Chola Pass Trek
 

Chola Pass Trek

  • Transportation
    Flight
  • Group Size
    1 -10
  • Destination
    Nepal
  • Altitude
    5545m
  • Duration
    19
  • Activities
    Trekking in Nepal
  • Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
  • Difficulty
    Moderate
  • Accomodation
    Hotel in Kathmandu, Teahouse during the trek

Overview

Chola Pass Trek is one of the few adventures around the Himalayan region that takes you around to high places with scenic valleys where you will be absorbed in marveling at the beauty of the country this is one of the best adventures that fulfills your dreams.

The trek leads you within both beautiful corners of the high Khumbu valley with ever-present views of the famous Mt. Everest South Face where marvelous scenery follows you on daily treks.

Gokyo Valley and its beautiful glacial lakes will be the first highlight of the adventure where one can enjoy wonderful times enclosed within an array of giant peaks, as the walk takes you to high Gokyo-Ri Hill facing a super panorama of the world’s four highest mountains that never been seen in any other Himalayan areas.

From Gokyo crossing the high Cho-la pass leads you to our main major goal and highlight at Everest Base Camp with a climb to the highest spot on Kalapathar with amazing scenery of high peaks with Everest in the close direction.

Starting our fabulous walks on reaching Lukla, a Sherpa town with a small airstrip where a flight from Kathmandu brings you to Lukla as the route leads past many interesting Sherpa villages and into the lovely forest with a high climb to the famous Namche Bazaar.

At Namche Bazaar with time to explore and witness local Sherpa interesting Buddhist culture on rest days, an ideal spot with more days for acclimatization where the walk continues towards the high Gokyo valley on a quiet trail with grand views of mountain scenery.

On reaching Gokyo Valley within its beautiful lakes our real adventure starts following a high trail to cross Cho-la pass and then on pleasant high-altitude walks to reach our last final highlight to reach Everest Base Camp.

At Everest base camp where you will be beneath towering Mt. Everest within close reach of massive Khumbu Ice Fall and glaciers, our next adventure takes you on the highest point of the journey at Kalapathar for a mind-blowing panorama of mountains with Everest at a mere close distance.

Enjoying fabulous and outmost moments on the highest places of Khumbu Valley where the return walk leads to a long descent to Namche and at Lukla for a short scenic flight back into the hustle and bustle of city life of Kathmandu to conclude our most remarkable adventure and experience on Everest base camp crossing Cho-la pass trekking.

Trip Highlights

  • Enjoy both scenic sides of the high Khumbu Valley with ever-present views of Mt. Everest
  • Cross high Cho-la Pass an adventurous traverse from Gokyo Valley towards Everest base camp
  • Lovely walks into nice Sherpa farm villages festooned with colorful culture and custom
  • Journey to the highest scenic hilltop of Gokyo-Ri and Kalapathar for glorious mountain views
  • From green tree lines to a barren windswept area with the magnificent scenery of high snow peaks

Best Alternative Treks

 

Itinerary

DAY 01

Arrival in Kathmandu via various international airlines and transfer to hotel.

On fresh arrival at Kathmandu and Nepal international airport received by staff and guide with short transfer into the heart of Kathmandu city around exciting areas at Thamel where your hotels situated, here our guide will brief about treks and other necessary information regarding your stay and of the treks.

At evening group welcome dinner in a nice authentic Nepalese restaurant with cultural program to give you the glimpse of local culture with music and dance while having your dinner.

DAY 02

In Kathmandu with sightseeing tour around world heritage sites.

A free day in Kathmandu after breakfast join in our exciting and interesting sightseeing tour led by our expert city guide to show you the historical wonders of Nepal within world heritage sites, after a great and enjoyable tour with time for trek preparations.
DAY 03

Fly to Lukla 2,820 m and trek to Phakding 2,640 m - 04 hrs.

Morning transfer to Kathmandu domestic airport where short scenic flight takes you to Lukla on a small aircraft (Dornier / Twin Otter or similar) air journey of 30 minutes duration to land at Lukla airport, the airport called ‘Tenzing-Hillary’ tribute to first conqueror of Mt. Everest.

From Lukla after a refreshing break and getting organized for the day walk starts on downhill with winding path heading past traditional Sherpa farm village to reach our overnight stop at Phakding village by the Dudh Kosi River.

DAY 04

Trek to Namche Bazaar 3,440 m - 06 hrs.

Start walk from Phakding on a nice pleasant route into woodland of pines and rhododendron trees with views of snow capped peak, walk follows upstream crossing over bridges to enter Sagarmatha National Park at Monjo.

The park was added to the list as world heritage sites in 1979, from here walk follows to reach a high bridge and then climb all the way to Namche Bazaar, a large village, nearly size of a town with colorful houses serving as hotels and lodge.
At Namche Bazaar the last place with facilities of ATM, Banks, post office, Cyber Café, Trekking / Climbing stores and shops with café, bakeries and restaurants include views of Kwangde peaks.

DAY 05

Rest day at Namche Bazaar for acclimatization and excursion.

Namche Bazaar an ideal and perfect spot leisure and rest day to get acclimatized at the height of 3,440 meters, morning having breakfast take a short walk on top Namche Park headquarters area houses an interesting museum full of information of Khumbu / Everest area with, culture, history, mountaineering to flora and flora with Sherpa past and present traditional life.

High hill of Namche offers stunning views of Amadablam, Tharmarserku, Kantega, Kwangde, Khumbila with Mt. Everest and Lhotse towards North, after an impressive morning head back to lodge for lunch with afternoon free to relax and catch up with the dairy and browse around the street of Namche, where once a week Saturday market / bazaar takes place.

DAY 06

Trek to Dole 4,110 m - 06 hrs.

After an enjoyable time at Namche, morning walk leads on pleasant wide path facing outmost views of Everest, Lhotse with Amadablam and other high peaks, as our route diverts away from main Everest base camp trail with climb towards direct north to reach at Mong Hill.

From here descend to Dudh Kosi River valley at Phortse Tenga a small settlement within forest surrounding, where walk leads to slow climb to reach at Dole the first place on route Gokyo valley.
Overnight at Dole a small place with few nice lodges this will be the last with tree lines for many days.

DAY 07

Trek to Machhermo - 4, 465 m - 04 hrs.

Morning walk uphill for short while and then on slow easy trail with gradual climb facing grand views of surrounding high peaks, heading past few settlement within Yak grazing country then reaching on top of Machhermo with excellent views of world 6th highest Mt. Cho-Oyu towards north direction, enjoying views descend to Machhermo for lunch and overnight stop, with afternoon free for short walks around this nice scenic area.
DAY 08

Trek to Gokyo Valley and main 3rd Lakes 4,800 m - 04 hrs.

Today walks leads to our first main destination at Gokyo valley a short day where altitude gains gradually with climbs to reach higher cleft of Gokyo valley to reach at a small place Panga, then coming across the first lake of Gokyo then second one till walk leads at main 3rd lakes where most of the good lodges located just above emerald lake.

At Gokyo enjoy lunch with beautiful scenery of mountains with views of Cho-Oyu and Gyachung Kang with time for afternoon stroll around the lakes side.

DAY 09

Rest day at Gokyo with climb of Gokyo-Ri for scenic mountain panorama.

A well deserved rest day to enjoy marvelous scenery that Gokyo offers, morning take a long hike of few hours to reach one of the highest points of the adventure at Gokyo-Ri located above 5,357 m high.

From Gokyo-Ri offers stunning sunrise views over array of peaks that includes world’s four highest mountains Everest, Lhotse, Cho-Oyu with Makalu in the east a grand spot for magnificent views of Gokyo valley and the lakes with longest glacier of Nepal the Ngozumba glacier.
Afternoon rest and marvel beautiful scenery around Gokyo valley and the lakes.

DAY 10

Trek to Thagnak 4,670 m at the base of Cho-la Pass - 04 hrs.

Another leisure day walks of few hours on leaving the main Gokyo area and its lakes where route leads close to Ngozumba glacier to reach a small Yak herder settlement at Na, then walk for another hour to Thagnak for overnight stop at the bottom of high Cho-la pass.
DAY 11

Cross high Cho-la pass above 5,430 m and descend to Dzongla 4,815 m - 08 hrs.

An early morning start as walk leads to steep haul to reach on top Cho-la pass often spelled as Tsho-la, as Tsho means a pond or lake in Sherpa language of Tibetan origin.

However the pond are frozen most of the year round and near extinct due to rock falls and glacier movements, where Cho-la pass located on a high ridge that separates two beautiful sides of Khumbu valley.
The top adorned with Buddhist colorful prayer flags and rock cairns as a marker, from here head downhill with care to reach a small isolated place at Dzongla for overnight stop after a hard tough day crossing high pass of Cho-la.

DAY 12

Trek to Lobuche 4,930 m - 05 hrs.

From Dzongla, with grand close views of Cholatse and Taboche peaks where morning walk follows uphill for an hour and then a nice pleasant trail to reach above Thugla ( Dugla) located on midway where Pheriche and Dingboche path joins towards Everest Base Camp.

Continue walk with short steep climb up to terminal debris of Khumbu Glacier then on nice a path to Lobuche for overnight stop in the comfort of a cozy lodge.

DAY 13

Trek to Gorakshep 5,170 m, Everest Base Camp 5,364 m back at Gorakshep - 06 hrs.

Morning climb above Khumbu glacier facing views of Mt. Pumori, Lingtrin, Khumbutse with

Mt. Everest, after hours of good walk reaching at Gorakshep, a place with few nice lodges and a last place with facilities of overnight accommodation before Everest Base Camp; after a break walk continues to Everest Base Camp climbing over moraine to reach at Everest Base Camp.

After enjoying incredible moment at base camp with close views of Khumbu Ice fall and glacier, return journey heading back to Gorakshep for overnight stop after achieving all the highlights of the trip with one more a climb to the top of Kalapathar Hill.

DAY 14

Hike to Kalapathar 5,545 m trek to Pangboche 3,900 m via Pheriche.

Start early where steep climb takes few hours to reach on highest point of the adventure, Kalapathar top filled with black rocks at the height of 5,545 meters high, offers grand vista of surrounding high peaks with Mt. Everest at close distance.

After a great wonderful panorama walk down to Gorakshep and continue trek towards Pheriche windy valley for lunch stop, Pheriche a temporary settlement near Dingboche with many nice lodges with grand views of Taboche, Cholatse, Amadablam and as far to Mt. Cho-Oyu in the distance north west, from here on easy walk with short ups and down to Pangboche village for overnight stop.

DAY 15

Trek to Namche Bazaar - 06 hrs.

From Pangboche pleasant downhill to a bridge with an hour climb up to Tengboche back within trees lines and green vegetation with time at Tengboche retrace the journey back to Namche Bazaar for overnight stop before Lukla.
DAY 16

Trek back to Lukla - 06 hrs.

Last day walk a long walk to Lukla but pleasant and enjoyable final day trek of the adventure, as walk leads with short climb to reach back at Lukla for last overnight stop around Khumbu and Everest and farewell to our loyal and friendly porters.
DAY 17

Fly back to Kathmandu afternoon free at leisure.

Taking an early morning flight to Kathmandu, walk to Tenzing and Hillary air terminal at Lukla airport on boarding the plane a sweeping flight of 35 minutes brings you back in Kathmandu and then transfer to respective hotels with rest of the day free at leisure.
DAY 18

Spare and free day in Kathmandu as contingency.

In Kathmandu important to have a spare as contingency day in case of flight delay that might lead to cancellation at Lukla or in the beginning, which happens sometimes including even around best time of the season where bad and unfavorable weather conditions can obstructs our itinerary days and program.

If all goes well our itinerary days, interested people can join in for optional tour around Kathmandu around place f great interest or enjoy free individual activities and shopping.

DAY 19

International departure for homeward bound.

Last day in Nepal the country of high Himalaya and colorful culture, where our guide and staff transfer you to the airport for your international flight homeward bound or to next respective destinations after a glorious time and experience on Everest Base Camp Crossing Cho-la Pass Trekking.

Includes/Excludes

What's included?

  • Airport picks up and drops off by the private vehicle.
  • Three-time Meal During trekking(Breakfast-Lunch-Dinner)
  • All ground transportation on a comfortable private vehicle as per the itinerary
  • Flight From Kathmandu to Lukla And Lukla to Kathmandu
  • Guided city tour in Kathmandu by private vehicle
  • An experienced, English-speaking and government-licensed trek leader and assistant trek leader (10 trekkers: 1 assistant guide) Porter service (2 trekkers: 1 porter)
  • Staff costs including their salary, insurance, equipment, food and accommodation Down jacket and sleeping bag (to be returned after trip completion)
  • All necessary paperwork and trekking permits and TIMS.
  • Medical kit (carried by your trek leader)
  • All government and local taxes
  • Trekking map
  • Trekking certificate after the trek.

What’s excluded?

  • Nepalese visa fee
  • Excess baggage charge(s)
  • Private transportation except what is mentioned in the What Is Included section
  • Extra night accommodation in Kathmandu and Pokhara because of early arrival, late departure, early return from mountain (due to any reason like natural disaster and your own problems) than the scheduled itinerary Lunch and evening meals in Kathmandu (and also in the case of early return from the mountain than the scheduled itinerary) International flights
  • Travel and rescue insurance
  • Trekking equipment
  • Personal expenses (phone calls, laundry, bar bills, battery recharge, extra porters, bottle or boiled water, shower, etc.) Tips for guide(s), porter(s) and driver(s)

FAQs

What is the best time to Chola Pass Trek ?

From March to May and September to December months of the year, where March to May longer days with much sun-light hours till late afternoon with clear days for excellent views of snow-capped peaks and pleasant walks, can get cloudy with light rains and can snow on higher elevation sometimes.

March to May where hills are alive with seasonal wild-flower in bloom especially rhododendron of various species from tall trees to the bush, September to November another best time for clear views of peaks and walks but shorter days and sunlight hours due to autumn or fall season.

October to December months much colder in the night time and in the morning as well in shades can expect snow sometimes around the higher area with more freezing temperatures without wind chill factor around Gokyo Valley and on top of Cho-La pass all the way to Everest Base Camp.

USD 1899 Per Person
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