Trek through the Khumbu Valley to the Sherpa capital of Namche Bazaar and on to Tengboche Monastery, one of the world's highest Buddhist gompas
Enjoy many of the highlights of the challenging Everest Base Camp trek, but at a more relaxed pace and without the extreme altitudes
Set your eyes on the highest point on Earth as you hike among views of Everest, Lhotse, Ama Dablam, Thamserku and many more snow-capped giants
Want to learn more? Read our handy guide or take on a bigger challenge with our full trek to Everest Base Camp
Day 1
After checking in to your hotel, meet up with your guides and fellow travellers to run through the details of the adventure to come. You'll finish the day with a group dinner at an authentic Nepali restaurant to get to know your team ahead of the trek.
Day 2
This morning, you'll hop on the bus and head to Ramechhap (Manthali) — the remote region where most Lukla flights now depart during peak trekking season.
After a long journey to Nepal, it’s crucial to rest and rehydrate before heading into the mountains. While many other itineraries rush you straight from your international flight into a midnight drive to Manthali, followed by a flight and same-day trek, we take a different approach. You’ll stay in safari tents at a glamping site near Ramechhap airport, giving your body a chance to reset before flying to Lukla and starting your trek tomorrow feeling fresh and ready. The resort has an on-site swimming pool, bar and restaurant so you can unwind after the drive.
(If your flight to Lukla is scheduled to depart from Kathmandu instead, you’ll enjoy an extra day in the city — time to explore at your own pace and pick up any last-minute gear.)
Day 3
Today starts with a short, twenty-minute flight to Lukla where you'll be treated to excellent views of the snow-capped peaks of the Himalayas. Perched high in the mountains, Lukla sits at 2840m and is the gateway to Sagamartha National Park and Mount Everest. After meeting the other crew members you'll start your trek, passing through the prosperous village of Lukla before reaching Phakding on the Dudh Kosi River. You'll spend the night in the village where you can visit the nearby monastery for your first taste of Sherpa culture and Tibetan Buddhism, themes present throughout your trek over the days to come. Spend the evening in your cosy teahouse enjoying a herbal tea in front of the yak-dung fuelled stove.
Please note that occasionally, Lukla flights can be delayed or cancelled for safety reasons – see the FAQs for further information.
Day 4
Start today with a walk through beautiful pine forests, following the trail to the Dudh Koshi River. One of the (many) bridges you'll cross is the famous Hillary Suspension Bridge – named after the legendary mountaineer who was the first to summit Everest with Tenzing Norgay in 1953, it has a particularly epic viewpoint of the gleaming Mount Thamserku (6618m). From here, continue through the village of Jorsale before a challenging uphill climb to Namche Bazaar, where you'll get your first glimpse of the mighty Everest.
Day 5
Today will be a rest day in order to acclimatise to the altitude – but rest assured, there’ll be no time to get bored. Despite its remote location, Namche is a fun place to spend time – you can explore the bakeries, hiking and craft shops, watch old Everest films at the cafe cinema, or even head to the highest Irish pub in the world. You'll also have the opportunity to hike to a nearby viewpoint and enjoy mammoth vistas of Mount Everest, Ama Dablam, Thamserku, Lhotse and more.
Day 6
Today, climb above Namche Bazaar to seek out one of the most stunning panoramic viewpoints in the Himalayas, where you'll be treated to breathtaking views of several of the world's highest mountains, among countless other snow-capped peaks. Stroll through the Khumjung Valley, taking in the remote mountain communities of Khunde and Khumjung. You'll pass the Khunde Hospital and Khumjung Hillary School, both built by Sir Edmund Hillary following his Everest ascent, and the intriguing Khumjung Monastery, which claims to house a relic of a 300-year old yeti scalp.
Day 7
Today the path forks, guiding you northeast into a tributary valley, revealing more stunning scenery as you climb the steep slopes towards the revered village of Tengboche. This hallowed ground, home to the famous Tengboche Monastery, also serves as a crucial grazing area for yaks and is the highest sacred site of its kind in the world. From here, drink in the breathtaking views of some of the Himalayas' most iconic peaks, including Nuptse, Lhotse, Ama Dablam – and, of course, the mighty Everest. A night’s stay in Tengboche rounds off a remarkable day.
Day 8
After your night in the spiritual setting of Tengboche it's time to start your descent back down the valley. You'll pass the village of Phunke Teng, crossing a large suspension bridge on your way, and have the chance to soak up more incredible views of the ever-present Himalayan peaks high above you. The going is much easier on the way down, now that you are acclimatised to the altitude, so you'll have more energy to capture those perfect photos and enjoy the journey. Continuing for a couple of hours, you'll return to Namche Bazaar where you'll have the afternoon to explore the town and enjoy a last evening in the Sherpa capital.
Day 9
Set off for the final descent into Lukla (2860m). On the way, you'll trek through a forest of rhododendrons and pine until you reach a Sherpa village. Here, you’ll have the opportunity to say your final goodbyes to the local team before moving on to Lukla.
Day 10
Fly back to Manthali after your incredible mountain journey. You'll drive back to Kathmandu in time for some well-earned beers and a celebratory dinner.
Day 11
Enjoy a well-earned lie in and breakfast at your hotel, then spend your last day exploring the city before heading back to the airport, and reality.
Created for adventurers ready to take on a few longer, more demanding days
This trip has 4-6 hours of trekking per day, at altitudes up to 3800m. There are a few steep climbs but you have plenty of time to complete each day's trek with downtime in th...
Your next adventure is out there
Kate Z. November 2025
Christopher L. November 2025
Llorett K. October 2025
Adam H. October 2025
Richard S. May 2026
“What an amazing trek. Everything was perfect: the itinerary, the mountain scenery, the accomodation and the Nepalese food. Our guide Ujjwal was great, particularly when organising a helicopter for us all on the way back when planes were not taking off from Lukla. The assistant guides Lama and Roshan were lovely (Roshan helping me when I struggled a bit on one particular day). The support staff were also very helpful and always smiling. And last, but by no means least, was the camaraderie in our lovely group. I was (a lot!) older than the others but was made very welcome. Memorable!”
Janette T. November 2025
“This whole trip was amazing with very scenic treks, knowledgeable guides and brilliant organisation which gave us the opportunity to trek at a good pace, experience the trekking world in the Himalayas and discover the culture of this part of Nepal. I saw and learnt so much. Our main guide, Tejshree, was insppiring as a leader, ensuring a seamless servive with her team; always there to get things done and provide so much knowledge about the treks and local culture, as well as making us feel safe and cared for. Our assistant guide, BBC, was very experienced and great to have around and our supporters Santa Bir, Sai Kumar and Langa, somehow managed to efficiently get our bags from one place to the next before we arrived, without us even seeing them! A fantastic trip that I would definitely recommend for those who want to learn, trek and see amazing scenery without going too high.”
Paul S. November 2025
“I had a wonderful time led by Tej from Freedom, supported by BBC and 3 great supporters carrying our gear.”
Cameron T. May 2025
“On the whole I had an excellent time on the Everest Panorama Trail, this was primarily influenced by the quality of the guides/porters and the stunning scenery. Our Guides, Kevin and Ujjwal, were excellent, very knowledgeable and personable. Kevin made a particular effort to monitor the health and happiness of all members of the group and dealt admirably with some difficult members. I have been on a couple of similar trekking trips and would say Kevin has been by far the best guide I have ever had, he was extremely professional throughout and I really had the feeling of walking with a friend. Ujjwal did an excellent job of keeping morale high in the team and doubled up as a porter where necessary to ensure that people on the trip got down safely. On one of the days I walked with our porters due to the split in the group and they did an excellent job of ensuring we took breaks when necessary and stopped at the most scenic views, they also did a good job at pointing out specific landmarks etc. There were aspects of the tour which I would say were poorly organised, particularly the rapid increase in altitude. I would recommend spending an additional night in Namche. As this trek is advertised as "moderate" difficulty and in my opinion the hardest part of these treks is dealing with altitude gain therefore it should be no more extreme than other Everest treks. Additionally, as the trek is advertised as "moderate" you should expect less fit participants, therefore I would suggest that you assign a higher number of guides as our group split due to both fitness and health issues, whilst our porters were great and one of them is in training to be an assistant guide this should not be relied upon.”
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To request any extras, message your host via your Much Better Adventures account once you have booked your trip.
All extras must be paid before your trip starts.
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 per two trekkers.
A mountain flight to Lukla is included on Day 3 of this tour, 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 cancelled during the trekking season. If your flight to Lukla is cancelled, 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 acclimatisation 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 cancelled 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 Manthali/Kathmandu at the end of the trip is usually reliable however if the weather is poor cancellations can happen and there is the chance that you will have to fly the next day. So to play it safe we advise you consider booking 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 burnt 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 10kg checked baggage plus 5kg hand luggage. It is not a problem for you to check in 1-2kg more than this as long as you are happy to pay an excess luggage charge (approx. £1 per kg). 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 20-25kg of kit so your overnight bags and spare clothes will be transported for you (maximum 12kg per person). You will only need to carry a ‘day pack’ with essentials in (extra layer, snacks, water, suncream, camera etc.
The preferred currency is the Nepalese Rupee (NPR). Whilst 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 GBP300.
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 GBP (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. In order 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 system, 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. 08:00–15:00).
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. 08:00–12:30).
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 return domestic flight to Lukla. Nepal's mountainous terrain and weather make for challenging flying conditions and sadly 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 in order 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 booking. Additional information can be found on the Aviation Safety Network entry for Nepal as well as the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office travel advice for Nepal. Domestic airlines in Nepal are generally not accredited by any internationally recognised 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 are familiar with the practical information provided on the Government’s FCDO website, where current travel advice can be found by searching for the applicable destination(s).
For customers joining this trip from other international destinations – please also read the official travel advice applicable to your country of residence/origin, as this may differ.
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 on a daily basis so this does mean that 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 are typically made up of a mixture of solo travellers 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. Check out our Community Values – a shared code to make sure that everyone's experience is safe, inclusive and brilliantly unforgettable.
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:
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 20°C), 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 10-15°C.
Post-Monsoon/Autumn (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.
We partner with the World Land Trust to ensure this trip achieves Net-Zero emissions. We also support their Buy an Acre programme, helping local communities to buy and protect natural habitats in perpetuity.
What's the number?
It works out on average at 156kg of CO2 emissions per person, including all local transport, accommodation, food, activities, guides, staff and office operations.
The only thing it doesn’t include right now is flights and travel to the destination. We do make an overall estimate across all our customers separately, but as we don’t book flights, have customers from all corners of the world, and no way of reliably knowing their travel plans, we simply can’t include an individual number in the figure on display here. We’ve got a goal to fix that, so that when you book, there is a way to measure and mitigate the carbon emitted by your flight too.
But what does the number mean?
Yep, hard to picture eh? To give you an idea:
What are we doing about it?
Our trips are relatively low-carbon by design, and we're working with all our hosts to develop long term carbon reduction plans. We partner with the World Land Trust to ensure this trip achieves Net-Zero emissions. We also support their Buy an Acre programme, helping local communities to buy and protect natural habitats in perpetuity, ensuring the protection of the reserve and its wildlife.
Want to know more?
Amazingly, no international travel company has ever publicly published their carbon measurements before, as far as we know. We believe that must change, quickly. So we’re openly sharing the method we used in the hope that other companies will be able to more easily follow suit and build on what we've done so far. You'll find it all here.
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