Sherpa Half Marathon Itinerary

Arrival into Kathmandu (March 3). Meet your local guide and driver. 

Upon arrival into Kathmandu Airport, you will need to pay for your local Nepal Visa ($30USD). Locate the payment kiosk, just to the right, inside the Arrivals Terminal to secure your visa. (You can also secure visa online, prior to arrival). Provide proof of your payment to the Register on the left. Proceed to Passport Control. Once cleared, proceed to baggage claim. With nothing to declare, proceed outside where you will be met by your local guide and driver. The drive to the hotel is 20-30 minutes, depending on traffic. Check in at the Hotel Yak & Yeti. 

Day 2 (March 4) Exploring Kathmandu

 After breakfast, we will visit Bouddhanath Stupa. We will visit around Pashupati Nath Temple before visiting Bhaktapur Durbar Square. Today we will enjoy a local lunch at Kathmandu Durbar Square before returning to the hotel for some free time.  This evening, we will meet for the official Trip Briefing and Welcome Reception followed by dinner. (B, L, D) 

Day 3 (March 5)- Kathmandu

 Today will present the optional opportunity to experience the Himalayas from the air (extra cost). For those interested, an early wake up call will get you to the airport for a flight to see Mount Everest, and any other of the mountain peaks. You will be back in time for breakfast before heading out to Soyambhunath (monkey temple). We will visit Kathmandu Durbar Square where we will have lunch at a local restaurant.  The balance of the day at your leisure. Dinner on your own. (B,L) 

Day 4 (March 6) Welcome to The Terraces Resort & Spa

 If you didn't do the optional Everest flight (extra cost) yesterday, you have an opportunity to do so this morning. (optional). After breakfast today we will make our way to Patan. Here we will visit Krishna temple and Golden Temple. We will have lunch in Patan today before making our way to The Terraces Resort & Spa, our home for the next three nights. You will have the day to explore the property, book a spa treatment, and just relax. Tonight, we will gather for our pre-race dinner and race briefing. (B,L,D) 

Day 5 (March 7) - RACE DAY!!!

After an early breakfast (starting at 4:30AM), make your way outside the front door to the start line. With an 8:00AM start time for the half marathon and an 8:30AM start for the 10KM race and a six hour (6 hours) time limit, you should be back to the hotel in time for lunch. The course is a mix of inclines and declines that will challenge you. The terrain is on local dirt roads and can best be described as a trail race. Shower up and enjoy a massage, soak in the jacuzzi or a swim the pool. Tonight, you enjoy a sumptuous buffet dinner. (B, L, D)

  *There is a 6 hour time limit for the half marathon and a 5 1/2 hour time limit for 10K race.

Day 6 (March 8) - Enjoy The Terraces Resort & Spa

Today is a free day to relax and savor the finish. Book and enjoy one of the many activities in the area, such a spa treatment, explore the area on a mountain bike, or book a ride on the local zipline. Tonight, you enjoy an al a carte dinner at the restaurant. (B,L,D)

Day 7 (March 9) - Onward to Pokhara

After breakfast, we will make our way to the airport for our 25 minute flight to Pokhara. A city famous for its natural beauty and views of stunning mountains, such as the revered peak,  Machapuchare (Fish Tail) as well as Annapurna. We will spend two nights at the FishTail Lodge. (B)

Day 8 (March 10) Full day to Explore Pokhara

 This morning we will have an early morning visit to Sarangkot for a sunrise and mountain view.  We will experience a sightseeing tour that includes Davi's Fall, Gupteshower Cave, and Tibetan Camp. We will enjoy a local lunch followed by a boat ride on Phewa Lake, the second largest lake in Nepal. Dinner is on your own.  (B,L)

Day 9 (March 11) Pokhara

 After breakfast  we will depart for a visit to the White Peace Stupa, followed by visits to Pumdi Ghuumdi to see the Shiva Statue. We will enjoy lunch lakeside, with an allowance to enjoy the lakeside area. Dinner is on your own this evening. (B,D)

Day 10 (March 12) Pokhara to Kathmandu - Grand Dinner and Cultural Program

After breakfast today we will fly back into the city of Kathmandu. We will check back into the Hotel Yak & Yeti. Lunch is on your own today. Perhaps a visit to Thamel for lunch and last minute shopping for trekking gear.

Tonight, we gather for our Farewell Dinner in Patan. We will depart the hotel as a group. Enjoy a cultural show and entertainment. 

Reconfirm your flights today if you are departing for home. 

For those that have chosen to extend their stay, we will depart early tomorrow for the start of our trekking extension to Namche Bazar and Tengboche (also onward to Everest Base Camp). You may consider leaving some of your luggage behind that you will not need during the trek. We will return to the Hotel Yak & Yeti at the end of the trekking. (B,D)

Day 10 (March 13) End of the Tour OR Commencement of Trekking

Today we bid you safe travels and send you off with memories of a lifetime OR we start creating new memories with an optional trek to Namche Bazar and Tengboche (onward to Everest Base Camp).

For those not on the Himalayan Trek Extension, you will be picked up at hotel and transported to the airport (expect 3 hours prior to departure). 

For those on the Himalayan Trek Extension, after breakfast today, we will fly via helicopter from Kathmandu to Lukla. Upon arrival in Lukla, we will start our trek. Expect about a 3-4 hour trek before we reach our accommodations at the tea house for the evening in Phakding. (B,L,D)

Day 11 (March 14) Phakding to Namche Bazar

After breakfast, our trail takes us through forests, traditional villages with their ploughed fields, and yak pastures. As we reach the entrance to the Sagarmatha National Park we can see Thamserku rising above us. After lunch, we continue on to Namche Bazaar. This is the largest Sherpa village in the Khumbu Region and is the starting point for expeditions and trekking groups. Here you can purchase a few last minutes items (such as chocolate) should you have forgotten to do so in Kathmandu. (3440 meters (11286 feet). Today will be a test of your will. You can expect 6 - 7 hours of walking). We will spend two nights in Hotel Namche or Sherpa Village Lodge (or similar). (B,L,D)

Day 12 (March 15)  Namche Bazaar

Acclimatization day to allow our bodies to adjust to the high altitude.  Day hike to Everest View Hotel and back. Today's trek will take around three hours. It's the best way to acclimatize and still stay active. You can also visit the Khunde Hospital set up by Sir Edmund Hillary. This is what you came for. Today, you will have views of some of the most famous mountains in the Himalayas including Ama Dablam, Nuptse, Lhotse, and when clear, Everest.. (B,L,D)  

Kwangde (6,011m), Thamserku (6,623m), Kangtega (6,782m), Nuptse (7,861m), Lhotse (8,516m), Ama Dablam (6,812m) and, of course, Mount Everest (8,848m).  

Accommodations: Panorama Hotel (B,L,D)  

Day 13  (March 16) Namche to Tengboche (3867 meters/12,687 feet)

After breakfast in Namche, you'll follow the trail along the side of the valley high above the Dudh Kosi River. You'll get your first views of the Khumbu region's giant peaks: Mount Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse, and Ama Dablam. Pass by several villages and numerous tea shops, and descend steeply to a bridge over the river at Phunki Tenga. The village is an ideal stopover for lunch and you can rest before making the steep climb to Tyangboche. Although this next zigzag path is tiring, your views will include beautiful rhododendron forests, colorful birds, and superb mountain scenery. Tyangboche is famous for its legendary monastery, the largest in Khumbu, and a spectacular panorama of the aforementioned peaks can be seen from where you'll stop for the night. (B,L,D)

Accommodations: The Himalayan - Tyangboche Trekking time: 4-5 hours (5.7 miles / 9.2 km). (B,L,D)

Day 15  (March 17) Trek to back to Namche Bazaar

After breakfast, we begin our trek back to Namche Bazaar We pass through the forest, small settlement villages and make small ups and down to Namche Bazar. 

Accommodations: Panorama Hotel

5 hours (5.7 km/9.2km) (B,L,D) 

Day 16  (March 18) Namche to Lukla

This morning we will enjoy an early breakfast at the Panorama before we make the final trek back to Lukla.  We will stop for lunch in Phakding.

With a late afternoon arrival back into Lukla, we will have dinner onsite at the Hikers Inn.

Accommodations: Hikers Inn Lukla.  (B,L,D)  

Day 17 (March 19) Lukla to Kathmandu

After breakfast in Lukla, you'll take an early morning helicopter back to Kathmandu. Upon arrival, you'll be transferred to your hotel and will be able to enjoy the rest of the afternoon and evening at your leisure. Explore Kathmandu's streets on foot, bicycle, or rickshaw, perhaps shopping for souvenirs or seeing anything you may have missed at the beginning of your trip. Dinner will be on your own. (B,L)

Accommodations: Yak & Yeti Hotel  

Day 18 (March 20) Kathmandu 

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast. You have the entire day to explore Kathmandu on your own. Perhaps relax by the pool? (B)

Accommodations: Yak & Yeti Hotel

Day 19 - (March 21) Farewell

Enjoy your last Nepalese breakfast before being picked up for your ride back to the airport. Grab your last minute gifts. Be sure you collected your passport. (B)

Safe travels! Namaste!

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