Gokyo Lakes Trek via Everest Base Camp

After breakfast, it’s time for going to the Kathmandu International Airport to catch a flight to Lukla, the gateway to Everest Gokyo trek. You will have a scenic flight to Lukla that shows you the mesmerizing view of the amazing landscapes and snowy peaks. Enjoying the breathtaking Himalayan scenery for about 35 minutes, you reach Lukla, a small Sherpa town of the Khumbu region.

Lukla is the place from where you start the epic Everest region trekking to reach Phakding, another Sherpa village and stopover. On the way, you go across a few suspension bridges and dense forests of rhododendron, magnolia and pine trees. After reaching Phakding and taking rest, you can visit a local monastery called Pema Cheoling Monastery built over 500 years ago. This monastery is one of the Tibetan Buddhist replicas situated in the Khumbu region reflecting the influence of Buddhism.

Today, after taking breakfast, you move ahead following the Dudh Koshi River Valley towards Namche Bazaar for the night station. On the way, you walk across the Hillary Suspension Bridge, named after the First Everest Triumphant, Sir Edmund Hillary. Afterwards, going along the trail that penetrates through the thick rhododendron and juniper forests, you reach Namche Bazaar. Namche Bazaar is the major trade center of the entire Khumbu region providing all types of modern facilities. Overnight stay at a hotel by enjoying the food of your choice as you can find good hotels and menus having varieties of dishes.

As it is the rest day in the Khumbu Trade Center, you don’t have to wake up earlier; so sleep till late in the morning. After breakfast, you can take a short hike to Everest View Hotel just about 1.5 km distance from the hotel. One of the highest altitude hotels in the world, Everest View Hotel is a vantage point of snowcapped peaks. You can have the wonderful picturesque of Mt. Everest, Mt. Ama Dablam, Mt. Kusum Kangaru from the hotel premises. The Sherpa Museum, also called Hillary Museum is another attraction of the Namche Bazaar acclimatization day. You can have a quick look into the photographs of Everest expeditions including Sherpa costumes, culture and tradition. The Hall of Fame of the museum is the gallery of the antique photos of Tenzing Hillary during the 1953 Everest Expedition. 

As soon as you have breakfast, you start the journey by following the well-defined stone-paved path for further ascent. Although you feel a little tired, the amazing view of Mt. Ama Dablam, Mt. Thamserku and Mt. Khumbila keeps boosting you up. The Sherpa people of the Khumbu region regard these three peaks as the Sacred Mountain of their Patron God. After walking slow and steadily, you reach Tengboche, a popular Sherpa village of Everest region serving as a lodging site.

Tengboche Village is named after Tengboche Monastery which was built by Lama Gulu in 1916 to establish the Tibetan Buddhism. This monastery is said to have a greater affinity with its mother monastery named Rongbuk Monastery of Tibet nearby Everest North Base Camp. You can learn the true fortitude and art plus artifacts of the Tibetan Buddhist culture in this region. Many trekkers visit this monastery to take blessing from the Lama so that they can make successful journey to Everest Base Camp. You can enjoy the breathtaking view of Mt. Ama Dablam, the most beautiful mountain in the world from this village.

To delve into the cultural and festive flavour of the Khumbu region, plan Everest trekking between mid-October and mid-December. Mani Rimdu Festival is the main festival celebrated at the Tengboche Monastery premises by the Sherpa people of Everest region. Mani Rimdu Festival date is declared by the head Lama of the Tengboche Monastery according to the Tibetan Lunar Calender. It is observed for three days to show the inseparable relationship between nature and culture. During the festival, the monks perform the dances with masks on their face among the Sherpa people. Guru Rinpoche gives blessings to the people for their sound health, prosperity and long life.

After breakfast, you begin today’s journey through some high Himalayan Sherpa settlement areas surrounded by lush pine forests. You will follow the riverbeds of the Imja Khola which originates from the popular Imja Glacial Lake or Island Peak. You walk past some rhododendron forests and along some ethnic villages like Dobuche, Milingo, Somare and Pangboche. Enjoying the welcoming view of Mt. Nuptse and Mt. Lhotse that hides Mt. Everest to see from Everest Base Camp, you reach Dingboche.

Dingboche is a famous stopover for the trekkers while going to Island Peak, Mt. Everest or the most beautiful mountain Ama Dablam. Situated on the bank of the Imja Khola, this Sherpa village contains a helipad for emergency rescue services to the Everest region trekkers. To your surprise, this Himalayan village has a café having the world’s highest billiard parlors and satellite technology to provide internet facility. The wall that encircles the village and made up by using different sized stones is the central attraction to enjoy here.

Moving ahead across the moraine rift of the Khumbu Glacier, the largest glacier in the world, you ascend further. Little farther, you see memorials of the Everest region trekkers who lost their lives during the ambitious but thrilling hiking. Looking at the memorials, you feel as if they were inspiring you to complete the epic trek to Everest Base Camp. Finally, you reach Lobuche village which is famous for the well-defined trails and the stunning mountain views. You can witness the captivating scenery of Lobuche Far East and Lobuche East from this village. Overnight accommodation at a teahouse by enjoying the typical food items prepared by the Sherpa people. 

If you remember the trekking guide’s briefing just before flying to Lukla, you are really impatient for the trip today! Today, you are going to reach the base camp of the highest peak of the world, Mount Everest. You begin your trip quite earlier to reach Gorak Shep by enjoying the smiling outlook of the Khumbu Glacier. Gorak Shep used to be the original base camp of Everest Peak until the 1953 expedition made by Hillary and Tenzing. By keeping your backpack at the hotel you are going to spend the night, you move towards Everest Base Camp.

Following the trail that goes past the Gorak Shep Lake, the largest glacial lake once, you move to you goal. Finally, you are there at the most valuable dreamland in the wilderness one can ever have in their lifetime. Take a deep breath at the base camp of Everest and enjoy the amazing appearance of the Giant Himalayas. From here, you can see all the snowy peaks of the Everest region except Mt. Everest itself! Don’t worry the Mother Nature has kept something secret to offer you in next installment, so keep patience! For your curiousity to have a instant look at Mt Everest, Mt. Pumori looks like teasing you from behind the bar!

Along with the glittering peaks in the sunshine, you can also relish the Khumbu Icefall unveiling her majestic beauty. At a glance, you feel as if the entire Great Himalayas Range is waving at you for consistent mount! Spending enough time according to your desire or the favourable circumstances of the weather, you retreat to Gorak Shep. During the descent what comes to your mind and the eyes is just the heart-touching smile of the MOUNTAINS! Take a complete rest enjoying the food items made by the people of the highest altitude Himalayan village in Everest region. 

Today, you get to satisfy the long awaited desire to see the closest view of Mt. Everest from Kala Patthar. To grab the opportunity, you need to begin the journey as early in the morning as you can from Gorak Shep. Following the rocky path covered with the snow, you will ascend to Kala Patthar, the best natural viewpoint of Everest region. Once you are in the flatland of Kala Patthar, you remain awestruck due to the sunrise view of Mt. Everest and other peaks. With the gradual rise of the sun, the Great Himalayas begin to glow their beauty to leave your mouth wide open! You have a close sight of Mt. Nuptse, Mt. Lingtren, Mt. Khumbutse, Mt. Pumori, Mt. Lhotse, Mt. Cho Oyu. You can capture as many photos as you want until the battery of the camera can by keeping the Giant Himalayas on the background.

After fulfilling your Everest Dream, now it is high time you descend towards Gorak Shep! We know it is difficult for you to leave the vantage point of the sacred mountain giants and walk away! You have breakfast at the hotel and begin the retreat journey towards Lobuche to reach Dzongla for the night station. Leaving the main trail leading to Namche Bazaar, you take the trail that goes along the Lobuche River to ascend to Dzongla. From here, you can have a magnificent scenery of the mountain peaks like Lobuche Far East, Lobuche East, Cholatse and Tabuche. Overnight stay at the teahouse.

Today, you are going to cross the challenging high pass, Cho La Pass (5,420m), so you will have adventurous trek. From Dzongla, you have to walk along the snow-covered path for some time to reach one of the high passes of Everest region. Once you mount on top of Cho La Pass, you can have captivating sight of the three eight-thousanders of Everest region and other peaks. After you are done with the beauty in the wilderness, you descend towards Phedi (bottom of a foothill) by following the stony path. Then you follow the path going up and down along the ridge and finally reach Thangna. From here, you can have a amazing view of Machchhermo and other peaks. Overnight stay at a teahouse by tasting the organic food items like potato, green vegetables and bread of wheat or buckwheat.

Today, you make your trekking to Gokyo Vallay by following the Dudh Koshi River banks. The trail is comparatively easy although you have to walk through the snow-covered area for some time. Walking for about 5 hours, you reach Gokyo village which lies close to the third Gokyo Lake. It is a Sherpa cultural village situated at the bottom of the 6th highest peak in the world, Mt. Cho Oyu (8,188m). You spend the night at a local teahouse experiencing the hospitality of the Sherpa people.

Today is the second acclimatization day in the Everest region so that you can explore the group of six glacial lakes. After taking rest for some time, you can take a short hike to the Fourth Lake and the Fifth Lake to observe the turquoise water. From the Fifth Gokyo Lake, you can have the stunning vistas of Mt. Everest, Mt. Lhotse and Mt. Makalu besides Mt. Cho Oyu. Just a little farther from this lake lies Cho Oyu Base Camp which shows you the stunning Ngozumpa Glacier. You can also talk with the local people to know more about the wonders of the Sherpa culture and tradition.

Early in the morning, you begin the hike to Gokyo Ri which is one of the best natural viewpoint of Everest region. From the top of the Gokyo Peak, you can see Mt. Everest, Mt. Lhotse, Mt. Makalu and Mt. Cho Oyu. The sight of Gokyo Valley occupied by the turquoise lakes and the Ngozumpa Glacier is also wonderful. Then, you trek down to Gokyo Village and move downwards to Dole after having breakfast. Overnight stay at a local teahouse.

After having breakfast, you begin the journey towards Namche Bazaar walking through dense rhododendron forests. On the way, you walk past some of the popular villages like Dhile, Phortse Thanga, Mong and Sanasa. Enjoying the longest mani wall of the entire Khumbu region, you finally arrive Namche Bazaar for the night stand. As you can find all the facilities here, you can also celebrate the successful completion of the trekking to Everest Gokyo Lakes. 

Today is the last day of trekking in the fabulous Everest region. You begin the trip to Lukla from the major Sherpa trade center after having breakfast. You walk past some lush rhododendron and pine forests enjoying the birds’ songs and sharing the experience with each other. Within around 7 hours, you arrive Lukla, the First Sherpa town in the beginning and the last Everest region settlement area while returning. You spend the night at Lukla by merry making as this is the last night you are spending in the Everest surrounding. 

After breakfast, you catch a flight to Kathmandu from Lukla by enjoying the Himalayan landscapes, lush valleys and snowy peaks. Don’t miss the chance to relish the mesmerizing aerial scenery during the flight! This is the last moment to enjoy this year in Everest region. After the plane lands at the Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu, we transfer you to the hotel. After refreshment, you can take a stroll around the tourist center, Thamel to buy the souvenirs or other stuffs for your people in the home country. In the evening, Orbit Alpine Adventure takes you for a farewell dinner at some restaurant as a part of hospitality.

Today is the last day of Gokyo Lakes trek via Everest Base Camp 18 days itinerary. Therefore, the representative of our trekking agency transfers you to the Kathmandu International Airport according to your flight schedule. We hope you enjoy the epic trek to Everest Base Camp Gokyo Lakes with us. More importantly, you have a lifelong memory of crossing the high pass Cho La Pass which is quite challenging! Wish you a happy and safe journey and hope to see you again next year!