- Length
- 15 days
- Highest point
- 5,545 m
- Difficulty
- Challenging
- Best months
- Oct–Nov, Mar–May
- Starts
- Lukla (fly from Kathmandu)
- Group size
- 2–12 People
- Sleeping
- Tea House
See Everest from two legendary viewpoints — Gokyo Ri's sweeping four-peak panorama and Kala Patthar's close-up of the south face — on one 15-day adventure through the Khumbu's best valleys.
- Gokyo Ri (5,357 m) AND Kala Patthar (5,545 m) — two iconic Khumbu summits in one trek
- Five sacred Gokyo Lakes strung at 4,700–5,000 m — among Nepal's most surreal landscapes
- Everest Base Camp (5,364 m) via the classic Khumbu approach
- Cho La Pass (5,420 m) — glacier crossing connecting the Gokyo and Khumbu valleys
- Ngozumpa Glacier — Nepal's longest glacier at 36 km
- Namche Bazaar Sherpa capital, market, and mountain museum
- Best comprehensive Khumbu itinerary: EBC + Gokyo combined in 15 days
- Ama Dablam, Lhotse, and Makalu views throughout the trek
The climb, day by day
Day 1Fly Kathmandu to Lukla (2,860 m) · Trek to Phakding (2,610 m)2,610 m
Early morning flight to Lukla through spectacular Himalayan scenery. Begin trekking south through Sherpa villages along the Dudh Koshi river to the peaceful riverside settlement of Phakding.
- Distance
- 8 km
- Walking
- 3–4 hours
- Meals
- B, L, D
- Night
- Tea House
Day 2Phakding to Namche Bazaar (3,440 m)3,440 m
Cross multiple prayer-flag-draped suspension bridges over the Dudh Koshi gorge. Enter Sagarmatha National Park and make the classic 600 m climb to the Sherpa gateway town of Namche Bazaar.
- Distance
- 11 km
- Walking
- 5–6 hours
- Meals
- B, L, D
- Night
- Tea House
Day 3Acclimatisation Day — Namche Bazaar (3,440 m)3,440 m
Morning acclimatisation hike to the Everest View Hotel (3,962 m) for your first clear sighting of Everest, Lhotse, and Ama Dablam. Explore the Sherpa Museum and the lively Namche market. Rest well.
- Distance
- 4 km
- Walking
- 3 hours hike
- Meals
- B, L, D
- Night
- Tea House
Day 4Namche Bazaar to Dole (4,200 m)4,200 m
Branch off the main EBC trail and head northwest up the Dudh Koshi valley towards the Gokyo Lakes. Climb through forest and yak pastures to the high-altitude settlement of Dole, with superb views of Cho Oyu.
- Distance
- 10 km
- Walking
- 4–5 hours
- Meals
- B, L, D
- Night
- Tea House
Day 5Dole to Machhermo (4,470 m)4,470 m
Continue up the Dudh Koshi valley past grazing yaks and dramatic glacial scenery. Arrive at Machhermo — site of a famous snow leopard and yeti folklore — and enjoy sweeping views of the Cho Oyu massif.
- Distance
- 8 km
- Walking
- 4–5 hours
- Meals
- B, L, D
- Night
- Tea House
Day 6Machhermo to Gokyo (4,790 m)4,790 m
Final approach to the jewel of the Khumbu — the Gokyo Lakes. Trek past the sacred first and second lakes, their turquoise waters a startling contrast to the grey moraine. Arrive at Gokyo village on the third lake.
- Distance
- 8 km
- Walking
- 4–5 hours
- Meals
- B, L, D
- Night
- Tea House
Day 7Gokyo Ri (5,357 m) · Explore 2nd and 3rd Lakes4,790 m
Summit Gokyo Ri at dawn for a world-class 360-degree panorama of Everest, Cho Oyu, Makalu, and Lhotse — four of the world top six peaks. Afternoon walk to the colourful second and third Gokyo Lakes.
- Distance
- 7 km
- Walking
- 5–6 hours
- Meals
- B, L, D
- Night
- Tea House
Day 8Cho La Pass (5,420 m) to Lobuche (4,940 m)4,940 m
The most dramatic day of the trek. Cross the glaciated Cho La Pass at 5,420 m — crampons often required on the upper snowfield. Descend the far side to rejoin the EBC trail at Lobuche near the Khumbu Glacier.
- Distance
- 15 km
- Walking
- 7–8 hours
- Meals
- B, L, D
- Night
- Tea House
Day 9Lobuche to Gorak Shep (5,164 m) · Everest Base Camp (5,364 m)5,164 m
Cross glacial moraine to Gorak Shep — the highest village in the Khumbu. Continue to Everest Base Camp and stand at the foot of the famous Khumbu Icefall. Return to Gorak Shep for the night.
- Distance
- 13 km
- Walking
- 7–8 hours
- Meals
- B, L, D
- Night
- Tea House
Day 10Kala Patthar (5,545 m) · Descend to Pheriche (4,240 m)4,240 m
Pre-dawn climb to Kala Patthar for the most iconic Everest sunrise view in the Himalayas. Descend via Lobuche to Pheriche — lungs gratefully fill with thicker air as altitude drops.
- Distance
- 16 km
- Walking
- 7–8 hours
- Meals
- B, L, D
- Night
- Tea House
Day 11Pheriche to Tengboche (3,860 m)3,860 m
Descend back through the rhododendron forest above Debuche to Tengboche. The monastery bell rings at dusk — a perfect soundtrack to the final high-altitude night.
- Distance
- 12 km
- Walking
- 5–6 hours
- Meals
- B, L, D
- Night
- Tea House
Day 12Tengboche to Namche Bazaar (3,440 m)3,440 m
Descend through Phunki Thanga and back up to the familiar streets of Namche Bazaar. Celebrate with your team over a hot meal and cold drinks.
- Distance
- 10 km
- Walking
- 4–5 hours
- Meals
- B, L, D
- Night
- Tea House
Day 13Namche Bazaar to Lukla (2,860 m)2,860 m
Final trekking day — the well-worn trail back through Jorsalle and Phakding to Lukla. Farewell dinner with guides and porters, sharing stories of the trail.
- Distance
- 18 km
- Walking
- 6–7 hours
- Meals
- B, L, D
- Night
- Tea House
Day 14Fly Lukla to Kathmandu1,400 m
Early morning flight to Kathmandu. Afternoon free for last-minute shopping or sightseeing. Farewell dinner in Thamel.
- Distance
- –
- Walking
- Flight
- Meals
- B, L, D
- Night
- Hotel
Day 15Departure Day1,400 m
Airport transfer and departure. Your Gokyo and EBC adventure comes to a triumphant close.
- Distance
- –
- Walking
- –
- Meals
- B
- Night
- –
The price includes
- Government-certified English-speaking senior trek guide
- Porter (1 per 2 trekkers; 18 kg max)
- Sagarmatha National Park entry permit
- Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality permit
- Kathmandu–Lukla–Kathmandu round-trip flights (scheduled)
- All teahouse accommodation on trek
- 3 meals per day (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
- Kathmandu hotel and airport transfers
- Altitude illness prevention kit and pulse oximeter
- All government taxes and service charges
You pay separately
- International flights
- Nepal visa
- Travel insurance
- Personal gear
- Tips
The EBC and Gokyo Lakes Combined Trek is the Khumbu's ultimate 15-day adventure — combining both of the Everest region's iconic destinations in one circuit by crossing the challenging Cho La Pass (5,420 m). One week on the classic EBC trail (Namche, Tengboche, Dingboche, Lobuche, Base Camp, Kala Patthar), then a crossing of the glacier-draped Cho La into the Gokyo valley for the turquoise lakes and the Gokyo Ri summit (5,357 m) panorama of four 8,000 m peaks. It is the most comprehensive single itinerary available in the Khumbu.
The Cho La crossing is the route's centrepiece — a technically straightforward glacier crossing at 5,420 m with fixed ropes on the steepest sections, requiring crampons for the upper snowfield (included in your gear). Your guide carries emergency oxygen and a Gamow bag as standard on all crossings above 5,000 m. The pass rewards with the wild western Khumbu landscape — the Ngozumpa glacier moraine, the silence of the Gokyo valley, and the blue-green lakes strung northward from Gokyo village.
This itinerary is appropriate for fit trekkers who have already spent 10+ days at altitude (or have prior high-altitude trekking experience) and want the most comprehensive single Khumbu experience possible.
Logistics: Which Direction?
We run this route EBC-first (Lukla → Namche → Dingboche → Lobuche → EBC → Kala Patthar → Cho La → Gokyo → Namche → Lukla). This direction front-loads the most demanding altitude work while legs are fresh and acclimatisation is building — the Cho La crossing comes at day 10 when the body is well-adapted. The reverse direction (Gokyo first) risks trekkers crossing Cho La before adequate acclimatisation at high altitude.
Best seasons: October–November and March–May. Cho La pass: Crampons required (provided). Max altitude: Kala Patthar 5,545 m.