Everest Cho La Pass
Everest, Khumbu
Fifteen days linking Everest Base Camp and the Gokyo lakes over the Cho La at 5,420 m. A glacier crossing, Kala Patthar at sunrise, and two of the great Khumbu valleys in one walk.
The Cho La joins the two great valleys of the Khumbu. Rather than turning round at Everest Base Camp and retracing your steps, this route carries on over a glaciated pass at 5,420 metres and drops into Gokyo, so you come home with Kala Patthar and Gokyo Ri, Base Camp and the lakes, out of one journey.
Fifteen days, two acclimatisation days built in, and one genuinely serious morning on the pass. Nothing technical about it, though it is a long spell high up, and the Cho La is not a thing to be casual about.
- Duration
- 15days
- Max altitude
- 5,545m
- Difficulty
Strenuous
- Best seasons
Spring: March to May
Autumn: September to November
From · 3–5 people
€1,400
Day by day
The route
Day 01
Kathmandu → Lukla → Phakding
A mountain flight into Lukla, one of the world's more thrilling airstrips, then a gentle descent along the Dudh Koshi past chortens and prayer wheels, through pine forest and small Sherpa settlements to Phakding.
- Altitude
- 2,610m
- On foot
- 3–4 hrs· 8 km
Mountain flight, then a gentle descent
Day 02
Phakding → Namche Bazaar
Upstream along the Dudh Koshi over suspension bridges including the Hillary Bridge, into Sagarmatha National Park and up through pine forest. The last stretch is a hard climb, with a first view of Everest before Namche.
- Altitude
- 3,440m
- On foot
- 6–7 hrs· 11 km
Suspension bridges, then a sustained climb
Day 03
Acclimatisation day in Namche Bazaar
A hike up to the Everest View Hotel at 3,880 m or to Khumjung, with Ama Dablam, Thamserku and Everest in the distance. The afternoon in Namche (cafés, bakeries and the Sherpa museum), before going higher.
- Altitude
- 3,440m
- On foot
- 3–4 hrs
Acclimatisation side hike
Day 04
Namche Bazaar → Tengboche
Along ridgelines and down through rhododendron and juniper, across the Dudh Koshi and up a steep climb to Tengboche Monastery. The spiritual centre of the Khumbu, with Everest, Lhotse and Ama Dablam behind it. Evening prayers are worth staying for.
- Altitude
- 3,860m
- On foot
- 5–6 hrs· 10 km
Ridge traverse, then a steep climb
Day 05
Tengboche → Dingboche
Down through pine forest to Debuche and over the Imja Khola on a wooden bridge, then a gradual climb past mani walls and stupas into windswept alpine valley. Dingboche sits among stone-walled fields under Ama Dablam and Island Peak.
- Altitude
- 4,410m
- On foot
- 5–6 hrs· 11 km
Forest, then open alpine valley
Day 06
Acclimatisation day in Dingboche
A hike up Nangkartshang Peak at 5,100 m, a rocky viewpoint over Makalu, Lhotse and the Imja Valley, then back down for a slow afternoon of resting and drinking water before the high country.
- Altitude
- 4,410m
- On foot
- 3–4 hrs
Acclimatisation climb
Day 07
Dingboche → Lobuche
A gradual climb through alpine meadow, then up to the Thukla Pass and its memorials to climbers who died on these mountains. On along glacial moraine beneath Nuptse to the teahouses at Lobuche.
- Altitude
- 4,940m
- On foot
- 5–6 hrs· 9 km
Alpine meadow and glacial moraine
Day 08
Lobuche → Gorak Shep → Everest Base Camp → Gorak Shep
Along the Khumbu Glacier to Gorak Shep, then on to Everest Base Camp at 5,364 m. Time at the site itself before returning to Gorak Shep for the night.
- Altitude
- 5,164m
- On foot
- 7–8 hrs· 15 km
Glacier moraine, long day at altitude
Day 09
Gorak Shep → Kala Patthar → Dzongla
An early climb to Kala Patthar at 5,545 m for sunrise on Everest and the Khumbu Icefall. The best view of the mountain on the whole route. Then down and across toward Dzongla.
- Altitude
- 4,830m
- On foot
- 7–8 hrs· 12 km
Pre-dawn summit hike, then a long traverse
Day 10
Dzongla → Cho La Pass → Thagnak
The crux of the trek. A steep ascent to the Cho La at 5,420 m, including a glacier section, then a dramatic descent into the Gokyo valley to Thagnak.
- Altitude
- 4,700m
- On foot
- 7–8 hrs· 10 km
Steep pass crossing with a glacier section
Day 11
Thagnak → Gokyo
A short day along the edge of the Ngozumpa Glacier to Gokyo village, beside the turquoise lakes.
- Altitude
- 4,790m
- On foot
- 4–5 hrs· 5 km
Glacier-edge traverse
Day 12
Gokyo Ri at sunrise → Dole
A pre-dawn climb to Gokyo Ri at 5,357 m for a 360-degree view of Everest, Lhotse, Makalu and Cho Oyu. After sunrise, down past Machhermo and on to Dole.
- Altitude
- 4,038m
- On foot
- 6–7 hrs· 13 km
Steep summit hike, then a long descent
Day 13
Dole → Namche Bazaar
Back onto the main Everest trail and down to Namche for a comfortable night, a last look round the shops and a café.
- Altitude
- 3,440m
- On foot
- 4–5 hrs· 12 km
Descent rejoining the main trail
Day 14
Namche Bazaar → Lukla
A long descent through forest and small settlements, over suspension bridges along the Dudh Koshi, back to Lukla, and an evening with the team to finish.
- Altitude
- 2,840m
- On foot
- 6–7 hrs· 18 km
Long descent
Day 15
Lukla → Kathmandu
An early flight back to Kathmandu, weather permitting, with the Himalaya below one last time. Then a hotel, a hot shower and a real bed.
- Altitude
- 1,400m
- Driving
- 30 min flight
Mountain flight
What’s included
Licensed female guide
Experienced and licensed, with all salary, meals and accommodation covered.
All meals on trek
Full board: breakfast, lunch and dinner, plus two servings of tea, coffee or another hot drink each day.
Accommodation
High-rated teahouse stays throughout the trek.
Transport
All transportation related to the trek.
Permits and taxes
All necessary government and local permits, paperwork and taxes.
Trekking essentials
Trekking poles, microspikes or crampons, and seasonal fruit on the trail.
What’s not included
Travel insurance
Strongly recommended for high-altitude treks, and required for helicopter evacuation cover.
Personal expenses
Wi-Fi, laundry, battery charging, bottled or hot water, hot showers.
Alcoholic and personal drinks
Tips for your guide
You can add
A porter
Hired from the region you are walking through, so the work and the money stay in the villages on your route, and you walk with a lighter pack and someone who knows the ground.
[PRICE TBC]
Permits
Sagarmatha National Park · Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality: arranged for you. Restricted areas require a licensed guide by law.
Safety
Our altitude protocol
Altitude is the thing most people worry about, so here is exactly what we do about it. This is our operating protocol, not medical advice.
A guide trained in mountain safety and first aid
Licensed, and trained specifically for the conditions on these routes.
Daily health monitoring
We record your SpO2 and heart rate each day with a pulse oximeter, alongside an AMS assessment, and keep it in a wellness log you can see.
A first aid kit on every trek
Essential emergency supplies, including altitude sickness medication.
Pre-trek safety briefing
Altitude awareness, pacing, weather and emergency procedures, before you start walking, not on the trail.
Emergency coordination
With local health posts, rescue services and helicopter evacuation. The evacuation itself is covered by your travel insurance.
Questions
Before you go
Why is it called Cho La Pass?
"Cho La" means "Lake Pass". It is the bridge between the Khumbu and Gokyo valleys, and crossing it often involves walking over a glacier, with a 360-degree view of peaks like Ama Dablam and Cholatse that most trekkers never see.
What is the "magical blue" of Gokyo?
You visit the world's highest freshwater lake system. The third lake, Dudh Pokhari, is famous for a vivid turquoise created by minerals from the melting Ngozumpa Glacier, the longest glacier in the Himalaya.
What is the highest point?
There are two. Kala Patthar at 5,545 m gives the best Everest view, and Gokyo Ri at 5,357 m puts four of the world's fourteen 8,000 m peaks in one frame, Everest, Lhotse, Makalu and Cho Oyu.
What wildlife can I spot?
The Gokyo side is quieter, so there is a better chance of Tibetan snowcock or Himalayan griffon. In the remote moraines, some trekkers have seen signs of snow leopard.
How does this trek support local communities?
Crossing the pass takes you through remote villages like Dzongla and Thagnak, which rely entirely on high-pass trekkers. With 8Mountains, a portion of your cost goes directly to community projects providing education and preserving culture in these high-altitude villages.
Not sure this is the right trek?
Book a free call with someone who has walked it. We will tell you honestly if another route suits you better. That happens often, and it is the whole point of talking first.