Everest Base Camp Trek via Gokyo Lakes – 15 Days

Kathmandu → Lukla → Chaurikharka → Ghat → Phakding

Our trek begins early, with a transfer to the airport for the short flight to Lukla. As the plane banks north, the flat Kathmandu Valley gives way to terraced hillsides and, eventually, the first jagged outlines of the Himalaya — landing on Lukla's short, sloped runway at Tenzing-Hillary Airport is a memorable start in itself.

After meeting our full trekking crew, we set off on foot through Chaurikharka, descending gently along the Dudh Koshi River through forested sections and small suspension bridges.

Continuing through Ghat, we arrive at Phakding by early afternoon, our first overnight in the Khumbu and a gentle introduction before the trail steepens ahead.

Phakding → Monjo → Jorsale → Namche Bazaar

We continue along the Dudh Koshi, passing through small Sherpa hamlets and crossing several suspension bridges before reaching Monjo, the official checkpoint into Sagarmatha National Park.

Past Jorsale, the valley narrows and the trail begins gaining elevation more steadily, eventually crossing the dramatic Hillary Suspension Bridge high above the confluence of two glacial rivers.

The final uphill push opens into sweeping views of the surrounding peaks before Namche Bazaar itself comes into view — a horseshoe-shaped town built into the mountainside, and the trading heart of the Khumbu.

Namche Bazaar → Everest View Hotel → Khumjung → Namche Bazaar

Rather than resting completely, we spend today climbing higher before returning to sleep at the same altitude — the golden rule of safe acclimatization. We hike up toward the Everest View Hotel, passing large mani stones along the Syangboche ridge, for one of the best clear-day views of Everest, Lhotse, Ama Dablam, and Thamserku.

From here, we descend into the village basin toward Khumjung, a large historic Sherpa settlement home to the school founded by Sir Edmund Hillary's foundation, a working yak farm, and a monastery said to house a preserved yeti scalp.

The gentle downhill walk back to Namche leaves the afternoon free for exploring the town's shops, cafés, and bakeries.

Namche Bazaar → Kyangjuma → Mong La Pass → Phortse Tenga → Dole

Today marks our departure from the classic EBC trail as we branch left toward the quieter Gokyo Valley. We start along a scenic trail through Kyangjuma, with views of Everest and Ama Dablam opening up as we walk, keeping an eye out for Himalayan tahr or colorful pheasants in the surrounding forest.

Beyond Sanasa, the trail steepens noticeably as we climb through pine and rhododendron forest toward the windy ridge of Mong La Pass, rewarded with views of Kangtega, Khumbila, and the icy peaks of Thamserku.

We descend through stone steps and forested switchbacks to the riverbed at Phortse Tenga, then climb a final series of staircases into the open, U-shaped valley around Dole.

Dole → Luza → Machhermo

Today's walk is shorter in distance but higher in altitude gain, the dense forest around Dole gradually giving way to low shrubs and open alpine terrain as we climb.

We pass scattered stone settlements and grazing pastures on the way toward Luza, where the surrounding landscape grows more rugged, with snow-covered peaks rising sharply across the valley.

From Luza, a gradual climb continues toward Machhermo, with views of Cho Oyu and Kangtega becoming ever more prominent as the vegetation thins around us. We arrive with the rest of the afternoon free to rest and adjust to the thinning air.

Machhermo → Pangka → Longpongo → Dudh Pokhari → Gokyo

We follow the Dudh Koshi Valley north, the trail climbing gradually through increasingly open terrain toward Pangka, where the valley widens before we begin climbing alongside the river once more.

Passing the small glacial lake at Longpongo, the greener landscape of the past few days gives way entirely to rocky, glacial terrain, the scenery growing starker with every step.

We reach Dudh Pokhari, the largest of the main Gokyo Lakes, its turquoise waters striking against the barren mountain backdrop, before continuing along the eastern shore into the village of Gokyo itself, set beside the lake with Cho Oyu rising dramatically behind it.

Gokyo → Gokyo Ri → Gokyo

Our second acclimatization day doubles as one of the trek's true highlights. We climb the steep, rocky slope above Gokyo toward Gokyo Ri — short in distance but demanding given the altitude, with loose scree and a barren mountain surface underfoot.

As we gain height, Gokyo Lake gradually comes into view below us, while the surrounding peaks rise ever higher. From the summit, weather permitting, we take in an extraordinary panorama spanning Everest, Cho Oyu, Lhotse, Makalu, and Cholatse — along with a clear view over the Ngozumpa Glacier, the largest in the Himalaya.

We descend the same trail back to Gokyo, with the rest of the day free to rest beside the lake and prepare for the demanding stretch ahead.

Gokyo → Ngozumpa Glacier → Thangnak

Today's short walk keeps us close to the Ngozumpa Glacier, the trail crossing rugged glacial terrain of moraine deposits and ice-covered ground as we leave the lakeside behind.

The open scenery of the Gokyo Lakes gradually narrows into a tighter mountain valley, with the steep slopes of Cholatse and Taboche rising above us as we continue south alongside the glacier.

We arrive at Thangnak, a small seasonal hamlet that serves as our final staging point before tomorrow's crossing of Cho La Pass — an early night is well advised.

Thangnak → Cho La Glacier → Cho La Pass → Dzongla

Today is one of the most demanding and rewarding days of the entire trek. We leave Thangnak before sunrise, following the trail toward the Cho La Glacier as the terrain steepens through rocky ground above the valley.

Approaching the pass, the route crosses a glacial section that can be icy and uneven depending on conditions, with a final steep push bringing us to Cho La Pass (5,420 m) itself — the highest point of the entire trek.

From the top, we take in views of Cholatse, Ama Dablam, and Baruntse rising above the glacier, along with Cho La Lake below. The descent on the far side is steep and can be slippery, crossing open, rocky moraine before we reach Dzongla, a small collection of stone teahouses beneath Cholatse and Lobuche.

Dzongla → Cho La Lake → Lobuche

With Cho La Pass now behind us, today's walk rejoins the classic Everest Base Camp trail. We follow the mountainside with Cholatse still rising prominently behind us, the landscape growing increasingly barren as we descend past Cho La Lake.

The trail continues alongside the Khumbu Glacier, with the rugged walls of Lobuche, Nuptse, and Pumori visible ahead. Along the way, we pass memorial stones dedicated to climbers who lost their lives attempting Everest and its neighboring peaks.

Following the Imja Khola, we arrive at Lobuche, a settlement tucked beneath the glacial slopes of Lobuche East and Lobuche West.

Lobuche → Gorak Shep → Everest Base Camp → Gorak Shep

Today is the day this entire journey has been building toward. We follow the rocky moraine trail beside the Khumbu Glacier, arriving at Gorak Shep — the last settlement on the route — in time for lunch and to drop our overnight bags.

From Gorak Shep, we continue across the glacier's dusty, uneven terrain, passing ice formations and rocky debris on the final approach to Everest Base Camp.

Arriving at EBC, we find ourselves surrounded by fluttering prayer flags beneath the towering, fractured ice of the Khumbu Icefall — during climbing season, colorful expedition tents add life to the otherwise stark glacial landscape. We retrace our steps back to Gorak Shep as the light begins to fade.

Gorak Shep → Kala Patthar → Gorak Shep → Lobuche → Thukla → Pheriche

We begin early, climbing toward Kala Patthar with the rocky, snow-capped face of Pumori rising above the trail. As the sun rises, it lights up Everest's summit directly ahead of us, framed by Nuptse and Lhotse — the trek's true highpoint and finest close-range mountain view.

After breakfast back at Gorak Shep, we descend through rocky moraine trails toward Lobuche, taking care on the loose rock underfoot.

Continuing to Thukla, we pass the memorial site dedicated to climbers lost on Everest before dropping into the wider, greener valley around Pheriche, where the surroundings feel noticeably less barren after two demanding days above 5,000 metres.

Pheriche → Shomare → Pangboche → Deboche → Tengboche → Phunki Thenga → Kyangjuma → Namche Bazaar

We leave Pheriche and walk through open valley toward Shomare, then continue to Pangboche, one of the oldest Sherpa villages in the Khumbu, sitting beneath the striking form of Ama Dablam.

The trail descends through rhododendron and pine forest toward Deboche before climbing back up to Tengboche, where we can visit the largest gompa in the Everest region, Tengboche Monastery, perched above the Imja Khola valley.

From Tengboche, we descend to Phunki Thenga, cross the Dudh Koshi, and continue through forest toward Kyangjuma, the hills opening to views of Thamserku before the final stretch back into Namche Bazaar.

Namche Bazaar → Monjo → Phakding → Toktok → Chheplung → Lukla

Our final trekking day is long but satisfying. We descend from Namche through forest toward Monjo, leaving Sagarmatha National Park before continuing through pine forest and riverside settlements to Phakding.

Crossing the familiar suspension bridges one final time, we pass through Toktok and Chheplung, taking in traditional mountain houses and cultivated terraces along the valley.

The final stretch rises gently back into Lukla, marking the end of nearly two weeks in the Khumbu. We spend the evening celebrating with our guide and porter team — a fitting close to the journey.

Lukla → Kathmandu

Our final morning begins with a flight back to Kathmandu, retracing the mountain views that greeted us on Day 1 — though this time, with the full experience of Gokyo, Cho La Pass, and Everest Base Camp behind us.

Once back in the capital, the rest of the day is free to rest, explore Thamel's markets and cafés, or simply reflect on the journey before departure.