GOKYO LAKES AND EVEREST BASE CAMP

21-day trek in Nepal

21 days

4/5

12 people max.

TrekkingNepal

A stunning, historic route to challenge yourself and enjoy an unforgettable adventure! This trek will take you to the foot of the highest mountains in the world, with some breathtaking viewpoints.

You will also be able to explore the villages and meet the locals. This enchanting trek will amaze you more and more each day as you see the many different faces of the Khumbu.

Let’s go and meet the Sherpa!

19

3550,00 

About this trip

A stunning, historic route to challenge yourself and enjoy an unforgettable adventure! This trek will take you to the foot of the highest mountains in the world, with some breathtaking viewpoints.

You will also be able to explore the villages and meet the locals. This enchanting trek will amaze you more and more each day as you see the many different faces of the Khumbu.

Let’s go and meet the Sherpa!

Écouter la description du trek au Népal des Lacs Gokyo et du Camp de Base de l'Everest par Pierrick

Pierrick Delattre
+33 (0)6 65 93 29 29
contact@watse.fr

Pierrick, the founder of the agency, grew up in the Mont Blanc region.

As a true mountain lover, he has made the area his playground and his profession, always with your happiness as his goal. He will take you off the beaten track on routes that he has designed and mapped himself. Sharing his experience and passion with you every step of the way, you can entrust yourself completely to his guidance.

Highlights of the trip

An epic route through the most beautiful passes in the Everest valley.
An ideal trek for experienced hikers.
Stay in the land of the Sherpa for a totally different kind of adventure.
DAYS 1 & 2: FLIGHT TO NEPAL
Overnight stay in a hotel - Meals at your expense
You will fly to Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal. Following the transfer to the hotel, you will be able to enjoy some free time to wander around the town.
DAY 3: FREE DAY IN KATHMANDU
Overnight stay in a hotel
This free time will allow you to soak up the Nepalese culture even more! Kathmandu has plenty of small shops and restaurants to choose from. You will also be able to join guided tours to learn more about the local culture.
DAY 4: FLIGHT TO LUKLA
1-hour flight - 4 hours walking time - Night in a lodge - 170 m (560) ascent / 200 m (655 ft) descent
Weather-permitting, you will fly to Lukla early in the morning. The loads to be carried will be sorted out once there.

You will then be ready to start your walk to the village of Phakding, where you will spend your first night in a lodge.
DAY 5: FROM PHAKDING TO THE SHERPA CAPITAL, NAMCHE BAZAR
6 hours walking time - Night in a lodge - 1,180 m (3,870 ft) ascent / 350 m (1,150 ft) descent
In the morning, you will set off on a beautiful climb to Namche Bazar, the capital of Sherpa country, perched at an altitude of 3,440 m (11,285 ft). On the way up, the high peaks of the Khumbu will reveal themselves before your eyes. You might even be lucky enough to catch your first glimpse of Everest!

On arrival in the village, you will be surprised to discover a lively atmosphere and many small shops.

DAY 6: EXPLORE NAMCHE BAZAAR AND ITS SURROUNDINGS
3 hours walking time - Night in a lodge - as much ascent and descent as you wish
Today will be dedicated to your acclimatization. You need to ascend gradually to avoid the infamous acute mountain sickness or AMS.

To do this, you can go and explore the villages overlooking the capital of Sherpa country. From these heights, you will be treated to your first views of Ama Dablam, Everest, Lhotse and the entire upper Khumbu region.

A quick trip to Khumjung and then it’s back down to Namche for the night.

DAY 7: FROM NAMCHE BAZAR TO PHORTSE THANGA
6 hours walking time - Night in a lodge - 500 m (1,640 ft) ascent / 350 m (1,150 ft) descent
As you leave Namche, your route will take you above the houses to join the ridges.

You will reach a small mountain pass before descending to the village of Khumjung. On the way down, you will have superb views of the summit of Ama Dablam.
You will spend the night at Phortse Thanga, perched at 3,675 m (12,055 ft) above sea level.

DAY 8: FROM PHORTSE THANGA TO MACHHERMO
5 hours walking time - Night in a lodge - 780 m (2,560 ft) ascent
With forests, waterfalls and high mountain peaks, today will be full of surprises! You will see the high mountain backdrop really start to appear as you reach the small village of Machhermo.
DAY 9: FROM MACHHERMO TO THE BEAUTIFUL LAKE GOKYO
5 hours walking time - Night in a lodge - 480 m (1,575 ft) ascent / 120 m (395 ft) descent
Today, you will follow the path from hamlet to hamlet as new mountains are gradually revealed to you, including Cho Oyu (8,143 m / 26,715 ft), marking the border with Tibet.
The day will end at a magical place where the mountains are reflected in the calm waters of Lake Gokyo.
DAY 10: ASCENT OF GOKYO RO (5,340 m / 17,520 ft)
6 hours walking time - Night in a lodge - 820 m (2,690 ft) ascent / 910 m (2,985 ft) descent
The day will be dedicated to the ascent of Gokyo Peak at 5,340 m (17,520 ft). The route is easy on the south side. The summit is a magnificent lookout point for the nearby peaks of the Khumbu and in particular four peaks of over 8,000 metres (26,250 ft): Cho Oyu, Everest, Lhotse and Makalu.

Your route back down takes you through the moraine of the glacier to reach the village of Dragnag.

DAY 11: A NEW VALLEY
6 hours walking time - Night in a lodge - 800 m (2,625 ft) ascent / 650 m (2,130 ft) descent
Today you will take a trail to Cho La pass at 5,420 m (17,780 ft) above sea level.

From here, a new valley opens up and you can enjoy magnificent views of Ama Dablam. From the pass, you will walk down to the hamlet of Dzongla (4,830 m / 15,845 ft).
DAY 12: FROM DZONGLA TO LOBUCHE
4 hours walking time - Night in a lodge - 170 m (560 ft) ascent / 100 m (330 ft) descent
Today, you will reach Lobuche via a beautiful high-level traverse. This short day's walk allows you to recuperate and enjoy the fantastic views: Nuptse, Everest and Lobuche Peak can be admired all day long.
DAY 13: ASCENT OF KALA PATTHAR
6 hours walking time - Night in a lodge - 750 m (2,460 ft) ascent / 550 m (1,805 ft) descent
Today you will make an early start to climb the southern slopes of Kala Patthar at 5,600 m (18,370 ft), at the foot of Pumori and the highest point of the trek. At the top, the view of the route taken by the climbers who ascend Everest is breathtaking.

All that remains is to descend to Gorak Shep, "the sand lake", where you will spend the night.
DAY 14: FROM GORAK SHEP TO EVEREST BASE CAMP
7 hours walking time - Night in a lodge - 690 m (2,265 ft) ascent / 915 m (3,000 ft) descent
This morning, you will cross the moraines to reach Everest base camp.

You will feel very small at the foot of the dreaded Ice Fall and its famous ladders.
Finally, a gentle descent to Lobuche, leaving Everest and some unforgettable experiences behind you.
DAY 15: DESCENT INTO THE VALLEY
6 hours walking time - Night in a lodge - 950 m (3,115 ft) descent
You will walk down into the Khumbu valley, under the watchful eye of Ama Dablam.

You will see some human life again and find a warm welcome as you pass through villages and among farmers working in their fields, until you reach Pangboche.

DAY 16: FROM PANGBOCHE TO NAMCHE BAZAR
6 hours walking time - Night in a lodge - 150 m (490 ft) ascent / 730 m (2,395 ft) descent
On this sixteenth day of your trip, you will enjoy the change of vegetation with a beautiful descent into the forest.

After crossing a footbridge at Phunki, there is a gentle ascent to Namche Bazar.
DAY 17: FROM NAMCHE BAZAR TO LUKLA
6 hours walking time - Night in a lodge - 700 m (2,295 ft) ascent / 1,290 m (4,230 ft) descent
Following the same route as on the outward journey, you will head to Lukla and its small airport on this final day of trekking in the heart of Nepal.
DAY 18: FLIGHT FROM LUKLA TO KATHMANDU
Transfer to hotel and free time - 1-hour flight - Overnight stay in a hotel
The flight from Lukla to Kathmandu will offer you some last unforgettable views before leaving Nepal and its mountains.
DAY 19: FREE DAY IN KATHMANDU
Overnight stay in a hotel
The day presents the ideal opportunity for some souvenir shopping in Kathmandu.
The capital has plenty of small shops and restaurants to choose from. You can also chat with the locals and even take some cultural tours if you so wish.

A few purchases of traditional objects and products will allow you to take part of this magnificent trek in Nepal back home with you!

DAYS 20 & 21: RETURN HOME FROM KATHMANDU
Meals at your own expense
It's time to go back home after this totally different kind of adventure. You will be transferred to the airport.

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GOKYO LAKES AND EVEREST BASE CAMP

Photos and videos

Practical information

Time difference

4 hrs 45 ahead of CET

Safety

You can find advice on foreign travel from the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs on their official website at diplomatie.gouv.fr under the heading “Conseils aux voyageurs”.

Information published on the website of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs is subject to change and is provided for guidance only. Furthermore, please remember that no country or region of the world can be considered safe from the risk of terrorism.

Climate

Nepal has every kind of climate and the weather changes with altitude: a tropical climate in the Terai jungle, temperate in the valleys and cold in the high mountains.

Nepal’s climate varies enormously according to the region and seasons. The country’s latitude is roughly equivalent to that of Florida, with a similar tropical and subtropical climate in the Terai region. However, outside the Terai, the climate is completely different. The remarkable differences in climatic conditions are generally related to the enormous range of altitude within a short distance, from north to south.

The presence of the east-west trend and the Himalayan ranges to the north, as well as the alternating wet and dry monsoon seasons, also contribute greatly to local climatic variations.

The climate in Nepal allows for stays in all seasons. But for our trips, the recommended periods are spring and autumn.

When staying at altitude, always bring a good fleece, a down jacket for the evenings and a good sleeping bag for the night, even in summer.

The climate in Nepal month by month:

  • January to February:
    It’s cool and the high mountain passes are snow-covered, but the sky is blue and with a good fleece, everything will be fine.
  • March, April, May and early June:
    This is a very good time for big treks. The weather is fine, you can see the mountains and the rhododendrons are in bloom.
  • Mid-June to mid-September:
    This is the monsoon season, but most of the rain comes at night. The atmosphere is very special and the light is perfect for photos. There are some fantastic big festivals in the valleys.
  • Mid-September to mid-November:
    This is also a very good time for big treks.
  • From mid-November to end of December:
    It’s a bit cold in December, but it never freezes in Kathmandu
Infos
Luggage

Your personal belongings will be carried daily by porters, as is the tradition in Nepal.

In order to respect the recommendations of the porters’ union, the maximum load per carrier is 20kg. We provide one porter for every two participants.

Please ensure that your personal bag does not weigh more than 10 kg. Any excess weight will require the hiring of an additional porter at the expense of the participants.

Transport

We use small aircraft for the liaison between Kathmandu and Lukla. Private taxi in Kathmandu.

Air

Airfares will be maintained until 3 months before departure and may be readjusted if necessary if you are booking less than 3 months before.

Electricity

Alternating current 220 Volts, 50 Hertz. Plugs have three round pins, so it’s best to bring adapters.

Meals

Meals are at your own expense in Kathmandu and during international flights.

During the trek, we have morning and evening meals at the lodges. We organise picnic lunches or eat in lodges on the way at lunchtime. The food in Nepal is simple but good. Meals consist mostly of rice, pasta and vegetables and there is not much meat. The traditional dish is Dhal Bhat (rice and lentils) and this can be eaten anywhere in Nepal, as well as in the mountains.

Please let us know if you have any food allergies when you register for the trip.

Accomodation

During the trek, you will stay in lodges. These are similar to the mountain refuges in France and can be very basic. There is always a warm atmosphere.

They usually have a common room with a stove, a kitchen, usually bedrooms but sometimes dormitories. There is not always heating, and the toilets are often rudimentary and outside. Any hot showers during the trek are at your own expense and must be paid for on site. The same applies to fees for charging mobile phones.

The community lodges are run by the villagers, with the profits going to the community to maintain the schools.

Hotel in Kathmandu.

Nights at the top of the valley are spent in tents.

The Everest region and in particular the Everest Base Camp trek is certainly the most popular area for trekkers. It is a beautiful region and the world’s highest peak attracts many people who, quite rightly, wish to visit its base camp.

This results in real overcrowding during the two peak seasons in spring and autumn. This may lead to slight changes in the programme due to lodge bookings. In the worst case it may be possible to sleep in a tent.

Watse does its utmost to provide you with the best possible service, but we are dependent on the conditions in the area at certain times.

Health and vaccines

No compulsory vaccines.

However, vaccination against yellow fever becomes compulsory if you have previously stayed in or transited through a country in an endemic zone.
We strongly recommend that you make sure you are up to date with the standard vaccinations: diphtheria-tetanus-poliomyelitis, whooping cough, tuberculosis, typhoid fever, hepatitis A and B.
In the event of a prolonged stay, during the transmission period, it is advisable to be immunised against Japanese encephalitis.

Malaria is present all year round below 2,000 m (6,560 ft) altitude and especially in the rural areas of the Terai – zone 2 classification. Antimalarial treatment is necessary. Consult your GP.

Antimalarials are not necessary for a trek in Nepal. The treks usually take place above the altitude in which the carrier mosquitos are present. At lower altitudes, at the beginning and end of the tour, the areas crossed may present some risk of transmission.

As a preventive measure, provide personal protection against mosquito bites (repellent, loose-fitting clothing).

We recommend that you have a check-up with your dentist before you leave.

Ifremmont

For this trip, Watse offers the SOS MAM service supplied by IFREMMONT, which consists of using a satellite phone in the event of any problem to contact a French doctor specialised in altitude and remote environments. Your guide is also specially trained by IFREMMONT to deal with these situations. Your guide is the local medical correspondent for these doctors.

We will ask you to create an online medical record (http://www.teleconsultationsosmam.com), which you can also use on an everyday basis to take charge of your health. We will provide you with a code to link your file to your trip. This will give you the possibility of booking an online consultation with these mountain medicine specialists before leaving, at a cost of €46 (not reimbursed by social security). This service offers a genuine advantage in terms of preventing the risks associated with altitude and remote areas.

Please note that this service does not replace your repatriation insurance, which is compulsory in some countries.

Supervision

Qualified French mountain leader for the entire trip, as well as a local team composed of a local guide, helpers and porters.

Formalities and Visa

For French, Belgian, Luxembourg and Swiss nationals:

  • Your passport needs to be valid for 6 months after the date of exit from Nepal, with at least one blank page;
  • A tourist visa, which will be issued on arrival in Kathmandu, for a maximum of 90 days.
  • Please bring a passport photo, dollars in cash (change is not given for euros), and a pen.
  • The visa application form (in English) is available from the room just before the visa offices. Please check that the official on duty has glued and stamped your visa in your passport to avoid having to pay for a second visa when you leave.

Consular fees (for general guidance purposes, for a single or multiple entry visa):

$25 (or equivalent in €) for a maximum of 15 days in the country;
$40 (or equivalent in €) for a maximum of 30 days in the country;
$100 (or equivalent in €) for a maximum of 90 days in the country.
As these formalities may change, please check with the consular authorities in your country to ensure that they are accurate. Each individual traveller is responsible for complying with the entry requirements of the countries they visit. Watse cannot be held responsible for any changes in formalities.

BUDGET, CURRENCY AND TIPS

The currency in Nepal is the Nepalese rupee.

The indicative exchange rate is: €1 = 110 rupees

Cash: you can travel with both euros and dollars. Currency exchange can be carried out in exchange offices, banks or even hotels.

A meal in a tourist restaurant in Kathmandu: between 500 and 1,000 rupees

During the trek:

  • 1 beer between 300 and 500 rupees
  • 1 coca cola between 150 and 300 rupees
  • 1 tea between 50 and 100 rupees
  • 1 hot shower 250 rupees (average price)
  • 1 phone or camera battery recharge: 250 rupees (average price)

Tipping is not mandatory and should reflect your satisfaction with the team. Your guide will advise you if you wish to give a tip.

Registration

By post:

Ask us for a registration form

Send us your registration along with a copy of your passport, your details (postal address, phone numbers and email address) and a deposit of 30% of the cost of the trip.

Also, if you wish to take out a Comfort or Comfort Multi-risk cancellation insurance policy, this must be paid at the same time as the deposit when you register. You can consult the insurance contracts on our website.

On the internet:

Book your stay directly on our website: on the page for the trip by selecting your date and insurance options.

PLEASE NOTE: Airfares will be maintained until 3 months before departure and may be readjusted if necessary if you are booking less than 3 months before.

Insurance and assistance

We strongly advise you to take out insurance for the duration of the trip.

We offer two tailored insurance policies: Comfort Cancellation and Comfort Multi-risk to be taken out when you register for the trip.

Details of this insurance cover can be provided on request or can be viewed by clicking here.

There are other insurance options available, such as Mondial Assistance, your own insurance company or the Club Alpin Français. You should check that they cover trekking.

Make sure that your insurance covers all medical costs in the event of an accident.

It is essential that you check and ensure that you have insurance cover for mountain rescue costs. If this is the case, you must provide us with the following information prior to your departure on the trek:

A certificate from the insurance company stating that mountain rescue costs are covered.

The contract number and telephone number of the assistance centre.

Be aware of the restrictive clauses contained in certain insurance policies (particularly those linked to bank cards such as Visa Premier, Gold or others), for example mountain insurance restricted to snow activities and altitude sickness not recognised as an illness requiring repatriation, resulting in refusal to repatriate.

Please check the actual content of your insurance and make the necessary arrangements where required.

GOKYO LAKES AND EVEREST BASE CAMP

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Added benefits from Watse

GUIDES TRAINED IN HIGH ALTITUDE TREKKING

This itinerary respects the necessary stages of acclimatization as far as possible. Our team is specially trained in high altitude trekking so that you can enjoy your adventure in complete safety and benefit from equipment suited to the stage of the climb.

WATSE'S EXPERTISE AND EXPERIENCE IN TREKKING IN NEPAL

Our team has been running trips to Nepal for many years!
The guides are all very involved in the culture of the country. This in-depth knowledge of the terrain will allow you to experience a unique stay.

DUAL SUPERVISION FOR AN IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE

A local team will liaise with your Watse guide to ensure your trek is well-supervised all round. With advice, anecdotes and experiences to share, they will give your adventure an extra dimension!

Next dates and prices

“GOKYO LAKES AND EVEREST BASE CAMP” TREK IN NEPAL

Date of departure Formula DescriptionTotalPeople
March 25 - April 14, 2023Dormitories Registration in progress 3550,00 
-
+
October 28 - November 17, 2023Dormitories Registration in progress 3550,00 
-
+

WHAT’S INCLUDED IN YOUR TRIP

  • International flights and airport taxes
  • Travel overland as described in the programme
  • Accommodation in hotels and lodges
  • Supervision by a qualified French mountain leader and a local French-speaking guide. Porters and helpers
  • Insurance for the local team
  • Everest National Park trekking permit
  • TIMS (Trekking Information Management Service)
  • The IFREMMONT SOS MAM service, a group of doctors specialised in altitude who can be reached by satellite telephone 7 days a week and 24 hours a day (as long as communication can be established)
  • A hyperbaric chamber as well as a first aid kit adapted to the altitude

WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED IN YOUR TRIP

  • Visa fees
  • Meals in the city of Kathmandu and during international transfers
  • Cold or fizzy drinks in general
  • Personal hiking and travel equipment (boots/shoes, poles, sleeping bag, personal toiletries, etc.)
  • Single room supplements in the accommodation
  • Hot water in the lodges
  • Battery recharging in the lodges
  • Cancellation and repatriation assistance insurance to be taken out at the time of registration
  • Anything not listed in the “What’s included in your trip” section

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TO GET BACK TO YOU, WE’LL ALWAYS FIND A SIGNAL, EVEN WHEN THERE ISN’T ONE