Gokyo Lakes and Cho La Pass Circuit

Our team meets you upon arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport and transfers you to your hotel in Kathmandu. Later, we gather for a trip briefing to review our permits, gear, and itinerary details over dinner.

We take an early morning mountain flight from Kathmandu to Tenzing-Hillary Airport in Lukla. From Lukla, we begin our descent past stone mani walls and pine forests alongside the Dudh Koshi river down to Phakding.

Our trail crosses the Dudh Koshi multiple times on suspension bridges before entering Sagarmatha National Park at Monjo. We then tackle the long, steep uphill climb through pine woods to reach the bustling regional hub of Namche Bazaar.

We spend our first rest day climbing above Namche to the ridge near Hotel Everest View and Khumjung village. This hike allows our bodies to adjust to the thinner air while offering our first clear sightings of Ama Dablam and Everest.

The path contours high above the river gorge through rhododendron and birch forests before dropping steeply to Phunki Tenga. After a lunch break, we climb steadily through pine woods to reach the famous hilltop monastery at Tengboche.

We descend through dwarf scrub and birch trees to cross the Imja Khola, then climb past Pangboche village into the wide, windswept valley of Dingboche, framed by stone-walled barley fields.

We undertake a sustained morning climb up the slopes of Nangkartshang Hill to an elevation of 5100 m. This high-altitude push is essential for preparing our red blood cells for the upcoming passes and base camp.

We follow the moraine past the stone memorials at Dughla before ascending the steep terminal moraine of the Khumbu Glacier. We settle into Lobuche for the night beneath the massive rock walls of Lobuche Peak.

We traverse rough, rocky terrain alongside the Khumbu Glacier to reach the high outpost of Gorakshep. After dropping our packs, we continue across the lateral moraine to reach Everest Base Camp before returning to Gorakshep for the night.

We start before dawn to climb the steep ridge of Kala Patthar for panoramic sunrise views over Everest, Nuptse, and Pumori. Afterward, we retrace our steps toward Lobuche and branch off toward the quiet cluster of stone lodges at Dzonghla.

Today presents our most technical challenge as we climb over the ice and boulder-strewn expanse of the Cho La Pass. We take great care descending the slippery western side down into the remote valley settlement of Thangna.

We cross the massive, rubble-covered Ngozumpa Glacier, navigating cairns and shifting ice blocks carefully. We arrive at the edge of the third Gokyo lake by midday, leaving the afternoon open to rest.

We make an early morning ascent of Gokyo Ri to survey the shimmering lake below and the mountain horizon stretching from Makalu to Cho Oyu. Following the descent, we pack up and descend rapidly along the Dudh Koshi river canyon through Machhermo to Dole.

Our trail drops continuously down through juniper bushes and pine forests past waterfalls and small settlements. We reclaim our steps through Phortse Tenga before making the final climb back into Namche Bazaar.

We walk a long, sustained downhill stretch out of the park gates across suspension bridges over the Dudh Koshi. Reaching Lukla by afternoon, we celebrate our final evening on the trail with our support crew.

We board an early morning fixed-wing flight from Lukla back to Kathmandu, weather permitting. Upon arrival, our transport takes you back to your hotel for a well-earned rest.