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Day 12: Phakding to Lukla (Part 1)

Everest Base Camp (5,600m)

Khumbu Glacier, Nepal
April – May 2016

Phakding to Lukla

Descending from Phakding to Lukla, one is immediately struck by the beauty of the villages and surrounding areas. The terrain is rugged and mountainous, with steep inclines and rocky paths. The villages themselves are nestled amongst the peaks, their traditional architecture blending seamlessly with the natural landscape.

As we make our way down the mountain, we passed through a number of small shops and vendors selling everything from local handicrafts to snacks and drinks. These shops are a great opportunity to take a break and explore the local culture.

Our lodging at Phakding.
Photos by John Teh
The trail starts by descending from Phakding, passing through small villages and lush forests. The trail is well-marked and easy to follow, but can be steep in some sections.
Scenic and pristine view of Phakding.
Photos by John Teh
Bukit Tabur East
That’s a real dog by the way.
Photo by John Teh

As we made our way down the mountain, we passed through a number of small shophouses and vendors selling everything from local handicrafts to snacks and drinks. These shops are a great opportunity to take a break and explore the local culture. You can find traditional hand-woven textiles, hand-carved wooden items, and other souvenirs to take home.

Shophouses and resting areas for fellow trekkers.
Photos by John Teh

We came across many suspension bridges along the way, crossing the Dudh Kosi river. These bridges offer a great opportunity to take in the beautiful scenery, and the sound of the rushing water below is truly mesmerizing.

Various suspension bridges we came across along the way.
Photos by John Teh
As we got closer to Lukla, the trail became steeper and rockier. The final descent into Lukla is particularly challenging, but the view of the town and the surrounding mountains is well worth the effort.
Namche Bazaar to Syangboche
A very familiar terrain, signalling us that we’re closing in on Lukla.
Photo by John Teh
Upon reaching Lukla, we were greeted by the hustle and bustle of the town, with trekkers from all over the world coming and going, preparing for their own adventures in the mountains.

One of the most memorable experiences of entering Lukla town is encountering the local schoolchildren on their way to class. These young students are full of energy and curiosity. Their determination and resilience in the face of the challenging mountain terrain is truly inspiring.

Arriving back to Lukla at this point marks the 12th day point of our Everest Base Camp adventure.

Next Chapter

> Day 12 (Part 2) – Flying back to Kathmandu from Lukla Airport

Before you move on to the next chapter, don’t forget to watch the video below.
Day 12 (Part 1) – Phakding to Lukla.

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This post / video is a part of a 21-part series, covering everything from:-
  1. Day 1 (Kathmandu to Lukla)
  2. Day 1 (Lukla to Phakding)
  3. Day 2 (Phakding to Namche Bazaar)
  4. Day 2 (Namche Bazaar)
  5. Day 3 (Syangboche Acclimatization)
  6. Day 3 (Back to Namche Bazaar, dropping by at Sagarmatha National Park)
  7. Day 4 (Namche Bazaar to Tengboche)
  8. Day 5 (Tengboche - Dinboche)
  9. Day 6 (Dingboche & Nangkartshang - Acclimatization)
  10. Day 6 (Getting down from Nangkartshang & Snow)
  11. Day 7 (Dingboche to Lobuche)
  12. Day 7 (A Heart-Wrenching Stop at Thukla Pass and Scott Fischer’s Memorial)
  13. Day 8 (Lobuche to Gorak Shep)
  14. Day 8 (Kalla Phatthar Acclimatization)
  15. Day 9 (Gorak Shep to Everest Base Camp)
  16. Day 9, 10 & 11 (Gorak Shep to Pheriche, Namche Bazaar and Phakding)
  17. Day 12 (Phakding to Lukla)
  18. Day 12 (Flying back to Kathmandu from Lukla Airport)
  19. Day 13 (Kathmandu - Swayambhunath Buddhist Temple)
  20. Day 14 (Kathmandu City Adventure)
  21. Journey to the Roof of the World: A Trekker's Final Post and Summary of the Epic Everest Base Camp Trek

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