High Wild Places Photography

Experience the epic scenery of the Mt. Everest region of Nepal, on this photography-oriented fully-supported 22-day trek!

Overview

Difficulty Level: Strenuous. Trip Mode: Tea house. Best Time: October-May. Max Altitude: 5360 m

Everest Region Photography Trek

This trek into the Everest region was designed with photography in mind, but you don't need to be a photographer to appreciate the beauty of the Himalayas! The Everest Region Photography Trek features the great beauty of the highest peaks and lakes in the world, but with less days trekking between tea houses, no major passes to climb, and days spent in the best locations for photography. Especially scenic will be 4 nights at Gokyo, and 4 nights at Pangboche...both with extraordinary day-hike possibilities (see details in Itinerary).

Trekking up to Gokyo, we explore and enjoy the Sherpa hospitality, as we ascend through the rhododendron and conifer forest to the yak herders' settlements of sacred lakes in Gokyo valley. At Gokyo, four of the eight highest peaks in the world hover above sparkling turquoise glacial lakes: Lhotse, Makalu, Cho Oyu, and Mt. Everest. At Pangboche, we will be in the shadow of Ama Dablum, and Tobuche.

The total trip length is 22 days, and trekking distance is approximately 95 km (60 miles), with 40-60 km of optional day-hiking.

This trek is fully supported with guides and porters. We will be sleeping and eating in family-run "tea houses" along the route. Rooms are small, and not heated, but you will be provided a warm sleeping bag.

As on other treks in the Himalayas, we follow the responsible trekking policy to have 1 trekker: 1 Porter. Safety of trek member and crew on top agenda. Above all, we carry the Oxygen cylinder on your trip to Gokyo lakes as a safety back up.

Photography

This trek has been designed to allow enough time to explore the areas around Gokyo and Pangboche, with photography in mind. Daily sunrise and sunset photography will be supported (weather and conditions permitting)...these will be optional, for those who wish to sleep in.  

The Itinerary

Day 1 - Arrive in Kathmandu / dinner with cultural program.

Day 2 - Cultural Tour Kathmandu - Explore Buddhist Boudhnath and Hindu Pashupatinath temple.

Day 3 - Flight to Lukla (2,800 m /9,186ft) Trek to Phakding (2,600 m / 8,530ft) Walk approx. 3/4hrs

Day 4 - Trek to Namche Bazaar (3,450 m /11,318ft) walk approx 7 hrs.

Day 5 - Rest day in Namche (3440 m)

Day 6 - Trek to Phortse Thanga (3680 m, +240 m), 9 km (5.6 mi)

Day 7 - Trek to Dhole (4040 m, +360 m), 3.4 km (2.1 mi)

Day 8 - Trek to Machermo (4470 m, +430), 5.6 km (3.5 mi)

Day 9 - Trek to Gokyo (4790 m, +320), 7 km (4.3 mi)

Day 10 - Rest/photo day Gokyo - Climb Gokyo Ri

Day 11 - Rest/photo day Gokyo - day-hike north to Gyazumba

Day 12 - Rest/photo day Gokyo - day-hike north to Ngbzumba Ri, or west to Renjo La

Day 13 - Trek to Dhole (4040 m, -750 m), 12.6 km (7.8 mi)

Day 14 - Trek to Pangboche (3930 m, -110 m), 10 km (6.2 mi)

Day 15 - Rest/photo day in Pangboche - Climb to Ama Dablam Base Camp

Day 16 - Rest/photo day in Pangboche - Climb to Tobuche Base Camp

Day 17 - Rest/photo day in Pangboche - Day-hike to Pheriche, or start down to Namche.

Day 18 - Trek to Namche, 15.1 km (9.4 mi)

Day 19 - Trek to Lukla, 19 km (11.8 mi)

Day 20 - Fly to Kathmandu

Day 21 - Rest and explore Kathmandu

Day 22 - Airport and flight home