My 14 days Itinerary for Everest Base Camp and Gokyo Ri Trek

 Day 1

So over the Christmas and new years holidays while everyone was enjoying the festivities and getting jolly I decided I’d attempt the Everest base camp and Gokyo Ri trek for something different. Boy did it deliver but holy shit it was easily the hardest thing I’ve ever done both physically and mentally. I ended up taking years worth of photos in the 13 days I was trekking and can’t manage to cull them down bellow 100 photos so for those of you that care ill be posting them in small lots of day by day shots.

Day 2

The trek from Phakding (2610m) to Namche Bazaar (3440m) provided a good taste of what was to come. The path began to become much steeper, with the last 2 hours or so being all uphill.

Day 3

We had a much-needed acclimatization and rest day in Namche Bazaar. We did a small acclimatization trek up to 3880m to see the first glimpse of Everest. Additionally, we checked out Khumjung, a Sherpa village. We managed to score free wifi which would be the last time I get to connect online til my return to Lukla over a week later.

Days 4, 5 & 6

Day 4  of Everest base camp and Gokyo Ri trek started off well with no altitude problems and slightly overcast weather leaving Namche bazaar, perfect for trekking. But just after halfway, my stomach started to turn. By the time I reached Tengboche, I had powerfully vomited about 5 times. I spent the rest of the afternoon and night drinking water, only to bring it up again. So, I called it quits early. On the fifth day, I spent time cruising around the very quiet Tengboche. I was waiting for the lodge owners to return from Namche so I could attempt to eat again. During this time, I also made friends with one of the monks from the Buddhist monastery. Day 6 was Christmas day and I woke up feeling fresh and ready to make the trip from Tengboche to Dingboche.

Day 7

The Day 7 of Everest base camp and Gokyo Ri trek started from Dingboche.The trek from Dingboche (4350m) to Lobuche (4933m) was a nice steady one with about a 50/50 mix of steep inclines and flatter paths. We scored another really nice morning but by around midday, it became overcast and quite cold. I managed to find a hot shower in Lobuche, the last one for about a week. The shower was a nice 43°C, while outside it was around -12°C. Best $5 I’ve ever spent!

Day 8

We got up at the crack of dawn on a very cold morning, with temperatures below -20°C. The night had been quite unpleasant because the wind had really picked up in the early hours. We had agreed the previous night to attempt the trek from Lobuche (4933m) to Gorak Shep (5175m). We planned to drop off our bags and have some lunch. Afterward, we would head to Everest Base Camp (5289m). On the way back to Gorak Shep, we intended to scale Kala Patthar (5648m) for a clearer, sunset view of Everest. It was easily one of the hardest days of the whole trek clocking in around 25km for the day. It was pretty safe to say we were all ruined by the time we made it back to the lodge!

Days 9 & 10

On Day 9, I woke up after another rough and very cold night. I could literally see the sky through a gap between the wall and the roof. Fortunately, the conditions were much better than the previous day, with no wind at all. I also knew that today’s trek from Gorak Shep (5175m) to Dzonglha (4830m) would only take about 3 hours and was mostly downhill.

Day 10 of the Everest Base Camp and Gokyo Ri trek was another big day of trekking. We traveled from Dzonglha to Gokyo (4750m) via Cho La Pass (5420m). Although the distance was around 12 km, the trek involved many intense inclines and declines.

Days 11 & 12

Day 11 of Everest base camp and Gokyo Ri trek was a super chill recovery day. We spent most of the day relaxing in the sun, playing cards and talking shit. We had hoped to make it up to Gokyo Ri (5360m) for sunset for bird’s-eye views of Gokyo lake and Ngozumpa Glacier and another good angle of Everest View but the weather turned to shit and it started snowing by mid afternoon.

Day 12 was another big day of hiking clocking in around the 25km mark. It was near New Year’s Day. After having the quietest New Year’s Eve I’ve experienced since I was in the single digits, we got up at 4:30 am. Our goal was to reach the peak of Gokyo Ri for sunrise. After that, I would make the solo journey back down to Namche Bazaar (3440m). The weather was freezing all day. By the time I set off for Namche Bazaar, it was already overcast and snowing lightly.

Days 13 & 14

Day 13 was another decent day of trekking clocking in around 18kms but was luckily mostly downhill. What took 2 days to going up took 4 hours to get back down as I was hoping to catch one of the last flights back to Kathmandu city. Unfortunately about 3/4 of the way to Lukla the weather turned and it started snowing meaning I’d have to spend an extra night in Lukla. And finally the Day 14 of  Everest base camp and Gokyo Ri trek was fly out day and to say I was excited to get back to Kathmandu would be an understatement!! I eventually boarded the plane at around 12 pm after having to wait for the ice to melt off the tarmac.

.                                                                                             –Prepared By Jack Digby, Australia