Trek the Everest Panorama Trail

You will have one trek leader who will accompany you from the start to the end of the trip. From Lukla, you will also be accompanied by one porter for every two trekkers.

A mountain flight to Lukla is included on Day 3 of this trip, and back from Lukla on Day 10. Although we schedule departure dates outside of the main monsoon season, weather conditions in any mountain region can be unpredictable. It is not uncommon for flights to and from Lukla to be delayed or canceled during the trekking season. If your flight to Lukla is canceled, then your host will revert to 'Plan B', as follows:

You will spend an extra night in Manthali and attempt to fly the next day. If you reach Lukla on Day 4, you'll skip the acclimatization day in Namche, but the rest of your itinerary will remain the same.

If flights to Lukla are still not operating on Day 4, there may be the option to charter helicopters for the group (subject to availability). Helicopters are less hindered by poor conditions and can often fly when planes cannot. Anyone taking this option will need to pay roughly $500 (USD) extra per person (the full helicopter cost is more than this, but your canceled Lukla flight will be refunded and deducted from the total price). The exact cost will vary depending on group size, number of helicopters needed, and demand on the given day.

If there are more than two consecutive days of Lukla flight cancellations and it has not been possible to reach Lukla/Kharikhola by the alternative means described above on or before Day 4, your host will offer an alternative itinerary or trek in a different region.

See also 'When should I book my return flight?'

The flight from Lukla to Kathmandu at the end of the trip is usually reliable; however, if the weather is poor, cancelations can happen, and there is a chance that you will have to fly the next day. To play it safe, we advise you to consider reserving an extra night's accommodation in Kathmandu at the end of the trip.

Excess luggage can be left in your hotel in Kathmandu.

Although most teahouses have the option to buy bottled water, we advise against it to reduce the use of plastic in the mountains (this ends up being burned or in landfill out of sight). You will instead be provided with cold water that needs treating. There is a wide range of products available these days which are more effective than traditional purification tablets - some trekkers like to use UV handheld devices such as a Steripen but other options are available (just check the performance in freezing conditions).

There is a weight restriction on the flight to and from Lukla of 22 lbs checked baggage plus 11 lbs hand luggage. It is not a problem for you to check in 2-4 lbs more than this as long as you are happy to pay an excess luggage charge (approx. £0.45 per lb). Some items may be left in the hotel in Kathmandu if necessary.

This trip includes one porter for every two trekkers. They will carry up to 44-55 lbs of gear so your overnight bags and spare clothes will be transported for you (maximum 26 lbs per person). You will only need to carry a ‘day pack’ with essentials in (extra layer, snacks, water, sunscreen, camera etc.

The preferred currency is the Nepalese Rupee (NPR). While ATMs are available in the main cities, please do not rely on them as they are often out of order and most have a maximum withdrawal limit equivalent to about $365.

It's best to bring the bulk of your money with you in cash and exchange it at a bank or at one of the many money changers in Nepal - your guide will help you with this. Most major currencies are accepted, including British Pounds (Sterling), Euros, and US Dollars, however Scottish or Northern Irish currency cannot be changed. Keep your exchange receipts in case you want to change any unused Rupees back into hard currency when you leave Nepal (it is illegal to export Nepalese Rupees as it is a closed currency).

You will need to carry a fairly large amount of cash while trekking for the meals. We advise that you keep this in a waterproof bag and in your day bag along with your passport.

We work with some of the best leaders in the industry. Every single one of them is government licensed and very experienced. To ensure the guides' high standard of performance, the host provides them with top-notch in-house training that covers Leave No Trace (LNT) principles, advanced wilderness first aid, hyperbaric chambers, oxygen systems, mountain rescue, and incident management.

Your host in Nepal can arrange a variety of extra experiences in Kathmandu, should you want to explore further. Please discuss these directly with your host, who will be able to book them for you.

Kathmandu Heritage Tour: Visit four UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Kathmandu Durbar Square, Pashupatinath, Boudhanath and Swayambhunath (the Monkey Temple). Duration: full day (approx. 8:00 AM–3:00 PM).

Spice Markets & Durbar Square: Explore Asan Market and Thamel, visiting spice and tea markets and learning about the cultural, culinary and medicinal uses of Nepali spices from local vendors. Finish at Kathmandu Durbar Square, home to historic temples and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Duration: approx. three hours (flexible timing).

Master the Arts: Head to Bhaktapur Durbar Square for a pottery workshop. Learn to spin the wheel and shape clay into simple items such as cups, bowls or vases, and observe traditional drying and firing techniques used by local potters. Duration: half day (approx. 8:00 AM–12:30 PM).

Nepali Cooking Class: Learn to prepare four traditional Nepali dishes with hands-on guidance, then enjoy one of your creations. This experience supports SASANE and their work addressing human trafficking, child marriage and violence against women. Duration: half day (morning or afternoon).

This trip includes a round-trip domestic flight to Lukla. Nepal's mountainous terrain and weather create challenging flying conditions, and unfortunately, more incidents (including fatalities) occur here than in other countries. Since 2013, the EU has banned all Nepalese domestic airlines from flying within EU airspace to raise awareness of the poor safety record (although no Nepalese airlines were operating routes within the EU prior to the ban). You should be aware that flying in Nepal is an identified risk: please consider this carefully before making a reservation. Additional info can be found on the Aviation Safety Network entry for Nepal as well as the U.S Department of State travel advice for Nepal. Domestic airlines in Nepal are generally not accredited by any internationally recognized safety audit systems, and the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal does not operate to the same standards as those of Western nations.

What does Much Better Adventures do about this?

Much Better Adventures collaborates with other UK travel companies that arrange for independent air-safety auditors to visit Nepal annually to assess the local airlines. Much Better Adventures then only uses the carriers that were approved as part of the most recent audit. If any concerns are subsequently raised about an approved airline between audits, we put them on hold until the auditors are satisfied that safety standards are being met.

Sure can! Over 70% of our travellers travel solo, it’s a great way to meet like-minded people.

Our team of Adventure Hunters co-create exclusive adventures which are run by highly vetted, specialist hosts. The trip is run by our trusted host partner in the destination. We only work with independent, local, in-destination experts who know the very best places to explore and how to stay safe. Read more information about the local teams we partner with. You’ll be introduced to the host straight after making a booking via the Much Better Adventures platform.

Much Better Adventures refer to the UK Government’s official travel advice when designing trips and monitoring trip operations. We recommend that all customers review the practical information available on the UK Government’s FCDO website, where you can find up-to-date advice by searching for your destination(s).

If you are based in the United States, you can also check the latest travel advisories from the U.S. Department of State.

For customers joining from other international locations, we recommend checking the official travel advice issued by your country of residence, as guidance may vary.

We recommend checking out the country-specific information and also talking to a travel nurse.

We automatically convert prices from the local currency that a host receives to your chosen currency. We update our exchange rates daily, so prices displayed on the site are subject to currency fluctuations, which is why you may see them change over time.

If you wish to change the currency you pay in, head to the bottom of the page.

All of our group adventures are specially designed for adults to enjoy as we want these adventures to bring together outdoorsy people who are truly like-minded. You must be over 18 to join one of our trips.

You're always in good company on one of our adventures.

Our trips typically consist of a mix of solo travelers and small groups of 2 or 3 friends, with most in their 30s-50s.

Our sociable adventures are solo-friendly by design and naturally attract outdoorsy people with a shared mindset; a love for adventure, a desire to push themselves, and meet awesome, like-minded people along the way.

It’s this camaraderie that has so often turned a great adventure into a life-changing one.

Don't just take our word for it:

• 95% of people rate the group dynamics on our trips 5/5
• 90% of people recommend joining a trip to make new friends
• 75% of people have met people on our trips that they would now consider friends

See here for more info about the Much Better Adventures tribe.

There are three different seasons for trekking in Nepal:

Winter (Dec-Feb): Despite being seen as ‘off-season’ this is often the best time to trek in Nepal. The nights can be very cold (down to minus 4°F), but the trails are quieter and the mountain views are often at their best due to the clear sunny skies.

Pre-Monsoon/Spring (March-May): Temperatures rise significantly in spring and flowers are in full bloom in the lower lands. Although it can still drop below freezing at night, the daytime temperatures tend to sit between 50-59°F.

Post-Monsoon/Fall (Sept-Nov): This is the most popular time to trek in Nepal with sunny and mild days generally. It can get cold and windy at higher altitudes; however, skies are usually clear.

Of course, mountain weather is notoriously hard to predict and snow can be expected on any trip – so do come prepared.