Explore this beautiful place with me in this article, while I explain the day to day itinerary to this exciting trek.
Trip duration: 15 days
Difficulty: Moderate
Max altitude: 5643 m
Best months to visit: March, April, and May (Pre Monsoon). September, October, and December (Post Monsoon)
Fitness Level: Moderate
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Day 01: Flight From Kathmandu To Lukla (2860m), Trek to Phakding (2610m)
Trekking time: 3 to 4 hours max
Difficulty: Easy
Most flights from Kathmandu to Lukla leave in the morning. The weather can be really bad in the day time. An early flight from Kathmandu will take you to Lukla. During this 354 minutes of flight, you can see incredible views of the mountains and beautiful terrains.
Lukla airport is one of the most dangerous in the world. I am always terrified of landing in this airport. The airport lies between hills, and I’m sure this will be a thrilling experience for you.
Upon arriving at Lukla, explore this small town and its streets. You will have a delicious lunch in traditional Sherpa Eatery. And start hiking towards Phakding when you are ready. There are a few suspension bridges over a beautiful river on the way to Phakding.
After a few hours of a smooth hike through beautiful landscapes, you will arrive at Phakding. Rest at Phakding for the night.
Day 02: Trek From Phakding to Namche Bazaar (3440m)
Trekking time: 6 hours
Difficulty: Moderate
You will leave for Namche Bazaar today. It is better to start early, while the sky is clear and the birds are singing. The hike from Phakding to Namche Bazaar has lots of ups and downs. Start hiking from Phakding, and after 2 hours, you will reach Monjo, a small town.
Monjo is close to Namche Bazaar. Leaving Monjo behind, you will hike on a smooth trail for about 1.5 hours. Then after crossing a few suspension bridges, you need to take an uphill climb to reach Namche.
You will arrive at the checkpoint to Namche after climbing for around 2 to 3 hours. Register at the entry checkpoint and walk for another 15 minutes to reach Namche.
Namche is a small town. This place is beautiful and gets busy during these trekking seasons. There are beautiful houses and beautiful people in Namche. This place is rich in natural beauty and ancient Sherpa culture. You will stay at a nice Hotel with Wifi and Hot shower.
Day 03: Acclimatization at Namche
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Trekking time: Around 6 hours or more
Difficulty: Easy
You will get to spend another day at this beautiful place, as your body needs proper acclimatization. Getting used to the altitude is very important. It will lessen the risk of altitude sickness.
But it is not a day to rest at your hotel. You need to do short hikes and explore this beautiful place. Explore this beautiful place at the Sagarmatha National Park.
Get up early in the morning, have some breakfast, and start hiking North. If you are lucky, you will get to witness the peaceful Buddhist chanting in a local monastery at a small village (Khnude village). You can get a great view of the valley from this place.
There is another small but famous village just 10 minutes east of Khunde village. Khumjung village is popular among many trekkers. Khumjung is where you can get your first sighting of the sacred Ama Dablam mountain. You can rest here, have lunch, and head off south to the Everest View Hotel. And as the name suggests, you can view Everest from here.
You will have a relaxing evening at Namche with some hot tea and bread. There is no ATM ahead of Namche. So, make sure you have enough cash and gears. You will not find anything later on this journey. Plus, do not forget to take a hot shower here you will rarely get any for the rest of your trekking.
Day 04: Hike from Namche to Dole (4038m)
Trekking time: 6 hours
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
You will cross the 4000m altitude today. But the acclimatization yesterday works like magic. You will not suffer from altitude sickness. After a day well spent at Namche, you will continue your journey. Your destination for today is Dole.
Today’s hiking is exciting and tiring. You will be walking through dense forests, leaving the classic Everest Base Camp route on the other side. The uphill hike can be tiring, but your reward is the incredible views of Mount Everest. Ama Dablam and Lhotse.
There are ancient monasteries and small Sherpa civilization for you to explore. You need to walk across beautiful Pine Forest. It will take you about 6 hours from Namche to reach Dole.
You will rest at a local tea house for the night.
Day 05: Hike from DoleTo Machhermo(4470m)
Trekking time: 5 hours
Difficulty: Easy to moderate
Your destination for today is Machhermo. Today’s hike includes some pleasant walk through the pine and oak forests. There are some smooth tracks as well as some steep paths. You will be walking alongside the beautiful terrains and mountains at a distance.
It is a short hike from Dole to Machhermo. After gaining some altitude and hiking through gentle slopes, you will reach a small village, Machhermo. There are small Sherpa settlements at Machhermo. You will spend the night here.
Day 06: Reach Gokyo (4800m) And Explore
Trekking time: 5 hours
Difficulty: Moderate
You will be reaching Gokyo today. This beautiful place lies in the region of Sagarmatha National Park. After a pleasant breakfast at Machhermo, you will head off towards Gokyo. You need to hike on a steady uphill to reach the Gokyo village.
This hike is exciting, with some rocky trails and beautiful sceneries in the way. You might see different animals while you hike towards Gokyo. The red panda might come and pay a visit to you. Make sure you do not scare these rare animals. You will also get to view the fascinating Ngozumpa Glacier, Gokyo Lake I, and a few monasteries on your way towards Gokyo.
Gokyo valley is beautiful. This small valley is surrounded by huge peaks, and there are lots of lakes around the valley. An ancient Sherpa settlement fills the small village of Gokyo. Feel free to explore this place, and you will get to see some of the most beautiful landscapes and lakes. You will also see the mountains like Lhotse, Makalu, Cho Oyu and standing tall among them, the Everest.
You will stay tonight at Gokyo.
Day 07: Morning Hike to Gokyo Ri (5357m) and Gokyo Lake V
Trekking time: 3 to 5 hours
Difficulty: Hard
It is better to climb up to Gokyo Ri in the morning. I suggest you reach the summit before sunrise. It is because the sunrise from this place is one of the most heavenly experiences. However, the climb from Gokyo village to Gokyo Ri is a difficult one.
You need to climb straight uphill on some rocky mountains. There are huge boulders on the way up. The harsh uphill climb on the rocky mountain is tough. This hike reminds me of the climb from Gorak Shep to Kalapatthar.
But the reward that you get upon reaching the top is hard to explain. You can see the Gokyo Lake, and the Everest. You can also see the Cho La pass. The panoramic view of the great mountains is mesmerizing. You can see the Sagarmatha region and a huge area of the Sagarmatha National Park from up there.
You can explore the Gokyo village or trek to the fifth Gokyo lake. Experience the beautiful day at Gokyo with its tradition and beauty.
Day 08: Gokyo to Thangna (4700m)
Trekking time: 2 hours
Difficulty: Easy
Today’s trekking is a short and pleasant one. You will descent for about 2 hours and reach Thangna. Rest at Thangna for the night.
Day 09: Trek from Thangna to Dzongla (4830m) via Cho La Pass (5420m)
Trekking time: 7 to 8 hours
Difficulty: Very difficult
You will experience one of the most extreme trekking routes today. The Cho La Pass is one of the three passes in Sagarmatha region. Start early and head towards Cho La pass. It will be complicated to walk as time goes by.
After crossing a valley, you will trek over the wall of mountains. The upward path that leads to Cho La pass is difficult with rough and scree landscapes. You will reach the summit after about an hour of a hard climb. The mountains afar and valley beneath are beautiful.
As you move forward, you will come across the Cho La glacier. You will have to walk through this glacier. The path is steep, slippery, and thrilling. You will get across this glacier in about 40 minutes.
The trail continues onward, and you will reach a viewpoint. You will get a breathtaking view of some of the tallest mountains from this point. The valley is as beautiful as ever, and the mountains are incredible.
Continue the descent trail, and you will reach Dzongla. Get some rest for the night at a local guest house.
Day 10: Dzongla to Lobuche (4940m)
Trekking time: 3 hours
Difficulty: Easy
You will walk on a smooth trail today alongside the Khumbu Glacier and through the valley. Hike for 3 hours, and you will reach Lobuche.
Rest at a hotel for the night.
Day 11: Lobuche to Gorakshep and Everest Base Camp (5380m)
Trekking time: About 6 hours
Difficulty: Moderate
Your destination for today is the Everest Base Camp. It is the ultimate place at the Sagarmatha National Park. The journey starts with a smooth walk. Soon the path begins uphill until you reach Gorakshep.
And after rough hiking, you will reach the Everest Base Camp. The 360-degree panoramic view of the mountains is incredible. The Base Camp is a beautiful place to visit. Take your time and head back to Gorakshep. Rest overnight at Gorakshep.
Day 12: Early morning hike to Kalapatthar (5643m) and Hike to Pheriche (4371m)
Trekking time: 7 to 8 hours
Difficulty: Hard
Do you remember the hike to Gokyo Ri? The hike up to Kalapatthar might be even tougher than that one. The uphill climb is tiring, but the reward is incredible. Everest seems much more beautiful from up here than from the base camp. The moment when the first ray of sun hits Everest is out of this world.
The Sagarmatha National Park looks incredible from up there.
Your destination for today is Pheriche. You will see descent towards Pheriche. You will rest at a hotel in Pheriche.
Day 13: Back to Namche
Trekking time: 7 hours
Difficulty: Moderate
Your trip to the Sagarmatha region is almost over. The trail to Namche from Pheriche is beautiful. You will walk through dense forests and across rivers. There are many suspension bridges and monasteries.
After crossing a dense Pine forest, you will reach Namche. There are some steep uphill climbs even towards the end of your journey.
Rest at Namche. Have some coffee or hot tea and a hot shower. You deserve it. Rest overnight at Namche.
Day 14: Back to Lukla
Trekking time: 6 hours
Difficulty: Moderate
The final day of your beautiful visit in the Everest region ends at Lukla. The past 13 days have been tiring and exciting. Upon reaching Lukla, rest at a hotel. You will catch an early flight for Kathmandu tomorrow.
Day 15: Flight to Kathmandu
You survived the thrilling landing on day 1. Now you will experience the thrilling takeoff from Lukla airport.
The flight is pleasant and filled with beautiful views.
Your Gokyo Ri trek, Sagarmatha National Park ends once you land in Kathmandu.
Sagarmatha National Park is a world heritage site. This place is home to many animals and plants. Make sure you do not harm these rare species. Make sure you keep your environment clean. Do not make this beautiful place a dumping site. Make sure you follow the Nepal government and local rules.
Related:
For more detailed information about the treks please Contact us.
