Everest BC via Gokyo & Cho La

Everest base camp is a very inspiring place. It is the starting point for the ascent to the world's highest mountain. Many people gave their lives to get there, many of them started in this base camp. It is a place of natural power and an emotional and spiritual place of happiness, frustration and sadness. During this journey you trek through the Gokyo valley trek across the Cho La pass to the base camp of Mount Everest. This trek is more demanding than the normal route to Mount Everest, but also much more varied. You climb Gokyo Ri (5357m), visit the Gokyo Lakes, cross the Ngzumpa glacier and Cho La (5420m). After the ascent of Kala Pattar (5554m) and a visit to the Everest Bae Camp we'll trek back to Lukla and Namche Bazar via the beautiful normal route. An adventurous and challenging variation on the normal route to Everest Base Camp. Highly recommended!

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+ Trip description

Part 1 - The trek to Namche Bazar

To use your time effectively, we'll fly to the Solo Khumbu from Kathmandu. Our destination is the little mountain airport of Lukla with its spectacular runway! The views from the small plane are amazing, providing dramatic views of terraced hills and the distant Himalayan peaks. From the moment you land in Lukla you will find yourself in the most beautiful mountain sceneries you will find in the entire Himalayas. The green Dudh Kosi Valley (milk river) leads you through deep, green valleys to the pleasant trade center of Namche Bazar. In Namche we will take our first important acclimatization day by exploring this busy mountain village and by making a trip to a few stunning Everest view points and the Everest museum.

Part 2 - The trek to Gokyo, Gokyo Ri (5357m) and Gokyo Lakes

Where the standard route to Everest Base Camp from Namche leads towards Tengboche, in this trek you'll climb to Khumjung, and Dole and Machhermo the famous place where Yeti would have slain yaks and a Sherpa woman would have hurt. Slowly but surely you will climb from green lush valleys to the barren rocks of the Gokyo region. A spectacular alpine area where huge mountains, sparkling glacial lakes and giant glaciers meet. The much-climbed, non-technical Gokyo Ri (5357m) offers a phenomenal view of this spectacular alpine scenery, including Mount Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse, Cho Oyu and Amadablam. We draw deeper into this wild area towards the Tibetan border into Nepal's Cho Oyu base camp and the unique lakes which are officially appointed as protected high altitude wetlands. You will be amazed by the beauty of this unique area with its incredible spectacular views.

Part 3 - Across Cho La (5420m) to Everest Base Camp

Well acclimatized from our stay at Gokyo we continue towards the 5420m high Cho La. First, we trek across debris and ice of theNgzumpa glacier to Thangnag. If the weather conditions are good, we're able to cross the spectacular, glaciated Cho La without the use of climbing gear. The challenging climb involves 650m across rocks, debris, snow and possibly ice. From the spectacular pass with a great view you descend via the Cho La glacier. This glacier is relatively flat and hardly broken, so there are virtually no crevasses. At the bottom of the glacier the ice is replaced by huge, rocky plates which lead to a good path. Ultimately, it is still a long journey through a lush green valley to Dzongla and eventually to Lobuche and Gorak Shep. From Gorak Shep we climb to the 5600m high Kala Pattar and we 'll visit the Everest Base Camp. There will be plenty of time to explore the area around the base camp and to experience the power of this incredible place. The trek back to lower areas allows us tobreathe easily again and we'll fully enjoy the very different but beautiful mountain landscapes of the classic, normal route. Compared to the normal route, this trek is a lot more demanding and more challenging, while the number of days is nearly the same, definitely worth considering!

+ Itinerary & different options

[ Arrival in Kathmandu / free days ]

Everest Base Camp		Different options
1 - Kathmandu - Briefing 2 - Flight Lukla - Phakding 3 - Namche Bazar 4 - Rest & acclimatization 5 - Dole 6 - Macchermo 7 - Gokyo 8 - Rest & acclimatization	9 - Gokyo Lakes / Cho Oyu BC 10 - Gokyo Ri - Thangnag 11 - Chola La - Lobuche 12 - Everest BC - Gorak Shep 13 - Kala Pattar - Pheriche 14 - Namche Bazar 15 - Lukla 16 - Kathmandu	8 days - Namche Bazar Trek 15 days - Everest Base Camp Trek (Classic) 22 days - Khumbu High Passes Trek Do you prefer a different route or itinerary? Just contact us and we will be more than happy to think with you and organize the tailor made trip you're looking for...

[ End of services / free days / departure / continue travelling ]

+ What's included & excluded in the price?

To make things easy for you, we have put together different service packages that suit most people. However, if you want to make it really special, we also provide full tailor made services. Have a look at the fixed packages first or download a detailed comparison sheet.

» Download Comparison Sheet (pdf)

Full Trekking Service - Pro
The Pro package provides you a full organized trek including all organizational arrangements, a complete professional, experienced staff & crew, all needed equipment, all services and luxuries that makes your entire trek as comfortable as possible. The staff takes care of all tasks and activities, you are not required to help.

Full Trekking Service - Basic
The Basic package provides you a full organized trek including all organizational arrangements, a small professional, experienced staff & crew, essential equipment & services only, without the luxuries of the Pro package. Although professionally organized, this package is much more basic and adventurous, you are required to help with all tasks and activities.

Lodge Service
This package provides you a full organized Lodge trek including all organizational arrangements, a professional, experienced guide and porter service that makes your entire trek as comfortable as possible. You will eat and sleep in cozy lodges on the way where you can easily order your food in yourself, so you will never pay more than you actually need. The food for the guide and porters is included. The porter carries 12kg of luggage, so if you are with 2 persons, you share one porter who carries 24kg for both of you. For the rest, the guide and porter take care of everything for you, just enjoy!

+ How difficult is this trip?

We have rated this Everest Circuit Trek with C0-D1. This means that it's a easy to intermediate trip without technical climbing sections. Have a look at a general description of these codes! Below we'll try to describe the specific difficulties of this trip.

[ Note: this trek has been created in a way that everybody with a general health is able to finish the Everest Circuit. A slow and very good acclimatization schedule allows anybody to adapt to the high altitude and to reach daily trekking goals easily. ]

This trek begins with a spectacular flight to an altitude of 2800m in a small STOL aircraft. The trip takes on very good paths through small mountain villages, deep, green valleys, wild rivers and across hanging bridges to cold alpine areas. From Namche Bazar, the main commercial center with all facilities for tourists, we'll follow easy trails to different settlements, and pretty soon you climb up towards Gokyo. Gokyo Ri and the ascent of Cho La can be demanding and tiring, the ascent of Cho La involves climbing on unstable scree with loose and falling stones. The slopes of this tour may be occasionally steep, but there are no technical difficulties to be expected. The crossing of Cho La is only possible if the weather permits! Although the Cho La glacieris pretty flat, it can be very slippery. Crampons may be needed or useful here. The climb / trek to Kala Pattar and Everest Base Camp can be tiring as well with trails over loose rocks (moraine) with many small trails and lots of short climbs and descents. Everest Base Camp is built on a rocky glacier next to the Khumbu Ice Fall.

In general...
This trek does not require specific experience or skills, although you should feel comfortable walking on steep, rocky, slippery and unstable terrain for at least some parts of the trek.

This trek is open for anybody who is fit. However, if you’re part of a group during demanding activities, you must prepare yourself for working and living in and with a group of people who share the same, common goal! An easy going, flexible attitude is a must.

+ What clothes & equipment do I need?

After booking we will send you a final, detailed clothes & equipment list with all the required clothes and (climbing) equipment that you need for this trip. To get a really good idea what you will get from us, you may download an example equipment list.

» Download an Example Equipment List (pdf)

+ What is the best time to make this trip?

An indication of best seasons to make this trip (stable weather and clear views)

• Spring: March, April, May
• Autumn: October, November, December

Indication of temperatures: (depending on weather conditions)

• Below 5000m varying from: Day time: +10ºC / +30ºC. Night time: -5ºC / +15ºC
• Above 5000m varying from: Day time: -5ºC / +15ºC. Night time: -5ºC / -15ºC

Rain (or snow) may be expected in the lower areas from Lukla to Thyangboche. If you like to try to avoid a late monsoon and possible flight cancellations, you should start this trip from half October. Normally, the weather will be more stable by then. However, mountain storms and fog are unpredictable and can arise quickly, changing trekking & climbing conditions dramatically. Rain, snow and strong winds are always possible.