Overview
Everest Cho-La pass trekking trip information l Gokyo-Cho La pass - Everest base camp trek in Nepal l trek itinerary l trail route map l permit fees l grade and altitude l best times l trek package cost l reccomanded equipments l organizing company and guide in Nepal
Everest challenge Cho-La pass trek in Nepal
Everest Cho-La pass the best-of-both worlds trek combines the two Gokyo Lakes and Everest base camp by crossing Ngozumpa Glacier and Cho La pass (5,420m/ 17,782ft). It is an exhilarating experience to walk at the very base of Cholatse and Tawache peaks as you descend into the Khumbu Valley and again turn upward toward Everest Base Camp.
This high glacier Cho-La pass trek requires experience in walking on ice, but generally no snow blocks on the way to Cho-La we follow the valley's eastern side to Thagna offering more spectacular views. Crossing the pass; we head up to Lobuche village and finally to your highest overnight at Gorak Shep. This is the jumping off point for the climb up to Kala Patter (5545m) for spectacular views of Mt. Everest. This really is breathtaking mountain scenery and is well worth the effort of getting there. From here the trail descends to Tengboche-Namche and then to Lukla, from where we fly back to Kathmandu
Detailed Itinerary
Day 01:Arrive in Kathmandu airport.
You'll be met at the airport by our representative and transfer to hotel.
Day 02:Kathmandu sight-seeing
You will be taken on guided city tour to see the interesting sites of the valley. Evening trip introduction and introduction.
Day 03:Katmandu-Lukla-Phakding: 35 min flight; 4 hours trek
Transfer to Airport and fly to Lukla 2,800m by small twin otter 35 mins. Start trekking passing some of the beautiful Sherpa villages aside the Dudhkosi River until Phakding 2,652m is reached.
Day 04:Phakding-Namche Bazaar 3,440m. 5 hours trek
The trail follows the Dudhkoshi River passing the villages and crossing few Hilary's Suspension Bridge then the trail further climbs from here to Namche Bazaar.
Day 05:Rest Day
A day is spent here for hiking around to acclimatise. Namche Bazaar is the main center in the Khumbu region and has shops, restaurants, a bakery, hotel with hot showers and electric power.
Day 06:Namche Bazaar- Dole 4,090m.6 hours trek
A short climbs to the top the village then walk through the forest of birch and junipers and beautiful views of Ama Dablam on the right. After Mungla the trail first descends to Phortse Thanga and ascends further to the village of Dole.
Day 07:Dole –Machhermo 4,460m. 5 hours trek
The trail climbs all the way to Luza through scrub junipers long side of the valley high above the river and then crosses the sandy slopes until reaching the village of Machhermo where it is believed that a Yeti killed several yaks and attacked Sherpa women earlier.
Day 08:Machhermo - Gokyo Lake 4,750m. 5 hours trek
The trail climbs up to the moraine following small stream which comes to a small lake then to the Fangka settlement. From here the trail climbs to the Ngozumpa glaciers then reach to the second lake and finally up to the isolated Gokyo Lake through the jumble of rocks and boulder.
Day 09:Climb Gokyo RI 5357m.3 hours trek
Early morning climb to Gokyo Ri for the tremendous mountain views around Gokyo including Cho Oyo, Gyachung Kang, Mt Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, Cholatse and Tawachee etc.
Day 10:Gokyo - Thangna 4640m 5 hour trek
The trail along the lake crossing the Ngojumba glacier then Thangna a tiny village with few lodge facilities.
Day 11:Thangna - Dzongla 4,850m. 6 hours trek
Walk across the moraine then it is a steep ascent to the top of the snow covered Chola la 5,420m which provides excellent panoramic views of the surrounding mountains of Lhotse, Ama Dablam, Thamserku, and Mt Everest. After the pass, the trail descends steeply towards the Dzongkha passing through some pine forests.
Day 12:Dzongla- Lubuche 4,930m. 4 hours trek
The trail gradually climbs up to the top providing an impressive view of Cho Yu then the trails goes in the Sherpa settlement of Lubuches beside a small stream.
Day 13:Lubuche-Gorak Shep 5,160m 4 hours trek
A gentle climbs all the way and a short descent to the last village Gorak Shep with few tea-houses facilities. Climb to Kala Pattar 5,545m which offers the best views of Mt. Everest, Pumori and Ama Dablam.
Day 14:Everest Base Camp excursion and trek back to Lubuche 7 hours trek
Walk into the Everest Base Camp 5,357m through rocky and glacial trails where climbers gather for summiting Everest then trek back to Lobuje.
Day 15:Lubuche - Tengboche 3870m. 8 hours trek
The trail gradually descends through scrub junipers, Mani stones, rhododendron forests and beautiful Sherpa villages to Pangboche then further down to the suspension bridge. From here it is a gentle climb up hill to Tengboche through rhododendron and alpine meadows.
Day 16:Tengboche - Namche Bazaar 5 hours trek
The trail descends to Phunki Tenga then Climb up gradually through a forest to Khumjung from where a long flat ridge come to reach Namche Bazaar.
Day 17:Namche Bazaar - Lukla: 7 hours trek
Trek back to Lukla along the same trail and celebrate a successful completion of the trek.
Day 18:Lukla- Kathmandu
Morning fly back to Kathmandu and transfer to your hotel. The rest of day is at leisure to rest, souvenir shopping or explore any sights you want to see and evening enjoy Farewell dinner hosted by the company.
Day 19:Departure
If you have time and are interested for other adventure like white water rating, wild life safari or any other activities can extend your holiday or transfer to airport and fly back to sweet home.
- Arrival/departure transfers
- 3 night 2-3 star category hotels with breakfast in Kathmandu.
- Sightseeing tours by private vehicle with tour guide, entrance fees
- Domestic flight/ground transportation as per the program, airport transfer
- Lodge accommodations and all meals during the trek, Down jacket, sleeping bag
- Cost for a first Aid and Eco trained English speaking guide and Porter
- Emergency rescue arrangements, medical kit bag
- All necessary paper works and trekking /entry permits
- All government and local taxes where applicable.
- Welcome or farewell dinner
- International airfare and Nepal visa fee
- Excess baggage charges with domestic flight
- Lunch / dinner in Kathmandu
- Emergency rescue and medical expenses
- Personal expenses e.g. phone calls, laundry, bar bills personal porters
- Tips for the trekking crew
- Other optional trips/activities and sightseeing if required
Equiment Checklist
Equipment List:
Footwear:
Well broken-in walking shoes - these must be suitable for snow, thick socks, light socks, sandal or light shoes.
Clothing:
Down or fiber filled waterproof jacket and trousers, sweater or fleece jacket, underwear, warm and cotton trousers or jeans, shirts and T-shirts, shorts, long underwear, towel, wool hat, sun hat, gloves.
Other equipment:
Sleeping bag (4 seasons), trekking hold all or stash sack with lock, day pack, water bottle, sun cream, sunglasses, flashlight with spare bulbs and batteries, lip salve, gaiters.
Other items:
Insect repellent, diary, toilet paper roll, laundry soap, pocket knife, sewing kit, camera, film, cards and personal medical kit.
Map
Trip Essential Information
Introduction and trip briefing
We give a short brief about the trip in Kathmandu on the same day of your arrival and introduce your trip guide and team members. At the mean time, we provide an opportunity for individuals to ask questions if any about the trip.
Accommodation: Lodges in the mountains are not as comfortable and clean as in the city but not the very basic. The lodges we use normally have combination of dormitories, twin, triple room and beds have foam mattress. There are few factors that affect our choice of a particular lodge which may not always be immediately obvious but the great looking lodges from outside may not be the cleanest and may not provide the best service or food. Please note that we also do not use lodges that will not provide accommodation for porters and guides as we believe that we have a duty to look after all our staffs. Some of the lodges now have attached bathrooms but we do not include this in the price of your trips. However due to availability issue you may be given a room with a bathroom and we will not charge extra.
Meals: Three meals as per your choice are provided in a day. Every lodge has a food menu and ordering book and you should write down in it everything you order under you name and room number. Guide will assist it actually and check at kitchen how busy they are. However it is good to order the food in one hour advance. Lunch is normally taken in a lodge along the way and we suggest the group tries to order similar dishes to make easier and shorter time. Nepali,Tibetan, Continental etc dishes are available though. However local food like vegetables, potatoes, soups are fresh, hygiene and healthy.
Guide: English speaking, well experienced and knowledgeable holding license from government institutions. They are well trained about the high altitude problem, eco tourism, social responsibilities and sincerely dedicated on their duty.
Actually our guides play an invaluable role in ensuring that our clients have the best opportunity to experience, learn about, and enjoy their trip presenting them whenever you need any help.
Porters: Normally we use only regular porters working for the company. Our porters are fully equipped and insured having knowledge of walking on snow and high altitude passes. They are very honest, reliable, strong and of curse get good pay.
They can speak engligh and will be referred to take the guide training after they are well experience and confident.
Travel Insurance
We suggest and t is a condition of traveling with us that you must be fully insured, including air rescue services and all medical expenses. You decide and choose what amount and types of is insurance is suitable for your trip nature as some does buy cancellation and only for certain period of time.
Itinerary: Given itinerary is flexible so if needed there is often there will be possibility on the trek to extend or shorten the walking days. In the special case if the trips is ended a week or more earlier, there will be given an optional for a short trip. Please discuss this with your trek guide and express your wishes.
Washing and Toilet: Most of lodges offer hot shower now. Some times a hot shower means a bucket of hot water and ask your trek guide about the availability. For ecological reasons please try and limit your use of hot water if the water is not solar-heated. Please note that higher place and cold time there is very little chance to have enough and hot water. Every lodge will have some kind of hand washing facility but ask your trek guide about the place where you can wash and clean your teeth. In any event it is good idea to carry a bar of soap with you. If the water frozen then ask your guide to get warm bowl of water which does not cost money.
Toilets are usually Asian squat style and vary in how clean they are. Normally toilets are out side the lodge but now some lodge are have inside the room or lodge. They tent to be cleaner in the lower and Annapurna region than the Everest or other remote and high region because of water shortage and temperature. The rubbish bin in the toilet is kept for your used toilet paper.
Drinking water: Most of the stomach problems are faced from drinking water in the mountain so you should really care of it. Bottle of mineral water is normally available but environmentally unfriendly options so we recommend filtered and boiled water that should be treated with iodine / purifying tablet before you drink it. The lodge people charge minimum for boiled water as fuel is used to boil the water and wait about half an hour before adding any fruit powder etc.
Transportation: Deluxe private vehicle are provided while on city tour, airport transfers and round trip flight.
Electricity: Small scale electricity schemes are running is several mountain communities but as they by definition small the light may not be strong enogh to read by and is not always guaranteed to be working. Kerosene lamps, candles or solar light bulbs are often used is the dining room where there is no electricity. A toch light, with extera battries is essential. Some lodges have rechargeing facilites for which there is a small charge. Nepal use voltages, 220-240 volts to power your appliances. The sockets are fit both round and flat.
Departure Dates
No fixed departures.
