Everest Base Camp Trek via Gokyo lake and Cho La Pass

Met at Tribhuvan International Airport and transferred to your hotel. Evening welcome dinner and briefing. This route combines the Gokyo lakes, the Cho La pass and Everest Base Camp, so it is longer and harder than the standard Base Camp trek and we go through the acclimatisation plan carefully.

Altitude: 1,400 m.

Guided sightseeing at Boudhanath, Pashupatinath and Swayambhunath, then permits and a gear check. Microspikes are needed for the Cho La; anything missing can be rented in Thamel today.

Walking: 3 to 4 hours of sightseeing.

Early flight to Lukla, from Ramechhap in peak season, then the gentle walk down the Dudh Koshi through Chheplung and Ghat to Phakding.

Distance: 6.2 km. Walking: 3 to 4 hours.

Five suspension bridge crossings including the high Hillary Bridge, park registration at Monjo, then the steep two-hour climb to Namche with a first Everest view partway up on a clear day.

Distance: 10.5 km. Walking: 5 to 6 hours. Altitude gain: 830 m.

Climb high, sleep low: up to the Everest View Hotel at 3,880 m and on to Khumjung and Khunde, back to Namche to sleep. Evening oxygen saturation checks begin tonight.

Walking: 4 to 5 hours. Climb high: 3,880 m.

Away from the Base Camp trail. Over Mong La at 3,975 m, a pass with a chorten and a fine view of Ama Dablam and Thamserku, then a steep drop to the Dudh Koshi and north into the Gokyo valley.

The climb to Dole runs through rhododendron and juniper. The trail is immediately quieter than the main route.

Distance: 11 km. Walking: 5 to 6 hours. Altitude gain: 598 m.

A steady climb through summer yak pastures with Cho Oyu ahead and Kangtega and Thamserku behind. Machhermo has a Himalayan Rescue Association aid post with a free altitude talk most afternoons in season, worth attending before you go higher.

Distance: 7 km. Walking: 4 to 5 hours. Altitude gain: 432 m.

Up to a ridge with a view to Cho Oyu, then onto the lateral moraine of the Ngozumpa glacier, the longest in Nepal. Past the first and second lakes to the third, Dudh Pokhari, with Gokyo village on its shore. The turquoise of the lakes against the grey moraine is the image people carry away from this trek.

Distance: 7 km. Walking: 4 to 5 hours. Altitude gain: 330 m.

A dawn climb of Gokyo Ri, 600 m of steep switchbacks above the village. The summit gives four 8,000 m peaks in a single panorama, Everest, Lhotse, Makalu and Cho Oyu, with the Ngozumpa glacier and the chain of lakes below. Many people who have done both rate it above Kala Patthar.

Optional afternoon walk to the fourth and fifth lakes and Scoundrel's Viewpoint for the Everest north face.

Walking: 4 to 8 hours. Altitude: up 557 m and back.

A short day, and an important one for positioning. The trail crosses the Ngozumpa glacier itself on a marked route over rock, ice and moraine, which takes two to three hours and demands attention to footing.

Thagnak on the far side is two lodges beneath the Cho La approach. Early dinner and early bed: tomorrow is the crux.

Distance: 4 km. Walking: 3 to 4 hours. Altitude loss: 50 m.

The hardest day of the trek. An early start for a steep climb up a boulder field to the foot of the pass, then a glacier crossing that carries snow for most of the year and has crevasses. Microspikes are required and your guide will rope the group if conditions demand it.

The final pull to the pass is a steep snow slope; the east side descends on loose rock and often ice. From the bottom the trail traverses to Dzongla, a couple of lodges above the Chola Tsho lake with Cholatse and Taboche overhead.

Distance: 12 km. Walking: 7 to 8 hours. Altitude: up 670 m, then down 590 m.

An easier day. A traverse beneath Awi Peak on a good trail with Ama Dablam, Cholatse and Taboche in view, joining the main Base Camp trail at Lobuche.

The contrast is immediate: after four days on quiet trails you are back among the Base Camp crowds.

Distance: 8 km. Walking: 3 to 4 hours. Altitude gain: 110 m.

Over the moraine to Gorak Shep, then along the Khumbu glacier to Everest Base Camp at the foot of the icefall, marked with prayer flags and, in spring, the tents of expedition teams. Back to Gorak Shep to sleep.

Distance: 15 km round trip. Walking: 7 to 8 hours.

Pre-dawn climb of Kala Patthar for sunrise on Everest's summit pyramid, the classic view of the mountain. Then breakfast at Gorak Shep and a long descent past Lobuche and Dughla to Pheriche, dropping 1,300 m into much thicker air.

Distance: 15 km. Walking: 7 to 8 hours.

A long descent through Pangboche and Deboche, up to Tengboche, down to Phunki Tenga and the contour trail into Namche. Poles are worth using today.

Distance: 14.5 km. Walking: 6 to 7 hours. Altitude loss: 800 m.

The last walking day, down the steep hill from Namche, across the bridges, through Monjo and Phakding to Lukla. Crew dinner in the evening.

Distance: 19 km. Walking: 6 to 7 hours.

Morning flight to Kathmandu or Ramechhap, weather permitting. Afternoon free, farewell dinner with the team in the evening.

Flight: 35 minutes, or 25 minutes plus a 4 to 5 hour drive.

Transfer to Tribhuvan International Airport about three hours before your flight, or onward arrangements if you are extending your stay.