"A perfect 17 days trekking adventure in the Everest region of Nepal for travelers who are on a quest to challenge themselves and explore the remote corners of the region. Led by expert mountain guides and friendly porters, the Everest base camp trek via Gokyo lakes and Cho la pass is our favorite!"
Everest base camp trek via Gokyo lakes and Cho la pass is one of the most adventurous trekking packages in the Everest region of Nepal. This is a 17 days journey via dense rhododendron forests, beautiful Sherpa villages, and glacial moraines. Leaving the bustling cities behind, you will embark on a lifetime trek amidst towering mountains and welcoming locals.
Compared to the famous EBC trek, the Everest Gokyo Cho La pass trek is much more demanding. Following the trail via villages like Phakding, Namche Bazaar, Tengboche, Dingboche, and Lobuche, you will ascend to Everest Base Camp and Kala Patthar. From here onwards, the trail turns to Cho La pass via Dzongla and leads to the stunning Gokyo valley crossing the biggest glacier in Nepal, Ngozumpa glacier.
You will get to witness diverse landscapes as the trail ascends and descends. From the lush rhododendron and magnolia forests to alpine meadows and glacier moraines, the sceneries are just breathtaking. The Everest base camp trek via Gokyo Lakes offers views of many tall mountains in the world, including Mt. Everest ( 8,849 m/29,032 ft), Mt. Lhotse (8,516 m/27,940 ft), Mt. Cho Oyu (8,188 m/26,864 ft), Mt. Makalu (8,481 m/27,825 ft), and Mt. Kanchenjunga (8,586 m/28,169 ft).
Other mountains, like Thamserku (6,608 m/21,680 ft), Ama Dablam (6,812 m/22,349 ft), Nuptse (7,861 m/25,791 ft), Choltase (6,440 m/21,130 ft), Island Peak (6,165 m/20,226 ft), Pumori (7,161 m/23,494 ft), etc, are also seen along the trail. Every bend in the trail offers a distinct landscape, and with the rise in elevation, the vistas only get better. And every prominent site is marked with colorful prayer flags that add more color to the scenery.
You will stop at ancient monasteries along the way and learn about the lives of locals. Get to understand the Sherpa community closely and discover more mountain communities like Rai, Lama, Limbu, Bhotiya, etc. The hospitality of the locals along the trail is top-notch. You will not feel being far away from your home.
Gokyo village and Gokyo lakes are also major highlights of this trek. Located at the shore of the third Gokyo lake called Dudh Pokhari, the Gokyo village is a remote settlement tucked away in the heart of the Himalayas. During your stay here, you will go on a hike to Gokyo Ri and explore other Gokyo Lakes too.
Our Everest base camp trek via Gokyo lakes (15,400–16,400 ft) and Cho la pass involves many side hikes too. Hotel Everest View from Namche Bazaar and Nagarjuna Hill from Dingboche village are two of our acclimatization hikes. Apart from these two hikes, we also take a rest day in Gokyo village.
This trek is for travelers who can manage to walk 6 hours a day at minimum with a daypack on them. Therefore, we only recommend our Everest base camp trek via Gokyo lakes and Cho la pass to travelers who have previous high-altitude or trekking experience. Do not underestimate the endurance and determination this trek demands.
How is the Kathmandu to Lukla flight?
Kathmandu Lukla flight is the beginning of our journey in the Everest region. It is a short 35 minute flight from Kathmandu airport to Lukla airport at 2,846 meters (9,337 ft). Given the elevation of the Lukla airport, the weather has to be stable for this flight, and even a slight change in can delay or cancel the flight.
Likewise, in the peak seasons, the Lukla flights can be operated from Ramechhap airport if the Kathmandu airport has dense air traffic. In this case, you have to leave your hotel around 2:00 to 3:00 AM and drive to the airport, which takes 4 to 5 hours from Kathmandu.
We understand that commercial flights to Lukla can be very overwhelming. So, if you wish to avoid this flight, you can opt for a 45 minutes helicopter ride from Kathmandu to Lukla. We can arrange group joining that will lower the per-head cost for you.
What are the challenges trekkers face on the Gokyo Cho la pass EBC trek in terms of difficulty and altitude sickness?
Terrain: You will be following rugged terrain on this trek. The trail goes through lush forests and crosses numerous suspension bridges at the beginning of the trek. Many trails go along uneven hillsides and involve stair climbing. After the Dingboche village, the trail gets much more steep and rocky. Crossing Cho La pass is also difficult because of the steep uphill climb. Likewise, you will be walking on glacier fields and paths.
Altitude sickness: The Everest Gokyo Cho La pass trek takes you above 5,000 meters five times, and you will be spending many nights above 3,000 meters. So, there is a high risk of altitude sickness during this trek if you do not take proper precautions. To mitigate altitude sickness risk, we have added three acclimatization days in this package and multiple side hikes. Likewise, our team will keep an eye on your health and provide you with any first-aid if needed.
How to prepare for the Gokyo Cho La pass trek?
To prepare for the Everest base camp trek via Gokyo lakes and Cho la pass, book your trek early and have ample preparation time (3 to 4 weeks is ideal). Begin with regular long walks with a backpack weighing 3-5 kg. You can incorporate day hikes, cycling, swimming, running, etc, in your routine. These activities will help you build stamina and endurance. If you go to the gym, focus on your legs and core strength and add cardio at the end of your routine.
How does the elevation increase throughout the Gokyo Cho La pass trek?
The Everest base camp via Cho la pass trek begins at 2,846 meters (9,337 ft) in Lukla and goes up to 5,545 meters (18,192 ft) at Kala Patthar. Kala Patthar is the highest point of this trek. From the starting point of the trek to the highest point, the altitude gain is 2,699 meters (8,855 ft).
During the trek, you will go above 5,000 meters (16,404 ft) multiple times in these places- Nagarjuna Hill (5,100 m/16,732 ft), Gorak Shep (5,164 m/16,942 ft), Everest Base Camp (5,364 m/17,598 ft), Kala Patthar (5,545 m/18,192 ft), Cho La (5,420 m/17,782 ft), and Gokyo Ri (5,357 m/17,575 ft).
Can I make the Everest base camp trek via Gokyo lakes and Cho la pass 2024/2025 booking?
Yes, you can make a booking for the Everest Base Camp trek via Gokyo lakes and Cho La pass 2024/2025 through our website. We have a safe payment gateway that lets you pay for the package securely from any part of the world. We have small groups, which makes trekking with us very intimate. Likewise, we also have private trek options. For groups of 8 or more people, we always have special discounts.
What will be the Alternative treks in Nepal other than Everest Cho La pass trek?
These are some of our other adventurous treks in Nepal that are ideal for experienced trekkers- Everest three high passes trek, Upper Mustang trek, Manaslu circuit trek, Annapurna circuit with Tilicho lake trek, Kanchenjunga circuit trek, and Makalu base camp trek.
You can also customize the Everest Gokyo lake trek itinerary if you are not happy with our proposed itinerary. We can custom-make it as per your requirements and budget. For more information contact us.
What are the benefits of Everest Cho La pass trek with Nature Excursion?
We are a team of very experienced guides who have been leading groups and individuals in the Himalayas for more than 10 years. Our expertise and knowledge are unbeatable. All of our packages are well-designed and priced to offer the best trek in the Everest region and throughout Nepal. With a reliable team, you get the following benefits with us:
- No hidden charges
- 24/7 support
- Free airport pickup/drop-off as per our itinerary
- Complimentary welcome or farewell dinners in Kathmandu
- Eco-friendly and sustainable trips
- Free company t-shirt and trek competition certificate
- Flexible itineraries and unique tailor-made trips
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