Everest Base Camp and Gokyo Lakes

Kathmandu, the incredibly diverse capital of Nepal is a fascinating blend of centuries old Hindu and Buddhist shrines, traditional architecture and a city embracing the 21 century. Upon arrival, your leader will transfer you to your hotel from the airport. Your hotel is in the heart of the city close to Thamel, a popular choice with tourists, with colourful handicraft stalls, trekking gear shops and excellent restaurants. In the evening, after your trek briefing, you have the option of going out for a group dinner with your trek leader.

Flight time: 35 mins. Trekking: 3 hours
The early morning flight from Kathmandu to Lukla (2830m) is spectacular, with sensational views of the Himalayan range. Sir Edmund Hillary and the Sherpas built the Lukla airstrip in the mid 1960’s and after landing with your guide your local porters will sort and load your trekking equipment before you start trekking towards the Dudh Kosi River. Here you join the main trading trail to Namche Bazaar, at Chaurikharka (2720m). The walking is delightfully easy and after passing through the small village of Ghat you cross the river to your overnight lodge at Phakding (2650m).
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Trekking: 7 hours
You walk through pine and rhododendron forest to Benkar where you have beautiful views of Kusum Kanguru (6369m) and Thamserku (6623m). From here it is only a short walk to Monjo (2840m), arriving in time for lunch. In the afternoon you enter the National Park, where permits are checked, and then pass through the village of Jorsale (2805m). The trail leads to the confluence of the Bhote Kosi and Dudh Kosi, from where you start the steep ascent to Namche Bazaar. After crossing the high suspension bridge we suggest you walk at a slow and steady pace and make the most of the fantastic photographic opportunities as the peaks of Everest (8848m), Lhotse (8511m), Nuptse (7879m), Ama Dablam (6856m) and Tawache (6542m) come into view for the first time. You arrive at Namche Bazaar in time for lunch and the afternoon is free to explore the village.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Acclimatization day
To aid acclimatization your guide will organize a morning walk to the cultural museum above the village. You then ascend to the airstrip at Syangboche and then, less steeply, towards the Everest View Hotel for stunning views of Everest and Ama Dablam over a cup of tea or hot chocolate. You return to Namche for lunch and the afternoon is free to relax or shop in the bazaar. It is recommended that you take the opportunity to see either the sunrise or sunset views from the National Park Headquarters above the village. The view is stunning.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Trekking: 5.5 hours
In the morning you climb out of the village to traverse high above the Dudh Kosi river to walk past the linear settlement of Kyangjuma. The holy peak of Khumbiyulha (5761m) looms above the and you follow the trail that contours around its lower slopes, passing through beautiful birch forest and then climbing on open grassy slopes to Mongla located on top of a rocky ridge where you stop for lunch. From the lodge there are superb views of the surrounding mountains and the village of Phortse, seen across the valley amid a patchwork of stonewalled fields. From here you pass the Buddhist stupa shrine on the ridge and commence the steep 300 metre descent into the Dudh Kosi Valley to Phortse Tenga.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Trekking: 4 hours
After breakfast, you ascend steeply through forest and then contour high above the valley, enjoying dramatic views of Kantega, Thamserku and Ama Dablam (6856m). Your first view of Cho-Oyo (8153m), at the head of the valley, is enjoyed about an hour beyond Phortse Bridge as you emerge above the tree line. The trail is easy to follow, and well defined, with impressive rock faces and waterfalls lining the route. You pass the small yak herding settlements of Tongba (4015m) and Gyele (4050m) and from here it’s a short descent to Dole (4084m), After lunch you can explore the upper Dole Valley, for beautiful views of Cho-Oyo and Gyachung Kang (7922m) at the head of the valley. The imposing peaks of Taweche (6542m) and Cholatse (6440m) lie across the valley to the east.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Trekking: 3 hours
The trek up the Gokyo Valley ascends gently but it is essential you acclimatize properly so today is another short walk. You begin with a short but steep climb to regain the main Dudh Kosi Valley. You will feel the altitude so take your time to enjoy the view and rest as often as you wish. The barren and open alpine scenery is particularly spectacular and after two hours you arrive at Luza (4360m) for a welcome tea break. From here it is only a further hour’s walk to your lodge at Machhermo (4460m) where you spend the night. In the afternoon it is worthwhile heading up the valley and ascending the ridgeline below Kyajo Ri (6168m) and Machhermo Peak (6073m). Machhermo is famously known for Yeti sightings in 1974; three yaks were killed and a Sherpa girl injured when the Yeti came into the village.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Trekking: 4 hours
You leave the lodge at Machhermo by climbing out of the valley to follow Dudh Kosi Valley northwards. Tibetan snow cocks are often found in this area where the valley widens at Pangka (4390m). The jumbled, terminal moraines of Ngozumpa Glacier (the largest in Nepal) can be seen ahead and the trail follows the left side of the glacial moraines. The route is well defined as you picks your way through a maze of boulders to reach the first of the Gokyo lakes followed by a second lake at Longponga (4690m). The trail then ascends gently to the third lake at Gokyo (4750m). Gokyo itself consists of a number of lodges and stone walled paddocks and yaks can be seen grazing on the surrounding hillsides. After lunch it is recommended that you take it easy due to the altitude, but if you are feeling fit, take a short walk to the ridge at the back of Gokyo for views down to the huge Ngozumpa Glacier.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Trekking: 5 hours
For the best views you rise early to ascend Gokyo Peak (5360m). The two-hour walk is demanding due to the altitude but the reward is one of the best panoramas in the Everest area. From the top, four 8000-metre peaks can be seen - Everest (8848m), Cho-Oyo (8153m), Lhotse (8511m) and Makalu (8481m) as well as many more Himalayan giants in this amazing panorama of summits. Looking down, the village of Gokyo looks like a mere speck and the turquoise blue waters of the lake shimmer in the sunlight. The huge Ngozumpa Glacier is awesomely impressive due to its sheer size. You head back to Gokyo for brunch and then retrace your steps back down the valley to Machhermo.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Trekking: 5 hours
From Machhermo you retrace your steps down the valley to Dole, where you rejoin the forested trail that descends to the river at Phortse Bridge. Musk deer are often seen on this section of the trail so keep your eyes open for this beautiful animal. You can take lunch at the village and then branch off the main trail to Namche to cross the Dudh Kosi and ascend to the village of Phortse. Phortse is one of the more traditional Sherpa villages in the Khumbu region, and surprisingly few trekkers stop here on their Everest trek.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Trekking: 6 hours
From Phortse the trail ascends on an exposed trail, with views across to the monastery at Tengboche. After descending to the Imja Khola, you follow the main trail to Everest via the village of Pangboche, where the peak of Ama Dablam towers above the skyline. Here there’s time for lunch and in the afternoon you ascend gradually, through the small settlement at Orsho to Dingboche. Everest cannot be seen from here but there are spectacular views of Lhotse, Island Peak and Ama Dablam in front of you. Dingboche was initially a summer settlement for the Sherpas where they grew barley and potatoes and where yaks were brought to graze on the valley pastures.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Trekking: 4 hours
In the morning you ascend the small ridge behind the village high above the Pheriche valley and gradually ascend past the peaks of Tawache and Cholatse across the valley to cross the Khumbu Khola at Dughla (4620m), where you take a break for lunch. In the afternoon a steady climb up the moraines of the Khumbu Glacier leads to the memorial cairns of Sherpas and climbers who have died on various Everest expeditions. From here the views are marvelous with Pumori (7145m), Lingtren (6697m), Khumbutse (6623m), and Changtse (7550m) seen at the head of the valley. It is only a short walk up the valley from here to Lobuche and your overnight accommodation.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Trekking: 8 hours
You leave after breakfast and walk slowly up the valley by the side of the Khumbu Glacier to the moraines of Changri Nup Glacier where it is necessary to make a series of small ascents and descents to the sandy flats of Gorak Shep (5150m). This takes about three hours. You then rest for a while and have an early lunch before setting off on the round trip to Everest Base Camp. The walk there and back will take around five hours. It is a great achievement to reach Base camp and you will spend time here absorbing the atmosphere and taking photographs. If trekking during the climbing period of March to May, you will see the tents of climbers pitched on the glacier below the dangerous Everest Ice Fall. You return to your lodge, arriving in the late afternoon.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Trekking: 8 hours
From Base Camp you do not get the picture postcard views of Mount Everest, so today you get up early for the climb to Kala Pathar (5643m), to enjoy the sensational panoramic views of Pumori, Nuptse, Changtse, Ama Dablam, and Everest. It is a tough walk because of the altitude, but hugely rewarding, and you can spend as long as you wish enjoying this special moment. The descent back down to Gorak Shep is undertaken a lot quicker than the ascent and after a welcome hot drink you retrace your steps back to Lobuje for lunch. After lunch, cross the Khumbu Khola and head down the valley to Pheriche, where you stop for the night.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Trekking: 5 hours
You make a leisurely start from Pheriche descending down the valley with the peaks of Ama Dablam and Tawache looming majestically above the trail. You quickly reach the settlements of Orsho and Shomare, however do take the opportunity to turn around and enjoy the views of Everest as you descend. After passing through Pangboche you cross the Imja River to ascend through rhododendron and birch forest back to Tengboche where you take lunch. In the afternoon it is a steep descent through forest of juniper, rhododendron and fir to Phunkitenga where you cross the Dudh Kosi river and ascend to the small village of Trashinga. From here the walking becomes easier as the trail contours high above the valley through Sanasa and on to your overnight halt at Namche Bazaar.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Trekking: 4 hours
There is a final opportunity to visit the shops in the bazaar and maybe send an email before you descend steeply down to the large suspension bridge over the Dudh Kosi River. Back at lower altitudes, fit and well acclimatized, the walking is now easy as you follow the trail through Jorsale and back to Monjo, where you can take lunch. In the afternoon you take a leisurely stroll down the valley through Benkar and back to your lodge in Phakding.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Trekking: 3 hours
It is only a few hours walking to the airstrip in Lukla. The first part of the walk follows the valley before making a gradual ascent passing through Chaurikharka to your hotel located close to the airport. In the evening enjoy a quiet celebration with your trekking team.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Flight time: 45 mins
An early departure from Lukla airstrip for the return flight to Kathmandu. On arrival you are met at the airport and transferred back to your hotel in Thamel. The rest of the day is free to do souvenir shopping or further sightseeing. Enjoy a final evening out tonight with your guide.
Meals included: Breakfast

We have allocated a full day in Kathmandu for you to relax and explore after your trek in the Everest region. This also serves as a contingency day in case of delays in Lukla due to inclement weather. There is an option to see the heritage city of Bhaktapur or Patan. Please ask your leader for sightseeing options and arrangements.
Meals Included: Breakfast

The trip ends today after breakfast. Your leader will be on hand to advise and assist with your onward travel arrangements. A departure transfer to the airport is included.
Meals included: Breakfast