Lobuche Peak Trek

Day 1 Arrive in Kathmandu – 1,400m

On your arrival day at Kathmandu International Airport, our group will arrange for a transfer to a hotel where you’ll spend the night through our package. Please be aware that trekking accommodations will be shared. If you would like an earlier start time, we can book extra nights in a hotel for you at no additional charge. In the evening, we’ll gather for a group orientation where we will review our itinerary as well as address any concerns you might have.

Day 2: Fly to Lukla – Trek to Monjo – 2,850m

Travel by air from Kathmandu to Lukla. In the early morning, we will board a Twin Otter flight bound for Lukla (2,840m/9,317ft), the entry point into the Khumbu Region. This ride provides stunning aerial views of Mount Everest! Once we arrive in Lukla, we will meet the rest of our trekking team and immediately head towards Monjo to spend our first night there. Depending on when our flight lands, however, we may need to stay the night in Phakding (2,600m/8,530 feet); in an ideal world, though, our team would reach Monjo directly. Monjo and Phakding both lie along the Dudh Kosi river, making this trek an active commercial hub of the Khumbu region. Today’s trek will take approximately three hours from Lukla to Phakding and five hours from Phakding to Monjo, covering an approximate 8.8 miles/13km distance from Lukla.

Day 3 Namche Bazaar – 3,440m

Today, we travel the Dudh Kosi River towards Namche Bazaar from Monjo. Upon passing Monjo, we enter Sagarmatha National Park and travel through picturesque villages before crossing over a suspension bridge at the confluence of Dudh and Bhote Kosi to cross onto Namche Bazaar (3440m/11286 feet). Following that steep ascent for approximately two hours, the trek leads into Namche Bazaar (3,444m/11,286 feet), where Thamserku and Kangtega can be seen towering over their valley; today’s trek from Monjo will last around 4 hours while covering approximately 5 miles (8 km).

Day 4 Namche Bazaar – 3,440m

Today we will take it easy with an easy trek up to the Sherpa Museum, located at an elevation of 3,600m/11,811ft with breathtaking vistas of Mount Everest and surrounding peaks. Here we focus on helping our bodies adjust to higher altitudes, which will greatly assist us as we ascend further heights. After arriving there, you will have time in Namche Bazaar for food, rest, relaxation, exploration, and discovery; don’t forget to stay hydrated by drinking at least four to five litres daily; the trek up is an effortless 30-minute stroll.

Day 5 Namche Bazaar – 3,900m (Acclimatization Day)

Our itinerary differs in that instead of ascending directly to 3,900m/ 12,800 feet and staying overnight in Tengboche, we will extend our stay in Namche for an additional night to optimize the acclimatization process. At this stage, we will dedicate time to rest and trekking at higher elevations to facilitate acclimatization. Today will begin early as we trek up Shangbouche Hill at 3,900m/12800 feet for spectacular views across the Everest Region before returning down for lunch in Namche – enjoy local bakeries & local shops! Round trip trek up Shangbouche Hill will take around four hours.

Day 6 Tengbouche – 3,900

Today’s journey will commence from Namche and continue onto Tengboche at an elevation of 3,900m/12800 feet. Once we depart Namche, we will follow a familiar path along the edge of the valley above Dudh Kosi with stunning views of Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse, and Ama Dablam in the Khumbu region. Passing through various villages, we will descend approximately 300m/ 984 feet to the Dudh Kosi River for lunch. After our break, we will begin an uphill climb of 700m/2,296 feet until reaching Tengbouche, where the Tengbouche Monastery stands; here you can visit or explore its grounds as well as local bakeries or explore further in the afternoon. Today’s trek should last 5-6 hours, covering an approximate distance of 12 km.

Day 7 Dingbouche – 4,900m (Acclimatization)

Today we will trek towards Dingbouche along a trek lined by Rhododendron trees and passing Debouche. Soon after crossing over a suspension bridge shortly after Debouche, the path leads over Pangbouche village, offering stunning views of Ama Dablam as we sip tea together and visit Pangbouche Monastery (the first established in the Everest Region). As we follow valley contours back across the river to Imja Valley, we reach Dingbouche, an idyllic farming village at 4,350m/14271 feet elevation – our trek should take approximately 5.5-6 hours covering a distance of 7.5 miles/12 km today.

Day 8 Dingbouche – 4,900m (Acclimatization Day)

Today is dedicated to acclimatization at an important high altitude. On our trek above town, we will enjoy stunning vistas of three towering peaks: Makalu, Cho Oyu, and Lhotse (all reaching heights of over 8,000 meters / 26,200 feet). Today, we aim to reach an elevation of 4,900 meters or 16,000 feet to witness some of the most stunning scenery of our journey. Ian takes great delight in making sure this day stands out, taking advantage of every minute, we have, taking in views, and adjusting to new altitudes. After enjoying this unforgettable view and experiencing adjustment time, we will return to Dingboche for lunch; after which you are free to explore and unwind before embarking on more difficult trekking days ahead. Today’s round-trip trek should last approximately 4 hours and involve climbing an ascent of 550 meters or 1,804 feet – it has taken an ascent of approximately 4 hours with 550 meters or 1,804 feet total ascent.

 Day 9 Lobuche – 4,940m

Today we travel from Thukla, which sits at an elevation of 4,620 meters, towards Lobuche along a high-altitude trek leading directly there. Along this scenic journey, we’ll witness spectacular sights such as Lobuje East Peak and Taweche’s impressive north face – two landmarks not to be missed! After an enjoyable three-hour trek, we will reach Thukla lodges for lunch before continuing uphill towards Everest Memorial and its breathtaking views of Ama Dablam, Cholatse, and Taweche peaks. From the Memorial, our journey will meander along the Khumbu Glacier – a magnificent river of ice that flows down from Mount Everest’s slopes – before arriving at Lobuche (an altitude of 4,940 meters), where there will be an idyllic cluster of tea houses to visit and stay at an altitude of 4,940 meters. Today’s trek should last 5-6 hours, covering an approximate distance of 7.5 miles.

Day 10 Gorak Shep 5,180m to Base camp 5,364m

Today is our big adventure towards Everest Base Camp! We will wake early and begin trekking towards Gorak Shep at an altitude of 5,180m/17,126 feet, approximately three hours away on foot. Gorak Shep holds great historic significance; it served as the base camp of the 1953 Everest Expedition and presents unique challenges on this leg of our journey. Before continuing towards Everest Base Camp, we will take a break for lunch before making our way across glacial moraine with possible landslide risks for two more hours before reaching Everest Base Camp on the Khumbu Glacier. Based on weather conditions, we will have the chance to discover an extraordinary location at the foot of Mount Everest – Everest Base Camp. After spending approximately an hour here, we’ll begin our return trek back towards Gorak Shep, where we will spend the night. Today’s trek should cover approximately 7 hours and an approximate distance of 6.2 miles/10 km.

Day 11 Kala Patthar 5,645 to Lobuche 4,925

Today marks the beginning of an unforgettable adventure! Typically, we start trekking at 4 am from Gorak Shep with an aim to reach Kala Patthar before sunrise. It is an impressive two-hour climb that winds its way directly uphill until reaching 5,645-meter Kala Patthar’s 5,645-meter peak, where spectacular views of Everest can be enjoyed from its peak. After taking in this breathtaking scenery, we return downhill in one hour, gathering our gear, enjoying breakfast, and then returning through Lobuche before heading towards Lobuche, where we stay the night!

Day 12 Lobuche Base Camp – 4,900m

Lobuche Base Camp lies at 4,900m/16,076 feet. Our campsite is conveniently situated next to a lake with stunning vistas of Ama Dablam and surrounding mountain peaks. After lunch, we will conduct a comprehensive gear check followed by an afternoon training session to ensure proper fit and functionality of harnesses, crampons, and Jumars as we move upwards in elevation. Taking this day as an opportunity to rest, replenish energy reserves, and rehydrate before ascending to higher altitudes is also beneficial.

Day 13 Lobuche High Camp – 5,200m

Today we’ll wake to the peaceful beauty of lakeside surroundings, enjoy a hearty breakfast, and then set off towards Lobuche Peak High Camp once all our gear has been packed. The journey typically lasts 4 hours as we follow the trek towards Gokyo while admiring Ama Dablam and Cholatse as they tower above us on either side. At some point during this journey, we will diverge from this trek, heading north, initially ascending gently before gradually steepening over time until reaching High Camp at about 450m elevation. In order to avoid exhaustion, we will ascend gradually until arriving at High Camp, where we will rest before resting up before embarking upon our summit push!

Day 14 Lobuche Peak Summit – 6,119m

Weather permitting, we’ll begin our summit bid at 1 am. We plan to take on the challenging three-hour ascent to Crampon Point, located at an elevation of 5,700m/18,700 feet; the climb involves traversing steep and rocky terrain with fixed safety lines providing us assistance on our climb. Once we reach Crampon Point, we’ll switch over to Alpine-style roping that will remain until reaching fixed lines. Our Sherpa team will carefully construct a secure rope route through the steep terrain up to the summit. Crampon Point to the summit typically takes 3-4 hours, with our total journey often lasting 6-7 hours. Following a celebratory moment at the top, we will begin our long descent back down towards High Camp, where we’ll spend the night.

Day 15 Lobuche Peak Summit – 6,119m

We will select the ideal weather conditions for our climb, ensuring multiple opportunities to reach the summit after our thorough training and acclimatization process is complete.

Day 16 Pheriche – 4,200m

After breakfast, we will head back out on the main trek and use a shortcut to Thukla at 4,620m/15,157 feet. From here, we will follow the lower Everest trek until reaching Pheriche, where we will spend the night.

Day 17 Tengbouche – 3,900m

Today is ours to adjust as necessary, so assuming everything goes according to plan, our team will trek for 4 hours back downhill from Tengbouche. Rather than rush down, today we prefer taking it slow. Starting in Pheriche, we will pass by Shomare and Pangbouhe before taking on the 20-minute uphill trek back up to Tengbouche.

Day 18 Namche Bazaar – 3,440m

After trekking downhill for about an hour from Tengbouche until we reach the river, there will be an hour and thirty minutes climb back up to Ama Dablam View Guesthouse for a tea break before finally arriving at Namche B. This trek should take approximately 4 hours total; once complete, it provides us with ample opportunity for freshening up, unwinding, and resting.

Day 19 Lukla – 2,850m

Today will be our final trekking day, and it will be challenging as we must return all the way to Lukla by nightfall. Our journey starts with a one-hour descent from Namche, leading us back towards Namche’s suspension bridge before traversing along river treks until reaching Phakding for a lunch break and then an upward two-and-a-half-hour climb back up to Lukla (2,850m/9,350 feet). Expect today’s trek to last approximately 8 hours until late afternoon, when our arrival will bring an end to our adventure here in Lukla.

Day 20 Fly to Kathmandu – 1400m

Today we will wake early for breakfast before heading back to Lukla Airport for our flight back to Kathmandu. With any luck, if the weather cooperates, you should arrive back at your hotel by early morning and can spend your time leisurely exploring Kathmandu attractions such as Pashupatinath, Swayambhunath, Bhaktapur, and Patan. Don’t miss Durbar Square and Thamel shopping district, or treat yourself to a spa visit. A team dinner at a nearby restaurant will also be included, with accommodation provided on a shared basis at the hotel accommodation provided in Kathmandu.

Day 21 Kathmandu

As today marks the final day of our planned itinerary, it is wise to schedule your return flight no sooner than this evening to allow for any potential delays from leaving the mountains on Day 8. Return transportation from Kathmandu International Airport will be included, and if you would like an extension in Kathmandu, we can book additional nights at your hotel for you.