Maximum Altitude
The Everest region is high in Nepal's northern territory, bordering China. The Everest Base Camp Cho La Pass Gokyo trek takes you through the Sagarmatha National Park, whose elevation ranges from 2,845 meters to 8,848 meters, the summit of the world's highest peak, Mt. Everest.
However, the highest point on the Everest Cho La Gokyo Trek is 5,545 meters (18,192 feet) above sea level at Kala Patthar, which serves as the most epic Himalayan viewpoint.
Difficulty Level
You cross Cho La Pass via Everest Base Camp during the trek before reaching Gokyo villages. The Everest Base Camp Cho La Pass Gokyo Trek is considered a moderately difficult excursion because you must cross the rugged Cho La Pass. However, the breathtaking view at the end makes all the effort worth it.
The trail features several ascents and descents on a rough and steep path. The pass adds just the right amount of excitement and challenge to the entire journey. The journey is also made more difficult by the high altitude. This trek requires a high level of physical fitness and health. If you are new to trekking, we recommend doing a few hikes or exercises before embarking on the pass trek.
Before beginning this excursion, you must consult with your doctor if you have a history of medical issues. Before booking this expedition, anyone with an account of severe medical conditions, such as heart or lung disease, should let your tour organizers know.
Transportation
The starting and finishing point (Lukla) of the Everest region trekking journey is difficult and a long roadway from Kathmandu. As a result, you save time and energy by avoiding tiring road trips and flying to Lukla instead.
Our package includes mountain flight transportation from Kathmandu to Lukla (the starting point). It is a short 30 minutes flight full of adrenaline as the plane lands on a steep and one of the riskiest airports in the world, Hilary Tenzing Airport of Lukla.
Accommodation
This 15-day Everest Base Camp Cho La Pass Gokyo Trek, like most high-altitude trekking destinations in Nepal, offers decent lodges and teahouses depending on elevation. Lodges are more common at lower elevations, whereas teahouses are found higher up. You can even get luxury accommodations in a few Himalayan towns like Namche Bazaar.
The teahouses offer comfortable beds with warm mattresses, pillows, blankets, cold showers, hot showers (for an additional fee), free Wi-Fi (where available), and other amenities. Rooms are typically small and shared by two people. If you are a solo traveler, we can also arrange for a separate room for you, based on availability.
When you book a trip with us, you won't have to worry about lodging. Our 15-day Everest Cho La Gokyo Trek package includes all lodging and food facilities during the trek.
Washroom and Toiletries
You can find an attached bathroom with a western toilet in the lower region of the Everest Trek. However, you must be okay with communal restrooms with Asian-style squat toilets, as private attached bathrooms aren't available or reasonable at high altitudes. For hygiene reasons, bring your own toiletries.
Most teahouses in the Everest region have hot showers; some may charge an extra fee for this service. As there may be hot water scarcity at higher elevations where water is scarce, we recommend that you use as little water as possible. Showering at high altitudes is typically impossible due to cold temperatures, particularly in the winter.
Meals
Your body requires plenty of carbohydrates and proteins as you trek at high altitudes around the world's tallest peak. We provide simple and sanitary food on this trek. We encourage hikers to eat local cuisine and delicacies because they are far more hygienic than frozen foods, which can take days to arrive at the trails.
We carefully select the best teahouses to ensure that the food is fresh, healthy, and delicious. Dal Bhat, a Nepalese dish with plenty of calories, is our recommendation. The lentils, beans, and pulses soup is high in protein and low in carbs. Seasonal vegetables will also be served in the guest's home, providing additional nutrients to the body.
Other menu items include Momo (dumplings), locally grown Barley, Buckwheat, Millet, and Corn Roti (Bread), noodles, sandwiches, bakery products, tea, coffee, garlic soup (essential for high altitude), and more. Buckwheat, millet, and barley are cereals that are high in fiber and nutrients. However, while returning, you can enjoy international cuisines with some drinks at Namche Bazaar.
Drinking Water
We are a strong supporter of ecotourism and encourage our visitors to travel responsibly. Instead of purchasing bottled water (which may not be available everywhere), bring a bottle and fill it with hot water in teahouses (at a little extra cost).
If you're concerned about the safety of drinking water during your 15-day trek to Cho La Pass and Gokyo Valley in the Everest region, bring a water bottle with a built-in filtration system to fill with natural water along the way. Get some purifying tablets to add to your water to make it drinkable.
Connectivity
Higher altitude communication may be challenging due to the Everest region's remote location. However, most teahouses offer Wi-Fi connections (usually with patchy or limited coverage) for an additional fee to assist you in connecting to your home network.
We advise bringing an NCell or NTC 4G SIM if you plan to use internet services in Nepal anywhere phone signals are received. The Everest Cho La Pass Region has improved NTC network performance.
Electricity and Battery Recharge
The Everest and Gokyo Valley teahouses have electricity available for an extra fee, allowing customers to recharge their phones and camera batteries. Being prepared and carrying extra batteries or power banks is always a good idea if you want to be on the safe side.
Guide and Potter
Although it's not mandatory to hire a guide to trek in the Everest region, the easiest approach to guarantee your safety in the trek area is to hire a licensed guide, as the weather gets unpredictable in high altitudes. We always advise picking knowledgeable and well-spoken guides at Outfitter Nepal. A professional guide knows the path, regional weather trends, and how to react to them. A knowledgeable guide is familiar with first aid and the appropriate techniques in an emergency.
A porter may not be required if you have packed a little and have enough strength to carry your backpack through the entire trek. However, imagine how challenging it would be to cross the Cho La Pass with more than 10 kilos of luggage on your soldiers, especially at such a high altitude. Hiring a porter would simplify your journey as they carry two people's baggage, a maximum of 12 kg per person.
Permits
You will need a few permits to go on a trek in the Cho La Pass, Gokyo Valley, and the Everest Base Camp. These permits include Sagarmatha National Park entry which the Khumbu-Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality issues in Monjo (a village checkpoint you'll pass through on the first day of your trip). Another permit you need is the TIMS (Trekkers information management system) which you can get in Kathmandu. We handle all the permits for you at Outfitter Nepal at your convenience!