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everest GOKYO CHO LA itinerary

Day-1: Arrive Kathmandu

Arrival and transfer to Hotel.

Day-2: Guided Sightseeing

Guided sightseeing around Kathmandu Valley.

Day-3: Flight: Kathmandu (1,310m) - Rammechap. Flight to Lukla (2,840m). Trek to Phakding (2,610m).

Our early morning starts around 02h00 with a 4.5hr drive to Rammechap. We then fly to Lukla. The flight into Lukla - is a lifetime experience, in itself. 

The airfield is on a slope and the difference between the two ends of the runway is about 460 meters! You will land on an airstrip built by Sir Edmund Hillary and the Sherpas in the mid-1960s. After meeting with guides and porters and a short break for tea we hike away from Lukla towards Everest base camp for a few hours along the Dudh Kosi River to Phakding 2,610m. Once you have trekked through the small village of Ghat (2550m), Phakding is a short walk away.

Day-4: Phakding (2,610m) Namche bazaar (3,440m).

After leaving Phakding the path takes us through a magnificent forest of rhododendron, magnolia trees and giant fir trees alongside the Dhud-Kosi river through small villages like Bekar and Monju. You will crisscross over the river a few times on high suspension bridges until you eventually come to the Sagarmatha Check Point where your permits needs to be checked. The climb then goes downhill to the river and then all the way back up to Namche. The trail heads up through blue pine forests and as you climb there are rhododendron trees which bloom in Spring time. Namche is the largest Sherpa village and is the unofficial capital of the Khumbu, gateway to the high Himalayas. This relatively small town is a bustling tourist zone and trading hub literally is perched on a sloping hill. It is surrounded on all sides by mountains, from Thamserku to Kongde Ri. Trekkers heading to Mt. Everest, Gokyo, Island Peak and many other destinations for both trekking and expedition, have at least two nights stopover in Namche to acclimatise.

Day-5: Namche bazaar (acclimatisation 3,440 m)

We will spend time here on short walks to acclimatise. Although it says acclimatisation, this means you need to walk for the principle of climb high and sleep low, meaning we gain altitude, then descend again to sleep low, enabling our bodies to better adjust to the altitude. A slow and steady pace with adequate time for acclimatisation is key to success. So we hike up to Everest View hotel for just that, a view of Mt Everest, assuming the weather is clear you should be rewarded with incredible views o

Day 06: Namche (3,440m) – Khumjung (3,790m).
Morning hike to the village of Khumjung at 3790 m. 

Day 07: Khumjung (3,790m) – Dole (4,200m).
Leaving the main trail to Mt. Everest, climb high on a ridge and then descend to the village of Phortse. From Phortse the trail leads through forests to Dole.

Day 08: Dole (4,200m) – Machhermo (4,410m).
A steep but beautiful morning climb through pine, fir and rhododendron forests to Lhabama and Luza. After a leisurely afternoon trek, high above the river, camp at Machhermo 4410 m. The days trek is short so that you are not exhausted and to allow time for acclimatization.

Day 9: Rest day for acclimatization and short hikes.

Day 10: Machhermo (4,410m)– Gokyo (Second Lake at 4,750m).
This is your first real day at high altitude and the trekking today may be described as moderate at the most difficult. However, the going is slow (in fact, it is recommended that you walk slowly to avoid exhausting yourself). The valley opens wide as the trail passes through Pangkha. Mt. Cho Oyu (8153 m.) dominates the skyline to the north as the trail leads up to the moraine on the left flank of the Ngozumpa Glacier. The climb is steep to the first of the four lakes that lie in the Gokyo area but the trail levels off towards the second lake at 4750 meters.

The settlements of Gokyo and Luza are typical high altitude temporary villages where the herders live when they bring their cattle up to high summer pastures during the warmer months leaving the lower pastures.

Day 11: Gokyo (4,750m) – Free Day.
A free day to explore the area around Gokyo or rest. For enthusiasts a rigorous day's hike up the ridge above camp provides spectacular views of the Everest trinity: Nuptse 7879 m, Lhotse 8511 m, and Everest 8848 m, as well as Makalu 8463 m looming to the east and Cho Oyu (8153 m.) to the north.

Day 12: Gokyo (4.750m)– Cho La Pass Base /Dragnak (5,169m).
This is the longest and most difficult part of this trek. The trail crosses the southern portion of the Ngozumpa Glacier then climbs steadily to a campsite on the 5169mat the base of the Cho La Pass.

Day 13: Cross Cho La (5,420m) – Trek to Dzongla (4,730m).
A steep and challenging but, non-technical climb over rock, snow and perhaps ice with superb views of the glacial valleys of Cho Oyu and Everest. Today you will cross the 5420 meter Cho La. Camp will be at Dzongla 4730 m, a high altitude summer pasture directly beneath the north wall of Cholatse 6440 m.

Day 14: Trek to Lobuche (4,930m).
After a morning of rest, hike on a trail above Tsholo Lake and join the main Everest trail near the end of the Khumbu Glacier. Camp at Lobuje (4930 m.

Day 15: Lobuche (4,930m) – Gorkshep (5,140m).
The trail from Lobuche follows the muide, a geographer's name for the trough at the edge of the glaciers lateral moraine. A tributary glacier has piled another moraine across the trail which has to be crossed, giving a good view of Pumori. This section of the trek provides good views of the Everest group and Pumori from Gork Shep and Kala Pattar

Day-16: Dingboche to Tengboche (3,860m)

We have a relatively easy walk along the Imja Khola with a visit to the Gompa at Pangboche, before climb up to Tengboche Monastery.

Day-17: Tengboche to Namche (3,440m)

We head down on a long descent down the right flank of the Dudh Kosi valley to Namche.

Day-18:Namche to Phakding (2,610m) 

We continue down along the gorge of the Dudh Kosi to the village of Phakding.

Day-19: Phakding to Lukla (2,840m)

We walk through town to the little airstrip of Lukla

Day-20: Lukla (2,840m) - Rammechap. Drive to Kathmandu (1310m)
Fly to Rammechap and then drive back to Kathmandu, with remainder of the day free. Hotel Overnight.

Day-21: Leisure. 

Day-22: Departure.

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