+977 01 4516813 / 4512647 info@crystalmountaintreks.com
Arriving in North India, you step into the history and mystery of a land whose culture goes back thousands of years. With a potent blend of the stunning and the sacred, the experience will stimulate your senses and touch your soul. This trip offers you the opportunity to experience authentic India, while staying at some of the finest heritage hotels in this rich and varied land.
Begin in Delhi and experience the spectacular Golden Triangle – Delhi, Jaipur and Agra – but throw in a must-see visit to Varanasi, and this trip is a perfect introduction to this rapturous country. See Jaipur, the Pink City, and witness the town’s amazing transformation at sunset. Experience the grandeur and perfection of the Taj Mahal. Honor sacred life on the Ganges River at Varanasi, India’s spiritual capital. Trace Buddhism back to its roots at Sarnath where Gautama Buddha learned and shared his teachings. Travel through time as you witness time-honored silk production techniques and attend an Aarti ceremony, in which lamps are lit in devotion to the deities . This is a journey not to be missed!
Highlights:
| Day | Description | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Delhi | Delhi |
| Day 2 | Delhi to Jaipur | Jaipur |
| Day 3 | Explore Jaipur | Jaipur |
| Day 4 | Drive to Agra via Fatehpur Sikri | Agra |
| Day 5 | Agra to Delhi | Delhi |
| Day 6 | Delhi to Varanasi | Varanasi |
| Day 7 | Saranath to Delhi | Delhi |
| Day 8 | Final departure |
Welcome to Delhi, the capital city of India. Enjoy your free afternoon to explore. (No meals).
Overnight: Deluxe – Taj Palace or similar; Standard – The Hans
In the morning we’ll make our way by train towards Jaipur, the fascinating “Pink City.” Jaipur is surrounded on all sides by rugged hills, crowned with forts & enclosed by embattled walls. it thrills travelers with its massive forts, magnificent palaces, exquisite temples and lush gardens. We’ll explore the magnificent City Palace complex with its many museums containing an impressive collection of miniature paintings, costumes and armory; the unique Jantar Mantar (Observatory) built by the astronomer king, Maharaja Jai Singh II, and the Palace of the Wind with its intriguing façade. Houses with latticed windows line the streets with their rose pink color making Jaipur at sunset a sight to behold. (Breakfast)
Overnight: Deluxe – Jai Mahal Palace; Standard – Aissar Haveli
This morning, we’ll travel a short distance to the Amber Palace. Amber was the ancient capital of Jaipur, and construction of the fort began in 1592. It is a superb example of Rajput architecture. Elephant ride from the foothills of the Aravallis to the fort entrance. After lunch, enjoy the afternoon to explore the magical Old City of Jaipur on your own. (Breakfast)
Overnight: Deluxe – Jai Mahal Palace; Standard – Aissar Haveli
Departing for Agra, we will stop at Fatehpur Sikri, the deserted, red Sandstone City that Emperor Akbar built as his capital and palace in the late 16th century. It a veritable fairytale city and its “ruins” are in pristine condition, making it easy to imagine what the court life must have been like in the days of its grandeur. Also visit the Buland Darwaza, the largest gateway in the world. In the evening we’ll make our way towards Agra, site of the majestic Taj Mahal. (Breakfast)
Overnight: Deluxe – The Gateway; Standard – Utkarsh Vilas
Badal Singh established the city of Taj, now Agra, in 1475. Today whatever remains, has become a major tourist attraction, which has taken Agra again to the heights of glory but this time as the major tourist destination of India. We will visit the inexpressible Taj Mahal, a pristine white marble mausoleum built by Emperor Shah Jahan as a tribute to his deceased wife. One of the Seven Wonders of the World, it took 20,000 workers from neighboring Islamic countries, 22 years of ceaseless toil to create this exquisite white marble monument upon which people have waxed eloquent throughout the world. Lord Curzon says of it, “Without flaw or blemish, the most perfect structure in the world.” We’ll spend the day exploring the perfection of this World Heritage Site, and depart in the evening for a quick overnight in Delhi. (Breakfast)
Overnight: Deluxe – Taj Palace or similar; Standard – The Hans
Overnight: Deluxe – The Gateway; Standard – Ganges View
Early morning a serene experience begins as we take a sunrise cruise on the River Ganges, a sensory experience that words can not describe. We will then travel a short distance to Sarnath, the place where Buddha chose to deliver his first sermon and one of the most venerated Buddhist sites in the world. There are Buddha relics and also a vast expanse of ancient ruins at Sarnath. Several Buddhist structures were raised at Sarnath between the 3rd century BC and the 11th century AD, and today it presents the most expansive ruins amongst places on the Buddhist trail. This afternoon, we’ll fly to Delhi. (Breakfast)
Overnight: Deluxe – Taj Palace or similar; Standard – The Hans
A major cultural, political and commercial center of India, Delhi is the capital city of India. Thriving, bustling and chaotic, it never ceases to excite. We’ll visit some of Delhi’s highlights including Red Fort, once the most opulent fort and palace of the Moghul Empire and Jama Masjid, the government headquarters. In the afternoon, we’ll visit one of India’s most revered fabric shops and leave some time for last minute shopping before we say goodbye to North India. (Breakfast)
Per person price valid until Dec 31, 2020
Deluxe accommodations (5 star and boutique hotels):
2 to 3 people: $4,000 USD per person
4 or more: $3,600 USD per person
Single Supplement: $1,250 USD
Standard accommodations (3 and 4 star hotels):
2 to 3 people: $3,100 USD per person
4 or more: $2,790 USD per person
Single Supplement: $850 USD
(Final prices may vary depending on hotels selected/available. A December and January peak season surcharge may apply)
We are happy to customize your tour. This trip can be organized according to your convenience and can be combined with one of our other India tours:
We can also combine this tour with any trip to Nepal and/or Bhutan. Write to us for more details.
Activity: Lodge Trek
Destination: Everest
Country: Nepal
The Everest Base Camp trek features hiking through landscapes with towering peaks. These include Everest, Lhotse and Ama-Dablam among many others. The trek traverses through the Khumbu region, the home of the Sherpas in the lap of Mount Everest (8,848m). Many visitors travel to the Everest region to glimpse the world’s highest peak. However, they return home with much more; with an appreciation of the local people who make their home in this high and difficult landscape. Hence, the Everest Base Camp Trek is the crown jewel of trekking in Nepal!
On the Everest trek, you will be rewarded with dramatic views of snow-capped mountains every day. Begin with a flight to Lukla and ascend steadily to Gorakshep (17,100 ft.). You have the option to hike further to Everest Base Camp which is a day hike. Also, you may choose to climb Kalapathar (18,195 ft) for an up-close view of the south face of Everest.
The duration of the standard Everest Base Camp Trek is 19 days. This includes two acclimatization days: one at Namche and another at Dingboche. Additionally, we include a couple of short days: One to Pangboche which allows you to do the grueling hike to Amadablam Base Camp and another to Dughla. Very few trekking companies plan a stop at Dughla and over the years we have learned that these short ascent days are very helpful for acclimatization. Furthermore, this gives you the best chances of making it to the Everest Base Camp without suffering the ill-effects of high altitude sickness.
All our Everest Base Camp Treks are private treks for a minimum of one participant for a date of your choosing. Therefore, with small groups, we are able to provide a private, premium and personalized experience.
“Being only two people in the group was a massive advantage we had — it was easier to get helicopters with a smaller group, easier to change where we’d stay on a given day, easier to ask to push further when we felt good, etc. In fact, because of this flexibility, we beat many big groups to EBC, who took many hours longer than us because they had to wait for stragglers, and they ended up missing the views because the clouds had already come in. Basically this helped us get in/out of Lukla more easily, move faster, and adapt the schedule to the changing weather.”
Luke L., Chicago IL, USA
Primarily, we do NOT nickel-and-dime on services – all inclusions and exclusions are clearly listed in cost details. However, some companies will advertise trips for very low prices but they have a lot of exclusions that is usually not clear. Do read this article “Value offered by Crystal Mountain Treks” to learn more about this. We urge you to compare apples-to-apples.
We have been in business for over 30 years and we employ only the most professional and friendly staff. Additionally, most of our trekkers are either repeat clients or referrals.
Most importantly, we are also proud to give back to our community through our giving arm – 3 Summits For Nepal – managed by Crystal Mountain Treks staff.
If you are short on time, do consider our 15-day fast-paced Everest Base Camp Trek. You can further shorten your trek by taking a helicopter back to Lukla after getting to Everest Base Camp. On the other hand, if you have more time and wish to be more adventurous, check out the Ultimate Everest Trek. This involves crossing the Cho La pass (Everest Base Camp to Gokyo lake) and the Renjo La pass (from Gokyo lake to Thame). Furthermore, an even more physically challenging trek is the Everest Three Passes Trek. This trek involves crossing the Kongma La pass (Chukkung to Lobuche) besides the Cho La pass and the Renjo La pass. No climbing skills are required for trekking in the Everest region. We are also happy to customize any trek for you.
The yellow line shows the trail for the Everest Base Camp Trek. The Everest Base Camp trek basically follows the same trail to EBC and back.
The Everest Base Camp Trek is a lodge trek. Therefore, you will sleep and eat meals in local lodges along the trail. The quality of the lodges on this trek are the best among all trekking trails in Nepal. And several lodges on the trail have en suite rooms with hot showers. That said, the lodge at Gorakshep is still quite basic. Furthermore, meals are quite varied with options including rice with veggies, noodles, local breads etc. Read article about food options on Everest treks.
The best seasons for trekking in the Everest region are Spring (March-May) and Autumn (October-November). Additionally, it is also possible to do this trek in the Winter months of December, January and February. That is if you do not intend to cross the passes. Because it is very cold (up to -20 C/, -4 F) during the winter months, there aren’t as many trekkers in the area that time of the year.
The Everest Base Camp trek is rated 4 on a rating scale from 1 (easy) to 5 (challenging). Thus it is strenuous (4); but not challenging. The highest altitude reached is at Kalapathar (5,545 m/19,195ft) and the highest overnight elevation is at Gorakshep (5,212m/17,100 feet). Moreover, there are two acclimatization days and several short days to allow for proper acclimatization. Average daily hiking times is 5 to 6 hours with one long day of around 7 hours on the optional day hike to the Everest Base Camp. Regardless of the rating, it is important to prepare for any trek in Nepal. Read our advice on training for treks.
