All about this group trek

The Gokyo Everest Base Camp Trek is an amazing group trek adventure in the Everest Region. It stitches 2 great treks together: the trek to Everest Base Camp (EBC) and Gokyo Lake by crossing the high mountain pass of Cho La (5,420 m / 17,782 ft).

We know: as if trekking near Mount Everest itself isn’t already cool enough.

How many days is the Gokyo Everest Base Camp Trek?

You can trek to Gokyo Lake and EBC in 16 days. You only need 4 days extra compared to the ‘regular’ trek to Everest Base Camp.

Is it worth to trek to Gokyo Lake and EBC?

YES! Especially if you’re always looking for the greatest trekking experience in a more quiet and peaceful matter.

Here’s 3 reasons why:

  1. If you trek straight to Base Camp, you will follow the same trail up and down. With this route, you’ll have a round trek, allowing yourself to visit more places, new trails and views
  2. Crossing the high Cho La Pass adds an additional adventurous element to your trek
  3. The remote Gokyo Lake is a spectacular place to visit, which most people skip, making it a more quiet area than the trail straight to EBC

Which mountains can I see from Gokyo and EBC?

During this trek, you’ll be rewarded with stunning views of towering peaks from some of the highest mountains in the region.

Along the way, you’ll visit two iconic viewpoints: Gokyo Ri and Kala Pattar, both offering panoramic vistas of numerous majestic summits. These include:

  • Cho Oyu (8,188 m / 26,864 ft)
  • Lhotse (8,516 m / 27,940 ft)
  • Makalu (8,485 m / 27,838 ft)
  • Cholatse (6,440 m / 21,130 ft)
  • Taboche (6,495 m / 21,309 ft)
  • Mount Everest (8,848 m / 29,031 ft)

PS These views are actually something that are normally reserved for mountaineers and helicopters. 🙂

Can I pull this off?

Yes! You can absolutely join the Gokyo Everest Base Camp Trek, provided you are in good physical condition, have the right gear, and a positive mindset. This trek requires you to be able to walk for an average of 7 hours per day, so a proper level of fitness is essential.

The itinerary is carefully planned to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience. It takes into account the maximum altitude gain you can make each day and includes rest days to help you acclimatize properly. This way, your body can adjust gradually, reducing the risk of altitude sickness and making the trek more comfortable.

How big is the group?

Our group treks are small-scale, with 4 to 8 guests and one guide. Extra porters can join if booked as an additional service. We choose small groups because:

  1. Better group dynamics: Small groups create a friendly and enjoyable atmosphere.
  2. Personal attention: You get more interaction with your guide while still sharing costs, making it cheaper than a private trek.
  3. Comfort and sustainability: It’s the best size for our staff and respects local communities.

Which additional services does BMP have to offer?

You can book your entire trip to Nepal with us. Here are a few examples of additional travel services we offer:

  • Porter services
  • Airport transfer upon arrival in Nepal
  • All other domestic transportations
  • Accommodation in Kathmandu (various types available on request)
  • City tour in Kathmandu
  • Jungle safari in the south (highly recommended!)

I have an other question about the group or this trek …

Just send an email or a Whatsapp message, and we will provide you with more information on this group and the trekking route. We’re looking forward to having you join!

– Govinda

The highlights

Travel itinerary

Welcome to Nepal! Your international flight lands at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu.

After a good night of sleep and hopefully beating the jetlag, we will meet again for a pre-trip meeting. Today, we will discuss the itinerary and check if we’ve packed everything we need for the trek.

What’s next? You can use this day to adjust to the different time zone, altitude and climate. Also, you can prepare yourself for your trek and do some last shopping’s at one of the many outdoor gear shops around your hotel.

Early morning, your guide will come to your hotel to pick you up. You wil go the domestic airport together, to take a short but scenic flight to Tenzing and Hillary Airport in Lukla (2,860 m / 9,380 ft). Upon arrival at Lukla, your guide will introduce you to your sherpa’s before beginning your trek.

After landing, we will take our time to explore the village while your sherpa crew sorts and loads the trekking equipment. Then, we will begin the trek! First, we will descend towards the Dudh Khosi River where we can join the main trail to Namche Bazaar, the main hub of the Everest region. Today, the walk is easy and will take us to Phakding (2,610 m / 8,560 ft).

mountain flight – lunch & dinner – mountain lodge

After breakfast, we will continue our trek along the banks of the Dudh Khosi River. Also, we will be crossing this majestic river many times, on exciting suspension bridges laden with prayer flags. After entering Sagamartha National Park, the trail climbs steeply with breathtaking views.

Namche Bazaar (3,440 m /11,290 ft) – known as the Gateway to Everest – is home to many quality restaurants, hotels, lodges, shops, money exchanges, internet cafes and bakeries. Namche is one of the biggest villages along the entire Everest trail.

breakfast, lunch & dinner – mountain lodge

Today, we spend the day in and around Namche Bazaar in order to acclimatize and adjust to the thinning of the air. We can go on a short trek in the area, and visit a museum celebrating the traditional customs of the Sherpa people. Or, we can hike up Syangboche Airport. From this point, we can have rewarding views of the Himalayas with stunning sunrise and sunset over the panorama of the Khumbu peaks.

breakfast, lunch & dinner – mountain lodge

We start off by climbing Khumjung Hill, and descend to the east of the village. All the way down the broad valley, leading us back to the Dudh Khosi River from where the route turns north. There are 2 trails, and your guide will decide what will be the best option to follow.

Today, we will see a chorten on the ridge top at 3,973 m/13,034 ft. Also, we can visit Mohang. This is the birthplace of the re-incarnated Lama of Rongbuk Monastery of Tibet, who is believed to have introduced Buddhism in the Khumbu region of Nepal. The trail descends in a series of steep switchbacks down a sandy slope to Phortse Thenga, near the river.

breakfast, lunch & dinner – mountain lodge

We will walk on a trail, alongside a mighty rhododendron forest. Then, the trail passes through a waterfall before reaching Tongba Village. We continue our uphill trek till we reach Dole.

breakfast, lunch & dinner – mountain lodge

From Dole, we will continue our trek uphill through Labarma and Luza Village untill we have reached Machhermo. There is a chorten, right before the Luza village. Throughout today’s journey, we will be walking alongside the river Dudh Khosi.

breakfast, lunch & dinner – mountain lodge

Today, we leave the foothills and enter the desolate tundra of the high mountains. We will climb steeply up a scrubby slope to a collection of chortens on the hilltop, and follow a ridge. On the way, we will have good views south to Kantega (6,782 m / 22,251 ft) and north towards the massive Cho Oyu (8,188 m / 26,864 ft), the 6th highest mountain in the world.

Soon, we’ll arrive at the tiny settlement of Pangka, squeezed against a mound of sand and rubble at the end of Ngozumpa Glacier.

We will climb further up into a rocky cleft on stone steps, beside one of the streams that feeds the river Dudh Khosi we saw earlier. This portal releases us onto the lateral moraine of the Ngozumpa Glacier. It is the longest glacier in the Himalaya, which begins 20 km north on the slopes of Cho Oyu. Wedged between the mountain wall and this crumbling mound of sand and gravel are 6 sacred lakes. These reflect the peaks in their calm, mirrored surfaces.

Immediately after crossing the bridge, we will pass the 1st lake, Longponga Tsho (4,650 m / 15,255 ft). When we follow the trail and cross the glacier, we will soon reach the 2nd lake of Taboche Tsho (4,710 m / 15,452 ft). Rightafter, we will roll into the village of Gokyo (4,750 m / 15,580 ft) on the shore of the 3rd lake Dudh Pokhari.

breakfast, lunch & dinner – mountain lodge

On the north side of Dudh Pokhari, the 3rd lake, we can see Gokyo Ri (5,357 m / 17,575 ft). This is an epic vantage point, offering kind views of the area.

Right after the first light, we cross a stream and climb for 2 hours to a cat’s cradle of prayer flags at the top. From the summit, there are panoramic views of Cho Oyu, Mount Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, Gholatse and, Taboche with the Ngozumpa Glacier cutting across in front like a massive tear in the landscape.

After having enjoyed our time at the top of Gokyo Ri, we go back to the village of Gokyo.

breakfast, lunch & dinner – mountain lodge

Today, we cross Ngozumpa Glacier to the mountain on the other side. Then, we traverse along the edge of that mountain and meander into Dragnag. It will be a short trek today, with an afternoon of rest which will prepare us for long hiking days and elevation gain to come.

breakfast, lunch & dinner – mountain lodge

Today is going to be one of the toughest days of this trek. The Cho La Pass is not itself difficult, but it is steep and involves a glacier traverse on the eastern side. We need to be careful, as the trail is vertical and the rocks glazed by ice. It may cause trouble since it makes the trail slippery.

The top of the pass is decorated with prayer flags. The pyramidal Ama Dablam presides over a range of mountains on the south, even as Cholatse soars to the west and Lobuche East and Baruntse rises sharply to our right. We need to pass through some crevasses before we reach Dzonglha. The village provides great views of Cholatse, Ama Dablam, Lobuche mountains along with the Pheriche far below.

breakfast, lunch & dinner – mountain lodge

This will be a very short trek, so we have a lot time to relax and enjoy the beauty that surrounds us. We climb down from Dzonglha and walk through a grassy trail while enjoying the view of Lobuche Peak. The trail curves through the wide river bed before reaching Lobuche. We can spend the rest of day taking a rest, which will help us prepare for the next day’s long trek.

breakfast, lunch & dinner – mountain lodge

Today, we trek to Everest Base Camp through the once vast Gorak Shep Lake. Along the way, we will come across the Indian army mountaineers’ memorials. The path from here can be misleading; hence, it is important that you follow your guide diligently. The walk is strenuous due to thin air in the high altitude. We will pass through rocky dunes, moraine and streams before reaching the Everest Base Camp.

Upon reaching the Everest Base Camp, you see tents of mountaineers that stand out in bright colors against the monotony of gray surroundings. Especially during spring. Nuptse, Khumbuste and Pumori are the mountains you can view from base camp.

After exploring base camp, we trek back down to Gorak Shep.

breakfast, lunch & dinner – mountain lodge

We prepare for an early morning departure, amid pre-dawn darkness and cold temperatures. You can easily expect temperatures of -10 to -14 °C. Plus, there is always the potential for chilly winds, which are quite common here.

Familiar peaks such as Lingtren, Khumbutse and Changtse tower to the east even as Everest begins to reveal itself. But, it is upon reaching Kala Patthar that we get to see 360 degree up-close and formidable views of Mount Everest! You can take pictures, enjoy the magnificent mountain panorama.

Then, we will trek down to Pheriche for a good night’s rest.

breakfast, lunch & dinner – mountain lodge

From Periche, we take a slightly different route down to Orsho and then to Pangboche. Here is the oldest monastery in the region which contains, what is said to be the scalp and bones of a ’Yeti’ or the abominable snowman. Leaving the high mountains behind us, our descent takes us through Tengboche Monastery (3,860 m / 12,664 ft) before continuing back to the town of Namche Bazaar (3,440 m /11,290 ft). We arrive back to Namche Bazaar in the afternoon.

breakfast, lunch & dinner – mountain lodge

Finally, we return to Lukla where the trek began (which will seem like a lifetime ago). We will be enjoying time to reflect on the trek, both as a group and the personal achievement of all those who took part.

breakfast, lunch & dinner – mountain lodge

During the scenic mountain flight back to Kathmandu, you can enjoy your last glimpse of the spectacular mountains. On arrival in Kathmandu, we will bring you back to your hotel.

breakfast – mountain flight – airport transfer

Today is an extra day, just in case you needed it during the trek or if your domestic flight was delayed.

If everything went according to plan, you can use today to explore some of Kathmandu’s highlights, go souvenir shopping in Thamel, or simply relax at your hotel or in a local restaurant.

In the evening, the group, guide, and any porters come together one last time for a farewell dinner in Thamel.

farewell dinner

If it’s the final day of your holiday in Nepal. Your international flight departs from Tribhuvan International Airport Kathmandu.

Goodbye friends! We hope that you will cherish these memories we’ve made together forever.

Tell me more about this region

We can't locate this region

Included

Licensed mountain guide
All required trekking permits
Airport transfer
Domestic flights (Kathmandu <> Lukla)
Mountain lodge during your trek - 15 nights
Breakfast, lunch and dinner during your trek
Farewell dinner on your last evening in Nepal
VAT and tourist service charges

Not included

Alcohol, hot and cold drinks
Travel health insurance (that covers rescue & evacuation)
All other expenses that are not mentioned below 'what's included'

this Group trek on the map

About the guide

Govinda Dhakal

Co-founder & co-owner

Govinda is the co-founder and co-owner of By Mountain People. He loves going on adventures, both as a guide and as a traveller.

What’s more? Govinda splits his time between Nepal and the Netherlands with his family.

Travellers reviews

Don’t just take our word for it.

Gokyo Everest Base Camp Trek

1,786 euro

Region: Everest

Duration: 16 days

Departure date: March 11, 2025

Altitude: 5.500m >

Difficulty: 4/5

Gokyo Everest Base Camp Trek

1,786 euro

Region: Everest

Duration: 16 days

Departure date: March 11, 2025

Altitude: 5.500m >

Difficulty: 4/5

Why join a group?

All Taken Care Of

Transport, accommodation, meals, and a great trek. No stress, just enjoyment!

New Friends

Meet like-minded people and make friends while travelling. Share adventures and experiences.

Affordable Adventure

Benefit from shared costs and group discounts. Get the most out of your Nepal trip.

Travel safely

show me more group adventures in nepal

People trekking to Muldai Viewpoint - By Mountain People
786 euro
4 days
3.000m >
Annapurna
Short trek | Viewpoint | Away from the crowd
Eagle Annapurna - By Mountain People
2,523 euro
15 days
3.000m >
Annapurna
Bird watching | Mountain trek | Jungle safari
Gosainkund Lake Langtang Trek - By Mountain People.
840 euro
8 days
4.000m >
Langtang & Helambu
Near Kathmandu | Pilgrimage site | Alpine lake

Request info on this group

×

 

Namaste! 🙏🏽

Click on my photo below to chat on WhatsApp

× HI! Can I help?