Gokyo and the Everest Base Camp

Népal

Just next to Tibet, this trekking leads us in the area of the Everest base camp, dominated by the crushing rock faces of numerous 8000 m peaks among which are the highest peaks of the world (The Everest : 8848 m - The Lhotse : 8571 m - The Cho Yu : 8153 m)

From Luka to Gokyo, we go up into deep valleys, along successive turquoise lakes and one big ice glacier of 18 km.

At the Gokyo lake, ascent (optional) of the Gokyo peak, from where you'll get a spectacular view over the lakes, the glaciers, the Cho Yu, the Cholatse, the Everest or even Ama Dablam.

Then to connect to Kalapatar, the Everest base camp, we choose an itinerary, not much busy, by the Chola pass, in the East of the Gokyo valley. The pass is at 5300 m. No difficulty except from the altitude.

From Lobuche, we ascent the Kalapatar (5500 m, the highest point of the trek), the best observatory over the Everest and its massif (Nuptse, Lothse...).

We go down to Namche Bazar by Imja Khola valley, visiting the villages of Pheriche, Pangboche, and Thyangboche monastery.

> From 4 to 7 hours walk per day.

> The altitude acclimatization is gradual. But to prevent any altitude problem, an hyperbaric chamber is systematically provided for this itinerary, in case of high altitude sickness.

> This trekking requires a good physical condition.

Your tailor-made trip - Népal

Day 1

Arrival in Kathmandu

Welcome at the airport and transfer to the hotel located in the area of Thamel (city center). Night at the hotel

Day 2

Kathmandu - Lukla - Phakding (2800 m)

2/3 h of walk

Flight to Lukla (2800 m), with the guide where we meet the staff of porters and cooks. Few hours of walk along the Dudh Kosi river to Phakding village (2800 m). Night in a lodge.

Day 3

Phakding - Namche Bazar (3440 m)

5 h of walk

We go up the Dudh Kosi river by an excellent path. Few steep sections in the forest. Traditional hamlets and terraces fields before reaching the prosperous village of Namche Bazar (3445 m). Night in a lodge.

Day 4

Namche Bazar (3440 m)

to 5 h of walk (optional)

Essential day of acclimatisation in Namche :. Optional walk: we go up to Khumjung village aTag 3900 m. Night in a lodge

Day 5

Namche Bazar - Thyangboche (3867 m)

5 h of walk

Balcony path that slightly goes down to the river. We cross it at Phunki village (3250 m), then steep ascent in direction of the monastery of Thyangboche (3867 m). Night in a lodge.

Day 6

Thyangboche - Pangboche (3985 m)

4 h of walk

Slope down through a rhododendrons forest and we go through Imja Khola. We get to Pangboche village and its monastery (3985 m). Night in a lodge.

Day 7

Pangboche - Thare (3950 m)

4 h of walk

Ascent to Phortse, village perched at the crossing of the Dudh Kosi and the Imja Hola, then to Thare village (3950 m). Night in a lodge.

Day 8

Thare - Gokyo lake (4750 m)

5/6 h walk

Ascent of the Dudh Kosi valley, through mountain pastures and few villages. Walking along the last moraine of Ngozumba glacier, we reach Gokyo lakes. Night in a lodge.

Day 9

Gokyo lakes (4750 m) - Gokyo Ri (5480 m) - Drangnak (4800 m)

5/6 h of walk

Early (and optional), 2/3 H walk up to the Gokyo Peak (5300 m). We leave the first lake, the Dudh Pokhari, by zigzagging paths. After lunch, short stage to Dragnak (2 H). Night in a lodge.

Day 10

Gokyo - Cholatsho (4800 m)

7 h of walk

Long uneven ascent of 600 m through the Thagna valley. We walk on a mountaintop aTag 5000 m before slightly sloping down in a basin. We go through scree-covered slopes before arriving at the bottom of the Chola Pass. A last bump and we reach the pass (5420 m). 5 H of ascent. In the afternoon, we reach Zonghla in 2 hours. The lodge is located upstream of the Cholatsho lake and above the magnificient Cholatse (6440 m).

Day 11

Cholatsho - Lobuche (4900 m)

2 h of walk

Short stage to recover : 2 hours of slope down then acsent of a soft slope to reach Lobuche (4930 m), in the valley that leads to the Everest. Night in a lodge.

Day 12

Lobuche - Kalapatar - Lobuche (4900 m)

5 h of walk

Optional (but don't miss it !), the slope up to Kala Pattar aTag 5500 m (approximately as the altitudes change from one map to another...). 1 hour in the fallen rocks of the lateral moraine of the Khumbu glacier to reach the Gorak Shep (last tea shop!) and from there, we neeDay 2 hours to climb up the Kalapatar. In the afternoon, we start going down. In 2 hours, we're back in Lobuche. Night in a lodge.

Day 13

Lobuche - Pangboche (3950 m)

4/5 h of walk

We go down to Pheriche where we have lunch. Then we follow the Imja Khola valley to Pangboche, a big farming village located aTag 3985 m. Night in a lodge next to the village.