This Arun valley,  Everest trek is following an ancient trail connecting the low lands of eastern Nepal with the high alpine lands of Khumbu (Mt Everest region) offers an unique experience of hiking in an off the beaten tourist trail. Despite of the fact that most supplies in Khumbu area is flown by cargo helicopters and air planes, this trail is still popular among local traders and porters visiting the haat bazaar (weekly markets) in Khumbu with their merchandise carried on human backs. Porters from this area are known to be strongest in Nepal.

We Begin this Arun valley, Everest trek with a short flight from Kathmandu to Tumlingtar. 330m/1083ft- a sub tropical town situated near the Arun river which drains all way from the other side of Mt. Everest in Tibet! The Arun is among the seven tributaries forming the Nepal mightiest river – the Kosi.

From Tumlingtar the trail follows the Arun river for a day and half passing through fertile farmlands cultivated by ethnic Chetri and bahuns – people of so called higher Hindu castes – who live higher up due as the weather down in the river valley is hot and tropical. Further to the North East, the Rai people, who once ruled this part of the country before Nepal’s unification by the King Prithivi Narayan Shah, dwell the land along the Irkhuwa Khola – a tributary of Arun.
Arriving at Phedi 1680m. the trail steeply climbs for the Salpa Pass 3350m/ 10988ft. and descends into the first and a long Sherpa village Sanam before Gudel and Bung – two large Rai villages is arrived.. Another pass Pangum La 3173m/10407ft, the trail enters the Pharak (middle country) region of the Sherpa country. Along trial we enjoy distant views of Makalu, Chamlang and peaks up north in the Hongu valley..

In Paiyu, we meet the Jiri to Everest classic trail followed by Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay Sherpa during their historic expedition in 1953. Onward, we trek across the Sherpa villages Dungde (Chaurikharka), Phakding, Benkar, Monjo, Tumbuk (Jorsalle) settled along the fertile Dudh Kosi river valley and then climb steeply to Nauche (Namche Bazar) the capital of the Sherpa country situated at 3400m/1152ftcross. From Namche, we hike at a leisurely pace for a close up view of Mt. Everest from Kalapathar 5545m/181887ft. On our way to Kalapathar, we visit the world famed monastery at Tengboche and the Pangboche monastery which known to be the oldest in the region. After the view of Mt. Everest from Kalapathar, we descend to Lukla and take a flight to Kathmandu to end this magnificent trek.

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