Gokyo valley to EBC Trek

Key Infomation

  • Duration:18 Days
  • Region/DestinationNepal
  • ActivityTrekking & Hiking
  • Arrival CityKathmandu

About Gokyo valley to EBC Trek

Gokyo valley is situated in the west of Khumbu region of Sagarmatha National Park, Everest Region. The Everest Base Camp Trek can be organizes with following the route via Gokyo valley. The valley offers magnificent view of Panaromic Mountains including word’s crown Everest, Lhotse, Cho Yue and Makalu. GokyoRi is one of the highest hiking peak near the valley, which provides a natural view tower to observe the Khumbu Glacier and mountains. The view is arguably better than the one above Kalapathar (5,545m).

In the serene Gokyo valley, there are some pristine turquoise lakes. The valley is renown for these beautiful glacier lakes. Gokyo Lakes are highly respected and holy for the locals. Also the people of Gokyo valley and whole khumbu region are strong devotee of spiritual values and traditions. They pay high respect to the god Buddha and Buddhist philosophy. The people’s culture and values are also remarkable point of the trek. Local hotels and teahouses are well managed and developed in Gokyo Valley region. The route is accessible to charge electric devices, Internet and phone connection. The meal at local teahouses and hotels are especially typical Nepali DaalBhat, Western Foods, Indian and Chinese etc.

If trekkers choose to go Everest Base Camp via Gokyo valley, he/she needs to add another 5 days in the itinerary. Also the trek will much more meaningful and valuable with visiting extra astonishing place. The route follows two popular high passes like Cho La Pass and Nangpa La Pass. In addition, the Spring and autumn are considered as the best season to travel in Gokyo valley, however other are also suitable. We suggest you to bring some chocolet and dry foods in your hand carry bags. And we would like to request you to stay hydrated.

Itinerary

  • Day 01: Arrival at Kathmandu
  • Day 02: Briefing about trek, gear check and a short city tour.
  • Day 03: Early morning fly to Lukla (2,800m) and Trek to Phakding (2,600m)
  • Day 04: Trek from Phakding to Namche(3,438m)Bazzar, 6-7 hr.
  • Day 05: Acclimatization Day Explore Sherpa Capital Namche Bazzar.
  • Day 06: Trek from Namche Bazzar to PhortseThanga (3,680m) 5-6 hr.
  • Day 07: Trek from PhortseThanga to Machhermo (4,470m), 5-6 hr.
  • Day 08: Trek from Machhermo to Gokyo (4,800m). 5-6 hrs
  • Day 09: Acclimatization Day Hiking up to gokyo-Ri. (5,357M)
  • Day 10: Trek from Gokyo to Thangnak(4,750m).
  • Day 11: Trek from Thangnak to Dzongla via Cho La pass (5,367m).
  • Day 12: Trek from Dzongla to Lobuche (4,940 m) 4-5 hr.
  • Day 13: Trek to Everest Base Camp (5,364 m) & back to Gorak Shep 7-8 hrs
  • Day 14: Hike to Kalapatthar(5,555m), back to Pheriche(4250m) 5 hrs
  • Day 15: Pheriche to Namche Bazaar. (3,438m) 6-7 hrs
  • Day 16: Namche Bazaar to Lukla (2,800m). 4-5 hrs
  • Day 17: Fly back to KTM, last minute shopping & Farewell dinner
  • Day 18: Final departure

Welcome to the Himalayan country, Nepal. Upon your arrival, our Southcol Adventures' representatives will greet and drive you to your respective hotel. You may rest and discover the city of Thamel the remaining time of the day.

    Our trekking leaders will meet you in the hotel and check your trekking and climbing equipment and their conditions and suggest you buy or rent the necessary kits from the trekking shops in Thamel. Spend your day visiting various heritage sites including Swayambhunath, Pashupatinath, Bhaktapur Durbar Square, Bouddhanath.

      In the early morning, You'll be transferred to the domestic airport. Embark your day with an exhilarating picturesque flight to lukla airport (2,800m), which takes around 40 minutes. After spending few time reaching Lukla, allocating porters for carrying baggages, the trek begins heading towards Phakding, passing through lush forests and  traditional Sherpa villages and farms. Following the trail, crossing the suspension bridges over the Dudh Koshi river, grasp the astonising views of Kusum Kangaru (6,369m/20,890ft). Next One and half hours of moderate walk brings you to Phakding village for the overnight stop and enjoy the warm hospitality of Everest region.

        Today’s trial winds you through pine forest, beautiful villages and several suspension bridges adorned with prayer flags. About 2 hours of walk takes you the Monjo Village, the entrance gate of the Sagarmatha National Park, where your trekking permit will be checked. 

        After taking lunch, the trial descends along the Dudh Koshi River, passing notable spots like Mislung and Larja Dovan, surrounded by spectacular mountain scenery. Its time to ascend the challenging steepy section of the trek called 'Namche Ukalo' which includes the crossing of iconic Hillary Suspension Bridge. As you will climb higher, you'll get an amazing view of Mt. Everest, Mt. Lhotse, and a closer view of Tawache Peak.

        It's a tough climb up the hill, but you'll be rewarded in Namche Bazaar (popular Sherpa capital) with your first glimpse of Everest and the lively atmosphere of Namche makes your trip worthwhile.

          Continous trekking without taking rest can cause altitude sickness to many. So to avoid that risk as well as allowing our bodies to fully recovered and become ready to acclimatize to the lofty mountain,  we will be taking a much needed break! Although the day will be spent at Namche, it will be full of exploring Namche Bazzar, a shopping hub filled with all sorts of trekking and mountaineering clothing and equipments. Dont miss to out check the Sherpa Culture Museum for an overview of the Sherpa traditions and history of Sherpa climbers in Everest region. 

          There's an optional 2 hours hike to Syangboche (Everest View Hotel), an uphill walk that will help accelerate acclimatization, where you’ll be serverd to magnificient panoramic views of Everest, Lhotse, Ama Dablam and many ohters snow capped peaks.

            Today’s trek begins on the wider, scenic trail from Namche Bazaar to Kenjoma, offering breathtaking views of Mount Everest, Lhotse, Ama Dablam, and other majestic peaks. The trail leads to Kenjoma, where the paths for Gokyo & Everest Base Camp split.

            From Kenjoma, the route ascends steadily towards Mong La, a small settlement perched on a ridge with stunning mountain vistas. After a short break, the trail descends through rhododendron and pine forests, leading to the riverside village of Phortse Thanga.

            Although today’s trek is relatively shorter compared to other days, we’ll stop at Phortse Thanga to allow proper acclimatization. If you arrive in time for lunch, you can enjoy a leisurely afternoon and take an optional hike to nearby hills for additional exploration.

              Today we start our day crossing the Dudh Koshi River and on the way, we might also come across wildlife such as the Himalayan Pheasants, musk deer, mountain goats and more. We will be trekking via forests, cascading waterfall and bridge to reach Dole.

              We will climb on a steady trail with a scenic view of Kantega, Thamserku, and Cho Oyu mountains. After that, we will climb towards Luza village and walk for a while over Dudh Koshi River. We will continue our trek through the tiny village and sandy path to reach Machhermo.

              After reaching here, we will be visiting the Himalayan Rescue Hospital and attend altitude sickness class where you will be briefed about the precautions of altitude sickness. We will spend our night at Machhermo.

                Today is the day you arrive at Gokyo Valley, your ultimate destination. You pass a few monasteries and chortens as you rise along the banks of the Dudh Koshi River with the views of Khumbu Himalayas before arriving at the first Gokyo Lake. 

                Then you trek up the Ngozumpa Glacier moraines to the second lake, and then to the third lake, which is hidden behind the historic Sherpa village of Gokyo. Before arriving at Gokyo valley - we will be passing Long pongo, Dudh Pokhari, and Raboche Tscho. Gokyo village is where you'll spend the night.

                  We'll acclimate to the altitude at Gokyo today, and if the weather cooperates, we'll trek towards Gokyo Ri. We can see the beautiful view of the Himalayas as well as the serene Gokyo Lakes after we reach the summit of the Gokyo Ri.

                  We'll also hike to the Gokyo Lakes. Then we'll climb near to the top of the slope, where we'll be rewarded with spectacular views of Mount Cho Oyu, Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse, Gyachung Kang, and Makalu. We'll then retrace our steps back to Gokyo. We'll stay in Gokyo for the night.

                    The trek begins with a gentle ascent out of Gokyo, leading to the edge of the Ngozumpa Glacier, the longest glacier in the Himalayas. Crossing the glacier involves navigating through a labyrinth of ice and rock, with cairns marking the path across the undulating terrain. Upon reaching the eastern side of the glacier, the trail continues over rocky moraines before arriving at Thagnak

                      We start our early morning trek hiking over the rocky trails and the glacial moraines to the top of the cho La Pass. After a few hours of hiking, we will arrive at Cho La Pass, which will award us with breathtaking views of the mountain ranges. The trail becomes slippery as we descend. This trek provides us with spectacular landscapes. After seven hours of trekking today get to the Dzongla.

                        Today, we will leave Dzongla behind and descend following the moraine. We will then trek through the Khumbu Glacier. On our way, we can see the remembrance statues of climbers who passed away in this area. Before arriving in Lobuche, we will follow Imja Khola. After almost four hours of trekking, we will arrive at Lobuche, where we will join the Everest Trail.

                          This will be a remarkable day for you, as this day you will be reaching the Everest Base Camp itself. However, the journey will start at Lobuche and elevate significantly as we approach Gorak Shep. Once we reach Gorak Shep, we will leave our belongings there and head up to the Everest Base Camp.

                          Once you reach Everest Base Camp (EBC), you will feel a sense of achievement - like the fruition of your efforts. Reaching EBC requires consistent physical effort and lots of determination, so in a way, the journey to EBC will transform you into a better person. The views from EBC are incredible, and you will get a chance to enjoy the views of Khumbu Glacier. We suggest you click as many pictures as you can as they will serve you as a memento for the rest of your life. After enjoying the views from EBC, we will trek down to Gorak Shep and spend our night there.

                            We will wake up at Gorak Shep early in the morning and hike to Kala Patthar to catch the dawn breaking on the Everest Mountain. The sights you will be witnessing will be incomparable to anything that you might have ever seen.

                            After spending a while at the Kala Patthar viewpoint we will descend to Gorak Shep for breakfast and then rest for some time. Then we will head to Pheriche - the destination for the day. 

                              This day we wake up at Pheriche and then head to Namche Bazaar. The trail will be leading us through forests where we might spot wildlife like pheasants, musk deer, mountain goats, etc. On the way, you will see numerous prayer flags and chortens, and this day provides you with the last chance to see Mt. Everest. As we trek further, we will reach Namche Bazaar, where we will be spending our night.

                                We continue our trek taking deep dive from the Namche hill for about an hour then descend gradually through dense forests crossing several suspension bridges all the way to Manjo, Benkar Phakding and ultimately to Lukla. 

                                  Today we shall leave for Kathmandu. The flight to Kathmandu is generally scheduled in the morning to avoid the disturbances caused by afternoon wind in Lukla. Trekkers should be prepared for the delay or cancellation of flights due to the bad weather which is beyond our control. The flight takes you over the vast landscape of hills of Nepal with the view of the Himalayas, lush valleys, and other natural beauties. After you land in the domestic terminal of TIA you shall be transferred to your hotel. Take proper rest and later in the day you may go for some afternoon shopping to take with you some souvenirs for your near and dear ones. You may also wander around in the streets of Thamel. Pack your bags for your return flight to the onward destination. Kathmandu. In the evening, we will have a farewell dinner in a typical Nepalese Restaurant with cultural shows.

                                    The adventurous, exciting, and entertaining trip, Gokyo Valley to EBC trek, comes to an end today. Extend your stay and enjoy other packages if you have enough time for staying in Nepal. You shall be transferred to the airport for your flight to your onward destination by a representative of Southcol Adventures. We thank you for being a part of our team and we hope that you have created some of the best memories of your life during this trek. Have a safe and happy journey ahead!

                                      Cost Details

                                      Included

                                      • All necessaries ground transportation including Airport to Hotel and Kathmandu Sightseeing
                                      • Government Trekking Permit including National Park Entry Permit, TIMS Card (Trekker’s Information Management System) and Local Permit
                                      • Domestic Flight: Kathandu to Luka Domestic flight round trip
                                      • 3 night Kathmandu Hotel Accommodation at 3 Star hotel with BB Service
                                      • government license holder trekking guide, having 5-7 years experiences in Trekking sector of Nepal and well speaking skill in English
                                      • trekking porter, Max 20 kg
                                      • Accommodation at Tea House and Local lodge during trekking period.
                                      • Three time meals a day during trekking period including breakfast, lunch and dinner and tea, coffee.
                                      • Medical Kit: Trekking medical kit and tools

                                      Excluded

                                      • International flight
                                      • Nepal Visa and cargo clearance
                                      • your personal warm chothes for trekking
                                      • Extra porter if needs
                                      • your personal medical/rescue insurance
                                      • helicopter evacuation if any emergency case
                                      • Bevereag: Cola, Beer, Mineral water, Bar bill
                                      • Tips for your trekking staff

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