Arrive in Kathmandu. 1400 metres. We will meet your flight and take you to a nice hotel for two nights. Rooms are simple but the garden is lovely . You just send us your flight details.

A day in Kathmandu. We will check your gear and see if you need anything for the trek. Local products are very reasonably priced. Everything is available in Kathmandu. Best you bring boots you have already 'worn in' . We will organise changing money, trekking permits where needed , you can buy snacks, toiletries, trekking gear and accessories.
A pre-trek briefing this evening and meet some of the porters.

Up early for a long jeep ride up to Patale at 2850 metres. The journey is amazing and we will make plenty of stops for food , drinks and toilets. We have our favourite stops. We should arrive around 3 or 4 pm. Ram's Lodge is simple, though most rooms have an attached tiny bathroom with a western toilet. A stretch before dinner perhaps, but it will be cooler up here and there will be a stove in the dining room tonight.

An acclimatisation day in Patale with a day-hike to a nearby temple and small hill. At almost 3000 metres you might begin to feel the altitude which is why we are staying for a second night. . Great to test out your gear on a small trek, adjust your poles, your daypack, accessories, etc. Another cosy night at Ram's place. He is the local headmaster!!

Off on trek. There is a direct trail across to Japhre which undulates gently at first through low scrub but gradually ascends through woodlands. There will be a long lunch stop at Sigane but tea stops could be hit and miss today so pack a snack. Japhre 2950 metres, is not much higher than Patale but a fair bit of up and down along the way. Slowly.

A beautiful day's hiking today, mostly up but gently so. Through rhododendron woods and pine forests, over open ridges with splendid view to Everest, Lhotse, Nupse, etc…….almost always clear in November. Weather should be mild, possibly no jackets required, just sunscreen and a good sun hat.! Kanch's lodge at Lamuje is recently improved with the addition of a big dining hall and a separate building for the row of twin rooms. Kancha was one of our porters for many years and we helped him build this lodge. His wife Durga is a great cook. Yaks wander the hills nearby. 3200 metres.

A bit more uppish today. The first hour on a wooded ridge then, after a rustic tea stop, a steep climb on a rocky slope. Big rest at the top. Now a much easier hour or so to the lodge on a level grassy ridge trail. Arriving around 1 pm at 3650 metres. Pike Base Camp.

Depending on weather we could do the Pike Peak after lunch. It takes about an hour up and then a bit less back. At almost 4100 metres the climb is about 450 metres. We go REALLY SLOWLY. Tomorrow morning after breakfast is an alternative, and then we would continue on directly from the peak. To be decided at the time.

If we did the Pike Peak yesterday we can head off directly after breakfast. A pretty uppish start on gravelly trails through juniper woods and then some narrow forest trails for a while. The last part being a descent to Jastabanijang, a little lower and consequently not quite so cold. Another upgraded lodge. Last year's group did the Peak after breakfast.

Jastabanijang to Jumbesi is a long day. The terrain is very varied and includes some spectacular ridges with views to the Everest range, (look out for flights BELOW)and a descent through forests of huge Cedars and Hemlocks. Soft, green fields at the bottom. A late lunch at Tactor and then the last hour into Jumbesi which is only 2675 metres, in a wonderful little sheltered vally/. So nice that we will stay here for 2 nights. Great lodge in a pretty village. You will need a rest.

Rest day. If you want to, you can walk a couple of hours on a jeep road up to the Ani Gompa (convent) Thupten Cholung Monastery, 500 years old and operated by hundreds of nuns.

You could just wash a few smalls and then lie around in the sun eating chocolate while they dry in the sunshine?? After five days trekking you can easily spare the calories.

The village itself is a lovely place for a stroll. Small shops with rum, coke, chocolate, biscuits, apples, shampoo, etc.

Back on trek, destination Ringmu 2750 metres. Steepish at first through a few different kinds of woodlands then out onto a huge grassy ridge where you can lunch at Everest View. The clue is in the name. It is a long, easy decent through farming communities to a river crossing below Ringmu, then it is up, up and up for about half an hour to the topmost lodge. It is worth it as the lodge is lovely . Newly-built of stone with woodlined rooms and thick foam mattrasses. The two women who run it are very good at their job. View to Numbur, the nearest big peak is delightfully clear in the morning. Warm diner.

A wonderfully easy day today. Downhill all the way on a sandy jeep road, though traffic is pretty sparse. Through pines, then deciduous forests and finally more and more houses along the road as you near the village of Phaphlu, overlooking the airstrip. Nicer than the nearby town of Saleri which is huge and rather grubby. Our last trekking lodge, Quite simple but well-run with more great cooking. We will leave some of our porters here as they live locally , so a farewell dinner tonight.

Long jeep ride back to Kathmandu. Nice to see so much countryside with no effort at all. Enjoy.

Probably will not get back in our hotel in Kathmandu much before 5 pm. It is a little bit further from Phaphlu and the traffic will be peaking when we arrive in the city, sadly.

Dinner in the hotel……or just along the street to Yangling for the best momos in Kathmandu??

Reunited with your stored luggage. Hot showers attached to your room…….heaven!!

A big day out in Kathmandu. We can take you to our favourite shops or help you find some bargains. Perhaps you are happy wandering on your own.

Ride to Bouda to see the world's biggest Buddhist stupa this evening. Local Tibetan, Tamang, Manangi and Lo Pa people, who are wintering in Kathmandu, will be circling the stupa with prayer wheels and chanting. We can try some Tibetan food at the Rooftop Potala.

Time to go home. If your flight is later in the day, we can organise something interesting to do or see today. If it is tomorrow, or you are 'staying on' we can organise that for you. Extensions to Chitwan are popular. Or you may be coming on our next big adventure to Pokhara and Muktinath in the Anapurna…a jeep trek with options to trek, or not, each day!!

Whatever your plans we will make it happen, on time.