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Everest Base Camp Via Gokyo Lake Trek is one elite trek in the Everest Region, Nepal’s beloved province for trekking. The expert team of Sabbatical Explore Nepal is happy to share this fantastic trek with you. Let’s know what, why, how, and when of the Everest Base Camp & Gokyo Lakes Trek.
The combined Everest Base Camp via Gokyo Lakes itinerary is one to remember for challenging and adventurous treks in Nepal. It is an 18-day adventure that lets you explore the classic Everest Base Camp side and the unfrequented Gokyo Valley. However, to do this trek, you need to be in great shape and physique. There will be rugged terrains, testing altitudes, extreme weather, and steep-ups. If you believe you can take all the challenges, we excitedly invite you on this trek.
Why should you do this trek? We have some good reasons to mention. Firstly, you will touch both Kalapatthar and Everest Base Camp via a peaceful trail. Instead of the regular Everest Base Camp trail, you will walk the less crowded trail via Gokyo Valley. Along the way, we’ll tour across Sherpa villages that are often left out.
Secondly, you will witness the unmatched beauty of Gokyo Valley and its six freshwater lakes. Due to its awe-inspiring terrains, the valley is one of the most picturesque valleys in Nepal; we will unravel the whole place.
Thirdly and most importantly, Everest Base Camp Via Gokyo Lakes Trek will help you thoroughly behold the Everest Region’s charm. Starting from Lukla and going into Gokyo Valley to explore the lakes and valley, you will touch Mt Everest’s base camp before you return to Lukla via the regular EBC(Everest Base Camp) trail. That is how it covers the whole region.
To do this trek, Spring and Autumn are the two best times to complete this trek. Those are the times when the weather in Nepal favors trekkers with stable and pleasant conditions. Just ring us, and we will arrange a suitable date for the adventure. And we will have great memories together.
Day 1: Arrival Day in Kathmandu
Day 2: Kathmandu's Sightseeing and Trek Preparation
Day 3: Fly to Lukla and Trek to Phakding (2,650m) | 40min Flight & 3hrs trek
Day 4: Trek to Namche Bazaar(3,440m) | 6hrs
Day 5: Rest and Acclimatization Day in Namche Bazaar
Day 6: Trek to Dole(4,200m) | 5hrs
Day 7: Trek to Machhermo(4,470m) | 5-6hrs
Day 8: Trek to Gokyo(4,790m) | 4hrs
Day 9: Rest and Acclimatization day in Gokyo
Day 10: Trek to Thangnak(4,700m) | 5hrs
Day 11: Trek to Dzongla(4,855m) via Cho La Pass(5420m) | 6-7hrs
Day 12: Trek to Lobuche(4,910m) | 4hrs
Day 13: Trek to Everest Base Camp(5,364m) and back to Gorak Shep(5,185m)
Day 14: Morning Hike to Kala Patthar(5,555m) and Trek to Pheriche(4,250m)
Day 15: Trek to Namche Bazaar(3,440m) | 6-7hrs
Day 16: Trek to Lukla(2,850m) | 6-7hrs
Day 17: Fly back to Kathmandu | 40mins
Day 18: Departure
Welcome to the land of Mt Everest. We’ll be at the airport waiting for your arrival. Managing you a warm welcome, we will head to your hotel for check-in. You will take your time to relieve your body. In the evening, we will host a welcome dinner for you to make comfortable with the team. We will also discuss the trek. Following, you will move to your hotel for the night.
As you are comfortable with the team, it is time to get used to the environment of Nepal. And Kathmandu, the capital city of Nepal, is the best place to do so. We will visit the major sites of Kathmandu, which are also UNESCO cultural heritage sites. Monkey Temple, PAshupatinath, Bouddhanath Stupa, and Basantapur Durbar Square are the places we will see today. Also, we will prepare things for the trek. Overnight in Kathmandu.
The bags should be ready! Soon, we’ll join a 40-minute flight to Lukla from the capital. The airport we will land at is one of the most popular airports in the World. After the arrival, we will get ready for the trek to Phakding. The walk will start by descending from Lukla, and then it goes side by side with the Dudh Koshi River until we reach Phakding. We will have a delightful evening in Phakding.
We will leave our teahouse in Phakding and cross the Dudh Koshi River via a suspension bridge. There will be more suspension bridges across the day; we will cross them to reach Namche Bazaar. But before that, we will enter through the gates of Sagarmatha National Park at Monjo. Also, there will be times when we will walk through the forest of Pine and Rhododendrons. Ultimately, we will end the trek in Namche Bazaar, the biggest town in the region. Overnight in Namche.
We’ll have the first acclimatization day of the Everest Base Camp via Gokyo Lakes in Namche Bazaar. There is no better place than Namche for getting accustomed to the altitudes. We'll have a couple of alternatives to choose from for the day; visit Khumjung and Khunde Village-two thick Sherpa villages, hike up to Hotel Everest View, or visit the Sherpa Museum. We will spend the rest of the day doing one of these options. Overnight in Namche.
The rest of the day shall make us ready to go up. We will leave the busy streets of Namche for Dole. It is from where we will leave the classic Everest Base Camp Trek’s trail. We’ll take a rough road that goes to Dole via Mong La Pass(3,957m). The pass will bestow us the breathtaking views of Mt Ama Dablam. More forward, we will join a downhill trail that runs through the Pine and Rhododendron forest. We will have a short break at Phortse Tenga before we finally reach Dole for the night.
We’ll leave Dole after breakfast. The trail, today, goes through the picturesque meadows and Buddhist shrines. Along the route, we’ll find lots of prayer flags too. In some hours of trekking, we will reach Lapahrma Village, where we’ll see Mt Cho Oyu’s glorious visions. Next, we will pass by Luja Village to get to Machhermo at last. Overnight in Machhermo.
It is an important day of Everest Base Camp and Gokyo Lakes Trek. We’ll finally enter the Gokyo Valley. We will have an hour of the trek from Machhermo to reach Phanga. We will come across the memorials of the lost souls in the place. Continuing the hike, we will get to the shore of the first Gokyo Lake. We will explore the lake shortly and move towards the Gokyo village next to the third Gokyo Lake. Overnight in Gokyo Village.
Gokyo is such a beautiful place to visit. We’ll have an acclimatization day in Gokyo to explore the site entirely and acclimatize. We will perform a short hike to Gokyo Ri, the best viewpoint of Gokyo Valley. Passing all the uphill sections, we will reach the top to look at the whole region. From mountains to lakes, we will have enough views from Gokyo Ri. Following this, we will visit the remaining Gokyo Lakes before dusk. Overnight in Gokyo.
Now we will leave the beautiful Gokyo village. The acclimatization day in the village will make sense today. We will reach Ngozumpa Glacier, one of the longest glaciers in the world, to cross it. There will be several easy uphills and downhills to complete. On the other side of the glacier is Thangnak Village, in a beautiful setting. Our evening will become special because of the mountains of the region. Overnight in Thangnak.
We’ll depart from Thangnak to start a vital trekking day in the morning. Today, we will trek on the rocky terrain and terminal moraines to cross the Cho La Pass(5,420m), one of the principal passes of the region. Following the trek of several hours, we will ascend the Cho La Pass to catch our breath and enjoy a splendid panorama. Then, we will gradually descend from the top to reach Dzongla in the evening. Overnight in Dzongla.
From Dzongla, we’ll take a track to Lobuche, which starts with a walk through moraine and Cho La Lake. En route, we’ll also pass the memorials of the lost climbers. The trek is not as challenging as the last day; we shall walk comfortably to find Lobuche. Before reaching the place, we’ll walk by the banks of Imja Khola. Another great day of trekking will end at the popular stop, Lobuche.
Brace yourself! The day to reach Everest Base Camp is already here. We will leave Lobuche backward to approach Gorak Shep. Walking on nothing but terminal moraines, we’ll reach Gorak Shep for check-in and a short lunch break. Keeping our belongings in Gorak Shep, we’ll aim for Everest Base Camp. The following 2-3 hours will take you to the foothills of the World’s tallest mountain. It will be a moment to capture for the rest of your life. We will embrace what the place offers, all the whitish and mighty mountains. After the embracement, we’ll sign off from there to return to Gorakshep. Overnight in Gorakshep.
Everest Base Camp is not enough when you are in the region. There is another place that you must visit, Kala Patthar. We’ll do an early morning hike to the spot for a glorious sunrise view and mountain panorama. The mountain displays will melt your heart, and you’ll thank yourself for doing Everest Base Camp via Gokyo Lakes trek. Following this, we’ll descend back to Gorakshep. We’ll have breakfast and start the walk to Pheriche. Overnight in Pheriche.
As we have ticked all the top highlights of the Everest Base Camp Gokyo Lakes Trek, it’s time to return. We’ll leave for Namche Bazaar via a forested trail. We might encounter wildlife around the place. Also, we’ll follow the prayer flags and chortens to move ahead. Eventually, we’ll end up in Namche Bazaar for the second time. Overnight in Namche Bazaar.
The walk is not yet complete. We need to reach Lukla to end the trek finally. To do that, we’ll leave Namche after breakfast. We’ll retrace the trail via various suspension bridges, Monjo, Phakding, and lastly, reach Lukla. The day will be a long trekking day but not a difficult one. And, we’ll finish the trekking part of 18 days long Everest Base Camp Trek and Gokyo Lakes Trek upon reaching Lukla. Overnight in Lukla.
The plane will heat up to leave the Everest Region. We’ll hop into the flight, and we’ll enjoy it for another 40mins. We’ll see good views of mountains and hills throughout the flight coming to our windows. Eventually, we’ll land at the domestic terminal of the Kathmandu Airport. Next, we’ll head to the hotels for a deserving rest and refreshment. We might use the evening time for shopping for some souvenirs for the ones at home.
Here comes the end of the tour. We’ll cherish the memories that we’ve shared with you. For your deserving farewell, we’ll drop you at the airport with best wishes for a safe journey back home. Farewell, we’ll meet on some other sunny day.
What kind of meals should I expect during the trek ?
You will get hygienic, energetic, and well-cooked meals three times a day. The food items available on the trek are the most common ones from Nepali, Indian, Chinese, and Western but local style.
What are the odds of getting altitude sickness during the trek ?
If you do not follow health precautions and take mountain sickness lightly, you never know when. You have to be careful up in the higher areas and follow what your guide has to say. This way, you can lower the chances of sickness.
Will I get WiFi on this trek?
Yes, but not in all the places. The teahouses of the lower areas have WiFi services. But the higher areas teahouses may lack the service.
What is the best time for this Trek ?
March till May and September till November are the two-time intervals that are best for the trek.
Is it necessary to have training for the trek ?
If you are an experienced trekker, you do not need that. But if you are an amateur, it is helpful to have training like cardio, hiking, and running. Those sorts of activities will make you ready for the rugged trails of the trek.
Do I need a visa to visit Nepal?
Yes, a visa is necessary to visit Nepal for all tourists except Indian nationals. You can get a visa from the Nepalese Embassy in your country or an on-arrival visa from Kathmandu (TIA) Airport. For that, you will need a valid passport before 6 months, some passport-sized photos, and a visa fee.
How much is a Nepalese Visa fee?
The up-to-date visa fees (as of 6/6/2024) for a Nepalese visa is: US$30 for 15 days, US$50 for 30 days, US$125 for 90 days. For Visa Extension: 3 USD per Day(minimum 15 days) 5 USD per day as late fine in the case of delay
Which time is best for a Nepal tour?
The best times to visit Nepal are September to November and March to May. If you are not doing any high-altitude tours, you can visit Nepal all year round, including Monsoon and Winter.
What is Nepal best known for?
Nepal is known for multiple reasons. The country is geographically, culturally, architecturally, and religiously a gifted one. It is the birthplace of Buddha, home of Mt Everest and eight other world & highest peaks, the world best trekking trails, the land of brave Gurkhas, and more. Therefore, multiple reasons make Nepal popular across the globe.
I went to Upper Mustang Trek with them, which I can vividly remember even after 2 months now. I found out about this team from one of my friends. I'm glad he suggested it. Everything went well during the trek. The guide was so humble and good. He showed me things that I could never have if I was traveling solo. I feel a deep connection with the landscapes of Mustang. Thanks to the guide and the team. The trip was a great experience!
Ruben Jonas
Dec-2022
Chitwan Jungle Safari was a great experience with good value for money. We hired the Car from Kathmandu and stayed for 02 Nights. Our trip was well organized with good service on time. It was rainy and animals were scarce but the driver and Guide worked hard to spot them for us. 01-hour canoeing ride in the middle of hundreds of Crocodiles & Gharial followed by Elephant Breeding Center was an amazing experience. Our Jeep Safari of 04 hrs of continuous rides on the main Jungle was quite a good experience. The excitement level goes up when any kind of Wildlife creature is spotted. We saw Peacock, One Horn Rhino, and different species of Birds but with no luck Royal Bengal Tiger missed out. Overall it was a lovely and memorable experience with good Food and will highly recommend this tour. The best season would be in Winter with good Nature.
Philip
I had an amazing experience with Sabbatical Explore Nepal when I visited Nepal during my Gap year 2018. Our guide and driver were so experienced and helpful. I remember seeing many animals like tigers, deers, rhinos during Jungle Safari in Chitwan. I even went to the Elephant Breeding Centre and that was amazing. In Lumbini, the birthplace of Buddha I visited Maya Devi Temple and other monasteries. I was mesmerized by the architectural designs of the Temples and Monasteries built by different countries. I was a little sad that I couldn't visit other amazing places but the 6 days I spent in Nepal were very meaningful and memorable. I am looking forward to my next trip to Nepal.
Felix
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