Everest Chola Pass Trek 

We’ll depart from Kathmandu early in the morning and take a short flight to Lukla, typically 30 minutes. If you start from Manthali, you’ll drive for 3 to 4 hours and then take a 20-minute flight to Lukla. The flight covers 138 kilometers from Kathmandu (74 kilometers from Manthali) and lands at the Lukla airport, which is 2,860 meters above sea level. Lukla Airport is known as one of the world’s most thrilling airports.

After a brief break for breakfast, You begin your trek to Phakding with a downhill descent from the right bank of the Dudh Koshi River. You will trek slowly through the pine forest, passing the old Mani walls on your way to Ghat. It’s a 6.3-kilometer trek that takes about 3 hours. There is a well-traveled path that leads to Phakding, with both ups and downs. Once you arrive in the village, you’ll stay in a comfortable lodge with a private attached bathroom.

After breakfast, you will walk along the Dudh Koshi River trails, crossing the bridges five times on the same river to follow the trail. Trekking along the rhododendron and pine forest trails, you will come across several beautiful high-Himalayan settlements such as Benkar, Mono, Chumoa, Jorsale, and Manjo, the gateway to Sagarmatha National Park.

After exploring the national park, the trail leads up the Dudh Koshi River, eventually meeting the Bhote Koshi River and crossing the final suspension bridge. On your way to Namche Bazaar, you will get your first view of Mt. Everest; after a 6-7 hour journey from the starting point, you will arrive at Namche Bazaar, your resting place today. The distance you covered today is 9km.

You’ll spend a day in Namche Bazaar because the trek from here is difficult and uphill. For acclimatization, you’ll climb the trail to the Hidden Valley Khumjung, then return to Namche via Everest View Hotel, which is less crowded than other settlements. Today’s day hike could be 4 hours and is a pleasant walk, covering a distance of about  5.4km. When you arrive at the village, you can see breathtaking views of snow-capped mountains such as Ama Dablam, Mt Everest, Thamserku, and many others.

Following a refreshing break at Namche Bazaar, your next destination is Dole, a trek that typically takes 6-7 hours. Your trek distance will be about 12 km. Today, you’ll walk through pathways filled with rhododendron, conifer, and juniper forest aromas. Along the way, you’ll see various Buddhist temples and chortens decored with prayer flags.

The journey through yak grazing farms, Yak Kharka, and other lovely Sherpa civilizations will be complemented by breathtaking views of massifs such as Mt. Everest, Mt. Ama Dablam, Mt. Thamserku, and many others. The incredible views of the Khumbu La Pass and Taboche will add excitement to your experience as you head toward Gokyo Lake and Dole Village. You’ll spend the night at Dole.

Today’s trek will take you through a dense juniper forest. As you continue on, you’ll encounter a steep incline for approximately 30 minutes, followed by a more gradual ascent for the rest of the trek. As you ascend into Machhermo town, you’ll be able to see the roaring Dudh Koshi River far below.

You will pass via the charming village of Luza and trek downwards and upwards at various points in the Machhermo Valley. After a four-hour journey, covering 7km, you will arrive at Machhermo village, the route’s little teahouse settlement. A ridge above the Machhermo settlements provides breathtaking views of Mt. Thamserku and other stunning massifs in the area. You will spend the night at Machhermo.

Today, you will descend to the Dudh Koshi River. As you continue on to Ngozumpa Glacier, after climbing a hard part, you will be able to see the first-ever clean, dazzling, deep Gokyo Lake. Although the first Gokyo Lake is small and easily passed, the second is longer and parallel to the trekking trail. Enjoying the lake’s soothing views, you will go to the third Gokyo Lake, where you will rest and prepare for the trek up ahead.

You’ll see the breathtaking views of Mt. Cho Oyu and the numerous peaks surrounding the Ngozumba Glacier. The reflecting water of the Gokyo Lakes will make the journey even more extraordinary. During the last section of the trek, you will ascend to Gokyo Ri, which is popular for the great panoramic views of the majestic Himalayas surrounding the valley. It also offers stunning views of the lakes and glaciers at the base. You’ll walk for about 4 hours in total, covering a distance of about 5.7km. The adventure for today will end with an amazing view of the sunset from the Gokyo Ri. You will then trek back to Gokyo to spend the night.

After a long and exhausting trek to Gokyo Lake, you will spend the day resting. You may simply gaze out the window to observe the serene lake at the base of the stunning Gokyo Ri and the surrounding landscape. The view you see outside the lodge is also spectacular, with mountains and glaciers in the background. The valley offers numerous side treks that you can walk for the rest of the day. After enjoying yourself and walking for about 1.6 km, you’ll return to the lodge in the evening.

Today, you will go on a short morning hike to the fourth Gokyo Lake. The trail will take you across Ngozumpa Glacier, Nepal’s longest glacier and the most impressive glacier in the Everest region. The breathtaking vistas of Gokyo Valley, the beauty of Ngozumpa Glacier, and the panoramic views of the stunning snow-capped peaks in the Khumbu region will add charm to today’s experience. Thangnak is also known as a base camp for the Cho La Pass; it is a small village with teahouses that serve as a rest stop for trekkers planning to cross the Cho La Pass. You will rest here tonight after trekking for 4 hours and covering a distance of about 3.7 km.

Unlike previous trekking days, this adventure will be slightly more challenging, lasting up to 8 hours. Today’s trek begins early in the morning with an ascent of the Cho La Pass (5,365m), which connects the main Everest Base Camp trekking route to the Gokyo Valley. Although the path isn’t challenging on today’s trek, it is steep and requires a walk over the glacier on the eastern side, so crampons are essential.

After leaving Phedi, you will ascend through a small valley and enter the rocky sections of the route.  As you ascend, you can see the varied diversification of landscapes, from the deep valley, frozen lakes, and the firm snowy peaks showering their elegance. Following your journey across the frozen lake, you will reach the summit of Cho La Pass. From the top, you can see the breathtaking views of the Kayjo Ri, Numbur, Kangchung, and Tengkangpoche ridges before descending to Dzongla. After a strenuous day of trekking, you will reach Dzongla village. The total distance you covered today is 15 km.

Today, you will travel along flat trails from Dzongla to Lobuche, which will take about 4 hours, covering a distance of about 8.30km. It is pretty quiet trekking because there aren’t many trekkers along the way. However, after crossing the Khumbu Glacier, the world’s highest glacier, and joining the main Lobuche pathway, you will see the vibrant environment of the main Everest Base Camp trekking route. You will leave the remote trail and rejoin the main Everest Base Camp trekking route. For tonight, Lobuche will be your resting destination.

Today will be a long and exhausting day on the trail as you travel to Gorakshep and Everest Base Camp. Because the journey to the campsite is long, starting early from Lobuche to Gorakshep will allow you to arrive at the base camp on time and enjoy the breathtaking scenery. You leave the village and take the rocky moraine route, which offers stunning views of glacial lakes and icebergs. The path to Gorakshep is steep and rocky, with loose rocks that add to the difficulty. There is low oxygen at this altitude, so trekkers must use extreme caution while walking the path.

Gorakshep is a tiny village that lies on the edge of a frozen lakebed at 5,164 meters high. After stopping at the village lodge for lunch, you head northeast to Everest Base Camp. The three-hour trek to Everest Base Camp is slightly exhausting due to the difficult terrain, which has rocks and debris. The thin air makes the journey more challenging. The path crosses the sheer glacier and ends at the base of the Khumbu Icefall.

The Everest Base Camp offers an incredible view of mountains, including Everest, Nuptse, and Cho Oyu. You can see a variety of landscapes, including the glistening Khumbu glaciers and rocky mountains. After the sightseeing, you will return back to Gorakshep. The trek distance you covered today is 15 km.

One of today’s missions is to view the sunrise from Kala Patthar at 5,644 meters. You prepare to leave Gorakshep early in the morning, before sunrise. The trail from Gorakshep to Kala Patthar is rocky and difficult due to the moraine glacier. When you arrive at Kala Patthar, you will be amazed by the 360-degree up-close panoramic views of Mount Everest. The stunning sunrise view from the mountain vista will take your breath away. After admiring the views, you descend towards Pheriche. Finally, you’ll reach Pheriche after trekking for about 6 hours, covering 15km. You’ll spend the night at Pheriche.

As you make your way up to Namche Bazaar, the gradual descent to a lower altitude will make the trek slightly more manageable. This downhill trek to Namche will take about 7 hours, covering a distance of about 16km, passing through villages such as Pangboche, Tengboche, and Phunki Thanga. Leaving the high Himalayan vistas behind, you will descend into a lush and green climate. If the weather is clear, the white peaks of the Himalayas will be visible on the return journey to the lower town. You follow the winding path on the way through the forest and finally reach Namche Bazaar.

Today, you’ll leave Namche Bazaar, the Sherpa capital, and trek back to Lukla, the starting point of the trek. After having breakfast in Namche Bazaar, you will trek downhill on stone steps and cross several suspension bridges. While most of today’s trek will be moderate descent or flat terrain, there will also be a few uphill sections to walk.

After reaching the flat terrain, you will walk along the roaring Dudh Koshi River, passing through several Sherpa villages, mani walls, and Sagarmatha National Park before arriving in the village of Phakding. Following lunch in Phakding, you will continue on the rest of the trek to Lukla. After a moderate uphill hike, you’ll arrive in Lukla, your overnight stop. The distance you walked today is 15km.

On your final day, you’ll take a morning flight from Lukla to Kathmandu. The 30-minute flight gives you one last look at the Himalayan peaks before you return to the busy city. The flight covers 138 kilometers to Kathmandu, or 74 kilometers if you fly to Manthali. Once you reach Kathmandu, you can spend the rest of your day relaxing. After having breakfast, you can choose to explore the city.