The Trail to Tengboche

In April 2013 I joined the local Malaysian PhotoSafari photography group on a trip to Nepal to trek the Everest Base Camp Trail from Lukla to Tengboche. The Everest Base Camp Trail in Nepal runs from Lukla through Phakding, Monjo, Namche Bazaar, Tengboche and on up to the Base Camp below the peak of Mount Everest. This trek is popular by both recreational trekkers as well as Everest expedition teams who use this trail to reach the Base Camp. This route, being the only path between many of the small villages up the valleys, is also used frequently by porters and trains of dzo and yak transporting a wide variety of goods up the trail.



After arriving in Kathmandu and spending 2 days there exploring the local Thamel area we flew to Lukla to start our trek. We trekked this route from Lukla at 2,860 m up as far as Tengboche at 3,867 m; a 4 day trek up from Lukla and then a 3 day return trek back down to Lukla. This was the start of the season when expeditions start making their way up to prepare for attempts on Everest so we came across a number of serious climbers making their way up the trail as they acclimatized to the high altitudes.



On our return to Kathmandu after finishing our trek we had the opportunity to see some of the sights of Kathmandu such as Boudhanath temple and Durbar Square. We also took a short trip to the south of Kathmandu to the artisan village of Bungamati where many wood carvers and sculptors produce their artifacts.



With photographs, maps and descriptions of the trek from Lukla to Tengboche this books provides a wonderful introduction to this area and will provide some ideas for anyone keen to trek this route.