Everest Base Camp Cho La Pass Trek

Welcome to Nepal! When your flight arrives at the Tribhuvan International Airport, a representative from Alpine Ramble Treks will be waiting to meet you. After clearing customs, we’ll whisk you away to your hotel in the city. Kathmandu lies at approximately 1,300 meters above sea level, so you don’t need to spend much time here for acclimatization purposes before heading off into the mountains. But no trek in Nepal would be complete without sampling the intoxicating sights and sounds of the country’s capital city. From the crowded bazaars of the Thamel district to the hilltop stupa of Swayambhunath, Kathmandu is a feast for the senses. You’ll be awestruck at this urban maze of crowded streets, bustling markets, scenic hilltops, and Buddhist and Hindu shrines on every street corner. Depending on the time of your arrival, you may have some time to explore the city before returning to your hotel for the night.

It’s time to start our adventure! We’ll catch an early morning flight to the little town of Lukla, where the Everest Base Camp Trek begins. This is sure to be one of the most scenic flights of your life, so make sure to keep your camera at the ready. When we touch down at Lukla, we’ll meet up with the rest of our expedition team, including the hard-working porters who make trekking in Nepal possible. Our itinerary today will serve as a gentle introduction to the rigors—and thrills—of hiking in the high Himalayas. We’ll be on our feet for about three hours, beginning with a brief descent to the smaller village of Cheplung. Soon we’ll find ourselves crossing suspension bridges draped in prayer flags, spanning the rushing waters of the Dudh Koshi river. Listen for the tinkling of small bells as caravans of yaks and horses carry goods and supplies to Lukla. Our destination today is Phakding, where we’ll settle in at the best available teahouse and enjoy our first night in the mountains.

Please note: Your flight to Lukla may depart from the Ramechhap Airport in Manthali rather than Kathmandu, due to ongoing upgrades at the Tribhuvan International Airport. Alpine Ramble Treks will keep you apprised of the situation and arrange any necessary additional transportation via microbus.

The Khumbu region encompasses the highest and wildest territories in all of Nepal, and the waypoints of the Everest Base Camp Trek have acquired something of a legendary reputation in mountaineering circles. Today, we’ll make for the most important village in the Khumbu: Namche Bazaar. Setting off from Phakding, we’ll climb past the Dudh Koshi and ascend into woodlands of fir and rhododendron, emerging at last onto the first of many truly spectacular Himalayan viewpoints. All told, today’s section of the Everest Base Camp Trek should take us about five hours to complete. When we arrive at Namche Bazaar, you’ll be more than ready to sit down and get some rest. Namche itself sprawls against a colossal mountainside, fairly sandwiched between the skyscraping peaks of Kongde Ri and Thamserku. It’s one of the most iconic spots in the Himalayas, and the town is full of bakeries, markets, and even museums where you can learn about Sherpa culture. Tonight’s accommodations will be at a comfortable trekking lodge in town.

As we reach higher and higher altitudes, it will be essential to allow time for our bodies to adjust to the thinner atmosphere. We’ll spend today in Namche Bazaar, acclimatizing to the altitude and enjoying everything this quirky trading hub offers. The town is actually known for its bakeries, which deserve accolades for producing mouth-watering pastries at high altitudes. You can also visit the Sherpa Culture Museum or take a short hike to enjoy the viewpoints from Syangboche Airport or the Hotel Everest View. However you choose to spend the day, time spent at Namche Bazaar is never wasted—and you certainly won’t go hungry. Tonight, we’ll return to our lodge to enjoy a second night here in town.

Are you ready for a challenging hike? While higher altitudes await us on the approach to Everest Base Camp and the Gokyo Lakes, today’s net altitude gain still exceeds 400 meters. That means we’ll want to take it slow and steady, trekking through a forest of pine to gain incredible views of Ama Dablam, Lhotse, and Nupste. Next, we’ll actually descend through the woodlands of Sagarmatha National Park to cross a suspension bridge before climbing once again. Our trail then doubles back on itself over a series of switchbacks as it leads into Tengboche, where we’ll stop for the night and check ourselves into one of the best available lodges. The principal attraction of this high-altitude village is undoubtedly the Tengboche Monastery, famous for its striking location in the heart of the mountains. It’s also the largest gompa in Khumbu—don’t miss your chance to step inside and see its historic artwork. You might even have the privilege of attending the monastery’s daily prayers.

After savoring some Tibetan bread and butter tea for breakfast in sight of the mighty Himalayan mountains, we’ll set off for another day of hiking on the Everest Base Camp Trek. The first point of interest on today’s itinerary will be the village of Deboche, which lies just past Tengboche. Here, we’ll find an especially impressive example of a classic mani wall built from hundreds of individual stones, each of which is inscribed with the ubiquitous Buddhist mantra: om mani padme hum. Moving on, we’ll pass through the village of Pangboche and climb stone staircases to draw ever nearer to the mighty Ama Dablam, seeing different aspects of the mountain as our trail twists and turns across the Khumbu. We’ll also get a little tease from Mount Everest itself, with the edge of the mountain peeking out from behind a ridge in the foreground. Our trail today ends in the comparatively larger town of Dingboche after about four or five hours of trekking.

Note: We usually build an extra day here at the Namche Bazaar for acclimatization (Optional) if the time permits and our buddy needs it!

We’ve now reached the point on our Everest Base Camp Trek itinerary where our bodies need another day to adjust to the increased elevation. As always, the trekker’s maxim is “climb high, sleep low.” This means that we can safely ascend to the stunning vantage points of Nagarjun Hill or Chukhung Village before returning to Dingboche in the afternoon. Both of these day hikes afford superlative views of Makalu, Lhotse, Ama Dablam, and other Himalayan mountains. This evening, you’ll want to get a bite to eat at one of the bakeries or cafes in town. Later, watching the sunset over the windswept peaks of the mountains and the stone-walled terraces of Dingboche will make for an exquisite memory that you’ll return to again and again.

Our path today traces the line of the valley northwest, leading us further into the heart of the Khumbu. We’ll find ourselves ascending steeply, following the switchbacks of the Everest Base Camp Trek to reach the high-altitude pass of Thukla. The pass stands at approximately 4,800 meters in elevation, and the view is nothing short of stupendous, with stunning panoramas of the Himalayas rising to meet us from every direction. There’s also a memorial built here to honor the mountaineers who perished on their pursuit of the highest peaks of the Himalayas; after paying our respects, we’ll descend from the pass and continue on to Lobuche. The village itself is a small cluster of guesthouses and kitchens set in the midst of jaw-dropping Himalayan scenery. After checking into our lodge, we’ll have the rest of the afternoon and evening at our leisure. The nighttime ambiance at Lobuche is especially enchanting: the sun sets over the mountains with surprising rapidity, and the warm glow of electric lights suffuses the atmosphere.

Today is the big day! We’ll set out by hiking along the Khumbu Glacier, following a slow and gentle ascent into the heart of the mountains. This section of the Everest Base Camp Trek covers about five miles, and there are some scree-covered slopes standing between us and the settlement of Gorak Shep. We’ll stop here to catch our breath before pressing on to base camp itself, ascending through a bowl of skyscraping Himalayan peaks before arriving at our destination. If you’re trekking during the climbing season, base camp is sure to be a busy hub of mountaineers and trekkers alike, contributing to the communal atmosphere at the foot of the world’s highest mountain. After celebrating our remarkable accomplishments and feasting our eyes on the spectacular scenery, we’ll retrace our steps to Gorak Shep, where we’ll enjoy some hard-earned rest and a hot meal before bed.

You’ve already been to Everest Base Camp, but our adventures in Khumbu are far from over. In fact, the views you’ll earn today from the high-altitude vantage point of Kala Patthar will eclipse anything you’ve seen so far. We’ll start with an early-morning hike, taking about two hours to climb Kala Patthar and arriving just in time for a Himalayan sunrise. It’s no exaggeration to say that the alpine panorama here is the best in the world; there’s no better place to get a good look at Mount Everest, especially with the risen sun breaking over the peaks and crags of the icebound Khumbu. After savoring this life-changing sight to its fullest, we’ll head back down the mountain, pick up our bags at Gorak Shep, and continue trekking in the direction of Dzongla. We should reach the village after about four or five hours on the trail, and we’ll want to get plenty of rest tonight to prepare for tomorrow’s exciting climb to the mountain pass of Cho La.

Another high-altitude destination awaits us this morning: after a fortifying breakfast, we’ll strike out for the lofty pass of Cho La. This is an incredibly challenging section of our Everest Base Camp Trek via Gokyo Lakes itinerary, where the flat ground of the valley swiftly transforms into a steep ascent. We’ll stop to rest periodically as we cross a glacial moraine and climb to the pass, and our efforts will be rewarded with sublime Himalayan vistas stretching to the horizon. After taking in the view, we’ll descend carefully on the other side of the pass, navigating the scree-covered terrain. From here, we’ll continue trekking through a wilderness of towering summits and barren hills before arriving at Thangnak, or Dragnag. At this point in our expedition, we’ve almost reached the spectacular Gokyo Lakes—but we’ll stop here in Thangnak for a good night’s rest.

It’s time to set out for the Gokyo Lakes at last! After breakfast this morning, we’ll set off through a fogbound, lunar landscape of brown and gray stone for approximately three or four hours. When the clouds drift away from the mountaintops under the glare of the sun, rows upon rows of Himalayan peaks will reveal themselves with unparalleled grandeur. We’ll cross another glacier before arriving at Gokyo, a village that’s sure to take your breath away. The town is situated right along the sandy, rocky shores of Gokyo Tso, arguably the most beautiful of the high-altitude Gokyo Lakes. After choosing our teahouse for tonight’s accommodations, you’ll have the afternoon free to relax, explore the village, and enjoy endless cups of tea in one of Khumbu’s most beautiful alpine communities. Consider taking a stroll around the lake to make the most of your time here in Gokyo.

We’ll need to get a very early start this morning, checking the batteries on our headlamps and flashlights and hiking off into the darkness. As with Kala Patthar, our goal is to reach the summit of this scenic mountain viewpoint just in time for sunrise. The trek should take us about three or four hours, with the topmost summits of the Himalayas beginning to reveal themselves in the predawn glow right as we arrive. The panoramic view from Gokyo Ri ranks among the best in all of Nepal, and the added bonus of the ice-blue Gokyo Lakes shimmering under the morning sun is sure to be a highlight of your Everest trek. From here, the descent back to Gokyo should only take about an hour. We’ll have breakfast, pick up our bags, and set off down to the trail to our next destination: Dole. After this morning’s demanding hike, this is a comparatively easy stroll along the Dudh Koshi river; we should arrive in Dole after approximately four hours.

All good things must come to an end, and it’s time to start rewinding our way through the highlands of the Khumbu. From Dole, we’ll steadily lose altitude; you may have already noticed that the town is set amidst far more greenery and plant life than we’ve seen for the past few days. But we’re still covering brand-new territory, and today’s hike to Namche Bazaar will be packed with plenty of splendid scenery. We’ll trek through rhododendron forests, stop to take pictures of waterfalls coursing down sheer rock faces and enjoy a pleasant lunch in the village of Mong La along the way. When we arrive in Namche Bazaar, we’ll get checked in at a local trekking lodge and take the rest of the day to relax. This is a perfect opportunity to check out the local bakeries, visit the Sherpa Culture Museum, and grab a few souvenirs to commemorate your Everest trek.

On the penultimate day of our Everest Base Camp Trek via Gokyo Lakes, we’ll make the final tour from Namche Bazaar back to Lukla. By now, you’ll have noticed that we can move much faster when we’re losing altitude—but you won’t want to rush this last stretch of your trek in Nepal. The beauty of the Khumbu is as enchanting as ever, even in reverse, and you’ll want to savor your last look at the region's mountains, forests, waterfalls, and friendly people. Soon, we’ll find ourselves in Phakding, where we made our first stop on this Everest trek. After catching some rest and having a bite to eat, we’ll press on to Namche. We should arrive after about five or six hours of hiking in total, and we’ll get checked in at our guesthouse before having the afternoon to explore the town and enjoy a celebratory meal with our entire hiking team. Some of our porters will be staying here in Lukla—please be sure to bid them a fond farewell.

As our plane lifts from the dramatic runway at Lukla and we soar over the most spectacular landscapes in the country once again, you may already be planning your next trek in Nepal. When we arrive in Kathmandu, you’ll have one last opportunity to shop for unique souvenirs and handicrafts in the local markets before your outgoing flight. We’ll transfer you to the Tribhuvan International Airport in plenty of time for your departure—and if you’re staying in Nepal, we’d be happy to arrange another trek, any number of adventure activities, or even a jungle safari. Whatever your plans, we’re thrilled that you’ve chosen Alpine Ramble Treks to be your guide on the Everest Base Camp Trek via Gokyo Lakes. We can’t wait to see you again!

Please note: Due to ongoing upgrades at the Tribhuvan International Airport, your flight to Lukla may depart from the Ramechhap Airport in Manthali rather than Kathmandu. Alpine Ramble Treks will keep you apprised of the situation and arrange any necessary additional transportation via microbus.