Gokyo & Everest Base Camp Trek: High Passes, Lakes & Sherpa Culture

Summary

Trekking the Everest Circuit: Gokyo Lakes, Cho La Pass & Himalayan Peaks

If you're looking for more than just ticking off Everest Base Camp—if glacier crossings, turquoise lakes, Sherpa culture, and sunrise views over Himalayan giants sound like your kind of adventure—this trek has it all. You'll push yourself but come home with stories you'll tell for years.

What’s the experience like?

Landing in Kathmandu always feels like a jolt to the senses—spicy air, honking taxis, a blur of prayer flags overhead. Someone from the team was waiting outside arrivals with my name on a board (easy to spot). The hotel’s about 20 minutes away, depending on traffic. That first night, I mostly just crashed after sorting out paperwork and meeting our guide—he reminded us to keep our insurance docs handy and double-checked we had enough passport photos for permits.

The flight to Lukla is something else—tiny plane, mountain views right out the window. I remember gripping the armrest as we landed on that short runway. Our porters were already there, smiling and helping with bags. The walk to Phakding is gentle; you pass painted mani stones and hear the river before you see it. We stopped at a teahouse for sweet milk tea—honestly, it tasted better than anything back home.

Heading up to Namche Bazaar means crossing those wobbly suspension bridges draped with prayer flags. The climb gets your heart going, but you’ll spot yaks plodding along and kids selling dried fruit by the trail. Namche itself is lively—a sort of mountain hub where you can grab a cinnamon roll at the Everest Bakery or pick up last-minute gear. Wi-Fi’s patchy but good enough for a quick message home.

We spent an extra day in Namche to get used to the altitude. There’s a small museum about Sherpa life (worth popping into), and if you hike up behind town early, you might catch Everest peeking out above the clouds from the terrace at Everest View Hotel. It’s chilly in the mornings—bring gloves even if it feels warm when you set off.

The path towards Phorste Thanga winds through forests of rhododendron and pine—if you’re lucky enough to be here in spring, everything smells fresh and earthy after rain. We passed yak herders moving their animals up for summer grazing; they waved as we went by. Machherma sits higher up—a few stone lodges clustered together—and sometimes you’ll hear wind rattling loose tin roofs at night.

Reaching Gokyo felt like stepping into another world: turquoise lakes surrounded by snowy peaks, prayer flags fluttering everywhere. We stayed two nights here so we could climb Gokyo Ri early one morning—the air was thin and cold but seeing sunrise over Everest and Cho Oyu made every step worth it. The view stretches forever; even our guide paused for photos.

The next section was tough: crossing Ngozumpa Glacier (watch your footing) then pushing up to Thangna for a basic dorm bed—no frills here, just hot soup and tired laughter from other trekkers swapping stories about blisters or leeches (don’t worry, not many this high up). Crossing Cho La Pass meant starting before dawn with headlamps on; snow crunches underfoot and sometimes all you hear is your own breath until sunlight hits the ridge.

After Dzongla’s simple guesthouse (think shared rooms and thick blankets), Lobuche felt almost busy by comparison—more trekkers heading both ways, more chatter over dinner about weather reports or summit attempts further up. The day we reached Everest Base Camp was long but unforgettable: tents clustered on rocky ground, prayer flags everywhere, climbers prepping gear for real summit pushes while we just soaked in being there at all.

Kala Patthar is an early-morning slog but gives you that classic view of Everest everyone wants—a wall of white rising above everything else. Breakfast back at Gorak Shep never tasted so good (try their fried eggs if they have any left). Heading down through Pheriche and Pangboche felt easier somehow; maybe it was knowing most of the hard work was behind us or maybe just craving real coffee again in Namche Bazaar.

The last stretch back to Lukla is bittersweet—you start recognizing faces from earlier days on the trail, share snacks or stories about what surprised you most (for me: how quiet it gets at night above 4,000 meters). Hot showers feel like luxury when you finally get them again! Our group celebrated with local beer and some questionable dancing before flying back to Kathmandu—those final mountain views from the plane window stick with you long after landing.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Arrival and Pre-Trek Meeting in Kathmandu

• Airport pickup and hotel transfer
• Pre-trek meeting and guide introduction

Day 2 — Fly to Lukla and Trek to Phakding

• Flight from Kathmandu to Lukla
• Trek to Phakding

Day 3 — Trek to Namche Bazaar

• Trek to Namche Bazaar

Day 4 — Acclimatization in Namche Bazaar

• Acclimatization day with local museum visit and hike to Everest View Hotel

Day 5 — Trek to Phorste Thanga

• Trek to Phorste Thanga

Day 6 — Trek to Machherma

• Trek to Machherma

Day 7 — Trek to Gokyo

• Trek to Gokyo

Day 8 — Climb Gokyo Ri and Return

• Climb Gokyo Ri and return to Gokyo

Day 9 — Trek to Thangna

• Trek to Thangna

Day 10 — Cross Cho La Pass and Trek to Dzongla

• Cross Cho La Pass
• Descend to Dzongla

Day 11 — Trek to Lobuche

• Trek to Lobuche

Day 12 — Trek to Everest Base Camp and Back

• Trek to Everest Base Camp and return to Gorak Shep

Day 13 — Climb Kala Patthar and Trek to Pheriche

• Climb Kala Patthar
• Descend to Pheriche

Day 14 — Trek Back to Namche Bazaar

• Trek to Namche Bazaar

Day 15 — Trek to Lukla

• Trek to Lukla

Day 16 — Fly Back to Kathmandu

• Flight from Lukla to Kathmandu
• Transfer to hotel in Kathmandu

Day 17 — Departure from Kathmandu

• Transfer to Tribhuvan International Airport

Top questions

How difficult is this trek?

This route is challenging due to high altitude and long days walking over rough terrain—including glacier crossings and steep passes like Cho La—but it's doable if you're reasonably fit and take acclimatization seriously.

What are accommodations like along the way?

You’ll stay in simple guesthouses or teahouses—some have private rooms with attached toilets in bigger towns like Namche or Lukla; higher up expect shared dorms with basic facilities.

Is filtered water provided during trekking?

Yes! Filtered water using Katadyn Pocket Water Filter is available throughout the trek so bring your own reusable bottle to refill along the way.

Can I charge my phone/camera during the trek?

You can usually charge devices for a small fee at guesthouses in larger villages like Namche Bazaar or Gokyo—but power can be limited higher up so bring spare batteries or a power bank just in case.

What’s included

Your trip covers airport transfers in Kathmandu; filtered water along trekking routes; twin-share accommodation in Kathmandu hotels plus guesthouses on trek (attached toilets where available); seasonal fruit snacks; use of down jacket/sleeping bag; porter support (one per two trekkers); all necessary permits; internal flights between Kathmandu–Lukla; English-speaking licensed guide; government taxes/fees included too!