Day 2:
Walking or rickshaw tour downtown, Dur Bar Square, Freak Street, the King's palace, Asson Toll street markets, city temples. Taxi to Boda Nath, the Buddhist stupa, and Pashupati Nath, the Hindu temple area. Visit other neighborhoods. Afternoon, last minute shopping for trek, snacks, equipment, clothes. Read journals about recent treks if time. Pack for trek. Dinner in Thamel.

Day 3:
Day 1 of trek. Fly to Lukla at 9,405 feet on morning flight. Porters will be hired for the trek. Hike to Phakding. Acclimatize with a short hike in the afternoon. Dinner at lodge.

Day 4:
Day 2 of trek. Hike to Namche Bazaar at 11,355 feet, stopping for lunch on the way. Relaxing evening in Namche.

Day 5:
Day 3 of trek. Acclimatization day. Hike around neighboring mountains. Visit the National Park Headquarters, the Everest View Hotel and the village of Kumjung. Absorb scenery and distant views of Everest. Shop at all the wonderful Tibetan shops. View the Yeti scalp in the monastery in Kumjung

Day 6:
Day 4 of trek. In the morning, hike to Portse Thanga at 11,550 feet. Stop for lunch on the way. A short day to aid acclimatization. Hike nearby ridges in the afternoon. Dinner at the guest house.

Day 7:
Day 5 of trek. Hike to Dole at 13,860 feet, another short day to aid acclimatization. Pass through rhododendron forests and high pastures where Sherpas bring yak to graze. Stop for lunch. Rest in the evening at guest house.

Day 8:
Day 6 of trek. Steep hike to Machhermo at 14,553 feet. This was where a yeti allegedly attacked a Sherpa girl who was grazing her yaks. The yeti supposedly killed three yak in 1974, the most credible yeti sighting in this region.

Day 9:
Day 7 of trek. Hike to Gokyo at 15,675 feet. Stop along the way for lunch. Excellent views. Steep climb up the terminal moraine of the Ngozumpa Glacier. Pass a few lakes. Gokyo sits on the edge of a large lake.

Day 10:
Day 8 of trek. Wake up early and hike to the top of Gokyo Ri at 18,093 feet. Excellent view of Cho Oyu, Gyachung Kang, Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, Cholatse and Tawachee. If everyone feels good there is an option of continuing up the valley toward more lakes and other peaks with similar vantage points and views of the Nangpa La pass, the old trade route into Tibet. Return to Gokyo in the evening.

Day 11:
Day 9 of trek. There is an option to follow the eastern side of the valley for different views on the way back. Hike back to Portse Thanga.

Day 12:
Day 10 of trek. Hike to Pangboche for lunch and on to Tengboche for the evening. Visit the famous monastery and witness a Tibetan Buddhist ceremony.

Day 13:
Day 11 of trek. Hike to Namche Bazaar. Visit Everest View Hotel or other sites missed on the way up.

Day 14:
Day 12 of trek. Hike to Lukla. Witness the hundreds of porters hiking up to Namche for the Saturday Bazaar. Stay the night in Lukla. Hope to get a morning flight back to Kathmandu. May need to wait a day or two for good weather.

Day 15:
Day 13 of trek. Extra day to account for bad weather, flight delays or altitude problems during the trek. This may also be used as an extra acclimatization day when at high altitudes depending on how we feel.

Day 16:
Day 14 of trek. Return to Kathmandu from Lukla. Rest in the afternoon or shop.

Day 17:
Visit and volunteer some time at Mother Theresa's Clinic, a local orphanage or the hospital. Take homeless children to lunch. Visit schools. Spend the Of Global Interest Random Acts of Kindness Fund.

Day 18:
Walk or rickshaw to Sywambu Nath, Buddhist stupa. Watch the monkeys.

Day 19:
Free day or taxi to Bhaktapur. Spend the day here or visit Patan and Tibetan Refugee Camp and carpet factory and/or other villages in the Kathmandu Valley.

Day 20:
Free day or more sightseeing within the Kathmandu Valley.

Day 21:
Depart for the US on Friday, October 18 at 8AM.