Everest Base Camp Trek via Gokyo Lakes- 15 Days

Your Everest Base Camp Trek with Gokyo Lakes starts with a flight to Lukla, followed by a short trek through the lower Khumbu Valley to Phakding.

During off-peak months, you can fly directly from Kathmandu to Lukla within 40 minutes. As you approach Lukla, you can see the hills and mountain terrain before landing at Tenzing-Hillary Airport.

During March, April, May, October, and November, your Lukla flight usually departs from Manthali Airport in Ramechhap. You leave Kathmandu around 12:30 a.m. for the approximately 5-hour drive to Manthali, to catch a 20-minute morning flight to Lukla.

Lukla → Chaurikharka → Ghat → Phakding

After landing in Lukla, you begin walking toward Phakding through Chaurikharka and small mountain villages. The trail passes forested sections and suspension bridges while following the Dudh Koshi Valley.

You continue through Ghat before reaching Phakding, where you check into your lodge for the night.

After breakfast, we leave Phakding and continue north through pine and rhododendron forests toward Namche Bazaar. 

Phakding → Monjo → Jorsale → Namche Bazaar

You follow the trail that crosses several suspension bridges and passes through small Sherpa hamlets such as Tok tok, Benkar, and Chumoa along the Dudh Koshi Valley. You then reach Monjo, which sits at the edge of the Sagarmatha National Park entrance. 

After registering the permits, the route continues toward Jorsale, where the valley narrows, and the trail begins to gain elevation more steadily.

Crossing the Hillary Suspension Bridge, we follow the final uphill section toward Namche Bazaar. The trail opens to views of the surrounding peaks before reaching the vibrant Sherpa trading town, where we spend the night.

Today is dedicated to acclimatization in Namche Bazaar, with a short hike to higher elevations before returning to town. The gradual ascent helps your body adjust to the altitude while keeping the day active. 

Namche Bazaar → Everest View Hotel → Khumjung → Namche Bazaar 

You can hike toward the Everest View Hotel, passing through Syangboche ridge and large mani stones. It is the most important viewpoint from where you can see the best view of Mount Everest and other peaks like Lhotse, Ama Dablam, and Thamserku. 

From here, you continue to descend into the village basin past the local fields until you reach Khumjung Village. It is the historic large Sherpa village, where you can visit the famous school founded by Edmund Hillary, the yak farm, and view the framed Yeti scalp inside the Khumjung Monastery.

You continue your return journey to Namche with the gentle downhill walk through the well-defined stone-paved trail. You can spend the rest of the day exploring the town, cafes, restaurants, and hotels with free Wi-Fi, and shopping for souvenirs or gear. 

After breakfast in Namche, you set out for Dole, leaving the main Everest Base Camp trail and following the quieter route toward the Gokyo Valley. 

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

You begin with a gradual walk from Namche Bazaar (3,443 m / 11,296 ft) along a scenic trail overlooking the valley. Trekking for a few hours, you reach the trail junction where the classic Everest Base Camp route continues toward Tengboche, while you take the left turn toward the Gokyo Valley.

The trail opens up to impressive views of Mt. Everest and Ama Dablam as you trek to Kyanjuma. Keep an eye on the surrounding forests, where you may spot colorful Danphe (Himalayan monal) or Himalayan tahr.  You take a break for lunch here before continuing toward Sansaa.

From Sansaa, you take the northern fork toward the Gokyo Valley. The trail becomes steeper as you ascend continuously through pine and rhododendron forests, following stone steps and dirt paths toward Mong La Pass, which sits on a windy ridge. 

At the top, you are rewarded with a panoramic view of Kangtega, known as the “Horse’s Saddle,” Khumbila (5,761m /18,901 ft), and the icy peaks of Thamserku rising above the surrounding terrain. 

You descend through stone steps, rocky sections, dusty paths, and forested switchbacks toward the riverbed at Phortse Tenga. The shaded trail follows the Dudh Koshi area through dense pine and rhododendron forests before you begin climbing again.

The final section takes you uphill through a series of stone staircases. As you emerge from the forest, the landscape opens into the U-shaped valley around Dole (4,200 m / 13,270 ft), where you rest for tonight.

Today, our trek continues deeper into the Gokyo Valley toward Machhermo after a warm breakfast in Dole. Today’s trail is shorter than the previous day, but you gain more elevation as the landscape becomes increasingly open and alpine.

Dole → Luza → Machhermo

You leave Dole (4,200 m / 13,270 ft) and follow the trail north along the Dudh Koshi Valley. The path climbs steadily through open mountain terrain, with the dense forests around Dole gradually giving way to low shrubs and alpine vegetation.

As you trek above the valley, you pass through small grazing areas and scattered stone-built communities. The trail continues toward Luza, where the surrounding landscape becomes more rugged and exposed. Looking across the valley, you can see the steep slopes and snow-covered peaks rising above the Gokyo Valley.

From Luza, the trail continues with a gradual uphill trek toward Machhermo. The vegetation thins as you gain altitude, while the views of Cho Oyu, Kangtega, and surrounding Himalayan peaks become more prominent along the route.

You eventually reach Machhermo (4,470 m / 14,450 ft), a small mountain settlement spread across the valley. After covering around 5.4 km / 3.6 miles, you have the rest of the day to relax and adjust to the high-altitude environment with surrounding mountain views.

Today, we continue north along the Dudh Koshi Valley toward Gokyo, following the trail alongside the river and heading deeper into the high-altitude landscape.

Machhermo → Pangka → Longpongo → Raboche Tsho → Dudh Pokhari → Gokyo

You leave Machhermo (4,470 m / 14,450 ft) and follow a gradual uphill trail through an increasingly open and rugged landscape. The vegetation becomes sparse as you gain elevation, while the surrounding mountains rise more prominently above the valley.

The trail continues toward Pangka, a small area where the valley opens up before the route climbs alongside the Dudh Koshi. As you move higher, you pass through the area of Longpongo, one of the small glacial lakes along the route to Gokyo.

From here, the trail continues past Raboche Tsho, with rocky slopes and glacial terrain replacing the greener landscape around Machhermo. 

You then reach Dudh Pokhari, the third and largest of the main Gokyo Lakes, where the turquoise water contrasts sharply with the surrounding barren mountain terrain.

Beyond the lake, the trail leads along its eastern shore toward Gokyo (4,790 m / 15,584 ft). The settlement sits beside the lake, with Cho Oyu and the surrounding Himalayan peaks forming a dramatic backdrop. 

Approximately 6 km / 3.7 miles and 3–4 hours of trekking, you arrive in Gokyo and spend the evening beside the turquoise waters of Dudh Pokhari.

Today is your acclimatization day in Gokyo, giving you time to adjust to the high altitude while exploring one of the most famous viewpoints in the Gokyo Valley. 

Gokyo → Gokyo Ri Viewpoint → Gokyo

You begin the hike from Gokyo (4,790 m / 15,584 ft) and follow the steep trail up the rocky slope of Gokyo Ri. The hike is short in distance but demanding because of the altitude, with a steady ascent over loose rocks and a barren mountain surface.

As you gain height, Gokyo Lake gradually comes into view below, while the surrounding peaks rise higher above the valley. From the Gokyo Ri viewpoint (5,400 m / 17,814 ft), you can see an impressive Himalayan panorama that includes Mt. Everest, Cho Oyu, Lhotse, Makalu, Cholatse, and Taboche, depending on the weather.

The viewpoint also gives you a clear perspective of the Gokyo Lakes and Ngozumpa Glacier, one of the largest glaciers in the Himalayas. You descend the same trail back to Gokyo after spending some time taking in the views.

You return to the lodge after 1.5 km / 0.9 miles and 1.5 hours of hiking. The rest of the day is free to rest, explore the lakeside settlement, and prepare for the next section of the trek.

Today’s route is short, allowing you to trek at a steady pace while staying close to the Ngozumpa Glacier. You start with a short walk along the lakeside and cross into the quieter section of the Gokyo Valley toward Thangnak. 

Gokyo → Ngozumpa Glacier → Thangnak

You leave Gokyo (4,790 m / 15,584 ft) and follow the trail along the edge of Ngozumpa Glacier. The route takes you across a rugged glacial landscape, with rocky ground, moraine deposits, and ice-covered terrain surrounding the trail.

As you continue south along the glacier, the views gradually change from the open Gokyo Lakes area to a narrower mountain valley. You can see the mountain slopes of Cholatse and Taboche rising above the valley, while the glacier remains a prominent feature of the route.

The trail eventually reaches Thangnak (4,700 m / 15,400 ft), a small seasonal hamlet beside the glacier. It is an important overnight stop before continuing toward Cho La Pass on the following section of the trek.

Day 9 of your EBC with Gokyo Trek is one of the most challenging and rewarding days of the trek. The route crosses Cho La Pass, connecting the Gokyo Valley with the Everest Base Camp trail before descending to Dzongla. 

Thangnak → Cho La Pass → Dzongla

You leave Thangnak (4,700 m / 15,400 ft) before sunrise and follow the trail toward the Cho La Glacier. The route gradually becomes steeper as you trek through the rocky terrain above the valley. 

As you approach the pass, the trail leads across a glacial section where the ground can be icy and uneven, depending on the season. The final uphill trek across the glacier takes you to the Cho La Pass (5,420 m / 17,783 ft). 

The pass offers views of the surrounding peaks above the glacier, such as Cholatse (6,440 m / 21,128 ft), Ama Dablam, and Baruntse (7,129 m / 23,389 ft). You can click pictures and take in the view of Cho La Lake before beginning the descent toward the rocky ground and moraine surrounding.

The trail drops through the slippery path as you continue across the open mountain landscape until you reach Dzongla (4,855m / 15,930 ft), a small village that lies beneath the big Cholatse and Lobuche peaks. It is your final stop for today after having a long trek.

Today, you start with a warm breakfast at Dzongla, and the route connects to the standard Everest Base Camp Trek at Lobuche. 

Dzongla → Lobuche 

You follow the trail along the mountainside with Cholatse rising prominently behind you. As you descend along the Cho La Lake, the landscape becomes increasingly barren, with very little vegetation surviving at this elevation.  

The route follows the Khumbu Glacier, and you can see the rugged walls of Lobuche, Nuptse, and Pumori as you approach the main Everest Base Camp route. Along the way, you can see the memorial statues of the climbers who lost their lives in this region.

Following the Imja Khola, the trek eventually joins the main path where you continue toward Lobuche (4,940 m / 16,207 ft). This is the beautiful village that sits under the glacial landscapes surrounded by Lobuche East and Lobuche West mountains.

Today, you leave Lobuche and walk toward Gorak Shep, following a rocky trail beside the Khumbu Glacier. The barren landscape becomes more rugged as you gain elevation, with views surrounding glacial peaks. 

Lobuche → Gorak Shep → Everest Base Camp → Gorak Shep

From Lobuche, the trail crosses rocky moraine and gradually reaches Gorak Shep, the last settlement before Everest Base Camp. You can see the snow-covered peaks and glacial terrain surrounding this small community. 

You continue toward Everest Base Camp with a fulfilling lunch at Gorak Shep along the lateral moraine of the Khumbu Glacier. The trail passes through rocky glacial debris, with views of the glacier, ice formations, and surrounding peaks.

At Everest Base Camp, you can see the Khumbu Glacier and Khumbu Icefall up close and explore the famous camp area beneath the world's highest mountain. During the climbing season, you can see that the expedition tents add color to the otherwise rugged glacial landscape.

From the base camp, you retrace your steps to Gorak Shep, where you rest and have a good sleep after a long trekking day.

You begin early from Gorak Shep and ascend toward Kala Patthar, with the rocky snow-capped Pumori rising above the trail. As you gain height, the Khumbu Valley opens below you. 

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

The steep upward trek brings you to Kala Patthar, the highest point of the trek at 5,555 m. From the summit,  you can enjoy close views of Mount Everest, Nuptse, Pumori, and the surrounding Khumbu peaks, making it one of the most significant viewpoints on the route. 

After indulging in the mountain scenery, you descend to Gorak Shep to have a warm breakfast and pack your bags for your return journey. You continue to walk downwards through the rocky moraine trails toward Lobuche. Here, please be careful of the loose rocks. 

From Lobuche, the trail drops through the rocky valley toward Thukla, where the landscape begins to change as you lose elevation. Here, you can visit the Thukla Pass memorials dedicated to climbers and mountaineers who lost their lives in the Himalayas. 

You continue along the valley to Pheriche, a wide settlement surrounded by alpine slopes. From here, the surroundings become less barren and more open, where you can rest peacefully under the mountain slopes.

You leave Pheriche and walk through the open valley toward Shomare, with views of the surrounding mountain slopes. The trail gradually descends as you move into the greener parts of the Khumbu region. 

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

From Shomare, you continue to Pangboche, where stone houses and cultivated fields surround one of the oldest Sherpa villages in the region. The village sits beneath Ama Dablam, giving you clear views of the distinctive mountain from the trail. 

The route then descends through rhododendron and pine forests toward Deboche before continuing uphill to Tengboche. It is a hill above the Imja Khola Valley where you can visit the largest gompa in the Everest region, Tengboche Monastery.

Leaving Tengboche, you descend to Phunki Thenga and cross the Dudh Koshi River. The trail then passes through dense forest toward Kyangjuma, where the surrounding hills open to views of Thamserku and the Khumbu Valley. 

The well-maintained, wide, dirt path leads you to Namche Bazaar, the main Sherpa trading center of the Khumbu. Along the way, you follow the ridge full of small chortens and mani walls, with the town gradually appearing below the trail.

You leave Namche Bazaar and descend through the forest toward Monjo, following the Dudh Koshi Valley on the return route to Lukla. The trail passes through familiar villages and suspension bridges as you gradually lose elevation.

Namche Bazaar → Monjo → Phakding → Tok Tok → Chheplung → Lukla

As you leave the Sagarmatha National Park, you continue through the pine forests and riverside houses to reach Phakding. You need to cross the suspension bridges as they are the only connecting sections of the route.

From Phakding, you pass through Tok Tok and Chheplung, where you can see traditional mountain houses, cultivated terraces, and forested hillsides along the valley. 

The final section takes you back to Lukla, where the trail gradually rises toward the town and Tenzing-Hillary Airport. You check in to your lodge and spend your last night in the Khumbu region before your flight the following morning.

This is your last day on the Everest Base Camp via Gokyo Lake Trek. 

Lukla → Manthali → Kathmandu 

After breakfast in Lukla, you head to the Tenzing-Hillary Airport to catch a morning flight to Kathmandu. During off-trekking seasons, you fly directly to Kathmandu in around 40 minutes with one last aerial look at the Himalayan landscape before you leave the Everest region.

During the peak season, you take a 20-25 minute flight from Lukla to Manthali Airport in Ramechhap. During this flight, you can enjoy the view of the Tamakoshi riverbanks and cascading green farms surrounded by villages across the sloping ridges.

You continue the journey back to Kathmandu by road, following the BP and Araniko Highway. It takes around 5- 7 hours of driving to reach the capital, marking the end of your Everest Base Camp Trek with Gokyo Lakes.