Everest Base Camp trek via Gokyo lakes which is renowned for its series of beautiful turquoise lakes in Gokyo valley, and the famous Cho La pass takes us through the landmarks of the Khumbu region in the company of majestic mountains, sherpa villages, colorful monasteries, the Namche-Bazaar, Sagarmatha National Park and of course also the base of the mighty Mount Everest.
Why Embark on This Trek?
The trek proceeds to the foot of the tallest mountain in the world and offers spectacular views from famous viewpoints such as Gokyo-Ri and Kala Patthar. The hike also rewards us with beautiful views of the Khumbu icefall. In a nutshell, the Everest Base Camp trek via Gokyo Lakes will be an unforgettable experience with mesmerizing views of Mount Cho Oyu, Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, Nuptse, Amadablam, Pumori and Tengboche Monastery, the largest monastery of the world. Khumbu region in Nepal.
When is the Best Time to Trek at Mt. Everest Base Camp?
Spring (March-May) and autumn (September-November) are the two best seasons for trekking in the Mt. Everest Region. The days are usually warm and sunny, while the nights can be cold, but temperatures aren’t extreme or unpredictable.
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Trip Highlights
- Explore the foothills of the world’s highest mountain, Mt. Everest
- Immerse in the beauty of the shimmering turquoise lakes in the Gokyo Valley
- Encompass the panoramic views of Everest, Lhotse, and Nuptse from Kala Patthar
- Savor the magnificent views of Khumbu icefall
- Cross the nerve-racking Cho La Pass
- Get religious in the colorful monasteries in the backyards of the Sherpas.
Trip Facts
 | Trip Duration: | 15 (Days Trek only)* |
 | Trip Grade: | strenuous |
 | Maximum Altitude | 5357 meters |
 | Best Season | SPRING: March-May AUTUMN: September-November |
 | Accommodation in Mountain | Hotel, Lodge, Tea House |
*You need at least three extra days in Kathmandu 2 days before the trek and one day after
Getting Here
The fastest way is to take a flight to Lukla (the closest airstrip to the Everest region) for about 15 min from Manthali Airport, which is 131 Kilometers in the South East of Kathmandu. This drive takes 3-4 hrs from Kathmandu in a private car.
Or take a bus to Jiri, 8 hrs drive from Kathmandu and a week’s walk to Lukla.
Once you arrive in Lukla, your walking adventure of the classic Everest Base Camp begins.
Outline Itinerary
Day 01: Drive to Manthali Fly to Lukla and trek to Phakding (2650m), 4 hours, overnight teahouse.
Day 02: Trek to Namche Bazaar (3435m), 5-6 hours, overnight teahouse.
Day 03: Rest day in Namche Bazaar (3435m). Side Walk around Namche bazaar.
Day 04: Namche Bazaar to Dole (4038 m) 6-7 hours, overnight teahouse.
Day 05 : Phortse Thanga to Machhermo 4,470m 4-5 hrs
Day 06: Machhermo to Gokyo 4,750 m 4-5 hrs overnight teahouse.
Day 07: Hike to Gokyo Ri 5,357 (rest day) 4,750m 2 hrs
Day 08 : Short trek to Thangnang (4700m).
Day 09: Trek to Dzongla via Cho La pass for 4-5 hours, overnight teahouse.
Day 10: Dzongla to Lobuche 4,940m 2-3 hrs overnight teahouse.
Day 11: Lobuche to Gorak Shep (5125 m), visit Everest Base Camp 5,364m 6-7 hrs overnight teahouse.
Day 12 : Gorak Shep to Kala Patthar 5,545m to Pheriche 4240 m 7-8 hrs
Day 13: Pheriche to Namche Bazaar 3,435m 6-7 hrs
Day 14: Namche Bazaar to Lukla 2,800m 6-7 hrs
Day 15: Fly to Manthali and drive to Kathmandu 1,350 m
Day 1 Drive to Manthali, Fly to Lukla, and trek to Phakding.
Take a flight from Kathamndu or Manthali to Lukla, Sir Edmund Hillary airport, the world’s second most dangerous airport.
If you take a flight from Kathmandu to Lukla, it will take 25 minutes, and from Manthali, it takes 15 minutes. However, to reach Manthali from Kathmandu, it takes 4-5 hours in a private car and by bus 5-6 hours by local bus.
We start the trek alongside the Dudh Kosi river, where we join the main trail towards Namche Bazaar, just above Chaurikharka at 2713m. after crossing by the small village of Ghat at 2550m, not a short walk to the first local village of Phakding. We stay here at night.
Day 2: Trak to Namche Bazar
Walking through the beautiful pine forest, the path leads us to the Dudh Koshi river; we catch a spectacular view of the Thamserku mountain (6618m). The road climbs through forests and bridges until it reaches the confluence of the Dudh Koshi and Bhote Koshi rivers. After the final ascent of about two hours, we see Mount Everest for the first time, peaking at the summit of Lhotse-Nuptse.
We still need to walk for about one h 30min to reach Namche Bazaar, the entrance to Mount Everest, and the main shopping center of this area.
Day 3: ACCLIMATIZATION(3435m)
This is the first “engagement” day for this trip. Or we spend the day on a trip to the sights, or we can relax and explore Namche Bazaar. It is the nerve center of the Everest region (Khumbu) and has government offices, ATMs, internet cafes, shops, restaurants, bakeries, and a beautiful market every Friday and Saturday night.
Day 4: Trek from Namche Bazar to Dole
Namche Bazaar and Dole is a beautiful route. From Namche, the vast and beautiful road continues to Kyanjuma town. The road is in the rocky hills above the Dudh Kosi Gorge. Unparalleled views of Thamserku, Kongde, Ama Dablam, Lhotse, and Mount Everest from the trail accompany you on your journey to Kyanjuma. From there, the trail splits into two wings: one at Everest Base Camp and the other at Gokyo Lakes. This road goes up to the Mong La pass. Passing the Mong La pass, 3972 meters, the route descends to Khumbila.
The road descends to Dudh Kosi river and continues to Phortse Thenga. Before Phortse, the road emerges from the valley. The path passes through the shade of rhododendrons, junipers, and conifers. The green pastures along the route are Yak pastures. Finally, the trail meets Dole, 4040 meters. Wait for sunset at Dole. The view of Khumbila Peak and Tawoche from the Dole is fantastic.
Day 5: Trek from dole to Machhermo
From Dole, the road climbs steeply from Lhabarma to Luza. The road is charming and peaceful. Smell the scent of Juniper Scrub as you walk along the path. Look within you, and you will see Dudh Kosi. The road continues to Macchermo. From the slopes above Machhermo, one can see the impressive Thamserku mountains.
Day 6: Trek From Machhermo to Gokyo
From Macchermo, the path climbs up a beautiful hill. The hill offers a beautiful view of Kangtega. We were passing from a narrow valley to a widening valley. The road meets Pangkha and descends to Dudh Kosi port. From here, the trail will climb as you climb the moraine at the end of the Ngozumpa Glacier. Along the way is the original Gokyo Lake. There is a fantastic landscape with some small summer cottages of shepherds.
But there is Gokyo! A small but beautiful town on the shores of Gokyo’s third lake, Dudh Pokhari. From the mountains near the village of Gokyo, the Ngozumpa glacier can be seen. The hill is the best view of the Ngozumpa Glacier. Namche to Gokyo (one way) is over. Next? There are many options. But for you, you have two best options:
Gokyo to Namche
If you want to return to Namche to explore the amazing Gokyo Valley, you can retrace your steps. Returning to the road, you will come to Namche directly. But before returning, you must spend a day in Gokyo and explore the entire Gokyo Valley. You will go to Gokyo Ri on foot and enjoy the golden time when the sun rises. You will also have a fantastic view of the five Gokyo Lakes and the Ngozumpa Glacier.
It won’t be wise to say this, but you can’t go back from Gokyo if you’ve explored everything.
Day 7: Hike to Gokyo Ri (Rest Day)
Gokyo Ri is the largest glacier in Nepal and is considered to be the largest in the entire Himalayas. Gokyo (4,750 m, 15,583 feet above sea level), at the foot of Gokyo Ri, is a small part of a few stone buildings and one of the highest places in the world. From the summit of Gokyo Ri, we can see four peaks of 8,000 meters: Mount Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, and Cho Oyu. Lake Gokyo is in the area.
Day 8: Trek to Thangnak
The trail from Gokyo village now extends to Thangnak. The track is a short distance. The views of Mount Cho Oyu, Everest, Lhotse, and Makalu are close and beautiful from the rugged road. When you look down, you will see a beautiful view of the Ngozumpa Glacier. A lovely place, Thangna is in the eastern part of Gokyo.
Day 9: Trek to Dzongla via Cho La pass
Thangnak and Dzongla are strong. It’s the most challenging part! On the way between Thangnak and Dzongla is Cho La pass, 5420 meters. The road is full of rocks, followed by a steep climb to the Cho La pass.
The rocks are slippery ice. Above Cho La, beautiful prayer flags flutter in the wind. As the trail descends, a beautiful view of Ama Dablam. The road went down to Dzongla.
Dzongla is a beautiful place with amazing views of Mount Ama Dablam, Cholatse, Lobuche, and Pheriche, a beautiful village in Khumbu.
Day 10: Trek from Dzongla to Lobuche
The route from Dzongla to Lobuche is easy. From Dzongla, the trail climbs slightly to the foot of Awi Peak. From there, a short descent through the beautiful mountains of Cholatse and Tawache will lead to Lobuche. The peak of Lobuche is brighter and more attractive. A beautiful road finally reached Lobuche.
Day 11: Lobuche to Gorak Shep Visit Everest Base Camp
From Lobuche, the trail passes through unique lands. Along the way, views of Mount Everest, Nuptse, Lingtren, Khumbutse, and Pumori become increasingly apparent. The track will go to Gorak Shep.
From Gorak Shep, the trail goes across the park. The base camp is a dream destination for avid travelers from all over the world. From the foundation, Mount Everest the highest peak in the world.
Day 12: Gorak Shep to Kala Patthar to Pheriche
From Gorakshep, this route goes up to Kalapathar. Kalapathar is the best place on Everest. Everest Base Camp trekkers go to Kalapathar to enjoy the magnificent view of the sun rising over the majestic Himalayan mountains, including Everest.
From Gorakshep, the road descends to Dingboche. Dingboche is a beautiful small Sherpa village in Khumbu. This road is gorgeous. You can have some of the best trekking experiences that you can have on the Everest Base Camp Trek Trail.
Day 13: Trek to Namche
After breakfast, start to trek. Walking down the steep trails will be pretty tough. The course is not just vertical but also dusty and rugged.
Pheriche to Namche is a long day. However, the walk becomes easier when trekking to lower altitudes. The air gets warmer, and walking down becomes steady.
Day 14: Trek to Lukla
Today, we walk the same path and have different thoughts. In the distance, we discover a mixture of open plains, rhododendrons, pine forests, and snowy peaks. When we reach Lukla, we will have free time to stretch those aching legs and remember the experiences of the last two days. Our guide will also confirm our flight tickets. We had a final dinner with our crew in the evening, making it a festive evening.
Day 15: Fly back to Kathmandu
After a healthy and hearty breakfast, we fly back to Kathmandu after our long mountain journey. The early morning flight drops us in Kathmandu.
