10 Days Everest Base Camp Trek

Location: Lukla | Phakding

Lukla Altitude: 2860 Meters

Phakding Altitude: 2700 Meters

Elevation Gain: 40 Meters

Trek Duration: 6 Hours

On the first day of Gokyo Cho La Pass - Everest Base Camp and Kala Patthar Trek, we will start our journey from Kathmandu by flight from Tribhuvan International Airport. It takes around 45 minutes to reach Lukla Airport, also known as Tenzing Norgay Airport. It is the starting point of all treks launched in the Everest Region.

The flight takes us above the diverse landscapes, including forest areas, terraced fields, and several towns and cities. When we reach the Solukhumbu District in Lukla Airport, we can see the mighty Himalayas of the Mahalangur Mountain Range in the north.

Upon reaching Lukla Airport, we will rest and prepare for the trek to Phakding. We will hike from Lukla, making our way through several settlements at Chheplung and Nurning. The trail to Phakding runs alongside the Dudh Koshi River, which offers sightings of the lush green forests and wildlife around the region. We will accommodate you at a tea house in Phakding.

Location: Namche Bazaar

Namche Altitude: 3440 Meters

Elevation Gain: 740 Meters

Trek Duration: 6 Hours

Today, we will start hiking from the northern side of the Namche Bazaar, following a trail through the Dudh Koshi River. We will begin our journey early in the morning and cross a suspension bridge named Hillary Bridge over the Dudh Koshi River.

As we hike uphill through the remote trail, we will reach Monjo, where we must show our documents and permits. If we do not have permits, we can purchase from the check post in Monjo.

A remote trail from Monjo leads us to Jorsalle and Larja Doban in a few hours. We can experience the pleasing vistas of Mount Everest, Ama Dablam, Nuptse, and Lhotse from the trail as we hike through over 3000 meters above sea level.

A short trek from Larja Doban takes us to the gate of Everest, Namche Bazaar. It is a perfect place to have cultural immersion and go through shopping which is essential for this beautiful trek.

Location: Namche Bazaar

Activity: Acclimatization

The third day of our trek is for acclimatization. Since we will already be over 3000 meters above sea level, we must acclimatize to adjust our bodies. Similarly, the long walks through the rugged and remote trails are exhausting, and exposure to high altitude might pose a risk of altitude sickness.

Trekkers are urged to take their hike slowly and gradually. They should have adequate rest and sleep to retain enough energy to take the trek easily. Also, they must focus on hydrating their body sufficiently and eating nutritious food.

The most important thing to focus on is that trekkers must climb high and rest at a lower altitude, so their bodies can adjust to the changing altitude.

Location: Dole

Dole Altitude: 4000 Meters

Elevation Gain: 560 Meters

Trekking Duration: 5-6 Hours

After acclimatization and rest, we will continue our journey to Gokyo Cho La Pass and Everest Base Camp. We will take a route from the left side of Namche Bazaar and head towards Khyangjuma, which lies near the Dudh Koshi River. From there, we catch an uphill trail to Phortse Thanga, which stretches up to Dole at 4000 meters.

We will pass across the Buddhist settlements around the place. The scenes of numerous chortens, mani walls, and prayer flags will give us insights into how rich this place is culturally. As we hike uphill from Phortse Thanga, enjoying the views of Mount Everest, Lhotse, and Ama Dablam, we will finally reach Dole at 4000 meters above sea level. We will stay at a tea house overnight.

Location: Machhermo

Machhermo Altitude: 4450 Meters

Elevation Gain: 50 Meters

Trekking Duration: 4 Hours

We will wake up early and prepare for a remote trek to Machhermo via the off-beaten trail from Dole. This phase of trekking takes us to over 4400 meters above sea level. So trekkers must be well-equipped with the essential gear at high altitudes. Since trekkers are likely to suffer from altitude sickness at these locations, they must prepare well and acclimatize before walking.

First, we will head towards Kele, which lies around the Dudh Koshi River. Though the place features sparse vegetation, the scenery around Kele is enjoyable and breathtaking. The whistling Dudh Koshi River and the incredible vistas of the peaks from the Mahalangur Mountain Range offer an awe-inspiring experience to trekkers. From Kele, it only takes around an hour and a half to reach Machhermo.

Location: Gokyo Lake

Gokyo Lake Altitude: 4,700–5,000 Meters

Elevation Gain: 250-550 Meters

Trekking Duration: 6-7 Hours

On the sixth day of our trek, we will head towards Gokyo Valley and explore all five lakes of Gokyo. Gokyo Lakes comprise five beautiful lakes, and they are Gokyo Cho (Dudh Pokhari), Thonak Cho, Gyazumpa Cho, Tanjung Cho, Ngozumpa Cho, and Longbanga Cho. These lakes are very awe-inspiring to watch during the winter season as they go frozen, offering very dramatic views around the region.

We will start our trek from Machhermo and head toward the Buddhist settlement of Phangga. As we continue our trek from the settlement, we reach the frozen lake of Longpungu Tsho first. After exploring the alpine watershed, we will reach Taboche Tsho and Gokyo Tsho, which lie around the trail to Gokyo Valley.

Tonight, we will stay at a tented camp at Gokyo at 4790 meters above sea level. Remember to warm yourself at night, as the temperature can drop significantly around the region.

Location: Dragnag

Dragnag Altitude: 4600 Meters

Elevation Loss: 190 Meters

Trek Time: 5-6 Hours

Today, we will descend from Gokyo Valley to Dragnag and set up our new camp there. The main motive is to reach Dragnag and be involved in the preparation to pass through Cho La pass for the next day. So we start our journey from Gokyo and scale up Gokyo Ri at 5357 meters above sea level. We will climb Gokyo Ri early in the morning and have magnificent views of sunrise from the viewpoint. It is also famous as the best point to have scenes of Mount Everest and other peaks.

After successfully hiking to the top of Gokyo Ri, we will descend toward Dragnag. Dragnag is a small settlement that lies at 4600 meters above sea level. Most people are Sherpa, and they follow Buddhist Culture, so be assured of experiencing hospitable and culturally rich experiences.

Location: Dzonghla

Dzonghla Altitude: 4830 Meters

Elevation Gain: 130 Meters

Trek Duration: 6 Hours

Today, we will complete the first phase of our trek by reaching Dzonghla via Cho La Pass. The trek begins early in the morning after breakfast at Dragnag. We catch a trail from the right side of the village and then head toward Cho La Phedi.

Remember, the trail is rugged and rocky, so climbing uphill through these landscapes might be challenging. But with proper preparation and physical fitness, we can reach the destination without much hassles.

It takes around a couple of hours to reach Cho La Pass from Cho La Phedi. Cho La Pass is one of the high-altitude passes in Nepal, which is at 5,420 meters (17,782 ft) above sea level. The scenes of sunrise and sunset are very attractive from Cho La Pass, while the vistas of the Himalayas, including Mount Everest, are undeniably beautiful.

After crossing Cho La Pass, we will descend to Dzonghla at 4830 meters above sea level. It takes around a couple of hours to reach the destination, where we will stay overnight at Tea Houses

Location: Lobuche

Lobuche Altitude: 4980 Meters

Elevation Gain: 150 Meters

Trekking Duration: 5 Hours

The main motive of today’s trek is reaching Lobuche at 4980 meters from Dzonghla. We must descend from Dzonghla and then pass another high-altitude pass to reach the destination.

Starting our journey early in the morning, we will set our journey towards Chola. Along the way, we can visit the frozen lake Chola Tsho, which offers the pristine beauty of the Everest Region. From there, we will reach Dughla at 4620 meters above sea level - we can reach Dughla at around an hour and a half from Chola Tsho.

From Dughla, we will pass through Buddhist settlements while heading towards Lobuche. There are several chortens, mani walls, and a Tibetan Monastery around the region. The uphill trail from Dughla takes us through Thokla Pass at 4830 meters above sea level.

Enjoying the majestic views of the Himalayas and the green hills at farsight, we will head towards Lobuche and accommodate a tea house.

Location: Everest Base Camp

Everest Base Camp Altitude: 5360 Meters

Elevation Gain: 380 Meters

Trekking Duration: 7-8 Hours

Today is one of the longest and most challenging parts of the trek in this package. First things first, this phase of the trek is mainly focused on high altitudes. First, we will leave Lobuche and head towards Lobuche Pass at 5110 meters above sea level. There is a Khumbu Glacier on the right side of the trail, which offers a pristine beauty to the hike.

After a short hike from Lobuche Pass, we will reach Gorakshep village after passing across Gorakshep Tsho Lake. Gorakshep is the last Sherpa settlement in Everest Region - you can find very minimal stone houses in this village.

From Gorakshep, we will continue our trek to Everest Base Camp, which takes around four hours to reach. Everest Base Camp is the lap of Mount Everest at 5360 meters above sea level. It is also the highest viewpoint in the Everest Region that offers the scenic vistas of the Mahalangur Mountain Range, Khumbu Glacier, and the alpine climate.

We will get involved in sightseeing activities around the Base Camp. For the night at Tea House at Gorekshep.