Everest Cho La Pass & Gokyo Valley

Today, you discover the spiritual heart of Nepal. Wander through the serene courtyards of Bouddhanath Stupa, where monks spin prayer wheels and pigeons rise in clouds above the dome. Visit the sacred Pashupatinath Temple, where Hindu devotees offer prayers along the Bagmati River, and explore Kathmandu Durbar Square, an open-air museum of ancient palaces and temples.

Later, you’ll check your gear and prepare for the trek. By nightfall, the city’s hum fades to a quiet anticipation whilst the mountains await.

The day begins before dawn with a short, unforgettable flight to Lukla (2,860m), the gateway to Everest. The small aircraft weaves between snow-capped peaks before landing on a mountain runway. It is definitely a thrill that marks the true beginning of your trek.

From Lukla, the trail descends gently through pine forests and stone villages. Children wave from doorways; mani stones and prayer wheels line the path – a perfect glimpse of the journey that lies ahead. You’ll follow the Dudh Koshi River, crossing a suspension bridge that sways above turquoise waters, before reaching Phakding (2,610m), a peaceful riverside village surrounded by the hum of nature.

The trail today is long but spectacular. It winds through the Sagarmatha National Park, passing through rhododendron forests and small settlements. You’ll cross several suspension bridges, one of them the famous Hillary Bridge, draped in prayer flags that dance against the wind.

The final ascent to Namche Bazaar (3,440m) is steep and demanding, but just before you reach the top, you’ll catch your first glimpse of Mount Everest. Namche appears like a colorful amphitheater carved into the mountainside. It is a lively Sherpa town with bakeries, gear shops, and breathtaking views.

Rest and exploration blend perfectly today, preparing you to acclimatise before you begin your journey to higher regions. After breakfast, hike to the Everest View Hotel (3,880m), where the panorama of Everest, Lhotse, and the graceful Ama Dablam unfolds like a painting.

On your way down, visit Khumjung Village and its monastery, home to the mysterious yeti scalp; a relic of Sherpa folklore. You can stop by the Edmund Hillary School, built as a tribute to the friendship between Sherpas and mountaineers. The afternoon is yours to enjoy, sip coffee in a mountain café, visit the Sherpa Museum, or simply gaze at the peaks that tower above the clouds.

The trail climbs gently out of Namche, with magnificent views of Kangtega and Ama Dablam glowing against the blue sky. You’ll pass through rhododendron and juniper forests, eventually reaching Mong La Pass (3,975m), a ridge-top village with a stupa and a panorama that stops you in your tracks.

A steep descent brings you to Phortse Thanga (3,680m), a quiet settlement beside the Dudh Koshi River. Here, the air feels crisper, and the sounds of rushing water and prayer flags in the wind lull you into deep rest.

The landscape now begins to change — trees thin out, and the world becomes one of stone, sky, and light. You’ll ascend gradually through the pastures of Dole and Luza, where yaks graze under snowy ridges.

Arriving at Machhermo (4,470m), you find yourself in a serene valley surrounded by towering peaks. Locals may share the tale of the “yeti attack” that once occurred here, a piece of local legend that adds mystery to the high Himalaya. Spend the evening watching the sun fade behind Kyajo Ri, painting the village in gold.

Today’s trek feels like stepping into another world. The trail follows the river upstream as the valley widens into open glacial terrain. Soon, the first Gokyo Lake appears turquoise and still, its surface reflecting the surrounding peaks like glass.

As you move higher, the second and third lakes appear, each more breathtaking than the last. The third, Dudh Pokhari cradles Gokyo Village (4,790m), your home for the night. The place feels otherworldly silent, pure, and utterly magnificent, where mountains meet water in perfect harmony.

Before dawn, you’ll begin the ascent of Gokyo Ri (5,360m). The climb is steep but every step brings expanding horizons until suddenly, you stand atop the summit, and the view steals your breath: Everest, Lhotse, Cho Oyu, and Makalu, the giants of the Earth, lined up in a single, unforgettable panorama.

After descending, spend the day exploring the Gokyo Lakes sacred to both Hindus and Buddhists. You may also visit the Ngozumpa Glacier, the longest glacier in Nepal, an ancient river of ice that stretches far into the distance. Evening descends quietly over the lakes, their waters glowing in the fading light.

Today’s trail leads you across the expanse of the Ngozumpa Glacier. The path undulates through a maze of rock and ice, surrounded by silence and grandeur. After a few hours, you’ll reach Thagnak/Dragnag (4,700m), a small settlement tucked beneath the cliffs. It’s a place of preparation — tomorrow, you’ll cross one of the Himalaya’s great passes.

Before sunrise, you set out under starlight. The air is cold and thin, and the crunch of ice beneath your boots echoes in the stillness. The climb to Cho La Pass (5,420m) is steep and demanding — a true test of endurance.

But when you reach the top, the world opens wide: endless ridgelines, frozen lakes, and snow-dusted peaks stretching beyond the horizon. The descent to Dzongla (4,830m) is steep yet beautiful, winding past glacial moraines and prayer flags fluttering bravely in the wind.

This is the heart of adventure where exhaustion and awe merge into a single emotion.

Today’s walk feels calm and reflective after the triumph of Cho La. The path follows a contour above the valley with spectacular views of Cholatse and Ama Dablam. Within a few hours, you arrive at Lobuche (4,910m), a high-altitude village where trekkers and mountaineers gather at the last stop before Base Camp.

The air is thinner, the stars brighter. You feel close to the sky itself.

The trail follows the Khumbu Glacier, a landscape of rock, ice, and silence. You’ll reach Gorak Shep (5,170m), the final settlement on the route, and continue toward Everest Base Camp (5,364m).

When you finally arrive, the feeling is indescribable. You stand on the ground where legends begin where climbers dream, and mountains decide. Prayer flags flutter, glaciers crack, and the wind carries a thousand stories. You’ve reached the foot of Everest.

Return to Gorak Shep for the night, heart full and soul humbled.

An early start takes you to the summit of Kala Patthar (5,545m), a rocky ridge known for the most iconic view of Everest. As dawn breaks, the first rays of sunlight touch the summit, turning it into gold.

No photograph can capture the feeling — the silence, the wind, the realisation of where you stand. After descending, you’ll trek down through Lobuche to Pheriche (4,240m), a tranquil valley where warmth returns to the air.

The trail descends through familiar landscapes past Pangboche and Tengboche, whose monastery chants echo softly through the forest. You’ll stop to rest among rhododendron trees and follow the winding path back to Namche Bazaar (3,440m). 

Hot showers, bakeries, and comfort awaits and with them, a sense of homecoming.

Your final day on the trail is a walk of gratitude. The path descends gently along the Dudh Koshi River, through pine forests and stone villages that now feel like old friends.

As you reach Lukla (2,860m), you’ll feel the weight of the journey behind you — the high passes crossed, the lakes reflected, the mountains remembered. Celebrate the end of your trek with your team Sherpas, guides, and new friends who’ve shared the adventure of a lifetime.

The short flight from Lukla to Kathmandu feels like a dream, the Himalayas fading into clouds, the hum of the city returning. You’ll be transferred to your hotel, where a hot shower and soft bed await.

In the evening, gather one last time for a farewell dinner. Toast to the memories you’ve made of lakes that mirror the sky, trails that test your limits, and mountains that will forever call you back.

As the Sherpas say, “The higher you climb, the closer you come to the gods.”
With the completion of this trek, you will have touched something vast — a piece of the Himalaya that will stay with you, quietly, forever.