Nepal, here we come!!

Another upcoming trip is about to commence! All our students have been working hard all year, studying the religion, food, and language of Nepal and fundraising for their trip by selling raffle tickets, holding a car wash and garage sale, and helping acquire items for our annual silent auction. All their hard work has paid off and we depart Tuesday, March 23

Summary of Flight Information:

March 23: Arrive at Terminal D at IAH at 4:30 PM, Depart on Qatar Airways Flight 78 at 8:45 PM.

March 24: Arrive in Doha at 7:40 PM

March 25: Depart Doha at 6:25 AM on Qatar Airways Flight 352 and arrive in Kathmandu at 1:30 PM


April 14: Depart Kathmandu on Qatar Airways Flight 355 at 11:30 PM

April 15: Arrive in Doha at 1:45 AM. Depart Doha at 9:50 AM on Qatar Airways Flight 77 and arrive in
Houston at 6:10 PM


TRIP INFO: Nepal Itinerary

25 March
Arrival. Airport meet-n-greet. Hotel check in and briefing.


26 March
In Kathmandu. Morning sightseeing in Kathmandu, afternoon for rest and recovery from travel fatigue; final preparations for trek.

27 March
Depart early to fly to Lukla. In Lukla you will take tea while your guides collect your porters, then head off. A short day, mostly downhill, to Phakding by the Dudh Kosi (Milk River).

28 March
Continue along the river in the morning, entering the Sagarmatha National Park area. Then in the afternoon a steep, spectacular climb to Namche Bazaar, the fabled Sherpa town set in a horseshoe valley.

29 March
Rest day in Namche. Explore this wonderful town and/or climb a bit in the hills above it for nice mountain views North towards Everest.

30 March
Contour high above the Dudh Kosi on an open, spectacular trail. Then descend sharply for lunch at Phunki where you will cross the river. Then a steep uphill walk to the fabled monastery at Thayngboche, set in a saddle and looking north to where Everest pokes its head out above Lhotse and Nuptse.

31 March
If the Rinpoche (reincarnate Lama) is receiving, you can pay him a brief visit and receive a blessing. Then press on to the north, past Pangboche where the "Yeti Scalp" which was the focus of the famous Edmund Hillary Yeti Expedition is located. Though the scalp was determined not to be a Yeti, it and the Pangboche monastery are still held in great reverence by the local people. Continue on an easy afternoon walk to Dingboche.

1 April
Another day for altitude acclimatization, as Dingboche is just over 14,000 feet. Cross the ridge behind the village to the hill called Dingboche Ri for the acclimatization; then climb down to Pheriche on the other side and at the same altitude as Dingboche.

2 April
Begin the ascent of the terminal moraine of the Khumbu Glacier. The views of Pumori and Nuptse from Lobuje, where you will overnight, are just a small taste of what's in store in the morning!

3 April
On the trail at the crack of dawn following the moraine past the dry lake bed at Gorak Shep. Climb steadily but slowly to Kala Pattar (18,100 feet) for unbelievably fabulous views of Everest and all of the surrounding Himals. Trek back to Lobuje.

4 April
Day of margin for contingencies. If everyone has acclimatized well and you still have this day in-hand, you can stay at the base of Gorak Shep overnight, go up to Base Camp and return to Lobuje. If you have needed the contingency day earlier you'll skip Base Camp. (There's little to see from there, but it's a great "destination" just because of what it is...)

5 April
Trek out to Pangboche. Try to arrange a viewing of the "yeti scalp."

6 April
Trek back to Namche and down to Monjo at the National Park entrance.

7 April
Trek back to Lukla

8 April
Fly to Kathmandu

9 April
In Kathmandu. R&R and a day of margin against domestic flight delays.

10 April
Drive early in the morning to Chitwan National Park in the south of the country, about 6 hours. Lunch on arrival, either in Bharatpur or at your accommodations. Afternoon activities.

11 April
Spend the day in the park: elephant-back safari and some combination of jeeping, walking and rafting.

12 April
Morning jungle activities, then drive back to Kathmandu with lunch en-route. Overnight Kathmandu.

13 April
Departure for some of the group, free day in Kathmandu for others.

14 April
Final departure

We will try to update this blog as much as possible while we are away. However, most of our updates will most likely come from Kathmandu before and after our trek.