Everest Base Camp via Gokyo Trek

Guided Tour of world heritage sites of Kathmandu valley includes Swayambhunath stupa and Kathmandu durbar square.

Fly to Lukla where the Gokyo Everest base camp trek starts. Initially the trail descends steadily along the banks of the Dudh Koshi River, passing Sherpa villages and Mani stones before reaching Phakding.

The trail ascends gradually towards Jorsalle, crossing suspension bridges over the Dudhkoshi River before arriving at the entrance point of Everest national park. After crossing three more bridges, the trail ascends through the alpine and rhododendron forest. Here it is possible to see deer and wild birds on the way to Namche Bazaar.

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. For acclimatizing trekking, you can trek to Everest view hotel and Kumjung village. If you feel tired, walk on to the National Park Centre and Museum just above the town if not hiking to Everest view hotel.

Today, you start the journey right after having breakfast following the trail moving uphill and downhill to Kyangjuma (3,550m). During the trekking to Dole, you will enjoy the magnificent view of Mt. Everest, Lhotse and other peaks. Walking past rhododendron and juniper forests, you reach Dole for the night station at a teahouse. 

The trekking trail takes a gradual ascent through juniper forests along the Dudh Koshi River Valley. On the way, you can see some seasonal yak-sheds and meadows gifted by nature for the yaks and other animals. You enjoy the stunning view of Cho Oyu (8,210m), Kantega (6,783m) and Thamserku (6,623m) during the journey to Machchhermo. You will find two more villages: Lhabarma (4,330m) and Luza (4,340m) walking across alpine bushes and finally reach Machchhermo. Machchhermo is a beautiful village divided by a Himalayan river into two parts and the last Sherpa village before reaching Gokyo. Here, you can visit the Himalayan Rescue Hospital to get the important information about altitude sickness, its precautions and cure. Overnight stay at a local teahouse by tasting the local cuisines served with the sincere hospitality.

Today, you trek to Gokyo Vally by leaving the Dudh Koshi River Valley far behind as soon as you take breakfast. You enjoy the astonishing view of Mt. Kantega and Mt. Cho Oyu, the 6th highest peak in the world. Then, you move further across Pangka (4,480m) which is the place where an avalanche had killed 40 people in 1995. Crossing the moraine of the Ngozumpa Glacier, you reach the valley of the first Gokyo Lake, called Longpongo (4,690m). Enjoying the turquoise water of the Second Lake, you walk up to Gokyo Village, the major center of the Gokyo Lakes trek. Gokyo Village is a Sherpa cultural village that stands at the foot of Mt. Cho Oyu (which means ‘Turquoise Goddess’ in Tibetan dialect). You spend the night at a local teahouse or home stay of the Sherpa people by relishing their typical organic cuisines.

As it is the acclimatization day at Gokyo, you have many things to explore from snowcapped peaks to the emerald waters of the Gokyo Lakes. Early in the morning after breakfast, if the weather is fine, you can go to climb Gokyo Ri (5,357m). Gokyo Peak is the best natural viewpoint to enjoy the sunrise view of the Everest region. From the top, you can capture the amazing sight of the snowy peaks and glacial lakes which is beyond description!

As an option, you can hike up to the fifth Gokyo Lake that rewards you with the mesmerizing vistas. You can enjoy the four eight-thousanders: Everest, Lhotse, Cho Oyu and Makalu plus other snow-clad peaks from the lake. If you move a little further from this lake, you can reach the base camp of Cho Oyu. Similarly, you can have the beautiful scenery of the Ngozumpa Glacier, the largest glacier in the Himalayas. If you want to cover more distance, you can even to the sixth lake to complete the Six Glacial Lakes.

As it is the acclimatization day at Gokyo, you have many things to explore from snowcapped peaks to the emerald waters of the Gokyo Lakes. You can hike up to the fifth lake, Thonak Cho and the sixth lake, Ngozumpa Tsho to relish the mesmerizing vistas. You can enjoy the four eight-thousanders: Everest, Lhotse, Cho Oyu and Makalu plus other snow-clad peaks from the ridge of the hill. If you move a little further from this lake, you can reach the base camp of Cho Oyu. Similarly, you can have the beautiful scenery of the Ngozumpa Glacier, the largest glacier in the Himalayas. If you want to cover more distance, you can even to the sixth lake to complete the Six Glacial Lakes.

Today is the most interesting day of the entire Everest Base Camp Trek via Gokyo Lakes. After breakfast, the journey starts and takes you to Thaknak, an optional stopover during Gokyo Lakes Everest Base Camp trek. Following the steep and quite tricky trail, you ascend towards the challenging Cho La Pass, one of the three high passes of Everest region. As the trail may be slippery due to moisture, you need to be quite careful to reach the top of the pass. Cho La Pass which is decorated with prayer flags by the previous trekkers is another vantage point of the Solukhumbu Region. Enjoying the captivating vistas from the top, you begin to descend towards Dzongla for the night station. From Dzongla, you can have the 360-degree panoramic view of Mt. Cholatse, Mt. Ama Dablam, Lobuche Peak and Mt. Baruntse. At the distance, you also see Periche village where the trekkers returning from Everest Base Camp spend the night.

As it is the shortest trekking day, you can leisurely enjoy the sunrise view of the snowcapped peaks and landscapes around Dzongla. As soon as you have breakfast, you follow the trail that descends to the grassy path after crossing a bridge. During the journey, you can have the glimpse of the snowy peaks like Ama Dablam, Lhotse, Nuptse, Everest, Pumori and Lobuche Peak. Walking past the gravelled banks of a stream, you finally reach Lobuche for the night rest at a teahouse. Situated on the banks of a stream, Lobuche is a small villages with some teahouses for the trekkers’ accommodation. The sunset view of Nuptse from Lobuche is the major attraction for the trekkers spending night here.

Following the moderately steep trail from Lobuche, you reach a foothill called Thangma Riju which shows you the whole Khumbu Glacier. You also see the stunning view of Mt. Everest, Mt. Pumori and Mt. Nuptse on the way. Moving ahead, you come to have the very first glimpse of Kala Patthar, a black mountain below Mt. Pumori. Once you are in Gorak Shep, you find all the snowy peaks of the Khumbu Himalayan Range interrogating you.

By leaving the backpack at the hotel where you will spend the night, you take a hike to Everest Base Camp. You go past the Gorak Shep Lake, a glacial lake which used to be once a vast glacier mass. Crossing the frozen lakes and snow-covered rocks, you reach the dreamland you were craving to reach once in lifetime! You can have a majestic vista of the snowcapped peaks of the Everest surrounding except Mt. Everest itself from Everest Base Camp. Actually, Mt. Everest hides behind Mt. Lhotse to give you thrilling experience of its close view from another place! Wait patiently until next morning to have the 360-degree panoramic view of the world’s highest peak! After you are done with the amazing rewards from Everest Base Camp, you return to Gorak Shep to spend the night.

Now, the limitation of your patience to have the close view of Mt. Everest is over, so wake up as early as you can! The sooner, the better! Start your journey to Kala Patthar, the best natural viewpoint of the Everest region before the sun rises. Ascending continuously for about three hours, you reach Kala Patthar to have the sunrise view of the highest peak of the world. During the stay on top of Kala Patthar, every second is valuable as you see Mt. Everest unveiling its majestic beauty in the sunrays! The first ray reflecting on the Mountain Giant and lighting the world, is really difficult to express in any words, perhaps!

You can take as many photos as your camera can capture to store this lifetime achievement you have made by being in the Everest premises. You find the worth of every cent you have invested to get this yield right this moment! After saving the rarest moments around the world’s highest mountain, you walk down to Gorak Shep. Having breakfast at Gorak Shep, you descend further towards Periche for the night station walking past Thukla village.

Walking past some Sherpa cultural villages like Somare, Pangboche, you trek down to Namche Bazaar for the night. You can find Mt. Ama Dablam on the left side accompanying you further down up to Deboche. As soon as you arrive Tengboche village, take a quick look of Tengboche Monastery to see the Tibetan Buddhist art and artifacts. Also known as Dawa Choling Gompa, it is the oldest and largest monastery of the Khumbu region as a tourist attraction.

Then, the trail descends along dense rhododendron and juniper forests that look colourful during spring season due to rhododendron flowers. Not leaving the banks of the Dudh Koshi River, the trail leads you to Namche Bazaar, the main trade centre of the entire Khumbu region. You can find all types of modern amenities here at Namche Bazaar from shopping mall to ATM booths. There is a five star hotel Everest View Hotel which is also the highest altitude hotel in the world nearby Namche Bazaar. Spend the night by celebrating with your people to commemorate the success of Everest Base Camp trek via Gokyo Lakes.

In a few hours you will reach Lukla (2,886m) where you need to reconfirm your flight tickets for the next morning. This last evening in the mountains is an ideal opportunity for a farewell party with the Sherpa guides and porters, where you can sample some Chhang, try Sherpa dancing and look back on a memorable trekking experience.

Fly from Lukla to Kathmandu taking an early morning flight back to Kathmandu. Free day in Kathmandu on your own.

Transfer to Kathmandu Airport for your flight back home.