Gokyo Cho-la Pass Trek

Itinerary in Details:

Day 01: Arrive in Kathmandu
Where you will be meet at the airport entrance by (NSTE) representative. You will be transferred to your hotel in Kathmandu.

Day 02: Kathmandu
You will be collected from your hotel and taken for a half day sightseeing tour of Kathmandu . This will include the Hindu temple of Pashupatinath , the huge Bodhnath chorten, and the ancient city of Patan .

Day 03: Kathmandu-Lukla(2,840m)- Phakding(2,610m)
After the exciting flight into Lukla airstrip the trek commences with the short climb to Phakding.

Day 04: Phakding-Namche Bazaar (3,440m)
The trail continues north up the Dudh Kosi valley to Jorsale, where the trail officially enters the Sagarmatha National Park . Continue along the trail, cross the Bhote Kosi River and climb steeply to Namche Bazaar 3500 m. Remember to look out for glimpses of Mt. Everest early on the trail.

Day 05: Namche Bazaar-Thame(3,820m)
Acclimatisation day. A rest day in Namche Bazaar to acclimatise. This town, the hub of Sherpa society, is the administrative centre of the Khumbu region and has a police checkpost (we must all register there), the headquarters of the Sagarmatha National Park, a bank, several shops selling items of every description and a proliferation of Sherpa inns.

Day 06: Thame-Khumjung (3,780m)
Today you trek up to the interesting little village of Thame which helps with your acclimatization as well as being a good chance to visit another valley in the Khumbu area.

Day 07: Khumjung-Dole (4,200m)
Wake early to climb to the Thame monastery, after which you return the same way skirting the top of Namche before climbing to Syangboche, and continuing on to two serene Sherpa villages, Khumjung 3790 m and Khunde 3890 m. Sir Edmund Hillary established his first hospital in Khunde and he also established a school in Khumjung. The Khumjung Gompa possesses what is supposed to be a Yeti skull.

Day 08: Dole-Machhermo (4,470m)
Leaving the main trail to Mt. Everest, climb high on a ridge to 4000m past a large chorten at the village of Mong, said to be the birthplace of the saint Lama Sange Dorje, the reincarnate lama of Rongbuk Monastery in Tibet who introduced Buddhism to the Khumbu. From there descend to the village of Phortse Tenga by the Dudh Kosi (river). From Phortse the trail climbs steeply through forests of rhododendrons and then stands of juniper and large conifers as the altitude increases. You will pass through Sherpa kharkas (high pasture summer settlements used by Sherpas to graze their herds of yaks allowing their lower winter pastures to recover) and the villages of Tongba 3950m and Gyele 3960m to Dole. You have great views of Khumbila and Tawachee peaks throughout the day.

Day 09: Machhermo-Gokyo (4,790m)
Today you have a short and fairly leisurely trek to allow you to acclimatise to the altitude. In the morning there is a steep but beautiful climb through conifer and rhododendron forests and stands of juniper to Lhabarma 4220m and Luza 4360m. There are kharkas wherever there is a flat spot and the slightest hint of water. Continue to climb along the side of the valley, high above the river to Machhermo (4,410m.)

Day 10: Gokyo Rest (4,790m)
This is your first real day at high altitude and the trekking today may be described as moderate to difficult. Climb a ridge from where the valley opens wide as the trail passes through Pangkha. Mt. Cho Oyu 8153 m dominates the skyline to the north as we climb the moraine on the left flank of the Ngozumpa Glacier. The climb is steep to the first of the four lakes that lie in the Gokyo area but the trail levels off towards the second lake, Longponga at 4690m. Finally ascend a path past the largest of the lakes Dudh Pokhari to Gokyo at 4,750m. Gokyo is a typical kharka with stone houses and stone walled pastures. For enthusiasts a rigorous hike up Gokyo Ri 5,360m, the small peak above Gokyo provides spectacular views of the Everest trinity, Nuptse 7,879m, Lhotse 8511m, and Everest 8848m, as well as Makalu 8463m looming to the east, Cho Oyu 8,153m to the north and the smaller but closer peaks of Cholatse and Tawachee to the south. There is a wonderful view of Gokyo and Dudh Pokhari spread out below.

Day 11: Gokyo Rest –Climb Gokyo Ri
Acclimatisation Day As you will be crossing a high pass in the next few days it is important to be properly acclimatised. There is plenty to do here for this day though. For enthusiasts a rigorous hike up Gokyo Ri 5,360m, and the really fit can climb to the top of a nameless peak 5,800m overlooking the two lakes.

Day 12: Gokyo -Chhyugima (Dragnag)
A long day and the most difficult part of this trek. Cross the southern end of the Ngozumpa Glacier, pass by the stone huts of Thagna kharka then climb steadily up a narrow and steep valley which opens up to a wide shallow valley leading to the Kharka Chhyugima 5,170m.

Day 13: Chaayugima -Dzonglha( 4,830m)
Today you have a steep and challenging but, non-technical climb over rock, snow and perhaps ice to Cho La (pass) 5,420m which links the glacial valleys of Cho Oyu and Everest and from where you have superb views. Descend from the pass, cross a small glacier, negotiate the ice fall at the end of it and descend via Leisyasa to Dzonglha Kharka 4,730 m, a high altitude summer pasture directly beneath the north wall of Cholatse Peak 6,440 m.

Day 14: Dzonglha-Lobuche(4,910m.)
After a morning of rest, you hike on a trail above Tsholo Lake and join the main Everest trail at Dughla on the terminal moraine of the Khumbu Glacier. From Dughla climb up the moraine past a row of stone monuments in memory of Sherpas who died on expeditions to Everest and on to Lobuche 4,930m.

Day 15: Lobuche-Gorak Shep (5,140m.)
Excursion to Kala Pattar. Make an early morning start and ascend the trail along boulder fields and glacial debris to the edge of the Khumbu Glacier then continue up to Gorak Shep (5,160 m.), nestled below the coned summit of Mt. Pumori (7161m.) and the sheer west face of Nuptse. From there make a steep ascent to the top of a small peak, Kala Pattar 5545m meaning "black rock". From here we can see Mt.Everest , Mt.Nuptse, Mt.Ama Dablan, Mt.Kantega, Mt.Tamserku, Mt.Tawatse and Mt.Pumori all present themselves in a 360 degree panorama.

Day 16: Gorak Shep-Dingboche (4410m.)
A short descent to Thukla followed by an easy flat trail and a small descent takes you to Dingboche. This is the highest big settlement in the Khumbu area of Sherpas.

Day 17: Dingboche-Thyangboche (3,860m.)
From Dingboche descend down alpine pastures through the kharkas of Tsura, Orsho and Shomare to the village of Pangboche , the highest year round settlement in the valley. The Pangboche Gompa (monastery) is the oldest in the Khumbu and once used to boast the skull and hand of a Yeti, (stolen in 1991). Leaving Pangboche the route descends past some magnificently carved mani stones to the Imja Khola which we cross via a steel suspension bridge high above the river at a spot where it rushes through a narrow cleft. From there you have a gentle climb to the tiny village of Deboche past mani walls deep in a rhododendron forest before a short steep climb to Thyangboche through a forest of birches, conifers and rhododendrons. A visit to the monastery is a must. The singular beauty of Ama Dablam, standing isolated from all other mountains provides a spectacular backdrop and reminder of the height of Himalayan peaks.

Day 18:Thyangboche- Namche Bazaar (3,440m.)
From Thyangboche the trail drops sharply down to the Dudh Kosi and the village of Phunki , where you cross the river, and up toward Namche Bazaar, winding high above the river with views north towards Everest, Lhotse and Nuptse.

Day 19: Namche –Bazaar -Lukla (2840m.)
Retrace your steps down along the gorge of the Dudh Kosi to Lukla to catch your return flight to Kathmandu.

Day 20: Lukla – Kathmandu.
Early Morning catch flight to Kathmandu.