Cho La Pass Trek - Ethic Himalaya

At the airport; you will be meet by representative of our company and transferred to the Hotel, where you will meet us. A pre-trek briefing will be held at approx. 6:00pm to 7:00pm in the evening and is a great opportunity to get acquainted with your fellow group members before heading out to dinner. Welcome dinner at the authentic and typical Nepalese cusine with culutural dance.

• SWOYAMBHUNATH, also known as the monkey temple, is climbed by a long set of steps and has great views of Kathmandu.
• BOUDHANATH STUPA has many traditional Gompas hung with strings of multi-coloured prayer flags; it attracts many Sherpas and Tibetans for the circumambulations of the stupa (koras).
• PASHUPATINATH is a Hindu temple with burning Ghats on the banks of the Bagmati River.
• KATHMANDU DURBAR SQUARE, which is one of the old capitals of the Kathmandu valley, has a blend of Hindu and Buddhist temples

Your day begins early as you head for Kathmandu airport to catch to Lukla flight. Assuming the flight departs without much delay, you will have fine weather with stunning views of Himalayan peaks. The trails leaves Lukla through a Kaani or gateway. Soon you are walking down a gently descending trails, past rolling farmlands that extends over what seems to be a wide promontory overlooking the canyon of the Dudh Koshi River. The snow peak at the head of the valley is Kumbila (5716m), the mountain sacred to the sherpas. On the way to Phakding, you will notice a huge boulder printed with Tibetan religious mantras (mostly; Om mani padme hum). About 3 hours walk, you will be in Phakding. Overnight in Phakding.

We continue north following the Dudh Kosi river and on to Jorsale where we enter the Sagarmatha (Everest) National Park. From here it is a short walk to the confluence of two rivers, the lmja Drangpa (Imja Khola) and the Nangpo Tsangpo (Bhote Koshi) followed by a steep climb (for about 2hrs.) to Namche Bazaar, the main town in the Khumbu region. Namche is a prosperous Sherpa town and an important trading centre with a weekly Saturday market. Distance: 10.5km/6.5miles approximately 5 hours walks.

Namche Bazaar is tucked away between two ridges amongst the giant peaks of the Khumbu. Once named the 'Trekkers Mecca of Nepal, Namche now boasts an abundance of lodges and souvenir shops. It is an ideal place to spend a rest day, acclimatising to the new altitude of 3450m. Options for acclimatisation walks include a visit to Khunde Hospital and also the one hour walk up to the Everest Hotel, Syangboche above Namche for the sunset view of Ama Dablam, Nuptse, Lhotse and Everest.

A very spectacular day in terms of scenery. The main trail out of Namche heads north to Everest. Following this trail, a short climb to a crest reveals a wonderful view towards Everest and Lhotse, whilst nearer at hand our route is a Yak trail, contouring around the hillside. The way to Gokyo is via Phortse Tenga and follows this main trail for a while longer, passing many traders selling Tibetan handicraft, to a crossroads high above the Dudh Koshi (Milk River). The main trail to Everest drops down the hill to Phunki Thanga, whereas our trail climbs to cross the Mong-La to reach Phortse Tenga. The Nepal Kingdom Foundation is involved with various projects in this area. An extra night is spent here to see how the community lives and also to further acclimatize.

From Phortse Tenga we climb steadily along the side of the valley, Rhododendron forests giving way to scrub juniper as altitude increases. The trail passes many summer settlements (yersa), used when yaks are taken to these pastures to graze in the summer months. Ahead of us are excellent views of Cho Oyu while back down the valley are the peaks of Khantega and Thamserku.

we head for the holy Gokyo lakes. We follow a very scenic path to Pangka (4,548m) and then descend slightly, following one of the melt-water Rivers which flow down the west side of the Ngozumpa Glacier. We climb a steep rocky incline into the ablation valley by the side of the glacier, passing the first of the holy lakes. We soon arrive at the second of the lakes, crossing the path that heads across the glacier to the Cho La - our route to Lobuche and Everest, later in the trek. The third lake is known as Dudh Pokhari and on its east shore is the summer settlement of Gokyo (4,790m). Walking by the side of the lake, the scenery is magnificent with the summits of Mt. Cho-Oyu and Gyachung Kang reflected in its emerald green waters. There are several dwellings, including two lodges that boast solar shower and heating.

We leave camp just after first light, crossing the ablation valley and following a zig-zag path up the hillside. As we climb, Mt. Everest, Mt. Lhotse, Mt. Cho-Oyu and Mt. Makalu slowly come into view. From the summit of Gokyo Ri we have one of the finest views of Everest to be had in the Khumbu. Some say it is a finer view than that from Kalapathar, but you will be able to judge for yourself. Return back to Gokyo Lake. After Lunch, We hike to the fourth and the fifth Gokyo lakes. The 4th lake is only about 3km north of Gokyo. It is marked by high cliffs and Himalayan peaks rising above it. We continue to walking a little further and reach the 5th lake.

Today, we are on the trail to Thangnak. Thaknak is also sometimes pronounced as Dragnag. We climb out of Gokyo village to a ridge. Then, we take the route through the Ngozumpa Glacier to the mountain on the other side. Continuing further and traversing along the edge of that mountain, we descend down to Thaknak, which will be 3 hours walk. On the trek, we enjoy the magnificent views of Cho-Oyu, Gokyo Ri and other high Himalayas.

Today, we trek to the Cho La Pass. Cho La pass is also another show up of this trip. Today is going to be one of the toughest days. The pass is not itself difficult but it is steep and involves a glacier traverse on the eastern side. We need to be careful as the trail is vertical and the rocks glazed by ice add trouble to the trekkers making the trail slippery. Our trail climbs through a ravine and a rocky trail. So, we climb up continuously up from Phedi. We trek through the side of a frozen lake while we come to the top of the pass decorated with prayer flags. We need to pass through some crevasses before we reach Dzongla, another beautiful place with a complete view of Mt. Cholatse, Mt. Ama Dablam, Lobuche peak and the Pheriche village far below.

After a breakfast at Dzongla, we head to Gorakshep. It is easy downhill for a while and few up and down till Lobuche. Onwards, the trail is though rocky trail with a great view of Mt. Everest, Mt. Nuptse, Mt. Pumori and many more. The interesting part of this today is you are walking by the moraine of Khumbu icefall till Gorakshep, which will be 5 hours walk.

We start early in the morning to catch the dramatic views from Kalapathar witnessing the first light of day shining on Mt. Everest. Familiar the most famous peaks such as Lingtren, Khumbutse, Changtse to the east and Mt. Everest between the west shoulder crest and Nuptse. After 2 hours of ascent, we will be Kalapathar. From this juncture, we scramble to climb the rocky outcrop near to the summit marked by cairns and prayer flags. As we reach the top, we sit on the Kalapathar where our eyes rook taking in the unbelievable Himalayan Panorama, wandering from one mighty massif to another. Overnight at Gorakshep

After a light lunch we will set off to walk to Everest Base Camp which is approximately 4 to 5 hour return trek back to Gorakshep. After crossing the sandy flat at Gorakshep the trail climbs onto the lateral moraine of the Khumbu glacier and ascends the side of the glacier for two hours before finally descending onto rocky glacial moraine. The trail then winds up and down and through fascinating ice sera’s to Everest Base Camp where there are fantastic close up views of the Khumbu ice fall. After a short stop we will retrace our trail back to Gorakshep. On being back to Gorakshep and continue to walk to Dingboche of 4 hours walking.

The trail descends to Khumbu Khola bridge and climbs to rejoin the upward trail at some stone huts near Orsho. After that the trail leads slightly descends the lower trail left hand side goes to Tengboche through lower Pangboche. Beyond pangboche the trail descends past some magnificently carved mani stones to the Imja Khola, which we cross via a steel suspension bridge high above the river at a spot where it rushes through a narrow cleft then to Deboche and a short steep climb to Tengboche through a forest of birches conifers and rhododendrons. Enjoy the breathtaking view of sunset and sunrise as well as magnificent view of the Mt. Everest including other Himalayas from Tengboche. Tengboche monastery is one of the beautiful monasteries in solu khumbu area as well as the religious center of the whole ‘Sherpa land ‘entire solu khumbu area. Overnight at teahouse.

We trek back along the Dudh Koshi River through a magnificent rhododendron forest and past brilliant waterfalls. After Namche the trail descend to Larja dobhan (confluence of two rivers) though the pine forests before you reach at Larja Dobhan you may get last opportunity to see Mt. Everest and Lhotse. After cross the bridge at Larja Dobhan the trail descends for while and then walk along the Dudh Koshi River. Re-cross the Dudh Koshi continue level walk to Jorsale. Beyond the Jorsale the trail leads a bit ascend after that re-crosses the suspension bridge then short steep climb to Monjo (2,835m) overnight at teahouse.

From Monjo the trail leads descends for a while and cross Dudh koshi over the suspension bridge to Benkar. After Benker the trail follows a bit up and down and level walk along the Dush koshi valley then after re-crossing the suspension bridge you reach at Phakding (2610m). The trail after the long suspension bridge follows the up wards route as far as Chablung, then turns off towards Lukla. From there the trail follows through scrub forest above the school and houses of Chaurikharka village then final climb up of your trek about half and hour reach Lukla.

In the morning, we take the tiny aircraft to flight from Lukla to Kathmandu which is very interesting scenery flight journey on the earth. After arrival in Kathmandu airport we drive you to hotel.