Everest Base Camp Trek Via Gokyo Lake & Chola Pass

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Highlights

• Everest Base Camp: The ultimate trekking goal, offering unparalleled views of the world’s highest peak, Mount Everest.

• Gokyo Ri: A challenging ascent rewarding trekkers with sweeping panoramic views of Everest, Lhotse, and Cho Oyu.

• Gokyo Lakes: A stunning chain of turquoise glacial lakes framed by towering Himalayan peaks, creating a breathtaking natural spectacle.

• Ngozumpa Glacier: Nepal’s largest glacier, showcasing a vast and awe-inspiring icy landscape.

• Kala Patthar: The iconic viewpoint providing some of the closest and most spectacular views of Everest and the surrounding mountains.

• Sagarmatha National Park: A UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned for its unique wildlife, lush forests, and rich Sherpa culture.

• Tengboche Monastery: One of the oldest and most significant monasteries in the Khumbu region, offering spiritual solace and magnificent mountain vistas.

• Namche Bazaar: The vibrant Sherpa trading hub bustling with culture, history, and colorful markets.

• Chola Pass: A high-altitude mountain pass known for its dramatic landscapes, rewarding trekkers with a true sense of adventure and accomplishment.

• Dudh Koshi River: A picturesque river featuring suspension bridges and scenic rest spots, perfect for rejuvenation during the trek.

Overview

The Everest Base Camp Trek is known worldwide as the ultimate dream trek for mountain lovers. To truly honor this incredible journey, we recommend taking the Everest Base Camp Trek via Gokyo Lake—a route that adds just a few extra days but offers unforgettable rewards. The spectacular views from Gokyo Ri surpass even those from the famous Kala Patthar. Along with the stunning turquoise Gokyo Lakes and the thrilling crossing of Chola Pass, this trek lets you escape the crowds typical at Everest Base Camp, giving you a more serene and adventurous experience.

Your journey begins with a scenic 30-minute early morning flight to Lukla, where majestic snow-capped peaks greet you as you land. After meeting your trekking team, you’ll start the trek with a short hike to Phakding. From here, the trail leads to Namche Bazaar—the vibrant gateway and tourist hub of the Everest region. A day is spent here for acclimatization and cultural exploration, as you immerse yourself in the Sherpa lifestyle. Stunning views of Mount Everest, Ama Dablam, Lhotse, Thamserku, and other Himalayan giants inspire you as you prepare for the days ahead.

The trek continues to Dole, a traditional farming village nestled in the mountains, followed by a passage through Machhermo and the magnificent Ngozumpa Glacier—the largest glacier in Nepal. Then, you arrive at the highlight of this part of the trek, Gokyo village. Here, you rest and acclimatize, with the option to climb Gokyo Ri (5,357m / 17,576 ft) for breathtaking panoramic views of Everest and the surrounding peaks.

After exploring Gokyo Valley, the adventure continues as you trek to Thagnak, crossing high glacial terrain before tackling the challenging Chola Pass—one of the most thrilling moments of the trek. After a long day, you rest in Dzongla, then enjoy easier treks to Lobuche, Gorakshep, and finally Everest Base Camp itself. Witnessing the sunrise from Kala Patthar is an unforgettable highlight, providing some of the best views of Everest.

The return journey to Lukla is mostly downhill and can be completed in 3 to 4 days. For trekkers short on time or seeking a different experience, Namaste Nepal Trekking & Research Hub, offers a one-way helicopter option to Everest Base Camp in 9 days. For those craving even greater challenge, the Everest High Passes Trek spans 20 days, crossing multiple famous mountain passes.

This trek leaves an indelible mark on your heart—memories to cherish forever and a call to return again to the magnificent Himalayas. Happy trekking!

Accommodation in Everest Base Camp Trek via Gokyo Lake

Along the Everest trekking route, accommodation varies from basic teahouses to more comfortable lodges, especially at lower elevations. Many lodges offer rooms with attached bathrooms, hot showers, and room service, mostly found in places like Namche Bazaar and Lukla. However, higher up the trail, accommodations tend to be simpler with shared toilet and washing facilities. After a long day of trekking, there is nothing more rewarding than resting in a cozy room with panoramic mountain views from your window. Rooms typically have twin-sharing beds equipped with clean sheets, pillows, and blankets. Single rooms can sometimes be arranged in Kathmandu or lower elevations but are rarely available at higher altitudes, especially during peak trekking seasons.

Food in Everest Base Camp Trek via Gokyo Lake

Throughout the trek, you will enjoy a variety of meals, including the traditional Nepali dish “Daal Bhaat” — a wholesome plate of rice, lentils, vegetables, and pickles. Besides local cuisine, many tea houses offer international dishes such as Indian, Chinese, Tibetan, Italian, and Continental foods. Breakfast options commonly include bread, eggs, porridge, muesli, cornflakes, pancakes, hash browns, fries, and chapati. Lunch and dinner menus often feature soups, noodles, momo (dumplings), sandwiches, pizza, burgers, and limited vegetarian and meat dishes. Fruit is less common, and seafood is generally unavailable. Hot beverages like tea, coffee, hot chocolate, and lemon with ginger and honey are widely available. Some places also offer simple desserts like apple pie, custard, and chocolate rolls. Breakfast and dinner are typically served where you stay overnight, while lunch is taken during trekking stops.

Our Trekking Team for the Everest Base Camp Trek via Gokyo Lake

Your safety and comfort are our highest priorities. Our trekking team consists of one professional trekking guide, one assistant guide for every seven trekkers, and Sherpa porters to assist two trekkers each. This structure ensures that in case of emergencies such as altitude sickness, injury, or illness, affected trekkers receive proper care or assistance, while the rest of the group can continue the journey as planned.

Best Time for Everest Base Camp Trek via Gokyo Lake

The best time to undertake the Everest Base Camp Trek via Gokyo Lake is during the Spring months (March to May) and Autumn months (September to November). During these seasons, the weather is clear, the mountain views are stunning, and temperatures remain comfortably warm. While trekking is possible in winter and monsoon seasons, the higher altitude trails (above 4000m) are often blocked by heavy snowfall in winter, and slippery conditions and leeches during the monsoon make trekking more challenging. Additionally, fewer trekkers venture out during these off-peak seasons, which might appeal to those seeking solitude.

What is included?

• All Airport hotel transfers by private vehicle

• 3-night 3-star Hotel in Kathmandu with breakfast

• Guided sightseeing and private vehicle

• Kathmandu – Lukla Flight Tickets OR Manthali to Lukla Flight Tickets with private transportation to Manthali

• Lukla Kathmandu Flight Tickets OR Lukla to Manthali Flight Tickets with private transportation to Kathmandu

• The farewell dinner in Kathmandu

• All the twin-sharing accommodations during the trek

• All the meals (Breakfast, Tea break, Lunch, and Dinner) with seasonal fruits during the trek.

• All necessary paperwork and permits

• Sagarmatha National Park Permit

• Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality Entrance Permit

• Trekkers’ Information Management System

• All government and local taxes

• An experienced English-speaking Trekking Guide

• Assistant Trekking guide (1 assistant trekking guide for every 10 trekkers )

• Sherpa porters (1 porter for every 2 trekkers)

• All Staff salaries, insurance, equipment, transportation, food, and lodging

• Personalized virtual consultation before finalizing your trek booking.

• Online Pre-Trip Briefing after booking confirmation

• Free excess luggage storage facilities at our office store

• Namaste Nepal’s duffle bag

• Namaste Nepal’s T-shirt

• Trekking map

• Down jacket and seasonal sleeping bag (to be returned after completion of the trip)

• Trekking Pools (to be returned after completion of the trip).

• A self-sufficient medical first aid kit containing vital medications.

• Oximeter to check your pulse, oxygen saturation and heart rate twice daily (Very useful to check AMS symptoms)

• hand sanitizer and face mask

What isn't included?

• Nepal visa fee (the lowest fee available is for a 15-day visa costing 30$/person)

• International airfare to and from Kathmandu

• Excess luggage charges

• Extra night accommodation in Kathmandu (in case of early return from the mountain, then the scheduled itinerary)

• Travel and rescue Insurance

• Personal expenses (phone calls, laundry, bar bills, personal drinks, battery charge, bottle or boiling water, hot shower, wifi and or internet, etc)

• Tips for guides and porters