19 Days Ultimate EBC Trek via Gokyo Valley

Upon arrival in Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan International Airport, our Nepali guide will greet you and get you transferred to the hotel and help you check in. Besides, welcome soft drink will be served.

In the afternoon, you will participate in the pre-departure trek briefing followed by equipment check.

At night, you may enjoy the welcome dinner at a Nepali restaurant featuring cultural program.

Stay overnight at hotel

Early morning transfer to Kathmandu’s domestic airport to board 45 minutes scenic flight to Lukla (2880m). This flight provides a magnificent entry to the trek. It highlights the snowline of the Himalayan Range in the north and the rugged landing at the Lukla airport, which is said to be one of the most spectacular flights in the world.

Upon arrival, you will meet the Sherpa team and while the team reassembles the equipment for the distribution to the Porters and Jhopke (a hybrid product of a cow and a yak used to carry loads). In between, there will be a short lunch break. During this break, the guests are welcome to explore this bustling town on top of a hill with rows of houses, hotels, and shops lining both sides of the cobbled street.

After lunch, the trek starts by following the trail leading to the northwest direction through the narrow street, which immediately descends from the end of the village on a trail through the open hillside. The trail is well defined and there are many shops and lodges catering to the trekkers. This day’s trek is a very easy one and ultimately descends to the river at Phakding (2652m).

Stay overnight at Himalayan Chain Resort

From Phakding we cross the river and head up valley following porters from the Leave the main village, and the follow the trail on the left bank of the Dudh Kosi River. It is a pleasant walk for the first half of the day as one passes through the agricultural countryside, small wayside villages, and a monastery. Just before lunch, there is a steep climb of about 20 minutes to arrive at Monjo (2860m) for lunch.

After Lunch trek up to the check post to check the permits and enter into the Sagarmatha National Park. Descend for 10 minutes and then cross a suspension bridge to arrive at Jorsale (2800m). Pass through several small villages and beautiful pine forest. This is a busy trail with plenty of human interest. Our first good views are of the west ridge of Kusum Kanguru (6339m).

Follow the Dudh Kosi River, crossing a rickety suspension bridge, which is in a dilapidated condition, and then slowly climb up a very steep trail to Namche Bazaar. Near half waypoint, we enjoy our first views of Mt. Everest (8848m), Nuptse (7879m) and Lhotse (8383m) - the big three. The climb is for nearly 3 hours as one gain in altitude making breathing difficult due to rarified air. Arrive at a gate with a sign saying, "Welcome to Namche Bazaar" but it is very misleading as it takes another 20 minutes to arrive at the main town. We camp in the heart of the Namche Bazaar (3447 m).

This prosperous town is the largest in Khumbu. Mt. Thamserku (6648 m) and Kwangde Ri (6624 m) loom along the east and west of the village. The sacred mountain Khumbila (5707 m) dominates the skyline along the west.

Stay overnight at Lodge

We remain at Namche for a second night to allow for proper acclimatization to the altitude. Namche is a prosperous village, situated in a large, protected hollow. It gained its importance during the period when Tibetan salt was traded for the lowland grains of Nepal. Today a limited amount of trade exists at Namche, and Tibetans are often seen in the village trading rugs and Chinese-made goods, clothing, salt and dried meat.

It is recommended that you take the opportunity to see both the sunrise and sunset views from the National Park Headquarters above the village. The view is stunning with a superb panorama of the Khumbu peaks and great views of Everest. After breakfast, there is a variety of options: perhaps a walk towards Thami (3810m) above the beautiful Bhote Khola river valley or a visit to the National Park Headquarters to see the interesting displays of Sherpa lifestyle and culture. There is also a mountaineering display and details of the park’s flora and fauna. Your guides will be on hand to offer advice and escort you on your walks.

Stay overnight at Lodge

We start the day by first going to the check post to check our permits and then walk uphill for about 10 minutes from where the path is more or less steady for the next 2 hours. On the way we get a dramatic view of Amadablam (6696 m) and Kangtaige (6779 m) flanked by the towering view of the Everest (Sagarmatha), Lhotse and Nuptse. Descend through the rhododendron forest, watching for the Blood Pheasant and Imphayan Pheasant in the undergrowth.

Descending down to Imja Khola (river) for a lunch stop at Phunki (3200m), next to several large water driven prayer wheels. The afternoon is spent climbing slowly on a steep trail to the Thyangboche Monastery, one of the most beautiful spots in the Khumbu region.

Thyangboche lies at the base of Kangtaiga and is a classic setting with superb views backs up the valley to the Ama Dablam, and the Everest poking its southwest face over the huge ridgeline linking Nuptse and Lhotse. At the rear is the beautiful west face of the Thamserku (6608m) and Kang Taiga (6685m).

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In the morning after breakfast is a short, steep and muddy descent to Devouche through a forest of birches, conifers and rhododendrons. After we pass the Devouche village there is steep climb up to the village of Pangbouche. For the next half an hour the path is on level ground with few gentle climbs. We have to go uphill for about 45 minutes to reach our lunch point.

After lunch at Somare the trails goes up to the left, through the front yards of a few herders’ huts, over a stone wall and climbs a small ridge before descending to Khumbu Khola, crossing it on a wooden bridge. From the bridge it is a 10-minute walk, usually in the wind to Pheriche. Pheriche is windier, and hence feels colder, than most places in Khumbu.

Stay overnight at Lodge

To minimize the acute altitude sickness, we need to spend one more day at Phiriche. You may have a good rest or have a solid day walk in the surroundings to help you get acclimatized.

Stay overnight at Phiriche

An ill-defined track traverses across the open landscape with a short steep ascent to arrive at a ridge to join the main trail coming up from Dingboche on the right and the trail from Cho la pass on the left. On the way you can watch the beautiful view of the Mt. Cholatese (6442m) back on the Westside of the route and Mt. Amadablam to the rear. After arrival at the ridge, descend, for about ten minutes, cross a bridge and arrive at Thugla for an early lunch. (Note: due to unavailability of water, this is the only lunch stop available). After lunch, there is a very steep ascent for about one hour to the ridge where there is a Sherpa memorial in remembrance to those brave mountaineers who died during Expeditions.

Travel along the jumbled moraines and scattered rocks passing by the memorials of Rob Hall and Yasuko Namba and others who perished during the Mt. Everest disaster of 1996. The memorial chortens dots the skyline facing the mountains and overlooking the valley below. Further on the trail leads to the terminal moraine of the Khumbu Glacier with views of Pumori or Widow’s Peak in the foreground. The stark and the rugged beauty create almost a moonscape. The campsite at Lobuche is reached after another hour of steady trekking through the moraine and is suitated in a wind swept valley with the views of the Tawatse (6501m) and Nuptse (7855m).

Stay overnight at HCR

We start our day early in the morning. After about one-and-half-hours walk we get to see the Khumbu Glacier. The path becomes tougher not because it’s uphill but more rocky and also due to the high altitude. We reach Gorak Shep in about three hours. This was the base camp for the 1952 Swiss Everest expedition.

Gork Shep has a small lake that is usually frozen and several monuments to climbers who have died during various Everest expeditions. Most of the trekkers reach Gorak Shep by the lunch time and they have enough time to climb Kala Pattar and back to Gorak Shep.

Stay overnight at Lodge

Everest base camp is not actually a specific site. Various expeditions have selected different locations for a semi-permanent camp during their assault on the mountain. Some of the sites that expeditions have used as base camps are identifiable form debris on the glacier at 5,360m or more. The trip to base camp, while fascinating, is not spectacular as the ascent of Kalapatthar because there is no view of Everest itself from base camp.

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After breakfast start walk to Dzongla is less than 6 hours and a morning spent re-hydrating and relaxing before an early lunch is in order. After lunch we follow the main Everest trail back down the valley before bearing right to contour round the hillside above the Tshola Tso Lake before descending to the valley floor and the small huts at Dzongla. Upon arrival prepare for the crossing of the snowfields that lead to the top of the Cho La pass.

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The day begins very early to reach the top of the pass in the best possible conditions. From camp we ascend steeply on a narrow trail passing large boulders and huge rock slabs, and keeping to the left of the main glacier. There are a number of cairns lining the route to the snowfield and while the trail is well defined it does involve a little scrambling. Once on the snowfield the angle eases off and we soon reach the top of the pass (5420m) where the views are spectacular and include Baruntse (7220m) and Ama Dablam, as well as a sea of lesser peaks. Do not wander around the snow-field as there are crevasses and we may need to rope up for the pass crossing!

The descent from the pass is steep and care should be taken as we follow the narrow rocky trail down to the Nymagawa valley where we enjoy a packed lunch. From the valley we cross rocky screes and boulders and ascend the short distance to a small saddle that leads downhill all the way on an easy trail to the huts and tea houses at Dragnag. After a welcome break we cross the Ngozumpa Glacier to the lake at Gokyo.

Stay overnight at Lodge

We will rise early for an ascent of Gokyo Peak (5360m), a straight-forward but steep climb, and tiring due to the altitude, although the past days at high altitude will help. The walk up will take just over two hours and the reward is one of the best panoramas in the Khumbu. From the rocky summit, four 8,000-metre peaks can be seen: Everest (8848m), Cho-Oyo (8153m), Lhotse (8511m) and Makalu (8481m). Countless other towering snow-peaks and rock spires fill the horizons, including Gyachung Kang (7922m) to the east of Cho-Oyo, Cholatse (6440m), Taweche (6542m) and Kangchung (6103m). In addition, there’s a bird's-eye view of the Gokyo lakes and the huge creaking Ngozumpa Glacier now cutting half way across the world and snaking its way down the valley far beneath.

Time permitting we may also follow the lateral moraines of the Ngozumpa Glacier past Kangchung Peak to a point where the Gyubanare Glacier joins in and from where climbing the ridge to the left of the small trail gives excellent views of Everest’s North Face.

Stay overnight at Lodge

As with our previous pass crossings we will have the opportunity to take it easy this morning before setting off towards the Renjo La. There will be another opportunity to ascend Gokyo Peak again for the sunrise before breakfast. The rest of the morning is free and we will depart after an early lunch and follow the trail that contours above the northern shore of the lake to the old moraines of the glacier below Renjo Pass. From here we climb steeply, on a good trail up to the lip of an old glacier valley strewn with boulders and glacial debris. Keeping to the right of the valley we ascend less steeply to reach camp opposite the large glacial snowfield below two unnamed peaks (5,625m and 5,906m).

Stay overnight at Lodge

Today is a long day but as we are now well acclimatised the altitude should pose few problems. The ascent from camp steepens and involves a little boulder hopping and movement on loose screes but there is a good trail leading all the way to the Renjo Pass at 5,465 metres. As we ascend the pass do stop and look behind, as there are fabulous views of Everest and Makalu in the east. The crest of the pass is a narrow rocky ridge and like most passes is adorned with prayer flags for good luck.

The descent from the pass for the first hundred metres or so is quite tricky and we will place a short section of fixed rope for use as a handline to help the group and porters. The far side is barren and rocky and the steep descent leads to yak pastures and a hut beside a small lake. Here we will take a light lunch before descending into the main valley that, if followed northwards, leads to the Nangpa La (5716m), the trading route to Tibet that is still used today.

Once we reach the main valley there is a further steep descent on a grassy trail leads to the temporary settlement at Lungare and the village of Marulung. From here we cross the Bhote Koshi River and follow the main trail via Tarnga to Thame.

Stay overnight at Lodge

After breakfast we leave Thami and descend to cross the Bhote Koshi River on a sturdy suspension bridge. There are some impressive Buddhist rock paintings in the area, and from here, on the cliffs above and below, Himalayan Thar are often seen. Our route continues through the village of Thamo and back to Namche Bazaar where we take a welcome break for lunch. In the afternoon we re-trace our steps of a fortnight ago down hill to the Dudh Kosi, to cross the airy suspension bridge that leads on to Jorsale and Monjo.

Stay overnight at Lodge

It is a steady descent of about 2 hours to Phakding and on the way we pass through small settlements of new lodges. Continue uphill passing other trekkers starting their own Everest trek. In the evening celebrate the completion of your adventure with your support team in traditional Sherpa style.

Stay overnight at Lodge in Lukla

Early morning fly from Lukla to Kathmandu in Twin Otter. Upon arrival in Kathmandu, our guide will transfer you back to hotel.

Free morning until final departure transfer to Airport.