Introduction
There are many different routes to Everest Base Camp. The most popular route passes through Namche Bazaar, Tengboche and Dingboche. It is beautiful, but also more crowded – at the height of the season, hundreds of trekkers follow the same trail. If you’re looking for more peace and quiet, a greater variety of landscapes and additional challenges, it’s worth considering an alternative: The Gokyo Lakes and Cho La Pass. It’s a route that not only leads to the ECB, but also offers views you won’t see on the main road.
The Gokyo Lakes – a land of turquoise lakes
The Gokyo region is famous for its picturesque lakes situated at an altitude of over 4,700 metres above sea level. Their turquoise colour, combined with the surrounding eight-thousanders – Cho Oyu, Everest and Lhotse – creates views that many consider to be among the most beautiful in the entire Himalayas. The village of Gokyo, situated on the shores of the third lake, is a great place to acclimatise and rest.
One of the highlights is the climb up to Gokyo Ri (5,357 m). It’s a relatively short acclimatisation trek, but the panoramic view from the summit – taking in four eight-thousanders – is breathtaking.
Cho La Pass – a pass for the brave
After a rest in Gokyo, one of the route’s biggest challenges lies ahead – crossing Cho La Pass (5,420 m). The pass itself does not require any technical climbing skills, but it is steep, rocky and often covered in snow. On the eastern section, you must tread carefully across the glacier. The reward is the sense of a genuine high-mountain adventure and the realisation that you are following a route chosen by only a very small minority of trekkers.
Connection to the classic EBC trail
The trail from Gokyo via Cho La joins the main route at Lobuche, from where it is just one day’s walk to Everest Base Camp. This gives you something truly special: both a scenic detour past the lakes and the chance to reach the base camp itself. The entire trek usually takes 14–17 days, including acclimatisation days.
Who is this route for?
The trek through Gokyo and over Cho La Pass is slightly more challenging than the standard route to EBC. It requires better physical fitness, greater mental resilience and preparation for longer days of walking. It’s a great choice for people who aren’t travelling to Nepal just to „tick off” Everest Base Camp, but who want to experience the true atmosphere of the Himalayas, away from the biggest crowds.
Practical tips
- Allow for a few extra days to acclimatise in Namche and Gokyo.
- Check the weather conditions before setting off for the pass – snow and ice can make the route considerably more difficult.
- Take shoes with good soles, crampons and trekking poles – they’ll help on the steep descent.
- Choose insurance that includes helicopter evacuation, as this is the only realistic and optimal transport option should any problems arise in this region.
Summary
The Gokyo Lakes and Cho La Pass offer an alternative route to Everest Base Camp, offering breathtaking views, an extra thrill and the sense of discovering less well-trodden trails. It’s the perfect option for those looking for something more than the classic trek to EBC. We do, of course, include this trekking option in our itinerary suggestions; you can read more about it here (link). Come and join us!
