Hike the Everest trail in Nepal

Flashpackers, welcome to Kathmandu! We’ll meet you at the airport and whisk you off to your hotel in the very heart of this mesmerising city. Meet your guide and fellow Flashpackers at around 5pm for your first taste of Nepal’s lively mountain capital. Kathmandu is a hive of colour and activity, surrounded by hazy skyline peaks. Wherever you go, a beeping chorus of scooters and rickshaws will follow. Vast shopping malls stand side-by-side with ancient squares, temples and crowded alleyways. We’ll mosey through the maze of narrow streets in Thamel, Nepal’s backpacker heartland, before stopping for a round of beers and a welcome meal in a local hot spot. Nepal is home to some excellent craft brews, so get those Khukuris in and toast to the adventure ahead.

Treat yourself to a lazy lie-in today before taking a visit to Nepal’s Seven Women foundation. Originally run by a handful of volunteers in a tin shed, this social enterprise has since become one of Nepal’s leading advocates for disadvantaged women, helping them to transform their lives with literacy classes, skills training and more. Meet the people behind the organisation and see their greenhouse farm. Then it’s time to cook up a series of tasty traditional dishes, using family recipes that have been passed down through generations. Using a spicy flux of flavours, conjure up a lunch for everyone to share together. In the afternoon, we’ll head over to Bhaktapur, a 12th Century “City of Devotees” on the outskirts of Kathmandu. Wander your way around elaborate terracotta monuments, towering pagodas and gilded rooftops, as you step back in time in this ornate royal kingdom.

After breakfast, we’ll take a 45-minute flight to Lukla in the heart of the Everest trekking region (depending on the weather, this may be delayed). Lukla’s runway is short, so landing requires a sharp descent amid mountain peaks. But the James Bond-esque arrival is all part of the experience. Then, we’ll start hiking down to the pretty village of Monjo, at 2,850 metres. The four-hour route is steep in parts, and our trekking poles will come in handy. Some people find the descent more demanding, but the drop in altitude helps. As ever, there’ll be plenty of exhilarating views en-route. Pass by sun-dappled canyons, wild flower meadows filled with Himalayan butterflies and steep cliffs that drop away into a carpet of alpine trees and mountain streams. We’ll also be able to stop and meet villagers in remote Sherpa communities that remain a step removed from the tourist hordes. Towards the end of the hike, we’ll join up with the Everest trail, with fluttering prayer flags and brightly coloured tea houses signalling our arrival in Monjo. Settle into your welcoming lodge with cake and a hot mint tea, before getting the beers in with your Flash Pack crew.

We’re headed on a six-hour hike to the market town of Namche Bazaar today. Pass by colourful villages festooned with prayer flags and hanging walkways that stretch across deep ravines. Walking these feels precarious but it’s all part of the adventure and it’s perfectly safe. Keep an eye out for cinematic views of Thamserku en-route, framed by pine forest and alpine rivers. You’ll also spot prayer wheels and intricately carved prayer stones, along with more oxen and mules than you can count. We’re tackling an 800-metre hike in altitude on this trail, so expect steep climbs and notably thinner air. Don’t worry, there’ll be plenty of stops for hot mint tea and you can recharge with a hearty lunch. After a six-hour ramble, we’ll arrive at the upper slopes of Namche Bazaar, and your Khumbu-style guesthouse with magnificent views. Take advantage of the nearby bars filled with hikers from all over the world.

At 3,340 metres, Namche Bazaar is a great spot to pause as we acclimatise to the thinning air. We’ll begin today with an ancient tradition of covering the ground and greeting the morning sun at a viewpoint overlooking Everest, Lhotse and Ama Dablam. Your guide can lead you in a basic, improvised session of al fresco yoga. Then we’ll head into town and grab a tea in the mountain sunshine. Namche Bazaar is the capital of the Khumbu Valley and you can stock up on any last-minute hiking essentials at the Tibetan market here, along with colourful Sherpa handicraft. Later, we’ll take a six-hour ramble to Khumjung Valley and back, passing a monastery that is home to a yeti scalp and tucking into a picnic lunch. Back in Namche, make yourself at home in your mountain lodge. As evening draws in, don’t miss the super-bright stars.

Load up on pancakes today as we set off to Thame village, a five-hour trek away along remote river gorges and pathways framed by towering juniper trees. This trail is far less used by other hikers, and you’ll immediately notice the difference. We’ll walk the Nangpa La high mountain pass, an old trading route, with the mighty Cho Oyu (“Turquoise Goddess”) mountain on our shoulder. Around three hours in, we’ll stop for lunch at Thamo, the birthplace of Ang Rita Sherpa, “The Snow Leopard” who summited Everest ten times without supplemental oxygen. We’ll continue on, passing the thundering Bhote Koshi river, before reaching Thale. This is the homeplace of Apa Sherpa, who holds the world record for summiting Everest 20 times, and Tenzing Norgay, one of the first people to conquer Everest with Sir Edmund Hillary in 1953. Make your way to your lodge; a tucked-away retreat in the shadow of magnificent snowy peaks.

It’s another day of acclimatisation today, as we hit pause in the lovely village of Thame. This remote Sherpa community lies on an old salt trading route, and it’s largely unchanged by the passing of time. Dial down to the rhythm of daily life in the Nepalese highlands, as you get a greater feel for Sherpa culture. We’ll start with some improvised yoga and meditation for those who fancy it, amid the mountain ranges. Then we’ll climb 200 metres or so above the village to explore the gilded grandeur of the Nyingmapa monastery. The oldest of its kind in the Khumbu region, this 16th Century masterpiece nestles on the slopes of Sunder mountain, and its intricate interiors are well worth the demanding ascent. To help acclimatise to the altitude we’ll then take a shorter hike up to a shoulder of the Sunder Peak, for a stirring triple-whammy view of Teng Kang Poche, Kongde and Everest mountains.

Today we’ll be hiking four hours to Kongde mountain, at 4,250 metres, on a tough but deeply rewarding route. You should be well into your stride by now, so free your mind amid the hidden paths and undulating valley peaks. We’ll trek beside Bhote Kosi river via the tiny hamlet of Pare, before ascending through remote stretches of rhododendron, pine and bamboo forest. You’re truly in the heart of the wilderness here – there aren’t even any villages – so drink in the serenity and spectacular views. We’ll stop for a scenic woodland lunch before continuing upwards via very steep ground, including a section where we use a cable handrail. A giant glacier at the foot of Kongde then leads up to Kongde lodge, a unique eagle’s nest and one of the highest hotels in the world. Settle into your extraordinary setting, surrounded by Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, Cho Oyo, Gyajung Khang and Ama Dablam.

Herald a new dawn with a high-altitude feast on the slopes overlooking Everest. We’ll toast to the world’s highest mountain with an alfresco banquet of croissants, eggs, coffee and, of course, a glass of champagne. We then have an optional trek to Farak Ri viewpoint, for those who want to tick off 5,000-metre badge of honour. This three-hour hike is weather dependent and it’ll begin early for the best views. At the summit awaits a shimmering bird’s eye window onto the entire Khumbu Valley. This includes four of the world’s six highest peaks: Everest, Lhotse, Makalu and Cho Oyu. You’ll also see Kongde Lake appearing as a drop in the sea of mountains. This is a beautiful and moving view that people hiking the standard Everest route just don’t get to see. Plus, you can say hi to the globe’s most imposing mountains with zero call for the hardships such a feat normally involves. Win.

After getting our bearings, we’ll get a team briefing from our support crew of porters, who’ll be with us throughout our nine-day trek. Then we’ll begin, following in the footsteps of so many legendary explorers as we hike five hours into the snow-capped Himalayas to the village of Phakding. Lose yourself in a spectacular world of rolling green valleys, following narrow footpaths filled with yaks and yows. This is the only route into the Everest region, so it’ll feel pretty busy at first. But with each passing day, groups will peel off and the paths will become clearer. We’ll stop for lunch before reaching the peaceful hamlet of Phakding and our cosy riverside lodge.

Dust off your trusty boots one last time for this final step of the journey back to Lukla, at 2,860 metres. The five-hour hike is your last chance to bask in the beauty of the Himalayan foothills. It’s a busier route again but there’s plenty to see, from prayer wheels and golden stupas to intricate stone carvings. Follow narrow cliff-side pathways, passing bustling villages, swinging bridges and the obligatory traffic of donkeys, oxen and long-horned dzos. We’ll stop for lunch before arriving at our cosy Lukla inn, with a spa to soothe those weary muscles. Come evening, we’ll head into town for a farewell meal with our Himalayan support crew. Our Sherpas have been with us every step of this incredible journey; now we get to say a heartfelt thank you. Dig into Nepalese curry or spicy fried momos and raise a toast to your honorary family: it’s been one epic ride.

It’s back to the bright lights of the city, as we take a morning flight out of Lukla. Again this is prone to weather delays, so it’s important that you book an international flight out from Kathmandu tomorrow afternoon, at the earliest. That way, if we’re held back by a day, you won’t miss your connecting flight. Back in Kathmandu, the rest of the day is yours to do as you please. Wander the vast maze of street stalls and designer boutiques to stock up on last-minute gifts or pop over to pretty Patan in the capital’s suburbs for a showcase of ancient temples and palaces. In the evening, we’ll gather for a final hurrah in one of Kathmandu’s finest restaurants, set in the city’s whimsical Garden of Dreams. It’s a suitably dreamy backdrop in which to toast your whirlwind Himalayan escape. Cocktails, ahoy: an urban oasis awaits.

Flashpackers, it’s time to say goodbye. After breakfast, spend a last few hours in the sunshine before making your own way to the airport. We recommended getting a late afternoon flight out, to make room for possible delays from Lukla. As you jet out over the peaks of Nepal, reflect on your soul-stirring escape. You’ve experienced the Himalayas in a whole new way, combining the thrill of high-altitude trekking with a ream of creature comforts. You’ve stayed in one of the world’s highest hotels and tested your limits with a series of epic hikes. You’ve savoured a champagne breakfast by Everest and climbed to Farak Ri, at a dazzling 5,000 metres. From oxen-filled pathway to pine forest picnics, from high-swinging bridges to high-altitude yoga: this has been one action-packed escape So, fly high on a flutter of prayer flag memories. Or, make like the Yeti, and disappear off into the Himalayan horizon… No judgements here.