A good acclimatisation is essential for the successful completion of our trek, which is why we slept two nights in Namche Bazaar.
Namche sunrise
Itinerary: Namche Bazaar - Namche viewpoint and Sagarmatha Museum - Everest View Hotel - Khumjung- Namche Bazaar
Distance: 8 kms
Duration: 7 hours
Circular route
Elevation gain: 550 meters
Tips for good acclimatisation. Good acclimatisation is achieved by drinking plenty of water, walking slowly without getting tired, not climbing more than 500 metres per stage above 3,400 metres and always sleeping below the maximum altitude you have reached that day.
Always remember to take enough water with you, as it takes at least half an hour for the pill to take effect. Sun cream with full protection is essential.
Map
We woke up to splendid sunshine and the views from our room are spectacular. We go down for breakfast, today toast with jam and butter and potato stew, and chocolate pancacke with black tea.
Pancacke
Today the backpack is lighter, on the acclimatisation day we need to take water, sun cream, warm clothes, a mackintosh and a small first aid kit.
We start today's stage by heading to Everest Viewpoint. This year marks the 70th anniversary of the first ascent of Everest by Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary.
Norgay
When we arrive it is completely cloudy and we can't see anything. We start to feel the altitude and feel a slight pressure in our head, but according to Sonam it will disappear by the end of the day.
After 10 minutes it starts to clear, we are lucky, we see Lhotse and the summit of Everest. I get goose bumps. Finally it clears completely and we enjoy the rest of the mountains surrounding Namche.
Everest and Lhotse
With Soman and Chiiring
We enter the Sagarmatha National Park Museum, admission is free. Here you can learn about Sherpa culture and the park. They keep the crampons and boots with which Norgay and Hillary reached the summit of Everest in May 1953.
Boots and crampones
We leave the museum for a short climb north to Everest View Hotel, before passing Sherpa Panorama Hotels, with spectacular views of Namche.
Namche
At the Everest View Hotel we stop for a drink and enjoy the breathtaking views of Lhotse and Everest again. Although the day is cloudy it gives you goose bumps.
The view from the terrace is paid for, 330 rupees per cup of ginger tea, the guide and porter are invited for the cost of our drinks.
Everst view
Everst view
We continue our way to the village of Khumjung situated in a small valley surrounded by mountains. You can visit the monastery and the Edmund Hillary School, we are lucky that there is an awards ceremony and everyone is in the courtyard celebrating.
Khumjung
From here the Sherpa community is in the majority and we greet them in Sherpa, instead of namaste we say tashi delek.
It is harvesting season, they grow their own potatoes and vegetables and they are really delicious.
Khumjung
Khumjung
Khumjung
We eat at the Stupa Inn restaurant and lodge, of course dal bhat and ginger tea.
Dal Bhat
Before returning we visited the small Tibetan monastery that is said to house the yeti's scalp. We don't know if it is true, but the fact is that it is kept in a glass case where it is clearly not possible to take photos.
The monastery or gompa is located on the outskirts of Khumjung. We walk clockwise around the monastery, rolling the prayer wheels, and enter. It has a small courtyard, around which are the monastic quarters. At the top of the gallery they have photographs of the area and tell the history of Norgay.
Monastery
Monastery
The temple is small but it is decorated in detail with stories from the life of the Buddha. It is beautiful.
We walk through the village until we reach the Edmund Hillary School, the children are in the playground and we become spectators with them at an award ceremony. Children up to 12 years old go to Khumjung school, they always eat here.
School
School
Return to Namche via the old Syangboche airport. We continue to Namche. Sonam asks us, how's your head? have you drunk enough water? we still have the same feeling and he tells us off and rightly so, of the 4 litres he recommended we only drank 2, so we listen to him and drink another litre in the room, and you know what, it works, the next day the thicket was gone.
Stupa
We rested and went down to dinner with Sergio and María, noodle soup with vegetables and garlic soup (brutal) with a vegetable spring roll.) We had a few laughs, they were really nice. Back to bed early to rest.
Tips. It's cold in the rooms, it's important not to lose body heat and to get into your sleeping bag early. From 4,000 metres upwards it is advisable to sleep with your head covered, the woollen hat should not be taken off, not even to sleep.
Namche
Monastery in Namche
Breakfast, at Everest Inn's hotel included, toast with jam and butter and potato casserole, and chocolate pancacke.
Sagarmatha Museum free of charge
Hotel Everest View: 2 gingerbread teas 660 rupees
Lunch at lodge restaurant Estupa Inn in Khumjung included, dal bhat with ginger tea
Accommodation and dinner at Everest Inn's hotel included, one noodle soup with vegetables and one garlic soup with a vegetable spring roll (the soup was brutal)
Mobile phone recharge: 300 rupees
Shower: 400 rupees/pax/apparatus
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