Everest Base Camp vs Gokyo with Everest Trek

So many people dream of trekking in Nepal–of hiking up through the clouds to the base of the world’s tallest mountain: Everest. The Everest Base Camp trek has become the most popular route for those seeking adventure in the Nepalese mountains. But there are so many more hidden paths and gems waiting to be explored beyond Everest Base Camp, one of which being the Gokyo Lakes. Adding the trip to these spectacular lakes onto the Everest Base Camp itinerary is easily done, and if you’re willing to add on the three extra days and make the difficult hike over Cho La Pass it can be extremely rewarding. So, is the Everest Base Camp and Gokyo Lakes Trek for you?

Everest Base Camp vs Gokyo : Trekking Experience

During high season, some 500 travelers head out on the Everest Base Camp trek every day. Though there are times in the year when the trail is less busy, but it remains the most popular trek. As people are learning about the stunning trek, Gokyo Lakes has started to gain popularity, but even so, it’s a great way to avoid the crowds on the main trail, giving you a chance to drink in the experience distraction free.

The other big advantage of the Gokyo w/Everest Trek is that the trail to Everest Base Camp is just up and down on the same route. If you add the extension to Gokyo Lakes and go over Cholo pass it makes the entire trek into more of a circuit and involves much less back-tracking which means you don’t cover the same ground twice, and you get to take in more of the mountain’s beautiful scenery.  

Everest Base Camp vs Gokyo : When to Go (Seasons)

It’s possible to do the Everest Base Camp Trek pretty much anytime from late August to early June. The period June to August is not generally not recommended for either trek as its the rainy season in Nepal and getting to Lukla can involve several days of flight delays and waiting in the airport. Cho La pass is one of the higher passes in the region and is often closed from late November to Mid-February due to snow. It’s still possible to hike to Gokyo this time of year but if you want to visit Base Camp you will need to backtrack to the main trail and not cross the pass.

Everest Base Camp vs Gokyo : Scenery  

When Hiking through the mountains of Nepal, you just can’t go wrong with the scenery. That being said each trek offers its own scenic views and experiences. Hiking to Everest Base Camp you’ll pass through local villages, tour the Tengboche monastery, and wind through forests all while taking in gorgeous views of 4 of the world’s 14 eight thousand meter peaks which include; Cho Oyu, Lhotse, Makalu and of course Everest. With the Gokyo Lakes you’ll get to take in peaceful views of a place that’s been relatively untouched, weaving through forgotten valleys, traditional villages, an impressive glacier, and, of course, serene mountain lakes. The Gokyo Lakes are a series of six spectacular glacial lakes at altitudes of between 4,700m and 5,000m, making them some of the world’s highest freshwater lakes. From these glistening turquoise lakes you’ll get breathtaking panoramic views of 8,000m-plus peaks including Everest.

Everest Base Camp vs Gokyo : Difficulty

While both treks reach an elevation of 5,545 m at the peak of Kala Patthar, Everest Base Camp plus Gokyo Lakes can be a bit more difficult. Not only is it a slightly longer trek, but the Cho La pass, a glistening ice trail, can be quite a challenge. The Gokyo Lake Trek can’t even be made during certain times as the pass is actually closes during the winter months due to snow. Fortunately, having already visited Everest Base Camp you should be getting used to trekking at the high altitude and feeling stronger as you cross the pass and if weather is at all bad microspikes can be helpful. Both treks have their moments of difficulty due to terrain or steep inclines, but the hiking to Gokyo Lakes is well worth the extra days and effort if you’re up to challenge.  

Everest Base Camp vs Gokyo : Gokyo Ri vs. Kala Patthar

Whether you are doing the standard Everest Base Camp Trek or the Base Camp and Gokyo Lakes Trek the highest peak you’ll reach will be Kala Patthar (5,545 m), which means “black rock”. From here you’ll get the infamous, up-close view of Everest as well as a spectacular view of Nuptse Nup, Changtse and Lhotse. Though the mountain views are more distant from Gokyo Ri (5,357 m), many think the view from this peak is even better than that from Kala Patthar. From Gokyo Ri you’ll be able to see 4 of the 14 tallest peaks in the world–Everest (8850 m), Lhotse (8501 m), Makalu (8475 m) and Cho Oyu (8153 m)–as well as one of the tallest glaciers in the Himalayas, just below you.

Everest Base Camp & Gokyo: Clockwise or Counter-Clockwise

If you are researching this trek you will find that some itineraries take you to Gokyo first and some to Everest Base Camp. Our itinerary is counter-clockwise taking you first to Base Camp and then crossing Cho La pass before reaching Gokyo and heading back to Namche. This is the prefered route for several reasons. First off, the acclimatization profile is more favorable to go to Everest Base Camp first. Also, crossing Cho La pass is much easier from north to south. It really, does not matter too much which direction you go but we have found that guests generally prefer the route that we take.

Gokyo Trek without Everest Base Camp

The nice thing about a trek through the Himalayas is how customizable they can be. It’s your dream trek, so why shouldn’t you be able to make it your own? Most people visit Gokyo Lakes as a side trip on the way to EBC. However, you can also visit Gokyo Lakes as a stand-alone trip or even add it onto another trek. If you have any questions on this just drop us an email.

Gokyo with Renjo La

One excellent alternative to The Everest Base Camp and Gokyo Lakes Trek is the 14 day Gokyo and Renjo La Pass Trek. This newly opened trek is an exciting and different option for high-pass trekking through the Khumbu. The trek begins similarly to the Everest Base Camp trek, but diverts after Namche Bazaar, taking you on a nice hike through woods of flowering rhododendron, quaint villages of stone huts, and pastures of grazing yak up through Dole and Machhermo until you reach Gokyo where you’ll get those stunning lake and glacier views. The Renjo La Pass allows trekkers to cross between Gokyo and Nagpala, and provides an incredible walk through soaring mountains. This is in addition to the awe-inspiring views of four 8,000+ m peaks garnered by hiking to Gokyo Ri, rather than the traditional day trip to Kala Pattar from Gorakshep. Two particularly noteworthy aspects of this trek as opposed to the Everest Base Camp and Gokyo Lakes trek is: 1. You skip the challenging journey across Cho La pass and 2. It is less-traveled and therefore less crowded than the Base Camp trek. So if you’re looking to fully take in the beauty of the Himalayas, and are interested in experiencing something a little more off the beaten path; the Gokyo and Renjo La Pass Trek is the trek for you.

Check out more details on these treks here:
Everest Base Camp Trek 14 Days
Everest Base Camp & Gokyo Lakes 17 Days
Gokyo and Renjo La Pass Trek 14 Days

Flickr Image Credit:
Zielonamapa.pl
akunamatata
Steve Upton
Leon Kovacic
Ivan Borisov
McKay Savage
Mahatma4711