Gokyo Lake, Chola- Pass and Everest Base Camp Trek with Helicopter Return- 14 Days

You will begin after dawn to catch an early flight to Lukla. The flight is scenic and thrilling, as you traverse above towering peaks. After about 30 minutes, you will land at the narrow airstrip of the mountainous airport, renowned for its challenging descent. At Lukla you will first have breakfast in the presence of mighty mountains, and then begin the long-awaited trek! As you cross suspension bridges over gushing rivers below, the trail gets lined by lush and beautiful forests. You will walk for around four hours crossing suspension bridges and passing through Sherpa villages before stopping for the night in a lodge in Phakding. The beautiful trail and scenic mountains will contribute to your excitement on the first night as you prepare for the epic trek to the heart of Everest.

As you begin the trek from Phakding, you will be facing a long day of trek to Namche Bazaar, the destination for today. The actual trekking duration is about seven hours with ample amount of stopovers. The trail is scenic, and at this altitude you will even pass through lush rhododendron forests. The excitement will push you further today where you’ll cross high-altitude suspension bridges over Dudhkoshi River, including the famous Hillary Bridge. After crossing Monjo, your trail enters Sagarmatha National Park with breathtaking views of valleys and mountains. After a quick permits-check, you will begin today’s final stretch to Namche located at 3,440 metres. The climb is steep, but every inch of the ascent to Namche Bazaar is worth it.

As you reach Namche, you will be filled with amazement to have reached this close to the gigantic mountains. You will immediately feel at home in this vibrant old town filled with markets, cafes, lodges, and shops bustling with tourists and locals alike. This is where you will rest for the day soaking in hot water and enjoy high-speed Internet connection. Nearby, you can explore monasteries and stupas if you feel energetic and not worn out by the day’s trek. And if the day is clear, you may even catch your first glimpse of some iconic peaks of Everest.

Sleeping this close to mountains has its own benefits — like having a breakfast with sumptuous views of the giant peaks. As your excitement builds up for the day, you will realise that it’s not more walking for the day. All you have to do is relax and enjoy the day in this mountain village with very short hikes for some acclimatisation. Today is also your chance to catch some breath and let your body adjust to the thinner air at this altitude. During the day you can hike up to Hotel Everest View, for jaw-dropping glimpses of Mt. Everest itself. And if time provides you can wander around the shops, check into a bakery or a cafe, and indulge in a treat. Just make sure you do not miss the golden sun setting against the peaks – bringing you a feeling of inspiration and awe! You will suddenly realise that you are in the heart of the Everest region – and your adventure is just getting started.

Starting after breakfast, you will trek for nearly seven hours through beautiful trails to reach the village of Dole for the night. Early on, you will have views of Ama Dablam and Thamserku as you pass through villages and rhododendron forests. Later in the day you will have inspiring views of Khumbila and Tawache, too.

As for the trail for today, it snakes from Namche Bazaar  with panoramic views of Dudhkoshi river and mountains like Thamserku, Cho Oyu, and Kangtega. To add to the excitement, you might possibly be surprised by a couple of sightings of native wildlife like high-altitude pheasants and even the elusive Himalayan bear. Further up the trail you will cross forests and suspension bridges before arriving at Dole for the night.

The trek today from Dole to Machhermo takes around four hours. Although we gain only around 400 meters of ascent on the overall altitude, it’s quite a lot when we’re talking about vertical landscapes and mountainous terrain. Today the trail offers splendid views of the Khumbu region.

We trail along passing scattered forests and several kharka(s). A kharka is a temporary summer-time shed made specially for the cattle in the mountains. There are even some grasslands with glimpses of Cho Oyu along the road uphill. Each step we take will be towards gaining altitude. And although the walk is difficult, the view gets more and more lustrous — covering glaciers, peaks, and even more scenic vistas.

After a challenging walk (but with ample stopovers), we finally arrive at the hamlet of Machhermo for the night. As you can guess, it’s a quaint hamlet with a couple of buildings with the looming view of Ngozumpa Glacier. The beautiful Dudhkoshi river flows nearby while the surrounding mountains provide a cosy sense of isolation.

We begin early expecting more scenic views along the way. Completely surrounded by mountains on nearly all sides, we move through the challenging trail ahead. As the rocky trail unfolds, we are more determined by the thought of seeing the turquoise lake of Gokyo, hence we keep moving, overcoming the tiredness at each step. At times we are treated with scenic vistas of the white peaks, a grand reminder of nature’s geographical beauty.

 Our trail ascends gradually taking us towards the lake.. The road is difficult being lined with rocks and as we reach near Gokyo, we being to see prayer flags, and are instantly rewarded with a serene view of peaks and ancient glaciers. With a sense of triumph, we move ahead. With each step we take, we know we are moving towards the pristine Lake Gokyo, as seen in countless movies & documentaries, and today we’re arriving at the lake in person.

With anticipation of more adventure, inspiringly beautiful landscape, and newer routes, we unwind for the night in a cabin beside the turquoise lake of Gokyo.

On this day, we embark at dawn for the ascent of Gokyo-Ri (peak) at 5,357 metres. The vistas are comparable to those at Kalapatthar, letting you view peaks such as Cho Oyu, Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, and others. We capture the moments, and after watching a spectacular sunrise, we return for breakfast. Exploring Gokyo Valley later on is a scenic venture as the large lake seems to be present everywhere.

After break fast we will trek from Gokoyo to Thangnak on this day we will cross the Ngozumpa Glacier and rocky trail on the Glacier. We will even see Ngozumpa Glacier from closer quarters, the longest glacier in the Himalayas that we saw earlier.

Today we will cross Cho-La, one of the most-frequented high-altitude passes in Khumbu. We begin early hoping for more scenic views along the way. Completely surrounded by mountains on nearly all sides, we move through the challenging trail ahead. As the rocky trail unfolds, we are more determined by the thought of crossing Cho-La, hence we keep moving, overcoming the tiredness at each step. At times we are treated with scenic vistas of the white peaks, a grand reminder of nature’s geographical beauty.

Our trail gradually taking up towards the pass. The road is difficult being lined with rocks and as we reach Cho-La pass itself lined with prayer flags, we are instantly rewarded with a view of panoramic peaks and ancient glaciers from the top. With a sense of triumph, we move ahead and begin the descent. With each step we take, we know we are moving towards rest and rejuvenation. With anticipation of beautiful landscape and newer routes, we unwind for the night in a cabin beside the peaceful hamlet of Dzongla

Venturing towards Everest Base Camp, with each step you will feel like you’re getting closer to your destination. The rugged charm of Dzongla will lead with scenic valley views of Khumbu River Valley.  Along the way you will have mesmerizing panoramas of peaks like Ama Dablam and Pumori including Cholatse Lake.

The breakfast of the morning would be a thing of the remote past, as you crave for more energy with every laboured breath. Too many stopovers will make you lag behind your group and too little will make you tired sooner. So, step by step you will have to trudge towards Lobuche. Some grand views of the eternal peaks will be there to solace you. Amid the tiredness and anticipation, you should pause to reflect on the determination of those who have ventured here before and conquered this land — for with each passing step you take, you will come closer to Lobuche with the promise of shelter and rest for the night

Today is the day of a life-time experience as you reach Everest Base Camp. You begin immediately after breakfast, going through rugged and rocky trails. As you trek uphill along the Khumbu Glacier, you head towards Gorakshep, barely a hamlet near Everest Base Camp. Sometime late in the morning you will reach Gorakshep, and after a brief rest here, you will hike to Base Camp. This last leg is filled with excitement and too much anticipation because you will certainly be reaching the base of the planet’s tallest peak. This is THE iconic peak not just geographically, but in every sense of the world.

At the Base Camp, take some photos and videos, and capture every scene until your cameras die or the batteries run dry. You have been soaked in the shadow of the world’s tallest peak, and live the moment while you are here. Share the camp with hundreds of other nationalities who have come for the same dream — to make it to Everest!

And as you leave behind the overwhelming awe of the journey, you will forget the hardships of the way. You will be recharged for life. Gradually, you descend towards Gorakshep as the sun sets, taking in the breathtaking views of the surreal landscape — filled with wonder

Kalapatthar is a vantage point with panoramic views of Everest, Lhotse, and Nuptse. With this in mind trekkers begin before dawn to catch the first rays falling on the mountain peaks. As you gain altitude through this steep climb, you will have surreal views of landscapes nearby, especially the larger-than-life glaciers. After a challenging climb, you’ll reach the top where you can have breathtaking views of mountains, glaciers, and beautiful skies. It’s a magical and enriching scene in itself! Later as you descend to Gorakshep for breakfast, you’ll feel your heart soaring with the beauty you witnessed. Views of great mountains still visible around you, you prepare for your helicopter ride ahead.

After a much-deserved breakfast in Gorakshep, you will take a shared helicopter flight back to Kathmandu. Note that due to altitude restrictions, flights above 4,500 metres may require two shuttles to Lukla. In such cases, you will disembark first at a lower altitude point (like Pheriche) before continuing to Lukla and on to Kathmandu. En route, you will see panoramic views of the Himalayas, the glaciers you trekked a week ago, and beautiful lush valleys

A day sightseeing tour is a good thing to have, after returning from an arduous journey in the difficult terrain of the mountains. There are plenty of places to go in this capital city full of heritage. Although it does not seem like it at first, mainly due to the chaotic traffic and the hullabaloo, there are gems of places hidden inside the valley. Take a vehicle of your choice and stay in the comfort of air-conditioning while you visit places of luxury and pampering. You can go to a premium spa to relieve the muscles and relax, have the much-deserved lunch at a five-star hotel, or simply indulge in shopping. You can also customise a day-trip with us

After breakfast or depending upon your flight schedule we will transfer you to the airport. As your plane takes off from the runway in Kathmandu, your journey to Nepal comes to an end for this time — until you decide to visit again for some memorable and soul-searching trip in the Himalayas