Everest Base Camp & Gokyo Lakes via Cho La Pass Trek - 20 Days

Upon landing at Tribhuvan International Airport, our representative will welcome you and transfer you to your hotel in Thamel. Use the afternoon to rest and unwind. In the evening, you will join the Mountain Lust Adventure team for a welcome dinner.

Today, you will spend your day preparing for the trek. While you check your gear and engage in last-minute shopping, our representatives secure your Sagarmatha National Park and Khumbu permits.

If you need extra thermal layers or microspikes for the Cho La Pass, the rental shop in Thamel is the best place to find them.

Your Everest adventure begins with a flight to Lukla. Once in Lukla, you will meet your porters and begin a gentle trek through Mani-stone-walled villages to Phakding.

During peak season, flights to Lukla are diverted to Manthali Airport in Ramechhap. This requires an early 2:00 AM drive from your hotel in Kathmandu to reach the airport in time for your morning flight.

Today, we follow the Dudh Koshi River, crossing the iconic Hillary Suspension Bridge draped in prayer flags. The final two-hour climb to Namche Bazaar is steep. Keep your camera ready; just before reaching the town, you will notice a gap in the trees that offers your very first view of Everest.

Today is your first acclimatization day. To allow your lungs to better adapt to the Himalayan conditions, you will follow the "climb high, sleep low" rule by hiking to the Everest View Hotel.

The panoramic view of Ama Dablam, Lhotse, and Everest is the best way to help your blood oxygenate. Afterward, visit the Sherpa Culture Museum or enjoy a coffee at the world's highest bakery.

The trail from Namche to Tengboche is spectacular. Your trek starts with a descent to Phunki Tenga. Here, you stop for lunch before a steady climb through rhododendron forests to Tengboche. Tengboche is the spiritual heart of the Khumbu region.

You will aim to arrive at the Tengboche Monastery by 3:00 PM to witness the resident monks perform their afternoon prayer ceremony.

Today’s trek begins with a descent through forests to Pangboche, where the views of Ama Dablam become incredibly intimate. The landscape shifts as you cross the tree line, entering a more arid, alpine world.

Dingboche is a beautiful village where stone walls protect fields of barley from the biting Himalayan winds.

The second acclimatization day in Dingboche is crucial. Following the "climb high, sleep low" principle, you will hike up the steep ridge of Nangkartshang Peak before returning to Dingboche. From the summit, you are rewarded with views of the world's fifth-highest mountain, Makalu, and the stunning Pheriche Valley below. This extra effort today makes pushing into the alpine zone much easier tomorrow.

Leaving Dingboche, the trail climbs gradually to Dughla (Thukla) before a steep ascent up the terminal moraine of the Khumbu Glacier. At the top of this challenging climb, you will pass the Thukla Pass memorials. This is a tribute to climbers who lost their lives on Everest. From here, the trail levels out as you follow the valley to the small, cold settlement of Lobuche, framed by the towering peak of Nuptse.

For most, this is the ultimate destination, but for you, it’s just the first major highlight of the Khumbu Loop. Leaving Lobuche, you will trek across the rocky moraine of the Khumbu Glacier to Gorakshep. After dropping your bags and having a quick meal, you push on to Everest Base Camp. Standing on the edge of the Khumbu Icefall, surrounded by the world's highest peaks, is an emotional milestone. After taking it all in, you will return to Gorakshep for the night.

Before dawn, you will begin the slow, freezing climb to Kalapatthar. This is the highest point of your entire trek and offers the ultimate, unobstructed sunrise view over the summit of Mount Everest. After capturing photos at the 5,645-meter vantage point, you will descend back to Gorakshep for a hot breakfast, and then retrace your steps down the valley to sleep in Lobuche.

Today, you leave the main EBC trail and follow the path around the Awi Peak. The trek traverses through high above the Cholatse Valley, offering a much quieter atmosphere as you approach the small settlement of Dzongla. Dzongla is considered the gateway to the Cho La Pass.

Today is the most technical and demanding day. You start early to avoid afternoon winds on the pass. The ascent involves scrambling over boulders before reaching the glacier. Walking across the crisp, white ice of the Cho La Pass is exhilarating, but reaching the summit gives you an immense sense of accomplishment.

It’s now time to descend to Thagnak. The journey is steep and requires careful footing.

The trek to Gokyo takes you across the vast Ngozumpa Glacier, the longest in the Nepal Himalayas. Your journey winds through massive piles of rock and ice until the third Gokyo Lake, locally known as Dudh Pokhari, emerges into sight.

The morning begins with a climb to Gokyo Ri. Ask any experienced climber, and they’ll tell you the view from the Gokyo Ri vantage point is superior to Kalapatthar. From here, you can see four 8,000m peaks and the entire glacier system at once.

After descending back to Gokyo, you will spend the rest of the afternoon relaxing by the lakeshore, soaking in the silence.

Leaving the high altitude of Gokyo behind, you begin your descent out of the high alpine zone. The trek down toward Dole offers a different perspective of the Khumbu, with the trail winding through alpine meadows.

The trail from Dole drops steeply through forests as you pass through Phortse Tenga. Enjoy a final, comfortable walk back into Namche Bazaar, relishing the sight of Ama Dablam as it follows you almost the entire way.

The trek back to Lukla marks the final day of trekking in the Khumbu region. This is a long day and requires you to descend the "Namche Hill" and follow the river back to Lukla. Upon reaching Lukla, it’s time to celebrate. Share stories with your porters and guide over a final mountain dinner and a celebratory “cheers!”

Prepare for an early morning flight back to Kathmandu. Your flight gives you an aerial view of the Khumbu region, allowing you to bid a final farewell to the icy giants.

After reaching Kathmandu, our representatives will transfer you to your hotel. You have a free afternoon for a well-deserved massage or to grab those last-minute souvenirs before the farewell dinner in the evening.

Enjoy your final breakfast in Kathmandu. Our representative will pick you up and drive you to the airport for your flight home.