Everest Cho La Pass Trek Overview
Explore the beautiful alpine Gokyo Lakes and cross a high mountain pass, Cho La, passing by the biggest glacier in Nepal, Ngozumpa Glacier. Enjoy overnight stays in remote Sherpa villages and hike to EBC and Kala Patthar on the Cho La Pass Trek for 19 Days with Outfitter Himalaya.
The Cho La Pass trek is one of the most adventurous trekking trips beyond the mainstream EBC trail. It extends to the challenging Cho La Pass (5,420 m) and explores the beautiful Gokyo Valley. Rest assured, we have comprehensive safety measures in place, including experienced guide and proper acclimatization, to ensure your Trek is as safe as it is thrilling.
The Cho La Pass Trek is a challenging adventure, suitable for fit trekkers looking for thrills in the Khumbu region. The itinerary combines a hike to EBC and KalaPatthar before crossing the Chola and walking along the Ngozumpa glacier to Gokyo Valley. Please note that this Trek requires good physical fitness and stamina.
The Cho La Pass Trek is also known as the Gokyo Lakes and Cho La Pass Trek with EBC. The magnificent mountain views, picturesque villages, intimate encounters with locals, and verdant forests make the Everest Cho La Pass trekking a lifetime venture.
Unlike the EBC trek, the Cho La Pass Trek allows you to spend more time in the mountains and enjoy many places of interest. We have meticulously planned the most beautiful overnight stays along the trekking route, ensuring your comfort and a good night's sleep after walking. Rest assured, your safety and comfort are our top priorities.
Everest Cho La Pass Trek Highlights
- Guided sightseeing in Kathmandu
- Lifetime flight experience between Kathmandu and Lukla
- Trek through lush forests of rhododendrons and beautiful remote Sherpa villages
- Enjoy the wonders of the Khumbu region and Sagarmatha National Park
- Excellent side excursions to places like Everest View Hotel, Nagarjuna Hill and Gokyo Ri during acclimatization days
- Stand at the base of the highest mountain in the world, Everest base camp and explore the gorgeous sunrise from Kala Patthar
- Cross Cho La pass and walk by the longest glacier in the Himalayas, Ngozumpa Glacier
- Reach Everest Base Camp
- Explore Gokyo Lakes and the beautiful Gokyo village
Major Attractions of Cho La Pass Trek
Guided sightseeing in Kathmandu
On the second day of your arrival in Kathmandu, we will arrange a guided sightseeing tour of historical sites, which will be a full-day tour guided by one of our experienced tour guides. The tour involves visiting UNESCO World Heritage Sites, such as the holy Pashupatinath Temple, one of the oldest temples in Nepal and a pilgrimage site.
The next monument is the biggest stupa in Nepal, Boudhnath Stupa, and the famous Monkey Temple. Likewise, you'll explore Kathmandu Durbar Square. This monument used to be a royal residence and now is an open museum with palaces, courtyards, and shrines.
Lifetime flight experience between Kathmandu and Lukla
You might have heard many things about Kathmandu Lukla flights, like how crazy the flight experience is, its overwhelming takeoff and landing, and frequent delays. Given the height of the Lukla airport (2,846 m) and the flying route, which includes towering mountains/peaks touching the clouds, you cannot expect anything else. Similarly, the aerial views of the Himalayas will leave you in awe. Kathmandu Lukla flight gives a thrilling kick-start to your journey in the Himalayas.
Trek through lush forests and beautiful remote villages
The Cho La Pass trek route passes through juniper forests, magnolia, fir, and rhododendrons. It then climbs through dense alpine woodlands to Dingboche village. The trail is full of vegetation ranging from subtropical to alpine. Likewise, you'll see different wildlife and birds. Above the tree line, you'll enjoy walking past bushes and pastures.
The Everest Cho La pass trekking is also about experiencing the mountain lifestyle and culture of the natives. As the trail passes through beautiful Sherpa villages, you'll learn much about their values firsthand. Interaction with locals and their warm hospitality will win your heart. You'll be able to participate in local customs and traditions, making your Trek a genuinely immersive and culturally enriching experience.
Enjoy the wonders of the Khumbu region/Sagarmatha National Park
The Cho la Pass trail is in the Sagarmatha National Park. You will come across streams, rivers, waterfalls, valleys, suspension bridges fastened with fluttering prayer flags, farming fields, glaciers, moraines, and lakes. The trail is very adventurous, as you can imagine.
Excellent side excursions during acclimatization days
We have a few acclimatization days during the Everest Cho La Pass Trek. During these days, you'll explore the villages and observe locals doing their daily chores. In the mornings, you will hike to nearby viewpoints, including Everest View Hotel, Nagarjuna Hill, and Gokyo Ri. These side excursions offer breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains and valleys, adding an extra layer of adventure and inspiration to your trek holidays.
Stand at the base of the highest mountain in the world and explore the gorgeous sunrise from Kala Patthar. The trail leads to EBC, on the lap of Mt. Everest, the highest mountain in the world. Reaching this point is usually the dream of hundreds and thousands of travellers worldwide. It's like standing at the top of the world in one way. Likewise, the Trek takes you to Kala Patthar, the famous viewpoint offering a panorama of snow-capped mountains. Again, sunrise is very renowned in Kala Patthar.
Cross Cho La pass and walk by the biggest glacier in Nepal
The Cho La pass is one of the three high passes in the Khumbu region. It stands 5,420 meters (17,782 ft) above sea level in north-eastern Nepal, Khumbu region. The pass connects Dzongla (4,830 m/15,850 ft) to the east and the village of Thagnak (4,700 m/15,400 ft) to the west.
Likewise, while walking from Thangank to Gokyo Valley, you'll be walking alongside the biggest glacier in Nepal, the Ngozumpa glacier. Located below Mt. Cho Oyu, the sixth-highest mountain in the world, the 36-kilometer-long Ngozumpa Glacier is the longest in the Himalayas.
Explore Gokyo Lakes
There are six Gokyo Lakes range from 4,700 to 5,000 m (15,400–16,400 ft). These are oligotrophic lakes and the world's highest freshwater lake system of multiple lakes. Dudh Pokhari is the main lake in Gokyo village, and Thonak Cho is the largest lake. These lakes have religious values for the locals of the region.
Witness stunning mountain views and diverse landscapes
The landscapes change with every new village and only get captivating. Some of the mountains you get to see. At the same time, You will see Everest (8,848 m), Lhotse (8,516 m), Ama Dablam (6,812 m), Nuptse (7,861 m), Thamserku (6,608 m), Pumori (7,161 m), Cho Oyu (8,188 m), Makalu (8,481 m), Kanchenjunga (8,586), Island Peak (6,160 m), and Chamlang (7,319 m).
Everest Cho La pass trek itinerary
The Everest Chola Pass Trek begins with an exciting flight from Kathmandu to Lukla (2,846 m). Then, you'll traverse the Sagarmatha National Park, which starts from Monjo village (2,835 m) and goes up to Mt. Everest's top. On the same day as your flight to Lukla, you'll descend to Phakding village (2,610 m) to spend the night and acclimatize. In the next few days, you'll trek through different Sherpa villages, such as Namche Bazar (3,440 m), Tengboche (3,860 m), Dingboche (4,410 m), Lobuche (6,119 m), and Gorak Shep (5,164 m).
After exploring EBC (5,364 m) and Kala Patthar (5,644 m), you'll walk past Dzongla (4,830 m) and Thagnak (4,700 m). The trail then crosses the Cho La pass and passes alpine lakes to Gokyo village (4,750 m). Our major ascending part ends at Gokyo Ri (5,357 m), a viewpoint that offers one of the best views of Everest and Cho Oyu. The next day, you'll explore the Gokyo Lakes (4,700 m-5,000 m) and descend to Machhermo (4,470 m).
The following two days involve walking to Namche Bazaar and retracing the trail back to Lukla. Our Cho La pass trek itinerary involves ample acclimatization days and, therefore, exciting side excursions to Hotel Everest View (3,962 m), Khumjung monastery (3,790 m) in Namche Bazaar, and Nagarjuna Hill (5,100 m) in Dingboche.
If you love glaciers, valleys, moraines, snow-capped mountains, lakes, mountain passes, and bridges over rushing rivers, and the serenity of nature, then the Cho La Pass Trek with EBC is for you.