Do you know that Everest Base Camp Trek in Nepal is the must kept travel bucket list things for people across the globe? Yes, the journey to the base camp of the Mt. Everest (8848.86 m) is not an ordinary travel activity. In fact, it is the legendary trekking trip to do once done by intrepid mountaineers. Moreover, the journey of Everest Base Camp via Gokyo Lake Trekking Route encompasses Everest Base Camp (5364 m), Chola Pass (5420 m), Gorakshep (5180 m) and various Sherpa villages like Dingboche (4400 m), Pangboche, Namche Bazaar (3400 m) and Lukla.
In this blog, we will talk about trekking to Everest Base Camp in the best possible way in which your one trekking trip can encompass attractions of an entire Khumbu!
The normal route of trek to Everest Base Camp doesn’t include the section of Gokyo Lake Valley via Machhermo and Dole! The journey starts from Lukla and traverses through iconic Khumbu villages like Namche Bazaar, Tengboche, Pangboche, Dingboche, and Lobuche. However, the Everest Base Camp via Gokyo Lake Trekking Route encompasses villages like Machhermo, Dole, Gokyo, and crosses Chola Pass to meet normal Everest Base Camp Trek Route.
Choosing the Gokyo Lake Route to visit the blue turquoise lake up in the Himalayas is the best way to explore Ram Sar listed site of Khumbu. There are five lakes in this lake system. It is believed that these lakes are interlinked in underground and have the ancient mythical connections. Moreover, trekking to Everest Base Camp from this route offers better acclimatization. Trekkers will already spend overnight at 4600 m in Gokyo and hike to Gokyo Ri Top which is above five thousands meter height. Yes, it is safe in terms of altitude sickness too.
The journey of Everest Base Camp via the Gokyo Lake Trekking Route is strenuous as well as captivating. The trip encompasses high altitude passes and the foothill of the world’s tallest mountain Mt. Everest. It is easy for all kinds of trekkers and off course for all kinds of age group trekkers but they should not be complacent. Tips to prepare physically for Everest Base Camp and Gokyo Lake Trek is simple. Build your stamina and desire to accomplish this gorgeous journey to an abode of Himalayan legends. Apart from the presence of Mt. Everest the world’s tallest mountain, the journey also provides spectacular chance to witness mountains like Lhotse and Choyou. In fact, Mt. Choyou and Mt. Lhotse are top ten mountains of the world.
In order to prepare physically for Everest Base Camp and Gokyo Lake Trek, you must build your cardio vascular stamina. At least one month before the trek, do some exercises that focus on building your cardio – vascular stamina. These exercises are cycling, running, walking, and swimming. If you do these kinds of activities on a regular basis then you will surely feel comfortable to do trekking to Everest Base Camp from any route.
Reaching the base camp of Mt. Everest is never easy. However, thousands of trekkers leave their footprints at the Everest Base Camp. The modern technology and tourism standards ensure high success rate of reaching the base camp without risk of altitude sickness. Despite all these things, people always seek challenges. If you are searching a trekking route to Everest Base Camp that is the most arduous one then doing the Everest Three High Pass Trek is an ideal choice. Moreover, this way of doing the trekking endows trekkers the Himalayan wilderness experiences. While doing trekking via this trekking route then trekkers have to cross three gigantic mountain passes of the region. They are Renjo La Pass, Chola Pass, and Kong Ma La Pass. These passes are arduous yet so captivating! Challenge yourself! Reach the base camp by overcoming gigantic mountain passes of Khumbu!
Key villages of Sherpa people in this trekking trip entitled Everest Base Camp via Gokyo Lake Trekking offer authentic insights about daily lives of Sherpa people. Major villages in this trekking route are Khumjung, Khunde, Phortse, Tengboche, Dole, Machhermo, Gokyo, Dingboche, Pangboche, Namche Bazaar, Monjo, Benkar, Phakding, and Lukla. The villages like Lobuche and Gorakshep cannot be called as Sherpa village. These places don’t have authentic Sherpa houses rather they have lots of tea houses and lodges. You will not be able to understand the daily lives of Sherpa people but in these places you will only meet fellow trekkers!
During Everest Base Camp Trekking in Nepal, trekkers must not be complacent about altitude sickness. This is the most popular hindrance in a successful trekking trip to the base camp of Mt. Everest. Therefore, trekkers follow standard itinerary to avoid altitude sickness. In this section of this blog about Everest Base Camp via Gokyo Lake Trekking Route let’s find out acclimatization techniques for high altitude trekking.
The key way to avoid altitude sickness during high altitude trekking is to reach high altitude places and return back to low altitude places to spend an overnight. Yes, this is the most scientific way to overcome high altitude sickness! Moreover, drinking plenty of water or liquids during trekking in high altitude places offers best as well as safe ways to successfully explore the high altitude places.
Avoid greasy foods and alcohol while you are walking in the high altitude places. The oxygen level in these places are very low. Therefore, you must not skip the basic principle of traveling to the high altitude places.
Blue turquoise lake and myth associated with the traditions of Sherpa people make the Gokyo Lake a famous place of Everest region. Earlier, trekkers from various parts of the world used to like this destination. Nowadays, domestic trekkers also have started doing the trekking trip to Gokyo. Moreover, trekking to various high altitude places and lakes have become the major travel reasons of Nepalese people. The place is a small hamlet of few tea houses, lodges, and resorts. On the shores of Gokyo Lake, you can find some porter houses, resorts, and lodges.
Do you know that the resorts and lodges present in Gokyo Valley is at the 3rd Lake out of five lakes of Gokyo Lake System? Yes, while you trek from Namche Bazaar to Gokyo Lake you will have to trek past two lakes before reaching the actual resting place. From this place you can get the best view of Renjo La Pass and Gokyo Ri.
It is possible to see Mt. Makalu from the top of Gokyo Ri (5357 m). In fact, from top of Gokyo Ri you can see panoramic view of mountains on all sides! If you visit the 5th Gokyo Lake then you can see the different side of Mt. Everest than you see Mt. Everest while doing regular Everest Base Camp Trek route. So, if you wish to get the panoramic view of mountains including Mt. Makalu, Mt. Choyou, Mt. Lhotse, and Mt. Everest which are among top ten mountains of the world then please do this trek!
Guided Trek is highly recommended for Everest Trek! Solo Trek in Everest is also possible and Nepal Government has postponed their rule of mandatory trekking guide accompaniment for any kinds of trekking in Nepal. This change in rule has paved way for trekkers to do solo trekking. This blogger strongly recommends travelers across the globe to not do the solo trekking. The trail is well instructed and there are enough signage which make it safer for solo trekkers to trek without hiccups of navigation! In terms of availability of lodging and best food options; choose guided trek over solo trek in Everest!
Getting flight to Lukla is very complicated. If you book the flight ticket to Lukla alone then you are less likely to get a successful flight ticket. The weather conditions of Lukla airport is very unpredictable. Therefore, solo trekkers may find it hard to squeeze in the flight to Lukla. The agency will do anything possible from flight timing altercation to helicopter flight booking options!
To reach Everest Base Camp is in itself the momentous and sumptuous activity to accomplish at least once in a lifetime! Trek to Everest either following the normal itinerary or following the Himalayan wilderness ways! Fulfill your dream to be at an abode of the world’s tallest mountain Mt. Everest!
As a blogger if you ask for a recommendation then I would say that Everest Base Camp via the Gokyo Lake Trekking route is the best way to explore Sherpa villages and Himalayas of Khumbu.