21-Day Annapurna and Everest Trek Nepal

21 Days, Annapurna and Everest

Days 1 to 2  |  Kathmandu

Arrive at Tribhuvan International Airport and spend two days in the valley, visiting Swayambhunath, Pashupatinath, Boudhanath, the Durbar Squares of Kathmandu and Patan, and the medieval Newari city of Kirtipur. The pre-trek briefing covers permits, gear, altitude, and what the next three weeks will ask of you.

Days 3 to 7  |  The Annapurna Foothills

Fly to Pokhara and drive to Naya Pul to start walking. Trek through terraced paddy fields to Syauli, then through oak and rhododendron forest to Ghandruk (1,940 meters), one of the largest Gurung villages in Nepal. Climb through the forest to Deurali at 2,987 meters and continue to Ulleri, where the ridge opens onto Dhaulagiri I at 8,167 meters, Annapurna I at 8,091 meters, and Manaslu at 8,163 meters: three of the world's ten highest peaks in a single view.

Days 8 to 10  |  Return and Rest

Descend the 500-meter stone staircase to Birethanti and return to Pokhara for a rest day by Lake Phewa, with Machhapuchhre reflected in the water. Then return to Kathmandu to prepare for the Khumbu section.

Days 11 to 13  |  Lukla to Namche Bazaar

The mountain flight from Kathmandu to Lukla (2,840 meters) is one of the most famous short flights in the world: the runway is 527 meters long, ends at a stone wall, and sits on a ridge above a 600-meter drop. From Lukla, follow the Dudh Koshi River through forests of giant firs and rhododendrons, through Phakding, and up the steep climb to Namche Bazaar at 3,440 meters, the Sherpa capital of the Khumbu.

Days 14 to 15  |  Namche and Thyangboche

A full acclimatization day in Namche, with the Saturday market, the bakeries, and, if the morning is clear, a view of Everest from the ridge above town. Then climb through blue pine and rhododendron forest to Thyangboche Monastery at 3,860 meters, on a ridge where the Imja and Dudh Koshi valleys meet. Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse, and Ama Dablam are all visible from the monastery grounds.

Days 16 to 19  |  The Descent

Retrace the trail through Monjo and Phakding to Lukla for a last night at altitude before the morning flight back to Kathmandu.

Days 20 to 21  |  Kathmandu and Departure

Two last days in the valley for sightseeing, rest, Thamel, and the National Museum. International departure on Day 21.

Day by Day

Days 1 to 2  Kathmandu  Ancient Traditions and Sacred Sites

Arrive at Tribhuvan International Airport (1,340 meters), where we meet you with a traditional Sherpa welcome and take you to your hotel. The pre-trek briefing covers permits, altitude, gear, the detailed itinerary, and how the next three weeks will run. We take it seriously, because on a 21-day trek across two major ranges, preparation matters.

Day Two is a full day in the valley. Swayambhunath, the Monkey Temple, sits on its hilltop above the city, where the painted eyes of the Buddha have looked out over the valley since at least the 5th century. Pashupatinath Temple, on the Bagmati River, is the most sacred Hindu site in Nepal, and its cremation ghats have been in continuous use for centuries. Boudhanath is the great white stupa at the heart of Nepal's Tibetan Buddhist community, and Patan Durbar Square has one of the finest collections of medieval Newari architecture in the valley. The historic city of Kirtipur is one of the oldest settlements in the Kathmandu Valley and has kept much of its medieval character.

Stay: Kathmandu Hotel

Days 3 to 7  The Annapurna Foothills  Syauli to Ulleri

A short flight takes you from Kathmandu to Pokhara, then a drive to Naya Pul, the trailhead at the edge of the Annapurna Conservation Area. The first section follows terraced paddy fields along the Modi Khola valley, some of the most fertile and densely farmed land in the Annapurna foothills. Syauli sits at the start of the Annapurna Sanctuary approach, where the first high peaks appear above the ridge to the north.

The trail climbs through oak and rhododendron forest to Ghandruk at 1,940 meters, one of the largest and most prosperous Gurung villages in Nepal. The Gurung people have been the main community in the Annapurna foothills for centuries, and Ghandruk is one of the best places to see their culture. The village museum covers Gurung history and the tradition of Gurkha military service that has shaped the community's ties with the outside world for over 200 years.

Keep climbing through thicker forest to Deurali at 2,987 meters, where the tree line opens and the air cools. The village of Ulleri sits above, on a broad ridge with a clear view to the north and west. From the hill behind the lodge at sunrise on a clear morning, Dhaulagiri I at 8,167 meters, Annapurna I at 8,091 meters, and Manaslu at 8,163 meters are all visible at once: three of the world's ten highest peaks, each its own massif, each catching the light from a different angle. This is the panorama the Annapurna section builds toward.

Stay: Premium Mountain Lodges

Days 8 to 10  Return to Pokhara and Kathmandu

From Ulleri, descend a stone staircase that drops over 500 meters to Birethanti on the Modi Khola. The descent takes several hours, and the staircase, laid by hand by generations of villagers, is one of the most impressive pieces of trail building in the Annapurna region. You are back in Pokhara by early afternoon. Then comes a rest day: Phewa Lake, the lakeside restaurants, and Machhapuchhre reflected in the water on a clear evening. The Fish Tail peak is sacred and has never been climbed.

Fly back to Kathmandu for one night in the city before the Lukla flight. This break between the Annapurna and Everest sections is planned as a reset: city comforts, a proper bed, and the Khumbu briefing, which covers the acclimatization plan, the climb to Namche, and what to expect above 3,500 meters.

Stay: Pokhara Luxury Hotel then Kathmandu Hotel

Days 11 to 13  The Khumbu  Lukla to Namche Bazaar

The flight to Lukla takes 35 minutes from Kathmandu and is one of the most talked-about short flights in the world. Tenzing-Hillary Airport sits on a ridge at 2,840 meters. The runway is 527 meters long and slopes upward at a gradient of about 12 percent, with a stone retaining wall at one end and a 600-meter drop at the other. Pilots land uphill and take off downhill, using the slope to help with braking and acceleration. In good weather it is straightforward; in bad weather, flights do not operate. That dependence on the weather is part of why the Khumbu still feels remote.

From Lukla the trail descends to the Dudh Koshi River at Phakding and follows it north through forests of giant fir, blue pine, and rhododendron. The Dudh Koshi, the Milky River, drains the glaciers below Everest and runs cold and pale even in summer. The trail crosses and recrosses it on suspension bridges hung with prayer flags, some of them over a hundred meters long and swaying slightly in the valley wind. The steep climb from Jorsale to Namche Bazaar gains over 600 meters and ends at the rim of a natural amphitheater cut into the ridge above the valley junction. Namche Bazaar, at 3,440 meters, fills the curve of that amphitheater: lodges, bakeries, gear shops, and expedition supply stores stacked in tiers on the hillside, with Kongde Ri and Thamserku on the ridges above.

Stay: Best Available Mountain Lodges

Days 14 to 15  Namche and Thyangboche  The Sherpa Capital and the Sacred Ridge

Acclimatization day in Namche. The standard rule for high-altitude trekking is to climb no more than 300 to 500 meters a day above 3,000 meters and to take a rest day for every 1,000 meters gained. Namche is where most people first feel the altitude, and we never skip this rest day. Spend the morning on the trail above town: on a cloudless morning, the viewpoint at the Everest View Hotel (3,880 meters), the highest point of the trek, gives you your first clear view of Everest, along with Lhotse, Nuptse, and Ama Dablam. On Saturdays the Namche market brings together Tibetan traders, Sherpa farmers, and trekking groups; it has run every week for generations and has changed little since the valley opened to outsiders.

The climb from Namche to Thyangboche takes most of the day and passes through some of the best high-altitude forest in the Khumbu: blue pine and silver fir giving way to rhododendron as you gain height, with Ama Dablam ahead for most of the climb. Thyangboche Monastery sits at 3,860 meters on a broad ridge where the Imja and Dudh Koshi valleys meet. It was founded in 1916 and is still the most important Buddhist institution in the Khumbu region. On a clear morning, from the monastery grounds, you can see Everest at 8,849 meters, Lhotse at 8,516 meters, Nuptse at 7,861 meters, and Ama Dablam at 6,812 meters above the ridgeline, one of the best views of Everest you can reach without technical climbing.

Stay: Thyangboche Lodge

Days 16 to 19  The Descent  Thyangboche to Lukla

The return trail retraces the approach through Namche, Monjo, and Phakding back to Lukla. Walking down the Khumbu is different from walking up: the views face the other way, the afternoon light falls differently, and your body moves more easily. With less effort and altitude to think about, it is easier to notice the suspension bridges, the prayer wheels, and the mani walls, stones carved with the mantra Om Mani Padme Hum and stacked along the trail for centuries. One last night in Lukla at 2,840 meters before the morning flight back to Kathmandu.

Stay: Mountain Lodges en Route then Lukla Lodge

Days 20 to 21  Kathmandu and Departure

Fly from Lukla to Kathmandu, weather permitting. The last two days in the valley are for rest and for enjoying the lower altitude after weeks in the mountains. Thamel is good for a last morning wander through the gear shops, bookstores, and rooftop restaurants. The National Museum has one of the best collections of Himalayan art and archaeological material in Nepal. Your international departure is from Tribhuvan International Airport on Day 21.

Stay: Kathmandu Hotel then International Departure

The Sherpa Standard

Every SherpaHolidays trip is fully supported. Here is what that means on this one.

Accommodation and Meals

• Kathmandu and Pokhara: Hotels on a bed and breakfast basis.
• Mountain Lodges: 14 nights in the best available lodges in the Annapurna foothills and the Khumbu valley.
• Full Board Trekking: All meals on the trek: breakfast, lunch, and dinner, prepared fresh each day.
• Airport Welcome: Traditional welcome garlands and a full pre-trek briefing on arrival.

Leadership and Logistics

• Lead Guide: A dedicated English-speaking trekking guide for the whole combined route.
• Sherpa Support: Professional Sherpa porters, one for every two guests, carry all heavy luggage.
• Altitude Monitoring: Continuous altitude monitoring throughout the Khumbu section, with the guide team managing the acclimatization schedule.
• City Guide: A guide for the Kathmandu sightseeing days.

Transport and Logistics

• All Internal Flights: Kathmandu to Pokhara and return, and Kathmandu to Lukla and return.
• Private Transfers: All overland travel in private vehicles.
• Permits and Fees: All trekking permits, conservation area entry fees, and sightseeing entrance fees covered.

What Is Not Included

• International airfare to and from Kathmandu
• Nepal entry visa fees
• Lunch and dinner while in Kathmandu and Pokhara
• Specialized trekking clothing, sleeping bags, and personal gear
• Comprehensive travel insurance, which is a condition of every booking. Your policy must cover emergency medical treatment, emergency evacuation, trip cancellation and interruption, and repatriation. We can recommend providers.
• Tips for Sherpa guides and porters
• Single supplement (for those taking a private room)

Five Highlights

Three 8,000-Meter Peaks from Ulleri Ridge

From the ridge behind the lodge at Ulleri on a clear morning, you can see Dhaulagiri I at 8,167 meters, Annapurna I at 8,091 meters, and Manaslu at 8,163 meters in one panorama: three of the world's ten highest peaks, each its own massif. This is the view the Annapurna section builds toward, and few places at this elevation anywhere in the range can match it.

Thyangboche and the Everest Panorama

Thyangboche Monastery, at 3,860 meters, sits on a ridge where two Khumbu valleys meet, with Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse, and Ama Dablam all visible above the ridgeline from the monastery grounds. It has been the spiritual center of the Khumbu since 1916. The view from its courtyard is the best-known unobstructed view of Everest you can reach without technical mountaineering.

The Lukla Flight

The approach to Tenzing-Hillary Airport at Lukla is one of the most talked-about short flights in commercial aviation: a 527-meter runway on a ridge at 2,840 meters, sloping uphill and ending at a stone wall, with a 600-meter drop at the departure end. Pilots land uphill and take off downhill. In good weather it is routine. Flights only operate in good weather, which is one reason the Khumbu still feels remote.

Namche Bazaar

The Sherpa capital of the Khumbu sits at 3,440 meters in a natural amphitheater cut into the ridge above the Dudh Koshi valley junction. It is the last sizable town before the high peaks, the oldest trading hub in the Everest region, and one of the most atmospheric places in Nepal. The Saturday market has been running for generations; the bakeries and gear shops are newer. Above the rooftops is Kongde Ri.

From Farmland to Alpine Forest

Over the whole trip you pass from subtropical farmland in the Annapurna foothills to oak and rhododendron forest at middle altitude, giant fir forest on the Khumbu approach, and blue pine and alpine rhododendron above Namche. Going from the warm Modi Khola valley to the cold, high Khumbu is one of the biggest ecological shifts you can make on foot in Nepal, covering roughly the range of habitats between southern France and Arctic Norway.