Everest Base Camp Trek Known in Tibetan as Chomolungma, "Mother Goddess of the Snows," Everest is a mountain of superlatives, the star of the Himalayas and an irresistible lure to adventurers far and wide. The experience of gazing on its splendor is an indescribable thrill and, for many, the realization of a lifetime dream. The scenery is varied and spectacular, the lodgings and tracks are of a very high standard, and the interaction with the local inhabitants is truly memorable. This trek is unique in that we have the privilege of spending some time at Everest Base Camp with climbing expeditions giving an appreciation of the inner workings of expedition life.

The trek takes 15 days after our departure from Lukla until we return to that point. The walking is mostly quite gentle with a couple of long hill climbs following very well formed tracks through the Sherpa homeland.

The Sherpa are of Tibetan origin having traveled over the high Tibetan passes to settle in the Nepalese highlands. They developed trade between the two countries bringing gems, wool and salt from Tibet in exchange for the plentiful Nepalese products. The Sherpas brought their Buddhist religion with them, which they evolved to develop their own sect of the faith. They are very generous and spiritual people with a colorful lifestyle and our trek allows us to spend time with them in their homes and valleys.

The trekking days are moderately strenuous following well established paths between the villages along the route. The daily trekking stages involve walking for between 4 and 7 hours duration with plenty of scenic places to stop along the way.

Day to Day Itinerary

Jungle Safari in Nepal A trip to Nepal is incomplete if you have not been on a jungle safari. While the mountains of the north have some of the highest and most magnificent peaks in the world, the tropical jungles of the Terai preserve some of the best wildlife habitat in the subcontinent. Some of these rich wildlife habitats are now protected, and can be tours on elephant back, 4 WD vehicles, and dugout canoes or on foot accompanied by a licensed guide. Nepal has 16 national parks, wildlife reserves and conservation area, occupying 16% of its total geographical area. Jungle safaris on elephant back or Jeep rides are offered at the Parsa Wildlife Reserve, Royal Bardia National Park, Royal Chitwan National Park and the Royal Sukhlaphanta wildlife Reserve, all located in the terai.

Chitwan National Park

This park is the most popular destination for tourist wanting to have an exceptional experience with the region's wildlife. It was declared a national park in 1973. In 1984, UNESCO designated it as Natural World Heritage Site. The park offers protection to 56 species of mammals including the one horned rhinoceros, Bengal Tiger, leopard, sloth bear, wild elephant, striped hyena, Gangetic dolphin and wild bison. There are an estimated 126 species of fish, 590 species of butterflies and 47 species of reptiles in the park. A recent study also points out the over a third of Nepal's total population is in Chitwan.

The park is spread over an area of 932 sq.km and located in the lowlands of the kingdom. The forest cover is predominantly sal, interspersed with tall grasslands, small hills, ox-bow lakes and flood plains.

The best time to visit Chitwan National Park is from October through March, when the temperature averages 25 degrees Celsius. The months of March, April and June can be extremely hot, while July - September is the monsoon season when river swell and part of the become inaccessible.

2 Nights / 3 Days Program Group & staff: minimum 1, maximum 16