Gokyo to Everest Base Camp Trek

On the first day of the journey, you will land at Tribhuvan International Airport and then begin your trip to Nepal. You will be welcomed by one of our staff members, who will be the point of contact for escorting you to your hotel. 

After you finish the formal airport procedures, we will meet you at the exit and take you to your private car. As we drive to the hotel, you will be able to see some of the temples, chortens, and little tea shops that decorate the streets of Kathmandu. 

After arriving at your 3-star hotel, we will complete the check-in procedure, and you will be able to rest or go for a little walk around the bustling markets of the area. During the walk, you will be able to see the locals lighting the butter lamps, negotiating around tea and spice shops, or sitting around the streets relaxing and drinking tea. 

After a couple of hours, we will meet to briefly discuss your trek. This will be a very chill first day and serve to immerse you in the soft lifestyle of Nepal before your adventure.

Your second day starts with a drive to the airport after a warm breakfast at your hotel. If flights operate from Kathmandu, we have a short 35-minute flight to Lukla. But if we fly out of Manthali, we first drive through terraced hills and quiet riverside villages before hopping the short flight. 

As soon as we touch down at Lukla’s famed landing strip, you taste the thin mountain air and closely observe prayer flags snapping in the wind atop stone houses. We start our trek after eating a hot breakfast. A gradual downward trek through the pine forest, mani walls, and Sherpa village takes us to the point where we began. 

You will encounter porters, monks, and giggly kids with a soft “Namaste.” We pass over the fast-flowing Dudh Koshi River on suspension bridges. By the afternoon, we will arrive in Phakding, a tranquil village nestled along forested hillsides. You will check into a quaint guesthouse and dine on warm food to the sound of the river rippling outside. It is another peaceful night, and we sleep well for acclimatisation.

This morning, we will take our first steps along the Dudh Koshi, walking at a relaxed pace. We will take our time crossing the high suspension bridges at Dudh Koshi, as the prayer flags dance in the wind. With each high suspension bridge we cross, the overall scene becomes more visceral, with Robodendron forests,  spinning prayer wheels, and mani stones, rich in the spirituality of the Khumbu. 

From there, we will ascend to the entrance of the Monjo Sagarmatha National Park. We will show our entry passes as we take in the vistas of numerous deep valleys and distant mountains for the first time. After we return from lunch, we will attempt to ascend the steep trail to Namche. 

If the weather is good, the final step of the ascent will reward everyone with our first view of Everest. Along the way, large caravans of yaks will pass us, some riding and some hauling supplies to the stores at Namche. 

In the late afternoon, we step into Namche Market, the center of the Sherpa patches. After we take a few minutes to relax and freshen up at our guest house, we will have the opportunity to be able to help the Sherpas.

Today is the acclimatisation day, and we will focus on resting and helping our bodies adjust to the higher altitudes. After breakfast, we will head out at a steady pace toward Hotel Everest View. The path ascends out of Namche and its first vistas unfold one by one — Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse, Ama Dablam, and Thamserku. 

We will hike past the Sherpa museum, yak pastures, and sleepy little prayer sites that offer a window into mountain life. We will arrive at Hotel Everest View, one of the world's highest altitude hotels, in the late morning. Here we sit quietly with a cup of tea or coffee and enjoy the majestic Himalayan panorama. 

The air is calm, punctuated only by the wind and faint mantras swirled by turning prayer wheels. We will stay the night in Namche, and after some time at altitude, we will return to higher oxygen levels. (The afternoon will be free for exploring local handicraft shops, visiting monasteries, or savoring fresh pastries from the local bakery.) The evening consists of a hot Sherpa dinner and a peaceful sleep.

On the fifth day, we will leave Namche early in the morning, following a path that contours along the side of the mountain and provides us with great views of Ama Dablam. 

The trail remains a delight for the first section, hopping past little stupas, grazing yaks, and clusters of Sherpa houses. As we arrive at Sanasa (junction of this trek), the trail will now lead towards Gokyo Valley. The trail ascends gradually through forests of rhododendron and juniper, where you might find Himalayan tahr or musk deer quietly foraging among the trees. 

We will take a break for lunch in a tiny village with views of snow-topped ridges. After that, we will descend in the afternoon to Phorste Thanga and enter a quiet forested area, into which we can hear the sound of the Dudhkoshi far below. 

Once we get to the village, you are completely outside in nature.” Phorste Thanga is a peaceful village with only a few lodges and next to a glacial stream. We move into the guesthouse and have a hot meal as the valley goes silent.

Today, we will start a steep ascent through forests of birch, pine, and rhododendron. The trail grows steeper, and tall prayer flags draping across the hillsides bring color to the booming landscape. Once over a small wooden bridge, we will begin a steady climb to Dole, where we break for a breather. Beyond Dole, the landscape opens up as we wander across high alpine pastures decorated with juniper bushes. 

Yaks nibble quietly on these hills, and the air seems much cooler and thinner. Snow-covered peaks jut up from the valley, and the trail feels big and wild. After lunch, we continue to gently rise along a ridge and then ascend once again up to Machherma. 

Nestled under snowcapped mountains, this small settlement is famed for its tranquillity. Arrive at the guesthouse, where you’ll have a chance to relax, drink water, and enjoy the cool mountain air.

Today, we will begin our morning hike at a slow pace, winding up the valley as we gain altitude and move closer to the mountains. The trail ascends to a ridge with clear views of Cho Oyu, the sixth-highest peak in the world. 

We will drop a little down to the river and cross a wooden bridge, then begin a slight climb up the first of five Gokyo Lakes. And its turquoise water glistens amid the rocky terrain. We pass the second lake, where soft breezes frequently cause gentle ripples on top. 

Shortly after the third lake, we reach Gokyo Village. The settlement is built alongside the lake, with snow-covered peaks and clear sky all around. 

The afternoon is perfect for some peaceful time strolling through the edge of the lake, or a nap inside the lodge. Overnight stay at Gokyo.

We will start before dawn and ascend toward Gokyo Ri, which is renowned for one of the finest panoramas in the Everest region. The climb is gradual but satisfying, rising now as Cho Oyu dominates our view behind and the Gokyo lakes dwindle below. 

When we get to the summit, the sun casts golden rays across Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, and endless other peaks around us. If you avert your eyes down below, you can see the long expanse of the Ngozumpa Glacier (the largest glacier in Nepal) snakes along like a river turned to ice. You can enjoy, admire the views, and take some pictures before carefully backtracking down to Gokyo. 

The descent is easier, and we will arrive at the guesthouse just in time for dinner. The afternoon remains cozy, and you can revisit the lake, chat with the Sherpa hosts, or watch yaks graze on nearby hillsides. The night quiets as the mountains blush pink in the twilight.

Today, we will spend the morning on the glacier’s eastern flank. The path traverses the rocks, and we walk up for 40 minutes to a bit more boulders, then there are small ridges. As you hike, the views of the frozen waves and deep crevasses in the glacier dramatically frame it. 

Beyond the crossing, the trail reaches a narrow valley before descending diagonally to Thangna. We will take a look at some prayer flags, stone huts, and patches of yak pasture that almost seem to be hiding under overhanging cliffs along the way. 

Thangna, also known as Dragnag, is situated beneath the colossal Cho La Pass. It is a small village of just a few lodges, which has a modest yet friendly feel. We will have the afternoon to rest, hydrate, and ready ourselves for the challenge of crossing a pass tomorrow. Under the late-afternoon sun, the surrounding peaks glisten silver, and you will get a taste of true Himalayan isolation in this remote village on the eve of tomorrow’s hike.

It's always best to set out before sunrise since it is a long climb to the mountain pass. Starting from the Thangna campsite, we will walk steeply up the mountainside over rocky outcrops and icy patches by headlamp. 

We're getting to the point where we can finally see the mountains in the daylight. After a few hours, we will arrive at the base of the pass, where we must contend with the final climb up a steep, icy slope. 

The top of the pass, like a frozen doorway, is adorned with fluttering prayer flags and offers breathtaking views of the mountains and glaciers. After taking pictures and recovering our breath, we can walk down the rocky slopes of the glacier we just crossed and onto a rocky path that leads to Dzongla. 

In the afternoon, we will arrive at Dzongla, where the cliffs and sharp ridgelines of Cholatse protect a small, quiet settlement. The guesthouse is warm and comfortable, where we will stay overnight after a long day's hike.

On the eleventh day of the Gokyo to Everest Base Camp Trek, we will start with an easy stroll through open pastures while Cholatse looms dramatically overhead. The path stretches easily above the hillside for a while with good views of Ama Dablam and the far end of the Khumbu Glacier. 

On proceeding further, the trail joins with the classic Everest Base Camp trek. We will take a tea break at a small lodge and watch yaks transport supplies up to higher villages. It next ascends steadily to Lobuche. Stone memorials to climbers killed on Everest are stacked along a ridge. 

The last bit to Lobuche is along the moraine, and since you're walking adjacent to the glacier, lots of wind, with a cool breeze in your face. Upon reaching the guesthouse, we rest, have a hot meal, and ready ourselves for the Base Camp trek.

Lastly, today we will reach Everest Base Camp, the stepping stone to Everest, the world’s highest peak. We set out early, hiking over the rocky and rough trail alongside the Khumbu Glacier. We will be walking through a frozen rock field with frozen ridges, loose rock, and deep ice formations.

After arriving in Gorak Shep, we rest for a short while before walking to the Everest Base Camp. In the early afternoon, we will walk alongside an enormous glacier, listening for distant, muted crackles of moving ice as we travel along its base. We’ll make our way past a very prayer flag-heavy area and a handful of decorated stones.

And after a number of days, you are finally at the bottom of the world's tallest mountain, Mt. Everest. The sheer walls of the Khumbu icefall will enfold you, and your view of Mt Everest, and other peaks from the Mahalangur Mountain range will take you within touching distance.

We trek back to Gorak Shep, a tiny hamlet, that night after having explored the base camp`s vicinity.

We start early, walking up steadily to Kala Pathar. The air is brisk, and the path climbs over rocks of steps. The surrounding mountains themselves shift to gold at dawn. The view from the dress circle never leaves you. Everest is near and tall, Nuptse, Pumori, and the entire Khumbu range glimmer gently in morning sunshine. After some time on top, we go back to Gorak Shep for breakfast.

Afterwards, we drop steeply down to Dingboche. The trail drops into glacier-carved valleys, avoiding yak herders and stone walls clinging to windswept ridges. Dingboche is a wide village where the bottom of the valley has potato gardens and stone dwellings. At the teahouse, you get a hot meal and sleep well in cooler air. 

We lose more height as we continue our descent through the Imja Valley, passing chortens, mani walls, and fields where barley and potatoes are grown by the local people. The path goes in the direction of Tengboche with the largest monastery in the region. If it doesn’t feel rushed, we go to the monastery to see monks chant and spin prayer wheels with incense wafting through the courtyard.

We take a break, then start a forestry descent amid rhododendron, pine, and birch. You might see Himalayan pheasants, or hear the gentle bells of passing yaks. The end of the trip follows along the well-known riverbanks, climbing back to Namche Bazaar.

And in contrast to the silent high-altitude villages, coming back here is quite lively. You have access to warm, squishy bakery matter, hot showers, and the comfort of a decent guesthouse. Evening is when you can sit back and think how damn far you’ve come.

We drop down steeply from Namche after breakfast. The trail plummets down steep steps through pine trees until we reach the first suspension bridge. We cross over, the river roaring beneath us and the air growing warmer.

We come back the same way, through Jorsalle and Monjo and a couple of little Sherpa villages. The trail is flanked by Rhododendron forest, mani stones (inscribed with the Tibetan Buddhist prayer "Om mane pemne hum"), spin libraries, and farms.

After lunch in Phakding, we'll carry on with our final climb to Lukla. Between mid-afternoon to late afternoon, we will return to Lukla and stay overnight at the tea house.

We get up very early and head to the strip to catch our flight.

The return flight to Kathmandu takes a final sweep over the mountains and then, all of a sudden, the hills turn green – before long, you’re back in the capital. 

After a transfer to your hotel, you check in and take some time out.

The remaining day is free. You can wander Thamel’s bustling streets, purchase some souvenirs, or sit and enjoy a coffee bar on the roof. There is culture, food, and jolly locals in Kathmandu as a gentle return to city life. In the evening, we gather for a farewell dinner or a final briefing.

In last day our rep from the company will drop you off at the Kathmandu airport for your departure from Nepal. Riding the streets in Kathmandu, you may see vendors opening their shops early, monks chanting at a temple, or schoolchildren walking in clusters. The city itself is thrumming with regularity, but you are seeing these surroundings differently. We handle luggage and check in at the airport. Today, your adventure ends, and we hope to see you again.