Day 1-3 I will be arriving in Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal, on October 15th where I will begin acclimatizing to the altitude (4,600 feet). I am hoping to do some sightseeing of Kathmandu, specifically the Boudhanath Stupa (Boudha) which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site considered to be the “the beating heart of Kathmandu’s Tibetan Buddhist community.” Day 3 If weather permits (high altitude weather can be unpredictable) I will take an early flight from Kathmandu to Lukla known as Tenzing-Hillary Airport. It is considered one of the most dangerous airports in the world due to its short runway, high altitude, unpredictable weather, and challenging terrain. Lukla sits at a little over 9,300ft. This will be my first day of trekking to Phakding, a sherpa village that is located within the Sagarmatha National Park, another UNESCO World Heritage site famous for its botanical and zoological richness.

Day 4-5

I will trek to Namche Bazaar, which is considered the gateway to Everest Base Camp and considered an important stop for acclimatization and preparation. The trek will include an elevation gain of 3,575 feet and located at just about 11,300 feet. I will be spending two nights here and taking some acclimatization hikes.

Day 6

I will be stopping in Phortse Gaon, a traditional Sherpa village that is often overlooked. This quiet sherpa village is a great look into their life and culture. The hike here will be around 6 miles with an elevation gain of 3,180 feet. Phortse is located at 12,500 feet.

Day 7-8

Trekking to and staying in Dingboche for more acclimatizing for two days. Dingboche sits at about 14,500 feet and is a mandatory acclimatization point for trekkers heading to Everest Base Camp. At this altitude, the body needs time to adjust to thinner oxygen levels, and skipping proper acclimatization increases the risk of altitude sickness (AMS). This will be an 8.5 mile hike with a 3,000 elevation gain.

Day 9

I will be heading to Lobuche today which sits at 16,100 feet and a fairly small elevation gain of 2,165 feet. This is the last day before our final push!

Day 10

This is the big day and considered the most challenging day from Lobuche to Gorak Shep and then Everest Base Camp. From Lobuche, I will follow the valley that runs parallel to Khumbu Glacier, the famous ice fall with its constantly shifting towers of ice called seracs. Gorak Shep is located at 16,995 feet and Everest Base Camp at just about 17,600 feet.

Day 11

An early morning steep climb to Kala Pattar to get the best views of Everest then it is all downhill from here! I will be descending to the village of Pheriche.

Day 12

Descending to the village of Tengboche where I will visit the Tengboche Monastery and Sherpa Heritage Foundation museum.

Day 13

Descending steeply along switchbacks through a forest of juniper, rhododendron and fir until we reach the village of Chumo. We are now back to about 9,380 feet.

Day 14

My last and final day of trekking! I will be spending the whole day descending back down to Lukla.

Day 15-16

I will take an early morning flight from Lukla to Kathmandu (weather permitting). I will have one more full day in Kathmandu to celebrate my accomplishment, grab souvenirs for friends and family, as well as see some more sites.