Destination: Nepal – Everest 70th Anniversary Trek
Duration: 19 days
Group size: 4+
Dates: 15th May – 2nd June 2023
Cost: Approx. £1330 + international airfare
2023 marks the 70th Anniversary of the first ascent of Everest by a British expedition led by John Hunt, with Ed Hillary and Tenzing Norgay being the successful summiteers. There are celebrations taking place in Nepal, India and the UK. This trip is a unique opportunity to be a part of the Nepal celebrations, never likely to be repeated. This trek will take us off the beaten track, trekking through the foothills of the Himalaya, following, in part, the route taken by John Hunt and his team on their approach to Everest. On route we will encounter Pike Peak, which the Everest ’53 team climbed for their first view of Everest. Ed Hillary always maintained the Pike Peak gave the best view of Everest. We continue to follow in their footsteps to Khumjung and Namche Bazaar where the celebrations take place on 29th May.
Starting in Kathmandu, we travel east by road to the start point of our trek, in much the same way they did in 1953, although the road now takes us further today.
We quite quickly come across Pike Peak so we will make sure we have the best chance of summiting by taking an acclimatisation day at base camp. Summit day starts early in the cold, clear morning air. Our aims to reach the summit (4065m) for sunrise when we will get the best views of Everest and the surrounding mountains. Having soaked up the views, we continue to trek deeper into the Himalaya.
On the early days of the trek we will not be among the crowds who annually trek up to Everest Base Camp but among local communities who eke out a living in this hostile, undulating landscape of precipitous terraces and rhododendron forests. Hopefully they will still be in flower.
Beyond Lukla there will be more people on the trail and the villages we pass through are more geared up for catering for trekkers with many lodges and tea houses.
Having climbed Namche Hill to the capital of the Khumbu, Namche Bazaar, nestling in a natural bowl, we will take break to acclimatise, top explore the town and enjoy its many facilities. This means we will be sufficiently rested to continue the short trek to Khumjung to enjoy the start of the celebrations, the opening of the Ed Hilliary Museum and Visitor Centre in the first classroom he built in Khumjung School. Taking a shorter walk back to Namche, we will return in time for the opening of the Tenzing Norgay Museum and Visitor Centre before watching the finishers of the Everest Marathon. At some point in the proceedings we will take part in a tree planting ceremony.
The following day we head back by the same route to Lukla where we will pick up a flight to take us to Ramechap and onwards to Kathmandu by road.
Outline Itinerary:
Day 01:15th May – Depart UK on international flight
Day 02:16th May – Arrival in Kathmandu and transfer to hotel.
Day 03:17th May – In Kathmandu – morning sightseeing, afternoon free
Day 04:18th May – An early breakfast and drive to Dhap 2,630 m via 2,413 m on Jeep or similar 4 -wheel drive – 07 hrs.
Day 05:19th May – Morning short drive to Bulbule village and trek to Pike Base Camp 3,640 m – 04 hrs.
Day 06: 20th May – Pike Peak Base Camp walk for acclimatisation
Day 07: 21st May – Climb to Pike View Point Hill 4,302 m/14,114 feet for sunrise view and trek to Junbesi 2,701 m-05 hrs.
Day 08: 22nd May – Trek to Nuntahala (Mani Dingma) 2,190 m -06 hrs.
Day 09: 23rd May – Trek to Bupsa Danda 2,630 m via Khari-Khola -06 hrs.
Day 10: 24th May – Trek to Surkhe 2,450 m – 06 hrs.
Day 11: 25th May – Trek to Phakding 2,645 m – 05 hrs.
Day 12: 26th May – Trek to Namche Bazaar 3,440 m / 11, 350 feet – 06 hrs.
Day 13: 27th May – In Namche to acclimatise
Day 14: 28th May – Trek to Khunde and Khumjung-05 hrs.
Day 15: 29th May – In Khumjung in the morning for the opening ceremony of the Hillary Visitor Centre. Following the celebration trek back to Namche for the opening of the Tenzing Visitor Centre. Later in the afternoon observe the runners reaching the finishing point at Namche Bazaar hill top.
Day 16: 30th May – Trek to Lukla 2, 846 m – 06-07 hours.
Day 17: 31st May – Fly from Lukla to Manthali airport / Ramechap and drive to Kathmandu with afternoon free at leisure.
Day 18: 1st June – Free day for optional tour at places of interest and shopping
Day 19: 2nd June – Depart Kathmandu.
