Everest Base Camp Trek via Gokyo

The best time to trek to Everest Base Camp is during the Autumn and Spring seasons, as the climate is favorable and the trekking route is rich in luscious greens. For a safe, memorable, and incredible experience, plan a trek between mid-September and November or March and June.

However, the trek is possible all around the year. As long as you can avoid rainstorms and sustain extreme temperatures, you can ascend during colder months to avoid the crowd.

The Everest Base Camp trek usually takes 15 days, starting with an exhilarating flight from Kathmandu to Lukla. However, the trek duration might vary depending on your chosen route and the packages you booked.

Exploring the EBC circuit through Gokyo Lake, Gokyo-ri, and Ngozumpa Glacier might take up to 17 days, whereas including the three-pass trek in this expedition might take up to 19 days.

Though it might not be mandatory, booking your base camp trek in advance is better to ease the process, specifically if you plan for trekking seasons, as mentioned above.

Booking in advance secures your spot and ensures you and your trekking company are well-prepared for the trek. However, getting the trekking permits, booking accommodation and transport, and getting your visas might take time.

To trek to Everest Base Camp via Gokyo Lake, you will require a moderate fitness level since you will walk at least 6-7 hours daily. You will also need good cardiovascular endurance and muscular strength to ascend quickly through rough terrain.

If you aren’t somebody who doesn’t perform physical training regularly, it is better to start training at least ¾ months in advance. Ensure you include cardio, flexibility exercises, and strength training in your workout to prepare your body for the EBC trek.

You will require two passes, the Sagarmatha National Park Entry Permit and the Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Municipality Entry Permit to trek through the Everest region. Apart from these, you can get the optional Gaurishankar Conservation Area permit if you hike from Jiro to Everest.

These passes can be obtained easily from the Tourism Board of Nepal or from the Lukla or Monjo check post if you are already in Lukla.

A 17-day group trek package to Everest Base Camp via Gokyo Lake costs approximately $2050 per person. However, the cost may vary depending on the customization of food and accommodation, the variation of the trekking package, and the routes you choose.

The trekking cost doesn’t include any personal expense or charge for the services made upon request. Please check the packages for the price and find the amenities/services offered.

You would need trekking insurance to the Everest base camp via Gokyo Lake. As the base camp is situated at an altitude of over 5000 meters, there is always a risk of natural disasters like glacial flooding, avalanches, and landslides.

Besides, the lower temperature and scarce oxygen at higher elevations often cause altitude sickness, frostbites, and other medical emergencies. Having trekking insurance helps a lot in such scenarios.

Yes, you can customize your itinerary according to your needs. We can add or subtract the acclimatization days, optimize the trekking route, and shorten or elongate the trek as you prefer.

However, if you have booked for our regular trekking package that moves as a group, customizing the itinerary just for an individual isn’t possible.

Some of the best ways to train for the trek are through regular cardio, focusing on breathing exercises, strength training, lifting weights, hamstring sketching exercises, and so on. You can switch to climbing stairs instead of lifts, walking, or jogging instead of driving to smaller distances to prepare your body.

Additionally, going on regular hikes or climbing up the hills can be the best way to train for the trek.

To trek to Everest base camp, you will need lightweight and warmer clothing, trekking poles, hiking boots, headlamps, sleeping bags, sunglasses, toiletries, and solar batteries.

Getting any vaccinations to trek to the Everest base camp isn’t mandatory. However, you can check your country’s travel regulations and vaccinate yourself before visiting Nepal.

You can get routine vaccines, including Malaria, Japanese Encephalitis, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Typhoid, Rabies, and Cholera.

You will need Nepalese rupees for your EBC trek trip for any personal expenses other than those offered by the trekking company. However, having some USD or your home currency as a backup for emergencies or returns is better.

Exchange your currencies for Nepali rupees in Kathmandu to find the best rates.

To travel to Nepal, you will need a “Tourist Visa.” This visa is available on arrival for most foreign visitors except those from African countries, Afghanistan, and refugees with travel documents.

Check the official website of the Department of Immigration for information regarding On Arrival and other tourist visas in Nepal.

It is possible to trek solo to Everest Base Camp; however, you must be well prepared to adapt to the exciting yet exhilarating trek. You will need additional physical and mental strength to do so.

A solo traveler must get the required documents to get the permit.

The trekking route to Everest base camp consists of rough rocky terrain, steep hills, and narrow trails. Along your path, you will also encounter suspension bridges, a national park area, luscious green forests, and locally inhabited villagers.

While you have the option of standard, three-star, and five-star accommodation in Kathmandu, the options might be restricted on the trekking route. Along the route, you will most likely find tea houses with clean rooms.

And yes, it is possible to get private rooms or rooms with attached bathrooms, but you will have to pay an extra charge.

If you want to trek through the regular route via Namche Bazaar, you can get to the starting point of the EBC trek via a flight from Kathmandu to Lukla airport. If you prefer the alternative route through Jiri, you must travel by road to Jiri.

Yes, electricity and Wi-Fi are available in most teahouses en route to the Everest Base Camp trek. However, accessing internet services and charging your devices at these stops might be costly, and the reliability of the connection is questionable, too.

It is better to carry solar batteries and buy an Airlink package to access the internet in most locations at higher altitudes. Internet charges increase with ascending elevation.

On the flight to Lukla from Kathmandu, you can carry up to 15 kg (33) pounds, including your backpack or duffel bags. If your luggage exceeds this limit, you might be charged up to USD 5 per kg for the extra weight.

Since you must trek a longer distance daily, we suggest you pack lighter.

The guesthouses and teahouses primarily serve Nepali, Tibetan, and Sherpa cuisines, including Rice, Pulses, Bread, Noodles, Soup, Pasta, and Pastries. You will also get an option of drinks and continental cuisine.

Yes, showers are available on the Everest Base Camp trek for an extra charge of $5-$8. Even the remote villages offer you a pail of hot water to shower for a few dollars, but it’s recommended that you avoid showering at higher elevations.

Yes, there are provisions for charging your electronics in rest houses, teahouses, or local stays. However, after you pass Lukla and Namche Bazaar, you might have to pay a charge of around USD 1-5 per device.

Remember to carry the required adapters (C type and D type) to fit your chargers.

You will find clean but basic squat toilets in the teahouses en route to the Everest base camp. You can also find private areas along the trail to relieve emergency pressure.

Yes, doing laundry in some tea houses along the trek is possible with a minimal charge. You can also do the laundry at some acclimatization stops, such as Namche and Dingboche, but the water will be freezing.

Packing enough clothes is better than looking for laundry in elevations where the water is almost cold.

It is less likely to find a store to buy snacks and drinks on the trek as it is a remote area inhabited by fewer people. However, the tea houses along the trail sell biscuits, candies, and other food you can snack on.

We advise you to carry protein bars, dried nuts, and fruits to snack when you want. You can bring a refillable bottle with a filter to drink water from sprouts or springs along the way.

No ATMs are available along the trail, but you may find a few in Namche Bazaar or Lukla.

If you feel exhausted or want to shorten the trek, fly back from Gorakshep to Kathmandu via helicopter. This option is also available if you have a limited number of days and want to experience Everest base camp.

Book a luxury 8-day EBC trek package, which includes hiking up to the base camp and returning by helicopter.

Yes, you can extend your EBC trek to other areas, such as Gokyo-ri, three passes, Ama Dablam, and other neighboring peaks to the EBC.

If you get altitude sickness on your way to the EBC via Gokyo Lake, let your trekking guide know about the situation. The guides are prepared with first aid required for such a situation.

Rest for a while at the same spot and take the anti-sickness medications. After you feel a little better, you can descend to a lower altitude. If the situation worsens, request the guide contact the head office in Kathmandu for a helicopter rescue.

You should pack warmer clothes, trekking gear, all your necessary medications, and your travel documents for the trek. Additionally, you should pack protein bars, dry nuts, and fruits for snacking on the trek, along with a refillable water bottle.

Even though the company will provide you with packaged water bottles along the journey, it is convenient to carry your own.

Medical facilities are very limited en route to Everest Base Camp. However, limited medical services are available in major stops such as Namche Bazaar, Khumbu Valley, and Gorak Shep.

We suggest you carry all necessary medications in your backpack before you board the flight to Lukla.

Water from natural sources looks clean in the Everest region, but drinking it might be unsafe. You can purify the water using bottle filters, chlorinate it, or boil it to make it potable.

If you have an emergency, you should contact our trekking guide. Our guides are equipped with oximeters and necessary first-aid kits and are trained to handle emergencies.

Besides, the guides will have all the necessary contacts to contact emergency rescue services such as helicopter rescue, air ambulance, or land rescue.

The best way to prevent altitude sickness is to rest properly after your trek, acclimatize to the altitude, stay hydrated, and avoid alcohol while on the trek.

Whenever you feel sick due to altitude, stop immediately and rest for a while. Hydrate yourself and take medications to ease the pain.

You should never try to ascend or descend right away whenever you are experiencing altitude sickness. Let your trekking guide know about your situation and request an emergency rescue if the condition worsens.

Acetazolamide (usually sold under the name Diamox) can help with altitude sickness. Diamox is often indicated for treating acute altitude sickness as it reduces the severity of any observed symptoms and enables you to adjust to high altitudes quickly.

Some other medications that can also help are Dexamethasone, Nifedipine, and Ibuprofen. It is safe to consult your physician and take the medicines in advance to prevent allergies or any undesired reaction against the drugs.

You should be aware of any medical conditions that you might have before planning the trek. If you have pulmonary diseases, asthma, or any other breathing-related illness, it’s better to get it checked and prepared in advance with medication and stimulatory exercises.

Additionally, you should be aware of any allergies you might have before you trek. To prevent illness on the route, it is always best to avoid food, drinks, or agents that can instigate a hypersensitive reaction in your body.

Honestly speaking, it isn’t too safe to trek alone in the wilderness. If you are planning to hike to high-altitude mountains like the Everest base camp, which can often have unpredictable weather, is prone to natural calamities, and involves risky and rough terrains, it isn’t safe to travel solo.

If you know the route very well and are mentally and physically prepared to trek alone, go for it. Otherwise, it is recommended that you take along a travel guide who knows the route well to have a smooth trekking experience.

If you get injured during the trek, stop for a break and take the necessary first aid. If you have a severe injury that needs immediate attention, call for emergency rescue with the help of your trekking guide.

Since the trekking route takes you through national parks and conservation areas, it is obvious to see animals on the route. Although it is less likely to find a dangerous animal on the trail, it isn’t impossible. Mountainous regions can often be inhabited by leopards, cheetahs, musk deers, etc.

It is better to travel in groups in such forest areas to come across one. But if you did, don’t just run or instigate the animal; let it pass before you make a move.

The weather can be pretty unpredictable if you are trekking to a mountainous region above an elevation of 5000 meters, such as the Everest base camp. Usually, the temperature is lower and can drop to freezing at night.

Besides, the higher elevation areas can often have snow storms, soft rains, and chilled breezes.

Yes, indeed! The trek to Everest base camp takes you to an elevation above 5000 meters, where the temperature is low, oxygen is scarce, and the terrain is rough and risky. You must be physically fit and mentally composed to complete the trek successfully.