Trekking

Everest region

The ultimate Himalayan experience! Trek within a stones throw of the worlds highest mountain through the trail that has captured the imaginations of explorers and mountaineers since its discovery. Trek through areas rich in Buddhist culture, visiting remote Sherpa villages and Nepals Largest Tibetan monastery. Treks into the Everest region involve an internal flight to a remote airport which is very reliant on the weather. Flights are often cancelled through poor visibility. For this reason we recommend you allow a couple of spare days either side of your trek to allow for flight cancellations when planning a trek in the Everest region. Treks in this region also involve high altitude trekking for sustained periods, and trekkers are therefore more prone to getting High Altitude Sickness if they do not acclimatise properly. We therefore also recommend trekkers allow a couple of extra days during their trek should they have problems acclimatising .

Gokyo trek - 12 Days

Visit the stunning Gokyo with its 3 crystal clear lakes and view Everest and the Himalaya from the incredible Gokyo Ri - a far more stunning vista than anything else seen on the Everest route. The Gokyo trek is also considerably less strenuous than the Everest route.

Seasons. Mid September to mid June.

It is possible to add this route on the the Everest base camp trek by crossing the challenging, but spectacular Cho la pass. This makes the Everest base camp trek a circular route totalling 17 days (seasons for Cho la pass mid September to November, then mid february to June)

Day 1. 3 hours. Easy.

You will be taken to Kathmandu domestic airport and flown on a small 16 seater plane to Lukla. The views are spectacular, and if possible, sit on the left side of the plane to get the best views.

You arrive in Lukla where you can purchase any provisions or materials that you may have forgotten, or change money if needed, although you will get another opportunity in the next two days..
Leaving Lukla you will cross a prayer festooned bridge and be welcomed to the Khumbu region with a large mani stone, intricately carved with 4ft high Tibetan scripture bearing the mantra ‘ohn mani padne hum’ - testimony to the solu Khumbu regions almost exclusively Buddhist influence. You will descend steeply to the Tharo Kosi river, and cross it over a steel suspension bridge. You then Follow the valley ridge to the small settlement of Ghat, passing prayer wheels and crop fields and mani stones before rising to Phakding.

Day 2. 6 hours. Hard.

Leaving Phanding you trek following a river bank through the settlement of Zamphuti and up a hill to a waterfall. After passing through the settlement of Benkar you will cross the Dudh Kosi river on a suspension bridge. The trail continues along the side of the river through forests of rhododendrons, giant firs and magnolia as the landscape becomes more dramatic and the valleys more sheer. You will climb to Monjo which marks the start of Sagamartha National Park.
Beyond the entrance you will walk up along the Dugh Kosi river, making crosses intermittently before arriving at the confluence of the Bhoti Kosi and Dudh Kosi rivers where you will make a final crossing at quite some height. There then begins a long, hard, 9O minute ascent to Namche Bazaar. There is a plateu 2/3 of the way up this ascent from where you can catch a glimpse of mount Everest on a clear day. After registering at a police check point, you are greeted with the dramatic setting of Namche Bazaar.

Please tell me more...

Please complete the following form if you would like to know more. If you would like Nepal Dreams to personally contact you directly please leave your telephone number. (NB. Nepal Dreams are strongly against spam and guarantee your details will not be passed on to anyone else)

Day 3. Acclimitisation day.

You can use this day to rest and have a look around Namche Bazaar whilst your body acclimatises to the high altitude. The best way to help your body adapt however is to excercise. There are a couple of walking routes you can take, the best one being a circular route visiting the remote villiage of Khumjung and its school, founded by Sir Edmund Hilary and also its gompa, which contains a specimin said the be the scalp of a yeti. Returning to Namche Bazaar you can stop at the Everest View Hotel for coffee, and on a clear day a view of the worlds highest mountain.

Day 4. 5 Hours. Hard.

Climb the east bank of Namche Bazaar then follow the valley contours on a level trail with dramatic views to your right looking down the valley back along the route to Lukla. Mount Everest and Ama Dablam appear clearly in front of you as you trek, with great opportunities for photographs. You will pass a large Buddhist chorten. The trail later splits from the Everest Base camp route and you will trek over an old yak trail, climbing faily steeply towards Mong, set amongst an awe-inspiring Himalayan backdrop, with huge, snowy peaks dominating the horizon everywhere you look. Shortly after you leave Mong you will descend to the banks of the Dudh Kosi River where you will stay for the night.

Day 5. 2 hours. Easy

This day involves a short, easy trek through forests of rhododendrons, junipers and large conifer forests with the occasional yak farm.

Day 6. 2 hours. Easy

The vegitation becomes more scrub like as you trek through yak pastures to higher altitudes. As the trees disappear, the views become outstanding, with Cho Oyo dominating the landscape ahead of you, and Ama Dablam with its two peaks visible behind. You will pass a handfull of cairns marked with prayer flags before reaching the barren and dramatic setting of Machhermo, made famous in 1974 when a Sherpa girl reported that a yeti knocked her down and broke the necks of 3 of her yaks.

Day 7. 4 hours. Moderate.

Leaving Machhermo you continue a gradual climb past yak pastures and moraine scree as the trail becomes more rocky. Eventually you come to the Gokyo lakes, passing one beautiful, serene pool after another. They are totally still and reflect images of the surrounding mountains wonderfully. Gokyo in nestled on the edge of the 3rd lake. If you arrive in good time, you may want to make a decent up Gokyo Ri if the skies are clear.

Day 8. 2 hours. Hard.

Rise early to make the hard, 2 hour ascent of Gokyo Ri. It will be difficult, but the views from the top are unparrallelled. The surrounding mountain ranges, the beautiful turquoise lakes of Gokyo, not forgetting an outstanding view of mount Everest. 4 of the worlds 6 highest mountains can be seen from this panoramic paradise.

Days 9 - 12.

Decend along the same route back to Lukla and fly back to Kathmandu

“"Trekking in the Himalayas is a life-changing experience. There are so many choices of routes that you can keep coming back here and never see the same things twice. I trekked to Annapurna Base Camp, also known as the Sanctuary trek due to the proliferation of flora and fauna, and it was utterly breathtaking. We walked for around six hours each day and stayed the night in local guesthouses en route. The villages were incredibly friendly. I never would have attempted this on my own, but Nepal Dreams made it seem so easy. Everything was taken care of from the moment I arrived and they also gave me some great advice before I went too. I didn't have to worry about a thing. I had the time of my life, and Nepal Dreams made it all possible."

Katie Law - London