Everest Base Camp and Gokyo Lake Trek
Everest Base Camp and Gokyo Lake Trek
Everest Base Camp and Gokyo Lake Trek? Most probably, the most preferred trekking trail in the Himalayas of Nepal and one of the top ten best trekking trails in the world. Tripadvisor also has recommended the trekkers to do Everest Base Camp trek at least once in their lifetime.
The trail is legendary in the sense that the two climbers Tenjing Norgay Sherpa and Sir Edmund Hillary scaled the Mt. Everest (8848m) for the first time using the same trekking trail. Mt. Everest is also known as Sagarmatha and Chomolungma in Sherpa language. Scaling Mt. Everest is really a big thing and all people can do it. Though they can’t go for scaling the Mt. Everest, they, at least, want to put their footsteps at the Everest Base Camp (5364m) once in their life and they find it an achievement for the lifetime. Everest Base Camp is the highest mountain base camp of the world. Thousands of trekkers from the globe visit Nepal just to witness Mt. Everest and be blessed with it.
Actually, majority of the people prefer only Everest Base Camp Trek and some want to combine it with Gokyo Lake Trek and it becomes Everest Base Camp and Gokyo Lake Trek or Everest Base Camp with Gokyo Lake Trek. When Everest Base Camp Trek is combined with Gokyo Lake, it turns to be more challenging because the trekkers have to cross Chola Pass (5420m), which is one of the highest passes of the world. Those love tough adventure with Everest Base Camp, then, they go with Gokyo Lake trek by crossing Chola Pass.
Everest Base Camp with Gokyo Lake Trek can be done in any way you like. It means, you can first step at Everest Base Camp and then cross Chola Pass or you can, first, visit ascend up to Gokyo Lake and go to Everest Base Camp by crossing Chola Pass. In fact, majority of the people prefer first Everest Base Camp and then to Chola pass and end the ascent at Gokyo Lake and come back to Kathmandu through Namche and Lukla.
The trail, fundamentally, is located in Sagarmatha National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the national park located at the highest elevation of the world and lets you enjoy a diverse species of alpine floras and faunas. The glaciers, canyons, local settlements and towns, cool and serene trekking trails, local dishes, unique culture and civilization of the Sherpa People, incredible freshwater lakes including Gokyo and spectacular mountain views including Mt. Everest, the top of the world distinctly fascinate trekking passionate around the world to do Everest Base Camp with Gokyo Lake Trek.
Highlights
- Explore beautiful local towns like Lukla, Namche, Tengboche, Dingboche, Lobuche and Gokyo
- Acknowledge the rich Sherpa culture and civilization
- Enjoy fresh and good local foods
- Explore various types of unique species of flora and fauna in Sagarmatha National Park
- Enjoy the quality of time with glaciers, deep woods and core wilderness
- Put your footsteps at Everest Base Camp and ascend up to Kalapatthar for astonishing mountain views and sunrise
- Cross Chola Pass ((5420m), one of the highest mountain passes in the world and celebrate the absolute thrills of adventure
- Mesmerize at witnessing freshwater lakes including the popular Gokyo Lake
- Enjoy witnessing majestic views of giant Himalayas including Mt Everest, the top of the world from Kalapatthar and Gokyo Ri
A brief Synopsis of the Trail Description
We begin this trek formally from Lukla after a short and scenic flight from Kathmandu. Passing through the Lukla town, we head to Phakding and we spend the first night of the trek here. The trail, then, takes us to Namche Baazar. Afterwards, the trail paves the way to Tengboche, then, to Dingbcohe and next Lobuche. Further, we ascend up to Gorakhshep, the last human settlement on the Everest Base Camp Trekking trail. We trek to Everest Base Camp and return back to Gorakhshep since there is no facility of overnight stay. The next day, we climb Kalapatthar for sunrise and mountain views including Mt. Everest and walk down to Lobuche and switch our trek to the other side and prepare to cross Chola Pass the next day. We get the climax of Chola Pass and walk to Gokyo Lake. After climbing Gokyo ri, we walk down to Namche via Machhermo and Dole. Again, following the same path, we walk down to Lukla and fly back to Kathmandu.
How difficult is the trek?
Everest Base Camp Trek is considered to be a moderate but, sometimes, also as an adventure trekking and if it is combined with Gokyo Lake then definitely it will truly be a challenging trek since the trekkers have to cross Chola Pass, one of the highest passes of the world. Crossing a pass ascending up to almost 5500m with icy trail is not a joke. Trekkers who are going for Everest Base Camp with Gokyo Lake should bear that it is challenging venture into the core Khumbu area and they must prepare very well.
Preparations
Definitely, one has to make a very well preparation beforehand venturing into the Everest Base Camp with Gokyo Lake Trek since it is very challenging to triumph over. One has to have a prior experience of shorter trekking/hiking above 4000m with sound level of stamina. Next, the trekkers require packing up very reliable gears with them so that no inconvenience will occur during the trek.
Book your trip with a reliable and dependable trekking company and accompany with professional and experienced trekking crew. Likewise, one has to find the best weather condition of the year that is either spring (Mar-May) and autumn (Sep-Nov).
Fix your health issues if you have any before going on the trail. Carry all required medicine if you need it. And most importantly, travel insurance is must that should cover your entire expenses in case of unforeseen circumstance that occurs on the trail.
What are the required permits for the trek?
Trekkers who are undertaking their Everest Base Camp Trek with Gokyo Lake must collect two different permits. These permits are: TIMS Card (Trekking Information Management System Card) and Sagarmatha National Park Entry Permit. Trekkers can collect these trekking permits by visiting Nepal Tourism Board Office or they can ask their trekking partner/trekking operator to obtain these permits for them. No restricted trekking permit is required for Everest Base Camp with Gokyo Lake Trekking.
Best Time of the Year
Autumn (Sep-Nov) and spring (Mar-May) are the two best times of the year for Everest Base Camp with Gokyo Lake Trek. These two seasons of the year do not only favor the trekkers who are doing their Everest Base Camp with Gokyo but they also offer the best times of the year for all kinds of tourism activities in Nepal. People can enjoy the nature with perfect weather condition without the threats of weather extremes during their trek in Himalayas during autumn and spring.
Can I escape the Lukla Flight for this trek?
Yes, you can escape Lukla flight with two options: using four-wheel jeep drive up to just below Lukla called the village Bupsa and using helicopter up to and from wherever you like while ascending and descending. We suggest you to take the helicopter flight while returning back to Kathmandu because we have to acclimatize our body with new gained elevation while ascending. But, you can go with four-wheel jeep drive from Kathmandu to Bupsa and begin your trek directly to Namche escaping Lukla. Actually, Lukla flights sometimes severely get disturbed due to bad weather condition. However, trekkers cannot take four-wheel drive to Bupsa from Kathmandu during summer because the condition of the road is not good and the rainfall damages the country road.
How will the food and accommodation be like?
The food and accommodation you will have in your Everest Base Camp with Gokyo Lake Trek will be basic. The local guesthouses set their own food menu and arranged their type of accommodation which will be sufficient and satisfactory enough for a single night/day or a couple. Most of the lodges will provide Continental, Asian, Chinese, Japanese, Indian, Tibetan and Nepali food items. Mostly, the accommodation will be on the twin sharing basis. If you want a separate, then, you need to make prior information to your travel partner to arrange it for you.
However, there are some towns like Namche and Dingboche where one can enjoy luxury accommodation. Some new and modern hotels have been set up for the comfort and convenience for the trekkers. So, if you want to enjoy luxury accommodation in Namche and Dingboche, you can ask your trekking company to manage/book for you during your Everest Base Camp with Gokyo Lake Trek.
Detail Itinerary
Day 01: Pickup from airport Tribhuwan International (TIA) (1345m. /4411ft) Airport to Hotel
Day 02: A Day Kathmandu Sightseeing Tour and Trekking Preparation Day
Day 03: Fly to Luka (2840. /9320ft.)Trek to Phakding (2610m. /8560ft.) 3-4hrs walk
Day 04: Phakding to Namche Bazaar (3440m. /11290 ft.) 5-6hrs walk.
Day 05: Accimataization Day in Namche
Day 06: Namche Bazaar to Tengboche (3860m. /12370ft.) 4-5hrs walk
Day 07: Rest and Acclimatization
Day 08: Trek to Lobuche
Day 09: Trek to Everest Base Camp via Gorekhshep
Day 10: Hike to Kalapatthar (5545m. /17400ft.)3-3.3hrs Hike back to Gorakshep (5170m. /16961ft.) To Dzogla (4830m. /15850ft) 5hrs walk
Day 11: Dzogla to Thangak (4680m. /15350ft) via Chola-Pass (5368m /17611ft)6-7hrs.
Day 12: Thangnak to Gokyo (4750m/15580ft.) 4-5hrs
Day 13: Gokyoto Gkyo Ri (5357m. /17575ft)–Back to Gokyo 3-4hrs- Rest day
Day 14: Gokyo to Dole (4110m. /13480ft) 5-6hrs
Day 15: Dole to Jorsalle (2810m. /9220m) 5-6hrs
Day 16: Jorsalle to Lukla(2840m. /9320ft) 4-5hrs
Day 13: Fly back to Kathmandu (40Min.)
Day 14: Pick from Hotel, Transfer for farewell/ Departure
Altitude Sickness, a Problem?
Altitude sickness/ acute mountain sickness will not be the problem all the time during Everest Base Camp with Gokyo Lake Trek. However, there occur a few cases of altitude sickness while ascending above 5000m high and same thing happens to Everest Base Camp with Gokyo Lake Trek. Actually, if the trekkers are prepared well with sound stamina and very reliable trekking crew and trekking equipment, then, there is almost no chance of getting altitude sickness but nothing is 100% certain.
There are certain ways of avoiding acute mountain sickness. These are:
- Get elevation gradually with proper acclimatization
- Address your health issues if you have beforehand the trek
- Don’t smoke and drink a lot at higher elevation
- Avoid having impure water and food during the trek
- Use right and reliable trekking equipment
- Have a sound sleep
- Report immediately to the leader if you have any problem during the trek
- Carry first-aid kit with some basic medicines
In case you have altitude sickness, you have to let your guide know about as soon as it is possible. He will suggest you certain ways of recovering your body into normal condition. If the problem gets worse, you will immediately be evacuated to the nearest city for the right treatment.
Final Words
Everest Base Camp with Gokyo Lake Trek is only for true adventure enthusiasts because the trail, mostly, pushes to the trekking trail above 5000m high into the innermost part of the Khumbu Himalayas including Mt. Everest. You know the nature is always wild and unpredictable. However, those who are ready to venture into the wild nature with sound preparation and stamina, then, definitely, the trek won’t be as challenging as we assume. On conquering it, one will feel the bliss of one of the biggest achievements of his/her life. So, plan well, prepare well, think well, do well and make it successful and memorable for the lifetime. Good luck and wish you all the very best for your wonderful Everest Base Camp with Gokyo Lake Trek. Go and Celebrate it.