The Gokyo and Khumbu Valleys are arguably the most dramatic and interesting of the Everest region. This trek explores friendly Sherpa villages, visits monasteries, seeks wildlife and unveils dramatic mountain scenery. We have two days in Kathmandu to experience one of Asia’s most fascinating cities before flying to Lukla, the starting point of our trek. We follow the Dudh Kosi Valley to Namche Bazaar and then trek into Gokyo Valley.
The trail ascends gradually and we enjoy a series of short trekking days to ensure proper acclimatisation, walking beside the moraines of Ngozumpa Glacier and turquoise lakes to reach our lodge in Gokyo. From here we can climb Gokyo Ri (5360m) to a view of all of the region’s 8000-metre peaks including Everest, Lhotse, Makalu and Cho Oyu – a breathtaking panorama. From Gokyo we trek via Phortse and Pangboche to rejoin the main trail to Everest, which we follow to Gorak Shep. It is a short but steep climb to Kala Patar, from where the climbing route from Everest Base Camp to the summit can be seen, showing the immense scale of any attempts to climb Mount Everest. We also take the rugged trail to visit Everest Base Camp before trekking back to Lukla, via the beautiful Thyangboche Monastery.
