Kathmandu to Pattale

• Altitude: 2,840 meters | Approximate Time: 8 hours

Your journey begins with a long, scenic drive leaving the bustling streets of Kathmandu behind. As you travel through winding highway roads, you will witness beautiful terraced fields, rushing rivers, and traditional roadside villages.The journey by road steadily rises into higher terrain, giving you your first distant views of the majestic Himalayan peaks as you reach the picturesque hilltop village of Pattale.

• Overnight Stay: Pattale

Pattale to Bung/Chheskam

• Altitude: 1,677 meters | Approximate Time: 6 hours

• Overnight Stay: Bung/Chheskam

Bung/Chheskam to Muddi Kharka

• Altitude: 2,590 meters | Approximate Time: 6 hours

This day marks the transition from driving to trekking. After a short final drive to clear the rugged terrain, you will lace up your boots and begin hiking. The trail winds upward through lush forests and traditional grazing pastures, gently introducing your body to the steady climbing rhythm required for the days ahead as you reach Muddi Kharka.

• Overnight Stay: Muddi Kharka

Muddi Kharka to Waikho

• Altitude: 3,000 meters | Approximate Time: 6 hours

Leaving Muddi Kharka, the trail climbs steadily through pristine woodlands and open alpine ridges. As you push deeper into the isolated Upper Mundum region, the modern world fades away. The environment becomes noticeably quieter and more rugged, culminating in your arrival at the scenic wilderness campsite of Waikho.

• Overnight Stay: Waiko

Waiko to Watelma

• Altitude: 3,159 meters | Approximate Time: 6 hours

Your trek continues higher into the wilderness as you navigate undulating trails that cross pristine mountain streams and rocky ridges. The air becomes crisp and thin as you surpass the 3,100-meter mark. The landscape transitions into sub-alpine terrain, leading you to the peaceful high-altitude clearing of Watelma.

• Overnight Stay: Watelma

Watelma to Gopichaur/Urpha

• Approximate Time: 6 hours

Today’s trek takes you through majestic, isolated landscapes where few tourists ever venture. Following rugged paths used primarily by local herders, you will traverse scenic meadows and rocky outcrops. The trail offers vast panoramic views of the surrounding valleys before bringing you to your resting point at Gopichaur or Urpha.

• Overnight Stay: Gopichaur/Urpha

Urpha to Khongmading

• Altitude: 4,850 meters | Approximate Time: 6 hours

Get ready for a significant elevation gain today as you hike toward the spectacular Hunga Valley region. The trail ascends steeply into a dramatic alpine environment, surrounded by towering, snow-capped peaks. Take slow, deliberate steps to adapt to the thin air as you finally reach the sweeping high-altitude plateau of Khongmading.

• Overnight Stay: Khongmading

Rest and Acclimatization at Khongmading

• Altitude: 4,850 meters

Before challenging your body with a massive high-altitude pass, you will spend a mandatory and highly beneficial rest day on the wide, windswept plateau of Khongmading. Pushing higher without proper adaptation poses serious health risks, so today is entirely about letting your oxygen levels stabilize. Trekkers are highly encouraged to step out for a gentle, slow-paced walk around the base of the surrounding ridges to help your cardiovascular system adapt to the thin air effectively.

• Overnight Stay: Khongmading

Khongmading to Mera La

• Altitude: 5,415 meters | Approximate Time: 5 hours

An early morning start ensures you have the best weather conditions as you begin your direct ascent toward the legendary Mera La Pass. The trail quickly leaves any remaining vegetation behind, transitioning into a stark landscape of loose scree, steep boulders, and eventually solid glacial ice. As you reach the crest of the pass at an impressive 5,415 meters, an astonishing world of ice opens up around you. Your high-altitude camp tonight will be set up in this dramatic alpine environment.

• Overnight Stay: Mera La

Mera La to Khare

• Altitude: 5,000 meters | Approximate Time: 4 hours

Your morning begins with the incredible experience of watching the sunrise cast a golden glow over the vast Himalayan snowfields. After packing up camp, you will begin a short but technically focused descent across the upper lips of the glacier. The trail slowly drops back down to the 5,000-meter mark, leading you directly into the famous mountaineering settlement of Khare, a lively village filled with cozy dining halls and fellow adventurers.

• Overnight Stay: Khare

Khare to Kothe

• Altitude: 3,580 meters | Approximate Time: 5 hours

Today features a significant and very welcome drop in altitude as you leave the high-altitude glacial world behind. The trail traces the dramatic path carved out by the Hinku Drangka river, descending steadily through a rugged valley. The stark, grey rocky landscapes slowly give way to alpine shrubs, patches of green grass, and eventually beautiful, ancient forests before you stroll into the peaceful riverside settlement of Kothe.

• Overnight Stay: Kothe

Kothe to Khola Kharka

• Altitude: 4,223 meters | Approximate Time: 6 hours

You will leave the main riverbed today to tackle an undulating and highly scenic trail that climbs back up along the high ridges of the valley. The path leads you through lush, dense forest stretches where you might spot unique local wildlife. Walking along these high ridges offers fantastic, fresh vantage points before concluding your climb into the scenic high-altitude clearing of Khola Kharka.

• Overnight Stay: Khola Kharka

Khola Kharka to Bung/Khiraula

• Altitude: 1,677 meters | Approximate Time: 6 hours

This marks your final full day of foot travel, taking you on a long, beautiful descent out of the high alpine wilderness back into thriving local civilization. The trail drops steeply through rich, green bamboo forests and terraced farming hillsides, bringing you into the charming and culturally rich villages of Bung or Khiraula. Spend your evening chatting with the welcoming local residents and celebrating the end of your trek.

• Overnight Stay: Bung/Khiraula

Bung/Khiraula to Salleri/Pattale

• Altitude: 2,379 meters | Approximate Time: 5 hours

Your overland journey home begins today as you leave the walking trails behind and board a rugged local four-wheel-drive vehicle. The driving route navigates the winding, unpaved mountain roads that snake through the lower foothills of the Solukhumbu region. The road gradually climbs back up to a higher ridge line, bringing you to the major regional administrative hubs of Salleri or Pattale by late afternoon.

• Overnight Stay: Salleri/Pattale

Salleri/Pattale to Kathmandu

• Altitude: 1,327 meters | Approximate Time: 8 hours

The final chapter of your grand Himalayan expedition is a comprehensive overland drive that takes you from the quiet mountain foothills back to the bustling capital city. Your vehicle will follow the well-traveled highway, winding along the banks of beautiful rivers. As the afternoon fades, your vehicle will climb the final ridge entering the Kathmandu Valley, delivering you safely back to your destination.

• Overnight Stay: Kathmandu