Everest Base Camp Trek with Gokyo Ri

Upon arrival in Kathmandu you meet our representative at the airport who will take you to your hotel in the center of Kathmandu. On your first day you can explore the vibrant streets and the winding allies while discovering numerous restaurants, cafés and stores. The evening is yours to settle down after your long journey.

Accommodation: Hotel in Kathmandu

After breakfast, we will give you a quick orientation before we take you on a tour through the historical sights of Kathmandu. These include the Monkey Temple, Durbar Square, and many other places. During the second half of the day, we recommend you to rest as we are taking off early for our trip to Everest tomorrow.

Accommodation: Hotel in Kathmandu

Meals: Breakfast.

An early half and hour flight will take you to Lukla, at 2804 meters, landing at Tenzing and Hillary Airport (named after Everest’s first summiteers). In Lukla, you can enjoy a hot tea in the village, buy last-minute trekking utensils and take photos, while our crew prepares our trekking equipment. At last, the journey begins! Descending toward the Dudh Kosi River, you head towards your overnight stay at Phakding.

Accommodation: Tea House Meals: Full Board

Today will also start early as you leave several meters of altitude behind while crossing numerous wire suspension bridges. After entering the Sagarmatha National Park (the locals’ name for Everest), the trail climbs steeply, offering spectacular views of the surrounding peaks. After lunch, you hike two more hours before arriving at the Sherpa capital and gateway to Everest Namche Bazaar. Namche has many good restaurants, lodges, shops, pharmacies, banks, and bakeries.

Accommodation: Tea House
Meals: Full Board

To get used to the now thinning air you will ascend and descend in steps. The saying “climb high, sleep low” is the surest way for the body to adapt. Sherpa people are best suited for low-oxygen environments. You will visit a museum about these fascinating people and learn about their traditions and customs. There, you will also see Mount Everest for the first time, behind the statue of Tenzing Norgay, the Sherpa who accompanied Sir Edmund Hillary on the world’s first Everest ascension. Tenzing is regarded as one of the bravest and most heroic Himalayan climbers of all time.

Accommodation: Tea House
Meals: Full Board

While passing the rushing glacial waters of the Dudh Kosi, the nearby snow-pecked mountains, including Everest, will hover above you. At Tengboche you will visit the local monastery where you can watch a prayer ceremony either in the evening or the next morning, depending on how tired you are from trekking. Ornate wall hangings, a six-meter tall sculpture of Buddha, and the musical instruments and robes of the Lamas decorate the monastery.

Accommodation: Tea House
Meals: Full Board

Today you will cross another exciting wire suspension bridge over the Imja Khola, and then ascend to Pangboche. Thousands of mani stones embellish the way — large boulders carved and painted with Buddhist mantras. The uphill trek continues to the quaint Sherpa village of Dingboche, offering spectacular views of Lhotse, Island Peak, and the steep ice summit of Ama Dablam. You will trek slowly today, easing safely into the thinning air.

Accommodation: Tea House
Meals: Full Board

Today is another acclimatization day. We head for Chhukung Valley via the Imja Khola valley, with marvelous views of the surrounding peaks, the most dramatic of which is Lhotse’s massive south wall. In the evening, we return down to Dingboche. As we’re getting closer to Everest, we have a harder time seeing it from this point on, until we reach Kalapattar.

Accommodation: Tea House
Meals: Full Board

The trail continues along the lateral moraine of the Khumbu Glacier, passing by stone memorials for Sherpas and other climbers who have perished on nearby summits. After paying our respects, you will continue up to Lobuche at 4910m. The trek offers snowy mountain ranges flanking the trail on every side. It’s the most photogenic Everest trek.

Approaching 5000 meters, altitude sickness becomes a serious threat. To counter it, we’ll walk slowly and ascend gradually today. Along the way, we’ll have views of Nuptse, Lobuche, and many other mountain peaks, as well as our first views of the Khumbu Glacier, a gnarly river of solid ice that stretches far ahead and twists upward into the base of Everest.

In the afternoon you will ascend to Kalapattar, a 5550-meter peak. The ascent is demanding, but the views are rewarding: at the top, just in time for the sunset, we’ll have panorama vistas of Everest, Nuptse, Pumori, Chagatse, Lhotse, and many other peaks. You will descend back to Gorak Shep after where you can rest and prepare for the big day tomorrow.

Today’s the big day: You reach Everest Base Camp! You start walking along the Khumbu Glacier, which will lead you right to the foot of Everest. Everest Base Camp is the closest you can get to Mount Everest without special permits and mountaineering equipment. Depending on the time of year, there might be one or more expeditions camped there, preparing for their ascent. After taking pictures and enjoying the view, you will return back to Pheriche for the night.

Today the journey continues on the flat land and passes through the arid valley. Ascending along the Chola Glacier and icy trails through the steep path will lead us to Phedi. From here you will descend down to Thanga, a small village with few lodges and tea shops and very little population, from where you will have a glimpse of Machhermo peak.

Accommodation: Tea House Meals: Full Board

The path continues along the glacier route until you reach the Lake of Gokyo. Gokyo Cho, also known as Dudh Pokhari, is situated in the Gokyo Valley from where Mount Everest is visible at a close range. This trek to Gokyo is also considered an alternate route to the Everest Base Camp. Be prepared that the wind can get very strong in the valley – but also for the stunning beauty waiting at Dudh Pokhari Lake.

Accommodation: Tea House
Meals: Full Board

Rest today and explore the Gokyo Valley. You can spend the day learning more about Sherpa traditions or enjoy the views from Gokyo Valley. It is situated next to the Ngozumba glacier, Nepal’s biggest glacier, which offers excellent views of Kantega in the south and Cho Oyu in the north.

Accommodation: Tea House
Meals: Full Board

Today you will ascend the Gokyo Ri, which emerges from the valley and looks like it touches the sky. From here you will have a spectacular view of the several eight-thousanders above the other countless peaks that appear in each direction. Following the yak pastures, we continue our trip towards Machhermo.

Accommodation: Tea House Meals: Full Board

Today you return back to Lukla – time to reflect on your experiences and celebrate with your fellow trekkers: making it all the way to the base camp, through the valley, and back is a great accomplishment!

Accommodation: Tea House
Meals: Full Board

Enjoy your last glimpse of the mountains before you fly back to Kathmandu. Upon arrival, you’ll be met by a representative and driven back to your hotel. In the evening, we would gladly invite you to our traditional Nepalese dinner. We would love to hear about your experience and say Goodbye to you.

Accommodation: Hotel in Kathmandu

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

After breakfast, it is time to say Goodbye to Nepal. We will pick you up and drop you off at the airport where you will catch your flight back home. We hope you had a wonderful long-lasting experience with us and maybe you now know the answer to why you were looking for that special challenge. Have a safe trip!

Meals: Breakfast