Everest Base Camp with Gokyo Lakes Trek

Day 1 of the Everest Base Camp with Gokyo Lakes Trek starts after you reach Nepal. After your plane arrives at Kathmandu's Tribhuvan International Airport, you have to head to the terminal where we'll be waiting for you. The airport staff will first ask you to submit the "Arrival Card." You will have to give your full details, including why you are visiting Nepal, and how long you plan to stay. You can obtain the visa after completing the process and making the necessary payment. We'll welcome you at the terminal and then take you to your assigned hotel. Your Sagarmatha National Park permit will be obtained on the day on the day of your arrival or the next. To ensure that obtaining the permits won't cause you any hassle, we will put together the necessary paperwork in advance; you need to provide us with the necessary documents.

Since our trip to Lukla Airport is set for an early hour, the second day begins early in the morning, followed by breakfast. After that, we will proceed to the airport. You will additionally meet the trek guide who will be going with you on the Everest Base Camp with Gokyo Lakes Trek, on the way to the airport. We shall wait for a while, get our boarding pass, before boarding the domestic flight that is headed to Lukla. Frequently ranked as one of the world's most hazardous airports, Lukla Airport is notorious. Our flight is scheduled to arrive at this airport. However, with well-experienced pilots, there is nothing to worry about; just enjoy the scenes of the northern peaks. We will get to Lukla safely, even though doubts and anxieties will inevitably catch up with you. Following our arrival at the airport, we will depart the premises and begin the Everest Base Camp with Gokyo Lakes Trek, following a short preparation session. Phakding village will be the day's destination. With our pathways featuring mani walls and multicolored prayer flags, we will pass through numerous Sherpa communities. This is going to be a rather simple journey, with much of the descent being mild. We will arrive at a checkpoint on the outskirts of Lukla settlement, where our permit to enter Sagarmatha National Park will be checked. Soon after, we will reach Phadking village and spend the night there.

On the third day of the journey, we will be reaching Namche Bazaar after 4 to 5 hours of trekking. Our journey to Namche Bazaar will be a steep one, going over unfamiliar paths; the trek is definitely exhausting. We will cross numerous suspension bridges and a couple of waterfalls to reach our destination of the day. We are going to go through Monjo Village along the route, which is the entrance to the well-known Sagarmatha National Park. For entrance into the park, we will be required to show our permits. In the past, Namche Bazaar was well-known as a trade center. Historically speaking, Namche Bazaar was frequented by several traders who came to exchange commodities. Certain aspects of traditional commerce still exist today. Namche Bazaar has a wide variety of goods, so if you're lacking something for the hike, you can get it there. Note that as we gain elevation, even the simplest goods cost double or triple the amount.

Day 4 of the Everest Base Camp with Gokyo Lakes Trek itinerary is the only acclimatization day on the journey. Our destination of the day is the Everest View Hotel, the highest located hotel on the planet, reaching 3880 m above sea level. Starting from Namche, this hike will take about 4 to 5 hours to complete. From the wide open compound of the hotel, you can see Pumori, Lhotse, Nuptse, Ama Dablam, Everest, and many more peaks in the vicinity. Alternatively, you can also go on a hike to Khumjung village on the way back from the Everest View Hotel. This village is a great viewpoint and also has a local monastery. However, this is a completely optional side hike. You can simply head back to Namche and explore the town instead. Namche is undoubtedly the central hub of the Khumbu region, and there is much to do in and around the town.

The following day, on the Everest Base Camp with Gokyo Lakes Trek itinerary, we have to trek about 9 km of total distance with a net elevation gain of 210 m, reaching 3650 m above sea level. The day starts at 3440 m above sea level, with an estimated trek duration of 5 to 6 hours. Starting the trek, we will go over stone steps and head towards the village of Sanasa. That is where the standard Everest Base Camp and Gokyo Lake Trek split. Trekking over undulating paths, we will get to see the Khumbila, Thamserku, and Ama Dablam peaks in the distance. From Sanasa, we have to get on a sharp climb to Mong La Pass. After an exhausting climb, we will finally reach 3970 m above sea level, the highest point of the day. After summiting the pass, we have to descend all the way down to Phortse Thanga. The descent is steep, features stone steps, and leads us into the Dudh Koshi Valley. After crossing a forested section and a handful of waterfalls, we will reach our destination for the day.

On the 6th day of the Everest Base Camp with Gokyo Lakes Trek itinerary, we have to reach Machhermo village. This trek is going to last about 6 hours, covering a total distance of 7.5 km. The reason for the short distance yet long trekking hours is the total ascent we have to climb. Starting from 3650 m above sea level, we have to reach 4470 m by the end of the day, which is an elevation gain of 820 m. Starting the trek, we will trek along the Dudh Koshi River and gradually ascend through the valley. The uphill section is not that physically demanding, but it is long and consistent. En route, we will take many breaks to rest and capture memorable photos. Passing through lush vegetation, we will soon reach wide open lands where trees are non-dominant. Soon after, we will arrive at the village of Machhermo.

The next day, on the Everest Base Camp with Gokyo Lakes Trek itinerary, we have a rather short trek day, with an estimated duration of 3 to 4 hours. The net elevation of the day is 320 m, starting from 4470 m and reaching 4790 m above sea level. By the end of the trek today, we will have covered about 6 km of distance, starting with a steady climb through an open landscape. This part of the trek features a view of Thamserku, Kangtega, and Cho Oyu peaks. Moving deeper into the valley, we will soon arrive at Pangka village, reaching 4390 m. This village is one of the many resting points of the day. From there, we head towards the village of Nilibuk, where a large cave can be explored. Continuing the trek, we will soon see the first Gokyo Lake, Longponga Tsho, reaching 4690 m. This lake will be followed by the Taujun Tsho, 4710 m, and finally, we arrive at the Gokyo village.

Today is one of the main days on the Everest Base Camp with the Gokyo Lakes Trek itinerary. With a total duration of 5 hours round-trip, the ascent to Gokyo Ri and back is going to cover about 8 km. This climb gains us about 567 meters of elevation, reaching 5357 m above sea level. Beginning the day with a filling breakfast, the initial portion of the trail heads towards the valley floor before turning southeast. Gradually ascending, the path then turns rocky as we head towards Gokyo Ri. Zigzagging our way up the slopes, we will reach the top after covering 4 km of distance. It will take us about 2 to 3 hours to reach the viewpoint. There, a stunning, picturesque scene of Lhotse, Cho Oyu, Makalu, Pumori, Nuptse, Everest, and more awaits us. Following a great time at the viewpoint, we will get back to Gokyo village, after descending for about 2 hours. For the time being, you can spend the rest of the day exploring the village on your own. We will conclude the day with a delicious lunch at the tea house.

Day 9 of the Everest Base Camp with Gokyo Lakes Trek itinerary, we will cross the Ngozumpa Glacier and trek for over 5 hours to reach Thangna. The total trek distance of the day is just 4.4, with a net elevation loss of 90 m, reaching 4700 m above sea level. The day starts with a steady descent heading along the Ngozumpa Glacier, the longest of its kind in Nepal. Being the longest glacier, it will take us about 2 hours to cross it, and the terrain is uneven, icy, and rocky. After we cross the glacier, the trail features many ups and downs all the way to Thangna village.

The 10th day of the Everest Base Camp with Gokyo Lakes Trek itinerary is going to be long and tiring. The estimated trek duration is 8 to 10 hours, while the distance to be covered is just 11 km. This means that the ascents and descents are steep. First off, we will climb the Cho La Pass, reaching 5420 m above sea level. This ascent gains us 720 m of elevation. After that, we will descend to Dzongla, losing 590 m. The net elevation change of the day is a gain of 130 m, reaching 4830 m at Dzongla. Starting off, we will immediately hit an ascending trail that turns progressively steep. The trail features some icy patches here and there, so using microspikes can be a bit beneficial, but it is not mandatory. After about 4 hours of climbing, we will finally reach the top of the pass. The climb will be physically demanding, but the panoramic mountain views from the top will make it all worth it. After taking in the mountain scenes, we will descend to Dzongla over a rocky trail, which takes about 4 to 6 hours.

Trekking from Dzongla to Lobuche requires covering about 8 km of total distance, which can be covered within 4 to 5 hours. The net elevation change of the 11th day of the Everest Base Camp with Gokyo Lakes Trek itinerary is a gain of about 100 meters. The day begins with breakfast at Dzongla, sitting at 4830 m, and by the end of the day, we will reach 4940 m above sea level. Descending from Dzongla, the initial portion of the trek goes through a grassy section, followed by a ridgeline. We will then cross a couple of bridges, after crossing the entire ridgeline in one go. The terrain there is heavily shaped by the movement of the glacier. A view of Kangtega, Thamserku, Ama Dablam, and Lobuche can be seen from this point. Soon after, we will reach the destination of the day and call it a day.

Today is the other main day of the Everest Base Camp with Gokyo Lakes Trek itinerary. Our itinerary for the day takes us to Gorak Shep, followed by Everest Base Camp. First off, we will trek about 4 km to reach Gorak Shep from Lobuche. This hike features a 3 km long ascent that will take about 3 hours to cover. After that, we will hit the second part of the hike and cover 3.6 km to reach the Everest Base Camp, which takes 2.5 hours. The total distance from Lobuche to EBC is 7.6 km. The day starts with a trek over a sandy trail, following the Khumbu Glacier. Crossing short climbs and gradual descents, we have to trek over glacial debris with no tea houses en route till we reach Gorak Shep. Once we reach the last settlement before the base camp, we will put down our luggage and head towards the base camp. This part of the trek continues to be rocky and full of glacial debris. After gaining about 434 m, starting from Lobuche, we will reach the stunning Everest Base Camp. The site is full of camps, set by mountaineers who are attempting to climb Everest. You can have small chats with them if they are open to it. Soon after, we will return to Gorak Shep and spend the night there.

Day 13 of the Everest Base Camp with Gokyo Lakes Trek itinerary features a 16 km trek distance, with a net elevation loss of 750 m. The day starts at Gorak Shep, heading towards the viewpoint of Kala Patthar. The climb to the viewpoint is not that difficult, but it’s not a walk in the park either. Heading southeast from our accommodation, the trail is rocky and steep, but we will make it to the top after covering just 2 km of ascent. This gains us 395 m of elevation, reaching 5555 m above sea level. Round-trip, it will take us about 3.5 hours. From Kala Patthar, you will get to see one of the best scenes of Everest, along with Lhotse, Nuptse, Ama Dablam, Thamserku, Cho Oyu, etc. After a while, we will head back to Gorak Shep and have an energizing breakfast to start the descent to Dingboche. The second part of the trek is 12 km long, following the valley floor and losing us 1135 m of elevation by the end of the trek. We will cross the Lobuche ridge en route.

On the 14th day of the Everest Base Camp with Gokyo Lakes Trek itinerary, we will make it back to Namche Bazaar, the most lively place in all of Khumbu. The day starts at 4410 m above sea level and reaches 3440 m after 6 to 7 hours of trekking and mostly descending. The elevation loss of the day is 970 m, with a total trek distance of 15 km. Starting off, the trail features a steady descent along the Imja Khola Valley and reaches the village of Chhukung. From there, we will head towards Pangboche village, after going over a suspension bridge. There will be many more bridges en route today. Soon after, we will reach Pangboche, followed by a rest at Tengboche village. We will also visit the Tengboche Monastery before continuing the descent. From Tengboche, the trail is steeply descending for the most part, going alongside the Dudh Koshi River. Right before we reach Namche, we will cross a suspension bridge and slightly ascend to enter the town.

Day 15 of the Everest Base Camp with Gokyo Lakes Trek itinerary is yet another long descending day, stretching over 13 km. The estimated trek duration is 5 to 6 hours with a net elevation loss of 580 m, reaching 2860 m above sea level. The initial part of the trail leads down to Monjo village. But to reach Monjo, we have to climb down the Namche Hill, losing over 600 m of elevation at once, and pass by the village of Jorsale. From there, we have to cross a couple of suspension bridges, including the Hillary Bridge, to reach Monjo. Exiting the Sagarmatha National Park from Monjo, the trail continues to descend and follows the Dudh Koshi River all the way to Lukla. There are some small ascents on the way before entering the Lukla gate.

The trekking days of the Everest Base Camp with Gokyo Lakes Trek itinerary are over. After a hefty breakfast at Lukla, we have to get to the airport to catch our flight back to Kathmandu. This 35-minute flight is a scenic ride that offers us time to reminisce about all the great moments we had on this trail.

The last day of the Everest Base Camp with Gokyo Lakes Trek itinerary is here. After we have gone over the final processes, we will have a short farewell celebration before dropping you off at the airport.