Gokyo Lakes Route
This is a strikingly beautiful way to reach Everest Base Camp and get the best views in the Khumbu region. It's not the quickest route to Everest Base Camp but you'll avoid the hordes and reach the heart of Sherpa country. You'll climb Gokyo Ri and cross the Cho La pass both of which offer superb views of Mount Everest and Lhotse. In the Gokyo valley you'll also be able to see Cho Oyu and look across to Makulu. That’s four of the world's fourteen 8000m peaks spotted in one trip! We'll trek past famous monasteries at Dingboche and stay in small local 'hotels' called tea houses whilst porters will carry your main bags.
The Gokyo route is slightly longer than the standard Everest base camp route. You will be trekking for fourteen days. This enables significantly better acclimatisation, resulting in a much higher rate of success. The hardest days are generally at altitudes over 5000 metres but by allowing ourselves to acclimatise gradually we will be making it perfectly achievable for people who walk in the mountains regularly.
Base Camp via Gokyo Valley
31st March - 18th April 2024 - Places available £1650 pp
Included: All accomodation, internal flights, national park entry fees, local guides, porter fees, temple entry fees and local transport.
Not included: Entry visa on arrival in Nepal, food (aside from the welcome and final meals), vaccinations, personal equipment and travel insurance (your travel insurance must include medical evacuation for trekking above 5000m - cheaper insurance companies do not usually cover this.
A comprehensive kit list will be sent out once the trip is guaranteed to run. Expect to be bringing good walking kit and a sleeping bag that has a comfort rating of -12 degrees celsius. All our food will be provided by locally run 'tea-houses' and our main bags will be carried by porters so you will only need to carry a small day bag containing basic essentials whilst you are trekking
Day 1 31st March
Arrive in Kathmandu (you're welcome to arrive earlier if desired)
Day 2 1st April
The Monkey Temple and Durbar Square tour.
Day 3 2nd April
Lukla (2840m) to Phakding (2620m) - approximately 4 hours walking.
Day 4 3rd April
Phakding to Namche Bazaar (3440m) - approximately 6 hours walking.
Day 5 4th April
Acclimatisation day in Namche Bazaar. Walk to the Edmund Hillary Museum.
Day 6 5th April
Namche Bazaar to Dole (4200m) - approximately 5 hours walking.
Day 7 6th April
Dole to Machhermo (4470m) - approximately 6 hours walking.
Day 8 7th April
Machermo to Gokyo (4790m) - approximately 6 hours walking.
Day 9 8th April
Gokyo to Dragnag with ascent of Gokyo Ri (5360m).
Day 10 9th April
Dragnag over the Cho la Pass (5330m) to Dzonglha (4830m) - approximately 9 hours - a tough day!
Day 11 10th April
Dzongla to Lobuche (4910m) - approximately 5 hours walking.
Day 12 11th April
Lobuche to Gorakshep (5140m) to Everest Base Camp (5364m) - approximately 8 hours walking.
Day 13 12th April
Gorakshep to Dingboche (4410m) - approximately 7 hours of descent.
Day 14 13th April
Dingboche to Tangboche (3860m) - approximately 4 hours walking.
Day 15 14th April
Tangboche to Namche Bazaar - approximately 5 hours walking.
Day 16 15th April
Namche Bazaar to Lukla - approximately 7 hours walking.
Day 17 16th April
Fly back to Kathmandu.
Day 18 17th April
Visit to the Royal city of Patan.
Day 19 18th April
Fly home (you're welcome to spend a few extra days in Nepal)
We love Nepal and highly value the guides we work with in this stunning country. There are many mountain ranges to trek around, rivers to raft on and sights to see. The possibilities are endless. To top this off we have a great Kathmandu based team who have operated in Nepal for many years and offer us their expertise in planning every itinerary. Having worked with them for many years we trust them to have our best interests at heart. Our ethos is to provide opportunities for people to fulfill their dreams and their aspirations no matter what their sexual orientation. We know our guides believe in this ethos too even in countries such as Nepal where these values are not widespread or common. If you are thinking of trying one of our expeditions Nepal is the place to go. Our guides are welcoming supportive and gay friendly. They are ready to offer you the adventure of a lifetime gay, lesbian, bisexual, transsexual and straight it does not matter to them.
“I can not fault this holiday it was planned well and great fun. I can say one of the best vacations I have had in a long time.”
