The Everest Base Camp Gokyo Trek via Chola Pass is a beautiful trek that represents two great treks in one amazing trip. This 15-day Everest package carries you through the beautiful Valley of Gokyo, through the steep mountain crossing, Chola pass, and lastly to the mythical Everest Base Camp.
In the process, you will trek through the clear Gokyo Lakes, climb up Gokyo Ri mountain to gaze upon the amazing Himalaya, and finally cross your path along the traditional route to Everest Base Camp. The trip suits the person who wants a moderate to demanding Nepal trek, with plenty of variety, taking in serene lakes, as well as thrilling mountain passes.
The trek begins at Lukla, goes through Namche Bazaar, and explores the beauty of the Gokyo Lake trek, Chola pass trek, and the Everest region trek in a single visit. Our lead EBC through the Gokyo trek will give you the best adventure, scenery, and cultural mixture. As you trek across the core of the Khumbu region, you will be tucked into some of the comfortable teahouse lodgings.
If you want to trek to Everest Base Camp Gokyo Trek due to its unusual trail, or want to enjoy complementing Gokyo Ri hiking with visiting Everest Base Camp, this trek will provide you with unforgettable experiences. It is one of the most beautiful and wholesome Himalayan trekking Nepal experiences.
Everest Base Camp is the final goal of the trek, and provides an up-front view of the Khumbu Icefall and the south face of Mount Everest. It is a trekker’s heaven and the crown of the Everest Region Trek. Once you do this, you feel as though you have accomplished something bigger than anything. It is also the most appropriate place where one can experience the Everest expedition culture during the climbing season.
Gokyo Lakes Nepal or simply the Gokyo Lakes is a divine and beautiful chain of glacial lakes situated in the midst of Gokyo Valley. These crystal blue lakes are banked with snowy mountains, and this provides a very serene and beautiful halt. It is a non-crowded place in comparison to the main EBC trail, whereas the Himalayan experience is more peaceful. Nature enthusiasts doing the Gokyo Lake Everest Base Camp Trek must visit it.
One of the best climbs in the trek is the Gokyo RI hiking. At the top, you have a panoramic view of Mount Everest, Cho Oyu, Makalu, Lhotse, and others. According to many trekkers, the view of Gokyo Ri is even better than that at Kala Patthar. This is another key factor that makes people opt to use the route that will take them to the Gokyo Ri and Everest Base Camp Trek.
The journey to the crossing of Chola Pass Nepal is one of the adventures. The ascent is rather steep and cumbersome, yet can be dealt with by the physically fit trekkers who have correctly acclimatized. It is unforgettable due to the frozen trail, glacier sight, and big mountain landscapes. This part establishes the peculiar character of the EBC via Chola Pass trek.
Kala Patthar is the closest point to see Mount Everest. It is a short, steep climb out of Gorak Shep and is typically undertaken at sunrise. The golden rays of Everest and the mountains around it are beautiful and perfect to capture in photos. It is one of the biggest highlights of the Everest Base Camp and Gokyo Trek.
Namche Bazaar is a lively Sherpa village, the hub of Khumbu region trekking. It has excellent acclimatizing, local bakeries, markets, and cultural contact. Closer viewpoints give you the opportunity to enjoy mountain views as well as get the first view of Everest. It is a thrilling rest point at the early stages of the Everest Gokyo Trek through Chola Pass.
This trek offers deep cultural experiences in villages like Phortse, Dole, and Pangboche. You’ll meet friendly locals, see yak pastures, and visit ancient monasteries. The teahouse trekking in the Everest region allows you to connect with Sherpa hospitality every day. It adds heart and authenticity to the trek.
The adventure starts and concludes with an exciting flight between Kathmandu and Lukla, one of the most exciting airstrips in the world. When you fly over the Himalayas, you get a bird-perspective of the Himalayas at the start of your trip, even after you are not yet on the ground. It is a beautiful beginning to the Gokyo Chola Pass Everest Trek. After making the trek flight back is a time of celebration.
You will cross two of the biggest glaciers in Nepal, Khumbu Glacier at EBC, and Ngozumpa Glacier at Gokyo. They are amazing ice rivers that one would want to walk around. It brings in the actual feel of adventure and presents the unadulterated nature of trekking in the Himalayas of Nepal. Expect that some of the paths will be hard and full of ice.
Through the cover of wooded Rhododendron to alpine desert and frozen passes, the scenery alters continually in the Gokyo Everest trekking route. You will pass through valleys of rivers, Mountainous ridges, moraines, and Yak pasturelands. It is like an adventure every day. This diversity turns the 15 Days Everest Base Camp Trek into an unrepeatable experience.
Duration: It takes at least 16 days to do the Everest Base Camp Gokyo Trek Via Chola Pass Trek, thus you must have this day to take part.
Age requirement: Although there is no age limit for this trek, it is recommended for those who are at least 16 years old.
Experience: Due to the challenging nature, it’s best to have previous trekking experience for this EBC Gokyo Chola Pass trek. Normally, we wouldn’t recommend this trek to first-time trekkers, but if you want to, you’ll need to be really fit, well-prepared, and have a strong determination to succeed.
Fitness Criteria: Should be physically fit and must be able to walk for around 5-7 hours daily in rough and high-altitude terrain.
Health conditions: All the participants who want to join this trek must not have a previous history of altitude sickness(AMS) and underlying serious health issues such as heart, kidney, and respiratory issues. For your safety, we recommend that you do a full body check-up and consult with a doctor if you have any health issues.
Travel insurance: Highly recommended with the option of helicopter evacuation
What to expect: At high-altitude tea houses, be prepared for the simple and basic facilities.
Choosing the right time is key for the Everest Base Camp Gokyo Trek via Chola Pass, especially because this route includes high-altitude areas like Chola Pass (5,420m), which can be risky in bad weather. Here’s a breakdown of the best seasons:
Gokyo and EBC are great to trek in during the spring season. The weather is normal, the skies are clear, and no extreme temperature. Across the trail, you will find flowers blooming, rhododendrons, as well as snow-capped mountains. It is also good during crossing Chola Pass, which is more possible during this season as the ice is firm and can be managed.
The Gokyo Lake Everest Base Camp Trek is most popular during the season of autumn season. Following the monsoon, the air becomes fresh and visibility is excellent. This is the ideal time when Gokyo Ri hiking is possible, as well as a visit to the Everest Base Camp, along with trekking in the Khumbu region. The tracks are arid, the landscapes are clear, and the chances of snowing in Chola pass are not as high as during the winter.
Trekking in the winter is also possible, but we recommend it only for the highly experienced trekker because in winter, you need to deal with so many challenges. The Chola Pass trek can be very risky due to heavy snow and ice. Also, extreme harsh weather can affect your plans, so it’s important to have proper trekking gear and join a guided EBC via Gokyo trek for safety and support.
Monsoon is generally not suitable for the Everest Base Camp and Gokyo Trek. It is off season as the EBC Gokyo Chola Pass trek routes become slippery, flights to Lukla often get delayed, and clouds mostly block views in the monsoon. Also, continuous downpour can cause floods and landslides in the lower region.
| Month | Daytime Temperature (°C) | Nighttime Temperature (°C) | Weather Notes |
| January | -5 to 5 | -15 to -20 | Extremely cold, clear skies, fewer trekkers. |
| February | -3 to 7 | -12 to -18 | Cold but slightly warmer than January, clear views. |
| March | 0 to 10 | -8 to -15 | Start of spring, warmer days, blooming rhododendrons. |
| April | 5 to 15 | -5 to -10 | Pleasant weather, peak trekking season, clear mornings. |
| May | 8 to 18 | -2 to -8 | Warm days, occasional pre-monsoon clouds. |
| June | 10 to 20 | 0 to -5 | Start of monsoon season, cloudy with occasional rain. |
| July | 10 to 20 | 0 to -5 | Monsoon season, frequent rain, limited visibility. |
| August | 10 to 20 | 0 to -5 | Monsoon continues, lush greenery, fewer trekkers. |
| September | 8 to 18 | -2 to -8 | End of monsoon, clear skies, great visibility. |
| October | 5 to 15 | -5 to -10 | Peak trekking season, stable weather, stunning views. |
| November | 0 to 10 | -8 to -15 | Cold nights, clear skies, fewer trekkers. |
| December | -3 to 7 | -12 to -18 | Very cold, clear skies, off-season for trekking. |
Optional Short Hike to Everest View Hotel (3,880 m)
Optional Visit the Sherpa Culture Museum and Namche Monastery
Option 1: Hike to Nakarjung Hill (4,900 m)
Option 2: Hike to Chukung (4,730 m)
Return to Dingboche
The Everest Base Camp Gokyo Lake Trek via Cho La Pass is a tough high altitude trek in the Everest region of Nepal. This trek involves rough paths, glacier traversing, and the elevated Cho La Pass (5,420m), which shows it to be more demanding than the traditional EBC trek. Trekkers should be well physically fit, and prior hiking experience is highly advisable.
Rugged, nonetheless, the expedition literally treats you with breathtaking Himalayan sceneries that feature views of Mount Everest, Gokyo Lakes, as well as Gokyo Ri. It is one of the most fulfilling treks in Nepal, having created a blend between nature, beauty, and adventure. Adequate preparation and a slow, steady momentum will see most trekkers finish it safely.
To make preparations to cover the EBC Gokyo Lake Trek through Cho La Pass, begin training 6- 8 weeks prior to your tour. Give attention to cardio activities such as climbing mountains, jogging, and climbing stairs. Train your legs and build endurance to see you do strenuous hills and length walking days.
Also, be mentally ready for adverse weather, varied conditions, and modest facilities in tea houses. Bring good quality equipment such as warm clothing, hiking boots, and a smart down jacket. The secret to preventing altitude sickness is acclimatization days and slow walking.
The key issue during the EBC Gokyo Trek via Cho La Pass is altitude because you will walk over 5,000 meters at least once. Follow a gradual path of ascending, have rest days, and drink fluids to avoid Altitude Mountain Sickness (AMS). The majority of the itineraries involve acclimatization at Namche Bazaar and Gokyo.
Check what the body says to you. In case you observe such symptoms as headache, nausea, or dizziness, call your guide as soon as possible. The other key bits of safe acclimatization advice are the use of Diamox (if recommended), as well as water, and being slow in this trek.
The Everest Delight crew is composed of well-trained trekking guides and porters, and assistants who are well knowledgeable about the whole EBC Gokyo Lake via Cho La pass route. All team members are government-licensed and trained in first aid and high-altitude safety.
We focus on safety, comfort, and unforgettable Himalayan experiences. Our team ensures proper acclimatization, provides updated weather info, and takes care of your accommodation and meals during the trek. With Everest Delight, you're in safe and capable hands.
Due to increased traffic in the air in and out of Lukla, most flights are currently made to and from Manthali Airport, Ramechhap, mainly during the peak seasons of trekking (spring and autumn). It takes 4-5 hours of driving between Kathmandu and Ramechhap, and normally it begins early in the morning or late at night.
Trekkers will have to work the schedule out/or they can spend a night at Ramechhap based on flight times. Ramechhap to Lukla flights are less subject to weather conditions (time, approx. 1520 minutes) and less prone to failing. Whenever you book a ticket, make sure you recheck your flight time with your trekking company.
The EBC Gokyo Lake Trek through Cho La Pass requires essential travel insurance. The trail passes through high-altitude regions where altitude sickness or a halt in weather conditions is expected at certain points, Cho La Pass (5,420m). You must be insured against emergency helicopter evacuation, medical expenses, and trip cancellation.
Ensure that your insurance covers trekking up to 6,000 meters before booking. Have a print-out with you when trekking and inform your trekking guide about the information. It brings a sense of security and is needed in times of an emergency.
When you wish to book the EBC Gokyo Lake Trek via Cho La Pass with the assistance of Everest Delight, you need to make the payment of 20 percent of the total package price in the form of a non-refundable advance. This deposit commits your position and enables us to book permits, flights, and accommodation in advance. The payment is possible by bank transfer, online payment, or in cash at our office in Kathmandu.
The left-out amount has to be paid prior to the commencement of the trek, either in cash or by card. The 20-percent advance in case of cancellation is non-refundable. We, however, permit flexible rescheduling. Please look at all our policies regarding booking and cancellation, and get in contact with us to get updated information.
Preparing the right gear is very important for the EBC Gokyo Trek via Cho-La Pass, as this route goes through high altitudes, cold weather, and glacier crossings. Below is a well-organized packing list to help you stay warm, safe, and comfortable during your trek.
