TREK ITINERARY
Gokyo Trek: April 1 – 20, 2018
Fly into Kathmandu on April 1. It should be warm and sunny. We will stay out at Kapan if possible, though the International Guesthouse on the very edge of Thamel is a possibility (perhaps for the last couple of nights). We will collect you from the airport. You make your own international arrangements. I will check your gear for the trek, we can then purchase/rent whatever is necessary in downtown Kathmandu the day before we trek. We will take a 16-seater aircraft up to Lukla at 2800m; an extremely exciting flight. First day's trekking is actually slightly downhill to Phakding at 2650m. Second and third days are similar duration through a winding river valley, ever upwards to Namche Bazaar at 3400m. We will stay just one night here as Thamo is almost identical altitude and just a couple of hours away. From Thamo the trekking becomes even more spectacular with a deep valley on our left and soaring peaks up ahead all day. Thame is around 4,000m and I would like to stay three nights. Great day walks and super acclimatisation. From there I am still researching options to Gokyo Lake. Over the Rinjo La which Dorje assures me has better views than Gokyo Ri. I will update the website soon, just wanted to get this 'out there'. Certainly, from Gokyo we will descend, quite gradually, via stunningly beautiful Machermo and Dole, to Phortse Tenga, you will have Thamserku, Kang Tenga and Ama Dablam in front of you all the way. There is a nasty little climb up to Mhong Danda but then the trek is a gentle downhill nearly all the way to Kangzuma, just a couple of hours short of Namche. Next day, we may reach Namche via Kumjung, depending on how we feel after the big trek. With just a couple of days left to trek it is easy and downhill almost all the way back to Lukla. I did say almost. Bit of a slog for the last half an hour. We will arrive in Lukla early afternoon but fly very early next morning. If our flight goes as planned, weather permitting, we should have two nights in Kathmandu for shopping, sightseeing, whatever. It is an amazing city; dirty and noisy but endlessly fascinating. We will make sure you see it all.
So, our actual itinerary should go something like this. As ever, please remember, these plans are not written in stone. We will adapt to conditions on the ground, the weather and our health.
Proposed Itinerary:
| DAY 1: April 1: | Arrive in Kathmandu from wherever. I will pick you up at the airport. Accommodation in a quiet guest house. Walk into Bouda stupa in the evening to see Buddhist throngs swirling around the stupa chanting as they spin their prayer wheels. Outdoor dining. |
| DAY 2: April 2: | Gear check before breakfast then into Thamel to buy any necessary items. Lunch in town and sightseeing as time permits. Evening Pre Trek Briefing. |
| DAY 3: April 3: | Early morning flight to Lukla 2840m Meet our porters there and then trek to Phakding 2610m. Gently up and down through a beautiful river valley. |
| DAY 4: April 4: | More stunning scenery as we follow the river from Phakding to Jorsale 2850m. Small villages of stone houses vegetable gardens and friendly people.Will be warm during the day with a fire at night. |
| DAY 5: April 5: | Steep climb up to Namche Bazaar 3440m. but just for about four hours. Namche is amazing, hard to describe, best see it for yourself. Lots of trekking shops, coffee bars, book shops, supermarkets, etc. Huge local market on Saturdays (Namche). Big lodge, hot showers, good menu. One night is enough though. |
| DAY 6: April 6: | Happy to leave the hustle and bustle of Namche for peace and tranquility of Thamo at a similar altitude. A lovely old stone village with a large nunnery, (ani gompa) Rooms are basic and cold but the dining room is cosy. Easy trek to get used to the altitude. |
| DAY 7: April 7: | Another beautiful day, gradually up all day, over a rushing river where we often see wild mountain goats, also, with luck, rhododendron and iris. Thame, 3800m, has the best outlook of any village I know. The lodge is comfortable (I had lunch there last April) We can relax for a couple of days without moving on. |
| DAY 8: April 8: | Rest day. We can trek over to the monastery, an hour away, or trek out towards Rolwaling, or just sit around, drinking tea and gazing at the peaks. Your call. |
| DAY 9: April 9: | If we are all in good shape we could go higher today, but I would like this to be a kind of 'reserve' day in case any of us is not handling the altitude, we could afford to wait: |
| DAY 10: April 10: | If we stayed another night at Thame, today we trek up to Summa Phug or Lungden 4600 m (4380 m on another map??). |
| DAY 11: April 11: | Summa Phug to Lungden or Gokyo Lake. All to be decided on the mountain. Over the pass (a bit over 5000 m) and down into Gokyo OR another night at altitude. Lets see. We have enough time. |
| DAY 12: April 12: | Up early to scale Gokyo Ri 5280m, if we want to then, after a very large breakfast, walk gradually downhill to Dole 4200 m. Every year we aim for Dole, every time we get snowed in at Machermo 4470 m. Let's see what happens. It is all very beautiful and rather easy trekking, well, apart from the 'death stairs'. Feeling good as we go lower. |
| DAY 13: April 13: | Probably trekking from Machermo. Could make it all the way but Phortse Tenga 3680 m is more likely, or Mhong Danda, just over 4000m. Never stayed on the Danda, could be beautiful. |
| DAY 14: April 14: | Phortse Tenga to Kangzuma 3450m. A lovely old wood-lined lodge with great owners, good food. Great trails and superb views all day. Happy at low altitude. |
| DAY 15: April 15: | Easy option is 2.5 hours on easy trail to Namche. Harder, but more interestingly, return to Namche via Kumjung, or even Kunde. Let's see how we feel. The first Ed Hilary school is in Kumjung. Back to big lodge, hot showers, etc. |
| DAY 16: April 16: | Nice easy relaxing day. Downhill all the way to Phakding 2610 m where we spent our first night on trek. Amazingly quick as a downhill trek, especially on our now strong trekking legs. |
| DAY 17: April 17: | Another nice easy day, though by now, some of you have had 'enough'. In Lukla for a late lunch perhaps. Time to stroll around the village in search of a pub and meet fellow trekkers on the street. North Face Resort, nice lodge, hot showers. |
| DAY 18: April 18: | Flight back to Kathmandu, early, weather permitting. No plans for the afternoon. Let's see if we fly or not. Resting, washing clothes, chilling out, all good options. |
| DAY 19: April 19: | Big day out in Kathmandu. You may want to shop for souvenirs. Clothes, trekking gear, hippy-shit, jewellery (real or cheap,) silk, cashmere, paintings, brassware, all kinds of wonderful. I can show you where I shop Big pizza dinner in town? |
| DAY 20: April 20: | Go Home. We will get you to the airport for your flight home. |
PRICE IS $3750 AUD which, as ever, includes EVERYTHING. All meals and soft drinks in Kathmandu and on trek, internal flights, trekking permits and INDIVIDUAL porters, properly clothed and insured, carrying just one pack each! Personally escorted by me. I am in Germany for the winter (LOVE!). Reach me on teresadb@hotmail.com or vonschwichtenberg@gmail.com.
YOU CAN DO THIS!!!!!
