Gokyo Lake and Cho La Pass Trek

Flying into Kathmandu, you'll have views over the valley, the Himalaya, and the terraced fields below. After completing customs, a representative will be waiting to greet you outside the airport and to guide you through the initial culture shock of Kathmandu’s narrow, winding streets to your hotel.

Kathmandu has a special atmosphere during the early morning hours when the city is slowly coming to life yet not too chaotic. It's a great time to walk and explore the streets or have a chai overlooking one of the local courtyards or durbar squares.
After breakfast, there are then a number of ways you can spend your day given the numerous famous sights around the Kathmandu Valley. You can use this as a free day to shop around Kathmandu city as per your interest.
Overnight: Kathmandu

After breakfast, you'll fly to Lukla (30 minutes) and land on a steep mountain runway, which brings you to the start of your trek. Try to get a window seat on the left-hand side of the plane and keep your camera close: the flight takes you between mountains and through valleys, with great views of the Himalaya on clear days.

You'll then trek a short distance today through local villages where you'll likely encounter fellow trekkers, locals, and yaks with their tinkling bells. (Having an easy first day is intentional, allowing you time to get used to the higher elevation.)

Continue through the Dudh Koshi Valley on a well-marked trail and stay overnight in Phakding.

Trekking time: 3-4 hours (4.7 miles / 7.5 km)

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Overnight: Phakding

After breakfast in Phakding, you'll start a steady and steep incline towards Namche. This is a challenging day as you'll start to feel the altitude. The route also consists of a number of high suspension bridges over the Dudh Kosi River that you need to cross. Just beyond the village of Monjo is the entrance to the Sagarmatha National Park, set up in order to protect and preserve the fragile mountain environment (your guide will cover your permit fees here). The trail gets steeper along the way, and if the weather is clear, you will get the first glimpses of Mount Everest.
When you arrive at Namche, settle into your accommodations and explore the town. Namche is a great place to stock up on supplies as there are numerous small shops selling snacks and trekking gear, as well as restaurants and bars. If here on a weekend, check out the Saturday market—a meeting place for the Hindu traders from the lowlands and the Tibetan yak caravans that have crossed the glaciated Nangpa La.
Trekking time: 4-6 hours (4.6 miles / 7.4 km)
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight: Namche Bazaar

Today is a rest day so take time to relax and sleep in. Namche is tucked away between two ridges amid the giant peaks of the Khumbu and has an abundance of lodges, tea shops, and souvenir markets. It is an ideal place to spend a day acclimatizing to the higher altitude.
To speed up the acclimatization process, you can also head to the Khunde Hospital set up by Sir Edmund Hillary, or take a highly-recommended one-hour walk up to the Everest View Hotel above Namche for views of notable peaks like Ama Dablam, Nuptse, Lhotse, and Everest. There are also good views from the Sherpa Culture Museum just above town.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight: Namche Bazaar

Today is a spectacular day in terms of scenery as you follow the main trail north out of Namche. A short climb to a crest reveals a wonderful view towards Everest and Lhotse. You follow this main trail for a while longer, passing many traders selling Tibetan handicrafts, to a crossroads high above the Dudh Kosi. The trail to Everest drops down the hill but you turn off here and climb to cross the Mon La ("La" means pass) before reaching Phortse Tenga. From Phortse Tenga, the trail climbs steeply to Dole, through rhododendron and birch forest festooned with hanging mosses and lichens.
Walking time: 6-7 hours
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight: Dole

From Dole, you climb steadily along the side of the valley as rhododendron forests give way to scrub juniper. The trail passes summer settlements (yersa), which are used when yaks are taken to these pastures to graze in the summer months. Ahead, you'll have excellent views of Cho Oyu, while back down the valley are the peaks of Kantega and Thamserku. This is a short day and you will arrive at Machhermo in time for lunch.

Walking time: 4-5 hours

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Overnight: Machhermo

Now that you're at high altitude, you will stay at Machhermo for an extra day to help acclimatize. There are plenty of ways to explore around Machhermo—just above the village, there is an excellent view encompassing Cho Oyu (8210m) and the mountains which flank the Ngozumpa Glacier.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Overnight: Machhermo

Rested, you head for Gokyo village and lake. You'll follow a very scenic path to Pangka and then descend slightly, following one of the melt-water rivers which flow down the west side of the Ngozumpa Glacier. You climb a steep rocky incline into the valley by the side of the glacier, passing the first of the holy lakes. You soon arrive at the second lake, crossing the path which heads across the glacier to Cho La—our route to Lobuche and Everest, later in the trek. The third lake is known as Dudh Pokhari and on its eastern shore is the settlement of Gokyo.
Walking by the side of the lake, the scenery is magnificent with the summits of Cho Oyu and Gyachung Kang reflected in its emerald green waters.
Walking time: 5-6 hours
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight: Gokyo

Today is a rest day in Gokyo with a few options on how to spend the day. You can take an easy climb to Gokyo Ri and enjoy views of the incredible mountain vista. You can also tour the fourth Gokyo Lake, which is just under two miles north of the Gokyo Village. If you're up for a more challenging day, you can continue trekking to the fifth lake. At the edge of the lake is a spot called "Scoundrel's Viewpoint" for astonishing views of Cho-Oyu, Gyachung Kang, Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse, and the Makulu mountains, as well as the massive Ngozumba Glacier. From here, trek back to Gokyo and spend the night.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight: Gokyo

Acclimatized, you leave Gokyo to cross Ngozumpa Glacier. You'll descend to the second lake and drop down onto the glacier. The route across the glacier is marked by cairns and is generally quite well defined. You climb off the glacier by a small dwelling known as Tragnag and follow a shallow valley to our camp by a small kharka (summer grazing pasture).
Walking time: 3-4 hours
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight: Tragnag

An early start is needed today, as not only do you have to cross Cho La but you also have to make the long descent to reach Lobuche. Continuing up the valley, you cross a ridge and an old lateral moraine, before beginning the rocky scramble to the pass. From the pass, there are excellent views, across to the Rolwaling Valley in the west and Ama Dablam to the south-east. The descent from the pass involves the crossing of a small glacier (often snow-covered) which is fairly straightforward. There are more excellent views of Ama Dablam and the forbidding north face of Cholatse as you descend to the pastures below. The way to Lobuche contours the grassy slopes above a lake, the Tshola Tsho, to join up with the main Everest trail from Pheriche and Tengboche. The trail flattens out and follows the valley on the west side of the Khumbu Glacier to Lobuche.
Walking time: 9-10 hours
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight: Lobuche

After breakfast, you'll trek along the moraine of the Khumbu Glacier. Ahead, you'll see the crest of the north ridge of Everest along with Pumori, Mahalangur, Lingtern, Khumbutse, and Nuptse. A small ascent takes you to Thangma Riju where you can admire panoramic views and then ascend on a steep trail to the top of Changri Glacier. Soon, you'll reach Gorak Shep. Later in the afternoon, just before sunset, you'll start the climb up to one of the finest viewpoints in the Everest region, Kala Patthar (5,554 m).

Trekking time: 3 hours (2.7 miles / 4.3 km)

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Overnight: Gorak Shep

Today is the day you've been waiting for! Have an early breakfast in Gorak Shep and get a head start towards Everest Base Camp. It'll take 2-3 hours to get here, as the trail weaves its way through ice pinnacles and crevasses of the Khumbu Glacier. Though the path is a gentle climb, the high elevation makes it more difficult. Take it slow and enjoy Mount Everest views along the way. When you arrive, you'll be greeted with piles of stones, strings of prayer flags, and a few "Everest Base Camp" signs with dates and elevation. Celebrate with your fellow trekkers and absorb the incredible landscapes. On the return journey, you can take a higher route to get a spectacular view of the Khumbu icefall. Return to Lobuche for the night.

Trekking time: 6-7 hours

Trekking distance: 6.6 miles (10.7 km)

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Overnight: Lobuche

After breakfast in Lobuche, you'll begin a mostly downhill trek to Pangboche. Retrace your steps and descend to Pheriche, where you'll arrive at The Himalayan Rescue Association—a trekker’s aid post and worth a visit. Stop for lunch and then cross the Khumbu Khola on a wooden suspension bridge. From here, follow the Imja Khola to the village of Pangboche.

Trekking time: 5-6 hours (9.9 miles / 16 km)

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Overnight: Pangboche

After breakfast in Pangboche, you'll continue a downward trek (be careful of your footing) and then climb back up through a beautiful birch and rhododendron forest to get to Tengboche. From here, descend to the bridge over the Dudh Kosi river while admiring the Himalayan giants around you. At Phunki Tenga, you'll get to see the water-driven prayer wheels before making your way back to Namche for the night.

Trekking time: 6-8 hours (9.4 miles / 15.12 km)

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Overnight: Namche Bazaar

Wake up for an early breakfast in Namche, then retrace your steps back to Lukla following the Dudh Kosi river valley. It's a long day, but it won't be too difficult as it's downhill and you'll be in good shape from all the previous days of trekking. You'll make your way through villages like Chumoa, Benkar, Phakding, and Chuthawa, eventually reaching the Pasang Lhamu Memorial Gate signifying the end of the trek. Though most of the route is an easy downhill slope, the last section of trail before arriving takes you uphill—a fitting way to finish. With Lukla’s handful of shops, bars, and cafes—and even a faux Starbucks!—there are plenty of things to occupy your time as you reflect on your experience.
Trekking time: 6-7 hours (11.1 miles / 17.9 km)
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight: Lukla

After breakfast in Lukla, you'll take an early morning flight back to Kathmandu. Upon arrival, you'll be transferred to your hotel and will be able to enjoy the rest of the afternoon and evening at your leisure. Explore Kathmandu's streets on foot, bicycle, or rickshaw, perhaps shopping for souvenirs or seeing anything you may have missed at the beginning of your trip. Other ideas include rewarding your muscles after the trek with a massage service at Seeing Hands (services are offered from the visually impaired), or the more upscale Kinjalla Spa. You can also take an early evening yoga class at Pranamaya Yoga, with two locations in Thamel and Patan. In the evening, choose from a selection of Nepali, French, Vietnamese, and Middle Eastern dishes in Kathmandu.
Flight time: 30 minutes
Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight: Kathmandu

It's time to say farewell to Nepal. Enjoy your last moments in Kathmandu with breakfast in a café, a final stroll through the narrow alleys and temples, and some final souvenir shopping. A driver will be waiting for you at your hotel to take you to the airport for your return flight home. It's best to be at the airport at least two hours prior to departure.

Meals included: Breakfast