Arun Valley Trek with Everest Base Camp

Kathmandu’s early morning flight offers us stunning views of the hills, gorges and the eastern Himalayas before we land in Tumlingtar. On arrival in Tumlingtar, you walk the wooded path and descend through the farms to reach Kumal Gaon, on the edge of a large hill.

You traverse the eastern bank of the Arun River, crossing it over a bridge leading to Bheteni settlement. From here, take a walk to Chewabesi (250 m) for dinner and night stay.

After having breakfast, continue south along the east bank of the Arun River. You will pass through the subtropical forest, through Rai, Chettri, and Brahmin villages to reach the lively village of Kartike.

Move through the meadows to reach the tiny village of Baluwa Besi passing the bridge over Arun River. The path climbs into the forest of Sal and passes several villages before going on a path across rice terraces to reach the Marduwa village of Rai.

The trail then continues along the Irkhuwa Khola to arrive at Gothey Bazaar through rice and banana farms. You will stay here overnight at Gothey Bazar.

To enter Dobane, ascend via the Rai and Sherpa villages crossing suspension bridges over Irkhuwa Khola.

Pass through the beautiful villages of Tendor and Tallo Phedi, climb through terraced fields and then through the dense forest region following Irkhuwa Khola’s southern line.

A winding path through Irkhuwa Khola Riverbed brings us to Phedi. A night out in Salpa Phedi.

Ascend from Phedi to heavily forested trails along small streams. After hiking, enter Thulo Fokte village and cross the stone trail through the wood, with plenty of sunny clearings for occasional rests.

Climb up towards the Oak, Birch, and Rhododendron forest and descend from Bilbate’s peak. We walk on for around 30 minutes, entering Gurase village.

Salpa Pokhari is a holy pond situated in Salpa Bhanjyang, visited every year by throngs of Hindu pilgrims during the full moon of October. The field is bordered by hemlock and fir trees and abounds with diverse birds, flora, and fauna.

Through Salpa Bhanjyang one can see glimpses of Makalu (8463 m) and Chamlang (7321 m). Attain the open portion above Salpa Bhanjyang with loose stones and Rhododendrons, and descend to the center. To enter Sanam, travel on the trail across the hillside and through the dense trees. A night out in Sanam.

Descend towards the village of Sorung through the forest of Rhododendron, Brown oaks, and Chir pines. From Shorung we enter the Rai village of Gudel for about two hours trek.

Cross Hinku River on a steel suspension bridge, after which the main trail descends through a collage of terraces of rice, millet, and soybean to reach Bung Village.

You need a permit for entry into Bung from our Makalu Barun Conservation Area. A night down in Bung.

Today the trail descends steeply from a notch in the wall of the mountain. The hills are covered in wispy bamboo thickets. Today you will visit the village of Najindingma (2650 m).

You will have a view of a clear grassland field, which is used by people from nearby valleys as summer grazing.

You can hit Gaikharka another one and a half hours of drop through soggy forests. Here you will have beautiful views of grassy terraces and scattered fields.

After having breakfast, you will head towards the beautiful settlement of Puiyan. It is a lovely tea house settlement that sits at the bottom of a soaring hill. Puiyan is a popular overnight stop on the way to Mera Peak climbing and trekking.

This village had once been surrounded by a dense forest of Pine and Rhododendron. Puiyan is now, however, a town with tea houses, lodges, medical centers, schools, and even a helipad.

The journey of Arun Valley Trek continues through the climb and incremental ascents after your breakfast at Puiyan. Once again, you pass through various ridges and towns. Passing through several lovely villages, you will be having fun throughout the trek.

Before reaching Phakding, you can find villages like Surke and other valleys of Dudh Koshi even to this day. Passing through dense mossy forests, seeing a few rivers and waterfalls you will continue the trek.

You can enter Phakding by walking along steep, rocky paths. It is a small village with numerous guesthouses and spectacular scenery in the Khumbu region.

Time: 3-4 hours

You will have breakfast in Phakding before preparing for the trek to Namche Bazaar which is also the largest Sherpa village of Nepal. Your trail leads you first through a long suspension bridge over the Dudhkoshi River, and then to Monjo, about two hours away, through a beautiful pine forest.

Soon afterward, for a brief permit check, you will approach the entrance to Sagarmatha National Park and then descend to Dudh Kosi River (spotting Mani stones along the way) on the way to Jorsale.

You will have lunch here, and then it’s up to Namche. It is a tough climb up the hill to your place of rest but you will be rewarded with your first glimpse of Everest at Namche Bazaar.

It is a day of acclimatization, for exploring more of Namche Bazar. Rest days aren’t for rest and lying down. You will walk high during the days of acclimatization and you sleep low during the nights.

You must ascend to the Everest View Hotel above Namche. For first, the climb is steep but, after a while, it becomes easier.

You will reach Khunde, a large village of the Sherpa. After this, you will move forward to Khumjung. It is a small region with old and traditional-style homes. You will see spectacular views of Mt. Ama Dablam from Khumjung.

A walk uphill from Khumjung brings us to the renowned Everest View Hotel. The hotel boasts stunning views over Mt. Everest, Lhotse and Ama Dablam. You will spend some time in the hotel and return for an overnight stay at Namche Bazaar.

Breakfast in Namche Bazaar is fueling us today for an additional one day in Arun Valley trek. Many of the highlights not to be missed are the stunning views of the Himalayas-Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse, Ama Dablam, Thamserku, and Kwangde.

Your destination for today, Phortse is known as one of the most beautiful places in the Everest region. The views are stunning, which include Ama Dablam.

You will continue through the rugged Imja Khola River canyon with its glacial blue waters. It’s a steady climb up to Pangboche village, the region’s largest Sherpas settlement. Enjoy a great chance to see a typical Sherpa village and have lunch with the locals.

With strong fearlessness, you will hike to one of the oldest monasteries in the area, the Pangboche Monastery. Your afternoon trek is going to be a challenging one, as the landscape gives way to warm, desolate mountains and you walk to Dingboche.

Time: 5-6hours

After a warm breakfast, you leave from Dingboche. The trek starts with stunning views of the mighty Himalayas. The Himalayas surround you from all sides as you begin to trek.

In the beginning the trekking path is narrower. However, as you enter Dusa, the valley begins to get narrower. You will then walk past the first successful Everest Expedition campsite. As you start trekking, the glorious view of Mt. Pumori comes into the picture.

You will continue to see Mt. Pumori until the descent of the trail. There is a stream in this section of the route. You are going to cross the lake and go up to Duglha.

Dughla is a small village hanging across the valley, with garlands of prayer flags. You will go from Dughla to Lobuche. Along the way, you will climb over the Khumbu Glacier’s steep terminal moraine. You are going to walk over the giant boulders the ice has replaced.

It is hard to get over the moraine, be alert. The location called Chupki Lhara is after the ascent. Chupki Lhara is a ridge from which you can see beautiful inspiring mountain views.

The ridge top has plenty of colorful flags and stones for prayers. This is a Museum with Memorials. There, you will see hundreds of memorials from the cairn. They are stories of those in the mountains who died. You will spend some time there.

Now, you are going to start walking again. The trail descends to the glacial moraine of Khumbu. From there, you will face magnificent views of many snowy peaks. Many of them include Khumbutse, Lingtren, Pumori, and Himal Mahalangur. You can see an astounding view of Mt. Nuptse as well.

You can soon reach Lobuche. Lobuche is a small settlement of the Sherpa at the foot of Lobuche mountain. You are going to get spectacular mountain views, showcasing the top of Lobuche itself.

There is a research center at high altitudes in Lobuche. From there you can communicate for rescue operations. A night out in Lobuche.

You should begin early in the morning. It is the journey towards Gorak Shep. During the 1953 expedition, Gorak Shep used to be the original base camp.

You will take some rest on arrival at Gorak Shep. Sign in for an overnight stay at a hotel. If you are interested, you can also visit Everest Base Camp.

The walk is a hilly uphill. Please mind walking slowly to prevent problems like altitude sickness. You will hit the top of the Khumbu Glacier on the climb. You will also get a mesmerizing view of the Khumbu Icefall on the further trek.

After a few hours of trek, you will eventually be standing at the 5364 m Everest Base Camp. There is a mixed sense of fluctuating feelings being at the base camp. At last, you are at the foot of the highest point in the world.

The base camp at Everest is incredibly stunning. Rejoice with the beautiful views of Mt. Nuptse, Khumbuste, and Pumori. Get some photos with the background of Mount Everest and its surrounding mountains. Surely this moment will be a memorable one.

You will trek down to Gorak Shep after spending some time at the base camp. Overnight stay at Gorak Shep.

Time: 7-8hours

You are going to start really early in the morning. This trek will take you 3 to 4 hours to Kala Pathar. The highest viewpoint on Mt. Everest, Khumbu Glacier, and Khumbu Icefall is Kala Patthar.

The view of the sunrise over the snowy peak during clear weather is beautiful. With the touch of infant sun rays the whole Himalayan range glows. You are going to feel like heaven is nowhere but here.

From Kala Patthar, you will see the enchanting 360-degree panoramic view of mountains. You feel so close to the Himalayas, almost to the tip of your nose. Capture your photography moment.

Staying there longer raises the chance of sickness from altitude. So, it is better to enjoy some time and return to Gorak Shep and Pheriche, overnight in Pheriche.

Time: 6-7hours

The trail includes steep downhill climbs followed by as steep ascents as ever. You will walk agonizing ups and downs during the day.

A busy trail leads from Pheriche to Namche. You are going to be meeting loads of trekkers, climbers, and porters. The trail sees plenty of traffic mainly during trekking and seasons. The road is full of bridges.

You are going to walk through thick forests and diverse landscapes. The multiple ups and downs are tricky. But you will be inspired by the stunning sceneries, the rich flora, and fauna.

After today’s strenuous climb, you finally get to Namche. Namche is Sherpa’s busiest hub in the Everest region. A night out in Namche.

Time: 6-7hours

You continue trekking through the beautiful trekking trails after having a nice and warm breakfast at Namche. You are going to head down the steep slope. The steep trail is difficult to walk down.

Move slowly down, and take your time. Experience the stunning views of some of the world’s highest mountains. You are going to walk back to Lukla passing through Manjoo, Benkar, Phakding and finally Lukla.

You are going to cross several suspension bridges over the river Dudh Kosi. Walking through the woods along the side of the river feels fantastic. Upon your way back you shall see some small Sherpa villages.

The walk is exhilarating. You will soon arrive at Lukla. Lukla is a pretty busy place with diverse lodges, tea houses, and shops.

You return to Kathmandu tomorrow via an early morning flight from Lukla airport. Now it is time to finish up the journey. Enjoy the last night here at Lukla.

Time: 30-45 min

Today is our final day in the Everest region. You will get from Lukla airport to Kathmandu on the early morning flight.

For an enchanting aerial view of the whole region, get a window seat. The Himalayas are full of hope. Give proper Farewell to them.

Finally, you arrive at Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan International Airport. We will transport you to your hotel from there. Get some rest in the cozy space of your hotel. Overnight at Kathmandu.