19-Day Everest Base Camp Trek from Kathmandu via Gokyo and Cho La

• After arriving at the airport, transfer to your hotel in Kathmandu.

• Enjoy some free time and rest.

• Enjoy a free day in Kathmandu and attend the trek presentation.

• Reach the domestic airport and fly to Lukla (2780 m / 9175 ft), the gateway to Everest Base Camp, on a 35-minute Trans Himalaya flight. Experience the dramatic landing on the hillside airstrip at Lukla, meet the porters, and begin the downhill walk to the beautiful Sherpa settlement of Choplung.

• The trail continues along the side of the Dudh Koshi valley before ascending to Ghat (2530 m / 8350 ft).

• Climb gently for about an hour to arrive at Phakding.

• Trek through beautiful pine forest along the side of the Dudh Koshi River, crossing many suspension bridges via Sherpa, Benkar, Choma, Monjo, and Jorsale village.

• Head to the National Park permit checkpoint with tranquil views of the glistening Mt. Thamserku (6618 m).

• Trek through the Dudh Koshi riverbed to the confluence of the Bhote Koshi and Dudh Koshi rivers.

• The trail climbs steadily, crossing the Tenzing-Hillary suspension bridge. On the way, catch an inspiring glimpse of Mt. Everest beside the Nuptse-Lhotse ridge.

• Ascend for about 3 hours through beautiful pine forest and arrive at the prosperous trading and administrative village of Namche Bazaar.

• Spend a day here to become accustomed to the thinning air. Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) and health experts advise staying at least one extra night. Namche Bazaar has ATMs, cyber cafes, delicious restaurants, bakeries, and colourful markets each Friday evening and Saturday morning.

• Visit Sagarmatha National Park to explore exhibits related to the first Everest climbers, Sherpa culture, and the various plant and animal life of the Everest region.

• Explore the large traditional Sherpa village of Khumjung with beautiful views of Thamserku, Kangtega, Ama Dablam, and Mt. Everest.

• The trail leads on with superb views of Mt. Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse, Ama Dablam, and close-up views of Thamserku and Kangtega.

• Spot wildlife such as musk deer, Himalayan tahr, and the Himalayan monal.

• Trek along the Dudh Koshi River past a few lodges and a series of picturesque water-driven prayer wheels. Cross the suspension bridge over the Dudh Koshi River, then make a steep climb through pine and juniper forest for about 2 hours to reach Tengboche.

• Explore the famous Tengboche Monastery with Ama Dablam, Nuptse, Mt. Everest, and many more peaks in the background.

• During October-November, on the full moon, the colourful Mani Rimdu festival is celebrated in the monastery courtyard with masked dancing and Tibetan opera.

• The trail descends to Dingboche, a small village with Chorten and Mani stone walls, as well as a nunnery.

• Cross the suspension bridge over Imja Khola and gradually climb to Pangboche to see the beautiful Ama Dablam, one of the most striking mountains in the Everest region.

• Trek upstream closer to the Imja River on a pleasant route toward the Imja valley, which opens fairly to the confluence of the Lobuche River.

• Explore Dingboche, the last Sherpa settlement, with beautiful terraced fields enclosed by stone walls to protect barley, buckwheat, and potatoes from the cold wind and grazing animals.

• Walk through the stone-walled fields of Dingboche and the alpine landscape. Continue trekking into the beautiful Imja valley, with Lhotse towering on your left and Ama Dablam on your right.

• After 3 km of walking, the trail leads to Bibre (4570 m), a yak herdsman's place. Straight ahead, beyond a terminal moraine wall, you can see the popular trekking peak Island Peak (Imja Tse, 6189 m). Imja Tse looks impressive with its steep rock and icy south face. The trail ahead is intersected by icy streams, and after about 30 minutes from Bibre, you arrive at Chhukung.

• After lunch, hike to the rocky knoll of Chhukung Ri at 5546 m, which offers stunning views of Lhotse, Ama Dablam, Makalu, and several other peaks, including Baruntse.

• A scheduled second rest day for better acclimatization in Chhukung is recommended before setting off for the pass. However, you are not supposed to stay inactive. The view from Chhukung Valley across the moraines toward Island Peak (6189 m) is tremendous.

• Trek to Island Peak Base Camp (4970 m) along the Lhotse Glacier, passing the swollen waters of Imja Lake. The great south face of Lhotse towers above to the north, Amphu Labtsa Pass (5845 m), and immense fluted ice walls dominate the southern horizon. To the southwest, the eastern face of Ama Dablam provides an amazing view of this picturesque peak.

• Start from Chhukung to conquer the highest pass of the trip. Carry plenty of water, some snacks, and a packed lunch, as there are no lodges on the way.

• Enjoy the beautiful natural landscape. You may choose either of the possible trails - climbing over the hill northwest of Chhukung across the moraine of the Nuptse Glacier, or walking back down the valley to Bibre and following a high trail above the Niyang Khola.

• Take in incredible views of the Island Peak valley and the jagged ridge of Amphu Lapcha. Ascending along the east side of the Niyang Khola valley, turn west and walk through the sloping stony trail into a wide basin dotted with small frozen lakes. The trail rises over loose scree to gain Kongma La Pass after about five hours from Chhukung.

• Reach the top to see prayer flags and a cairn. Behind you lies a landscape of icy lakes, and ahead is the Khumbu Glacier.

• The final descent is the most difficult stage of the trek, climbing the moraine on the far side before the trail turns north through the Khumbu Glacier to reach Lobuche.

• Travel through windy and rocky paths with views of the north ridge of Everest, along with Mt. Pumori, Mahalangur Himal, Khumbutse, and Nuptse. The trail continues along the side of the Khumbu Glacier to Gorakshep.

• Check in to the hotel and have lunch.

• In the afternoon, set out to visit the world's highest Everest Base Camp. Base Camp does not offer a direct view of Mt. Everest, but it has a fantastic view of the Khumbu Icefall and the colourful campsite of Everest expeditions during expedition season.

• Early in the morning, the trail climbs for 2-3 hours up to Kala Patthar (5,550 m / 18,207 ft) to witness panoramic sunrise views over Mt. Everest, Mt. Pumori, Mt. Lingtren, Khumbutse, Changtse, Mt. Lhotse, Mt. Nuptse, Mt. Ama Dablam, and many more peaks.

• Trek down to Gorakshep and retrace the route to Lobuche.

• After lunch, the path to Dzongla branches off from the main trail some distance from Lobuche. After crossing a stream, continue through a fork and later curve around to the wide gravelly riverbed of the stream as it flows southwestward. The trail crosses it and climbs the ridge ahead, where you can see the soaring heights of Ama Dablam, Kangtega, and Thamserku. Pheriche village is also visible in the distance below. As the ridge veers northward, the vast Cho La Lake spreads below Mt. Cholatse. The lake remains in view over a long stretch until you descend to a wide basin.

• The trail climbs up and descends steeply to another broad basin. After an hour's walk, traverse the basin and, shortly after crossing a wobbly bridge, reach Dzongla.

• Early in the morning, step out of the lodge to see the mesmerizing sight of Cholatse looming above.

• The trek begins from Dzongla and descends to a basin across which a murmuring stream meanders, crusted with ice in places. In about an hour, you reach the top of the basin and prepare for the ascent of Cho La. As you gain height, the view becomes increasingly captivating. Cho La Lake begins to appear, while Ama Dablam, in its pyramidal form, presides over a range of mountains to the south and Cholatse soars to the west.

• Climbing the incline is not easy. It is steep and made more difficult by boulders, some of which require scrambling. You need to stay alert, as rocks can be glazed with ice. The final climb to Cho La can be tricky as the trail curves around a crevasse.

• Reach the top and see prayer flags strung across cairns, flapping in the strong wind, while witnessing breathtaking scenery of majestic peaks in all directions. The descent toward Thangnag can be clearly made out from the pass, but although it is manageable, it can be hazardous if rocks are glazed with ice, so caution is needed.

• Reach Thangnag, a more substantial hamlet with a small village. Step out of the settlement and enjoy beautiful mountain views.

• After a short walk, the trail reaches the edge of the Ngozumpa Glacier, the longest glacier in Nepal. Head to the other side of the glacier and witness the second Gokyo Lake in the series of six lakes. A short distance away is the third Gokyo Lake. On the edge of this lake stands Gokyo Village, where you finally rest for the day.

• Climb Gokyo Ri (5350 m), the small peak above the lake, to enjoy one of the best viewpoints in the Everest region. This peak of 5350 m is sometimes called Kala Pathar, though it should not be confused with the Kala Pathar above Gorakshep, even if the view is similar.

• The trail continues to the fourth and fifth lakes, where you can admire the mesmerizing shimmering turquoise-blue water.

• Climb for two hours to the top of the peak, which provides a panoramic view of Cho Oyu, Gyachung King, Lhotse, Makalu, Cholatse, and Taboche.

• Several small peaks in this region offer vantage points over the surrounding mountains and views of Nangpa La, the old trade route into Tibet.

• Start the trail to Marlung (4210 m) after crossing Renjo La (5345 m), as there is no alternative overnight stop before Marlung.

• Proceed down from Gokyo Valley, leave the main trail, and turn onto the Renjo La trail by Dudh Pokhari. Trek for 3 hours toward Renjo La Pass and enjoy beautiful views of Everest, Lhotse, Cholatse, and Taboche shining in the sun. The views from Renjo La are much like those from Gokyo Ri, with the third Gokyo Lake and Gokyo Village lying beneath the grey smear of the Ngozumpa Glacier.

• Trek down from the pass through a stone staircase and move over loose scree to reach the south bank of a small lake, Angladumba Tsho. Ice on the trail can make the descent hazardous. Along the way, see Relama Tsho and Renjo Lake.

• Walk down a narrow valley clogged with giant boulders to Lumde, where there is a support lodge, though it is often closed. Walk almost an hour from Lumde (4350 m) to reach Marlung on the east bank of the Bhote Koshi.

• Trek down from Marlung, cross the Bhote Koshi River, and descend to Taranga. The trail passes through the valley of Langmuche Khola. This stream drains from Dig Tsho, the glacial lake that burst its banks in 1985 and caused devastating floods along the Dudh Koshi Valley. Continue on the moraine to Thame, a sprawling village with lodges and stunning mountain views of Thamserku, Kangtega, and Kusum Kanguru. See the beautiful Gumba village situated among fields on a hill to the west. The colourful Mani Rimdu festival, featuring mask dances, is held in Gumba in May.

• Trek down after crossing a bridge and reach Samdo for breathtaking views, then continue toward Thame village, which hosts a monastery called Khari Gumba, a nunnery home to both nuns and monks.

• After passing through a checkpoint, come to the world's highest hydroelectric power station, built with Austrian help. The project provides electricity to most parts of upper Khumbu. Reach the small village of Phortse, where Lawudo Monastery, run by Kopan Monastery of Boudhanath in Kathmandu, is popular among Westerners for Buddhist study and meditation.

• Reach Namche again, passing colourful prayer flags, Mani walls, and Chortens.

• After breakfast, retrace the main trail down along the Dudh Koshi from Namche through the Khumbu Himalayas to the National Park exit checkpoint at Jorsalle.

• The trail follows the downstream flow of the Dudh Koshi River, retracing the route to Phakding.

• Continue to Lukla, passing different Sherpa villages and crossing a suspension bridge above Thado Kosh.

• In the last section of the day, ascend for about 45 minutes to complete the entire trek and bid farewell to the local porters.

• Fly back to Kathmandu (35 minutes) in the morning and transfer to the hotel.

• Enjoy a free afternoon.

Overnight stay in Kathmandu at a boutique hotel with breakfast.

• Transfer to Kathmandu Airport.