Altitude: 1, 400 m / 4, 594 ft.
Night stay: In a Hotel in Thamel, Kathmandu.

When you arrive at Kathmandu’s historic airport, we will pick you up and transport you to your hotel, where you will check in. Our consultant will meet with you to explain the next day’s arrangements and discuss the trekking itinerary. During the briefing season, you will also meet your fellow group member. The rest of the day is free to explore the city and its well-known shopping area, Thamel.

Altitude of Lukla: 2, 860 m / 9,383 ft.
Altitude of Phakding: 2, 652 m / 8, 700 ft.
Flight Duration to Lukla: 35 minutes.
Distance to cover: 7.8 kilometres.
Trekking duration to Phakding: 3 hours.
Night stay: In a tea house in Phakding.

Today, we’ll check out early and head to the airport for our flight to Lukla. This is a unique flying experience onboard a tiny aircraft commonly used in mountainous areas. The entire flying time will be 30 minutes. The flight offers breathtaking views of snow-capped mountains and the Himalayan Ranges. Arriving at this small airport is an amazing experience. Our Gokyo lake trekking guides and porters will be waiting for you at the airport. We’ll eat a brief breakfast and replenish before starting our journey to Phakding. It is a short downhill trek that passes past scenic villages, monasteries, and Buddhist stupas. During our Gokyo Lakes and Gokyo Ri expedition, we will come across the first hanging bridge, which is a thrilling experience.

If Lukla flights are available from Ramechhap, we will drive to Ramechhap by vehicle, which takes 4.5 hours. In this situation, we will begin at 1:30 a.m. to catch a morning flight for Lukla.

Altitude of Namche Bazaar: 3, 440 m / 11, 286 ft.
Distance to cover: 10.7 kilometres.
Trekking duration to Namche Bazaar: 6 to 7 hours.
Night stay: In a tea house in Namche Bazaar.

Today we will leave after breakfast and trek for approximately 6 to 7 hours to Namche Bazaar. The trekking trail from Phakding will follow the Dudh Koshi River and pass through various villages until we reach Monjo. The hike provides an excellent view of Mount Thamserku. Monjo is the entry point to Sagarmatha National Park; park officials will examine our permits before we go.

After Monjo, we’ll arrive in Jorsale, the last settlement before Namche. We’ll eat lunch here before continuing on to Namche Bazaar because there’s nothing else to eat on the way there. After lunch, we’ll cross the river on a hanging bridge and walk along the riverbed before ascending to Namche’s iconic dual hanging bridge. This is the tallest hanging bridge in the region; beyond the bridge, it’s all uphill until Namche Bazaar. This is the most difficult portion of today’s trek; you will arrive at a resting point before the Namche permit checkpoint; you will find a public toilet here, and few stone benches, and you will get your first glimpse of Mount Everest from here. Following the resting station, the trail is moderately uphill until you reach the Namche checkpoint, after which you climb several stone steps to Namche Bazaar.

Altitude of Khumjung: 3, 790 m / 12, 430 ft.
Distance to cover: 2.7 kilometres.
Trekking Duration: 2 to 3 hours.
Night stay: In a tea house in Khumjung.

Today we’ll start late, at 9 a.m., and reach to Khumjung Village. Khumjung is the largest settlement in this zone, located in the foothills of the sacred mountain Khumbila. First, we will visit the Namche Museum, which is famous for its Tenzing Norgay statue, followed by an uphill climb to Syangboche airfield and then a level trail to the settlement. The Namche Museum grounds provide a 360-degree panorama of many Himalayan peaks, including Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse, Ama Dablam, Thamserku, Kusum Kangaru, Tabuche, Khumbila, and Kongde Ri. As highlighted in our Gokyo lakes trek itinerary, after seeing the Namche Museum, we will proceed to the Syangboche airport, which is a short uphill climb. After the Syangboche airstrip, the trail gradually inclines to a tea house called Sherpa Panorama Lodge; on your left, you can see the Sagarmatha Next Museum. The trail from Sherpa Panorama Lodge to Everest View Hotel is level, with a wonderful view.

After Everest View Hotel, the trail is level, and you will descend to Khumjung village and walk through the picturesque streets of the largest Sherpa village for some distance till you reach our tea house. As you follow the Gokyo Lakes and Gokyo Ri trek route, you may visit the famed Khumjung Monastery, which is famous for a Yeti Scalp. The monastery has a Scalp, which local monks claim is a Yeti Scalp. You also go to Khumjung High School, which Edmond Hillary established.

Altitude of Dole: 3, 950 m / 12, 959 ft.
Distance to cover: 8.7 kilometres.
Trekking Duration: 6 to 7 hours.
Night stay: In a tea house in Dole.

We’ll start for Dole today. When you leave the Khumjung village and begin your trip towards Mongla, the first part of the trail is moderately steep. As we continue covering the Gokyo Lakes and Gokyo Ri trek distance, there is a difficult section before Mongla village where you must go uphill till you reach the village entrance.

Mongla is a stunning little mountaintop village. We will have excellent views of Mt. Thamserku (6,608 metres / 21,680 feet) and Kangtega (6,782 metres / 22,251 feet). You can see these two mountains from Khumjung, but the vista from Mongla is huge and stunning. Trekkers are stunned when they see this vista from Mongala village; it is without a doubt one of the nicest views in the Khumbu zone. As shown on the Gokyo Lakes and Gokyo Ri trek map, after Mongla, we’ll descend to Phortse Thanga, where you can see the huge Dudhkoshi River on your right and a beautiful vista of Phortse Village. Phortse thanga is the last spot to eat lunch before Dole; it is practically at the level of the Dudhkoshi River; if you take a right and cross the river, you will be in Phortse village; however, we will take a left and proceed to Dole.

The trail begins upward and becomes slightly more challenging once we cross Phortse Thanga; still, it is less difficult than the Mongla trail. The trail beyond Phortse Thanga passes through a denser rhododendron forest, and if you’re lucky, you might see a muck deer or a Himalayan Monal during your Gokyo Lakes trip. We’ll take roughly 2.5 hours to get to Dole after crossing Phortse Thanga. Dole is a little teahouse settlement with beautiful views of the mountains.

Altitude of Machhermo: 4, 470 m/ 14, 663 ft.
Distance to cover: 5.3 kilometres.
Trekking Duration: 3 to 4 hours.
Night stay: In a tea house in Machhermo.

The first brief distance of the journey will be slightly steep, followed by an easy and moderate day of trekking. Once we ascend the trail from Dole, we will have a spectacular view of Mount Cho Oyu (8,188 m / 26,864 ft), our planet’s sixth largest mountain. In fact, we will have views of Cho Oyu throughout the walk. On this trail, we will also see Mount Thamserku and Kangteka on our back, while Cho Oyu will be visible in front of us. During the Gokyo Ri trek, it will take approximately 3 to 4 hours to reach Machhermo on easy to moderate terrain. From your walk, you can see a tiny monastery opposite the river, perched on the edge of a mountain, that looks lovely.

Machhermo is a flat valley and a teahouse community with numerous tea houses. You have a free day after arriving here to go about and explore the locals.

Altitude of Gokyo: 4, 800 m/15, 744 ft.
Distance to cover: 7 kilometres.
Trekking Duration: 4 to 5 hours.
Night stay: In a tea house in Gokyo.

Today we will begin our trek to Gokyo; this trail is intermediate in difficulty. The views from this trail are stunning. The trail will descend to the riverbed and then slope to the moraine of the Ngozumpa Glacier. During your hike, you will witness Gokyo lakes and cross the first and second lakes from a meter distance before staying on the shore of the third Gokyo Lakes.

You will reach the first Gokyo Lakes, which is a small lake and the source of the Dudhkoshi River. After the first lake, you will arrive at the second Gokyo Lakes, which are considerably larger and more beautiful. Along the route, you will witness the wall of the Ngozumpa glacier, the longest glacier in the Himalayas. Following the second Gokyo Lakes, we will arrive at the third lake, which is our final destination for the day. The third Gokyo Lake is the largest in the Gokyo Lakes system and offers a breathtaking view of RenjoLa Pass on the front and Gokyo Ri on the right. The Gokyo Lake trek route takes you through the teahouses that are located on the banks of the third Gokyo Lake. All of the Gokyo Lakes are interconnected; you can see it after crossing the second lake. After arriving at your tea house, you have the day free to explore the pure beauty of the great Gokyo Zone. During the Gokyo Ri trek, you can also hike to the glacier wall, which offers a stunning view of the Ngozumpa glacier, 3rd Lake, and Cho Oyu. Don’t go down to the glacier or to the edge of the wall; the glacier’s edge is primarily made of loose stones, and there is a great risk of landslides.

Distance to cover: 10 kilometres.
Trekking Duration: 6 to 7 hours.
Night stay: In a tea house in Gokyo.

Today we will visit the 5th Gokyo Lakes, which is a one-of-a-kind location in the Everest region, offering a complete view of Mount Everest. Most of the trekkers missed out because their trekking organization had no idea about this location. The trail is moderate and runs alongside the Ngozumpa Glacier. As mentioned in our Gokyo Lake trek itinerary, after 20 minutes from the third lake, you’ll see the fourth Gokyo lake, which is also a large lake; after crossing the fourth lake, you’ll have to hike for over 2.5 hours to reach the fifth Gokyo lake. The fifth Gokyo Lake is a small glacial lake located on a corner of the Ngozumpa glacier, facing the massive Cho Oyu peak. As shown on the Gokyo Lakes and Gokyo Ri trek map, from here, you can see Mount Cho Oyu in its entirety. There is also a spectacular view of Mount Gyachung Kang (7,952 m / 26,089 ft), the highest peak in the 7000-meter range.

This is the start of the Ngozumpa glacier, and the width is enormous here; the glacier is fed by several large peaks all around. From this vantage point, you can see Mount Everest from top to bottom. From here, you can also see Mount Cho Oyu and Gyachung Kang in great detail. The glacier wall is likewise not very high in this location and is rather safe in comparison to the third lake. Before continuing on our Gokyo Lake trek route, we’ll spend some time here, taking images and films from various views before returning. The return journey takes 2.5 hours to reach our tea house; don’t forget to glance back at Cho Oyu at the sunset for a spectacular orange-colored panorama of Mount Cho Oyu.

Altitude of Gokyo Ri: 5, 357 m / 17, 575 ft.
Altitude of Thagnak: 4, 750 m / 15 ,580 ft.
Distance to cover: 7.8 kilometres.
Trekking Duration: 7 to 8 hours.
Night stay: In a tea house in Thangnak.

Today we will cover the Gokyo to Gokyo Ri distance, which begins just a few hundred meters from our tea house. It takes 2.5 hours to get to the summit of Gokyo Ri. Ri signifies mountain in the local Sherpa language. The trail above provides a breathtaking view of Gokyo’s third lake; as you ascend the mountain, the view improves; you can see the third and second lakes, as well as the Ngozumpa glacier, from the trail. The peak of Gokyo Ri provides a stunning 180-degree vista of our planet’s largest mountains. In a straight line, you can see Cho Oyu (6th largest), Gyachung Kang (15th largest), Pumori, Everest (first largest), Nuptase, Lhotse (4th largest), Makalu (5th largest), and a number of other high peaks. This peak offers a fantastic view of the whole length of the Ngozumpa Glacier. As mentioned in our Gokyo Ri trek itinerary, after spending some time at the summit, we will descend to our tea house; however, take caution as some areas may be treacherous. While descending from the Gokyo Ri, the view of the third and second lakes, as well as the Ngozumpa Glacier, is stunning. After arriving at our tea house, we shall continue our trek to Thangnak.

From Gokyo to Thangnak takes around 2 to 3 hours. We first trek to the top of the glacier wall, then descend to the Ngozumpa Glacier and traverse it from one end to the other. The morain-covered trail climbs and descends multiple times before reaching the end. This is the most challenging section of today’s walk, so follow your Gokyo lake trekking guide. Don’t go alone without a guide; otherwise, you may get lost on the trail. The track on the glacier changes regularly due to the glacier’s flow. You can see large pond-like holes on the glacier, and the majority of our trails run alongside them.

After crossing the glacier, the terrain is easy until you reach Thangnak, where you may relax at your tea house after a long day of trekking.

Altitude of Chola Pass: 5, 368 m / 17,611 ft.
Altitude of Dzongla/Zongla: 4, 830 m / 15, 850 ft.
Distance to cover: 9 kilometres.
Trekking Duration: 7 to 8 hours.
Night stay: In a tea house in Dzongla.

This is one of the most difficult days of our Gokyo Lakes and Gokyo Ri Trek, as we set out to traverse the massive Chola pass. It is one of the highest mountain crossings in the Khumbu region. As a result, it is recommended to start early and allow adequate time to go at our own pace. Once we cross Thangnak, the trail continues to ascend and follows the creek. The trail crosses between boulders before ascending to the peak of Chola Pass. Nowadays, climbing to Chola Pass during the Gokyo Ri trek is quite straightforward due to the new route, which has sufficient steps and is highly safe. After reaching the summit of this mountain pass, we will stay for a while to take photographs and films before descending to Dzongla. The Gokyo ri view from the top is breathtaking, especially as you glance towards Thangnak. The top of the mountain pass is covered in prayer flags.

After some time, we will descend to the Chola glacier, which is approximately half a kilometer wide and must be traversed in its entirety. The vista is breathtaking, particularly while looking at the glacier’s snowy wall. You must be very careful when descending the glacier during the Gokyo Ri trek because it is slippery, so we at We Ramblers recommend wearing a micro spike in your shoe. The glacier’s end is quite slippery, so proceed with caution. After crossing the glacier, it’s all downhill to the Zongla (Dzongla) village. This is one of the longest days on our journey, so take a break in the tea house once you arrive.

Today, we must carry a packed lunch and plenty of water because there is nothing between Thnagnak and Zongla.

Altitude of Lobuche: 4, 940 m / 16, 207 ft.
Distance to cover: 6.4 kilometres.
Trekking Duration: 3 to 4 hours.
Night stay: In a tea house in Lobuche.

Today’s hike is short and easy, so you can leave Dzongla a little late. After we leave Zongla, the track is moderate and runs along the bank of Chola Lake; the path is narrow in a few places, so be careful. The hike above Chola Lake provides a magnificent view of Mount Ama Dablam; don’t forget to capture shots of both Chola Lake and Mt Ama Dablam. This is one of the most photogenic routes during the Gokyo Lakes and Gokyo Ri trek, so do not miss it. After crossing the Chola Lake, we will turn left towards Lobuche; Thukla settlement will be on our right, followed by Thukla Pass (renowned for its memorials).

The trail now descends and then flattens out till it reaches Lobuche; the view of Mount Nuptse from the trail is breathtaking. After arriving in Lobuche, you can take a short stroll to the Khumbu glacier wall, which is about 200 meters from your tea house and offers a spectacular view of Mount Nuptse on the opposite side of the glacier.

Altitude of Gorakshep: 5, 164 m / 16, 942 ft.
Altitude of Everest Base Camp: 5, 364 m / 17, 598 ft.
Distance to cover: 12.5 kilometres.
Trekking Duration: 9 to 10 hours.
Night stay: In a tea house in Gorakshep.

Today we must start early and travel to our next and final destination, Gorakshep, before beginning our return journey. Undoubtedly, today’s trek is difficult, but don’t worry because your body has fully acclimatized to the altitude by now. If you follow the Gokyo Lakes and Gokyo Ri trek map, the trail begins in a narrow valley between a mountain ridge on the left and the Khumbu glacier wall on the right, continuing to the foothills of Lobuche pass. From here, you must trek steeply to the summit of the Lobuche pass, after which the trail becomes gradually ascending till you reach the Khumbu moraines path. Advancing along the Gokyo Lake trek route, the walk on the moraines climbs up and down several times till we arrive at our tea house in Gorakshep. The moraine path is difficult but rewarding, with spectacular views of the glacier, Mount Nuptase, Everest, Kala Patthar, and Pumori.

After arriving at our tea house in Gorakshep, we will refill our water bottles, pack our lunch, and begin our adventure to Everest Base Camp. The trek to the base camp takes three hours. The initial trail is flat for a while before returning to the glacial moraine path. The trail becomes a series of ups and downs until getting down to the Khumbu Glacier.

After arriving at the Khumbu glacier, we walk for a bit alongside the glacier’s large frozen ponds to the base camp. The Everest base camp is located near the beginning of the Khumbu Ice Fall. As outlined in our Gokyo lakes trek itinerary, you can spend some time here to take photos and films of your once-in-a-lifetime adventure before returning. The base camp is not in a permanent location; it shifts with the glacier. The view of Nuptse is vast because it is only a stone’s throw away, and the vista of Mount Pumori from the base camp is breathtaking. Mount Everest isn’t visible from the base camp. After your celebration in the Base Camp, we will return to our tea house in Gorakshep to move forward with our Gokyo Lakes and Gokyo Ri trek, which will take approximately 2.5 hours. This is undoubtedly a tiring day for everyone, so rest and get a good night’s sleep.

Altitude of Kala Patthar Summit: 5, 644 m / 18, 519 ft.
Altitude of Pheriche: 4, 371 m / 14, 340 ft.
Distance to cover: 16 kilometres.
Trekking Duration: 8 to 9 hours.
Night stay: In a tea house in Pheriche.

Today we’ll start early and hike to Kala Patthar. The climb to Kala Patthar’s top will take roughly 3 hours, followed by a 1.5-hour return. The trail begins immediately after your tea house and leads through a level lakebed for a few hundred meters until you reach the foothills of Mount Kala Patthar, where you will begin a steep uphill walk for some distance. After a certain distance as shown on the Gokyo Ri trek map, the trail gets gradually uphill with a number of zigzags. Mount Everest can be seen practically anywhere along the trek, and as you climb higher, the view becomes progressively more expansive. The standard trail ends a few meters from the summit, and you must traverse numerous boulders to reach the top. The peak of Kala Patthar offers a breathtaking vertical vista of Mount Everest. During the entire Gokyo Lakes and Gokyo Ri trek route, this is the closest location for sighting Mount Everest.

Apart from Everest, you can see a massive view of Mount Pumori, which is extremely near by. Mount Nuptse, Lho La, and the entire length of the Khumbu Glacier, including the Khumbu Ice Fall, are visible to your front. After spending some time on top, we will descend to Gorakshep, which takes 1.5 hours.

After you get to your Tea House, as outlined in our Gokyo Ri trek itinerary, we will begin our return journey to Pherice, our destination for today. We will follow the same moraines route for a time before continuing on a flat trail to Lobuche Pass. After Lobuche Pass, we will descend and hike over the level trail to Thukla Pass via Lobuche Settlement. After the Thukla pass, as shown on the Gokyo Lakes and Gokyo Ri trek map, we will descend to Thukla before entering the flat valley of Pheriche and trekking for some distance to our tea house. Pheriche Valley is a windy region, and the weather quickly becomes foggy.

Altitude of Namche Bazaar: 3, 440 m / 11, 286 ft.
Distance to cover: 19.8 kilometres.
Trekking Duration: 6 to 7 hours.
Night stay: In a tea house in Namche Bazaar.

Today we will travel to Namche Bazaar; the beginning track is slightly steep until we reach the Pheriche Pass, which offers spectacular views of Mount Ama Dablam. As you can find in the Gokyo lake itinerary, after Pheriche Pass, the trail descends moderately to Shomare Village, then flattens out till the end of Pangboche Village. Pangboche is one of the largest Sherpa communities in the whole zone. You will go through the entire village. After Pangboche, the trail descends somewhat until the river crossing, then flattens out till Debuche, after which it is upwards to Tengboche.

After reaching Tengboche, you can visit the Tengboche Monastery, the largest in the Khumbu region. During the Gokyo Ri trek, this location also offers a fantastic vista all around. After Tengboche, the trail continues downhill until Phungi Thanga, where you cross the river. After Phungi Thanga, the trail is somewhat inclined before gradually descending to Namche Bazaar. Don’t forget to glance behind you and see the clear view of Everest after making the last right bend before Namche Bazaar, because you won’t be able to see it after that.

Altitude of Lukla: 2, 860 m / 9,383 ft.
Distance to cover: 18.5 kilometres.
Trekking Duration: 6 to 7 hours.
Night stay: In a tea house in Lukla.

Today is our final day of trekking on this journey. The initial track is a downhill trek till you cross the dual hanging bridges and then descend to the Dudhkoshi riverbed. After that, the trail is easy until Phakding, passing through various villages. If you see the Gokyo Lakes and Gokyo Ri trek map, after Phakding, the trail steadily inclines until you reach Lukla. Lukla is the final stop in the trekking zone, where you will say your final goodbyes to your support team and celebrate your accomplishments.

Altitude of Kathmandu: 1, 400 m / 4, 594 ft.
Travel Duration: 35 minutes by flight (if flight is operational from Ramechhap then you must travel by road to Kathmandu from Ramechhap and it takes 4.5 hours).
Night stay: In a hotel in Kathmandu.

We’ll take the same airplane back to Kathmandu as we did to get here. After arriving in Kathmandu, you can relax and explore the old city as our 17-day trek to Gokyo Lakes and Gokyo Ri with EBC comes to a conclusion. Your return flight arrives in Kathmandu or Ramechhap, depending on the airline’s operation; if the airplane returns to Ramechhap, you must drive by road for 4.5 hours to reach Kathmandu.

Today marks the closing day of your fantastic trekking journey. Please check out before 11 a.m., and we will leave you up at the airport for your further travel.