Everest Base Camp via Gokyo Lake & Cho La Pass 17 days

Arrive at Kathmandu International Airport and be met by one of our representatives to enjoy a private transfer to your 4-star hotel in the Thamel area. Tonight there will be a welcome dinner and a trek briefing about the details of the journey that you will take over the next 16 days.

Accommodation: 4-star Hotel Mulberry
Meals: Dinner

After breakfast,  venture out into the Thamel with your guide, visiting all the iconic sites like Durbar Square, Pashupatinath Temple and Swayambunath (Monkey Temple).  The tour will also have you visit off-the-beaten-path locations like Boudhanath Stupa and less-known but very beautiful places that you might miss without insider local knowledge. We’ll leave enough time for one of our guides to go through all your hiking gear and allow for any last-minute shopping if needed. Kathmandu is famous for trekking gear and is a lot cheaper than in Western countries.

Accommodation: 4-star Hotel Mulberry
Meals: Breakfast

We start the hike on the Everest base Camp today, but not before taking an epic helicopter ride to Lukla (2860m).  This is a real highlight of the trip, with your helicopter skirting the mountains with the mighty Himalayas in full view.

Once you arrive in Lukla there is time to explore a little and enjoy a snack or further shopping. Set off with your guide and porters on what is a very beautiful hike along the Dudh Kosi, one of the many raging rivers you will encounter on this walk. The broad well-maintained track travels through buckwheat farms and small villages to the village of Phakding. Tonight we stay in real luxury for the mountains, in the 3-Star Hotel in our very good friend Mingma’s hotel in Phakding.

Distance: 8km
Elevation Gain/Loss: -248m
Accommodation: 3-star hotel with ensuites
Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

Today is our first challenging ascent on the EBC track.  It comes with some very special views, including our first glimpse of Everest and Lhotse (the fourth highest mountain at 8516m in the world).  Hike to the stunning town of Namche and enjoy the authentic and largest Sherpa mountain town in the region. There are an array of shops selling authentic handmade Nepalese handicrafts and jewellery so try and pack light if you want to indulge!   You’ll stay in a good quality 3-star hotel for 2 nights, with an amazing restaurant looking over the mountains, including Mnt Kondge.

Distance: 11km
Elevation Gain/Loss: 832m
Accommodation: 3-star hotel with ensuites
Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

It’s essential to take acclimatisation days in your quest to reach Everest Base Camp to help avoid getting altitude sickness.

So today we enjoy the mountains and, in doing so, build on your hiking fitness with a short walk taking the ridge track above Namche. There are good views over the Everest Base camp track. There are even better views of Everest on the lookout, and on the way down you visit the Sherpa Culture and Everest Mountaineering Museum. There’s time to explore Namche, do some shopping, or relax in one of the many restaurants (or at your hotel) and soak up the mountain atmosphere with the other trekkers and climbers.

Distance: 7km
Elevation Gain/Loss: 200/-200m
Accommodation: 3-star hotel with ensuites
Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

Leaving Namche Baazar you hike up the hill past the now little-used Shyangboche airstrip.  Walk past one stunning Everest view point and through a forest of gorgeous juniper and birch trees. Passing through the beautiful village of Phortse Tenga and more forest to Dole, where you stay this evening.

Distance: 11 km
Elevation Gain/Loss: 580m
Accommodation:  Dole in a comfortable lodge
Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

Today’s walk is quite diverse. The trail travels through vast junipers over another ridge and into a large valley with majestic views once again over mountains, the valley and the small town of Machherno in the Khumbu region.

Distance: 8 km
Elevation Gain/Loss: 430m
Accommodation:  Dingboche in a comfortable lodge
Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

The walk starts with a climb up to the moraine, the point at which the stream flows into a lake. There are stacks of wood ducks (slang for native ducks) in this area along with various other bird life. The trail snakes its way through a beautiful serene valley; fewer walkers come via this way so we get to enjoy the serenity largely by ourselves. You will pass another gorgeous second lake and an outcrop of rocks and large boulders as you come to the magnificent Gokyo Lake.

Distance: 9km
Elevation Gain/Loss: +310m
Accommodation: Gyoko in a comfortable lodge
Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

Get ready for an exceptional walk today! The climb to Gokyo Ri Peak (5350m) provides outstanding views of the surrounding Himalayan peaks, including Chu Oyo, Gyachung Kang, Mount Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, Cholatse, Tawaachee, along with stunning Gokyo Lakes. The trail to the top takes around two hours and is a moderate challenge, but the payoff is worth it as the views are simply breathtaking. We arrive back at accommodation mid-afternoon allowing ample time to further acclimatise, explore the village and take in the stunning views of the lakes and surrounding mountains. We stay in the same accommodation as we did last night.

Distance: 6 km
Elevation Gain/Loss: +560m/-560m
Accommodation: Gyoko in a comfortable lodge
Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

The trek from Gokyo to Thagnak is gorgeous, and is a relatively shorter segment of the Everest Base Camp trek. The trail from Gokyo to Thagnak takes you through picturesque alpine landscapes. You’ll be surrounded by towering Himalayan peaks, including Cho Oyu, one of the world’s highest mountains, and other stunning peaks like Cholatse and Taboche. Along the way, you’ll also encounter the Ngozumpa Glacier, one of the largest glaciers in the Himalayas.

Distance: 9km
Elevation Gain/Loss: -510m
Accommodation: Thangnak in a lodge
Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

Crossing the Cho La Pass (5420m), the second highest point on the trek, is a challenging and adventurous part of the Everest Base Camp trek. It is the same height as the much-acclaimed Throng La Pass on the Annapurna Circuit. There are spectacular views from the top, including panoramic vistas of towering peaks, including Ama Dablam, Cholatse, Lobuche, Taboche, Thamserku, Everest, glacier scenery and more.  This is a challenging day but with one step at a time, we get there and it is well worth the effort.

Distance: 9km
Elevation Gain/Loss: +720m/-590m
Accommodation: Dzongla in a lodge
Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

Today’s walk is one of the shortest on the trek, a likely welcome rest after yesterday’s exertions!

The track begins to get steep as you travel up the terminal moraine of the Khumbu Glacier.  From the top, embark on a reasonably flat wonderful section into Lobouche where you will enjoy lunch.  Today we join the main EBC trail.

Distance: 9.8km
Elevation Gain/Loss: 133m
Accommodation: Lobouche in a lodge
Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

The thin air slows things down a bit today.  However, we take it slowly, and you have the option of leaving your pack in Gorakshep to make the walk a little easier. The trail is rocky in sections and traverses moraines and over streams before reaching your ultimate goal: Everest Base Camp. There are amazing views at the top of the track just before heading down to the world-famous Icefall and the camp. There’s time to celebrate before making your way back to Gorachep for a well-deserved rest. Tonight there’s an optional small celebration at 5288m, which is sure to create special memories, before tomorrow –  the most incredible day of all.

Distance: 11.3km (feels like 22.6km!)
Elevation Gain/Loss: 440m (there’s undulation on this section)/-110m
Accommodation: Gorakshep in a lodge
Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

Today is the most epic of all of the trekking days on the EBC trip with the hike up to Kala Patthar. We leave early aiming to summit at sunrise.  Kala Pattar is a Hindi name that translates to “black rock”. From the summit of these black rocks, the views are simply spectacular. The sight of the sunrise casting golden hues over the majestic Himalayas is a sight to behold. The views of Mount Everest are extraordinary and easily the best on the walk. Most trekkers remark that they are filled with a profound sense of joy as they are surrounded by the tallest mountains in the world with 360-degree views at the top.

It is a much easier walk down as we make our way to Pheriche, via Gorakshep, for lunch, and our last stop in the mountains. Tonight we celebrate your up close viewing of Everest and the achievement of conquering the EBC. The dinner tonight is enjoyed with the guide/s and porters and say your goodbyes as tomorrow you return via helicopter to Kathmandu.

Distance: 11.6km
Elevation Gain/Loss: 500m/ – 1300m
Accommodation: Pheriche in a comfortable lodge
Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

Today revel in your achievement, and top it off with the most epic helicopter ride in the world back to Kathmandu.  Not only does this finish your adventure on a real high, but it saves at least 3 days of retracing your steps downhill and saving your knees in the process!du.

Once you lift off you will once again enjoy epic views of Everest and its companions.  The helicopter follows the EBC for a while back down the mountains and then via the foothills to Kathmandu. After a magical hour or so in the air,  land back at the airport where we took off from on Day 3 and be transferred back to your hotel.  The rest of the day is free for you to relax.

Accommodation: 4-star Hotel Mulberry
Meals: Breakfast

Even with the use of helicopters, the weather can, on very rare occasions,  make travel unpredictable.  In order to ensure your acclimitisation is not rushed, and/or risk missing an international flight with any unavoidable delays, we have factored in this contingency day.  It is most likely that this extra day will be spent in Kathmandu as a recovery day – you could indulge in meditation or yoga, a massage or simply relax around the infinity pool. Or all of the above!

Accommodation: 4-star Hotel Mulberry
Meals: Breakfast and farewell dinner at Mingma’s restaurant

The tour ends after breakfast, but depending on your onward travel arrangements, take a walk around Kathmandu or indulge yourself with a massage.  We can happily book more days for you in Kathmandu (at extra cost) if you would like to stay on.  Be transferred back to the airport – just let our team know what time you would like once you are back in Kathmandu.

Meals included: Breakfast