Everest Base Camp Trek via Gokyo Lakes and Cho La Pass is a combination of our classic Everest Base Camp Trek and the Gokyo Lakes Trek and completes a circuit connecting through Cho La Pass. In this trip we fly from Kathmandu to Lukla for 40 minutes and from here we start trekking towards Gokyo and Gokyo Lakes. From Gokyo we turn our route towards the Everest Base Camp and Kala Patthar crossing the Cho La Pass at an altitude of 5,367 meters. After Everest Base Camp and Kala Patthar we walk back to Lukla through the Everest Base Camp Classic Trekking route. This is streanous trek designed for people with some prior trekking experience.
On arrival at Tribhuwan International Airport, a representative from Eve Holidays will greet you at the airport and escort you to your hotel. You’ll have rest of the day at leisure.
Overnight: 4 Star Hotel in Kathmandu
Included Meals: Welcome Dinner
Kathmandu Durbar Square: is one of three royal palace squares in the Kathmandu Valley. This site was the royal residence until the 19th century where important ceremonies, such as the coronation of the Nepalese monarch use to take place. The two-hectare palace complex is divided into two main courtyards, and was initially constructed in the 16th century, although subsequent additions were made in the Shah dynasty in the 18th century and by the Rana rulers in the 19th century.
Swoyambhunath Temple: This Buddhist Stupa, said to be 2000 years old is a perfect architecture of gilded spire and white washed dome located under thousands of fluttering prayer flags. From the spire, four faces of Buddha stare out across the valley in the cardinal directions.
Pashupatinath Temple: Pashupatinath, a pagoda style Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva is considered to be the powerhouse of Hindu spiritual power in religious terms.
BoudhanathStupa: Listed in the UNESCO World Heritage list, this enormous stupa where thousands of pilgrims gather daily to make a ritual circumnavigation of the dome, beneath the watchful eyes of the Buddha, which gaze out from the gilded central tower.
Overnight: 4 Star Hotel in Kathmandu
Included Meals: Breakfast
We fly to the mountain airstrip of Lukla (2,800m), and set off on the first leg of our trek, heading northwards up the valley of the DudhKosi. We descend from the small plateau, down into the forested valley. The trail offers some tantalising views before reaching the small settlement of Phakding (2,652m), where we spend our first night.
Overnight: Lodge in Phakding
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
From Phakding, we cross through suspension bridges. Beyond Monjo is the entrance to the Sagarmatha National Park which was set-up in order to protect and preserve the fragile mountain environment. You then take a steep hike to Namche. If the weather is clear, you get the first glimpse of Mt Everest. Namche is the main trading village in the Khumbu and has a busy Saturday market, a meeting place for the traders from the lowlands and the Tibetan yak caravans that have crossed the glaciated Nangpa La.
Overnight: Lodge in Namche
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Namche is tucked away between two ridges amidst the giant peaks of the Khumbu and has an abundance of lodges, tea shops and souvenir shops. It is an ideal place to spend a day, acclimatizing to the new altitude before heading off towards Tengboche. To acclimatize, you can do a strenuous day walk to a higher altitude, coming back down to Namche for sleep.
Overnight: Lodge in Namche
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today, the trail climbs steeply out of valley through rhododendron forest, juniper and large conifers start to appear as the elevation increases making trekking beautiful in spring. The trail passes through Yak Kharka and summer settlements. The views of Khumbi La and Tawache are magnificent throughout the day.
Overnight: Lodge in Phortse Thenga
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
The trail climbs a ridge for an excellent view both down the valley to Kangtega and up towards Cho Oyu and descend to a river and again climbs steep to the terminal moraine of the Ngozumpa glacier. We reach at Machherma by early noon.
Overnight: Lodge in Machhermo
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today the trek takes us at one of our final destination, Gokyo. We will make this camp our base for 2 nights as we will have couple of hiking and sightseeing trips around Gokyo.
Overnight: Lodge in Gokyo
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
We spend this day in Gokyo strolling around the lake and hike north to other sacred lakes and return back to Gokyo for night stay.
Overnight: Lodge in Gokyo
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
If you did not climb Gokyo Ri yesterday, you can climb today. Climbing to the top of Gokyo Ri is demanding as it is steep and takes about 3 to 4 hours to reach to the top. But the scenery of Gokyo village, on the edge of third lake overlooked by Cholatse and the broad Nogzumpa Glacier, is rewarding. We are surrounded by magnificent mountains, Kusum Kanguru, Thamserku, Kangtega, Taboche, Cholatse, Makalu, Lhotse, Nuptse, Everest, Changtse, and Pumori. We trek through the Ngazumpa Glacier to the mountain on the other side and traverse along the edge of that mountain to reach Thagnak.
Overnight: Lodge in Thagnak
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today is the most difficult day out of the whole trip. The Cho La pass involves a glacier traverse on the eastern side. We need to be careful as the trail is vertical and the rocks glazed by ice may cause trouble by making the trail slippery. Rounding the ridge when we move southward, the vast Chola lake sprawls below while Cholatse peak rises beyond it. The view is stunning; the lake stays with us over a long stretch as we walk down over it. The pyramidal Ama Dablam presides over a range of mountains on the south even as Cholatse soars to the west and Lobuche East and Baruntse rises sharply to our right. We need to pass through some crevasses before we reach Dzongla Village.
Overnight: Logde in Dzongla
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today we have short trek so we have a lot time to relax and enjoy the beauty of surrounding. We walk down from Dzongla to reachLobuche.
Overnight: Lodge in Lobuche
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
About three hours beyond Lobuche we reach GorakShep (5,220m/17,126ft), the site of the 1953 expedition’s base camp. Contouring along the valley side, the trail leads on to the moraine of the Khumbu Glacier and becomes quite vague, weaving between mounds of rubble. After about 3 hours we will eventually reach base camp near the foot of the Khumbu Icefall. For those visiting base camp in the spring, it is a chance to meet teams making an ascent of the mountain. Base Camp is actually spread over quite a wide area and we will spend some time wandering through it and getting a sense of what it must be like to be camped here for two whole months, whilst attempting the mountain.
Overnight: Lodge in Gorakshep
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today we will make an ascent of Kala Pattar (5,545m/18,188ft) and organise ourselves for the trip to base camp the following day. It is highly recommended to make an afternoon and evening ascent of Kala Pattar for hopefully a sunset view of Everest. The climb takes between 2 and 3 hours and can be hard work, but the effort is rewarded by the classic view of Everest and the Khumbu Icefall, as well as Lhotse, Nuptse, and Pumori immediately above. We retrace our steps to Lobuche, and return down the Khumbu Valley, stopping for a break in Dugla. With views of the stunning peak of Ama Dablam ahead of us, we continue along the flat valley to Pheriche.
Overnight: Lodge in Pheriche
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Walking mostly downhill, you cross the Khumbu Khola on a wooden suspension bridge and follow the Imja Khola to the village of Pangboche (3985m). You continue to follow the river and, after crossing it, climb back up through birch and rhododendron forest to Tengboche. Kwangde, Tawache, Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse, Ama Dablam, Kantega and Thamserku are just a few of the Himalayan giants to be seen. From Tengboche you descend to the bridge over the DudhKoshi. At Phunki Tenga, you get to see the water driven prayer wheels, before making your way back to Namche.
Overnight: Lodge in Namche
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Your final day’s trekking follows the DudhKoshi back down to Lukla. This last evening in the mountains is the ideal opportunity for a farewell party with the Sherpa guides and porters, where you can sample some chang (home made wine), try Sherpa dancing and look back on a memorable trekking experience.
Overnight: Lodge in Lukla
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
In the early morning you take off from Lukla airstrip for a spectacular mountain flight back to Kathmandu. After being met at the domestic airport terminal and transferred to your hotel, the rest of the day is free for you to explore this wonderful city; shopping for souvenirs, trying out the various restaurants in Thamel or simply relaxing.
You spend the last evening in Kathmandu in a farewell dinner together sharing photos recalling the excitements of trip and exchanging emails enjoying the cultural dance program in one of the traditional Nepalese restaurant.
Overnight: 4 Star Hotel in Kathmandu
Included Meals: Farewell Dinner
Today after breakfast you are in leisure on your own. You will be escorted to airport for your flight home at your flight time.
Included Meals: Breakfast
NOTICE:
The Government of Nepal has announced an issue for the flight operation to Lukla. Most of the flights to Lukla will commence from Ramechhap until further notice to avoid the heavy traffic congestion in Kathmandu airport. The airport in Ramechhap is located 130km from Kathmandu (approximately 3-4 hours drive).
Alternatively, helicopter arrangements can be made on 5 people sharing basis, for Kathmandu to Lukla, with the additional cost to change your airplane flights to the helicopter. The drive to Ramechhap and flight to Lukla from there is almost always guaranteed unless the flight is canceled due to bad weather conditions.
In Kathmandu, you will stay in 4 Star Hotels with breakfast included. Along the trekking routes, you stay in teahouses/lodges that generally provide basic clean facilities with a mattress and a quilt or blanket. Accommodation are on a twin sharing basis. The accommodation in lodges in trekking routes can be single and double rooms, or a dormitory. The toilets in tea houses provide essential and basic facilities and are always outside the room. Single supplement will be provided on request and will cost an additional and depend upon availability. Although single rooms are readily available in Kathmandu and the trekking regions at lower elevation, it might be difficult to find them at higher elevations. Hotels in Kathmandu can be upgraded to 5 star in an additional cost.
In Kathmandu breakfast, welcome dinner and farewell dinner are provided. While on trekking, we provide breakfast, lunch and dinner. Usually, each day dinner and breakfast will be at teahouses/lodges where you will stay and lunch will be on the way. We make it sure that the food is hygienic and at the same time suits your palate. Foods cooked in lodges and guesthouses on the way are pasta, tuna bakes, noodles, potatoes, eggs, daal bhat (rice and lentils), bread, soup, fresh vegetables (variety depends on the season) and even some desserts like apple pies, pancakes, and some interesting attempts at custard. You will find a lot of garlic on the menu because it assists with acclimatization. In many larger villages you may find some meat items on the menu. You can always find hot chocolate, tea, and hot lemon drinks, as well as soft drinks, and treats like chocolate and crisps.
The spring time from March to May and the Autumn months from September to November is considered the best months for Everest Base Camp Trek via Gokyo Lakes and Cho La Pass.
Anyone who is fit and healthy and have a habit of walking for few of hours a day can do this trek. However walking in higher altitudes is more physically demanding than walking in lower altitudes. Exercising and jogging regularly for some weeks prior to the trip is a good idea to enhance your stamina. Participants with pre-existing medical conditions such as heart, lungs and blood diseases are required to consult their doctor before taking the trip. It is also advised that you inform Eve Holidays about the medical condition before booking the trek.
All of Eve Holidays trekking itineraries are planned keeping in mind the risk of Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS). Going up at higher altitude too fast causes a medical condition called AMS which is serious enough to kill if neglected. We are well aware that it is essential to allow you sufficient time for acclimatization to minimize the risk. However it is important to remember that some people are more vulnerable than others. So we suggest to avoid alcohol and drink enough water and get good night sleep during the trek.
Everest Base Camp Trek via Gokyo Lakes and Cho La Pass is a walking tour and it does not involve any knowledge of technical skills. If you are physically fit and mentally prepared to trek, it works well. But the trek is physically demanding and you have to be very much physically fit and to have an active lifestyle. So you will have to start preparing yourself physically and mentally for the challenge way ahead. The earlier, the better.
March April May and Sept Oct Nov are the best time to trek
Yes we give you the flexibility to change the travel date or amend the itinerary and that has to be in written and at least 25 days before departure date. The cost incurred due to the changes has to be borne by you.
Booking deposits are transferable to anyone you want for any time in future. For cancelling the trip, cancellation policy in our booking terms and conditions will apply.
Reading the excellent Trip Advisor reviews for this company we booked Everest Base Camp Trek via Gokyo and Cho La Pass. We found their service excellent and everything was well organized. We did our trek successfully and enjoyed our farewell dinner with Maina in Kathmandu. Thank you for everything Eve Holidays !
