Gokyo Ri and Cho La Pass with Everest Base Camp

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Catherine Armstrong
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18 days From $2005 Quick facts: Max. Altitude: 5,554m/18,192ft On Trek: 13 Days Trek Style: Tea House Trek Starts From: Lukla Trek Ends At: Lukla Best Seasons: Autumn (Sept. to Nov.

You will still reach the Everest Base Camp and also visit Kala Patthar but through the off the beaten th th path.

The beautiful turquoise lakes in the solitary Gokyo valley with parades of snowy peaks and stunning glaciers will leave you spellbound. You can have a spectacular view of Mt.

1 18 days From $2005 Quick facts: Max. Altitude: 5,554m/18,192ft On Trek: 13 Days Trek Style: Tea House Trek Starts From: Lukla Trek Ends At: Lukla Best Seasons: Autumn (Sept. to Nov.) and Spring (Mid-March to May) This trek is a slight diversion from the classic Everest Base Camp trek and will take you through the less trodden path to the picturesque Gokyo Lakes. You will still reach the Everest Base Camp and also visit Kala Patthar but through the off the beaten th th path. Gokyo Ri and Gokyo valley hiking option to the 4 and 5 lakes and the famous Cho La Pass are the alternative highlights of this trek. The beautiful turquoise lakes in the solitary Gokyo valley with parades of snowy peaks and stunning glaciers will leave you spellbound. You can have a spectacular view of Mt. Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, Kanchenjunga and Cho Oyu from the Gokyo Ri, all of which are more than 8000 meter tall. We have customised the itinerary so that you could get the best what the Khumbu region has to offer. If you have already done the Everest Base Camp trek and want to take a different route, we will take you through the Rejo La pass.

2 This unique trek leads you to the home of the legendary Sherpa people, on the foothill of the highest peak of the world, the Mt. Everest at 8848m. This trek follows the highly praised trekking route through the Dudh Koshi to its source the Gokyo Lake to the west of the Everest Base Camp. After crossing the Cho-La Pass (5368m), your next destinations will be the Everest Base Camp (5300m) and the famous Kala Patthar (5545m) view point. Although you do not have views of the actual summit of Everest from Base Camp, there are sensational close-up views of the terrifying Khumbu ice-fall. For the best view of the Everest s south side as well as Khumbu Glacier, we will take you to a great Vantage point, Kala Patthar. You will have a spectacular view of Lhotse(8516m),Nuptse(7864m), Pumori, Chagatse and countless other peaks including the Mount Everest. Nothing will beat the thrill and sense of accomplishment that will grip you on seeing the power and grace of the mighty Everest up close. You will then descend down passing through beautiful Sherpa villages, savouring local delicacies, enjoying the hospitality of the mountain people, visiting ages old monasteries and Gompas and relishing every moment on the trail. We have tailor-made our treks to minimise fatigue and altitude sickness so that you can let your feet do the talking and just enjoy the jaw-dropping mountain scenery. Grade: Moderate Date & Prices: Start Date End Date Price 01st Sep, 2017, Friday 18th Sep, 2017, Monday $2005 Itinerary: 01: Arrival and transfer to Hotel. 02: Sight seeing and Brief about Trek Sightseeing around the Kathmandu and brief about the trekking. 03: Fly to Lukla (2810m) & trek to Phakding (2660m). 3-4 hours walk. Today you will catch an early morning flight to Lukla. Your approx. 45 flight to the Lukla airport, the one with of the shortest runways in the world, will take you on a spectacular journey to the Himalayas. After your breakfast in Lukla (2840m), you team leader will brief you about the safety talks as well as introduce your porters. Your trek begins now. You will trek for around 3 hours through the cultured Sherpa villages with exceptional beauty following the Dudh Koshi valley to reach Phakding. On your way, you will get the first glimpse of some of the mountains you will get to know well over the next week. Accommodation: 2

3 Tea house. Meals: (B,L,D) 04: Trek to Namche Bazaar (3440m). 7-8 hours walk. Your real trek in the thin air begins from Phakding. Today you will trek for around 7-8 hours with scenic beauty, deep George and soaring cliff as your backdrop. You will walk around 3 hours before you reach Jorsale for Lunch. You will trek through pine forests, crossing different suspension bridges and encountering the ever smiling Sherpa people on the different colourful villages on the way before entering The Gateway to Everest, Namche Bazaar. Namche is the largest as well as the most prosperous village in the Khumbu. The gorgeous views and the great Sherpa hospitality will amaze you for forever. Situated in an arch-shaped mountain, Namche will be your last chance for a hot shower, an ATM booth, gear shops and a good pub as well. Today, you will have the first glimpse of the majestic Everest. You will also have great views of Kusum Kangroo, Thamserku and Holy Khumbiyela Mountain on your way. Accommodation: Tea house. Meals: (B,L,D) 05: Explore Namche Bazaar. Acclimatization Day. Khumjung Hiking (3900m). Today will be your acclimatisation cum exploration day at Namche. You can explore local markets,visit local museums, mingle with local sherpas or you may as well hike to the famous Everest View Hotel built by Japanese in the '60s to catch a glimpse of the Mount Everest. You can also trek to Syangboche Airport (3700m) - perhaps the highest airfield on the earth. 06: Trek to Phorste Thanga (3,680m) 5-6 hrs. From Namche, you will ascend to the airstrip at Syangboche, and then to a lunch spot in Khumjung, the largest village in the region. You will trek through the rhododendron forest, then juniper and to large conifer forests as the elevation increases which makes the trekking very pristine in the springs. The beautiful view of Khumbu La and Tawache will accompany you throughout your trek. You will also trek through yak kharkhas and summer settlements before reaching Phortse Thanga. 07: Trek to Machherma (4470m). 4-5 hours walk. You will gradually ascend up the Dudh Koshi Valley, high above the river, passing through Rhododendron forest and also pass through a waterfall before reaching Tonga village. The landscape will begin to change from here. The barren alpine scenery, with only small clusters of scrub juniper, will be a stark 3

4 contrast to the snowy white peaks and deep blue skies. You will continue your uphill trek passing through Dhole, Lhabarma and Luza village before reaching Machherma finally. 08: Trek to Gokyo (4800m). 4-5 hours walk. Today is your day to get in the lap of the alpine blue glacial lakes and be mesmerised with the outstanding mountain views. Your uphill climb from the Machherma Valley will take you through Pangka (4390m) and on to the jumbled moraines (glacial debris) of Ngozumpa Glacier, the largest in Nepal and the source of Dudh Koshi River. Ngozumpa Glacier is an unstable section of the trek that is prone to rockfalls. Please follow your guides.40 peoples were killed by an Avalanche here in After crossing the iron bridge over a stream the trail will lead you to the first lake, known as Longponga, at 4710m. You will observe lama footprints on stones at this place. As you approach the second lake, you will be mesmerised by its shimmering turquoise blue sheet of water sparkling in the sun. You will then follow the lateral moraine to reach the third lake, Dudh Pokhari, and the small settlement of Gokyo. Gokyo village stands by the third lake and Cho-Oyu Mountain as a backdrop sets an amazing spectacular sight here. Overnight at Gokyo. 09: Acclimatization Day: Rest or Climb to Gokyo Ri (5375m). For the exceptional views of Everest and its neighbouring peaks you can trek to the Gokyo Ri. The steep climb uphill is demanding and will take you around 3-4 hours to reach the top from where the view you will be privileged will justify all the efforts involved. You could see the northern flank of Everest, which you won t be able to see form Kala Patthar. The view of of Makalu(8475m) at the eastern side and Cho Oyu (8153m) to North are phenomenal. You could also walk 3 km north of Gokyo to reach the fourth lake, Thonak Tsho (4870m). If you continue your upward climb you will reach the 5th lake, Ngozumba Tsho (4990m). If you want, you can walk a bit further to climb a hill, also called the Scoundrel's th Viewpoint, which is located at the edge of the 5 lake. From here you will get astounding views of Cho-Oyu, Gyachung Kang, Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse, and Makulu mountains. From here, you can also see the Cho Oyu base camp. Another treat for you will be the view of the biggest glacier in the world- the Ngozumba Glacier. After the astonishing views, you will walk down to Gokyo and spend the night at the tea house. 10: Trek to Dragnag (4700m) From Gokyo, as you descend down, halfway between the first and the second lake, the trail will lead you across the moraine to the east, past the steep pass. You will cross a glacier on the eastern side before finally reaching Dragnag, a small hamlet of houses where we will make a night stop and prepare yourself for crossing Cho la pass tomorrow. Today will be a short hike with enough time for rest to prepare for the long hike days and more elevation gains to come. 11: Trek to Dzongla (48360m) via Cho La Pass (5368m). 7-8 hours walk Today will be one of the toughest days of your trip. You will wake up today earlier than usual to prepare for the challenging trek across Cho La. The glacier traverse, falling rocks and slippery paths will make the crossing difficult. The trail from Cho La Phedi climbs through a ravine and a rocky trail. Trekking through the side of a frozen lake, you will reach the top of the pass decorated with prayer flags. The phenomenal view of Ama Dablam ( The Matterhorn of the Himalayas ) on the 4

5 South, Cholatse to the West and Lobuche East and Baruntse on your right will make you feel ecstatic. You will finally reach Dzongla after passing some crevasses. The successful crossing of the pass merits a celebration tonight. 12: Trek to Lobuche (4940m). 2-3 hours walk. Today will be a short trek towards Lobuche. Leaving Dzongla, you will descend down passing through grassy trails and frozen rivers. The trail curves through the wide riverbed before reaching Lobuche. Once in Lobuche, you will get a sense of being close to ultimate goal. Earlier this place used to be a yak grazing settlement and was inhibited only during summer but now it is open throughout the winter serving trekkers and climbers and is the jumping off point for Everest Base Camp and Kala Patthar. 13: Trek to Everest Base Camp (5365m) and walk back to Gorak Shep (5160m). 7-8 hours walk. From Lobuche, you will trek to Everest Base Camp via Gorak Shep that includes a challenging climb past the Khumbu Glacier. You will cross the Changri Nup Glacier on your way to Gorak Shep. Here you will find monuments dedicated to climbers who have died on Everest as well as trekkers who have succumbed to High Altitude. After lunch, you will head towards the Everest Base Camp. Making your ways through blue ice pinnacle and plateaus you will finally reach the Base Camp near Pumo Ri. Though you may not see Everest from here, the walk in the tough terrain will surely be rewarding. In the late spring you will likely see numbers of climbers there but in the fall, there is less. After your successful trek to the best camp, you will return to Gorak Shep for the overnight stay. 14: Trek to Kalapatthar (5545m). The highest point on the trek. Back to Pheriche. 7-8 hours. Today you will wake up early to reach Kala Patthar, an amazing viewpoint for Everest, the Khumbu Glacier and many other peaks. The climb is very difficult in the beginning because the first incline is very steep. The climb won t be easy but the view you will be privileged will be priceless. As you keep walking the sudden view of Pumo Ri(7165m) will be a surprise. Below the Pumo Ri you will see a tiny black hill, our destination, Kala Patthar. Finally, after you reach the ride, the sensational 360-degree mountain vista of Everest, Thamserku, Lhotse, Nuptse, Ama Dablam and other surrounding peaks will surely blow your mind. You will then descend down to Pheriche leaving those majestic mountains behinds and indelible memories in your mind. 15: Trek back to Tengboche (3870m). 5-6 hours walk. You will descend towards Tengboche passing through Pangboche. Pangboche is one of the round-the-year inhabited villages in the area. You will visit the Pangboche Gompa. After exploring Pangboche you will trek down to Tengboche for the night. 16: Trek to Monjo (2835m). 5-6 hours walk. Trekking down through forests along with sweet scented hillsides, past mani stones, across the Dudh Koshi river you will reach Namche. From Namche, you will again walk down through the Namche Wall that you climbed what seems an eternity ago, and wander along the river back to Monjo. 5

6 17: Trek back to Lukla (2810m). 6-7 hours walk. Today will be your last day to trek in the beautiful mountain terrains. The leisurely walk of 6-7 hours will take you to Lukla. During the afternoon you will have enough time to explore the Lukla bazaar on your own. On the evening, it will be your last dinner with the entire crew who assisted you to make your trip successful. You can share any gift with them if you may wish. 18: Fly back to Kathmandu (1300m). Weather permitting the short and spectacular flight will take you to Kathmandu before lunch. You will have free time during the afternoon for further sightseeing, shopping or may just relax in one of the rooftop restaurants. You may buy some embroideries, ceramic, thangkas or carpets for your friends and families. In the evening We will enjoy a final night together, reliving the trek and our extraordinary achievements over the farewell dinner. 19: Final departure. Today you will fly back home with exhilarating memories in your mind of the Himalayas. If you don t feel like leaving, you can extend your trip for few days as well. 6

EVEREST BASE CAMP TREK (16 DAYS))

EVEREST BASE CAMP TREK (16 DAYS)) Everest Base Camp (EBC) Trek is one of the most challenging mountain treks of the world. Located in Khumbu region of Nepal, this trek has been a very popular destination