 11 days

A guide representing Third Rock Adventures will greet you at the airport and drive you to Hotel Shanker, a luxury heritage hotel. Check in and spend some time resting. Later in the day, you can attend a trip briefing at Third Rock Adventures' Office or the hotel lounge. Meet your trek guide and the rest of the members (if you are joining a group). Pack your stuff and get ready for your adventure.

Overnight in Kathmandu at Shanker Hotel.

Since it gets very windy and cloudy in the mountains as the day progresses, flights to Lukla are scheduled early in the morning. You have an early start and reach the airport on time to catch your flight. Flying over some of the highest peaks and landing at the narrow airstrip in Lukla is one of the highlights of your trip.

Once you reach Lukla, the luggage is sorted, and you begin your trek carrying a light daypack. A porter will carry your heavier luggage. Leaving the busy town, you head down a path to the Dudh Koshi River. It is a short walk to Phakding, which lies on a verdant valley on the side of a river. You cross a metal bridge over the thundering river to reach the village.

You spend your first night at the splendid Yeti Mountain Home lodge on the mountain.

Overnight in Phakding.

Today's walk takes you on a picturesque trail filled with pine forests, waterfalls, and mani stones. You walk past pretty Sherpa villages dotted with potato patches and stone houses. At Monjo, you enter the Sagarmatha National Park, one of the oldest national parks in Nepal and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

You cross swaying suspension bridges over rivers that have made their way from as far away as Tibet. White chortens and stone boulders carved with Buddhist mantras stand on the wayside, promising divine protection to travelers. Crossing the Hillary Bridge, you arrive at a viewpoint from where you have your first glimpse of Mount Everest.

On arriving at Namche, you ascend to the top of the town to reach Yeti Mountain Home, your stop for the night. Enjoy a beautiful perspective of Namche Bazaar and the surrounding peaks from the lodge. After a hot shower and a warm and delicious meal, you are ready to call it a day.

Overnight in Namche Bazaar.

You spend one more day at Namche exploring the town and visiting two important Sherpa villages – Khumjung and Kunde.

Leaving Namche, you take a steep path and hike up a series of stone steps. You walk past the deserted airfield of Shyangboche(an open pasture now used as a grazing field) and walk up to one of the highest hotels in the world, Hotel Everest View. Enjoy stunning views of Mount Everest, Ama Dablam, Kantega, Thamserku, Nuptse, Lhotse, Kongde, and Khumbila from the hotel's sundeck.

Afterward, you head down to Khumjung, a large village with the oldest school in Khumbu. Sir Edmund Hillary established the school to provide education to the Sherpa kids. Walk to the school and explore the beautiful Khumjung Monastery. Later hike to the neighboring village of Kunde and visit the Kunde Hospital, which caters to the Sherpa population living in these high altitude villages.

You walk back to Namche and explore the bustling town. Namche Bazaar is a trading hotspot and the capital of the Sherpas. 

Overnight in Namche.

It's a tough hike from Namche to Debuche. But the amazing scenery throughout the trail makes you forget your pain. You take a steep path leading right out of the town and walk on it before reaching the flat ground. You walk up and down a forested gorge and stop at Tengboche for exploration.

This Sherpa village is home to Tengboche Gompa, one of the most important Buddhist monasteries in the Everest Region. Mani Rimdu, a sacred Buddhist Festival celebrated only by the Sherpa community in Khumbu, is held here. Walk around the village and visit the monastery. Continue your descent towards Debuche. You take a downward trail through a pristine forest and reach Debuche in less than twenty minutes. Accommodation for the night is arranged at the best available local teahouse.

You are likely to encounter the endangered Himalayan Musk deer and Himalayan Tahr on your walk as the forests of Tengboche, Debuche, and Phortse are the habitats of most of the endangered Himalayan wildlife existing in this region.

Overnight in Debuche.

Today we hike to the ecotourism village of Phortse. With about 80 Sherpa households occupying the village, this is one of the highly populated villages at this elevation in Khumbu. The dense forest of juniper, rhododendron, and birch, which lies close to the village, is the habitat of Himalayan tahr, snow leopard, and the colorful Himalayan Monal.

The villagers perform Sherpa cultural show on request. From Phortse, one can enjoy close-up views of snow cloaked Cho Oyu (the sixth highest mountain in the world), Thamserku, Jasemba Peak, and Namgpai Gosum. 

After spending some time at Phortse, you retrace your step to Debuche.

Overnight in Debuche.

Leave the village and follow a forested trail. You can hear the Milingo Khola (river) flowing below the trail. The trees growing close together, covered by moss, look like the forests of the Middle Kingdom (The Lord of the Rings). Cross the Milingo Bridge and climb on a steep trail.

The path meanders past pretty Sherpa villages and fields bordered by stone walls. As you go higher, the tree line disappears, and you can see the change in the landscape. The vegetation is sparse and bare. You can feel the altitude as Dingboche lies 4000 meters above sea level. Once you arrive at Dingboche, you head to a local lodge and enjoy a restful night.

Overnight in Dingboche.

You spend this day exploring the village and resting at the lodge. If you feel inclined to engage in a more adventurous activity, you can hike up Nagarjun Hill, which lies close to the village. It takes around 4-5 hours to ascend to the lookout point and return to the village. From the vantage point, one can enjoy panoramic views of Cho Oyu, Lhotse, Makalu, and Ama Dablam.

Overnight in Dingboche.

After an early breakfast, you pack your stuff and head to the helipad. You board a helicopter and fly towards Everest Base Camp. The views of the glaciers and the mountains are incredible. You enjoy an aerial view of EBC, Khumbu Icefall, and Western Cwm.

The pilot lands the aircraft for a couple of minutes at Kala Patthar, the most popular viewpoint in the Everest Region. Jaw-dropping views of Mount Everest, Pumori, Lhotse, Nuptse, Changtse, Ama Dablam, and Thamserku keep you enthralled.

After taking pictures, you will fly back to Lukla. From Lukla, you catch a plane bound for Kathmandu. Enjoy the hair-raising take-off on the steep runway and breathtaking views of the mountains for one last time. Once you reach Kathmandu, we will drop you at the luxurious Hotel Shankar, your address in the city.

Overnight in Kathmandu at Shanker Hotel.

A free day for you to do whatever you like. You can book a sightseeing tour with Third Rock Adventures or explore the city on your own. You can visit the local market and shop for souvenirs. Branded goods (perfume, clothes, shoes, etc.) are cheaper here.

Overnight in Kathmandu at Shanker Hotel.

Your trip ends, and you bid farewell to Kathmandu. A guide from Third Rock Adventures will drop you at the airport three hours before your scheduled departure. If you have more time on your hands, you can explore more places in Nepal – Pokhara, Chitwan, etc. We also run tours to Tibet, Bhutan, and India.