Challenge yourself by walking on the Himalayan trekking trail of the Khumbu Everest region. Explore the high mountain passes, glaciers, moraines, valleys, and lakes of inside an abode of the world’s tallest mountain Mt. Everest. In addition, knit the trekking tale full of adventures, thrill, and mountainous vibes. Furthermore, immerse into the traditions and culture of Sherpa People known across the globe as the experts of mountaineering. In fact, there are many mountaineering legends and records under the name of this community.The Everest Base Camp Chola Pass Gokyo Trek is the amalgamation of all major splendors of the Khumbu from cultural to natural attractions.
Trekking is the upgraded version of walking or hiking. It requires travelers to traverse through forests, valleys, rivers, villages, and unknown landscapes. All these aspects are clubbed together in our expertly prepared itinerary of the Everest Base Camp Chola Pass Gokyo Trek in Nepal. Our team of travel planners who are from the Khumbu region of Nepal and mainly Sherpa ensures that you get what you deserve. It is not an exasperation to say that you will be hypnotized and hooked to the serene beauty of Khumbu’s Himalayan beauty.
The longest trekking trail to trek in the Everest region of Nepal is the Everest Three High Passes Trek in Nepal. However, the Everest Base Camp Chola Pass Gokyo Trek route is the second longest. It consists of the Everest Base Camp (5364 m), more than a dozen small to large Sherpa villages, diverse Sagarmatha National Park, and diverse landscapes. Therefore, you can clearly state that the trail is one of the best Khumbu Circuit Trails to experience almost every nook and corner of the Upper Khumbu.
The park is the world’s highest situated national conservation area. It extends from 2845 m in Jorsalle to the top of Mt. Everest (8848.86 m). Therefore, it is one of the most unique and iconic national parks of the world. In addition, the presence of top mountains like Choyou, Everest, and Lhotse makes it the park with superlative things and natural wonders.
The home of diverse wildlife and vegetation. Travelers can observe temperate deciduous, alpine, meadows, and tundra vegetation inside the park. With the diversity in the vegetation, the wildlife presence is diverse too. Red Panda, Himalayan musk deer, snow leopard, Himalayan Tahr, Himalayan monal, vulture, etc. are inside the park. Interestingly, you can explore majority of the Sagarmatha National Park areas while doing the Everest Base Camp Chola Pass Gokyo Trek in Nepal.
The foothill of the world’s tallest mountain Mt. Everest is definitely the most revered place on this trekking journey. In fact, the most popular trekking trip to do inside the Everest region of Nepal is the Everest Base Camp Trek. During the Everest Base Camp Chola Pass Gokyo Trek in Nepal, relish trekkers’ chance to leave their footprints at the Everest Base Camp combined with the exploration of other iconic places of Khumbu.
Who are Sherpa people? These people are those who have exceptional mountaineering prowess. If you talk about these people, you can’t look away from the legends and records set in the field of mountaineering especially climbing Everest. Interestingly, there are some villages of the Sherpa people on this trekking route where each house has at least one Everest summiteer.
Therefore, the journey of the Everest Base Camp Chola Pass Gokyo Trek is significant to understand the lifestyle of these people in their own backyard. Major Sherpa villages on this trekking route are Lukla, Phakding, Monjo, Namche Bazaar, Khumjung, Tengboche, Pangboche, Dingboche, and Gokyo Village.
What do you need for an ideal trekking holiday? Up in the mountains, if you can walk on the trail which is full of moraines, glaciers, high – altitude mountain passes, glacial lakes, base camps, and valleys, then what else do you need. The Everest Base Camp Chola Pass Gokyo Trek route traverses through all these places. Relish the sunrise or sunset from perfect vantage points (Kalapathar & Gokyo Ri). Walk in the Khumbu glacier and Ngozumpa glacier. Touch the Everest Base Camp and explore the blue turquoise lake valley of Gokyo. Yes, all these activities make the trail rich in the landscape diversity experiences.
The first phase of the Everest Base Camp Chola Pass Gokyo Trek in Nepal is trekking from Lukla to Everest Base Camp. The trek starts from Lukla and trekkers traverse about 65 kilometers to reach the Everest Base Camp. This follows the itinerary of the regular Everest Base Camp Trek in Nepal including two acclimatization rest days in Namche Bazaar and Dingboche. Therefore, you can simply call this as the EBC Trek instead of the first phase of the EBC Chola Pass Trek.
The most challenging phase of the trek is the Everest Base Camp to Gokyo Lake via Chola Pass. The second phase includes crossing of the Chola Pass (5420 m) and walking in the world’s longest glacier the Ngozumpa Glacier which is about 36 kilometers long. In fact, the glacier is the longest in the Himalayas. The crossing of the Chola Pass starts from the small village of Dzongla.
It takes about 3 to 4 hours to reach the top from Dzongla. The top of the Chola Pass (5420 m) is one of the scenic places of Khumbu. The sight of the mountains like Choyou, Everest, Lhotse, and Makalu (Top 10 mountains of the world) make it the most rewarding place on the trekking trail. Note that the pass is also included in the Everest Three High Passes Trek in Nepal.
Trekkers either spend a night in Thaknak Village or continue the long trekking via Ngozumpa glacier to Gokyo Valley. The Hikers Himalaya has knitted trekking itinerary that includes spending overnight at Thaknak to rest and recover. People also need time to rest and relax to enjoy the splendors of Himalayan attractions.
Why do you think Gokyo Lake or Gokyo Valley is the most picturesque place in the Khumbu region? Well, the six blue turquoise lakes present in the valley including the vista of snowy mountains make the valley pristine and beautiful. There are 6 lakes which are listed as the Ramsar Conservation Area Sites in which the 6th lake is hardly accessible.
The activities inside the valley includes exploration of 4th and 5th lake including the scenic Gokyo Ri (5357 m) Hike. Please note that the alternative sight of Mt. Everest is possible while exploring the lakes of the region. It is completely different view of the mountain than the view you see while on the Everest Base Camp Trek.
The final phase of the trek is through villages like Machhermo and Dole to meet the Everest Base Camp Trek route in Kyangjuma. Trekkers have to spend overnight in Dole before meeting the EBC trek route and continuing the return trek to Lukla via Namche Bazaar.
Build up strong physical and mental strength. Have a fit body which can easily endure 6 to 7 hours of average walking everyday in the high – altitude places. Adopt healthy eating and drinking habits at least one month prior to the trek. A sound body is key to success for altitude sickness risk free trekking. However, you must get the travel insurance which can help you during times of emergencies.
The Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality Entry Permit (NRs. 2000) and the Sagarmatha National Park Entry Permit (Foreigners NRs. 3000 & SAARC Nationals NRs. 1500) are the permits for the Everest Base Camp Chola Pass Gokyo Trek in Nepal.
Don’t do mistake by trekking independently in the challenging high – altitude trekking trail of the EBC Chola Pass via Gokyo Lake Trek. The wilderness areas and terrain including the weather conditions up in the mountains can bring unpredictable things. Therefore, always trek with a trekking guide and porter. Heed the instructions of your trekking crew member and don’t wander on your own especially during the crossing of the mountain pass and walking through glacier.
Some trekking trails in Nepal are okay to trek throughout the year. However, you need to choose the correct time to do certain trekking trips especially the journey of the high – altitude places. Similarly, you need to choose best season or ideal window to do mini – mountaineering type of the Everest Base Camp Chola Pass Gokyo Trek in Nepal. Choose months of spring season (March – May) and autumn season (September – November) for best experiences and safety reasons. Avoid monsoon and winter season for high – altitude trekking trips in the Everest region of Nepal.
Get the most reasonable rate of the Everest Base Camp Chola Pass Gokyo Trek with quality services and wholesome local hospitality. Book the Everest Khumbu Circuit Trekking package at just 1685 $ per person for all inclusive trekking package (Meals, Lodging, Transportation, Permits, Guides, and Porters).
Don’t hesitate to call our travel planners on their whatsapp number or you can simply mail us to book and inquire about the trek.
Day 1: Arrival in Kathmandu (1,350 m)
Day 2: Fly to Lukla (2,860 m) & Trek to Phakding (2,620 m)
Day 3: Trek to Namche Bazaar (3,440 m)
Day 4: Acclimatization Day in Namche Bazaar (3,440 m)
Day 5: Trek to Tengboche (3,860 m)
Day 6: Trek to Dingboche (4,410 m)
Day 7: Acclimatization Day in Dingboche (4,410 m)
Day 8: Trek to Lobuche (4,910 m)
Day 9: Trek to Everest Base Camp (5,364 m) via Gorak Shep (5,140 m)
Day 10: Hike to Kala Patthar (5,545 m) & Trek to Dzongla (4,830 m)
Day 11: Cross Cho La Pass (5,420 m) & Trek to Thangnak (4,700 m)
Day 12: Trek to Gokyo Lake (4,760 m)
Day 13: Hike to Gokyo Ri (5,357 m) & Trek to Dole (4,038 m)
Day 14: Trek to Namche Bazaar (3,440 m)
Day 15: Trek to Lukla (2,860 m)
Day 16: Fly to Kathmandu (1,350 m)
Day 17: Departure
The journey of the Everest Base Camp Chola Pass Gokyo Lake Trek is one of the most popular high – altitude trekking trails of Nepal that encompasses mountain pass, Everest Base Camp, and beautiful Lake valley. If you are looking for a complete trekking journey where you get to see diverse landscapes and high – altitude vantage points, then the Everest Base Camp Chola Pass Gokyo Lake Trek is an ideal choice. Furthermore, the journey encompasses almost all the major and popular trekking destinations of Khumbu Nepal. Conquer the daunting mountain pass and leave your footprints at the foothill of the world’s tallest mountain. Enjoy majestic sunrise from spectacular mountain vantage points including a mystical time on the shores of blue turquoise glacial lake during the Everest Base Camp Chola Pass Gokyo Lake Trek in Nepal.
Two permits are necessary for the Everest Base Camp Chola Pass Gokyo Lake Trek in Nepal. These permits are the Sagarmatha National Park entry permit and Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality Entry permit. Foreigners require NRs. 3000 and SAARC nationals require NRs. 1000 to NRs. 1500 for the national park entry permit. Similarly, the rural municipality entry permit cost is NRs. 3000 per person. The cost of the Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality entry permit is changed from NRs. 2000 to this price from 2026.
Yes, it is possible to include Renjo La Pass in the itinerary of the Everest Base Camp Chola Pass Gokyo Lake Trek. You can contact the travel planners of the Hikers Himalaya to include Renjo La Pass (5360 m) in this itinerary. If you do so, then your trek can also be termed as the Everest Two Passes Trek in Nepal including the Everest Base Camp. There are two directions in which you can do the trek either from Thame side with Renjo La Pass as the first pass or from the Everest Base Camp side.
Please don’t listen to many fluffy words that you find on internet regarding trekking difficulty especially in Nepal. Even a short trek route may demand good physical fitness level from you. Therefore, to be honest with you, the difficulty level of the Everest Base Camp Chola Pass Gokyo Lake Trek in Nepal is challenging. You must prepare physically in the best possible way to overcome these challenges. Besides physical demands, you must also prepare your body mentally and also increase the cardio – vascular ability. High up in the mountains, trail is not only the factor but also the risk of altitude sickness. Therefore, you should prepare for physical and mental strength.
Honestly, we don’t recommend the Everest Base Camp Chola Pass Gokyo Lake Trek to beginners. We recommend you to do either the Everest Base Camp Trek only or the Gokyo Lake Trek only. Don’t embark on a long detour trekking high up in the mountains if you are a beginner trekker. On side note, if you are extremely fit and have high cardio – vascular ability, then you can surely try the trek as a beginner. However, it is important to trek with an experienced trekking crew members like from the Hikers Himalaya Pvt. Ltd.
The conditions of accommodation and meals during the Everest Base Camp Chola Pass Gokyo Lake Trek in Nepal are top notch. The trail is one of the commercial trails of Nepal used by climbers, trekkers, and mountaineers! Every year thousands of trekkers from across the globe walk on this trail. Therefore, you can get lots of options for meals including continental, Chinese, Nepalese, and Indian dishes. Similarly, you can also get the lodging facilities starting from basic porter house to luxury mountain lodges. Popular choice for accommodation is tea house in the trail. Note down that the tea houses in the places like Dzongla, Thangnak, Dole, and Machherma may be limited than in other sections of the trail.
Yes, it is possible to book a helicopter return flight to Lukla or to Kathmandu from Gokyo after the trek. Normally, trekkers choose to book the helicopter flight either from Gorakshep after visiting the Everest Base Camp (5364 m) if taken the clockwise route. Similarly, they choose to book the helicopter flight from Gokyo Lake if they take the anti – clockwise route. Note down that you have to pay extra for helicopter return flight. We have a luxury Everest Base Camp Trek package with helicopter return. You can simply book the package with us or you can choose to add the option in this itinerary.
People usually call this route the Khumbu Mini Circuit Trek because it lets you experience almost the entire Khumbu region in one smooth, loop-like journey without having to simply retrace your steps. Instead of just walking up to Everest Base Camp and heading right back down the exact same path, this trail creates a fantastic circuit. You climb up toward Base Camp, cross the thrilling Cho La Pass—which sits at a high altitude—and then drop down into the completely different, stunningly peaceful valley of Gokyo with its bright turquoise lakes.
Because you loop around instead of doing an out-and-back trek, you get double the scenery. You see the classic Everest trail on the way up and a whole new landscape of glacial lakes and massive peaks on the way down. It is basically the ultimate highlight reel of the Everest region packed into one efficient, continuous circuit, which is why locals and trekking agencies love giving it the "mini circuit" label.
Please take a look into the following points to cope with the risks of altitude sickness in the Everest Base Camp Chola Pass Gokyo Lake Trek route:
Yes, you must hire a trekking guide for this high – altitude trek in Nepal. Mountain passes and remote wilderness areas are safe when traveled with an experienced and licensed trekking guide. Make sure to hire a porter to carry your baggage. Crossing mountain passes and walking in this detour can be brutal if you choose to carry your baggage by yourselves.
The maximum altitude you reach during the Everest Base Camp Chola Pass Gokyo Lake Trek in Nepal is the height of the Kalapathar (5545 m). Besides this altitude, trekkers must navigate through places like Everest Base Camp (5364 m), Chola Pass (5420 m), and Gokyo Ri (5357 m).
Yes, travel insurance is mandatory for this trek. Your trek insurance plan must include all emergency services including helicopter rescue from places above 5500 m from sea level. During emergencies, your guide will inform the office and the office will contact the travel insurance company and helicopter company. You will be promptly picked up from the trek and transfer to hospital in Kathmandu or Lukla. Note down that the helicopter flight depends largely on weather conditions. If helicopter is not available, you will be carried back either by porter or by mule.
The journey of the Everest Chola Pass Gokyo Lake Trek in Nepal has many Sherpa Villages. These villages are where you can understand these people in their own courtyard. If you are searching for a place where you can learn about culture, traditions, and day to day life of mountaineering experts – The Sherpa Community, then the trail is an ideal choice. Almost all major villages of Khumbu Nepal are covered in this trekking trip. Major Sherpa Villages on the EBC Chola Pass Trek in Nepal are Lukla, Phakding, Monjo, Namche, Khumjung, Tengboche, Pangboche, Phortse, Dingboche, Gokyo, Dole, and Machhermo. Among these villages, places like Dole and Machhermo are known as herder’s hut in ancient times but these villages are serving trekkers now.
The cost to do the Everest Base Camp Chola Pass Gokyo Lake Trek in Nepal starts from 1650 $ per person. Please note that the cost depends directly according to the number of trekkers. Similarly, it also depends upon the type of services you prefer for the trek. The kind of amenities and services you prefer determines the cost of the trek. Standard trekking package is around 1685 $ per person. Please check our include and exclude section of this page to know more about things that you get in the normal standard rate.
Right time to do the trek matters a lot for higher elevation trekking activities like the Everest Base Camp Chola Pass Gokyo Lake Trek. Therefore, we highly recommend you to book the trek either for the months of spring season (March – May) or for the months of autumn season (September – November). Avoid winter season (December – February) which can be fatal due to heavy snowfall and risks of snowstorm especially in the higher elevation places.
We are the most reliable trekking company that operates the Everest region treks in any trails. Our trekking crew members are completely the locals who have proper government trekking license. Similarly, we always prioritize safety and our itinerary is flexible which considers sudden change in weather situations. At an affordable rate,
Total trekking distance of the Everest Base Camp Trek in Nepal is around 130 kilometers. However, this trekking route covers the crossing of Chola Pass and taking the route of the Gokyo Lake, Gokyo Ri Hike, Fifth Lake Hike, and trek back to EBC Trail via Machhermo and Dole. Therefore, the distance a trekker covers during the Everest Base Camp Chola Pass Gokyo Lake Trek in Nepal is around 146 kilometers from Lukla to Lukla.
Well, your trek starts early in the morning after breakfast! Before the trek, your trekking guide conducts a short and light stretching session. He or she will give briefing about what to expect on this particular day. Your guide will accompany you along the way and let you know about the local area, monastery, cultural insights, and mountains. On the way, your trekking guide will make you stop for hydration break and lunch will be served on the way. Upon reaching tea house, trekkers are given rooms and they are served dinner before you head to bed for overnight sleep.
Which is better as the best vantage points in the Everest trail between Gokyo Ri and Kalapathar?
The debate about the supremacy in terms of scenery between Kalapathar and Gokyo Ri is common. One must understand that these vantage points are in the completely different places of the Khumbu Nepal. Kalapathar is near the Everest Base Camp and it offers spectacular sunrise scenery over the Everest Himalayan range. On the other hand, the top of the Gokyo Ri offers amazing sights of mountains as far as Makalu. The view of Everest is also different from this vantage point. The biggest highlight is obviously the enticing sight of blue turquoise lake and hamlet on the shores of the lake. Both are the best destination for Himalayan scenery and these two places are covered in the Everest Base Camp Chola Pass Gokyo Lake Trek itinerary.
