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Gokyo Lakes and Everest Base Camp
The Gokyo Lakes are stunning. Changing colour with the light, these glacial lakes are very special and when viewed from above they enhance the spectacular Himalayan background perfectly. This trip is the nearest thing that the Khumbu region has to a circuit. Whilst the beginning and Base Camp ends are the same as other trips, the middle sections are different adding a good feeling of not retracing your steps.
This trip can also be done without EBC (reducing it to 16 days); please call Travel and Trek to discuss.
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This trip follows the EBC trail through the Sherpa capital Namche Bazaar and after a days acclimatisation there, progresses up into the Gokyo valley after just 2 hours after leaving Namche. It is at this junction that you will split from most if not all of the other trekkers on the trail.
It will take 3 days to reach the upper valley, increasing in altitude all of the time until you reach the Ngozumpha glacier. This area is between 4500m and 4700m and therefore further acclimatisation will take place but you will also take time to savour this stunning area. Cho Oyu (8153m) is directly above you and a ‘must do’ side trip up to Gokyo Ri (5360m) will ensure that you can see Everest, Lhotse, Makalu too. You will then head up and over the Cho La (5330m) to re-join the main Everest trail towards the Base Camp. As the trails join, you will already be trekking along side the Khumbu glacier upon which the Everest Base Camp sits. In just one more day you will reach Gorak Shep, the final tea house village before the Base Camp itself (you cannot stay at the Base Camp without tents).
You will stay in Gorak Shep for two nights during which time you will visit the Base camp (it is a 6 - 7 hr return trek) and also trek up to Kala Patthar (5500m) to view the Camp from above. Make sure you get a good look at the Khumbu ice fall (you can’t really miss it!) as it is a difficult and dangerous section for climbers heading to the summit. Climbers have to cross this numerous times in their acclimatisation period prior to the final summit attempt and it is a constantly moving enormous mass of ice blocks.
It is soon time to descend and with a predominantly downhill leg, you will easily pass the point at which you joined the trail from Gokyo and reach Dingbouche in a day. Your next overnight stop is Tengbouche; the prime Buddhist centre for this region. It has a large monastery well worth seeing. Namche Bazaar beckons the following day and you are now back on familiar territory as you retrace your steps to Lukla and await your flight back down to Kathmandu.
This trek has the added advantage of acclimatisation prior to reaching the Base Camp (you go up to the Gokyo Ri and over the Cho La first; it is the same altitude as Base Camp) thus avoiding any potential set backs there.
