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Everest, Gokyo & the Cho La

Altitude 5,544m/18,188ft » Duration 23 Days » Grade T2

A challenging circular trek to Everest Base Camp and Gokyo Lakes

Introduction

This longer and more challenging version of the classic Everest Base Camp Trek visits base camp, before returning via the Cho La Pass and Gokyo Lakes. The trek visits two valleys and provides more panoramic views of Everest and the surrounding Himalayan Giants. Whether you are a fit walker, looking for your first trekking experience or have always wanted to visit the Everest Region and want something more than the standard itinerary, this could be the trek for you.

The first half of the itinerary is the same as our 20-day Everest Base Camp Trek, flying into Lukla from Kathmandu and slowly trekking up the Khumbu Valley. We are particularly careful to acclimatise, stopping in Namche Bazaar and Dingboche for rest days and never ascending too high each day. From Gorak Shep, the original site of base camp for the 1953 first ascent team, we climb the famous viewing point of Kala Pattar and the following day, trek into the climbers base camp at the foot of the Khumbu Icefall. In the spring, we will have the chance to see a full-blown Everest climbing expedition in action, as our Jagged Globe summit team attempts the mountain.

Then, instead of retracing our steps back down the Khumbu Valley, we traverse off and cross the Cho La. This is a high, glaciated pass, but ropes aren't normally used and it is frequently crossed by strong walkers without previous mountaineering experience. The pass provides access to the Ngozumpa Glacier and Gokyo Lakes. The lakes are rightly famous for their beauty and nearby Gokyo Ri is arguably a better view point than Kala Pattar from which to see Everest. From Gokyo, the trail descends and re-joins the main Everest trail, before returning to Lukla. After our short flight back to Kathmandu and our excellent hotel, we can visit of the highlights of the city, including its many temples, squares and shopping areas.

Whilst on trek, Jagged Globe teams stay in the best available lodges, most of which are of an excellent standard, with the slightly more 'rustic' ones (for example, before crossing the Cho La) being characterful and run by friendly Sherpas. By staying in lodges, we have the opportunity to interact more with the Sherpa people and get a real sense of what life living amongst the mountains of the Khumbu is like. All our teams are led by an experienced Jagged Globe leaders, supported by Sirdar, Sherpas and porters.

Jagged Globe in Nepal

Our aim is to provide you with a safe, enjoyable and successful trek in Nepal. This remarkable Himalayan country is the centrepiece of our worldwide activities and we provide all of our trekkers and climbers with a smooth and efficient service to maximise both your enjoyment and your chances of a successful trip, whether it be trekking to Everest Base Camp or climbing to the actual summit. The benefits of joining Jagged Globe on our Everest Base Camp Treks are:

Additional benefits include:

We are here to make your trek a great and memorable experience, so why not join us for your Himalayan adventure!

Trek Itinerary

Day 1:Fly London to Kathmandu
Our flight to Nepal departs London Heathrow in the evening.
Day 2:Arrive Kathmandu
In Kathmandu, we will stay at the Summit Hotel; positioned well away from the noise and bustle of the city centre, it has extensive gardens, a swimming pool and an atmosphere of quiet, restful charm. It is a Dutch owned, British managed establishment with a friendly and helpful Nepalese staff. Team members will be accommodated on a twin share basis in large en-suite rooms. Single rooms are available if you prefer, for which a supplement is payable.
Day 3:Fly Kathmandu to Lukla
We will make an early morning start for the Twin Otter flight to Lukla (2,840m/9,317ft), the gateway to the Khumbu. This is an exciting flight, which should give a glimpse of Everest in the distance. In Lukla, we will meet our trek staff and porters and set off straightaway for our first night's stop at Monjo. Situated on the banks of the Dudh Kosi, which drains the whole of the Khumbu Region, this small hamlet is on the main trade route through the area and there are a number of clean, well-built lodges where we can spend the night.
Day 4:Trek to Namche Bazaar
We will continue up the banks of the Dudh Kosi, crossing it twice by small suspension bridges before reaching the village of Monjo where we will enter the Khumbu National Park. We will then cross the confluence of the Dudh Kosi and the Bhote Kosi on a high suspension bridge and climb steeply for about two hours up 'Namche Hill' to reach Namche Bazaar (3,400m/11,155ft). This is a prosperous trading town and the capital of the Khumbu Region. Many Tibetans cross the nearby border to trade their wares and the local market is a fascinating spectacle. This is a good place to buy genuine Tibetan artefacts. Just across the valley to the east stand the peaks of Thamserku and Kangtega, both very impressive mountains.
Day 5:At leisure in Namche Bazaar
We will spend a day in Namche Bazaar resting and allowing our bodies to become acclimatised to the altitude of 3,450m (11,300ft). In the morning, there is the option of walking up to the Everest View Hotel (3,900m/12792ft), returning to Namche for lunch.
Day 6:Trek to Deboche
From Namche, the well-worn Everest trail contours around the side of the valley high above the Dudh Kosi. As we follow the path, we will get our first really good views of the great peaks of the Khumbu: Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse and Ama Dablam. Passing by several villages and numerous tea shops, we will cross the Dudh Kosi River and make a steep climb to Thyangboche, home of an impressive and recently rebuilt monastery. We have plenty of time to look around Thyangboche (and have a cake at the bakery!), but at the height of the season it is a busy place, so we will drop down to the river and the village of Deboche (3,700m/12,135ft) a little further along the trail, where we will stay in a relaxing lodge.
Day 7:Trek to Dingboche
Shaded by rhododendron trees, the trail crosses an airy suspension bridge just beyond Deboche. An hour's walking from here will bring us to Pangboche, an excellent viewpoint for Ama Dablam ('Mother's Charm Box') and home for the Sherpas who work on this imposing mountain each post-monsoon season. Contouring up the valley side, we will re-cross the river and turn up the Imja Valley to reach the picturesque farming village of Dingboche (4,410m/14,465ft).
Day 8:Acclimatisation
Dingboche is a good location for acclimatisation, prior to our ascent up the upper section of the Khumbu Valley. While in Dingboche, we can attend a seminar about high altitude acclimatisation at the hospital in nearby Pheriche, run by the Himalayan Rescue Association. The walk over to Pheriche and back will also serve as good acclimatisation training and so make the walk doubly worthwhile.
Day 9:Trek to Dugla
We will retrace our steps back to Pheriche before continuing along the trail up the broad valley bottom towards Dugla. Ahead of us is the trekking peak of Lobuje East (6,119m/20,075ft), which is one of the objectives on our Khumbu Climber itinerary, and to our left is the formidable north face of Taweche, the scene of many cutting-edge Himalayan ascents of the 1980s and 1990s. After three hours we reach the small collection of lodges at Dugla (4,620m/15,153ft). In the afternoon we might choose to walk up to the Sherpa memorials, from where there are outstanding views of Ama Dablam, Cholatse and Taweche. This is a fairly short day, and in the past our teams have trekked all the way to Lobuje today, but from our experience, it is better to take two days over it. Taking our time to acclimatise earlier on in the trek will pay dividends later, when we have some longer days.
Day 10:Trek to Lobuje
The trail from Dugla starts steeply to climb up beside the glacier moraine. After a few hours the track eventually leads to a small cluster of tea houses pleasantly situated at Lobuje (4,940m/16,207ft). We will spend the afternoon relaxing and continuing the process of slow acclimatisation.
Day 11:Trek to Gorak Shep
About three hours beyond Lobuje we reach Gorak Shep (5,220m/17,126ft), the site of the 1953 expedition's base camp. This will be our base for the next few days as we explore the surrounding area and visit Everest base camp.
Day 12:Climb Kala Pattar
Today we will make an ascent of Kala Pattar (5,545m/18,188ft) and organise ourselves for the trip to base camp the following day. It is highly recommended to make an afternoon and evening ascent of Kala Pattar for hopefully a sunset view of Everest. The climb takes between 2 and 3 hours and can be hard work, but the effort is rewarded by the classic view of Everest and the Khumbu Icefall, as well as Lhotse, Nuptse, and Pumori immediately above. For many teams, this is as far as they go on the Everest Trail. For the full experience, tomorrow we will visit base camp itself.
Day 13:Trek to Everest Base Camp (5,600m/18,370ft)
Contouring along the valley side, the trail leads on to the moraine of the Khumbu Glacier and becomes quite vague, weaving between mounds of rubble. After about 3 hours we will eventually reach base camp near the foot of the Khumbu Icefall. For those visiting base camp in the spring, it is a chance to meet teams making an ascent of the mountain. Here we hope to meet up with members of the Jagged Globe Everest South Col team, and catch up on their news of the climb so far. Base Camp is actually spread over quite a wide area and we will spend some time wandering through it and getting a sense of what it must be like to be camped here for two whole months, whilst attempting the mountain. To go any further than base camp, you will need to be a mountaineer! Our Everest team cooks will serve us lunch before we make the return trek to Gorak Shep.
Day 14:Trek to Dzonglha (4,830m/15,482ft)
We descend back down the valley and through Lobuje before splitting off from the main Everest trail and traversing around the flanks of Lobuje Peak. The backdrop of the north wall of Arakam Tse and the Lobuje Peaks is stunning as we trek towards the small settlement of Dzonglha, with its two tea houses. It feels much more remote up here and it is a lovely spot to spend the early evening, soaking up the atmosphere created by the dramatic mountain scenery all around. Tommorrow morning we will have an early start for the crossing of the Cho La.
Day 15:Cross the Cho La (5,300m/17,385ft)
Today is a big day, but by now we should be feeling fit and well-acclimatised. From Dzonglha, we follow a trail by a stream, which gradually winds its way in a northwesterly direction up the valley. After a couple of hours, we reach rockier ground and it's time to put away the trekking poles and zig-zag up over large rock shelves to a plataeu with lots of chortens and prayer flags. Though this section is not exposed, we will have to use our hands every now and then to make progress over the small boulderfield. From here, it's a short walk to reach the glacier. Unless there has been recent snowfall, the glacier will have a good trail across it, which stays well away from any crevassed areas. This trail climbs very gradually up the almost flat glacier to reach moraine and rock at the high point of the pass after about half an hour. The views from the Cho La towards Gokyo open up a whole new vista in front of us. From the top of the pass, we will slowly pick our way down the far side, zig-zagging over rock and moraine. Though it's never too steep, we will have to be careful of any patches of snow or ice before the trail skirts off over boulders and the angle eventually eases. After a couple of hours of leaving the top of the pass, we arrive at the campsite of Chyugima (5,040m/16,531ft). There are good views of the Kangchung and Nirekha Peaks just to the North. The trail contours round before descending into a steep-sided valley to arrive at the summer settlement of Dragnag (4,700m/15,415ft), on the east side of the Ngozumpa Glacier.
Day 16:Gokyo Ri (5,483m/17,984ft)
The trail crosses the ice and moraines of the Ngozumpa Glacier, to Gokyo Lakes and after two hours, Gokyo Resort, where we will have lunch. It is well worth the effort to make the 3-hour ascent to the summit of Gokyo Ri, a small hill which rises immediately to the north of the biggest lake. The view from the top is stunning, with the west ridge and south-west face of Everest beautifully framed by Changtse and Nuptse, Makalu rising further to the east, and in the foreground to the north the chaotic moraines of the Ngozumpa Glacier leading to the snowy bastion of Cho Oyu. Alternatively, it is possible to make a very early start tomorrow and climb Gokyo Ri, before descending the valley to Phortse Tenga.
Day 17:Trek to Phortse Tenga
We lose a lot of height today on the walk down the trail back towards the main Khumbu Valley. We might have lunch at the pleasant village of Macherma, with its attractive lodges and new Aid Post, funded by the Himalayan Trust. Or if we've climbed Gokyo Ri this morning, we may choose to have lunch earlier on the walk at the Fanga View Point. After contouring the valley side for most of the day, we eventually descend steeply into rhododendron forests and down to a new lodge by the river at Phortse Tenga.
Day 18:Trek to Monjo
With a reasonably early start, we will reach Namche Bazaar for an early lunch. At first the trail climbs steeply out of the valley floor for an hour, providing superb views across to Phortse, with Ama Dablam in the middle distance. If it's a clear morning, the light striking Phortse's terraced fields can be stunning. A big Chorten marks the high point on the trail, which then descends at a pleasant gradient to eventually meet the main Everest trail, taking us back into Namche Bazaar. We should have a few hours to spend in Namche, enough time to shop and relax in the bakery with a coffee and a cake, or even to check the Internet. A steep descent for 600m/2,000ft down Namche Hill leads to the suspension bridge crossing the Dudh Kosi river and the small village of Monjo (2,835m/9,300ft). Not only is Monjo a quieter place to stay than Namche, it also means our porters have a less strenuous walk back to Lukla tomorrow.
Day 19:Trek to Lukla
The trail now flattens out and we cross the river twice more before a rising traverse up the hill-side, past numerous tea-houses to Lukla. Our last day of steady trekking will be a real joy as at lower altitudes, with over two weeks behind us, and nothing left to prove, we can soak up the atmosphere in each of the villages we amble through. All excess energy is guaranteed at our party this evening with our Nepalese crew.
Day 20:Fly Lukla to Kathmandu
An early morning flight. We will be met at the domestic airport in Kathmandu and taken to the Summit Hotel. The afternoon can be spent exploring the city and visiting some of the temples, or simply browsing bookshops and shopping in the Thamel area. The team may choose to eat at the Summit Hotel tonight or in town at one of the many excellent restaurants.
Day 21:At Leisure in Kathmandu
For those eager to see as much of Kathmandu as possible, an early start is worthwhile to visit the temples of Pashupatinath and Swayambhunath and districts of Bhaktapur and Patan. Durbar Square is also on the essential list, as is the shopping area of Thamel. Our flight back to the UK departs in the late evening, so we can have our final meal together in the early evening.
Day 22:Arrive London
We arrive back at London Heathrow mid-morning.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Every effort will be made to keep to the above itinerary, but as this is adventure travel in a remote mountain region, we cannot guarantee it! Weather conditions, availability of porters and the health of team members can all contribute to changes. The guides and their Sherpa assistants will try to ensure that the trip runs according to plan, but please be prepared to be flexible if necessary.

Team Composition

The trek will be led by an experienced Jagged Globe British trek leader. In selecting suitable leaders, we not only look to ensure that they have the relevant qualifications but we also ensure that they have a good track record of trekking at high altitudes. Whilst qualifications and experience are essential requirements, we also make sure that our leaders have the right temperament to lead an trek group comprised of individuals who have a range of previous experience and expectations. The leader is a vital contributor to the enjoyment and well-being of the trekking members and he or she will be there to deal with any unexpected problems. To that end, we aim to provide a leader who will make the expedition both successful and enjoyable throughout.

Our leaders hold current mountain first aid certificates and have experience of dealing with mountain related medical conditions.

The leader will be supported by one of our excellent Sherpa guides, who know the region very well. Our team of local porters will carry your personal gear.

We will take a maximum of 14 people on each trek, although the number may well be less than this.

Experience Required

Everest, Gokyo & the Cho La is graded T2.

The 22-day Everest, Gokyo and the Cho La Trek is suitable for keen walkers who are able to walk for 6 - 7 hours in a day, with a light rucksack. Some of the days are quite long, and the walking feels more strenuous at altitude. Generally the trail is a good track, but occasionally it will be uneven and rocky, for example on the final section up to Everest Base Camp and on the Cho La. The crossing of the Cho La is typically a 7 hour day, which includes some walking on snow, though normally crampons are not required.

You are welcome to contact members of the Jagged Globe office staff, who have recent experience of trekking to base camp and crossing the Cho La, if you would like to discuss the trek in more detail.
Our Scottish Winter Courses and our Alpine Courses provide good training for a trek or expedition.

Environmental Practice

The trekking routes to popular base camps such as Everest are under considerable environmental pressure. We therefore do our best to minimise the impact of our expeditions by adhering to a responsible and workable environmental policy. This includes the following measures:

General Garbage - Items which are easily combustible may be burnt without offending local sensibilities. Non-burnables and the remains of burnt items will be taken back to an appropriate collection point. Special consideration is given to the safe disposal of used batteries, which are re-exported back to the UK.

Toilet Facilities - On trek, toilet facilities are available at Tea Houses. At Everest base camp we share the expedition toilet facilities, which are transported to a suitable disposable point after the expedition.

Jagged Globe supports the work of the Kathmandu Environmental Education Project (KEEP) and trekkers are asked to adhere to its guidelines, which we provide.

Porter Protection

Any trek or expedition to Nepal relies on the hard work of local porters. It is their carrying of our supplies and baggage that makes a journey into the mountains possible. Jagged Globe is therefore careful to ensure that they are well treated, not exploited and have good protection from the elements. We work closely with our Nepal based partner, Kit Spencer, to provide shelter, clothing and footwear that match the severity of the environment. Porters who become sick are treated with the same care and attention as team members, and we have used helicopters, at our expense, to rescue porters from hazardous situations.

Jagged Globe supports the work of the International Porter Protection Group (IPPG), and provides help and advice to those organisations to improve the working conditions of the porters on whom we depend. All trekkers are asked to provide feedback on porters' working conditions in post-trip questionnaires.

Pre-Trip Meeting

Prior to all our expeditions and treks, we host a Pre-Trip Weekend in North Wales. The primary purpose of the weekend is to provide an opportunity for individuals to ask questions about the forthcoming trek and to introduce them to other team members. The weekend covers topics as diverse as personal equipment and acclimatisation and usually involves a hike. To find out more about our Pre-Trip Weekends [click here].

Equipment

Find out about our comprehensive Equipment Hire Service.

Trekkers need to provide their own personal clothing and equipment. Some items of equipment are available for hire from us but we strongly recommend that you purchase your own personal equipment and test it before departure.

A complete kit list is contained in the Trek Dossier, which is sent to you on receipt of your booking deposit.

What the price includes

What the price does not include

Insurance

Special travel insurance is available from us which provides a wide range of cover. The premium for this trek is detailed in the Prices & Booking section. A full explanation of the Jagged Globe Insurance Scheme is available on the website and in our brochure.

Additional Information

If you wish to discuss any aspect of the trek or your suitability for it, please contact us by telephone:

Alternatively, you can contact us by email via the Contact Page on the website.

Booking

If you would like to book a place on this trek, you can do so on our secure on-line booking facility, on our website. The £300 deposit for this trek will secure you a place on your chosen departure. You will receive an automatic email confirmation, followed by a written confirmation of booking, experience questionnaire and Trek Dossier. Alternatively, you can book over the telephone or by sending in a booking form by post. Book Now!