Backpacking & Outdoor adventures by ChingNengBin - Namaste! Everest BaseCamp 5,364m : EBC trek Day 03 – Phakding trek 11km to Namche Bazaar (3,445m/11,299ft)

EBC trek Day 03 – Phakding trek 11km to Namche Bazaar (3,445m/11,299ft)

Day 03 (30.10.17) – Phakding (2,544m) trek 11km to Namche Bazaar (3,445m/11,299ft). Walking time: 6 hours. Difference in elevation: +901m.

07.00am – Breakfast at Hotel Beer Garden.
07.40am - After breakfast on this second day to EBC we continued up the banks of the Dudh Koshi River, crossing it twice by small suspension bridges. The busy trail follows Dudh Koshi River and reaches Zamphuti where you can observe the beautiful view of Thamserku Peak then continued to Chomoa. We continued our trek and climb to Monjo 2,850m the entry point of Sagarmatha National Park to complete our trekking permit and National park entry formalities before we enter the park.

10.38am – We stopped at Bishal Lodge & Restaurant in Jorsalle Village for lunch.
12.20pm - We continued our trek again.
02.30pm – Arrived at ticket checking counter. The trek continues to Jorsale where we start our ascent to Namche Bazaar after crossing the large suspension bridge. Along the way you could get the first proper glimpse of Mt. Everest and other surrounding peaks.
03.05pm – Arrived at Namche Bazaar and checked into Comfort Inn for the night.

Namche Bazaar is a prosperous trading town and the capital of the Khumbu Region. Namche bazaar is known as the gateway to Everest and has some modern facilities including some very good lodges, several monasteries, shops, bakeries, an army camp, Sagarmatha National Park quarter, museum etc.

Evening temperature was 5 degrees Celsius.

07.00am – Presenting our breakfast at Hotel Beer Garden.

Onion omelette for breakfast.

Toast bread and fried egg.

All of us suited up and ready to trek to Namche Bazaar.

The morning view along the way is so picturesque with stunning mountain landscape scenery as the granite wall of Kwangde’s eastern face lights up in the morning sun.

The 1st suspension bridge to cross Dhudh Koshi river.

Crossing the 1st suspension bridge to the other side. Between Phakding and Jorsale, you cross the Dudh Kosi at least five times on suspension bridges spanning 500-600 feet from bank to bank and several hundred feet above white rapids hurtling downstream.

Dudh Koshi is a river in eastern Nepal. It is the highest river in terms of elevation and its main source of water is from Gokyo Lakes. You can see straight through to the river. So if you have a serious fear of heights, this may not be for you.

The 1st suspension bridge was bouncing alarmingly some 100ft over the raging river as we were crossing onto the other side.

The River View Lodge below.

Below 4,000m, there are plenty of villages that you can stop by along the way to have lunch and rest at the guesthouse.

Below 4,000m, there are also plenty of shops that you can stop by along the way to buy and have lunch.

When life gets tough, get a horse then.

Look at our hardworking porters at work. We trek through blue pine, fir, and juniper forests contrasting sharply against the soaring white mountains.

The 1st waterfall on the EBC trek.

Simon Loh filming himself crossing the metal bridge at the 1st waterfall.

Take the time to look at our surroundings and the joy of trekking >>> the fatigue...

On this steep flight of stairs up.

The path from Phakding to Namche Bazaar is slightly more difficult than the day 2 route as there are plenty of ups and not many downs.

Trekking through of blue pine, fir, and juniper forests contrasting sharply against the soaring white mountains.

Up and up we go trekking through of blue pine, fir, and juniper forests.

Fantastic views along the EBC trek against the soaring white mountains.

Fantastic views along the EBC trek against the soaring white mountains. Thamserku towers over the Chumoa Khola valley.

Thamserku towers over the Chumoa Khola valley.

At the 2nd waterfall along the way to Namche Bazaar.

A steep uphill climb before we take a short break.

Took a short break at Everest Mini Guest House & Restaurant (2730m).

Tips for peeing here at Everest Mini Guest House & Restaurant (2730m).

The view never stops being amazing as you keep trekking.

Local kids walk a lot here... going to school and back home is quite a distance.

A beautiful new lodge along the way to Namche Bazaar.

Prakash our guide on the left, center is Rashid and our porter, Rahindra on the right.

Crossing the 2nd suspension bridge.

Dudh Koshi is a river in eastern Nepal. It is the highest river in terms of elevation and its main source of water is from Gokyo Lakes.

Even though it's winter, there is still lots of green everywhere... not until anywhere near Everest Base Camp can you start to see snow/glacier.

Big boulder jutting out on the trek.

Jignesh (center) and friend from UK. On his right is his guide.

Crossing a small bridge with a nice mini waterfall.

Whenever there is a bridge, there are always prayer flags. Beautiful spot with a mill and small waterfall between Tok Tok and Namche Bazaar in Nepal on the route to Everest Base Camp.

Flight of steep steps is not uncommon now.

Schools are located in some villages... imagine the distance kids have to walk everyday to school.

We continued our trek and climb to Monjo 2,850m the entry point of Sagarmatha National Park to complete our trekking permit and National park entry formalities before we enter the park.

The Sagarmatha National Park which extends from Jorsale to the Everest summit at 29,035ft. Personnel will record the details of your trekking permit and check you off on the return. Sagarmatha is the Nepali word for Everest. It means Goddess of the Sky. In Tibet, they call Everest Chomolungma, Mother Goddess of the Universe.

We are entering Sagarmatha National Park and this is the place to pay the entrance fee. Lots of people queuing up... good thing our guide asked us to proceed on while he gets us the clearance.

Crossing this gate into Sagarmatha National Park.

Every down we made is an up wasted. From the park entrance, descend a long series of stone steps and walk along a sandy path to the suspension bridge leading to the infamous Namche hill—a steep 2,400-foot elevation gain with no downs.

Sometimes, we have to give way to buffaloes... as they can knock you off if they couldn't care less.

Farmers hard at work to bring us our delicious veges.

The 3rd suspension bridge...! This time overseeing an agricultural field.

Crossing this 3rd long suspension bridge will reach the village Jorsalle.

You can see straight through to the river. So if you have a serious fear of heights, this may not be for you.

10.38am – We stopped at Bishal Lodge & Restaurant in Jorsalle Village for lunch.

10.38am – We stopped at Bishal Lodge & Restaurant for lunch.

The fried noodles portion is unexpectedly huge as well... But at this altitude, appetite is huge as well.

The group presenting our lunch of the day after a long walk.

After lunch at Bishal Lodge & Restaurant in Jorsalle Village, all trekkers got ready for the ascent to Namche Bazaar.

12.20pm - We resumed our trek again. Out of Jorsale, it was a pleasant walk beside the river as we passed through a heavily forested gorge.

Crossing the 4th suspension bridge.

Crossing the 4th suspension bridge. Donkeys and yaks don’t like the swaying, bouncing bridges and so cross quickly. You don’t want to be in the way if you meet one head on.

It was a pleasant walk beside the river as we passed through a heavily forested gorge.

A group photo for the album. Behind us is the Larja suspension Bridges with one above the other over the Dudh Koshi river - the lower one is now abandoned.

The most famous suspension bridge of them all - the Larja Dobhan bridge. Hanging precariously from one rock face to another rock face almost a kilometre above the junction of the Dudh and Bhote Kosi rivers.

Crossing the 5th suspension bridge with huge numbers of prayer flags flutter in the breeze, despite the 50-year guarantee, as spiritual, just in case.

Crossing the 5th suspension bridge the Larja Dobhan suspension bridge above the confluence of the Bhote and Dudh Kosi rivers.

View of the other suspension bridge below.

Crossing the 5th suspension bridge. Strings of prayer flags in five colors representing the elements hang across passes, streams, and bridges.

This is Mr Randy from Singapore crossing the 5th suspension bridge.

This is yours truly, Ching Neng Bin crossing the 5th suspension bridge.

Crossing the 5th suspension bridge is scary, windy place, especially when the bridge starts bouncing under the hurried stride of nervous tourists rushing to get to the other side.

The beginning of the climb after the bridge.

Stunning mountain landscape scenery.

From here the track climbs a steep and dusty 1600ft through pine forests to Namche.

Stunning mountain landscape scenery.

02.30pm – Arrived at ticket checking counter.

The trek continues to Jorsale where we start our ascent to Namche Bazaar.

03.05pm – Arrived at Namche Bazaar and checked into Comfort Inn for the night.

The bustling village of Namche Bazaar, gateway to the high Himalayas and home of the Sherpas. All climbing expeditions pass through here. Even Hillary and Tenzing did exactly 64 years ago.

About one hundred almost identical-looking, white-stone buildings sit on five terraces cut into the hills of a horseshoe-shaped amphitheater framed on three sides by snow-capped mountains.

Namche Bazaar is a prosperous trading town and the capital of the Khumbu Region. Namche bazaar is known as the gateway to Everest and has some modern facilities including some very good lodges, several monasteries, shops, bakeries, an army camp, Sagarmatha National Park quarter, museum etc. Temperature was 5 degrees Celsius.