day 4:     Kartigeghat (360 m)  – Ghote Bazar (1.000 m, 5-6 h)
Further on, our way leads through abundant nature: paddies, bamboo-forests, orange groves,... the variety at plants and colours is unique.

In these first days, we hike through a never-ending area characterized by Hinduism - again and again we pass  through small villages with the typical, very simple cottages constructed of timber and roofs made of braided mats. We learn that we must pass the numerous prayer wheels and memorials clockwise, If not it would mean bad luck! Arriving in Ghote Bazar, a mountain-brook invites you to take a refreshing bath in its clear and still clean.

day 5:     Ghote Bazar – Phedi (1.606 m, 5 h) 
We climb through fertile mountain-valleys and cross adventurous bamboo-bridges and slowly continue further.
  
Vast paddies still characterize the countryside. Daily temperatures are still very high - with night temperatures at 12o a little, cooler. Phedi the mountain-brook at our day's destination is also already clearly cooler: Only the toughest will take a bath here -while most, however, will prefer a "normal" wash with a limited amount of water.  

day 6:     Phedi – Gurase (3.000 m, 6 h)          
We climb through dense forests. In the beginning, we gain height quickly - 900 meters altitude in about  1 1/2 hours. Shortly before lunch , we can - if open -see some interesting Gompa (Buddhist cloister) views. Orchids, that bloom in the spring in many different colors, grow here in this region.   

day 7: Gurase – Guidel       
(2.030 m, 6-7 h) After circa 1 1/2 hours ascent we reach the Salpa Rupina Pass (3.349 m) and get to the border between the Solo district and Sherpa-land. After a circa 2- hour descent through extensive mountain-forests we reach the first Sherpa villages. Everything seems different: houses of stone, windows partially glass and various fields. Now, there are lots of tasty potatoes and vegetables. Descending even further we reach our destination for the day, the Rai village Guidels,  in the afternoon where we camp in the middle of the schoolyard.. The upper Hongu-Tal is mainly inhabited by the Rai’s - a group of people predominantly Hindu.

day 8:     Guidel – Bung – Boskom Gompa (2.600 m, 6-7 h).   
At dawn, our one-hour hike takes us on a steep descent to a su­s­pen­sion bridge  leading across the Hungu Khola River (1.450 m), the sources of which is our des­ti­na­tion. The following ascent through the extensive, beautiful area of the village of Bung is less steep and very interesting: Fields, water-buffalos and cows, colourful gardens, scattered picturesque houses and  curious children over and over again - until we arrive at our at noon-resting place in the upper part of the village (1.800 m). Then we climb further up and reach the specially-beautifully-situated temple of Boskom Gompa. If we are lucky, we will come across a travelling Lama here - and we can be present at a Buddhist church service

day 9-10:    
Boskom Gompa – Chalem Karka (3.580 m, 5 h), 
Chalem Karka – Panch Pokhris (4.300 m, 6 h).   
We leave the populated areas. The fresh air is pleasant.

A long mountain-ridge leads us above 4.000 meters for the first time, then from a prominent mountain-saddle (4.450 m) we see some crystal-clear lakes: the Panch Pokhris, sacred lakes, destination for thousands of pilgrims, - seat of the water-spirits

day 11-13:   Panch Pokhris – Khote (3.614 m, 7 h), Khote – Tagnag (4.360 m, 5-6 h), rest day Tagnag    
The mountain-scenery becomes more fascinating. The impressive giants of snow and ice get closer every day and loom up into the sky.. We now hike into the upper Hinku Valley. After a night in Ghote, we ascend from the valley slowly north­ward. There are some alpine pastures and we reach the Lodges of the Alm Tagnag at the end of the high valley -  almost like a one small settlement. Here, frequently, groups from around the world meet.     
This is also where we will have another day of rest to get better acclimatisation – may be we hike to a quiet glacier lake ...

day 14: Tagnag – Khare (4.950 m, 5 h)           
Past Lake Sabai and the Dig Glacier, we hike through moraine country­side up to a beautiful resting place, situated circa 30 minutes below the usually overcrowded Alpine Pasture Khare.

day 15:  Khare – Mera Peak Basecamp (5.300 m, 5-6 h)                                     
We continue and reach the Mera Glacier. Crossing the glacier, we now go up to the Mera La, a pass mounting  to 5.415 m. We cross the pass and  camp circa 100 meters below  - we reached the Mera Peak base-camp. We finally arrived, on our viewpoint amid 6.000, 7.000, and 8.000 metre (26.000 foot) summits!

day 16:  Rest day or day trip into the upper Hongu-Tal   
Today we will do: take a rest, enjoy the fantastically panorama... and take time for the height-adaptation to the body.
The participants of the shorter tour-variation (see: Trek zum Mera Peak ) will cast a glance into the upper Hongu-Tal today (who would like to do it) - looking, where the "Great Trek" leads. 
(1. reserve-day)

day 17:   Mera Peak Basecamp – Mera-Highcamp (5.800 m, 5-6 h).  
If we feel quite strong, we can also climb up straight away. But to be on the safe side we will have a break half way to the summit to adjust to the altitude. We are going to camp at about 5.750m - on a rocky island in the middle of the glacier .
     

Here, high above, with a little luck we will have a  unique view on the most spectacular mountains: Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, ...  - and just as we have also already had at the basecamp - a dreamlike picturesque sunset.           
Although it becomes bitter-cold in the evening, most hikers remain sitting outdoors in their down-jackets until it turns too dark to watch this event.                   
(2. reserve-day)

Mera Peak – the glacier-mountain                                                                  
Tag 18:   Mera-Highcamp – Mera Peak 6.461 m – Basecamp 
(5-6 h Ascent und 3-4 h downward).           
The day of conquering the summit!
We start early in the morning. Here and there, we can look into deep crevasses. Until we reach the altitude of 6.461 m, the summit of the Mera, we will have climbed upward  over glaciers and  snow slopes for 5 - 6 hours.     Sometimes, the track is hardly passable for the last 30 - 40 meters to the summit, because it gets steeper and the slopes are often frozen. -Then the guides fix a  rope which you can follow easily and safely until you reach the summit.
      
The exhausting ascent is over now and below us there are valleys, lower mountains and the mighty glaciers. For a short time, we feel like kings in this icy empire.
After the exhausting hike this is a fantastic reward - five of the fourteen highest mountains of the world at a glance - shining glacier giants in front of a blue-black sky.            

Then, we  go down again - until we get to the base camp which takes 4 hours approximately.  

day 19-21: Basecamp – Rato Odar(4 h), Rato Odar – Seto Pokhari ( 3 h), Seto Pokhari – Panch Pokhari – Amphu Lapsa Basecamp (5 h).
(= 3. reserve-day – this 3-days trip is also possible in 2 days)          
From the basecamp, we now climb in the Hongu Valley  further on -towards the sacred lakes Panch Pokhari that are different  from the ones a week ago. It is beautiful to feel grass under your feet again. Soon, however, the glaciers- predominate again. The countryside becomes wilder, but simultaneously more beautiful.

Then there are  the five sacred lakes in front of us and we have reached one of the most fantastic places of the earth: the Panch Pokhris at the foot of the impressive Baruntse, 7.168 m high.   
It is very quiet. Up here, many gods of the Himalayas have their throne. No wonder people believe this, with all of the beauty, that one experiences here high above.

Maybe, also Yeti, the Abominable Snowman lurks behind a rock.
 

day 22:   Amphu Lapsa Basecamp – Amphu Laptsa – Camp 5.200 m           
Time - to reach Khumbu! Depending on conditions  we  choose the track: Amphu Laptsa 5.780 m, or the "Japanese track". On top of the pass we stay for a while, as it is quiet and very beautiful. We see the five Panch Pokhrises below us in the Hungu, on the other side there is the south-flank of Lhotse (8.616 m). In front of us there is Island Peak (6189 m),more a "hill"  than a mountain from our perspective.
Now everybody must help each other  with the following descent. The steepest passages are safeguarded by the guides with fixed ropes. Each participant must help  to carry luggage as well as general camp-equipment across the steepest parts. Participants must carry their most important personal camp-equipment, sleeping bags etc, down to the camp we reach at circa 5.200 meters.     

day 23/24:  Camp 5.200 m – Chhukung; Rest-day      
It's only a  short distance today leading us -around the Imja Glacier - down the valley-towards Chhukung.

day 23:  Camp 5.200 m – Island Peak Basecamp      
Another short tour takes us- around the Imja Glacier - to the basecamp of the Imja Tse

day 24:   Island Peak 6.189 m (Imja Tse)    
Today, another impressive "six- thousand" is on our "shopping list". Since we are well-adjusted to high altitude now and quite fit, we save ourselves the trouble of building another camp at this altitude.
We will try to master the summit in one long, one-day climb.         
It will be already dark when we cross the shoulder of the southern foothill and get to the glacier at circa 5.900 meters. Down a steep icy slope safeguarded by the guides with fixed ropes we finally reach - following a beautiful ridge - the summit.
     

A magnificent view of the Makalu (8.475m), of the 8.516 m high Lhotse-Wall and the many icebergs, over 7.000 m of the Imja region rewards our efforts.                 
The descent is easy and we quickly return to the basecamp in the early afternoon.   

day 25:   (Basecamp) – Chhukung – Tengboche       
Past  Dingboche (4.412 m)., we climb the highest, permanent settlement in Nepal and get to Tengboche (3.867m), the dreamlike, beautiful cloister situated on a pyramid-like mountain at 3.867 m - It also is a school for monks with over 100 monks. Here a spectacular vantage point is a "must" for us as we are surrounded by splendid summits such as Mt. Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse and Ama Dablam.

day 26:   Tengboche – Namche Bazar     
A beautiful, interesting track takes us to Namche Bazar then. On our way, we will often stop and enjoy the unique view.

day 27:   Namche Bazar - Lukla         
A last long hiking-day of 7-8hours  will take us to the end of our trekking tour - Lukla. We reach Lukla via  Namche Bazar, a steep descent to the Dudh-Kosi-Valley and Phakding, 2.600m.
We enjoy a last evening in the Khumbu.

day 28:   flight from Lukla to Kathmandu       
Our flight from Lukla back to Kathmandu is booked for the morning.
Our next stop will be at  the comfortable five-star Hotel*****, to relax at the pool, to enjoy a glass of beer etc.,...   .
                                                        
day 29:  The old royal-cities Patan and Bhaktapur.    
Today we will visit the royal-city of Bhaktapur. The city with a well-preserved medieval city centre  - russet brick-roofs, carved wooden facades and skilfully embellished brick-walls give the city the particular charm.    Afterwards, we are going to visit the royal-city of Patan - narrow alleys, palaces, temples and bazaars... There will be time for private excursions and a last opportunity to buy some souvenirs in the colourful bazaars of Kathmandu.                             

day 30:  Day of rest-or/ and in reserve.           
If everything proceeds as planned - we can buy the last souvenirs  today, stroll around in Kathmandu or simply  laze about.

day 31 – 32:    return flight         
The return flight leaves in the evening and arrives at the next day the European airport