Everest Base Camp via Gokyo Lake and Cho La Pass

Upon your arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, one of our representatives from Aarya Village Travel shall meet, assist and transfer you to your hotel. You will enjoy welcome drinks while you will be briefed about your Nepal Travel Itinerary. The rest of the day will be at your leisure.

After breakfast, you can start your journey by heading out of Kathmandu on the Arniko Highway. The first part of the journey takes you through the suburban areas of the city, but as you move further away from the city, the road becomes more winding and steep. The drive can be challenging at times due to the narrow and winding roads, but the stunning views make it all worthwhile. Along the way, you can stop at various viewpoints to admire the beautiful landscapes and take pictures.

After breakfast in Ramechhap, take a 1-2 hour drive to Manthali airport and catch a 20-25 minute flight to Lukla. From there, begin your trek to Phakding which takes around 3-4 hours and offers stunning views of the Dudh Koshi River, green forests, and the snow-capped peaks of the Himalayas. Phakding is an ideal overnight stop for trekkers heading to Everest Base Camp, and is a great place to explore the Sherpa culture and traditions. The trek from Lukla to Phakding is a perfect way to experience the natural beauty and cultural richness of the region, and is an excellent starting point for your trek to Everest Base Camp.

Today the journey starts after breakfast. To reach Namche we have to walk through Tok-Tok, Mamju, Jorsalle. The journey from Phakding to Jorsalle is quite easy. There is Everest National Park at Manju where we have to check in there as a first check point. Then after an hour walk along the bank of Dudkoshi River we reach at Jorsalle. There are no shops available between Jorsalle to Namche. From Jorsalle, after a few minutes, we have to cross Dudhkoshi River and bridge. After the bridge, there is a steep incline we have to follow. If the weather is clear we can see Mount Everest from Thami danda. We can see many beautiful mountains, waterfalls, and Mane on the way. Namche is situated at 3440m altitude so we will feel cold there. We can see different mountains from Namche. Namche is the biggest commercial area of Everest Region where we can find everything needed for Trekkers, even internet facility, ATM. But sometimes due to technical reasons ATM's don't work. From every Friday to Saturday a special type of fair held here. Bakery cafe and Pubs are also available in Namche. We spend the night at Namche.

Today we spend time acclimatizing, Acclimatization should be taken seriously as high altitudes affect travelers differently.
We can take a hike of 5-6 hours which ascends from Namche to Syangboche then to Everest View Hotel to Khumjung where we can stop for lunch. At Khumjung we can also see a Monastery and the school made by Sir Edmund Hilary. During this trek we will get a chance to see many beautiful mountains. You can also visit the Sherpa Museum located at Namche. After a day hiking return to Namche, have dinner and stay overnight.

After Khumhung we descend east down the valley that leads us to the Dudh Koshy river, from here our route turns northwards. Our guide will choose the better of the two trails available. You will pass a chorten on a ridge at 3973 m. which stands below Mt. Khumbila at 5761m. The birthplace of the reincarnated Lama, who introduced Buddhism in the Khumbu region, of the Rongbuk Monastery in Tibet is in Khumbhu. You will notice the inhabitants are very staunch believers of Buddhism.
The trail descends in a series of steep switchbacks down a sandy slope to the Dush Koshi. We stay overnight in Phortse Thanga, near the river.

Walking uphill through rhododendron forests passing picturesque waterfalls and chorten on our journey from Phortse Tanga to Machhermo, we reach Tongba Village then pass Dole, Labarma and Luza villages, all while walking along the Dudh Koshi River, before reaching Machhermo.
Overnight in Machhermo.

This area is a Buddhist area and you will see Chortens all along your trek. Along the way you will see spectacular views of the valleys and of Mt. Kangtega, Thamserku and the northern part of Cho-Oyu (8153m). Once we pass the ridge the valley opens up and we head to Pangka at 4480m above sea level. After a few ups and downs on the trail we climb a steep incline up to the terminal moraine of Ngozamba Glacier. We then cross a small stream on an iron bridge where the trails levels out and follows the valley past the first lake named Longpongo at 4690m, here you will see the footprints of a lama imprinted on stone. The turquoise blue water shimmering on the Taboche Tsho Lake is extremely captivating. We then reach the third lake linked by a surging stream. Here Gokyo Village with Cho-Oyu Mountain standing tall is behind, is a spectacular sight, this is where we stop for lunch and explore the three lakes. Overnight at Gokyo.

At 5357m above sea level Gokyo RI is a famous viewpoint for stunning 360o panoramic views. From here you can also see Gokyo peak and the six beautiful lakes that it hosts. We must not miss the opportunity to see the fourth lake Thinak Tsho and the fifth lake Ngozuma Tsho. If you feel energetic, we can climb a hill on the edge of the lakes where we get breathtaking views of Cho-Oyu, Gyachung Kang, Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse, and Makulu. Cho Oyu Base Camp lies beyond the fifth lake, Cho Oyu and Gyachung Kang seeming just a stone's throw away. The world's largest glacier Ngozumpa Glacier can be seen from the northern part of the fifth lake. IF you are interested, we could also visit the sixth lake. We will head back to Gokyo and spend the night here.

We head to Thanga today, the trail is short and comfortable. At Thanga there are only 4 lodges. The trail to Thanga has been gradually changing due to Ngozumpa glacier expansion. To get to Thanga we take a left turn from Gokyo then cross the Glacier.

One of the most adventurous portions of the trek is the Cho La Pass. The day might be the toughest as we start early in the morning (4-6am). Although the pass is not too difficult, steep inclines and negotiating the crossing over the glacier to the eastern side, makes it challenging.
Here safety is very important and you should be aware of your guides advice. Follow every instruction he offers as the trail is vertical and the rocks are icy making the trail slippery. The trail ascends continuously through a ravine as we head up from Phedi. We then trek on the side of the frozen lake and we come to the top of the pass which is decorated with prayer flags. The pyramidal Ama Dablam looms over a range of mountains in the south even as Cholatse rises on the west and Lobuche East and Baruntse rises sharply to our right. Passing through some crevasses we reach Dzongla, another beautiful place with breathtaking views of Mt. Cholatse, Mt. Ama Dablam, Lobuche peak and the Pheriche village far below. Overnight at a very basic local lodge

Today we will have enough time to relax and enjoy the landscape as the trek today is a short one.
We climb down from Dzongla and walk through a grassy trail while enjoying the view of Lobuche Peak. The trail curves through the wide river bed before reaching Lobuche. Here we can relax, stretch out weary limbs preparing for the next day. We spend the night at Lobuche

Passing through the once vast Gorak Shep lake we head to Everest Base Camp. We pass the Indian army mountaineers memorials. As always, you should listen closely to your guide and Sherpa, as this is quite tricky and one can get lost easily. The air is thin here due to the high altitude. We pass through rocky dunes, moraine and streams before reaching the Everest Base Camp. Everest Base Camp is a sight for sore eyes, here the colourful tents stand out against the grey mountains. Here you will meet adventurers just like yourself who have taken this challenging trek which is one that you will never ever forget. Nuptse, Khumbuste and Pumori are the mountains we can view from the base camp. We get back to Gorak Shep for a good night's rest. Overnight in Gorak Shep.

Starting out early morning we head to the main attraction of our journey, Kala Pathar at 5545m above sea level. We head out early to view the sun's rays gently caress the mountains and turn them into gold. Particularly Mr. Everest. The gentle majestic giant. However, we need to be prepared for an early morning departure, amid predawn darkness and cold temperature (-10 to -14 C). Further, there is always the potential for chilly winds which are quite common. Familiar peaks such as Lingtren, Khumbutse, Changtse tower to the east even as Everest begins to reveal itself. During the ascent to Kala Patthar, we can pause to catch breath at several outstanding view points from where we can take spectacular pictures. After several hours of ascent, we reach Kala Patthar. From kala Patthar, we head up to the top of a rocky outcrop marked by cairns and prayer flags. An awe-inspiring sight like nothing you have ever seen before unfolds before our eyes as they wander from one mighty massif to another. You can take as many pictures as we want with our camera but the memory of this place and the journey will be imprinted in your memories forever. When we return to Gorak Shep, we have breakfast and wait for other participants to return.

Just after the start of our trek, we cross Khumbu Khola (stream). Following the main Everest trail down the beautifully scenic valley, passing through the villages of Tsuro Wog, Orsho, Shomare and reach Pangboche at the base of Ama Dablam. We cross the bridge over Imja Khola and pass through the Deboche village and reach Tengboche. We visit Tengboche monastery, observe its many prayer wheels and spend a few minutes. We cannot explore the inside as the monastery opens only at 3 pm. From Tengboche, a steep descent of about 1500ft/500m leads us through rhododendron and fir forest to the Dudh Koshi River. We cross the first bridge over Dudh Koshi on our return trip at Phunki Tenga. Later, we pass the village of Tashinga and Sanasa before finally reaching beautiful village of Khumjung/Namche. From here you can soak up the views of Ama-dablam, Thamserku, Nuptse, Lhotse and Everest. Khumjung is an extremely interesting Sherpa hamlet of Khumbu which is the home to avid Sherpa Mountaineers.

Today, we further enjoy a combination of open plains, rhododendron and pine forests, and in the distant background Kwangde peak. Walking past Sherpa villages, you will see Buddhism and the cultural practices associated with it as prayer stones dot the landscape and prayer flags flap in the wind. We cross the Dudh Koshi River through the prayer flags strewn suspension bridges and also cross one of its tributaries, Thado Koshi once. The final ascent of about 45 minutes from Chheplung takes us to Lukla.

After breakfast, you will take a 20-25 minute flight from Lukla to Manthali airport, followed by a 4-5 hour drive back to Kathmandu. The drive takes you through scenic countryside and small villages, offering a glimpse into the rural way of life in Nepal. The road is winding and can be bumpy in some sections, but the views of the Himalayas and the lush green landscape make the journey well worth it.

To celebrate, we will go for Typical Nepali Dinner with cultural show performed by different ethnic groups in the evening. It continues for 3 hours

Approximately 3 hours before your scheduled flight a representative from Aarya Village Travel will transfer you to the airport. We bid you adieu and wish you the best for your onward journey.