Today enjoy an easy, acclimatizing walk to Monjo (9,428'). En route, cross several picturesque suspension bridges, and pass mani walls (boulders inscribed with Buddhist prayers), small villages, terraced hillsides, and likely quite a few working yaks. With Khumbila (18,800'), sacred peak of the Sherpas, looming above, arrive in Monjo, nestled in mountainous blue pine and rhododendron forest. Overnight and acclimatize at Everest Summit Lodge - Monjo, where the lodge chef prepares a welcome dinner.

Get your cameras ready! Today you enter Sagarmatha National Park en route to Namche Bazaar (11,286'). More rocky terrain, suspension bridges, and yak crossings make for a strenuous day. But all becomes worth it when you pause on the steep ascent for the rewarding, spectacular first glimpse of Mount Everest! Arriving in Namche Bazaar - the gateway to Everest and the high Himalaya - early allows you to spend a relaxing afternoon strolling around the bustling village. Colorful prayer flags adorn this amphitheater of shops, Internet cafes, eateries, and lodgings.

Above Namche Bazaar, the trail to Tashinga follows the classic approach to Everest. A steep uphill hike takes you to beautiful Khumjung village, where you'll have a chance to visit the first Hillary school. Founded in 1961 by legendary mountaineer Sir Edmund Hillary, the institution - with just over 300 students - is the only high school in the Khumbu region. After visiting the school, descend down to Tashinga (11,350').

From Tashinga, follow sacred stones and colorful prayer flags to Phortse (12,959'), a traditional Sherpa village off the main trail. A terraced knoll dotted with stone buildings, this hamlet is seldom visited - leaving a pristine, genuine experience for those who veer off the beaten path to explore it.

A gradual uphill hike, with only the occasional section of steep steps, takes you up and along the shady side of a valley through mossy rhododendron forest. The wooded trail emerges above the tree line and into the village of Dole (13,248'), home to musk deer, a variety of Himalayan birds, and a cluster of trekking lodges.

Today you trek only about 2.5 miles but gain about 1,200 vertical feet - so it feels like a very significant 2.5 miles! Exiting Dole there is a slight descent (tricky if snow-covered), but it quickly shifts to a steep climb up a hillside covered in tundra grasses and scrub junipers. Continuing up through the valley, mountain views abound, including of Cho Oyu (26,906'), the world's sixth-highest peak. The slope eases as you approach Luza, then it's an easy walk into Machermo (14,665') - where in the 1975 a villager and her yaks were allegedly attacked by a yeti!

Today's views are incredible! Head up into the desolate, high-mountain tundra and breathtaking Gokyo Valley and Gokyo Lake (15,419'). Wedged between soaring peaks and awesome glaciers, six main (and 19 total) emerald-green lakes comprise the world's highest freshwater lake system. They are sacred to both Buddhists and Hindus, and traditional beliefs that wildlife should remain unharmed have long protected the region's fauna. Soak in the beauty of three Gokyo lakes before pushing to the village of Gokyo, your home for two nights as you explore this magical area.

Today's hike is optional. But if you're game to climb Gokyo Ri, the Himalayan views - and the feeling of accomplishment - from atop are truly unforgettable! Rise early, cross a stream, and start climbing. Respect the altitude and take it slow, resting often if only to appreciate the spectacular surroundings: endless sky above, mighty mountains around, the enormous Ngozumpa Glacier and holy Gokyo Lakes below. After a few hours, summit Gokyo Ri (17,575') and revel in the awesome beauty of some of the world's highest mountains: Cho Oyu, Makalu, Lhotse, and, of course, Everest.

Today you'll feel your proximity to Tibet as you cross Renjo La Pass (17,585'), an adventurous and challenging route that affords more unforgettable mountain and lake views. Descend into the little-known Thame Valley, a former "salt route" along which traders would journey from Tibet to Namche Bazaar. Thame, the largest village in the valley, is also known for being home to Tenzing Norgay, the first Sherpa to climb Mount Everest with Sir Edmund Hillary in 1953. Today's hike ends in Lungden (14,370'), a tiny village comprising little more than several lodges.

Your weary feet and wobbly legs appreciate today, as all they have to do is climb aboard a scenic helicopter flight bound for Kathmandu. Spend two leisurely days exploring this magical city, including the sacred Pashupatinath Temple. Straddling the Bagmati River, Kathmandu's oldest Hindu temple is an architectural marvel. It is also the most important temple dedicated to the god Shiva. Elderly and ailing Hindu worshippers arrive from near and far to find shelter in their final weeks, as it is believed that those who die here are reborn as human, regardless of any accumulated bad karma. There may also be time to visit Kathmandu's Durbar Square and shop in the local bazaar.

Continuing your time in Kathmandu, explore Boudhanath Stupa, Nepal's largest temple and one of its holiest sites. Boudhanath is Kathmandu's center of Tibetan culture and rich in Buddhist symbolism: five statues representing the five elements (earth, fire, air, water, and ether), nine levels representing Mount Meru (the mythical peak at the center of the Buddhist cosmos), and 13 rings from its base to its apex (representing the steps to enlightenment). Lunch is on your own. In the afternoon, visit the King's Palace and Swayambhunath (Monkey Temple - try to catch the sunset here!), before joining the group for a farewell dinner.

This morning we bid a fond farewell to our new friends and this magical country, then transfer to the airport for our homebound flights.