Highlights
- Visit the bustling Nepalese capital, Kathmandu
- Watch the sunrise over the Himalaya from Pikey Peak
- Meditate with local nuns and monks at a Tibetan Buddhist monastery
Brief Itinerary
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Welcome to Kathmandu! | Kathmandu |
| Day 2 | Explore Kathmandu | Kathmandu |
| Day 3 | Drive from Kathmandu to Dhap | Dhap |
| Day 4 | Trek from Dhap to Jhapre (9,235 feet / 2,815 m) | Jhapre |
| Day 5 | Trek from Jhapre to Pikey Base Camp (11,762 feet / 3,585 m) | Pikey Base Camp |
| Day 6 | Trek from Pikey Base Camp to Junbesi | Junbesi |
| Day 7 | Day trip to Thupten Choling Monastery | Junbesi |
| Day 8 | Trek from Junbesi to Takasindu (9,616 feet / 2,931 m) | Takasindu |
| Day 9 | Trek from Taksindu to Phaplu (7,874 feet / 2,400 m) | Phaplu |
| Day 10 | Drive from Phaplu to Kathmandu | Kathmandu |
| Day 11 | Depart Kathmandu |
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Welcome to Kathmandu!
Flying into Kathmandu, you'll have views over the valley, the Himalaya, and the terraced fields below. After completing customs, a representative will be waiting to greet you outside the airport and to guide you through the initial culture shock of Kathmandu’s narrow, winding streets to your hotel.
Once you've settled in, head out and explore the city. Kathmandu Durbar Square is a great place to start your exploration, where you'll walk through narrow alleyways teeming with small shops, ancient temples, and local restaurants. If you want to stretch your legs, Swayambhunath, the white stupa rising above the valley, is the perfect spot to catch the sunset over the valley.
In the evening, the tourist hub of Thamel is a good place to grab your first meal, with a variety of restaurants to chose from offering both Western and local Nepali dishes.
Day 2: Explore Kathmandu
Kathmandu has a special atmosphere during the early morning hours when the city is slowly coming to life yet not too chaotic. It's a great time to walk and explore the streets or have a chai overlooking one of the local courtyards or durbar squares.
After breakfast, there are then a number of ways you can spend your day given the myriad famous sights around the Kathmandu Valley. You can use this as a free day or you can utilize a local English-speaking guide who knows the city well and can explain the history and significance of the sights (along with a private jeep to take you around).
In the evening, head out for dinner at one of the city's great eateries, or your specialist can arrange a home-cooked dinner with a local family.
Day 3: Drive from Kathmandu to Dhap
Today, you'll be picked up in a private 4x4 and transferred to Dhap. The 7-hour journey starts early in the morning as you leave the hustle-bustle of the city, via Okhaldungha, and drive along the Sun Koshi river. You'll later join the roaring big Koshi River until you reach Ghurmi, where you'll stop for lunch.
The drive then continues uphill as you head north through subtropical forests of pine and dense rhododendrons, passing several countryside villages, beautiful landscapes, and valleys until reaching Dhap Bazaar. Take the afternoon and evening to explore this fascinating village with several local shops and get to know villagers and their way of life. If the skies are clear, keep an eye out for awesome mountain views of Numbur Chuli, reminding you that you're getting closer to the Himalayas.
Accommodation: Teahouse
Day 4: Trek from Dhap to Jhapre (9,235 feet / 2,815 m)
This morning after breakfast, you'll start your trek by walking along a dusty road until you reach the village of Sigane. The trail then follows a road under construction for the first couple of hours until you reach the tiny village of Jhapre, perched above a deep valley with nice views of Everest and Himal. There is a pretty little Buddhist gompa and stupa here to check out and another nice viewpoint just north of the village. Or you can simply wander around Jhapre's streets with a few teahouses, cafés, and shops.
Trekking time: 4-5 hours
Accommodation: Teahouse
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
Day 5: Trek from Jhapre to Pikey Base Camp (11,762 feet / 3,585 m)
Today, you'll get an early morning start with views of Numbur Chuli, Everest, and the eastern Himalayan range. The trail starts on a dirt road for a while and then quickly turns into a gentle uphill climb through pine and rhododendron forests until you reach Bhulbule. You can take a break at the local tea shop there, and then continue on a gentle uphill climb, arriving in Lhamuje for lunch.
In the spring, you'll experience different species of rhododendron flowers during the walk, along with spectacular views of the Himalaya. Afterward, the trail begins a series of gentle ups and downs along the ridge, which eventually arrives at a pasture where you can see grazing yaks. You'll pass a Mani wall and then will climb a steep uphill zigzag trail to Pikey Peak Base Camp, where you can reward yourself with a visit to the local yak cheese factory.
Trekking time: 5-6 hours
Day 6: Trek from Pikey Base Camp to Junbesi
After breakfast, you'll get an early morning start along a series of uphill switchbacks until reaching Pikey Peak, which takes about an hour. If the weather is clear, expect an unobstructed sunrise view over the Himalayan range with Mt. Everest, Thamserku, Khangtega, Khatang, Karyoling to the north, Kanchenjunga to the east, and Manaslu, Dhaulagiri, Gaurishankar, Dorje Lakpa, and Langtang to the west.
The trek then heads downhill for a few hours and enters a rhododendron and pine forest until Jase Bhanjyang. Stay on the ridge, working your way up and down, until Lamjura, where you can stop for lunch. Then trail then enters a long descent to the valley through fir and more rhododendron forests until reaching Taktor, and then stays level until you reach Junbesi passing several Mani walls and stone chortens. Visit the old monastery before dinner, taking in views of the Numbur Chuli peak looming high above the village.
Trekking time: 5-6 hours
Overnight: Junebesi (8,792 feet / 2,680 m)
Accommodation: Teahouse
Day 7: Day trip to Thupten Choling Monastery
Today, you'll have breakfast in Junbesi and then can decide to either rest or take a 3-hour roundtrip hike along the Junbesi Khola with a gentle uphill climb to Thupten Chholing Monastery—founded in the 19th century by Tibetan Buddhists. You'll have free time to meditate with the local nuns and monks in the monastery and explore the village before you trek back to Junbesi.
Overnight: Junbesi (8,793 feet / 2,680 m)
Accommodation: Teahouse
Day 8: Trek from Junbesi to Takasindu (9,616 feet / 2,931 m)
After breakfast, you'll start trekking to Takasindu, one of the best viewpoints of the trek. The trail crosses over the river and takes a left turn toward Salung ridge. From here, you'll have views of Mt. Everest as well as Thamserku and Kusum Kangaru. Then, you'll descend to Ringmo Khola and gradually climb up to Takasindu Pass. A few minutes below the pass, you'll see a monastery where you can have outstanding sunset views tonight (and the sunrise in the morning!).
Day 9: Trek from Taksindu to Phaplu (7,874 feet / 2,400 m)
After breakfast, head out on the last day of the trek as you make your way to Phaplu — a scenic little village with a few shops, cafés, and restaurants. A number of different treks end in Phaplu, as this is where trekkers catch their flight back to Kathmandu.
Day 10: Drive from Phaplu to Kathmandu
At the allotted time this morning, a driver will pick you in Phaplu then you will drive back to Kathmandu. After reaching the city, you'll be transferred to your hotel and will be able to enjoy the rest of the evening at your leisure. Explore the capital's streets on foot, bicycle, or rickshaw, perhaps shopping for souvenirs or seeing anything you may have missed at the beginning of your trip.
Overnight: Kathmandu
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 11: Depart Kathmandu
It's time to say farewell to Nepal. Enjoy your last moments in Kathmandu with breakfast in a café, a final stroll through the narrow alleys and temples, and some final souvenir shopping. A driver will be waiting for you at your hotel to take you to the airport for your return flight home. It's best to be at the airport at least two hours prior to departure.
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