Gokyo Ri Cho La Pass Everest Base Camp Trek – 21 Days

What to Expect in the Everest Base Camp Trek via Cho La Pass?

• You can get beautiful panoramic views of snow capped mountains from the get go of the trek. As your day progresses, you will have more close up views of these beautiful peaks.
• Despite the journey being challenging, the warm hospitality of local people will make you feel like home.
• You can experience tranquil trails during the first phase of your trek. During the second phase as you join EBC trail you can see the flock of tourists and trekkers mainly during peak season.
• It is normal to feel mild symptoms of AMS like headache, fatigue, insomnia etc.
• You can expect long hours of walking on the rugged terrain, loose scree and take many uphill and downhill. 

How Long is the Everest Base Camp and Gokyo Trek With Cho La Pass?

Trekking from Lukla to Gokyo valley while passing villages like Macchermo and Dole can take you about a week. This duration can also depend on the pace of the trekker and acclimatization days included. Furthermore, exploring Gokyo Ri and rejoining the classic Everest Base Camp route after crossing Cho La Pass can take you around 4 to 5 days. Progressing with the trek to base camp and returning to Lukla can take around a week. In this way, trekking to EBC, Gokyo Lake Cho La Pass can take you anywhere around 18 to 25 days. 

What is the Total Distance and Height of the Gokyo Ri Cho La Pass Everest Base Camp Trek?

In a rewarding journey of the Gokyo Ri Cho La Pass Everest Base Camp Trek, you will cover approximately 115 km from Lukla to Gokyo Valley, then walk to Everest Base Camp and return to Lukla via Khumjung. In this round trip, you will elevate to several higher altitudes, with the maximum elevation of 5545 m at Kalapatthar.

Where Does the Everest Gokyo and Cho La Pass Trek Start and End?

The Everest Base Camp Trek with Gokyo generally starts from Lukla. Whether you choose your Gokyo Ri Cho La Pass Everest Base Camp Trek itinerary clockwise or anticlockwise, you will begin the adventure from Lukla. However, if you are skipping the flight from Kathmandu to Lukla, you can start your trek from Salleri or Jiri, too. Either you embark on the base camp trek first and follow the Gokyo valley route, or vice versa, trekkers mostly end their trek in Lukla. 

How Difficult is the EBC Gokyo Lake Cho La Pass Trek?

Climbing Mount Everest is undoubtedly hard, but conquering the base of Everest via Gokyo and Cho La Pass is also a difficult journey. This trek is considered a moderately challenging trek where you will have to walk on the glacial moraines, take steep uphill and climb an icy mountain pass. On top of that, altitude adds an extra layer of difficulty in the trek. Furthermore, coping with the exhausting hours of walking in remote and secluded places can be daunting. 

Is the Cho La Pass EBC Trek With Gokyo Ri Suitable for Me?

While trekking to Gokyo Lake and the Everest Base Camp via Cho La Pass, you don’t have to cover any technical sections. However due to difficult terrain and altitude, this trek demands a good level of physical fitness and mental endurance. Moreover, prior high altitude trekking experience can be a plus point in this journey. Hence, if you have reasonable physical and mental fitness, you can easily complete this trek.

Likewise, if you are novice trekkers thinking of embarking on this journey, it is doable but you should make prior preparations properly. We advise you to first get hands on easy treks like Ghorepani Poon Hill trek or Annapurna Base Camp Trek so that it will be easy for you to deal with all trek challenges.

Furthermore, if you are someone looking for adventure with the ebay of both world, mainstream and remote trekking, this trek is made for you. However, if you have any health related issues, we recommend you to consult with your doctor first. 

What is the Best Time for Trekking to Gokyo Lake and the Everest Base Camp via Cho La Pass?

You can get the best of EBC Trek via Gokyo Lake if you set out during spring(March to May) and autumn(September to November) seasons. Known for the peak season for trekking in Nepal, these seasons offer the dry trails, pleasant atmosphere and incredible views. The crisp visibility of the mountain views along with rhododendron bloom along the trail makes this journey one of the best spring treks in Nepal. Moreover, the festive season that spreads throughout the trek during autumn 

What is Accommodation Like in the Everest Base Camp Trek via Cho La Pass and Gokyo?

Mostly all the teahouses and lodges in the Gokyo Ri Cho La Pass Everest Base Camp Trek offer you a twin sharing room with beds equipped with blankets, pillows and mattresses, However, the lower region like Lukla and Namche Bazaar only may have attached bathrooms of western style. As you incline to higher elevation like Gokyo, Lobuche or Gorakshep you can get a traditional style shared bathroom. During peak season, the teahouses can get packed so it is better to make early booking rather than searching for accommodation at the last minute.  

What Kind of Food and Drinks Are Available in the Everest Gokyo Trek With Cho La Pass?

You can find basic yet fulfilling meals in the teahouses. These teahouses can provide you meals for all 3 times. i.e. breakfast, lunch and dinner.

For breakfast, you can have bread, khapse, eggs, yea, coffee, paratha, chapati etc. Likewise, dinner and lunch will have similar food options like dal bhat tarkari, chowmein, fried rice, momo etc.

You can also get hot drinks, soft drinks and even hard drinks. But we don’t recommend drinking hard drinks on the trek as it can delay your acclimatization process and keep you at the risk of altitude sickness.

Do I Need Permits for the EBC Trek via Gokyo Lake?

Absolutely yes. Without the trekking permits, it is impossible to complete your Gokyo Cho La Pass Everest Base Camp Trek. You will need two permits. One is the Sagarmatha National Park Permit, which you will need to enter and access the trails within the national park. This permit will cost you around NRS 1500(around $15) if you are a SAARC national. Likewise, if you are citizens of countries other than SAARC nations, this permit will cost you around NRS 3000 (around $30).

Similarly, if you are Nepali, you will have to pay NRS 100 to acquire this permit. You can easily obtain this permit at the Tourist Service Centre in Kathmandu or at the gate of the national park in Monjo. Another permit you have to acquire is the Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality Permit. You will have to pay NRS 2000(around $20) for this local-level permit. 

How Much Does the Gokyo and Cho La Pass to EBC Trek Cost?

The Gokyo Ri Cho La Pass Via Everest Base Camp Trek cost will sit around USD 1600 to USD 2500 per person. However, this cost can rise or drop according to the services you choose, the duration of your trek, the itinerary, and the highlights. If you want a budget-friendly trek, you can limit your service to a basic or moderate level and trek in groups. If you want to make the trek luxurious, you can choose opulent services, food, and even book a helicopter for the return instead of trekking. 

How to Prevent Altitude Sickness in the Everest Base Camp Trek With Gokyo Lake and Cho La Pass?

The EBC Gokyo Trek takes you above 5000 m at various points, like Kalapatthar, Cho La Pass, and Gokyo Ri. Moreover, your trek starts above 2500 m from Lukla and quickly escalates to higher altitudes within the span of over two weeks. So, there are high chances of altitude sickness in this trek.

The key to avoiding high elevation sickness is altitude acclimatization. You should let your body adapt to the lower oxygen of the high altitude. Staying hydrated throughout the trek while properly resting and sleeping can boost your acclimatization to a greater extent. Moreover, you should try ascending slowly and take short breaks throughout the journey. If you suffer from mild symptoms of altitude sickness, you can stop ascending and take medications like Diamox to stop worsening the condition. However, if your condition worsens to shortness of breath, hallucinations, etc, you should immediately descend and seek medical help. 

How Can I Prepare Myself for Gokyo Valley With Cho La and Everest Base Camp Trek?

Being one of the moderately challenging treks in Nepal, it is necessary to make preparations beforehand to successfully complete the journey. Whether you are a seasoned trekker or just a beginning trekker, preparing physically and mentally will help you cope with the difficult terrain, mountain passes, and high altitude during the hike. It’s just that the intensity of the preparation can be different for each trekker.

Exercises like squats, lunges,  planks, push-ups, etc, will increase your strength and stability. Likewise, cardio exercises like stair climbing, cycling, hiking, swimming, etc, will help to increase endurance and foster better circulation. Not only should you look out for physical fitness, but you should also prepare for mental resilience.

After walking long hours continuously for almost 3 weeks, it is normal to feel exhausted and want to give up. Hence, preparing mentally beforehand will help increase your determination and willpower. It will also foster decision-making amidst the chaos. Hence, you should build a strong mentality and adaptability, along with understanding the difficulties of the trek. 

Why Choose Mountain Adventure Trekking for Gokyo Ri Cho La Pass EBC Trek?

Mountain Adventure Trekking is prepared to provide you trekking and touring service for decades. Our well planned itinerary, English speaking guides and team members are just an email or phone call away from connecting you to the beautiful Everest region. From the reflective turquoise waters of Gokyo Lakes to the powerful presence of Everest itself, your every day on the trail of Gokyo Ri Cho La Pass Everest Base Camp Trek will be extraordinary. Contact us.