Short trek

[Ali]

I am going to Nepal for the first time with my husband and parents. We wanted to do a short trek where my parents could trek with us for 4-5 days then we would continue on for an additional 4-5 days. We were looking at the Instant Everest trek. Has anyone done this trek and would you recommend it? Are there any other short treks that really are amazing that we should do or any areas that are a must see? Please any recommendations would be helpful. Thanks

[Escher]

With that intinerary I would decide between two treks.

1) Khumbu. Fly to Lukla, hike to Namche, visit Khumjung and Khunde then go up to Mong. Your parents - assuming they are reasonably fit and acclimatise ok - could do that in 5-7 days (including getting back to Lukla). I would pick this route over going towards Tengboche as I think Tengboche is a dump and has a horrendous climb up to it (and back from it) that if you went that far your parents would have to negotiate it twice and it is best avoided.

From Mong you could continue up towards Gokyo (I prefer this valley to the Everest Base camp trail) and see how far you could get whilst acclimatising properly with the time allowed. It is possible to get down from Gokyo to Lukla in two days if you are fit and hike fast. I've done Lukla to Gokyo and back in 10 days but it would be best done in a couple of days longer than that. You could all have a fantastic high alpine trek if you could just add a couple of days to your intineraries.

2) The other alternative would be Poon Hill. You could all ascend to Ghorepani and head for the expansive mountain views of Poon hill. This can be done - up and down - in 4-5 days (well 3 if you are that way inclined). But it is solid up-up-up all the way and down-down-down (think thousands of steps) on the way back. From Ghrepani you could skirt around to Chhomrong and Ghandruk and therefore add 2-3 days to your own trek.

You don't say what yours and your parents fitness levels are like and what sort of trekking you would like to do (easy, strenuous etc) and whether or not you have been to altitude or trekked before, this would make a big difference to the advice we can give. You can save days trekking down if you are prepared to hike all day and cover the distance but if you prefer to take it easy then you can stop more so it can make a difference to how long a trek we can suggest.

[Spaceman347]

"Instant Everest" sounds like it would probably involve something like Lukla --> Namche with a daytrip up to the Everest View Hotel or there-abouts. This is a nice trek, and is the earliest view of Everest possible (it's a spectacular view up valley from there with Everest a highlight)

This would allow you/your parents to view Everest if that is a particular goal (although it's a fair way off from there). Namche is lovely town to hang around for a few days with all mod-cons and there are many daytrip options from there so they could either wait there for you for a few days or turn around and head back to Lukla/KTM.

One of the downsides(?) of this option is it's not a circuit ie you have to go up and back on the same trail so you won't see as many different sights as a circuit of some kind.

If you only wanted another 4-5 days there are many options from there but you won't make it up to either Gokyo or EBC and back to Lukla in that timeframe. You could certainly visit Tengboche, Thame, Mong, Phortse, or a bunch of interesting places, perhaps up to Pangboche which is a nice town, over 4-5 days.

There are many other options, maybe Poon Hill or an Annapurna Sanctuary variation but I've not been over that way so someone else will have to expand on that.

[Ali]

thanks for the help! My parents are both avid outdoor enthusiasts but are around 60-65 years old so they would opt for the easy trek. My husband and I are both "fit", he use to guide for Mountain madness and is use to mountaineering. I am more of hiker and backpacker who usually just follows him around. :) We are looking for easy to moderate so we can spend some time with my parents, but wouldn't mind a more moderate trek when we continue on. It sounds like the Everest treks will give us the most bang for our short time with my parents able to turn around early on if they have any difficultly. I have heard the flights in and out of Lulka are unreliable. Is this true? We are planning on hiring a guide and porter. Will we need to make tea house arrangements before we go? Are they usually filled up? Feel free to give more recommendations or info ... it is all very helpful!!!

[Oli]

There is one long steep hill between Lukla and Namche, but being 60-something wouldn't stop any reasonably fit outdoor enthusiasts walking up it. Hiring a porter and/or guide to look after you parents would be a good idea, but make sure that they are happy with the plan to split up mid-trek before you depart.

A short trek in the Annapurna foothills for you all, with you & husband going up to the Sanctuary would definitely be worth considering. But on balance I'd think the Everest option would be better. You parents would have far more entertainment spending a few days in and around Namche whilst you and husband nip off up the valley for an excursion. You could do a small loop taking in Mong, Phortse, Pangboche, Tengboche and back to Namche. They can sit in the bakery eating apple pie and watching the yaks go by and if they feel up for a small trek of their own the an stroll round to Sanasa for a marvelous view of Amadablam and back via Khumjung. When you meet up I would imagine you all be having a great time and not wanting to go home, so consider hiking up to Thame and back, for an extra couple of days together. It is usually easy change your Lukla return tickets to fly a few days sooner if you decide skip the last suggestion and return to Kathmandu.

I've been to the Everest View Hotel a couple of times, on both occasions it was cloudy and didn't live up to its name. But I believe that there is a chance to see Everest before you reach Namche - a short distance above the bridge, on the way up the hill keep looking to the right up the Dudh Khosi valley, I am fairly certain that I've been seen the dark pyramid summit of Everest peaking over a ridge way up the valley...

[Spaceman347]

I've been to the Everest View Hotel a couple of times, on both occasions it was cloudy and didn't live up to its name. But I believe that there is a chance to see Everest before you reach Namche - a short distance above the bridge, on the way up the hill keep looking to the right up the Dudh Khosi valley, I am fairly certain that I've been seen the dark pyramid summit of Everest peaking over a ridge way up the valley...

Yep, there is a view of Everest about half to 3/4 way up the hill to Namche. Off to the right of the trail (when heading up) there is a clearing which used to (apparently) be a tea house but is now just a clearing with some 3 foot high stone walls and a bit of rubble. It's a great spot to stop for a rest and there is a view of Everest if you look in that direction over the hill and through the trees.

I've been blessed with good weather both times that I've been to EVH, in clear conditions it really is stunning.

[peteris]

My parents are both avid outdoor enthusiasts but are around 60-65 years old...

My mummy did nice Chukhung - Gorakshep - Gokyo trek being 62 :) And, of course, there go many older people too.
Also Poon Hill - Annapurna Sanctuary would be very very nice. For everything else I can only agree with Escher's, Oli's and Spaceman's good advices.

Morning view from place near Everest View Hotel
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1225/590365198_477e58a688_o.jpg

[Ali]

Wow! That is beautiful.