Everest Base Camp Trek via Gokyo Lake

Early morning, your guide comes to your hotel to pick you up and bring you to the domestic airport. From here, the short but scenic flight takes you to Tenzing and Hillary Airport at Lukla (2804m). Upon arrival at the airport, your guide will brief you and introduce you to your sherpa’s before beginning your trek towards Phakding (2610m).

After landing we take our time to explore the village while your sherpa crew sorts and loads the trekking equipment. Then we begin the trek by descending towards the Dudh Khosi River where we join the main trail to Namche Bazaar, located just above Chaunrikharka (2713m). The walk is easy and after passing through the small village of Ghat (2550m) it is a short walk to Phakding.

breakfast – airport transfer – mountain flight – lunch & dinner – mountain lodge

After breakfast we continue trekking along the banks of the Dudh Khosi, 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 (3441m) known as the Gateway to Everest, is home to many quality restaurants, hotels, lodges, shops, money exchanges, internet cafes and a bakeries. Namche is one of the biggest villages along the whole Everest trail.

breakfast, lunch & dinner – mountain lodge

We spend a day in Namche Bazaar in order to acclimatize and adjust to the thinning of the air, as well as a short trek where a museum is celebrating the traditional customs of the Sherpa people. Today we hike up the Syangboche Airport around Everest View Hotel. From this point, we can see rewarding views of the Himalayas with stunning sunrise and sunset over the panorama of Khumbu peaks.

breakfast, lunch & dinner – mountain lodge

We start off by climbing the Khumjung hill and descend to the east of the village down the broad valley leading to the river Dudh Khosi from where the route turns north. There are two trails and your guide will choose the best option for you to follow.

There is a chorten on the ridge top at 3973m which descends from Mount Khumbila (5761m). We visit Mohang, 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 walk on a trail alongside a rhododendron forest and pass through a waterfall before reaching Tongba Village. We continue our uphill trek till we reach Dole.

breakfast, lunch & dinner – mountain lodge

From Dole you continue your trek uphill through Labarma and Luza villages till you reach Machhermo. There is a chorten right before the Luza village. Throughout today’s journey you 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 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 (6685m) and north towards Cho Oyu (8201m), the sixth-highest mountain in the world.

Soon, we’ll arrive at the tiny settlement of Pangka (4390m), squeezed against a mound of sand and rubble at the end of Ngozumpa Glacier.

We 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 20km north on the slopes of Cho Oyu. Wedged between the mountain wall and this crumbling mound of sand and gravel are six sacred lakes, which reflect the peaks in their calm, mirrored surfaces.

Immediately after we cross the bridge, we pass the first lake, Longponga Tsho (4650m). Ee follow the trail, cross the glacier and soon we reach the second lake, Taboche Tsho (4710m). Rightafter, we roll into the village of Gokyo (4750m) on the shore of the third lake Dudh Pokhari.

breakfast, lunch & dinner – mountain lodge

On the north side of Dudh Pokhari, the third lake, we see Gokyo Ri (5360m). This is an epic vantage point, offering the kind view over Everest that is normally reserved for mountaineers.

Right after the first light, we cross a stream and climb for two 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 we have 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. Next, we traverse along the edge of that mountain and then meander into Tagnag. 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 the trip. 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 may cause trouble by making the trail slippery. The trail from Phedi climbs through a ravine and a rocky trail. While trekking through the side of a frozen lake, we reach at the top of the pass 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

You take the trail to Everest Base Camp through the once vast Gorak Shep Lake. Continuing straight ahead, you come across the Indian army mountaineers’ memorials. The path from here can be misleading; hence, it is important that you follow your Sherpa diligently. The walk is strenuous due to thin air in the high altitude. You 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 in the spring). Nuptse, Khumbuste and Pumori are the mountains you can view from the 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 (-10 to -14 C). Plus, there is always the potential for chilly winds which are quite common. 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 Pattar that we get to see 360 degree up-close and formidable views of Mount Everest. You can take pictures, enjoy the magnificent mountain panorama, and then 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, then to Pangboche village. 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 mountains behind us, our descent takes us through Tengboche Monastery (3860m) before continuing back to the town of Namche Bazaar (3441m). 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; enjoying time to reflect on the trek as a group and the personal achievement of all those who took part and also giving you time to explore the town.

breakfast, lunch & dinner – mountain lodge

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

In the evening, we offer you and your guide a farewell dinner together in a traditional Nepalese restaurant.

breakfast – mountain flight – airport transfer – farewell dinner – hotel

If this is the final day of your holiday in Nepal, we will bring you back to the international airport. Goodbye friends! We hope that we will meet each other again in the future.

breakfast – airport transfer