Today there is a long, steep climb up to the town of Namche Bazaar (11300ft, 3440m), the main administrative and trading center for the Khumbu region. The climb is, however, made easier by the distractions offered by the magnificent forests of blue pine, fir, juniper and rhododendron as well as our first views of Mt. Everest .

This day can be spent relaxing at camp, exploring the tiny shops in the bazaar and the local museum with exhibits of the flora, fauna, and history of the Everest region. You can also participate in an optional hike to some of the Sherpa villages nearby, such as Kunde and Khumjung, or take a more strenuous walk to Thame.

Morning visit to the colorful Saturday market, where local and Chinese goods (brought over the high passes from Tibet ) can be seen and purchased. We then head for Tengboche, along a trail with spectacular views of Everest, Lhotse , Kantaiga, and Ama Dablam. We stay the overnight near the Tengboche Monastery at (3875m), one of the most impressive locations on earth. We will have the opportunity to explore the monastery and see monks at prayer.

The first part of the day is spent walking through lush rhododendron and pine forests. We eventually emerge above the tree line and continue for the rest of the day up the glacial valley until we reach Pheriche at 4240m. Some trekkers go to Dingboche at 4252m for overnight stay. En route we see some of the area's most beautifully carved mani (prayer) stones.

This is the second of the mandatory acclimatization days on this trek.

From Pheriche you will climb to the tiny settlement of Dughla (4620m), on the terminal moraine of the great Khumbu Glacier. Then an ascent higher on the moraine brings you to a row of stone monuments and the trail drops a bit and follows the westrn side of the valley to Lobuje, a summer village at 4930m. It is at the foot of giant Lobuche peak. Again the views are spectacular and the sunset on Nuptse, towering directly ahead of Lobuche is especially impressive.

This will be one of the most difficult yet rewarding days of the trek. Most of this day is spent climbing Mt. Kalapattar , a small peak (by Himalayan standards) at 5545m. The ascent is demanding but the climber gets the most magnificent mountain panorama possible: Everest, the highest point on the planet at 8848m, towers directly ahead and on all sides loom the other giants, Nuptse, Pumori, Chagatse, Lhotse and countless others. If possible we can stay and watch the awe-inspiring sunset on Everest and its neighbors. We make a quick descent to Gorak Shep, a tiny hamlet at 5170m, where we stay the night.

If you are not exhausted, you can take the strenuous trip to the base camp at 5360m but is not as spectacular as the ascent of Kalapattar because there is no view of Everest itself from there. You will have to along the Khumbu Glacier and up to Everest Base Camp at 17600ft, 5380m the closest you can get to Mt. Everest without mountaineering equipment. There will likely be a team there about to attempt the summit. The view of the Khumbu Icefall from Base Camp is spectacular. We return down to Lobuche for the night.

From Lobuche we take a slightly different route down to Upper Pangboche . Here is the oldest monastery in the region, which contains what is said to be the scalp and bones of a Yeti, or abominable snowman!

We descend to join the main trail above Tengboche and continue on down to Namche.

Descend down to Lukla for our final night in the Khumbu. Although it may have looked primitive the first time through, Lukla will seem quite modern after the isolated villages up the valley.

An early morning flight takes us back to Kathmandu , and gives us a last view of the mountains we
have just spent two weeks exploring.