Everest Base Camp via Chola Pass Trek

Welcome to Nepal. Your Mantra Adventure guide meets you at Tribhuvan International Airport and transfers you to your hotel in Thamel. The afternoon is free to explore Kathmandu's chaotic, colourful streets — visit the nearby Boudhanath Stupa or simply acclimatise at a rooftop café. Evening briefing with your trek leader covers the route, equipment check, and permit logistics. Welcome dinner included. Overnight: Kathmandu hotel. Meals: Dinner.

An early transfer to the domestic terminal precedes your thrilling 35-minute mountain flight to Lukla. The Tenzing-Hillary Airport — one of the world's most dramatic airstrips — sits on a cliff at 2,840 metres. Trek begins immediately, descending through pine forest alongside the thundering Dudh Koshi River. Cross your first suspension bridges adorned with prayer flags before reaching the riverside settlement of Phakding. Walking time: 3–4 hours. Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner.

Cross the Hillary Suspension Bridge high above the Dudh Koshi gorge and enter Sagarmatha National Park. The sustained 600-metre climb to Namche Bazaar winds through pine forest — your first glimpse of Everest peeks above the ridge at the park checkpoint. Namche, the Khumbu's commercial hub, spreads across a natural amphitheatre with spectacular mountain views. Walking time: 5–6 hours. Meals: All included.

A vital rest day to let your body adjust to altitude. Morning hike to the Everest View Hotel (3,880m) for panoramic views of Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse and Ama Dablam — the single best viewpoint accessible from Namche. Continue to Khumjung village and its Hillary School. Afternoon free to explore Namche's bakeries, gear shops and the Sherpa Culture Museum. Meals: All included.

The trail leaves Namche above the valley, contouring through birch and rhododendron forest with constant views of Ama Dablam and Thamserku. Descend to Phunki Tenga and climb steeply to Tengboche Monastery — the Khumbu's spiritual heart. Attend the late-afternoon puja ceremony if timing permits. Walking time: 5–6 hours. Meals: All included.

Descend through birch and rhododendron forest past Pangboche — home to the oldest monastery in the Khumbu — before climbing into the wide glacial Imja Valley. The landscape becomes starker and more elemental as you pass above the tree line into Dingboche, a high-altitude farming village ringed by stone-walled fields of barley and potatoes. Walking time: 5–6 hours. Meals: All included.

Second acclimatisation day — critical for the high passes ahead. Hike to the ridge above Dingboche at approximately 5,100 metres for close-up views of Lhotse's massive South Face and the elegant pyramid of Island Peak (Imja Tse). This altitude exposure prepares your body for the demands of Cho La Pass and Lobuche. Return to Dingboche for the afternoon. Meals: All included.

The trail follows the moraine of the Khumbu Glacier, gradually ascending through increasingly barren, wind-swept terrain. At the Thukla Pass (4,830m), a poignant memorial of cairns and prayer flags marks the resting place of climbers lost on Everest and neighbouring peaks. Continue to Lobuche — a sparse cluster of lodges on the glacier's edge, battered by afternoon winds. Walking time: 5–6 hours. Meals: All included.

One of the great days in Himalayan trekking. The trail crosses the rocky lateral moraine of the Khumbu Glacier to Gorak Shep — the last settlement before Base Camp. After dropping your pack and taking a light lunch, push the final 3 kilometres across the glacier moraine to Everest Base Camp itself. The camp, surrounded by towering seracs and the deafening crack of the icefall, is a place of raw, overwhelming beauty. Return to Gorak Shep for the night. Walking time: 7–9 hours. Meals: All included.

Pre-dawn start for the 90-minute ascent of Kala Patthar — the definitive Everest viewpoint. As the sun rises over Nuptse, it illuminates Everest's summit pyramid in shades of gold and amber. This is the photograph of a lifetime. Descend through Lobuche and veer west towards Dzongla, a small cluster of lodges below the imposing Cho La. Rest and prepare for tomorrow's pass crossing. Walking time: 6–7 hours. Meals: All included.

The Cho La is the most dramatic and technically demanding section of the entire route. An early start is essential to cross before afternoon clouds roll in. The ascent to the pass (5,420m) involves a short but steep scramble over glacial ice and rock — crampons may be required. At the top, a sea of prayer flags and a panorama of Cholatse, Lobuche East and the Gokyo Valley below. A long descent brings you to the turquoise Gokyo Lakes and the village of Gokyo itself. Walking time: 7–8 hours. Meals: All included.

Early morning ascent of Gokyo Ri for what many trekkers consider the finest panoramic viewpoint in Nepal — a 360-degree vista of Everest, Makalu, Lhotse, Cho Oyu, and the enormous Ngozumpa Glacier stretching far below. Back at Gokyo, spend the afternoon exploring the sacred fifth lake (Ngozumpa Tso) or simply resting beside the glacial waters. Walking time: 3–4 hours. Meals: All included.

Follow the Dudh Koshi valley south through Dole and Machhermo, descending steadily through alpine meadows and yak pastures into the rhododendron zone. The gradient is gentle and the views are rewarding throughout. Arrive in Namche with the afternoon free for a celebratory slice of apple pie. Walking time: 5–7 hours. Meals: All included.

Retrace the familiar downhill trail south from Namche, crossing suspension bridges over the Dudh Koshi and descending through pine forest to Phakding. The lower altitude brings noticeably warmer air and easier breathing — a relief after days above 4,000 metres. Walking time: 3–4 hours. Meals: All included.

Final trekking day: a short 3-hour ascent back to Lukla, retracing the initial descent. In Lukla, a farewell ceremony with your Sherpa and porter crew — tika blessings, marigold garlands and genuine expressions of friendship from people who have kept you safe and happy for two weeks. Walking time: 3 hours. Meals: All included.

Weather-dependent morning flight to Kathmandu. Transfer to hotel; afternoon free for Thamel shopping, a spa visit, or exploration of Boudhanath Stupa. Celebration dinner in the evening. Overnight: Kathmandu. Meals: Breakfast, dinner.

Transfer to Tribhuvan International Airport for your onward journey home. End of Mantra Adventure services. We hope this journey has given you memories, perspective and a deep connection to the Himalaya that will last a lifetime. Safe travels. Meals: Breakfast.