Sherpani Col Pass Trek – 22 Days

The day is devoted to last-minute preparation, and then the trek starts. The group will have a briefing about the Sherpani Col Pass Trek. After breakfast, your guide will meet the group, introduce everyone, and give a detailed briefing. Trekking gear will be inspected, and the guide will assist in getting any missing equipment borrowed or bought. Relevant travel documents will also be received to process a permit.

Then, you will have some sightseeing around Kathmandu at (1,300 m / 4,265 ft) and explore the most popular sites such as Monkey Temple, Boudhanath, Pashupatinath, and Basantapur Square. It is an excellent chance to learn the culture of Nepal prior to traveling to the inaccessible mountains. The day is casual yet significant in terms of preparation. It is advisable to get a good sleep before the journey east on the other side.

Activity: Preparation Day, Full day

Max. Altitude: 1,300m/4,265ft. (Kathmandu)

Meal: Breakfast

Accommodation: Hotel

Your mountain adventure starts with a scenic flight from Kathmandu to Tumlingtar, the route normally takes about 35 to 40 minutes. The mountain views can be seen during the flight, depending on weather conditions. On arrival, your trekking crew will welcome you and assist with the transportation of baggage. You are going to carry on by road, through the Arun Valley, one of whose villages, rice terraces, and subtropical sceneries you will pass.

The drive passes by locations like Khandbari and Hururu, and arrives at Num at (1,560 m / 5,118 ft). Num is a tiny hillside village and the entry point to your hiking path. You can check into a local teahouse, where you can have some rest and prepare for your first trekking day tomorrow.

Activity: Flight / Drive, 5-6 hours

Max. Altitude: 1,560m/5,118ft. (Num )

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Accommodation: Teahouse

The first day of trekking is today. You start walking in the ridges of mountains and farmlands after having breakfast in Num towards the valley of the Arun River. The path initially leads down the steep terraced fields and village lanes, then to the suspension bridge over the river Arun. This sloping part should be well-footed. Once across the river, the trail turns into a steady climb uphill to Seduwa.

On the path, Makalu Barun National Park permits are inspected when you formally enter the guarded area. The next stop is Seduwa (1,500 m / 4,921 ft), where you will stay overnight in a local teahouse. Today is a mixture of both high downhill and uphill, and a physically engaging, yet fruitful, introduction to the trek.

Activity: Trekking, 5-6 hours

Max. Altitude: 1,500m/4,921ft. (Seduwa)

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Accommodation: Teahouse

The path today, after breakfast, leads further into the Makalu territory. The trail goes northwestward along the ridges between the Isuwa Khola and Kasuwa Khola valleys. The trail moves through agricultural fields, villages and picturesque terraced hills, providing a calm walking day with a magnificent mountain environment. Before Tashi Gaon at (2,100 m / 6,890 ft), you will pass by Navagaon and Kharsing Kharka.

It is one of the last of the permanent villages on the road before the high mountain wilderness commences. As the walk is shorter today, you will have time to rest and look about the village on arrival. The increase in altitude is also gradual, and your body starts to adapt to the elevation rise in the future.

Activity: Trekking, 4-5 hours

Max. Altitude: 2,100m/6,890ft. (Tashi Gaon)

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Accommodation: Teahouse

It is one of the initial strenuous climbing days of the trip today. You leave Tashi Gaon after breakfast and begin a long walk up a mountain range, through forested tracks and mountain ridges. After a few hours, you arrive at Dhara (2,867 m / 9,406 ft), where you may have a brief rest. Then the trail goes up with more and more alpine scenery, with dense vegetation slowly disappearing into the rocky mountainous scenery.

You pass Unshisha at (3,200 m / 10,499 ft) before the final steep climb to Khongma Danda at (3,500 m / 11,483 ft). This is a difficult day of trekking due to the great increase in altitude, and hence a slow pace is significant. After arriving at Khongma, you are able to have a rest and enjoy the high-altitude mountain environment, which is much cooler.

Activity: Trekking, 6-7 hours

Max. Altitude: 3,500m/11,483ft. (Khongma Danda)

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Accommodation: Teahouse

It is a crucial acclimatization day at Khongma Danda. A good rest and exercise enable your body to acclimate itself to the lighter air before ascending to the higher mountains. You can either rest at the teahouse, admire the scenery around, or have a short acclimatization hike. A walk to Kauma La Pass (3,603 m / 11,821 ft) is suggested which is about 1 hour.

Hiking at high altitude is helpful to assist in adaptation and minimize the chances of altitude sickness. The day is planned as being less demanding, to enable time to recuperate after the steep climb yesterday. This practice is necessary as there are more challenging mountain passes and much greater altitudes to come in the days ahead.

Activity: Short Hike / Rest Day, 2-4 hours

Max. Altitude: 3,603m/11,821ft. (Kauma La Pass)

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Accommodation: Teahouse

It is one of the most difficult trekking days to date, and we have already made several crossings of high passes. You start with a very early breakfast, and proceed to ascend through rhododendron wood to Kauma La, and thence along the ridge. Depending on the conditions, the trail could be snowy. You pass Shipton La (4,125 m / 13,533 ft) (named after Eric Shipton), then descend to Kalo Pokhari Lake before ascending again to Keke La.

It proceeds onward through Tutu la at (4,075 m / 13,369 ft) and down into the pine forest into Mumbuk in the Barun Valley. All day long, you can have dramatic scenery of Makalu, Chamlang, and other mountains. It is a long, physically challenging day of continuous up and down and mountainous terrain.

Activity: Trekking. 7-8 hours

Max. Altitude: 4,170m/13,681ft. (Shipton La)

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Accommodation: Teahouse

The track then leaves Mumbuk and runs downwards to Yangla Kharka. The modern path runs along the river on the southern bank of the river through rough and isolated land. You will pass a bridge and move on through areas of landslides, with the path perhaps rocky and irregular. Careful walking is important in these areas.

As the path continues, the valley starts to widen, exposing a gorgeous alpine landscape comprising grassy fields, wild flowers, trees with lichen and random boulders. After some time, you reach Yangla Kharka at (3,557 m / 11,670 ft), a quiet mountain pasture. Today is not as demanding as it was the previous day, though it still involves trekking over natural terrain, and it is still remote.

Activity: Trekking, 5-6 hours

Max. Altitude: 3,557m/11,670ft. (Yangla Kharka)

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Accommodation: Teahouse

The present trail leads farther into the Barun Valley. You proceed north along the Barun River, through picturesque alpine scenery, after breakfast. You will come to Nghe Kharka, where there is a little monastery. The route then ascends to the pine forest and Yak Kharka and Merek Camp at (4,010 m / 13,156 ft). Following a rest, the path proceeds in a leisurely climb, over little streams, and a bridge made of wood over the Barun River.

With the rise in elevation, forests are slowly being wiped out and replaced by open grassy fields. And, at last, you arrive at Langmale Kharka (4,410 m / 14,469 ft), where rustic teahouses offer an overnight refuge. It is picturesque today because of the beautiful views of the surrounding Himalayan peaks.

Activity: Trekking, 4-5 hours

Max. Altitude: 4,410m/14,469ft. (Langmale Kharka)

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Accommodation: Teahouse

Today, you hike into a high-altitude Alpine Makalu Base Camp. After breakfast, leaving Langmale Kharka, the trail takes off through sandy and rocky regions with the lower Barun Glacier slowly appearing into view. You will arrive at Shershong pasture (4,650 m / 15,256 ft) and follow the Barun River, then over a wooden bridge.

From there, the route leads to Makalu Base Camp at (4,870 m / 15,978 ft). It is a region of spectacular mountainous terrain, with the tall pyramid of Mount Makalu taking center stage. The remote location notwithstanding, there are warm lodges where people can stay over. The day entails gradual walking of heights, and thus a slow pace will be crucial. One of the key milestones of the expedition is to arrive at base camp.

Activity: Trekking, 5-6 hours

Max. Altitude: 4,870m/15,978ft. (Makalu Base Camp)

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Accommodation: Teahouse

It is the second day of acclimatization to equip your body to reach greater heights in the future. You can rest in camp, or you can go on an acclimatization hike to a local viewpoint. When you take the hike, you pass over the Barun Glacier River and ascend slowly up the eastern ridge of Makalu. It ascends at a steeper rate than it levels off towards a plateau around (5,220 m / 17,126 ft). It is a place where one can enjoy incredible views of Makalu, Peak 3, Everest, and Lhotse.

This brief increase is useful to enhance the altitude adjustment and maintain physical efforts within reasonable limits. Once at the viewpoint, you go back to Makalu Base Camp, where you have a rest, food, and rest before proceeding to the more technical mountain phases of the expedition.

Activity: Rest day / short hike, 3-5 hours

Max. Altitude: 5,220m/17,126ft. (Makalu Base Camp)

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Teahouse

Today, you walk out of Makalu Base Camp and into a more remote expedition field. The path goes west along the moraine on the Barun Glacier, and Makalu can be seen well along the route. The surface becomes more rugged, and the rocky surfaces, ice and jagged glacier side trails present difficulties in moving around. The higher you go, the more dramatic and isolated the surroundings are.

Finally, you come to Swiss Camp (5,150 m / 16,896 ft), where you will set up tents that will serve as overnight accommodation. This is the start of the more technical portion of the expedition. In the afternoon, your guide will give you a practical lesson on the use of crampons, harnesses and fixed ropes, which will prepare you to face the difficult pass crossings ahead.

Activity: Trekking, 5-6 hours

Max. Altitude: 5,150m/16,896ft. (Swiss Camp)

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Teahouse

Today, you are nearer to the climax of the expedition. You move on post breakfast out of Swiss Camp, heading to Sherpani Col Base Camp. The trail is steep and rocky; glacier climbing needs to be consistent and regenerating. The further up you go, the more rugged and entirely alpine the environment becomes. And finally, you arrive at Sherpani Col Base Camp at around 5,690 m / 18,668 ft, and a tent will be pitched amidst little glaciers.

This is a day of little distance, but hard physical work, due to the elevation and the rugged ground. Once there, you will be able to rest and re-examine technical equipment again, such as crampons and harnesses, before the big crossing of Sherpani Col, the highest and most difficult part of the trek, the next day.

Activity: Trekking, 5 hours

Max. Altitude: 5,690m/18,668ft. (Sherpani Col Base Camp )

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Accommodation: Teahouse

Today is the most technical and strenuous of the whole expedition. You will rise in the morning at 3:00 AM and start walking in the dark, having packed your equipment. The path begins on a glacier, for which crampons and harnesses might be necessary. Sherpani Col (6,190 m / 20,308 ft) is the summit of the trek and is reached by a steep climb with fixed ropes.

The highest point is the spectacular views of Makalu, Everest, Lhotse, Kanchenjunga, Ama Dablam, and many other peaks. The route is steep and technical, crossing the West Barun Glacier and the ascent on West Col, and then downward to the Honku Basin. It is a long, weary day over alpine country by a remote road which demands absolute concentration and stamina.

Activity: Highest pass, Sherpani Co, 10-12 hours

Max. Altitude: 6,190m/20,308ft. (Sherpani Col)

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Teahouse

Following the strenuous crossing of yesterday, today proceeds over the remote high-altitude Honku country. The path runs along the small Honku Glacier valley, with the impressive mountainous landscape. You slowly approach the west side of the Kang Leyamura, and as you pass, you see a little lake of glacial ice. The trail continues to ascend gradually to Panch Pokhari, the Five Lakes of the Alps, a lovely snow-white alpine region, encircled by snow-white mountains.

As you pass through the north side of the lakes, you ultimately arrive at Amphu Lapcha Base Camp (5,527 m / 18,133 ft). The high elevation and rugged terrain, though not as technical as the previous day, make this a tough trekking day. The scenes of glaciers and distant Himalayan vistas are worth the effort.

Activity: Trekking, 6-7 hours

Max. Altitude: 5,527m/18,133ft. (Amphu Lapcha Base Camp)

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Accommodation: Teahouse

It is a second crossing of a high-pass, and one of the most adventurous days of the trip. You start climbing up steep glacial terrain after breakfast to the Amphu Lapcha Pass. It contains technical parts that are fixed with ropes, and the jumar equipment can be used. Upon arriving at the pass at (5,848 m / 19,186 ft), astonishing panoramas unfold around the Himalayan giants surrounding it, such as Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, Baruntse, Island Peak, and Ama Dablam.

The route is sharp and technical, and should also be done with the help of fixed ropes and cautious steps. The path then trails down to the Baruntse Glacier and a glacial lake and then to Chhukung at (4,720 m / 15,486 ft). Today is a mixture of technical climbing, glacier travel, and amazing mountain scenery.

Activity: High Pass, 9-10 hours

Max. Altitude: 5,848m/19,186ft. (Amphu Lapcha Pass)

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Teahouse

Today, you will start your trek to Pangboche. The route is less technical when you enter the old-fashioned Everest trekking area. After taking breakfast at Chhukung, you drop down the valley of Imja Khola, through the alpine scenery and small villages such as Orsho and Shomare. You soon arrive at Dingboche and proceed down to Pangboche. In between, we are always accompanied by the beautiful scenery of Ama Dablam and Taboche Peak.

The path is not as tough as the earlier mountain crossings, which are high in the mountains, and this gives time to appreciate the scenery and the changing landscape. Pangboche is located at (4,260 m / 13,976 ft) and has a historic monastery. This is the shift in the expedition-style trekking to the more comfortable and familiar Everest trekking route with the villages.

Activity: Trekking, 5-6 hours

Max. Altitude: 4,720m/15,486ft. ()

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Accommodation: Teahouse

Then, after breakfast, you leave Pangboche and go towards Namche Bazaar. The trail then runs by Debuche to the well-known Tengboche Monastery area. At this point, there is a sharp downward slope that extends to Phungi Thanga at (3,250 m / 10,663 ft), and then another upward slope is taken to Sanasa. At Sanasa, the path forks off to Gokyo or Namche Bazaar.

You are on the path to Namche, where you see beautiful mountain scenery and have frequent glimpses of Everest, Lhotse, Ama Dablam, and Thamserku. The busy Sherpa trading hub of the Khumbu region is Namche Bazaar (3,440 m / 11,286 ft). This is a more comfortable day of trekking than in recent days with well-laid-out trails, villages, and better facilities.

Activity: Trekking, 5-6 hours

Max. Altitude: 3,440m/11,286ft. (Namche Bazaar)

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Accommodation: Teahouse

It is the last day of the trek of your expedition. Breakfast is served, and you walk out of Namche Bazaar and up the steep slopes to the meeting point of the rivers Dudh Koski and Bhote Koski to Lukla. The path crosses suspension bridges and then stretches into pine trees and ancient mountain villages such as Jorsalle, Monjo, and Benkar before heading to Phakding. The trek is then resumed after a brief pause in Ghat, Thado Koshi, Chheplung, and Chaurikharka.

The last ascending part will take you to Lukla at (2,830 m / 9,285 ft). Your mountain trekking career is officially over. The day is physically active, despite the lower altitude, with numerous ups and downs. Tonight is the time to rejoice at the accomplishment of this impressive Himalayan adventure.

Activity: Trekking, 5-6 hours

Max. Altitude: 3,440m/11,286ft. (Namche Bazaar)

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Accommodation: Teahouse

You give up the mountains after breakfast and embark on a picturesque domestic flight back to Kathmandu from Lukla. The air journey typically lasts approximately 35 minutes and provides the last opportunity to view the Himalayan sceneries at elevation, provided the weather is good. When you get to Kathmandu (1,300 m / 4,265 ft), you will be taken to the hotel.

This is a welcome break after several days of trekking in isolated areas of the mountain range, a hot shower, a sightseeing day, or a trip to the mall to buy souvenirs. This will be your official stop for the trekking part of your Sherpani Col Pass adventure. Spend your last night in Nepal pondering over the unbelievable scenery, difficult routes, and the memorable moments of the trip.

Activity: Flight, 35 mins

Max. Altitude: 2,830m/9,285ft. (Lukla )

Meal: Breakfast

Accommodation: Hotel

Your adventure of the Sherpani Col Pass ends today. Our crew will pick you up after breakfast at your hotel and take you to Tribhuvan International Airport, where you will board your flight, depending on the time of your international flight. Kathmandu is still at (1,300 m / 4,265 ft), a dramatic change to the extreme heights you had been at during the expedition. It is a mere day of departure and has time to bid Nepal a farewell to an amazing journey in the Himalayas.

From cultural urban experiences to isolated glaciers, technical mountain passes, and amazing panoramas, this trek makes great memories. We wish you a nice journey, a safe and successful one, and that Nepal will leave you with many memories to last until your next adventure.

Activity: Departure

Max. Altitude: 1,300m/4,265ft. (Kathmandu)

Meal: Breakfast