Everest Base Camp with Gokyo Lakes Trek featuring the turquoise Gokyo Lake and snow-capped Himalayan peaks in Nepal.Everest Base Camp with Gokyo Lakes Trek featuring the turquoise Gokyo Lake and snow-capped Himalayan peaks in Nepal.

Everest Base Camp with Gokyo Lakes Trek – 17 Days

  • Duration17 Days
  • Route Grade Exploratory Travel
  • Trip Style Trekking
  • Starting City Kathmandu
  • Ending City Kathmandu

Overview

This 17-day trek is perfect for you to experience both Everest Base Camp and the beautiful Gokyo Lakes in one adventure. Instead of returning on the same trail after Everest Base Camp, on your return you'll take a right turn at Dzongla and cross the exciting Cho La Pass before reaching peaceful Gokyo Valley. Along the way, you'll walk through Sherpa villages such as Namche Bazaar, Tengboche, Pangboche, Dingboche, Machhermo, and Gokyo, visit the famous Tengboche Monastery, stand at Everest Base Camp, watch the sunrise from Kala Patthar, and enjoy breathtaking views from Gokyo Ri.

This trek is more challenging than the classic Everest Base Camp trek, but the extra days give you enough time to acclimatize and enjoy the journey at a comfortable pace. Our experienced local team takes care of the flights, permits, accommodation, guides, and porter support, so you can focus on the trek and make the most of every moment in the Himalayas.

Trip Information

Field

Details

Trip Code

 

Country

Nepal

Trip Duration

17 Days

Route Grade

Challenging

Max Altitude

5550m, Kala Patthar

Activity

Trekking

Starting City

Kathmandu

Ending City

Kathmandu

Trip Route

Kathmandu, Lukla, Phakding, Namche Bazaar, Tengboche, Dingboche, Lobuche, Gorak Shep, Everest Base Camp, Kala Patthar, Dzongla, Thagnak, Gokyo, Machhermo, Namche, Lukla, Kathmandu

Best Season

March to May, and September to November

Trek Highlights

  • Standing at Everest Base Camp: You will walk right up to the base of Mount Everest and see the Khumbu Glacier spread out in front of you, a moment most trekkers remember for the rest of their lives.

  • Sunrise from Kala Patthar: Before dawn you climb up to Kala Patthar, and from there you get one of the closest and clearest views of Everest's summit anywhere on the whole trek.

  • The turquoise Gokyo Lakes: After crossing Cho La Pass, you reach the beautiful glacial lakes of Gokyo, with clear blue water that reflects the surrounding peaks.

  • Panoramic view from Gokyo Ri: Climbing Gokyo Ri rewards you with a wide open view of four peaks above 8000 meters, including Everest, all from one single viewpoint.

  • Crossing Cho La Pass: This high pass at 5420 meters connects the Everest Base Camp side of the trek with the Gokyo valley, and crossing it is one of the most thrilling days of the whole journey.

  • Sherpa villages and monasteries: Walking through Namche Bazaar and Tengboche, you get to see real Sherpa daily life and visit Tengboche Monastery, one of the most important monasteries in the Khumbu region.

  • Proper acclimatization built into the schedule: With two full acclimatization days at Namche and Dingboche, your body gets the time it needs to adjust, which makes the whole trek safer and more comfortable.

  • Walking beside Ngozumpa Glacier: On your way to Gokyo, you walk alongside Nepal's longest glacier, a landscape that feels completely different from the forested trails lower down.

Cost Includes

What's Included

  • Two nights at a three star hotel in Thamel, Kathmandu, with breakfast

  • Kathmandu to Lukla and Lukla to Kathmandu flight tickets

  • One experienced government licensed trekking guide, with his salary and insurance covered for 15 days

  • Porter support for 15 days, with 7 porters arranged for a group of 12 guests

  • Airport pickup and drop off by private van, 4 times in total

  • Full board meals during the 15 days of trekking, including breakfast, lunch, dinner, hot boiled drinking water every night, and all necessary trekking permits
     

What's Excluded

  • Nepal entry visa fee

  • Cold drinks and hard drinks during the trek

  • Battery charging costs in the mountain teahouses

  • Sightseeing vehicle costs and entrance fees in Kathmandu

  • Tips for your guide and porters

  • Any personal expenses not mentioned in the includes section

Itinerary

Your trip starts the moment you land at Tribhuvan International Airport, where our team will be waiting to meet you with a warm welcome. From there you are taken to your hotel in Thamel, a short 10 kilometer drive that takes about 30 minutes. The rest of the day is yours to relax, walk around the busy streets of Thamel if you like, and get your gear ready for the trek ahead. This is also a good time to ask our team any last minute questions about the days to come.

Route

Distance

Travel Time

Altitude

Accommodation

Meals

Highlights

Kathmandu airport to hotel

10 km

30 minutes

1400m

Hotel

None

Arrival in Kathmandu, Thamel area

    Early in the morning you take a short and scenic flight to Lukla, one of the most famous mountain airstrips in the world. From Lukla at 2840 meters, you begin walking through pine forest and small villages, following the Dudh Koshi river down to Phakding. It is a gentle first day on the trail, giving you time to get used to walking with your daypack and enjoying your first real taste of the Khumbu region.

    Route

    Distance

    Travel Time

    Altitude

    Accommodation

    Meals

    Highlights

    Lukla to Phakding

    8 km

    3 to 4 hours

    2651m

    Teahouse

    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

    First mountain flight, Sherpa villages

      Today's walk takes you across several suspension bridges over the Dudh Koshi river, with beautiful views of the valley below. You will pass through the entrance gate of Sagarmatha National Park, where your permits are checked, before starting a steady climb up to Namche Bazaar. Namche is the main trading town of the Khumbu region, with shops, bakeries, and a lively atmosphere that feels different from the smaller villages you have passed so far.

      Route

      Distance

      Travel Time

      Altitude

      Accommodation

      Meals

      Highlights

      Phakding to Namche Bazaar

      12 km

      5 to 6 hours

      3438m

      Teahouse

      Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

      Suspension bridges, Sagarmatha National Park entry

        This is your first proper rest day, and it does not mean sitting still. To help your body adjust to the altitude, you take a day hike up to the Everest View Hotel, one of the highest hotels in the world, and back down to Namche. Along the way you get your first real glimpse of Everest itself, along with views of Ama Dablam and other peaks that will keep you company for the rest of the trek.

        Route

        Distance

        Travel Time

        Altitude

        Accommodation

        Meals

        Highlights

        Namche to Everest View Hotel and back

        6 km

        4 hours

        3880m

        Teahouse

        Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

        First view of Everest

          Leaving Namche, the trail winds through rhododendron forest, with the mountains slowly getting closer with every hour. The final climb up to Tengboche is a little tiring, but it is worth it, since Tengboche is home to the most important monastery in the whole Khumbu region. If the timing works out, you may even get to see the monks inside performing their evening prayers.

          Route

          Distance

          Travel Time

          Altitude

          Accommodation

          Meals

          Highlights

          Namche to Tengboche

          10 km

          5 to 6 hours

          3860m

          Teahouse

          Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

          Tengboche Monastery

            From Tengboche, the trail drops down through forest before climbing again through smaller Sherpa villages. As you continue, the landscape opens up and the trees slowly disappear, replaced by wide valleys and rocky slopes. By the time you reach Dingboche, you are firmly in high altitude territory, and the scenery has a completely different, more rugged character.

            Route

            Distance

            Travel Time

            Altitude

            Accommodation

            Meals

            Highlights

            Tengboche to Dingboche

            11 km

            5 to 6 hours

            4410m

            Teahouse

            Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

            Open high altitude scenery

              Another important rest day, this time with a hike up Nagarjun Hill, which climbs to around 5000 meters and offers sweeping views over the surrounding peaks and valleys. If you prefer a slightly different route, there is also an optional walk over to Chhukung, a small settlement with its own beautiful mountain backdrop. Either way, this day is essential for helping your body prepare for the higher altitudes ahead.

              Route

              Distance

              Travel Time

              Altitude

              Accommodation

              Meals

              Highlights

              Dingboche to Nagarjun Hill and back

              6 km

              5 hours

              5000m

              Teahouse

              Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

              Wide Himalayan panorama

                The trail today takes you past Dughla, where you will see stone memorials built for climbers who lost their lives attempting Everest, a quiet and moving spot along the route. From there the path continues along the edge of the Khumbu Glacier moraine, with dramatic views on both sides, before reaching the small settlement of Lobuche.

                Route

                Distance

                Travel Time

                Altitude

                Accommodation

                Meals

                Highlights

                Dingboche to Lobuche

                10 km

                5 to 6 hours

                4910m

                Teahouse

                Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

                Climbers' memorial site at Dughla

                  This is one of the biggest and most memorable days of the entire trek. You first walk to Gorak Shep, the last settlement before base camp, then continue on across rocky moraine trails until you finally reach Everest Base Camp itself. Standing there, surrounded by the Khumbu Glacier and towering peaks, is a feeling that is difficult to describe until you experience it yourself.

                  Route

                  Distance

                  Travel Time

                  Altitude

                  Accommodation

                  Meals

                  Highlights

                  Lobuche to Gorak Shep, then to Everest Base Camp

                  14 km

                  6 to 7 hours

                  5364m

                  Teahouse

                  Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

                  Reaching Everest Base Camp

                    Well before sunrise, you begin the climb up Kala Patthar, widely known as the best viewpoint for seeing Everest's summit up close. Watching the sun rise and light up the mountain is one of the highlights of the whole trip. After returning to Gorak Shep for breakfast, you then trek onward to Dzongla, a quieter and less crowded spot compared to the busy base camp trail.

                    Route

                    Distance

                    Travel Time

                    Altitude

                    Accommodation

                    Meals

                    Highlights

                    Gorak Shep to Kala Patthar, then to Dzongla

                    15 km

                    6 hours

                    5550m

                    Teahouse

                    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

                    Sunrise view from Kala Patthar

                      Today is the most physically demanding day of the trek, as you cross the high and rugged Cho La Pass. The climb up is steep and can involve some snow and ice depending on the season, and the descent on the other side requires careful footing. Reaching Thagnak after crossing the pass feels like a real achievement, and it marks your entry into the Gokyo side of the region.

                      Route

                      Distance

                      Travel Time

                      Altitude

                      Accommodation

                      Meals

                      Highlights

                      Dzongla to Thagnak via Cho La Pass

                      12 km

                      7 to 8 hours

                      5420m

                      Teahouse

                      Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

                      Crossing Cho La Pass

                        After the effort of crossing Cho La Pass, today is a shorter and gentler walk, following the edge of the Ngozumpa Glacier, the longest glacier in Nepal. The scenery here is stark and impressive, with ice and rock stretching out beside you. By the afternoon you arrive at Gokyo, a small village sitting right beside the first of the Gokyo Lakes.

                        Route

                        Distance

                        Travel Time

                        Altitude

                        Accommodation

                        Meals

                        Highlights

                        Thagnak to Gokyo

                        8 km

                        5 hours

                        4790m

                        Teahouse

                        Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

                        Ngozumpa Glacier views

                          In the morning you climb Gokyo Ri, one of the best viewpoints in the entire Everest region, with four peaks above 8000 meters visible at once, including Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, and Cho Oyu. After taking in the view and the turquoise lakes below, you head back down and continue trekking to Machhermo for the night.

                          Route

                          Distance

                          Travel Time

                          Altitude

                          Accommodation

                          Meals

                          Highlights

                          Gokyo to Gokyo Ri, then to Machhermo

                          11 km

                          8 hours

                          5360m

                          Teahouse

                          Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

                          Gokyo Ri panorama

                            Today is a long descending day, retracing part of the route you walked earlier in the trek. As you lose altitude, the air feels noticeably thicker and warmer, and the forest and villages you pass now feel familiar. Arriving back in Namche Bazaar feels like a small reunion with civilization after so many days in the high mountains.

                            Route

                            Distance

                            Travel Time

                            Altitude

                            Accommodation

                            Meals

                            Highlights

                            Machhermo to Namche Bazaar

                            15 km

                            7 to 8 hours

                            3438m

                            Teahouse

                            Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

                            Return journey through the valley

                              Your final trekking day takes you back down the same trail you walked at the start of the trip, passing through Phakding once again before reaching Lukla. It is a long day, but the descent feels easier now that your body has fully adjusted to walking at altitude. Arriving in Lukla brings a mix of tired legs and a real sense of accomplishment.

                              Route

                              Distance

                              Travel Time

                              Altitude

                              Accommodation

                              Meals

                              Highlights

                              Namche to Lukla via Phakding

                              20 km

                              6 to 7 hours

                              2840m

                              Teahouse

                              Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

                              Final trekking day

                                A short and scenic flight brings you back to Kathmandu, and the change in surroundings is immediate, from quiet mountain trails to the busy streets of the city. You will have the rest of the day to rest properly, take a hot shower, and enjoy a good meal in Thamel, perhaps even celebrating the trek with your guide and fellow trekkers.

                                Route

                                Distance

                                Travel Time

                                Altitude

                                Accommodation

                                Meals

                                Highlights

                                Lukla to Kathmandu

                                Flight

                                35 minutes

                                1400m

                                Hotel

                                Breakfast

                                Return to city comfort

                                  After breakfast, you will be transferred to the airport for your flight back home. As you fly out of Kathmandu, you carry with you weeks of memories, from the mountain views to the people you met along the way, marking the end of a truly memorable journey through the Everest region.

                                  Route

                                  Meals

                                  Highlights

                                  Kathmandu to airport

                                  Breakfast

                                  Departure

                                    Before You Travel

                                    This itinerary is intended to give you a clear picture of your journey through Nepal. Distances, travel times, accommodation, meals, and daily activities are included to help you prepare before arrival. While minor adjustments may be necessary due to weather, road conditions, or local events, the overall experience remains the same.

                                    Trip Information

                                    Packing List

                                    • Comfortable, already broken in hiking boots

                                    • Warm layers, including a fleece jacket and a proper down jacket

                                    • Waterproof and windproof outer jacket and pants

                                    • Thermal base layers for both upper and lower body

                                    • Warm hat, sun hat, and gloves

                                    • Headlamp with extra batteries

                                    • Sunglasses with good UV protection

                                    • Reusable water bottle for the boiled water provided each night

                                    • Personal first aid kit and any personal medication

                                    • Trekking poles, if you prefer using your own

                                     

                                    Documents Required

                                    • Valid passport with at least 6 months validity remaining

                                    • Passport size photos, usually 2 to 4 copies

                                    • Travel insurance details covering high altitude trekking

                                    • Copy of your international flight tickets

                                    • Nepal visa, available on arrival at Kathmandu airport

                                     

                                    Why You will love this Trek

                                    • Everything is planned for you
                                      From airport pickup to flights, permits, accommodation, guides, and porters, we arrange everything in advance, so you can simply enjoy your trek.

                                    • Experienced local team
                                      Our guides and porters know the Everest region well and are always there to support you, share local knowledge, and make your journey more enjoyable.

                                    • Your safety comes first
                                      The itinerary includes two acclimatization days to help your body adjust to the altitude. Our guides also keep a close eye on your health throughout the trek.

                                    • A complete Everest experience
                                      This route combines Everest Base Camp, Kala Patthar, Gokyo Lakes, Gokyo Ri, and Cho La Pass, giving you a more complete experience of the Everest region than the standard base camp trek.

                                    • Clear pricing with no hidden costs
                                      We explain what's included, what's not, and how the trek works before you book, so you know exactly what to expect.

                                    • Travel responsibly
                                      We work with local guides, porters, and teahouses, helping support the communities that make trekking in the Everest region possible.

                                     

                                    Final Recommendation

                                    This 17-day trek is a great choice if you want to experience more than just Everest Base Camp. By visiting the beautiful Gokyo Lakes, climbing Gokyo Ri, and crossing the exciting Cho La Pass, you'll see some of the best places the Everest region has to offer in one unforgettable journey.

                                    With two acclimatization days, experienced local guides, and all the trekking arrangements taken care of, you can enjoy the adventure with confidence. If you're looking for a challenging trek with amazing mountain views, beautiful landscapes, and a true Himalayan experience, this trek is well worth choosing.

                                    Trip Preparations

                                    • Is previous trekking experience necessary for this route?

                                      Some previous trekking experience is recommended, since this route is more demanding than the standard Everest Base Camp trek due to the added distance and the Cho La Pass crossing.
                                       

                                    • The pass involves a steep climb, loose rock, and sometimes snow or ice, along with a long walking day, so it is considered the most physically demanding part of the trek.

                                    • Spring, from March to May, and autumn, from September to November, offer the most stable weather and the clearest mountain views for this route.
                                       

                                    • Yes, travel insurance that covers high altitude trekking and emergency evacuation is required for everyone joining this trek.
                                       

                                    • The schedule includes two dedicated acclimatization days, at Namche and Dingboche, along with a gradual altitude gain designed to give your body time to adjust safely.
                                       

                                    • You will stay in teahouses along the route, with simple twin sharing rooms and shared bathrooms in most places, and hot shower facilities available in several of the main villages.
                                       

                                    • Most villages up to Namche Bazaar have reasonable phone signal and Wi Fi, and many teahouses further up the trail also offer paid Wi Fi, though the connection becomes slower and less reliable at higher altitude.
                                       

                                    Ask a Question