19 Days Nepal Gokyo – Chola Pass – Everest Base Camp Trek

Region: Everest
Trek Type: Lodge
Trek Grade: Challenging
Trek Days: 15
Max Altitude: 5545m
Best Season: Oct–Dec & Mar–May

This trek gives you the grand tour of the famous Khumbu area. This is a strenuous trek leading to Gokyo Lake and over the Cho La Pass leading into the Khumbu valley above Lobuche. The trail continues up to Kalapattar and then back to Lukla via Thengboche and Namche Bazaar.

With eight of the world’s ten highest peaks, Nepal is loaded with spectacular mountains vistas. Trekking in the Everest area is an awesome experience, not only for its proximity to the world’s highest mountain but also for its friendly Sherpa people, picturesque villages, great variety of cultures and traditions, colourful festivals and monasteries. The flora and fauna are other ornaments of the Sagarmatha National Park. The story of the yeti is still a mystery and the legend lives on in the Khumbu.

Strenuous trekking is continuously rewarded with dramatic Himalayan scenes, including four of the world’s eight highest peaks: Cho Oyu (8201m), Makalu (8463m), Lhotse (8516 m) and Everest (8850m). Breathtaking mountain vistas are complemented by visits to Sherpa villages, homes and monasteries offering you an insight into the quiet but, culturally vibrant Sherpa way of life.

Upon arrival, meet and transfer to hotel. Check in & trek briefing. Late afternoon leisure walk in Thamel, a popular tourist district in Kathmandu Valley and a bustling bazaar which offers a glimpse of Nepal’s vibrant ethnic culture.

After early breakfast, transfer to the domestic terminal of Kathmandu Airport for an early morning flight to Lukla a gateway destination from where our trek begins. After an adventurous 40 minute flight above the breathtaking green and white mountains, we reach the Tenzing-Hillary Airport at Lukla. This is one of the most beautiful air routes in the world culminating in a dramatic landing on a hillside surrounded by high mountains peaks. Upon arrival at Lukla, we meet our other crew members and after some packing and arrangements, we start our trek through the prosperous village of Lukla until we reach Phakding.

After breakfast start trek. The trail will be gradual flat till Monjo(2.5 hrs). After lunch, continue trek to Jorsale (40 min) and after crossing bridge the trail will be uphill all the way to Namche Bazaar. This will be the bit difficult part as it is up hill (3 hrs).

This is the scheduled ‘acclimatization’ day for this trek. It is advisable to stay active during the day instead idling. You have the option of relaxing and exploring Namche Bazaar itself with its internet cafes, shops, restaurants & bakeries or take a short hike up to the famous airstrip at Syangboche.

A very spectacular day in terms of scenery. The main trail out of Namche heads north to Everest. Following this trail, a short climb to a crest reveals a wonderful view towards Everest and Lhotse, whilst nearer at hand our route is a Yak trail, contouring around the hillside. The way to Gokyo is via Phortse Tenga and follows this main trail for a while longer, passing many traders selling Tibetan handicraft, to a crossroads high above the Dudh Kosi (Milk River). The main trail to Everest drops down the hill to Phunki Thanga, whereas our trail climbs to cross the Mon La to reach Phortse Tenga.

Trail leads with a gentle climb through a bare hill. It offers beautiful scenery of mountains, among which the most interesting are Kang-Thega, Cho-Yu, Gyachung Kang, Tawu-Che, Cholhat-Che and Macchermo-Che etc. Machhermo is the last major settlement on the way up to Gokyo. The beautiful stream flowing down from the Kyajo Ri and Phari Lapche mountains runs through the middle of village before draining into the Dudh Koshi. It is the place where Khumbu people got first sighting of Yeti in 1974.

Today, we climb through a ridge Chorten from where we can see fabulous view of both down the valley and of the Mt. Kangtega, Thamserku, and northern part to the Cho-Oyu (8153m). Beyond the ridge the valley widens as the trail passes through a Chorten and reaches Pangka (4480 m) after some gentle walk. We descend to the river bank before beginning to climb up to the terminal moraine of the Ngozamba Glacier. It is a steep climb on the moraine. After crossing an iron bridge over an stream the trial levels out as it follows the valley past the first lake, known as Longpongo at 4690m, where we get chance to observe the Lama footprints on a stone. At the sight of the second lake, Taboche Tsho we become mesmerized by the shimmering turquoise blue sheet of water sparkling in the sun. Little ahead of the second lake, we reach the third lake, the two linked by a surging stream. Gokyo village stands by the third lake and Cho-Oyu Mountain as a backdrop sets an amazing spectacular sight at this juncture. After lunch, we explore around the third Lakes, Dudh Pokhari.

Early morning, we hike up to the Gokyo Ri (Gokyo Peak). Climbing to Gokyo Ri is obviously strenuous as it is steep up and takes about 3 to 4 hours to reach the top. But even from the trial scenery of Gokyo village on the edge of third lake overlooked by Cholatse and the broad Nogzumpa Glacier are mind blowing. We feel like we are surrounded by panoramic mountains like Kusum Kanguru, Thamserku, K 43, Kangtega, Taboche, Cholatse, Makalu, Lhotse, Nuptse, Everest, Changtse, and Pumori. We trek down to Gokyo. You will have breakfast followed by full day rest for more acclimatization and visit around Gokyo lake.

Trek from Gokyo to Thagna.

Note: This place have only basic lodge in operation and sometimes the dining may be closed. In this case you will have very basic food for that night.

Today start early morning to climb up to Chola Pass. The trail will be steep upwards almost all the way to the top for 4 hours. Once you reach the top you will have some time to take photos and enjoy the magnificent view of Everest range. After that trek down to Dhonglha (3 hrs). Once you reach check in to the simple guest house and rest overnight.

Trek from Dzonglha to Lobuche.

We start early from Lobuche and trek along the western side of the broad Khumbu Valley, through meadows and over scree slopes, as we continue beside the moraine of the huge creaking glacier. The trail is rough in parts and it is important to progress slowly as we are now above 5000m for the first time. Shortly the pyramid peak of Pumori (7145m) comes into view and underneath this, dwarfed by its more exotic neighbour, we see the small black peak of Kala Pattar (5545m). This is the best vantage point for views of Everest and is our objective for tomorrow. The trail then descends off the moraine and down to the small settlement of Gorak Shep (5160m) where we rest.

Option: If everyone is feeling fine, after lunch we continue along the side of the Khumbu Galcier to the site of the Everest Base Camp and back to Gorak Shep (4 hrs).

The ascent takes approx. 2 hours of steady walking, stopping occasionally to take in the view of the increasing bulk of Everest. From the summit it is possible to see many of the key features of this great mountain – the South Col from which Hillary and Tenzing made their first ascent in 1953 is clearly visible. After spending time taking photographs and experiencing the greatest mountain view in the world we descend back to Gorak Shep for breakfast. After breakfast continue trek down to Lobuche.

Note: If we did not visit the Everest Base Camp the day before, we can visit today, return back to Gorak Shep and then down to Lobuche. It will be additional 2 hours trek.

Trek from Lobuche to Deboche.

Trek from Deboche to Jorsale.

The final day of our trek, we retrace our steps along the trail above the Dudh Kosi before turning off the main Jiri route and rising up to Lukla.

On our final day of the trek, we walk down to Melamchi Bazaar. The village is mostly inhabited by the Sherpa, but there are also people of other ethnicities.

After breakfast city tour visit Kathmandu Durbar Square, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and if you are lucky, you will get a glimpse of the famous Kumari, the world’s only living Goddess. After lunch, visit Bouddhanath Stupa,one of the world’s largest Stupa built in the fifth century AD. Late afternoon explore Asan Tol, the colourful local market area and shopping.

An Important Note:
All our itineraries for the Everest region include one buffer day at the end of the trip. This is because often the Kathmandu-Lukla-Kathmandu flight gets delayed by a few hours or may even be cancelled for one, two, or more days due to unfavourable weather conditions even in the best seasons. We will try our best to arrange the next flight for you. We also organize Helicopter rescue in such conditions, if it is available and upon request by clients. In event of flight delay, the program for this day will be as adjusted accordingly from the time you arrive Kathmandu.In case the flight delay/cancellation happens at the start of trip and it goes so long that it disturbs your onward travel schedule, we will provide you an alternative trek in other region.

After breakfast check out of hotel transfer to airport for departure.