Everest Chola Pass Trek in Nepal

Upon arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport in the historic yet modern city of Kathmandu (at an altitude of 1,400m), you will receive a warm welcome from our office representative and be escorted to your hotel. After check-in and some time to freshen up, our senior Sherpa guide will meet you for a brief orientation about the Chola Pass Trek. You can then take a leisurely stroll to explore the neighborhood, enjoy dinner, and retire for the night.

This marks your first overnight stay in the enchanting valley, known for its myriad temples and revered as one of the most sacred places in the world. Overnight accommodation at the hotel with breakfast included.

We begin our journey with an scenic flight to Lukla. After landing on a steep mountain runway, marking the start of our journey at the village of Lukla. Upon meeting the crew, we proceed up the Dudh Kosi Valley along a well-marked trail, culminating in an overnight stay in Phakding with full board meals.

After enjoying a satisfying breakfast at Phakding, we begin our journey towards the mountain junction town of Namche, traversing high, airy suspension bridges over the river. Past Monjo, we reach the entrance to the Sagarmatha National Park, established to safeguard the delicate mountain environment.

We then embark on a challenging hike to Namche. If the weather is clear, we are treated to our first view of Mt. Everest. Namche, the primary trading village in the Khumbu, is home to a bustling Saturday market—a gathering place for Hindu traders from the lowlands and Tibetan yak caravans that have crossed the glaciated Nangpa La. Namche serves as the gateway to the Khumbu, where we rest for the night with all meals included.

Namche, nestled between two ridges amidst the towering peaks of the Khumbu, is home to lodges, tea shops, and souvenir stores. It's an ideal setting to acclimate to the new altitude before venturing towards Syangboche. For acclimatization, you can visit the Khunde Hospital established by Sir Edmund Hillary or take a one-hour walk to the Everest View Hotel above Namche for a stunning sunset view of Ama Dablam, Nuptse, Lhotse, and Everest.

Then, we'll visit a school established by Hillary in Khumjung. After a delightful lunch, we commence our hike, bypassing the Khimde route. The National Park Centre and Museum just above the town also offer splendid views. Following our acclimatization activities, we return to our lodge for some drinks and a restful night's sleep. We will stay overnight in Namche with all meals included.

After breakfast in Namche, we begin our trek towards Tengboche, savoring the magnificent views of Mt. Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse, Ama Dablam, and a close-up view of Thamserku. Our trek follows a gentle trail with occasional inclines and declines, offering breathtaking vistas of the majestic Himalayas.

En route, we may encounter wildlife such as pheasants, musk deer, or a herd of Himalayan Thar. The trail gradually descends to Kyangjuma before reaching Sanasa, a significant trail junction leading to the Gokyo valley and Everest Base Camp.

Continuing through pine forests, we cross a bridge adorned with prayer flags over the Dudh Kosi River, arriving at Phunki Tenga, a small settlement with a couple of teahouses and a small army post nestled among the alpine woods.

Following a lunch at Phunki Tenga, we embark on a challenging ascent through the pine forests before reaching Tengboche. Tengboche offers stunning close-up views of Ama-Dablam, Nuptse, and Everest, and is home to the largest Buddhist Monastery in the Khumbu region.

We will spend the night at the lodge in Tengboche with all meals included – breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

The trek from Tengboche to Dingboche village presents a challenging section of the journey, encompassing a diverse range of landscapes along the way. This scenic stretch of the trail leads hikers alongside a glacier-fed river flowing through the valley.

Furthermore, the route passes through Pangboche village, nestled at the base of the impressive Mt. Ama Dablam [6,856 m]. The first 2 km/1.2 miles of the trek from Tengboche to Dingboche involve a downhill path, followed by a continuous ascent until reaching Dingboche.

This is a day to take it easy, acclimate, and give our tired bodies a chance to recover. However, we won't be just sitting around; we'll have the opportunity to explore the valley and admire the Tshola Tsho lake, as well as the steep walls of Cholatse and Tawache.

We can also ascend to the ridge above Dingboche to enjoy the stunning vistas of the Imja Valley and the remarkable south face of Mt. Lhotse. The scenery here is truly awe-inspiring. We'll spend the night in Dingboche village, with all meals included.

We proceed along the expansive valley, flanked by the striking peaks of Cholatse and Tawache on our left. We then veer to the right and continue on a steep ascent toward the base of the Khumbu Glacier. The tea house at Duglha provides a great spot to pause for lunch. The trail winds its way up through the boulders of the glacier's terminal moraine.

At the summit of this ascent, numerous stone cairns stand as memorials to the many Sherpas who lost their lives while climbing Mount Everest. The path then gently ascends along the glacier, ultimately leading to the cluster of houses at Lobuche. We'll savor all our meals and prepare for a restful night's sleep.

Today is going to be a challenging and demanding day. Following a hearty breakfast at our lodge, we will ascend through meadows and stone steps of the moraine to reach Gorakshep. From there, we can choose to either climb to Kala Patthar or continue on to Everest Base Camp.

We recommend heading straight to Everest Base Camp. Interestingly, from Everest Base Camp, Mount Everest is not visible. However, from Kala Patthar, we will have the opportunity to behold the entire south face of Mount Everest and other renowned peaks nearby, as well as stunning views of the Tibetan plateau's skyline. We will spend the night at our lodge at an altitude of 5,364 meters, with all three meals included.

Reaching Kala Patthar requires an early start and entails several hours on the trail, navigating through ice pinnacles and past the crevasses of the Khumbu Glacier. During the ascent, we can pause at various viewpoints to catch our breath and capture memorable photographs.

After a challenging ascent, we finally arrive at Kala Patthar. Here, we scramble to climb the rocky outcrop near the summit, which is adorned with cairns and prayer flags. Upon reaching the top, we sit on the Kala Patthar rocks and take in the breathtaking Himalayan panorama, gazing from one majestic massif to another. We capture as many pictures as possible to preserve the memories.

On the return journey, we can opt for a higher route to enjoy a spectacular view of the Khumbu icefall and the path to the South Col. We then return to Dzongla for the night, with all meals included.

In the early morning, as we step out of the lodge, we'll be greeted by the sight of Cholatse towering above us. Today is set to be one of the most challenging days of our journey. The trek starts as we traverse through a spur extending westward from Dzongla. The path descends to a basin, where a meandering stream, occasionally covered with ice, flows.

After about an hour, we reach the top of the basin, preparing to conquer Cho La Pass. As we ascend, the view behind us becomes increasingly captivating; the Chola Lake begins to come into sight, and the pyramidal form of Ama Dablam presides over a range of mountains to the south, while Cholatse dominates the west.

The climb up the incline is arduous; it is steep, and made more challenging by boulders that require scrambling. We must remain vigilant as some rocks may be glazed with ice. The final ascent to Cho La Pass can be a little tricky as the trail curves around the bergschrund. Upon reaching the summit, we are greeted by prayer flags strung across cairns, fluttering in the strong wind.

Although the path leading down to Thangnak is lengthy, it can be easily discerned from the pass. However, caution is required as it descends, especially if rocks are glazed with ice. We reach Thangnak, a relatively larger settlement with a small village, where we will spend the night, including full board meals.

After a brief walk, the trail leads us to the edge of the Ngozumpa glacier, the longest glacier in Nepal. Upon reaching the other side of the glacier, we are greeted with views of the second of the Gokyo lakes within the series of six lakes. A short distance away lies the third Gokyo Lake. Adjacent to this lake is the Gokyo Village, where we can finally give our weary bodies a well-deserved rest. We will spend the night in this charming village of Gokyo, with all meals included.

Today, we will take a break at Gokyo village and enjoy the sights it offers. If the weather is clear, we can also hike up Gokyo Ri and relish the stunning vistas of the Everest Region. The Gokyo area not only presents views of Gokyo peak but also offers wonderful opportunities to admire the series of six emerald lakes.

You can also catch sight of Thonak Tsho Lake (fourth lake) and Ngozuma Thso Lake (fifth lake). The fourth lake in this series features a high cliff and peaks rising above the lake, situated approximately 3 km to the north. We can appreciate the views of the turquoise-colored water of the lake. Furthermore, ascending the hill provides amazing views of Mt. Cho-Oyu, Mt. Gyachung Kang, Mt. Everest, Mt. Lhotse, Mt. Nuptse, and Mt. Makalu.

Beyond the fifth lake lies the Cho-Oyu base camp, offering closer views of Mt. Cho Oyu and Gyachung Kang. The Cho-Oyu base camp and the world's largest glacier, the Ngazumpa Glacier, can be observed from the northern part of the fifth lake. If feasible, we may even venture to the sixth lake. We then return to Gokyo village and spend the night at our lodge with all meals provided.

After departing from Gokyo, we ascend the trail to a large Chorten situated atop a ridge. This ridge descends from Khumbila, a 5734m peak, believed to be the dwelling place of the patron God of the Khumbu region. The path then leads us down towards the Dudh Kosi, where we pause for lunch near the bridge that leads to the village of Phortse.

Subsequently, we traverse through Phortse Tenga, and from there, the trail takes a steep ascent to Dole, passing through rhododendron and birch forest adorned with hanging mosses and lichens. It's a delightful hike in this area. We will spend the night at the lodge with all meals provided.

We continue following the river, and after crossing it, we ascend through birch and rhododendron forest to reach the renowned monastery at Thyangboche. The vistas from this vantage point are magnificent, offering views of Himalayan giants including Kwangde, Tawache, Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse, Ama Dablam, Kantega, and Thamserku.

Descending from Thyangboche, we reach the bridge over the Dudh Kosi at Phunki Tenga, where water-driven prayer wheels can be found. We then make our way back to the bustling lights of Namche for a relaxing hot water bath. We will spend the night in Namche with all meals included.

On our last day of trekking, we descend alongside the Dudh Kosi River back to Lukla. This final evening in the mountains presents the perfect occasion for a farewell gathering with the Sherpa guides and porters. We can partake in some ‘Chhang’ (local mountain beer – a popular beverage brewed from fermented rice), join in on some Sherpa dancing, savor a special meal, and reminisce about the unforgettable trekking experience before retiring for the night with all meals provided.

Flights from Lukla to Kathmandu are typically scheduled for the early morning to minimize the impact of strong winds. The flight offers a picturesque journey, taking around forty-five minutes to reach Kathmandu. Upon arrival, we will be transferred to our hotel. However, it's important to note that flights in mountainous regions can be subject to delays or cancellations due to inclement weather and other unforeseeable factors beyond our control. We kindly request our guests to remain patient in such circumstances.

After breakfast and our last day in Kathmandu, our vehicle and escorts will be on standby to drop you at the international airport three hours before our scheduled flight back home. We pray for your Safe journey and will reflect on the wonderful times we spent together. Bon Voyage!!! We hope to see you again someday.