Gokyo Lakes and Everest Base Camp Trek

Arrive in Kathmandu, complete the visa formalities and meet our representative for the transfer to your hotel. Your guide joins you in the evening for the trip briefing and welcome dinner.

A day in the valley to see the temples, stupas and bazaars, and to sort out any remaining equipment in Thamel. Your guide goes through the route in detail, including the Cho La crossing. If Lukla flights are operating from Ramechhap rather than Kathmandu, we drive there this evening instead.

The 20-minute flight to Lukla at 2,840m is one of the great mountain approaches in the world. Meet the porters at the airstrip, then follow an easy trail down the Dudh Koshi valley through Ghat to Phakding — a short day on purpose, to start the acclimatisation gently.

Cross and re-cross the Dudh Koshi on suspension bridges, enter Sagarmatha National Park at Monjo, then face the long steep climb from the Hillary Bridge to Namche. Your first glimpse of Everest comes about halfway up. Namche is the Sherpa capital — bakeries, gear shops and all.

Climb high and sleep low. Walk up to the Everest View Hotel and on to the villages of Khumjung and Khunde, with Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse and Ama Dablam in view, then drop back to Namche for the night. Visit the Sherpa museum and the national park visitor centre in the afternoon.

Here the route splits from the main Base Camp trail and turns north-west into the Gokyo valley — immediately quieter. Climb through Mong La with its chorten and wide views, descend to the Dudh Koshi at Phortse Thanga, then up through rhododendron and birch to Dole.

A short stage climbing above the tree line onto open hillside, with Cho Oyu and Kantega appearing ahead and Ama Dablam behind. Machhermo has a Himalayan Rescue Association post; the afternoon altitude talk there is worth attending.

Follow the valley past Pangka and climb beside the terminal moraine of the Ngozumpa glacier, the largest in Nepal. The trail passes the first two Gokyo lakes before reaching the lodges at the third, where the water is an improbable turquoise against bare rock and ice.

An early climb up Gokyo Ri at 5,357m for what many consider the finest viewpoint in the Khumbu: Everest, Lhotse, Makalu and Cho Oyu — four of the six highest mountains on earth — above the whole chain of lakes. In the afternoon, walk out along the glacier to the fourth and fifth lakes if you have the legs for it.

A short but serious morning crossing the rubble and ice of the Ngozumpa glacier to the small settlement of Dragnag on the far side. The rest of the day is rest, by design: tomorrow is the Cho La.

The crux of the trek. Start before dawn and climb steep scree and a short glacier section to the Cho La at 5,420m, roped and crampon-assisted if conditions require. The descent on the far side is loose and rocky, easing into the high valley at Dzongla with Cholatse and Ama Dablam alongside. A long, demanding day.

A gentler recovery stage traversing high pasture and moraine, with Cholatse reflected in small tarns, to rejoin the main Base Camp trail at Lobuche. Short enough to spend the afternoon resting at altitude.

Climb beside the Khumbu glacier to Gorakshep at 5,180m, then continue out across the moraine to Everest Base Camp at 5,364m, standing beneath the Khumbu Icefall at the foot of the mountain. Return to Gorakshep for the night — the highest you will sleep on the trek.

Leave in the dark for Kala Patthar at 5,545m, the high point of the whole trip and the one place on the route where Everest stands clear and entire above you at sunrise. Then a long, welcome descent into thicker air, past Lobuche and down to Pheriche.

A long descending day back through Pangboche and Tengboche, where the monastery is worth the stop, then down to the river and up the last climb to Namche. Everything feels easier at this altitude, and the bakeries are open.

Retrace the Dudh Koshi valley through Monjo and Phakding to Lukla, crossing the suspension bridges one last time. Say goodbye to the porter team over dinner — the walking is done.

The morning flight back to Kathmandu, weather permitting, and transfer to your hotel. The rest of the day is free for a long shower and the city.

A built-in spare day. Lukla flights are frequently delayed by cloud and this buffer is what stops a delay from costing you an international connection. If everything ran to schedule, spend it on Patan, Boudhanath or Bhaktapur, and join us for a farewell dinner.

The standard itinerary ends here. We arrange your airport transfer, or help with onward plans if you are staying in Nepal.