Nepal a country surrounded by the highest mountains in the world is, of course, famous for Mt Everest and its trekking trails! As so trekking through the Everest Region has long been popular amongst mountaineers from around the globe. Having a good number of trekking routes the 5 best Everest trekking packages in Nepal are; the Everest Base Camp trek, the Three Pass EBC trek, and the Luxury Everest View Trek, the Everest view trek, and the Gokyo Lake trek. These 5 best Everest trekking packages in Nepal are all filled with adventure and incredible Himalayan views of the highest mountains in the world! Most of them have as their main highlight a visit to Everest Base Camp 5,364m/17,598ft residing at the famous Khumbu Glacier, the highest ice glacier in Nepal. While the Gokyo Lake trek focuses on a visit to the Gokyo Valley via the Ngozumpa glacier the largest in Nepal and its 19 lakes this trek in the western Everest region is said to be one of the most scenic treks. The Three Pass EBC trek is then a complete package trekking around the Everest region and crossing three high altitude passes! As for the two Everest view treks they focus on views of Mt Everest and provide a short trekking experience. Choosing a trek best suited to you depends on several things such as duration, difficulty, and what you expect to achieve during the trek. So to make your choice easier a short description of all 5 best treks to see Mt Everest according to Royal Himalayan Holidays will be given below.
1. The Everest Base Camp trek
2. The Gokyo Lake trek
3. The Three Pass EBC trek
4. The Everest View trek
5. The Luxury Everest View trek
The Everest Base Camp trek
Known as the most famous trek in all of Nepal, the Everest Base Camp trek of 17 days is one of Royal Himalayan Holidays’ most favorite treks. Trekking from Lukla to Everest Base Camp and back allows you to head closer and closer to Mt Everest while visiting local Sherpa villages. This trek is considered moderate and holds 2 acclimatization days to get used to the high altitude and to prevent AMS (Acute Mountain Sickness). While Royal Himalayan Holidays’ Everest Base Camp trek can be done by novice trekkers it requires a lot of stamina and endurance. Interesting is that the trek starts through lush forests and jungles and as you reach higher and further the terrain transfers into barren Himalayan wastelands filled with tundra trails and giant mountain peaks.
The itinerary:
Day 01: Kathmandu arrival
Day 02: Trek briefing + KTM sightseeing
Day 03: Flight to Lukla + trek to Phakding (2,610m/8,563ft)
Day 04: Trek to Namche Bazaar (3,440m/11,286ft)
Day 05: Trek to Khumjung (3,786m/12,421ft)
Day 06: Khumjung acclimatization day
Day 07: Trek to Phortse (3,867m/12,687ft)
Day 08: Trek to Dingboche (4,450m/14,5910ft)
Day 09: Dingboche acclimatization day
Day 10: Trek to Lobuche (4,910m/16,109ft)
Day 11: Trek to Gorakshep (5,170m/16,962ft) + visit Everest Base Camp (5,364m/17,598ft)
Day 12: Kala Patthar (5,545m/18,192ft) sunrise view + trek Pheriche (4,250m/13,944ft)
Day 13: Trek to Tengboche (3,867m/12,687ft)
Day 14: Trek to Monjo (2,835m/9.301ft)
Day 15: Trek back to Lukla (2,850m/9,350ft)
Day 17: Flight to Kathmandu
Day 16: Relax day in Kathmandu
Day 17: Departure
This 17 days itinerary of the Everest Base Camp organized by Royal Himalayan Holidays is a standard format and can be made shorter or longer as per your own choice. Helicopter rides are available in this region and you can skip a great number of days by either opting for a ride to EBC or back to Lukla. In addition, many other trekking routes cross with the traditional Everest Base Camp trekking trail and you can prolong your stay by exploring some of these to further your experience!
What can you expect during the Everest Base Camp trek of 17 days?
The Everest Base Camp trek of 17 days takes place in the Everest region of Nepal where most of the inhabitants belong to the world-famous Sherpa people. Trekking through the region and following the Everest Base Camp trail you’ll be passing by many Sherpa villages with the biggest being Namche Bazaar. During the trek, you’ll be able to see their unique traditions and culture up close as well as enjoy the incredible views of Mt Everest and the Himalayas! Trekking through these stunning landscapes and reaching closer and closer to Mt Everest is the ultimate goal and while the view of Everest is not so clear from Base Camp itself, a short hike up to Kala Patthar 5,545m/18,192ft quickly remedies that. It is common to after visiting Everest Base Camp the next morning hike up this hill to view a spectacular sunrise view with Mt Everest in the backdrop! Royal Himalayan Holidays promises that you can expect to see incredible mountain views, have an adventure trekking on Himalayan trails, and see the Sherpa culture up-close during the Everest Base Camp trek of 17 days.
What is the recommended season for the Everest Base Camp trek?
The best recommended seasons to do the Everest Base Camp trek are during the high seasons of either fall/autumn or spring. During these seasons the views are most visible and the weather clear. While the fall/autumn season is a lot colder and has high chances of snowfalls the spring season has more animal activity as well as more flora, so it depends on your own preferences. During the monsoon season (June to the end of August) it’ll be impossible to do this trek.
The Gokyo Lake trek
While the Gokyo Lake trek does not head to Everest Base Camp it still is one of the most scenic treks in the entire Everest region. Instead of heading all the way north, the Gokyo Lake trek splits off from the traditional Everest Base Camp trail after Namche Bazaar and heads west. Inside the Gokyo Valley, there are 19 freshwater lakes and during this trek, you get to explore the biggest of them at 4,790m/15,715ft! Of course, you can opt to make this trek longer and explore all of them for the best experience in seeing high-altitude freshwater lakes. The main highlights of Royal Himalayan Holidays’ Gokyo Lake trek are passing by the largest glacier in Nepal stretching at a stunning 36km/22.4M, the Ngozumpa Glacier, a visit to Gokyo Lake, and a hike up to Gokyo Ri 5,360m/17,585ft from where 360° views of the entire Everest region can be seen as well as a breathtaking sunrise view.
The itinerary:
Day 01: Kathmandu arrival
Day 02: Trek briefing + KTM sightseeing
Day 03: Flight to Lukla + trek to Phakding (2,610m/8,563ft)
Day 04: Trek to Namche Bazaar (3,440m/11,286ft)
Day 05: Trek to Khumjung (3,786m/12,421ft)
Day 06: Khumjung acclimatization day
Day 07: Trek to Dhole (4,200m/13,779ft)
Day 08: Trek to Machhermo (4,470m/14,665ft)
Day 09: Trek to Gokyo (4,790m/15,715ft)
Day 10: Gokyo Ri (5,360m/17,585ft) Sunrise View + trek to Dhole (4,200m/13,779ft)
Day 11: Trek back to Namche Bazaar (3,440m/11,286ft)
Day 12: Trek back to Lukla (2,850m/9,350ft)
Day 13: Flight to Kathmandu
Day 14: Relax day in Kathmandu
Day 15: Departure
This 15 days itinerary is a standard format and of course, you can make this one longer, as the Gokyo Lake trek crosses other routes in the Everest region such as the challenging Three Pass EBC trek or the Gokyo Lake EBC via Cho La Pass trek which will be described further down as the last of the 5 best treks to see Mt Everest.
What can you expect during the Gokyo Lake trek of 15 days?
The Gokyo Lake trek is filled with nature and culture, trek through Sherpa settlements and witness their unique culture and traditions. After leaving Namche Bazaar 3,440m/11,286ft behind the trail heads west towards the Dudh Khosi River. Here more Himalayan fauna and flora can be seen as the river feeds the entire valley with life! You can expect to see incredible mountain views from the top of Gokyo Ri 5,360m/17,585ft such as; the Mahalangur Himalayan range along with Mt. Everest 8,848m/29,028ft, Mt Lhotse 8,516m/27,940ft, Mt Cho Oyu 8,188m/26,864ft, and Mt Makalu 8,485m/27,838ft! Of course, there are more mountains to be seen from here. Exploring Gokyo Lake is quite extraordinary as this world’s highest freshwater lake is filled with wonder and is a religious site for both Hindus and Buddhists. The trek itself is moderate with lots of ups and downs, and while the trails are properly maintained you can expect some struggle heading to Gokyo Lake, but not to worry as at every turn incredible and stunning views await of the Nepalese Himalayas!
What is the recommended season for the Gokyo Lake trek?
Similar to the Everest Base Camp trek it is recommended to trek to Gokyo Lake either during the fall/autumn or spring season. For those who can handle colder weather the fall/autumn season (Sep-Dec) would be ideal, while the weather can get freezing temperatures at night the days are clear and the skies are blue. During the spring season, it’s a bit warmer and more comfortable. If you don’t like crowded trails then trekking during the summer just before the monsoon season can also be recommended, but during the winter season, the trails can get unpassable resulting in a cancelation during the trek and heading back to Lukla.
