While reaching Everest Base Camp is a goal for many travellers, getting to this iconic mountaineering destination can be an incredibly enjoyable experience. Rather than following the standard route to the base camp, consider trekking via the Gokyo Lakes.
This little-touched corner of the Himalayas is home to breathtaking scenery, as you not only have the towering peaks, but also tranquil, turquoise lakes tucked in among the valleys. Read on to find out what to expect on a walking holiday to Everest Base Camp via the Gokyo Lakes.
A bit about the Gokyo Lakes
The Gokyo Lakes – of which there are six main ones – are located in the Gokyo Valley at an altitude of between 4,600 m and 5,100 m, making them the planet’s highest freshwater lake system.
Among the lakes you will visit on your trek is Dudh Pokhani, as you will stay in Gokyo Village on its eastern shores. At 42.9 hectares in area, this is the second-largest of the lakes, with only Thonak Cho (65.07 hectares) being larger.
At various points in your trip, you will cross or walk alongside Dudh Kosi, a river that runs through the mountains and into which some of the lakes feed. The water in the Gokyo Lakes primarily comes from the Ngozumpa Glacier and small streams originating higher in the mountains.
Other sights in the Gokyo Valley
The lakes are undeniably beautiful, but these are not the only attractions of a trek through the Gokyo Valley. On every side, you’ll have views of amazing mountain peaks, including Everest and Cho Oyu, another summit that stands at more than 8,000 m above sea level.
Some of the most stunning views of the mountains and lakes can be seen from the top of Gokyo Kang, a peak that stands 5,483 m high. It is easy to reach from Gokyo Village and from its summit you can see Everest, Lhotse, Cho Oyu, Makalu and Nupste, as well as the rest of the Himalayas stretching out before you.
The Ngozumpa Glacier, one of the Himalayas’ largest ice masses, is also a breathtaking sight to behold. If you travel to the region with Explore Worldwide on their Everest Base Camp and Gokyo Lakes trip, you’ll spend part of your journey walking alongside the edge of the glacier and on its terminal moraine.
The trek to Everest Base Camp
Once you’ve spent a few days exploring the Gokyo Valley, you’ll leave the lakes behind and make your way towards your ultimate goal – Everest Base Camp. En route, you’ll pass the oldest monastery in the Khumbu region (Pangboche Monastery), as well as a series of memorials that are dedicated to some of the Sherpas who have died on various Everest expeditions.
On your approach to the base camp, you’ll be walking on the moraine of the Khumbu Glacier and past the Khumbu Icefall, which is characterised by vast pillars of ice, some of which are up to 15 m high. If you’re lucky, there will be a group of mountaineers preparing for a summit attempt on the day you visit the camp, and this will give you an insight into the planning that goes into this challenging climb.
Have you trekked to the Everest Base Camp via the Gokyo Lakes? What were your experiences and do you have any advice for fellow travellers planning to undertake a similar route?
Matt Cook enjoys travelling and cycling which helps in his role of eCommerce Manager for Adventure Travel company Explore.
