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Nepal
Price
$2830
10 Days
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Lace up your boots for the ultimate trekking journey through the remote Sherpa villages of the Everest region, with a highlight trek to Ama Dablam base camp.
Activity Type: Walking | Cultural | Wildlife
16 Days
Activity Level: 3+
Cost: $4,995 per peson
09/10/2025 - 09/25/2025
Trip Overview
This custom trek explores the high mountain villages of the Everest region. Touching down in Kathmandu, we stay in a quiet residential neighborhood with our guiding partner’s family. Once acclimated, we take a short, scenic mountain flight to Lukla, the jumping off point for our trek. Our route heads up the valley to the famed mountaineering village of Namche and then veers off the main Everest base camp route, joining Tenzing’s extended family in the villages of Phortse, Khumjung and Thame. Our aim is equal parts trekking adventure and cultural immersion as we have opportunities to visit a remote school and hospital, a mountaineering museum, Buddhist monasteries, and learn about farming and the way of life in these high mountain villages. This is truly the trip of a lifetime trekking in the Himalaya, gaining glimpses of Mt. Everest and experiencing traditional Sherpa culture and hospitality.
Trip Highlights
- Staying at our Sherpa family home in Kathmandu.
- Getting off the main trekking route to visit less-frequented, traditional Sherpa villages and remote Buddhist monasteries.
- Trekking to Ama Dablam Base Camp at approximately 15,000′.
- Enjoying the occasional “pampered” overnight at some of the region’s finest comfort lodges.
Activity Level
This moderate-to-challenging trekking journey is rated ‘3+’ on a scale of 1-5. The activity level on this custom journey will depend on the route we design for your private group. The trails are generally well-maintained and heavily traveled, with a number of rock steps, several suspension bridges, and some steep, narrow sections with exposure and fixed ropes. Although the actual distances traveled are moderate, the high elevation, dust, strong sun, and basic level of amenities on this trek make it more challenging.
Dates and Cost
Nepal: Trekking Into The Sherpa Heartland
Trip Dates
Trip Length: 16 Days
Upcoming Trip Dates:
September 10-25, 2025.
Custom Option: We’ll design a custom journey for your private group of friends and family. Please inquire with us to plan your trekking adventure today!
Trip Cost
Trip Cost (2025): $4,995 per person, double occupancy (4+ pax) | $5,495 per person, double occupancy (2pax) $545 single supplement | $650 per person (helicopter Lukla/KTM; return flight Lukla/Rammechap.
Custom quotes can be provided for each private journey.
What’s Included
- Trekking guides
- Porters
- Lodging
- Meals
- Domestic flights
- Trekking permits and fees
What’s Included:
Trek Crew - Our Sherpa team consists of one lead Sherpa guide, an assistant guide, and porters (typically one per every two trekkers). Our guides are highly experienced, proficient in English and have excellent connections in the region.
Lodging - Our Sherpa homestay in Kathmandu offers basic amenities, however, a unique window into life in Kathmandu. While on the trek we stay at locally-run teahouses. Rooms are simple, yet clean and well kept. Mattresses, pillows, and often a blanket are provided. Some lodges will have attached bathrooms, and others will be shared bathrooms. Toilets may be traditional squat toilets, or western-style. Most lodges have running water, although in the winter months pipes freeze at higher elevations, so this is not a guarantee. Showers are available at an additional cost and may be “bucket-style” showers.
Meals - All meals are included except for lunches in Kathmandu. While on the trek, meals are selected by our talented Sherpa staff and include coffee, tea, and boiled water. Dessert may be included on occasion and will be selected by our Sherpa staff.
Beverages - Drip/instant coffee, tea, boiled water is included at meals. Specialty coffees (espresso drinks), alcohol, bottled water, juice, and soda are not included.
Other - Trekking permits, National Park entrance fees, basic group first aid kit, insurance and flights for our trek crew (if applicable), touring several sites in Kathmandu, all airport transfers.
What’s Not Included
- International flights
- Visas
- Emergency medical evacuation insurance
- Optional tips to trekking crew
- Items of personal nature (i.e., laundry)
- Hot showers on trek (paid directly to lodge owners)
- Wi-Fi and device-charging on trek (paid directly to lodge owners)
- Any bottled drinks (soda, juice, alcohol) and specialty coffee (espressos).
- Potable water (boiled water is provided at meals)
Sample Custom Itinerary
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Day 1: Arrival Day in Kathmandu (4,265’); transfer to Sherpa Homestay
Overnight: Sherpa Homestay, Kathmandu (some rooms w/ private baths and other shared baths)
Meals: D
Day 2: Kathmandu Orientation
Overnight: Sherpa Homestay, Kathmandu (some rooms w/ private baths and other shared baths)
Meals: B, D
Day 3: Fly to Lukla – 2840m/9,317′; trek to Phakding-2,620m/8,595′
Approximate trek time: 2 hours
Approximate distance: 4.4 miles
Elevation loss: 723’
Overnight: Sherpa Shangrila Resort or Namaste Lodge, Phakding (all rooms w/ attached bathrooms)
Meals: B, L, D
Day 4: Trek Phakding to Jorsalle-2740m/8,990’
Approximate trek time: 4 hours
Approximate distance: 5 miles
Elevation gain: 215m/706’
Overnight: Nirvana Lodge, Jorsalle (shared baths)
Meals: B, L, D
Day 5: Trek Jorsalle to Namche Bazar-3440m/ 11,286’
Approximate trek time: 4 hours
Approximate distance: 5 miles
Elevation gain: 700m/2,296’
Overnight: Hotel Sherwi Khangba, Upper Namche (most rooms w/ attached bathrooms)
Meals: B, L, D
Day 6: Explore around Namche-3440m/ 11,286’
Overnight: Hotel Sherwi Khangba, Upper Namche (most rooms w/ attached bathrooms)
Meals: B, L, D
Day 7: Trek Namche to Tashinga-3450m/ 11,318’
Approximate trek time: 3-4 hours
Approximate distance: 3.5 miles
Elevation gain: 200m/650’
Elevation loss: 152m/500’
Overnight: Everest Summit Lodge, Tashinga (all rooms w/ attached bathrooms)
Meals: B, L, D
Day 8: Trek Tashinga to Pangboche-3985m/13,074’
Approximate trek time: 3-4 hours
Approximate distance: 3.5 miles
Elevation loss: 300m/1,000’
Elevation gain: 535m/1,755’
Overnight: Everest Summit Lodge, Upper Pangboche (all rooms w/ attached bathrooms)
Meals: B, L, D
Day 9: Day hike to Amadablam Base Camp- 4576m/15,013’; return to Pangboche-3914m/12,841’
Approximate trek time: 5 hours round-trip
Approximate distance: 5 miles
Elevation gain: 662m/2,172’
Elevation loss: 662m/2,172’
Overnight: Everest Summit Lodge, Upper Pangboche (all rooms w/ attached bathrooms)
Meals: B, L, D
Day 10: Trek from Pangboche to Phortse-3810m/12,500’
Approximate trek time: 3-4 hours
Approximate distance: 3.5 miles
Elevation gain: 192m/630′
Elevation loss: 340m/1,111’
Overnight: Namaste Lodge, Phortse (shared bathrooms)
Meals: B, L, D
Day 11: Trek from Phortse to Khumjung-3736m/12,258’
Approximate trek time: 4 hours
Approximate distance: 6 miles
Elevation loss: 700m/2,296’
Elevation gain: 900m/2,952’
Overnight: Hidden Valley Lodge, Khumjung (all rooms w/ attached bathrooms)
Meals: B, L, D
Day 12: Trek from Khumjung to Thame -3820m/12,532’
Approximate trek time: 6-7 hours
Approximate distance: 6 miles
Elevation loss: 250m/820’
Elevation gain: 350m/1,148’
Overnight: Valley View Lodge, Thame (limited rooms w/ attached bathrooms)
Meals: B, L, D
Day 13: Trek from Thame to Khongde – 4250m/13,943’
Approximate trek time: 5.5 hours
Approximate distance: 8 miles
Elevation gain: 1,120m/ 3,675’
Overnight: Yeti Mountain Home, Khongde (all rooms w/ attached bathrooms)
Meals: B, L, D
Day 14: Trek from Khongde to Lukla – 22840m/9,317’
Approximate trek time: 6 hours
Approximate distance: 8 miles
Elevation loss: 1585m/ 5,200’
Elevation gain: 175m/ 574’
Overnight: Paradise Lodge, Lukla (all rooms w/ attached bathrooms)
Meals: B, L, D
Day 15: Fly Lukla to Manthali; Transfer to Kathmandu
Overnight: Sherpa Homestay, Kathmandu (some rooms w/ private baths and other shared baths)
Meals: B, D
Day 16: International Departures or optional extension to Chitwan National Park
Meals: B
Nepal Trip Planning
Trip Preparation
This is a moderate trek through the remote mountain villages of the Everest, or Solo Khumbu region, of Nepal. Each day averages 3-8 hours of trekking (4-8 miles), with altitude gains and losses ranging from 500’ to 3,000’, and one day with 5,000’ elevation loss. Although the actual time on the trail and the distances covered are not especially lengthy, the high elevation, environmental conditions (it can be dusty and cold), and basic facilities—with the exception of a few comfort lodges—on the trail makes this trip suitable for adventurously inclined travelers.
Participants need to have a good, base level of fitness and hiking experience, but, with the exception of any major health concerns or limitations, this trek can be appropriate for most people. In order to prepare for the hikes on this trip, we encourage you to exercise an average of four days a week, for 1-2 hours at a time for several months leading up to your departure. Activities such as biking, hiking, walking, skiing, and running are great for conditioning. Please consult your physician about your participation on this trek if you have any concerns regarding your health. The better physically prepared you are for this adventure, the more you’ll be able to enjoy your surroundings and the reward of your hard work on the trail.
Weather
The best times to travel to Nepal are from late September to November, and March to May. The weather is similar during our fall and spring treks, both of which take place during high season in the Everest region. Temperatures should be similar during both seasons, averaging in the 50s/60s (℉) during the day, and dipping into the 40s/30s (℉) at night. There is also the possibility of freezing overnight temperatures, especially at some of the higher-elevation villages. Keep in mind that the lower latitude of Nepal, in combination with its high elevation, makes for strong sun, so hiking temperatures are usually quite comfortable. That said, once the sun dips behind the mountains, the dry climate can feel especially cold and the lodges do not have central heating.
In the fall, stable weather and clear blue skies provide reliable views. Springtime brings a slightly higher chance of precipitation, although the wildflowers and rhododendrons are blooming. Our journeys provide the opportunity to observe a variety of seasonal agricultural activities, with farmers in the lower villages harvesting and preparing for winter in the fall, and planting and ploughing their fields in the spring. The Everest climbing season takes place during the spring, while Amadablam climbing season takes place in the fall.
A Day On The Trail
Our lodge-to-lodge treks are led by experienced Sherpa guide(s) and supported by porters who carry our luggage and equipment. A trek day typically starts around 8-9 a.m., following breakfast. We hike at a leisurely pace, allowing time to stop along our route to take-in our magnificent surroundings. Sections of the trail may be quite busy with other trekking groups and caravans of porters, as well as yaks and donkeys transporting goods throughout the region.
It is important to be patient and to have the right mindset, as, at times, we will need to pull to the side of the trail to allow large caravans to pass. Typically, we’ll stop at local teahouses along our route for tea, snacks, and/or lunch, and then continue on to our lodge for the night. In the late afternoons and evenings, you can relax, wash, read, or take a walk in the village or to local sites of interest. The evening meal is served between 6-7 p.m. in the dining room of our lodge, at which time, your lead guide will brief the group on the next day’s hike.
Meals
While staying at our Sherpa homestay in Kathmandu, you will be offered delicious, hygienic local cuisine for breakfast and dinner. For lunch, you’ll have the option to eat at one of Kathmandu’s many excellent restaurants or back at our homestay.
While trekking, we enjoy dinner and breakfast at our lodges, and lunches at local tea houses along the route. Generally, meals are fixed menus supervised by our Sherpa staff and prepared by village lodge operators. The food is usually plentiful and delicious, although you should be aware that the menus are not normally extensive, as they are limited by what’s locally available and by what can be supplied and transported by foot. Eating local dishes is encouraged, and we ask that group members be flexible, and willing to go along with what our guides suggest for your party. Set group meals are more efficient and eco-friendly for our hosts, reducing the time and amount of fuel needed to prepare dishes. Our guides will verify the cleanliness, proper hygiene, and availability of nutritional options at the various tea houses along our trek.
Typical breakfasts at our lodges may include porridge and eggs, along with local breads served with jam, butter, or honey. Lunch and dinner may include various soups, rice or noodle dishes, momos (Tibetan dumplings), or dal bhaat, Nepal’s national dish. Consisting of boiled rice with a specially prepared lentil soup and vegetable and curry side dishes, dal bhaat is both light and nourishing, making it ideal hiking food.
Arrivals & Departures
It is your responsibility to book your international flights to and from Kathmandu Tribhuvan International Airport. Emirates Airlines offers flights from both Boston and New York (stopping over in Dubai), while Qatar Airways offers flights from New York (stopping over in Doha).
Please note: It is important that you plan to arrive in Kathmandu—at the latest—early in the day on the first (pre-tour) day of our trip. If possible, we highly recommend arriving one night prior to the start of your journey, and we will help you make the necessary arrangements for an extra night’s stay at our Sherpa Homestay (at additional cost). Prior to departure, we highly recommend that you plan to stay one additional night in Kathmandu in the event of flight cancellations out of Lukla.
Nepal Trip Guides
Our Sherpa Team
Our guides have years of experience leading trekking groups to the upper Khumbu and Manaslu regions of Nepal. With their extensive knowledge and deep connections in the area, they are able to provide unique insights into the local culture and way of life. Not only are our team of guides proficient in English, trained in first aid and CPR, and adept at handling any kind of emergency, they are also in tune with each trekker’s abilities and interests. In this way, our guides are able to maintain flexibility while delivering unique experiences for each and every group. Traveling with our team members, you will feel like you are traveling with a friend—one that may even bring you into his family members’ homes for tea while opening your eyes to the customs and way of life in these rugged mountains.
Tenzing Sherpa
Tenzing Sherpa manages all of our on-the-ground operations in Nepal and is our lead guide. His family is from Thame, a small village in the Everest region, where we stay for a night on our trekking route. Along with his wife, Dadoma, he also runs our Sherpa homestay in Kathmandu. Prior to founding Nima and Neema Treks, Tenzing worked for the World Wildlife Fund and the Sherpa Society Trekking Agency. He brings more than 20 years of trekking experience as well as an excellent knowledge of Nepalese wildlife and an extensive understanding of Sherpa culture and Buddhism. Tenzing is proficient in English and goes above and beyond to ensure that our groups are well cared for while catering to their unique interests along the trail. When he is not trekking, Tenzing enjoys traveling and spending time with his family.
Dadoma Sherpa
Dadoma Sherpa will be our hostess in Kathmandu and oversees the operation of our treks. With her outgoing personality, proficiency in English, and more than a decade of experience working in the trekking industry, Dadoma always provides us with a warm welcome to her country. When she’s not hosting trekking groups, Dadoma runs a small pre-school out of our homestay in Kathmandu . Prior to this, she also worked with the French Embassy in Nepal for 10 years. Dadoma’s family is from Khumjung, one of the largest villages in the Everest Region. While on the trail, we will have the special opportunity to stay with some of Dadoma’s extended family.
Kumar Katuwal
Kumar Katuwal is an assistant guide with 15 years of trekking experience throughout the Nepal Himalaya. Kumar works as a full-time guide and sometime-porter, and is skilled in trek cooking. He lives with his wife and two children.
Nima Sherpa
Nima Sherpa is from the remote village of Khumjung in the upper solo Khumbu region (Everest) of Nepal. He lives there with his wife and young son. His ambitions have lead him to guiding an Everest climbing expedition, where they made it close to the summit, but had to turn around. He aspires to join more climbing expeditions in the future. He joins Tenzing’s trekking groups as an assistant guide and very attentive to the every needs of our guests. With his connections throughout the region, we often find ourselves bumping into his family an friends along the trail. Very thoughtful and compassionate, he is a sure and steady presence for our groups as we ascend high passes and venture to the remote villages of the Everest region.
Porters
We typically have one porter for every two trekkers on the trail. They are local to the region and Mountain Kora adheres to all standards for safe treatment and quality conditions for our porters. They are provided with adequate accommodations, food, clothing, and footwear. In addition to insurance coverage, we strictly adhere to the weight limits our porters may carry, as mandated by the Ministry of Tourism (30kg). You may visit Porters’ Progress to learn more about the safe treatment and care of porters in Nepal.
Accommodations
