Overview And Highlights
Everest Base Camp – Cho La – Gokyo Trek is the perfect adventure for those looking to get away from the bustle of the crowds and experience the pristine nature and true wilderness of the Everest region. It is a comprehensive trek through the central Khumbu region of Nepal Trek that includes four high altitude climbs.
The trek offers amazing views of four 8000-ers, namely, Everest (8848m), Makalu (8463m), Lhotse (8516m) and Cho Oyu (8201m) along with the Khumbu icefall and Ngozumpa glacier. You will also witness the serene Gokyo valley from the fantastic vantage point at Gokyo Ri along with the tranquil waters of the Gokyo Lakes. The trail passes through the Sagarmatha National Park, which is a sanctuary for a variety of endangered Himalayan wildlife including red pandas, snow leopards, musk deer, Himalayan thars, Lophophorus and so on.
A short flight from Kathmandu to Lukla leads to the start of the classic EBC trek. The route follows trails through Sherpa villages beneath towering landscapes to the highest summer
village of Gorak Shep: springboard for Base Camp and close Everest views. Once above the tree line, you will be closer to the ice-giants than on any other trail. The trekking days are designed to minimize the risk of AMS by limiting daily altitude increases. Three rest days are included. The first is at Namche Bazaar: explore the town and nearby Khumjung to experience the culture, lifestyle and beliefs of the Sherpa People.
Trek to the hilltop village of Tengboche which has a vibrant Buddhist Monastery. Continue through Pangboche to Dingboche for the second acclimatization day: walk to Nangartshang Gompa ridge for superb views of the Nuptse glacier, Ama Dablam’s north face and Makalu. As the altitude rises, temperatures fall: forests and farmland give way to alpine scrub, then rock and ice. After a night at Lobuche trek to the highest village at Gorak Shep for lunch.
Follow the trail to the ring of peaks surrounding the upper Khumbu Glacier. Base camp is laid out each April-May on the ice, opposite the ice fall. Return to Gorak Shep for the night.
A pre-sunrise Kala Patthar climb from your teahouse offers glorious views that include Cho Oyu in the west, Everest, the South Col, Lhotse, Nuptse and the peaks surrounding the Base
Camp.
Return to Lobuche, descend the Khumbu Glacier then follow the route to lower Dzongla and a rest. Tackle the demanding Cho La and descend to Tagnag above the Ngozumpa Glacier.
Walk along the glacier to Gokyo, and enjoy an afternoon at the lake. Tackle Gokyo Ri for sunrise and superb (different) views of Cho Oyu, Everest’s northeast face, Lhotse, Nuptse and Makalu et al. Return to Lukla in three days. The Everest Base Camp – Cho La – Gokyo Trek comes to a closure with a flight back to Kathmandu.
Everest Base Camp – Cho La – Gokyo Trek Permits
Sagarmatha National Park Permit NRS. 3000 ($30) per person
Trekkers Information Management System (TIMS) Card
NRS. 1000 ($10) for organized trekkers
NRS. 2000 ($20) for independent trekkers
Days
18 days
Distance
140 Km
Difficulty
Demanding
Highest Point
5550 mt
Best Season For The Trek
The best times to perform the Everest Base Camp – Cho La – Gokyo Trek is during the months of March – May (spring season) and September – November (autumn season).
During these periods, the weather is generally stable with moderate temperatures and clear skies. This will provide you with the best views along with the most convenient trekking experience. The unpredictable weather and rain of monsoon season and harsh temperatures and snowfall of winter can make the trek tough and dangerous. Therefore, we advise that you perform this trek during the spring and autumn seasons instead.
Trek Difficulty
This 18-Day Everest Base Camp – Cho La – Gokyo Trek is a strenuous trek that takes you up
to altitudes of 5554m (Kalapattar). It is more challenging than the classic EBC trek as the
route is lengthier and involves crossing a high pass at Cho La (5420m). You will be trekking
over rocky hills and semi mountainous terrain for most of the trek. This trek is recommended
for physically fit trekkers with some prior trekking experience.
Day To Day Itinerary
Day 1
1300 mtArrival: Kathmandu Tribhuvan International Airport (1 300m/4 260ft)
After completing passport, immigration and visa requirements, we will meet you outside the
terminal building (look for your name board) and transfer you to your 3* hotel: afternoon
free. Evening: a welcome dinner, introduction to your guide and a briefing on the trek with a
check on necessities.Overnight at hotel.
Transfer: car
Food: welcome dinner
Accomodation: Hotel
Day 2
1300 mtA Day in the City: Kathmandu Valley Sightseeing OR A Day at Leisure
Take a day tour to five of the Kathmandu Valley’s cultural world heritage sites:
Swayambhunath, the famed “monkey temple;” the city’s historical Durbar Square with
ancient temples, unique art, architecture, and the chance to see the Kumari (living goddess);
Patan’s Durbar Square; the Hindu temple Pashupatinath and Bouddhanath, the world’s largest
stupa.
A car and driver will take you to each site-entrance and wait for you. (Entry tickets and lunch
are not included.)
Transfer: car
Food: breakfast
Accomodation: Hotel
Day 3
2637 mtKathmandu – Lukla (2 800m/9 190ft) – Phakding (8 560ft)
After breakfast, drive to the Domestic Airport for the flight to Lukla in the Khumbu region –
south of Everest. Meet your local porters and begin the discovery by trekking into the
DudhKoshi Valley: to Cheplung (2 700m) and Ghat (2 530m). Another hour’s walk takes you
to Phakding. Overnight in Phakding
Transfer: 35 min flight
Trek: 3-4 hrs
Food: breakfast
Accomodation: Hotel
Day 4
3440 mtPhakding – Namche Bazaar (11 290ft)
Walk through pine forests along the DudhKoshi, crossing tributaries, to the Sherpa villages of
Benkar (2 710m), Chumoa (2 820m), Monjo (2 840m) and Jorsale (2 830m). This is the
gateway and permit checkpoint to the Sagarmatha National Park. Thamserku (6 618m)
glistens east of the village. Follow the river to its confluence with the BhoteKoshi: the major
rivers draining the Khumbu District. Climb steadily, crossing the high Tenzing-Hilary
Bridge, to the first glimpses of Everest and the Nuptse-Lhotse ridge. A further three hour
forested climb leads to the Sagarmatha national park’s administrative and trade centre at
Namche Bazaar. Overnight in Namche Bazaar.
Trek: 5-6 hrs
Food: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accomodation: Lodge
Day 5
3440 mtNamche Bazaar: Acclimatization and exploration day
This is the first scheduled acclimatization day. Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) experts
recommend at least a 24 hr rest period. Keep active: climb high and sleep low is the
acclimatisation advice.
Only Namche offers ATMs, cyber cafés, restaurants and bakeries, plus a colourful market
each Friday evening and Saturday morning. The Sagarmatha (Everest) National Park
Visitor’s Centre has informative displays on Sherpa culture, local flora and fauna.
The village of Khumjung (3 780m) will present a more traditional view of Sherpa life than
Namche. Spend a morning walking up to the village. A circular trail is possible. At very least,
visit the closer Everest View Hotel (3 880m).
A more adventurous five hour trek west to Thame (3 820m): below the impressive KongdeRi
Ridge (6 187m), offers panoramic Himalayan landscapes not visible from the Gokyo or
Everest trails.
Food: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accomodation: Lodge
Day 6
3870 mtNamche Bazaar – Tengboche (12 700ft)
From the top of Namche, the trail contours around a hill to Sanasa (3 780m); and a trail fork:
NW to Gokyo, NE to Everest. Look for Himalayan tahrs on high ground, shy spotted deer,
and birds – including the colourful (male) national bird: the Danphe pheasant. Descend to
water driven prayer wheels at PhunkiThenga (3 250m): the lowest point north of Namche.
Cross the DudhKoshi near its confluence with the Imja Khola and climb steeply for 2 hours
up the Imja Khola Valley through rhododendron and dwarf conifers to the hilltop village of
Tengboche.
Good views from the village include the Everest group. There is an important monastery that
is well worth visiting. At October’s full moon the colourful, Mani Rimdu festival is held;
with Tibetan Opera and masked dancing. Overnight in Tengboche.
Trek: 5-6 hrs
Food: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accomodation: Lodge
Day 7
4360 mtTengboche – Dingboche (14 300ft)
Descend to the scattered stone village of Debuche (3 820m): with a nunnery. Cross the Imja
Khola to the north bank and gradually ascend to Pangboche (3 860m) with views of towering
AmaDablam (6 856m). The trail follows the river to its confluence with the Lobuche Khola
and continues to Dingboche: the last year-round settlement in the region. Walled terraced
fields protect barley, buckwheat and potatoes from icy winds and marauding animals during
the short growing season at this altitude. Overnight in Dingboche.
Trek: 5-6 hrs
Food: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accomodation: Lodge
Day 8
4360 mtDingboche: Acclimatization and exploration day
To acclimatise: head north to the NangkartshangGompa ridge (4 800m) for views of the
Nuptse Glacier, ChhukhungRi (4 230m), the Lhotse glaciers and ImjaTse (6 189m). Further
east, along the Mahalangur Himal Ridge, is imposing Makalu (8 463m). Towards the south
is, AmphuLapcha’s fluted ridge (5 845m) and the unusual view of AmaDablam’s north face
and glaciers. Return to the teahouse in Dingboche.
Food: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accomodation: Lodge
Day 9
4940 mtDingboche – Lobuche (16 210ft)
Ascend slowly to a ridge and the hamlet of Duse (4 500m) with western views of Taboche
and Cholatse. Continue through kharkas to Duglha (4 620m). Then ascend the Khumbu
Glacier’s huge stony terminal moraine (1 hr). Landmark balanced-stone memorials to lost
climbers have been placed along its rim. [To the west the start of the Cho La trail is
visible.]To the north, border peaks along the Mahalangur Himal include, Pumori, Lingtren,
and Khumbutse. Everest is hidden by the imposing Nuptse-Lhotse wall. [The icefall and
CWM lies at an angle of ~140o E of north – thus when viewed from the south, or Gokyo in
the west, Everest is seen rising behind the Nuptse-Lhotse wall.] Continue to and overnight in
Lobuche.
Trek: 4-5 hrs
Food: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accomodation: Lodge
Day 10
5360 mtLobuche – Gorak Shep (5 160m/16 930ft) – Everest Base Camp (17 590ft) – Gorak Shep
A desolate trail along the moraine heads for the last, seasonal, village of Gorak Shep below
Pumori. After an early lunch, trek to cold EBC: positioned on the Khumbu Glacier opposite
the dreaded icefall – the most nerve wracking section of an Everest ascent.
During the April-May ascent season, porters scurry in and out with supplies like an army of
ants and the site is a riot of colourful tents perched on the dirty ice. Out of season it is bleak
and silent, bar birds wind and avalanches. From Base Camp, Everest and the Cwm are hidden
behind the West Ridge. Walk back to Gorak Shep for the night.
Trek: 7-8 hrs
Food: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accomodation: Lodge
Day 11
4830 mtGorak Shep – Kala Patthar (5 550m/18 210ft) – Dzongla(4 830m/15 850ft)
From the village, a pre-dawn 400m climb (2-3 hrs return) up Kala Patthar, offers sunrise on
Everest (8 848m/29 028ft), Lhotse (8 516m), Nuptse (7 861m) and Changtse (7 550m, north
of the Rongbuk Glacier). Then Pumori (7 145m), Lingtren (6 697m) and Khumbutse (6
623m) amidst countless other peaks that crowd your horizon. Cho Oyu (8 201m) can be seen
further to the west.
After breakfast: retrace your steps to Lobuche (4 940m) and the landmark memorials on the
glacier’s snout. Descend the moraine and follow the trail around the foot of Awi Peak into
the Cholatse Valley. Head northeast, past the Cho La Tsho, to Dzongla. Rest and overnight in
Dzongla.
Trek: 5-6 hrs
Food: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accomodation: Lodge
Day 12
4700 mtDzongla – Cho La (5 400m/17 780ft) – Tagnag (15 420ft)
From Dzongla, the trail meanders across the narrowing, boulder strewn, valley towards steep
rock faces. The 600m ascent begins with an impressive scramble up boulders to a low point
on the ridge beyond which is the snout of the Cho La Glacier. The glacier gradually curves to
the west towards the flag-bedecked pass-summit – which is reached via a short scramble. If
the ice is firm, the route is not difficult.
Summit views to the west include KyajoRi and Pharilapche standing out amidst other peaks.
To the north the high border ridge of the Mahalangur Himal presents the vast white wall from
Cho Oyu in the west across Ngozumpa II and I to Ghyachung Kang whose ice fields form the
Ngozumpa Glacier. [In 2014, Tenzing Peak (7 916m) and Hilary Peak (7 681m) were
proclaimed to the left and right of Ngozumpa II.] These peaks are all above 7 600m. To the
southeast Cholatse and AmaDablam, dominate the impressive skyline.
The descent to Tagnag is in complete contrast and needs care: loose scree slopes, initially
over hidden ice, drop steeply into the valley and a distant bushy knoll. Sporadic cairns mark a
‘route’. Beyond that the trail descends grassy slopes more sedately to the summer village of
Tagnag above the Ngozumpa Glacier. Overnight in Tagnag.
Trek: 6-7 hrs
Food: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accomodation: Lodge
Day 13
4750 mtTagnag – Gokyo (15 580ft)
Below the village is the kilometre wide, rubble-covered Ngozumpa Glacier, Nepal’s longest
at 26km, gouged out over aeons from the walls of towering peaks on its eastern flank. Ascend
to its rim and follow the trail(s), gradually descending towards the grey rubble-covered ice
(which slows melting). Irregular cairns mark routes that later cross the ice and ascend the
western bank. DudhPokhari and Gokyo come into glorious view ahead – with Cho Oyu as
backdrop.
Consider a walk north of the village towards Cho Oyo. The trail rises gently for ~1½ hrs to
the largest of the region’s six sacred lakes; ThonakTsho. continue to the NgozumpaTsho and
Scoundrel’s Viewpoint on a low hill. From here there are closer views of Cho-Oyu, the ice
wall and Ghyachung Kang, the sheer glacier-cut wall of the KangchungShar pyramid et al,
plus Everest, Lhotse and Nuptse. The Cho-Oyo Base Camp at the northern end of the sixth,
GyazumbaTsho (4 990m), is too far for a single day’s walk. Return to Gokyo for the night.
Trek: 3-4 hrs
Food: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accomodation: Lodge
Day 14
4400 mtGokyo – Gokyo Ri(5 360m/17 590ft) – Machhermo(14 440ft)
The trail to the Gokyo Ri viewpoint begins with a short walk around the lake. Set out early
(to avoid mid-morning cloud) for the two hour climb to its summit. A panoramic view the
glacier lies beneath the unforgettable vista of the Mahalangur Himal that includes Cho-Oyu
(8 201m) the ice wall and Ghyachung Kang (7 952m), the north face of Everest (8 848m/29
028ft), Lhotse (8 516m), Nuptse (7 861m), and Makalu (8 463m), while to the south
Cholatse, Taboche, Thamserku, Kangtega, KusumKangru (all over 6 300m) and many more,
some unnamed, rear their peaks.
After breakfast at the teahouse trek south, beside the moraine, gradually losing altitude. At
the second, TabocheTsho (4 710m), a trail heads over the moraine to Tagnag. The edge of the
LongpongaTsho(4 690m) is crossed on a bridge. Later, the snout of the moraine is reached
and the trail drops to the valley floor to cross a river. At Pangka (4 390m) the trail splits – the
right hand path climbs gradually to a ridge. Look back for the last views of Cho Oyu before
descending to Machhermo in a broad valley. Dwellings are spaced within stone walled fields.
Impressive Kangtega and Thamserku rise south of the valley. Overnight in Machhermo.
Trek: 5-6 hrs
Food: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accomodation: Lodge
Day 15
3440 mtMachhermo – Namche Bazaar (11 290ft)
The scrub vegetation that confirms the altitude will gradually give way to more verdant
growth as the trail descends to Dole (4100m). Below, enter pine and rhododendron forests
towards PhortseThenga (3 680m) on the slopes of sacred Khumbila and up to Mong La
(3 975m, with a central chorten) then back to Sanasa (3 780m). The final broader trail now
contours around the mountain back to Namche Bazaar. Overnight in Namche.
Trek: 5-6 hrs
Food: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accomodation: Lodge
Day 16
2800 mtNamche Bazaar – Lukla (9 190ft)
After an early breakfast, descend to more comfortable altitudes, passing through the friendly
villages of Jorsale (2 830m, exit from the National Park), Monjo (2 840m) and Phakding
(2 610m). Cross the suspension bridge at ThadoKoshi before rising to Ghat (2 530m) and
Cheplung (2 700m). Descend and then climb steeply back to Lukla: where your porters will
take their leave. Overnight in Lukla.
Trek: 6-7 hrs
Food: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accomodation: Lodge
Day 17
1300 mtLukla – Kathmandu (1 300m/4 260ft)
After an early breakfast, take the return flight to Kathmandu. Transfer to your hotel. Rest of
day free.
Transfer : 35 min flight
Food: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accomodation: Hotel
Day 18
1300 mtFinal Departure
Transfer to Tribhuvan International Airport for your flight to your next destination.
NB: Cloud and turbulent weather along the mountain ranges is common and may lead to
internal mountain flight delays or cancellations. We suggest you allow at least one extra day
after your trek before flying out of Nepal.
Transfer: car
Food: breakfast
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