Everest Base Camp Gokyo Chola Pass Trek

130-140 kilometers: 35-40 minutes flight

Approximately 9 kilometers: 3-4 hours trek

Our exhilarating journey of Everest Base Camp Gokyo Cho La Pass Trek begins with a short picturesque flight from the capital city to the gateway of the Everest region, Lukla. Early in the morning, after a delicious breakfast at your hotel, stay ready for a pickup. We will receive and transfer you to the Tribhuwan International Airport for an adventurous start to the journey. After around half an hour, an exciting flight from Kathmandu lands you at Lukla. After arriving at the starting point of our trek, Lukla, we will enjoy lunch before continuing on the trail.

Taking the descending routes, we come out of the Lukla Bazaar. As we trek towards the Dudh Koshi River Valley to Phakding, we will traverse the dense green forests and several traditional villages of Sherpa like Cheplung, Thado Koshi, Ghat, etc. On the final leg of the trek, we will cross the metal suspension bridge to reach the Phakding village beside the Dudh Koshi River.

8-9 kilometers, 5-6 hours

After breakfast in Phakding, we will leave the village and trek towards Namche Bazaar. We will start by walking along the shores of the Dudh Koshi Riverbed. Enroute, we will cross the popular Hillary Suspension Bridge over this river. After a few hours of walking, we will reach Monjo and register our permits to access the Sagarmata National Park zone. Passing through the rich ecosystem of the protected area, we will also walk past villages like Jorsalle and Larja Doban. On the final stretch, we will ascend and descend through the Namche Hill and reach the scenic Namche Bazaar, where we will be greeted by the majestic first look of the lofty Everest.

In Namche Bazaar, we will stay in the comfortable teahouses for the night, savoring the traditional dishes.

Today, we will dedicate the day to Namche Bazaar, resting, acclimatizing, and exploring the village. We will relax at the teahouse until lunch and set off for a leisurely walk around the vibrant Nmache surroundings. We will visit the local home and interact with people to learn and understand the local culture, traditions, customs, and lifestyles. We will also visit the nearby popular places such as Namche Monastery, Khunde Hospital, Sherpa Culture Museum etc. Hiking to these places helps us to acclimatize to the altitudes while gaining insights into the history, architecture, religion, and infrastructure of the region.

By early evening, we will return to the teahouse and have a restful time.

6-7 kilometers, 4-5 hours

Leaving Namche Bazaar behind, we will gradually ascend towards Tengboche. Tyangboche is a quaint hamlet with a well-known Tengboche Monastery.

We will traverse the vibrant forests, cross the Dudh Koshi River, and walk past various traditional settlements of people. Along the way, you will be treated to the astounding vistas of Everest, Nuptse, Island Peak, Nuptse, and Thamserku. Phunki Tenga is one of the notable places on the way, and we will stop for lunch there.

Then, we will continue further on the mountainous trails, taking numerous ascends and descends. Slowly, you will see the biggest Khumbu monastery, Tengboche, perched above the hill and overlooking the Tengboche village. After reaching the village, we will visit this monastery, soak into its tranquil ambiance, watch the captivating scenery and mountain views, and return back to the teahouse for the night.

9-10 kilometers, 5-6 hours

We will continue our trek from Tyangboche, heading towards Dingboche. Initially, we will descend through the lush forest areas and cross a few metal suspension bridges. Slowly, we will take ascending trails toward Pangboche, which comes with Shrines, Chortens, and Mani Walls. Next, we will pass through several traditional villages and gradually enter the alpine regions. With sparse vegetation, we will climb steeply over the rocky, barren landscapes to reach Dingboche.

We will spend a leisurely day at Dingboche, taking proper rest and acclimatizing well to the higher elevation reached. After waking up in the teahouse, we will have breakfast and lunch. Until then, you can take a relaxing time to rejuvenate and recharge. Then, you can enjoy a slow and relaxed walk around the village, which assists in acclimatization.

You need to adapt to the low oxygens of the thin, high-altitude air. A strategic stop at Dingboche is to prepare you for the more alpine altitudes that you will be reaching onwards.

7-9 kilometers, 6-7 hours

After spending a day resting and acclimatizing at Dingboche, we will head further into the higher altitudes of Lobuche. We will follow the trails that pass through several cultural villages of Sherpa. Gradually, the trails lead us through the rocky terrains and glacial moraines. You will walk over the moraines and cross the small glaciated rivers. A little further, you will encounter a Thukla Pass (Dughla Pass) with the memorials of climbers who lost their lives on the way towards the summit of Mount Everest. Descending gradually through the Pass, you will arrive at this day’s destination, Lobuche. You can see a few teahouses in Lobuche, and we will stay overnight at one of the finest teahouses in the village.

9-10 kilometers, 6-8 hours

Today, we will reach the base camp of Mount Everest. Waking up early in the morning, we will have a hearty breakfast. Then, we will leave Lobuche and set off on an adventurous and exciting journey towards the foothills of the world’s highest peak. We will ascend through the rocky terrains and glacier moraines towards the higher elevations. With the closing-up vistas of lofty mountains, we will reach Gorak Shep, where we will take a lunch break.

After a few hours of trekking through steep and rugged landscapes, we will reach the Everest Base Camp. It is the nearest you could ever get to the world’s tallest mountain. We will spend some time enjoying the magical views from the base camp and retrace our footsteps back to Gorak Shep to reside in a cozy teahouse.

7-8 kilometers, 4-5 hours

From Gorak Shep, we will set off on another adventurous and rewarding hike to Kalapatthar (5,643 meters/18,514 feet). We will begin early in the morning to reach the viewpoint before sunrise. Following the inclined narrow rocky trails, we will ascend towards Kalapattahr. The magical vista of mesmerizing sunrise from this vantage point is worth beholding. Moreover, you can enjoy 360-degree views of the majestic Himalayas, including Everest, Ama Dablam, Cho Oyu, Pumori, Changtse, Nuptse, Lhotse, Khumbutse, and many more mountains. After spending a worthwhile time in Kalapatthar, we will retrace our footsteps all the way back to Lobuche village. We will stay for the night at our previous teahouse in this charming village.

7-8 kilometers, 4-5 hours

We will come out of Lobuche village, making a slight descent on the mountainous trails. The route is a mix of rocky and grassy landscapes. Along the way, we will make ascents and descents over and over again. We will also cross several small streams. On the final stretch of the trek, we will rise gradually to reach Dzongla. This beautiful village is at the base of Cholatse and Lobuche Peaks. We will spend a glorious night soaking in the picturesque ambiance of Dzongla.

Approximately 19 kilometers, 8-10 hours

We will leave Dzongla early in the morning with the aim of crossing the Cho La Pass before the possible afternoon weather change. Cho La Pass is a bit technical to navigate, with several steep slopes of ice and snow. However, the views of the Everest region landscapes from the pass are breathtaking. Then, we will descend cautiously through the rocky terrains of the pass toward Thagnak. From Thagnak, we will continue to trek, following the mountainous trails leading to Gokyo. En route, we will walk past the stunning Ngozumpa Glacier.

Thereafter, we will cross several small glacial streams and pass through the first (Longpongo) and second (Taujung Tsho) Gokyo Lakes. Finally, we will arrive at the charming Gokyo village beside the third/main (Dudh Pokhari) Gokyo Lake. The pristine lake is surrounded by gratifying mountains, casting their reflections over its crystalline turquoise water. We will spend the night in the Gokyo village, soaking in the tranquil atmosphere of the Gokyo Lakes.

Today is our rest and exploration day at the Gokyo. After breakfast, we will embark on an enticing journey towards the top of Gokyo Ri Peak. It is a magnificent viewpoint treating you to the sweeping vistas of the entire Everest region Himalayas and surrounding landscapes. As we scale the Gokyo Ri Peak early in the morning, we will catch this day’s sunrise from its astounding height. After we descend from the Gokyo Ri, we will fuel up for the next adventure by having a tummy-filling lunch and rest for a while.

Then, we will head to tour the fourth (Thonak Tsho) and fifth (Ngozumpa Tsho) Gokyo Lakes. Ascend gradually through the upper Gokyo Valley; we will encounter the fourth Gokyo Lake. Enjoying the views of icy mounatins and glacial lakes, we will traverse the rocky boulders to reach the fifth Gokyo Lake. The fourth and fifth Gokyo Lakes amidst the Himalayas present mesmerizing scenery and a peaceful atmosphere. Immerse yourself in the beauty of the Lakes and take photographs before retracing your footsteps back to the village for rest and stay.

7 kilometers, 3-4 hours

We will walk alongside the Dudh Koshi River banks as we come out of the Gokyo for Macchermo. But before that, we will pass by the first and second Gokyo Lakes and navigate the Ngozumpa Glacier one more time. The trail is straightforward thereafter, which descends through the sweeping meadows commonly used as pastures for Yaks. Enroute, we will walk past the notable villages like Phangga and Luza. With the phenomenal vistas of the snow-covered Cholatse, Taboche, Cho Oyu, Kangtega, Thamserku, etc, we will reach the Macchermo village for an overnight stay.

19 kilometers, 6-7 hours

After breakfast, we will leave Macchermo and descend towards Namche Bazaar. Initially, we will trek through the wide Yak pastures. Accompanied by the views of the surrounding mountains, we will arrive at Dole after 1.5 to 2 hours. Then, we will walk across the colorful forests of pine and rhododendrons. We will cross small rivers and pass by cascading waterfalls. After some time, we will reach Phortse Tenga, which is at the intersecting point of the Imja River and Dudh Koshi River. Continuing further, we will pass through the cultural villages of Khumjung and Syangboche. Finally, we will make a gentle descent towards the Namche Bazaar. We will spend the third night of our journey in this vibrant Sherpa town.

Today, we will descend down to the ending point of our Everest Base Camp Gokyo Cho La Pass Trek, Lukla. We will follow the downhill routes, traversing the rhododendrons and pine forest, crossing the suspension bridge over the Dudh Koshi River, and passing through the scenic villages. With the distancing view of the majestic Himalayas, we will arrive at Lukla. Upon arriving here, our high-altitude trekking journey culminates. We will settle in at a comfortable Sherpa teahouse to savor the delicious dinner and spend a restful night.

Today, we will be flying back to Kathmandu from Lukla. After breakfast in the early morning, we will head towards Lukla Airport and board a flight towards the capital city. After reaching Kathmandu, we will transfer you to your designated hotel. You can rest and relax for the rest of the time at your hotel. Or, you can also visit the places of interest in the Valley. In the evening, you can stroll around the busy markets to purchase souvenirs back home. You can also taste the street foods from the roadside vendors and immerse yourself in the vibrancy of the city.