Overview
Gokyo Chola Pass Trek is a great trek for those who want something a bit different from the Everest Base Camp Trek, and who are adventurous and up for a more technical and arduous trek! For example, although average walking days are around 6 hours, some can be 8 or 9 hours. This trek takes in many of the famous sights such as Tengboche Monastery, Namche Bazaar, Gorak Shep and of course, Everest Base Camp, but it also takes us over the Cho La pass (5,330m) and to the Gokyo Lakes. Rhododendron and pine forests, yak pastures, waterfalls, and raging rivers, Tibetan chortens and prayer flags, the Ngozumpa Glacier and the sparkling waters of the Gokyo Lakes are also features of this trek. And, naturally, the mountains. Gokyo Ri, Everest, Cho Oyu, Lhotse, and Makalu are all on display.
Sometimes we tend to forget about the wildlife in this mountainous area – pheasants and musk deer frequently make an appearance. And there is always the possibility of spotting the mythical Yeti! Which it is believed to have been first spotted at the village of Machherma, where we will stop for the night on the way to Gokyo.
In the Gokyo Valley, we trek up to the 5th lake. There are 6 main lakes in total, lying at an altitude of 4,700 to 5,000m. In the high altitude sunlight, the lakes shimmer invitingly. But be warned, they are icy cold! On our return trip, the Gokyo Cho La pass is a spectacular trail, partially over ice, taking us to 5,300m. Still to come on this amazing trek is views of the Khumbu Glacier, and a very special close up views of Mount Everest from Kala Patthar and Tengboche Monastery before bringing us once again back to Namche Bazaar with its bustling market town feel and great restaurants.
Highlights of Gokyo Chola Pass Trek
- The glittering, high altitude Gokyo Lakes
- Uninterrupted views of Everest from Kala Patthar considered the ‘Everest viewpoint’
- Crossing the Cho La pass, probably with crampons
- Be amazed by the Khumbu Glacier
- Visit the largest monastery in the region – Tengboche
- Experience Sherpa life and visit Namche Bazaar
- Adventurous route
- Everest Base Camp Trek
The Cost Includes
- An Experienced and informative guide during the trek including his salary, food, accommodation, and insurance
- A porter during the trek including his salary, food, accommodation, and insurance
- Sagarmatha national park entry permit
- Solukhumbu Rural municipal tax
- Kathmandu-Lukla-Kathmandu both way flight ticket
- Domestic airport drop and pick up
- Three times meal in a day; Breakfast Lunch and dinner
- Accommodation in basic tea houses during the trek
- All the government vat and taxes
- -20' sleeping bag during the trek
- Basic first aid kits
- NEST branded water bottle with purification tablet
- A pulse oximeter to check your SPO2 and BPM in the high altitude
The Cost Excludes
- Food and accommodation in Kathmandu
- Personal expenses; WiFi, Hot shower, battery charging
- Insurance
- Tip and donation
Itinerary
Early in the morning at 3:30, we will take 3 to 4 hours drive to Ramechhap from Kathmandu and after, a short flight to Lukla. Lukla Airport is one of the most dangerous airports across the globe, which is the gateway to Everest Base Camp. The short trip to Lukla will take you to the land of the highest peak in the world “Mt Everest”. Reaching upon the vicinity known for The Land of Sherpa, you will be amazed by nature around you. There are bunches of hotels in Lukla offering flavorful breakfast and lunch. We will eat and rest for quite a while and head towards Phakding, a little delightful town for around 2 to 3 hours. Stay overnight in Phakding.
After having breakfast in the morning at Phakding, we will head towards Namche(3440m). Namche Bazar is frequently well known as the capital of Khumbu and a market of whole Everest region Trekking. We can discover hotels, lodges, resort, bar, snooker, bread kitchen, trekking stores and the retail establishment and fundamental items in Namche. It takes around 5 hours to reach Namche from Phakding with the steep path at the last part of the trek. However, it is said that hard work pays off, so after those precarious walk, you will arrive at the Everest View Point middle of the uphill towards Namche. From the perspective, the scene of Everest can be seen obviously. Decrease your pace, drink enough water and proceed gradually to Namche in light of the fact that toward the finish of the story "slow and steady always wins the race".
Usually, this day is named as the rest day by numerous individuals of the trekking organization. Be that as it may, it ought to be called as acclimatization day as one will trek the whole Khumjung and Khunde town on this day. Strolling for around 4 to 5 hours, today we will make a total visit or complete circuit of Namche. The adventure of Namche includes Sherpa Museum, Khumjung Airport, Everest View Hotel, Khumjung Village, Khunde Village, Hillary School and Government Development Yak Farm, etc. The walk will be delicate until you arrive at the head of Namche on the grounds that after there is steep up and the elevation is about 400m before dropping back. It will help a ton for acclimatization for the further higher rise on the coming days.
We make steep ascent up to Kyangjuma Village then cross the Mong La pass which houses an ancient Chorten stand in the middle. The top of the Mong La serves you with the panoramic vistas of mountains. Spotting pheasants, mountain goats, and musk deer is not surprising along the way. After some more walking through the forests, waterfalls, and bridges, we arrive at Dole where we spend the night.
We make steep ascent up to Kyangjuma Village then cross the Mong La pass which houses an ancient Chorten stand in the middle. The top of the Mong La serves you with the panoramic vistas of mountains. Spotting pheasants, mountain goats, and musk deer is not surprising along the way. After some more walking through the forests, waterfalls, and bridges, we arrive at Dole where we spend the night.
The path is upwards in most of the region as we tread up to Lhabarma. We may find some summer settlements along the way as we remain mesmerized by impressive views of Cho Oyu, Kantega and Thamserku. Rumbling Dudh Koshi keeps us inspired while we walk uphill to Machherma. The first sighting of Yeti took in this very place which boasts of the stream flowing down from Kyajo Ri and Phari Lapche through the village’s mid-point. We rest at Machherma for the night.
Another small yet beautiful part of this trek is passing through the bank of Gokyo lakes, i.e., Gokyo First Lake and Gokyo Second Lake. Precisely before Gokyo Third Lake, there is a settlement of individuals in type of teahouses and hotels as nobody remain there for day by day reason for living, every one of them is for business. But, individuals are incredibly decent, you will appreciate the stay in Gokyo with a clear perspective of emerald green Gokyo third Lake directly before your dining window and if fortunate enough even from your room.
We trek towards the focal point of the trip, i.e., Gokyo Ri. It is a steep climb which takes 3/4 hours to complete, but the hard work is worth undertaking because once you reach to the top, you will find yourself surrounded on all sided by the mightiest of the mighty mountains like Kusum Kangru, Everest, Pumori, Nuptse, Makalu, Lhotse, etc. This image we assure you will remain in your memories till your last breath. We get back to Gokyo and walk to Thaknak for the night.
We have another difficult day for our trip as Cho La Pass is steep ascent and constitutes of glacier traverse on the eastern side which makes the trail slippery. Again Mother Nature compensates us for our dedication as we find Ama Dablam on the south, Cholatse on the west, Lobuche on the east and Baruntse in the north. We pass through some crevasses to reach Dzongla for the night.
Today we walk down from Dzongla to cross a bridge then pressing through grassy paths while relishing ourselves with beautiful view of Lobuche we finally reach Lobuche. Our trek will be little short today facilitating the relaxed observation of astounding location.
The trail from Lobuche to Gorakshep is one of the most straightforward and short distance to cross as it takes 2 to 2.5 hours with all the way flat to Louche Pass. The little yet soak up way is available from where there is minor up and downs ahead till Gorakshep. Last however not the least our next trail is centre to exploration Everest Base Camp and Kalapatthar Trekking. After checking in at hotels and eating, we will begin trekking to Everest Base Camp, leaving our knapsack in the hotel. Despite the fact that the trek is gentle flat, the elevation makes it difficult. At last, a few strolls to the ice sheet are expected to arrive at base camp. It is around 4-hours stroll from Gorakshep to arrive at our goal Everest Base Camp. Getting a charge out of some time in Everest, we will go to Gorakshep.
Early dawn over the highest point of the world from Kalapatthar is one of the fundamental features of Everest Base Camp Trek. So to outline this minute we will begin our climb up to Kalapatthar promptly toward the beginning of the day. It will take around 2 to 2.5 hour to arrive at the summit of Kalapatthar. Contingent on the general time of sunrise we will set ourselves up. After the phenomenal perspective of sunrise over the top of the Mount Everest, we will plummet to Gorakshep for breakfast and further fall apart to Pheriche following a similar trail up to Thukla, from where we will diverse toward the downhill trail and follow of the bank of river till Pheriche.
Enjoying the view of rhododendron and bragging the stunning trek we had, we dive to Pangboche. The Dudh Koshi trail drives us to Sansa and after that Kyangjuma. At last strolling, through Chorten, we arrive at Namche Bazaar. We go through the night at Namche Bazaar.
After crossing several suspension bridges over the roaring Dudh Koshi River and its tributaries and enjoying the package of local cultures, customs and traditions we come down to Lukla. We remain at Lukla for spending the night.
After enjoying and celebrating and praising the goodbye at EBC with porter, we will fly back to Kathmandu and return to the hotel in Thamel. Refreshing ourselves, we will give some unwind to our body. At night, we will have farewell dinner along with feedback with entire NEST ADVENTURE groups and the cultural show during dinner.
Frequently asked Question
Expand/CloseYes, it is true. Due to possible runway maintenance in Kathmandu airport onwards, it seems that there won’t be a direct flight from Kathmandu to Lukla so we should drive from Kathmandu to Ramechhap.
Ramachhep lies in the east of Kathmandu. There are two different options to go to Rammechhap from Kathmandu either sharing transportation or private transport. It is about 75 km far from Kathmandu. Generally, it takes 4 hours to get Ramechhap.
Normally, you don’t need to stay overnight in Ramechhap but in the case of flight canceled due to the bad weather, at that time you should wait for the next day flight by staying overnight in Ramechhap.
It takes about 25 min from Ramechhap to Lukla flight
As per the airline's rules and regulation you can take 10 kilos of luggage and 5-kilos hand carries so that would be a total of 15 kilos baggage allowance. If you want to take more than 15 kilos, you have to pay an extra USD 1 per kilo.
It depends on the weather. Normally in the peak season like; March to May and Sept to Nov usually there is a regular flight on time but sometimes it might be delayed or canceled due to the bad weather. If the flight gets canceled, you will have two option; fly to Lukla via helicopter or stay overnight in Ramechhap and wait for next days.
It is not necessary to fly in a helicopter but if the flight canceled and you have only limited time then you can fly to Lukla via helicopter. Roughly it cost would be USD 450 to 500.
Regarding the food and accommodation, you don’t expect anything like the city area but every tea house will have a menu for the food and accommodation will be clean and comfortable. They don’t provide you with enough blankets so you should carry a sleeping bag with you.
During the trekking, almost tea houses have wifi in the Khumbu region. You can pay and use internet unlimited. They will charge you about $5 to 10 per person for the wifi.
There are no public toilets along the way. If you are nearby the village, in this case, you can go to the tea house otherwise you will go to the separate place nearby you.
Yes, you can charge your all the gadget in tea house but you have to pay roughly $5
Yes, you can take a hot shower at the tea house during the trek. 1st 3 days in Lukla Phakding and Namche you can have a room with an attached bathroom and electric shower but after the Namche, you can get a hot bucket shower.
Basic hiking gears are enough for the Everest trek. You can read the equipment checklist on our website.
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