Gokyo to Everest Base Camp Trek – 17 Days

Manthali to Lukla Flight (March, April, May, October, and November)
During peak seasons, such as March, April, May, October, and November, the flight to Lukla will be operated from Ramechhap/Manthali due to air traffic expansion. The Manthali/Ramechhap airport is about a 5 to 6 hours drive away from Kathmandu. On this day we wake up at 1:30 to 2:30 am and take an escorted shuttle to Manthali airport on a shared tourist vehicle and board a 20-minute flight to Lukla.

Kathmandu to Lukla Flight (January, February, June, July, August, September, and December)
The flight to Lukla is typically operated from Kathmandu during nonpeak seasons, which include January, February, June, July, August, September, and December. Please be aware that the decision regarding the operation of flights solely depends on the airline and is influenced by the volume of travelers during a specific month. On this day we wake up at 5 to 6 am. Our staff will escort you to the domestic airport terminal in Kathmandu and board a 35-minute flight to Lukla.

Prepare your luggage for the trek the day before the flight. You will be arriving at the Tenzing Hillary Airport early in the morning. Breakfast in Lukla. Porters will meet the group in Lukla and are assigned to carry luggage. For every two clients, one porter is assigned.

Today we trek to Phakding. The trail is straightforward. We head out of Lukla and follow the Dudh Koshi River downhill. The route connects to the Namche Bazaar trail, just above Chaurikharka (2,713 m/8,900 ft). Continuing, we come across the small village of Ghat. After a brisk hike, we arrive at Phakding.

We continue trekking along the banks of the Dudh Kosi, crossing the majestic river many times on exciting suspension bridges laden with prayer flags. After entering the Sagarmatha National Park, the trail climbs steeply with breathtaking views.

Namche Bazaar (considered the Gateway to Everest) is home to many quality restaurants, hotels, lodges, shops, money exchange services, internet cafes and bakeries. Namche is the biggest town along the Everest trail.

We will spend a day in Namche Bazaar in order to acclimatize and adjust to the thinning air. We will trek a short distance to a museum that is celebrated for its exhibits of the traditional customs of the Sherpa people.

We will also hike up the Syangboche Airport and the Everest View Hotel, one of the highest-placed hotels in the world. From this point, we can see rewarding views of the Himalayas including Mt Everest.

The trail climbs steeply out of valley through rhododendron forest. Juniper and large conifers start to appear as the elevation increases making the trekking very pristine in spring.

The trail passes through Yak Kharkas and summer settlements. The views of Khumbi La and Taboche are magnificent throughout the day.

We climb a ridge for an excellent view both down the valley to Kengtega and up towards Cho Oyu and descend to a river and again climbs steep to the terminal moraine of the Ngozumpa glacier. We will reach Machherma by early noon.

The trek today takes us to one of our main destinations, Gokyo (4,800 m/15,748 ft). We will make this camp our base for 2 nights as we will have a sightseeing and hiking trip around Gokyo.

Early in the morning, a challenging ascent awaits as trekkers make their way up to the summit of Gokyo Ri, situated at an impressive elevation of 5,483 m/17,988 ft.

The effort is well rewarded, as from the top, breathtaking views unfold, showcasing the super Gokyo valley and the immense Ngozumpa glacier.

Moreover, an awe-inspiring panoramic vista of the entire Khumbu Himalayas emerges, revealing the majestic peaks of Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse, Makalu, Cho-Oyu, and Gychung Kang.

Trek to the foot of Cho La pass. Accommodation in Thangna will be very basic and in a dormitory-based room because of its remoteness.

We start walking before sunrise at 4:00 or 5:00 am so as to reach the pass by 9:00 am – 10:00 am and dodge bad weather conditions of the noontime.

We cross over at an altitude of 5,300 m/17,388 ft where we could be exposed to strong winds if we cross too late. We start to climb steeply the trail that is regularly used and easy to follow.

However, the problem may arise due to the altitude and snow. It often causes terrible problems to cross the pass if it is covered by snow.

As you reach the top, you are rewarded by the magnificent views, then we descend to the Dzongla at noon. Accommodation in Dzongla will be very basic and in the dormitory-style room because of its remoteness.

A rather easier and shorter trekking route will take us to Lobuche after 4 to 5 hours of trekking.

This is a big and difficult day walk along the Khumbu Glacier and up to Everest Base Camp at 5,365 m/17,601 ft, the closest you can get to Mt. Everest without mountaineering equipment.

During spring, there will likely be expedition teams about to attempt the summit. The view of the Khumbu Icefall from the Base Camp is spectacular. We return back to Gorak Shep for the night.

This will be one of the most difficult yet rewarding days of the trek. Most of the morning is spent climbing Mt. Kala Patthar, a small peak at 5,555 m/18,225 ft.

The ascent is demanding but the climber gets the most magnificent mountain panorama: Everest, the highest point on the planet at 8,848.86 m/29,031 ft, towers directly ahead, and on all sides loom the giants such as Nuptse, Pumori, Chagatse, Lhotse, and countless others.

We make a quick descent to Gorak Shep and have a hot breakfast, and then trek down to Pheriche.

Leaving the mountains behind us, our descent takes us through Pangboche and Tengboche before continuing to the town of Namche Bazaar. We arrive back to Namche in the afternoon.

This is our last day of trekking as we return to Lukla where the trek began. We enjoy this time to reflect on the trek as a group and the personal achievement of all those who took part.

The afternoon is free, so you can wander about, relax and enjoy a hot shower! In the evening, have a few celebratory drinks and dance with your trekmates.

Lukla to Manthali Flight (March, April, May, October, and November)
The flight from Lukla to Manthali is a 20-minute flight. After that, it is about a 5 to 6 hour drive to Kathmandu. Please note that the driving hours may vary according to the highway traffic condition. You’ll be transferred to the hotel in Kathmandu on a shared tourist vehicle.

Lukla to Kathmandu Flight (January, February, June, July, August, September, and December)
The flight from Lukla takes about 35 minutes. After arriving at the airport, you will be transferred to the hotel in Kathmandu via a shared tourist vehicle.  Please be aware that the decision regarding the operation of flights solely depends on the airline and is influenced by the volume of travelers during a specific month.

If you would like to spend more time in Nepal, we offer trips to popular destinations in Nepal. Pokhara tour, Chitwan National Park, Kathmandu Cultural Heritage Tours, etc., are some of our popular Nepal trips. In addition, we also provide outbound tours to Tibet, India, and Bhutan.

The trip concludes – our airport representative will drop you to Kathmandu’s Tribhuwan International Airport for your flight departure from Nepal.