You have already seen the prayer flags at Tengboche. You have already stood at Kala Patthar and watched the sun turn Everest gold. But the trek is not over. You turn your back on Base Camp, drop through Pangboche and Phortse into a valley that most EBC trekkers never see, and two days later you are sitting beside turquoise lakes with the Ngozumpa Glacier grinding slowly past your feet. This is both treks in one journey, and no glacial pass stands in the way.
The 15-day EBC with Gokyo Ri Trek gives you everything the classic Everest route offers, then extends into the quieter, wilder Gokyo Valley without crossing the demanding Cho La Pass. You reach Everest Base Camp (5,364m / 17,598ft) and Kala Patthar (5,545m / 18,192ft) first, then backtrack and take a separate trail through Phortse and Machhermo to Gokyo (4,790m / 15,715ft) and Gokyo Ri (5,357m / 17,575ft). Two viewpoints. Two experiences. One Sagarmatha National Park. No Cho La required.
What Makes This Trek Special
- Stand at Kala Patthar (5,545m / 18,192ft) at sunrise and again at Gokyo Ri (5,357m / 17,575ft), the two finest viewpoints in the Everest region, on the same trek
- Reach Everest Base Camp (5,364m / 17,598ft), where the world's greatest mountaineering expeditions begin, on the edge of the Khumbu Icefall
- Walk alongside the Ngozumpa Glacier, the longest glacier in the Himalayas at over 36 kilometres, and sit beside the sacred turquoise Gokyo Lakes
- Trek through Sagarmatha National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site home to snow leopards, Himalayan tahr, and over 100 bird species
- Visit Tengboche Monastery, the spiritual heart of the Khumbu, with Everest and Ama Dablam framed behind it
- Walk through Phortse, a traditional Sherpa farming village rarely visited by trekkers, where potato fields and stone walls stretch beneath Ama Dablam
- Skip the Cho La Pass entirely. This route gives you both EBC and Gokyo without any glacial pass crossing, making it accessible to a wider range of trekkers
- Acclimatise properly with built-in rest days at Namche Bazaar and Dingboche, gaining altitude gradually and safely
- Land at Lukla (2,860m / 9,383ft), one of the world's most dramatic airports, where the runway ends at a mountain wall
- Experience the full spectrum of the Khumbu, from rhododendron forests and Sherpa monasteries to glacial moraines and frozen lakes, across 15 days of walking
15-Day EBC with Gokyo Ri Trek Overview
Fifteen days. Two iconic viewpoints. Two worlds within the same valley system. The EBC with Gokyo Ri trek is for the trekker who wants it all but does not want to risk a glacial pass crossing. You walk the classic Everest route first, reaching Base Camp and Kala Patthar. Then, instead of turning around and retracing the same trail home, you drop to Pheriche, cut through the hidden village of Phortse, and climb into the Gokyo Valley for an entirely different experience.
The route follows the Dudh Koshi River valley through Sagarmatha National Park, climbing from Phakding (2,610m / 8,563ft) through Namche Bazaar (3,440m / 11,286ft), Tengboche (3,860m / 12,664ft), Dingboche (4,410m / 14,468ft), and Lobuche (4,940m / 16,207ft) before reaching Everest Base Camp at 5,364 metres (17,598ft). The landscape transforms as you climb, from birdsong in rhododendron forests to the stark silence of the Khumbu Glacier where nothing grows and the only sound is ice shifting beneath your feet.
After Kala Patthar and Base Camp, the route descends to Pheriche (4,371m / 14,340ft), then turns northwest through Phortse to Machhermo (4,470m / 14,665ft) and finally Gokyo (4,790m / 15,715ft). The pre-dawn climb to Gokyo Ri (5,357m / 17,575ft) delivers a panorama that rivals Kala Patthar: Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, and Cho Oyu in a single sweep, with the turquoise Gokyo Lakes glittering below.
Two acclimatisation days are built into the itinerary, one at Namche Bazaar and one at Dingboche. At Namche, you hike to the Everest View Hotel (3,880m / 12,730ft) for your first clear sight of the summit. At Dingboche, you climb to a ridge where Island Peak, Makalu, and Lhotse fill the horizon. By the time you reach Gokyo on the second half of this trek, your body is already well adapted.
The descent from Gokyo retraces through Dole and Namche to Lukla. Your final evening in Kathmandu is a farewell dinner with your guide and team, a chance to process the fact that you have just completed two of the Khumbu's greatest experiences in a single journey.
Before You Arrive
Please arrive in Kathmandu by 4 PM the day before your trek. This gives you time for a final gear check, a briefing with your guide, and a good night's rest before the early morning start.
Your Online Briefing
Think of this as our first coffee together, but online. After you book, we will schedule a video call where we walk you through every detail: what to pack, what each day on the trail looks like, how the altitude will feel, and anything else on your mind. No question is too small.
This is also when we learn about you. Our trek itinerary does not include your hotel in Kathmandu. During the briefing, share your preferences and budget, and we will arrange accommodation that fits. Whether you want a simple guesthouse in Thamel or a five-star hotel, we will set it up for you.
Lukla Flight — What You Need to Know
The flight to Lukla is one of the most dramatic in the world, a short ride between mountain peaks that ends on a runway carved into a hillside at 2,860m (9,383ft). From Kathmandu, it takes about 40 minutes. From Manthali, it takes about 20 minutes. It is also weather-dependent. Flights can be delayed by fog, cloud, or wind, sometimes for a full day. This is normal in the Himalayas and nothing to worry about, but it is something to plan for.
We strongly recommend keeping two buffer days at the end of your trip before your international flight home. This protects your connection if weather delays your return from Lukla.
During peak trekking season (March to May and October to November), flights to Lukla operate from Manthali Airport (Ramechhap) instead of Kathmandu, to reduce congestion on Kathmandu's single runway. If your flight departs from Manthali, we will pick you up from your hotel around midnight and drive you there (4 to 6 hours).
For your return, you fly from Lukla back to Kathmandu or Manthali. If your return flight lands at Manthali, we drive you back to Kathmandu (4 to 6 hours). All ground transportation is included in every package.
Your Trek, Your Way
Every trek we run is private, your group only, no strangers added. Whether you choose Budget, Standard, or Luxury, the mountains are yours and your companions' alone. This is not a conveyor belt. This is your personal Himalayan experience.
Your hotel in Kathmandu is not included in the trek package, and that is intentional. Kathmandu has everything from USD 10 guesthouses in Thamel to five-star hotels with rooftop views of the city. During the online briefing, tell us what you prefer and we will arrange it for you. Your trek package begins the moment you leave Kathmandu for the mountains.
Difficulty: Challenging (4.5 out of 5)
This is a longer and more demanding trek than the classic 12-day EBC route. You will walk 5 to 8 hours a day for 15 days, reaching 5,545m (18,192ft) at Kala Patthar. The trail is well-established but uneven, with stone steps, river crossings, and steep ascents on most days. No glacial pass is involved, which makes this trek accessible to fit trekkers without high-altitude pass experience. However, the duration and the fact that you stay at high altitude for an extended period mean your body must be ready. A reasonable level of fitness is essential. Two acclimatisation days are built in, and our guides monitor your condition throughout.
Compare Our Three Packages
| Budget | Standard | Luxury | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price from | USD 1,152 | USD 1,650 | USD 2,999 |
| Meals | Choose your own (approx. USD 15-25/day) | 3 meals + tea + fruits + 2L water daily | All meals + all drinks anytime (except alcohol) |
| Room | Shared teahouse | Private twin w/ bathroom | Private deluxe w/ bed heater |
| Porter | Not included | 1 per 2 trekkers | 1 per trekker (carry nothing) |
| Guide | 1 guide, assistant at 8+ | 1 guide per 6, assistant at 6+ | 1 guide per 2 trekkers |
| Transport | Local vehicle + flight to Lukla | Private vehicle + flight to Lukla | Luxury vehicle + helicopter to Lukla |
| SIM data | SIM only | Limited data | Unlimited data |
| Best for | Backpackers and independent travellers | Comfort trekkers, couples, families | Premium experience seekers |
Himalayas for Every Budget, same expert guides, same safety, three comfort levels.
Why Trekkers Trust Us
- 196 TripAdvisor Reviews, 4.9 out of 5 stars, TripAdvisor Travellers Choice 2024
- 108+ Google Reviews, 4.9 out of 5 stars
- TAAN Certified, Member 1586, Government Reg: 147653/072/073
- Secure 10% Deposit, pay just $115 to reserve, via Himalayan Bank
- Himalayas for Every Budget, three comfort levels, same mountain, same safety
- Three Generations, family guiding in the Himalayas since the 1960s
Difficulty: Challenging (4.5 out of 5)
This is a 15-day trek reaching 5,545m (18,192ft) at Kala Patthar. You will walk 5 to 8 hours per day over uneven terrain with significant altitude gain. No glacial pass crossing is involved, but the extended duration at high altitude makes this more demanding than the classic 12-day EBC route. A reasonable level of fitness is important. Previous trekking experience is helpful but not required. We build two acclimatisation days into the itinerary (Namche Bazaar and Dingboche) and our guides carry a pulse oximeter to monitor your oxygen levels daily.
Why a fifteen-day trek changes more than the trekker
This route adds the Gokyo Ri viewpoint to the standard base camp itinerary, taking the total to fifteen days. The longer trek means the booking sends more money to the Nagarjun Learning Center in Saldum village. The school is operated by my family, gives free year-round education to roughly seventy children, and provides two hot meals each day. It is registered with the Nepalese authorities and on the UN Partner Portal. Each fifteen-day Gokyo Ri booking covers a meaningful slice of one child’s year.
