About Everest Base Camp with Gokyo Valley Trekking
The Everest Base Camp with Gokyo Valley Trekking combines the two most popular treks in the region. It offers a visit to historic Everest Base Camp and the jaw-dropping beauty of the Gokyo Lakes as well as the thrills of crossing the challenging Cho La Pass.
This Everest Base Camp Gokyo Valley Trek first leads to the astonishing area of the base camp where expeditions set up to attempt the summit of the world’s highest peak, Everest. The route up to this historic area offers unforgettable beauty in the alpine paradise of the Himalaya.
The base of the world’s highest peak is the very nearest to the summit that trekkers can reach without being a mountain climber on an expedition. From Everest Base Camp, we will have up-close views of the challenging Khumbu Icefall and the desolate surroundings. After visiting the celebrated viewpoint of Kala Patthar (5545 m, 18192 ft), with up-close panoramas of Everest and surrounding mountains, we then make our way over the challenging Cho La Pass (5420 m / 17,783 feet)! We then traverse Ngozumpa Glacier, Nepal’s largest glacier as we make our way to a collection of lodges at Gokyo set near a mesmerizing lake with the peaks towering above.
A highlight of this Everest Base Camp with Gokyo Valley journey is a ridge top known as Gokyo Ri (5340 m, 17,519 ft). This viewpoint has a staggering panorama of Everest and surrounding mountain peaks as well as the beautiful lakes below alongside Ngozumpa Glacier.
The Everest Base Camp with Gokyo Valley Trekking passes through the homeland of the famed Sherpa ethnicity. The Sherpa are especially renowned for their mountain skills. This trek gives us a chance to observe the Sherpa lifestyle with wondrous Buddhist monasteries. Wildlife in this area includes exotic alpine animals including the elusive snow leopard and some people even think the yeti lives in the Himalaya here.
Our Everest Base Camp with Gokyo Valley Trek starts after a short, scenic flight over terraced farmland to the mountain airport of Lukla. We then take our time as we allow adequate time to adjust to the high elevation. We trek north up the Dudh Kosi Valley to the destination known as Namche Bazaar, a town at the gateway to the higher Himalaya. After visiting the famous Sherpa villages of Kunde and Khumjung we continue to the famous setting of Tengboche Monastery, the largest monastery in the region. From here the trail becomes more desolate as we move higher and closer to the expedition base camp of the highest peak on earth.
After crossing the Cho La and visiting the Gokyo Lakes, we have a pleasant return to Namche Bazaar. We then make our way back down the valley to the mountain airport at Lukla and flight back to Kathmandu.
Recommended: Add a cushion of a few extra days in your onward travel schedule, advised as a margin of safety for your international flight from Nepal. Air travel between Kathmandu to Lukla is frequently delayed due to weather conditions and poor visibility. Flights often get behind schedule and delays can even last for days. Under these situations, High Camp Adventure will do its best to re-schedule flights to and from Lukla at first availability. However, the possibility of postponements of flights and even cancellations is a real possibility. We, therefore, advise that you schedule at least an extra two days cushion in your itinerary to avoid conflicts with international flights out of Nepal. In the event of prolonged delays, one option is to arrange a helicopter evacuation at your request. The additional cost of a helicopter flight would be between 500 to 1000 USD per traveler, exact cost dependent on demand and capacity. That said, we would also like to mention that it is also likely that there will be no delays whatsoever. In that case, High Camp Adventure can arrange activities with your additional days in Kathmandu before your flight home.
Please Note: Our Everest Base Camp and Gokyo Valley Trekking have set departure dates from Kathmandu and this trek can be personalized to accommodate yourspecific wishes and timetable.