Everest Base Camp & Gokyo Lakes
Trek 17 Days

DAY 1 – ARRIVAL IN KATHMANDU

Altitude: Kathmandu 1,400m/4,593ft
Walking Distance: N/A | Arrival Day

Welcome to Kathmandu, the vibrant capital and cultural heart of Nepal! Upon your arrival, you’ll be warmly greeted and transferred to your hotel. In the evening, we’ll have a briefing to go over final details of your trek. Be sure to get an early night’s rest – a big adventure awaits!

DAY 2 – FLIGHT TO LUKLA AND TREK TO PHAKDING

Altitude: Lukla 2,860m/9,383ft to Phakding 2,610m/8,563ft
Flight Time: 35 minutes from Kathmandu
Walking Distance: 8km | 3-4 hours

Flight Time: 15 minutes from Ramechhap *
Drive Time: Approximately 4.5 hours from Kathmandu to Ramechhap

You and your guide will take an exciting short flight to Lukla. The journey starts with a gentle walk through Chaurikharka village and a descent toward Dudhkoshi Ghat (2,530m/8,300ft). The trail follows the banks of the Dudhkoshi River, leading to Phakding (2,652m/8,700ft), where you’ll spend the night to begin acclimatizing. Use your free time to explore this popular stopover village.

Note: Due to airport upgrades in Kathmandu, flights to Lukla can operate from Ramechhap. The drive to Ramechhap starts around 2 am, and the return trip takes 4-6 hours, depending on traffic.

DAY 3 – TREK FROM PHAKDING TO NAMCHE BAZAAR

Altitude: Phakding 2,610m/8,563ft to Namche Bazaar 3,440m/11,283ft
Walking Distance: 10-12km | 5-6 hours

After breakfast in Phakding, the trek continues to Namche Bazaar, the largest Sherpa settlement in Nepal. The trail crosses the Dudhkoshi River via suspension bridges and winds through lush pine forests to Monjo, where you’ll enter Sagarmatha National Park. After a permit check, the route descends to the river before climbing uphill to Namche. Along the way, you’ll cross the iconic Hillary Suspension Bridge and catch your first glimpses of Everest.

DAY 4 – REST AND ACCLIMATIZATION IN NAMCHE BAZAAR

Altitude: Namche Bazaar 3,440m/11,283ft
Walking Distance: N/A | Rest Day

Today is a rest day to adjust to the altitude. You can opt for a short hike to Everest View Point for panoramic mountain views or explore Namche Bazaar. Visit the Sherpa museum to learn about the region’s culture and mountaineering history or browse the local market. If it’s Saturday, you’ll catch the Hatt Bazaar, a vibrant trading event.

DAY 5 – TREK FROM NAMCHE BAZAAR TO PHORTSE

Altitude: Namche Bazaar 3,440m/11,283ft to Phortse 3,840m/12,598ft
Walking Distance: 10km | 6 hours

The trek from Namche offers breathtaking views of Himalayan peaks, including Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse, Ama Dablam, and Thamserku. The day’s destination is Phortse, a picturesque village renowned for its stunning vistas.

DAY 6 – TREK FROM PHORTSE TO DINGBOCHE

Altitude: Phortse 3,840m/12,598ft to Dingboche 4,400m/14,435ft
Walking Distance: 11km | 6 hours

The trail follows the Imja Khola River, leading to Pangboche, the largest Sherpa village in the region. Here, you’ll have a chance to interact with locals and visit the Pangboche monastery, one of the area’s oldest. After lunch, the trek continues through increasingly barren landscapes toward Dingboche.

Note: If snow makes the trail impassable, we’ll use an alternate route via Deboche and Tengboche.

DAY 7 – REST AND ACCLIMATIZATION IN DINGBOCHE

Altitude: Dingboche 4,400m/14,435ft
Walking Distance: N/A | Rest Day

Spend the day exploring Dingboche and nearby valleys like Chhukung and Imja. These areas offer incredible views and connect to high-altitude passes. Alternatively, take it easy and rest to prepare for the next leg of the journey.

DAY 8 – TREK FROM DINGBOCHE TO LOBUCHE
Altitude: Dingboche 4,400m/14,435ft to Lobuche 4,940m/16,207ft
Walking Distance: 11-12km | 6-7 hours

From here on, the trek becomes progressively more challenging due to the increasing altitude. We’ll pass through Dungla, but not before tackling a steep climb to the top of a high hill. This is where we’ll find the memorial stupas dedicated to climbers and trekkers who lost their lives on Everest over the years. Our next stretch will take us across rugged mountain terrain to Lobuche, a small settlement with stunning views of Mt. Lobuche, Mt. Pumori, and Nuptse. Be prepared for a cold night ahead, as we’re now nearly three miles above sea level, and the temperatures can drop significantly after sunset.

DAY 9 – TREK FROM LOBUCHE TO EVEREST BASE CAMP AND RETURN TO GORAKSHEP

Altitude: Gorakshep 5,164m/16,942ft to Everest Base Camp 5,364m/17,598ft
Walking Distance: 15km | 6-8 hours

Today is the highlight of the journey! We start with a relatively easy trek from Lobuche to Gorakshep, followed by a more challenging hike to Everest Base Camp. The path includes rocky dunes and moraine fields formed by accumulated glacial debris. Along the way, you’ll get an up-close view of the famed Khumbu Glacier and Icefall. At Base Camp, if it’s the spring climbing season, you may meet climbers preparing to summit Everest. Be sure to capture some stunning photos. In the evening, we return to Gorakshep for some well-deserved rest.

DAY 10 – TREK FROM GOREKSHEP TO KALA PATTHAR AND TO DZONGLA

Altitude: Kala Patthar 5,644m/18,519ft to Dzongla 4,830m/15,846ft
Walking Distance: 12km | 6-7 hours

We rise early today to trek toward Kala Patthar (meaning “black rock”) for an unforgettable sunrise over Mount Everest. The first light of day will illuminate Everest and its neighbouring peaks—Nuptse, Changtse, and Lhotse—giving you one of the best photo opportunities of the entire journey. Afterward, we return to Gorekshep for breakfast before continuing to Dzongla.

DAY 11 – TREK FROM DZONGLA TO CHO LA AND TO THAKNAK

Altitude: Cho La Pass 5,420m/17,782ft to Thaknak 4,600m/15,092ft
Walking Distance: 12km | 7-8 hours

Today presents one of the toughest challenges of the trek as we cross the Cho La Pass. Having already reached Everest Base Camp, you should be getting more accustomed to the high altitude, which should make this climb easier. However, if the weather turns, crossing the pass can be tricky. While crampons are typically not necessary, micro spikes can be helpful if conditions are poor. Despite the difficulty, the spectacular views make the effort worthwhile.

DAY 12 – TREK FROM THAKNAK TO GOKYO

Altitude: Thaknak 4,600m/15,092ft to Gokyo 4,790m/15,715ft
Walking Distance: 9km | 4-5 hours

We continue our journey down into the Gokyo Valley, crossing the Ngozumpa Glacier, the longest glacier in this part of the Himalayas and a truly impressive sight. We should reach Gokyo by lunchtime, with plenty of time afterward to explore the valley. You’ll have the chance to visit one of the lakes in the area and take in stunning views of the surrounding peaks.

DAY 13 – TREK FROM GOKYO TO GOKYO RI AND TO MACHHERMO

Altitude: Gokyo Ri 5,357m/17,570ft to Machhermo 4,470m/14,665ft
Walking Distance: 7km | 5-6 hours

We begin the day with an early morning hike to the summit of Gokyo Ri at 5,357m, which may offer even better views than Kala Patthar. From here, you’ll see four of the world’s 14 tallest peaks: Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, and Cho Oyu. Even though Everest is further away, the view is still incredible, and you’ll also look down upon one of the largest glaciers in the Himalayas. After soaking in the views, we’ll return to the tea house for breakfast before heading down the Gokyo Valley toward Machermo for the night.

DAY 14 – TREK FROM MACHHERMO TO NAMCHE

Altitude: Machhermo 4,470m/14,665ft to Namche Bazaar 3,440m/11,283ft
Walking Distance: 15km | 7-8 hours

Today is a longer but mostly downhill trek, which makes the lower elevation a bit easier to manage. We’ll spend most of the day descending the Gokyo Valley, enjoying more beautiful views of the surrounding peaks. As we reach the main route back to Everest Base Camp, we’ll follow the trail to Namche, where we’ll spend the night in the bustling Namche Bazaar.

DAY 15 – TREK FROM NAMCHE TO LUKLA

Altitude: Namche Bazaar 3,440m/11,283ft to Lukla 2,860m/9,383ft
Walking Distance: 16km | 6-7 hours

The final trekking day takes you back to Lukla. Celebrate with your trekking team as you reflect on your incredible journey.

DAY 16 – FLIGHT FROM LUKLA TO KATHMANDU

Altitude: Lukla 2,860m/9,383ft to Kathmandu 1,400m/4,593ft
Flight Time: 35 minutes

Return to Kathmandu by flight. After some well-earned rest, we’ll gather for a farewell dinner at a local restaurant.

Note: Flights to and from Lukla can operate from Ramechhap, requiring a 4-6 hour drive to Kathmandu.

DAY 17 – DEPARTURE FROM KATHMANDU

Altitude: Kathmandu 1,400m/4,593ft
Walking Distance: N/A | Departure Day

On your final day, enjoy breakfast and some last-minute shopping before transferring to the airport for your departure. Take home unforgettable memories and stories to share. We will be here to guide you on your next Himalayan adventure.