Gokyo Lakes–Cho La Pass–EBC Trek

After finishing passport, immigration, and visa requirement formalities, our guide and representative receives you for a short transfer to your hotel. The schedule for this day is afternoon free, evening welcome dinner, introduction to your guide, and a briefing on the trek with a check on necessities and overnight at the hotel.

After morning breakfast our city guide will take you for a day tour around Kathmandu valley including five cultural world heritage sites: Swayambhunath, the popularly known as “monkey temple”; the city’s historical Durbar Square with ancient temples, unique art, and architecture as well as the Kumari (living goddess); Patan’s Durbar Square; the Hindu temple Pashupatinath and Bouddhanath, the world’s largest stupa. A car and driver will facility you and wait for you at each site entrance with free entry tickets and lunch.

After having breakfast, we will move to the Tribhuvan International airport and take a flight to the Tenzing Hillary Airport in Lukla. After landing at the airport, you will arrive in the Khumbu region which is in the south of Everest. There, our local porters will carry your luggage and begin the adventure by trekking to the Dudh Koshi Valley along with Cheplung (2 700m) and Ghat (2 530m). We have to walk another hour to reach Phakding. We will stop overnight in Phakding.

We will walk through pine forests along the Dudh Koshi crossing tributaries to reach the Sherpa villages of Benkar (2 710m), Chumoa (2 820m), Monjo (2 840m), and Jorsale (2 830m). This is the gateway and checkpoint for the Sagarmatha National Park permission. Thamserku (6 618m) is in the east of the village. We will follow the river Bhote Koshi which is the major river draining the Khumbu District. Then, we will climb steadily crossing the high Tenzing-Hilary Bridge, the first glimpses of Everest, and the Nuptse-Lhotse ridge. After another three hours’ climb through the forested area takes you to Namche Bazaar which is the administrative and trade center of the region. We will stop overnight in Namche Bazaar.

This day will be for the first acclimatization of this trek. At least a 24 hr rest is required to reduce Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) and to be active. The best advice for acclimatization is to climb high and sleep low. Namche provides ATMs, cyber cafés, restaurants, and bakeries as well as a colorful market each Friday evening and Saturday morning. The Sagarmatha (Everest) National Park Visitor’s Centre has informative displays with Sherpa culture, local flora, and fauna.
The village of Khumjung (3 780m) portrays a more traditional view of Sherpa life than Namche. We will spend a morning walking up through a circular trail to reach the village. At least, we will visit the closer Everest View Hotel (3 880m). We will walk a more adventurous five-hour trek west to Thame (3 820m). Below the impressive Kongde Ri Ridge (6 187m), you will panoramic Himalayan landscapes not visible from the Gokyo or Everest trails.

From the top of Namche, the trail goes around a hill to Sanasa (3 600m); and two routes go from there: one NW to Gokyo and the other NE to Everest. We can look for Himalayan tahrs, spotted deer, and birds – (including Danphe- a colorful national bird of Nepal). Then, we will turn to NW along the slopes of Khumbila (5 761m) towards the Dudh Khosi Valley. We will head up to Mong La (3 975m, with a central chorten). Before reaching Dole, we will descend to Phortse Thenga (3 680m) through pine and rhododendron forest. having great snow-capped views.

Traveling through scrub minimizing AMS risks, we will climb to scenic ridges overlooking the valley’s summer grazing charkas (grasslands). After some walking, a snowy Cho Oyu appears ahead. Finally, Kangtega and Thamserku stand south of the valley, and Machhermo is situated in a broad valley below the moraine We will stay overnight in Machhermo.

We will walk from the base to a ridge where the south face of the mighty Cho Oyu is seen. The trail will gradually descend to the river. At Pangka (4 390m), there is a second path from the south to join the trail before the side of the moraine.
We can see six small lakes on the western side of the moraine. A bridge crosses the edge of the first - the Longponga Tsho (4 690m). Next is the Taboche Tsho (4 710m) just after a trail onto the glacier running to Tagnag and the Cho La. A 30 minutes walk leads to the Dudh Pokhari.
There is Gokyo village above on the side of the glacial moraine. The last three lakes are situated further up the valley towards the village. We will take overnight rest in Gokyo.

You have two exploration choices at Gokyo. A lower 3km trail north of the village has the route past the remaining lakes. The melted water from the glacier is the source of the Dudh Koshi that was followed by Lukla. There are Phonak Tsho (4 870m), Ngozumpa Tsho (4 980m), and Scoundrel’s viewpoint (5 000m) on a low hill. There, we have a chance to have tremendous close-up views of Cho-Oyu, the ice wall, and Ghyachung Kang plus Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse, and Makalu. Around two hours takes to return to Gokyo. The Cho-Oyu Base Camp at the northern end of the sixth, Gyazumba Tsho (4 990m), is too hard with a day’s walk. We will return to Gokyo for the night.
The route to the Gokyo Ri viewpoint (5 360m/17 590ft) begins after a short walk around the lake. It's better to start the journey early in the morning to avoid the mid-morning cloud for the two-hour climb to its summit. Ngozumpa Glacier is below the summit which is one of Nepal’s longest glaciers. Above is Mahalangur Himal that includes Cho-Oyu (8 201m) the ice wall and Ghyachung Kang (7 952m), the north face of Everest (8 848m/29 028ft), Lhotse (8 516m), Nuptse (7 861m), and Makalu (8 463m). To the south are Cholatse, Taboche, Thamserku, Kangtega, Kusum Kangru and many more all of which are over 6300m.

The trail to the Gokyo Ri viewpoint begins after a short walk around the lake. We start the journey early in the morning to avoid the mid-morning cloud for the two-hour climb to its summit. The broad, rubble-covered Ngozumpa Glacier is just below. Above is the Mahalangur Himal that includes Cho-Oyu (8 201m) the ice wall and Ghyachung Kang (7 952m), the north face of Everest (8 848m/29 028ft), Lhotse (8 516m), Nuptse (7 861m), and Makalu (8 463m), while to the south Cholatse, Taboche, Thamserku, Kangtega, Kusum Kanguru (all over 6 300m) and many more.
After breakfast at the teahouse, we will take a rest to Taboche Tsho. Then, we will climb the trail onto the moraine and cross the kilometer-wide glacier to the tiny summer

Walking to the high, summit views to the west include the Ngozumpa Glacier, with Pharilapche and Kyajo Ri standing out amidst other peaks. The Mahalangur Himal is in the north which presents the vast white wall from Ghyachung Kang, west, across Ngozumpa II and I to Cho Oyu. These peaks are all above 7 600m. To the east Cholatse, Baruntse, Lobuche West and East and Ama Dablam are seen.
We will walk down along the Cho La Glacier which curves downwards to a minor ice fall before a ridge, then a scramble down boulders. Below the valley, there is the seasonal grazing kharkas of Dzongkha. We stay overnight in Dzongkha.

After a short rest day, we prepare for two long days and the high Base Camp altitudes. Walk down the wide shallow valley, beneath Taboche and Cholatse and past the Cho La Tsho. The trail then goes north around Awi Peak (5 245m) to Duglha where it joins the main Dingboche – Base Camp trail. We walk up to Lobuche. We stay overnight in Lobuche.

The trail along the moraine heads for the last is the seasonal village of Gorak Shep below Pumori. After an early lunch, we will trek to cold Everest Base Camp on the Khumbu Glacier opposite the dreaded icefall. It is noted that April-May demands porters scurry in and out with supplies like an army of ants. During this season, the site is full of colorful tents on the dirty ice. Out of season, it is bleak and silent only available bar birds wind, and avalanches. Everest is hidden behind the West Ridge. We will walk back to Gorak Shep for the night.

From the village, we climb down about 2-3 hrs and climb up to reach Kala Patthar which offers sunrise views over Everest (8 848m/29 028ft), Lhotse (8 516m), Nuptse (7 861m), and Changtse (7 550m). Then, a further walk offers outstanding views of Pumori (7 145m), Lingtren (6 697m), Khumbutse (6 623m), and Cho Oyu (8 201m).
After breakfast, we will step to Lobuche (4 940m). We will descend the moraine and follow the western trail to the lower and warmer Pheriche. We will stay overnight here.

Today’s trek to Debuche (3 820m) is before a mild rise through rhododendron forest to the hilltop village of Tengboche which has an important monastery and great views. A long down walk leads to Phunki Thenga (3 250m) on the Imja Khola: the trek’s lowest point north of Lukla. The path then goes to Sanasa (where the trail forked to Gokyo). We walk back to Namche Bazaar. We stay overnight in Namche Bazaar.

From Namche, the long final descend trail takes to more comfortable altitudes, returning through the farming villages of Jorsale, Monjo, and Phakding. Then, we cross the suspension bridge at Thado Khosi before rising to Ghat and Cheplung. We move round to the adventure with the final ascent to Lukla We stay overnight in Lukla.

After having an early breakfast, we will take the flight to Kathmandu and transfer to your hotel. You will rest the whole day.

This is the day for departing but it is a start for other visits! You are leaving this small heaven; missing the life and time you spent here. You will fly back to your destination/home taking the memory of the country of Lord Buddha. Nature Heaven Treks and Expedition will be with you to drop you off at the Airport/Bus Station. We must plan to reach the airport in about 3 hours for boarding and customs purposes.