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Trekking is not just about walking through the trails for days and days, but it is about making new memories, exploring culture, exploring the lifestyles, feeling the nature and viewing the world through your prospective. There are many amazing treks you can find to explore Nepal among them Everest Base Camp catches the eye of every trekkers all around the world due to its landscapes and amazing mountains including Mount Everest. Although Gokyo Valley Trek falls under an underrated trekking destination this trek holds beauty that equalizes Everest Base Camp Trek.
Trekking Culture in Nepal
Nepal is home to towering peaks it have been a culture to do trekking just to explore Nepal. For locals and tourist, trekking means exploring the culture and lifestyles of people living in mountain region, getting to know about Buddhism and Hindu culture, exploring beauty and nature through long day of walk to feel achievement. Trekking becomes satisfactory when you put your mind and heart to it. For the first time trekkers it will be hard to pull off the routes but as the time goes by you will get the hang of environment and the trials offered by mountain region.
What is Gokyo Valley Trek?
Gokyo valley trek is a peaceful alternative for trekkers, this trekking destination is less visited nestle on the land of Everest region. Gokyo is home to the Nepal’s largest Glacier Ngozumpa. Trek to Gokyo valley is experiencing the beauty that lies in turquoise lakes, white towering mountain and green pine forest. Even though this valley is less visited it offers the beauty that equalize Everest Base Camp trek. Reaching to Gokyo Ri (5360 meters) and enjoying the panoramic views of mountains touching the sky is the achievement to feel in Gokyo Valley. Gokyo Summit is surrounded by four amazing mountains like Everest, Lhotse, Makalu and Cho Oyu.
What is Everest Base Camp Trek?
Everest Base Camp gains popularity among tourist and locals this trek greets you with world’s highest peak Everest (8848.86 meter). Setting your foot on the world’s highest peak is itself an achievement. With the beauty of Sherpa culture, prayer flags and stunning villages like Lukla, Namche Bazaar, Teongboche, and Gorakshep this trek is unforgettable. Not only Everest this trek offers you with the views of mountains like Lhotse, Nuptse, Ama Dablam and many more. Watching sunset or sunrise view from Kala Pathhar (5545 meters) is the most thing you should try. Most of the time this trek is booked by many travelers so getting your hands on tickets will be tough.
What Trek to Choose? Gokyo Valley or Everest Base Camp
Gokyo Valley and Everest Base Camp trek 14 days trip serves the natural beauty that exactly satisfy your heart. These two trek are very different from each other. From the Mountain View to the landscapes everything is different. But there is one thing that connects EBC and Gokyo Valley and that is your love for trekking. If you go through cultural aspects its very similar most of the residence in these valley are Sherpa people.
Everest Base Camp is a classical trekking experience, so most of the peak seasons this trek is packed with nature and trekking lovers. Chances of getting a good accommodation is less. Meanwhile Gokyo Valley is a less visited trek also known as a peace alternative, expect less crowd and good accommodation facilities. There are two prospective while choosing a right trekking destination. In this blog we will explore GokyoValley trek and some reasons why you should choose Gokyo Valley over EBC.
A Peace Seeking Alternative
Gokyo Valley is less affected by crowds. Getting to the track of Gokyo Valley feels like walking on a peaceful roads where you can hear nature and air. Walking in silence, undisturbed trekking, easy booking accommodation and peaceful mornings is a blessing that Gokyo serves you. While Everest Base Camp is crowded which affects your trekking experience. If you want a peaceful trekking experience then GokyoValley Trek is perfect alternative for you.
Zone that Feels Spiritual and Mountain Interior
Gokyo Valley can be described as the interior of Everest region. This place is decorated by one of the four tallest mountain in the world Everest, Lhotse, Makalu and Cho Oyu. A turquoise lake surrounded by mountain peak is a view that EBC doesn’t offers you. Dhudh Pokhari beside the towering peak Cho Oyu is a photogenic view Gokyo Offers you. Dhudh Pokhari holds a significance importance to Hindu and BuddhistCommunity. Trekking around the lake feels like a walk that cleanse your soul.
Unforgettable Trek to Gokyo Ri and Panoramic View
Everest Base Camp offers you view if Mount Everest but it is not as clear as you think it will be just to get the glimpse of MT Everest you have to trek to Kala Pathhar which is not easy, meanwhile Gokyo Ri(5360 meters) offers you a slightly better panoramic views of mountains like Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, Cho Oyu and many more. Even though climb to Gokyo Ri is tiring and difficult, reward after you reach to the top is unmatched.
Moderate Altitude, Less Stress of Altitude
Gokyo Valley Trek offers you with better acclimatization time frame than Everest Base Camp allowing your body to get the hang of altitude, making your trek free of stress from altitude. This trek is also fit for first time trekkers. Above 5000 meters there is still the risk of altitude but the structure of the route is so ease, it gives your body time to adjust with the surrounding. You can rest or even trek at your own speed in Gokyo Trek as there is less crowd. You don’t have to pressurize yourself.
Crossing Jaw Dropping Submit: The Renjo La Pass
Rejon La Pass, a challenging yet rewarding submit in Gokyo Valley located at the altitude of 5360 meters offers you with the jaw dropping view of Gokyo Thame Valley from the submit. Adventure begins from the routes and ends with beauty. Rugged and undeveloped roads in Rejon La Pass make this trek adventurous very different than Everest Base Camp. Views and the adventure is unmated and cannot be severed exactly same by Everest Base Camp Trek.
Quite, Authentic, and Welcoming Cultural Experience
Crossing the authentic Sherpa Village through Gokyo routes is itself an introduction to the Sherpa culture and traditions. Fewer trekkers means more connecting chance with the local people, knowledge in Gokyo pass routes is full. Underrated villages like Dole, Machhermo, and Gokyo have so much to offer you. Rather than the popular Namche Bazaar and Gorakshep trying new village will let you explore the trading system, valuesand the lifestyle of Sherpa people from different mountain lands.
Adventure to the Largest Glacier Ngozumpa
Ngozumpa the largest glacier in Nepal, offers you a feeling of adventure only Gokyo Valley serves you. Youwon’t get a chance explore Ngozumpa Glacier in Everest Base Camp Trek. Change of transparent water to sky color reflecting mountain peaks is the major highlight of Gokyo Valley Trek. Crossing this massive ice water glacier is once in a life time experience.
Flexibility to Combine with Everest Base Camp or Any Other Treks
Gokyo Valley Trek is flexible trek, if you want to explore both Gokyo valley and Everest Base Camp Trek or don’t want to miss out on classic trek to Everest Base Camp, Gokyo gives you an opportunity to combine both treks in one. Cho La Pass that connects two valley is a route that serves you to explore both Everest Base Camp Trek and Gokyo Valley Trek. Combination of both treks offers you journey of calm and quietness and classic journey to world’s highest peak Everest.
Photography Opportunities
Gokyo valley is full of life from the contrast mountain view to the untouched glacier view. Routes to Rejon La Pass, an adventurous journey is photo worthy. Undeveloped roads are instagram worthy. Mountain views from Gokyo Ri gives your photography life. This journey can be a wing for you to fly travelling photography dream. From the start to the end Gokyo Valley is a photo worthy trekking destination. Getting a clear photograph of MT Everest from Everest Base Camp might be tough but Gokyo Valley let you click the clear picture of Mt Everest. You will return back with the pictures which are social media worthy.
Conclusion
Gokyo Valley Trek may be better trekking option for you, this journey not stops at Gokyo Valley it can extend to can also extend toEverest Base Camp Trek. Gokyo Valley is an underrated trek but the exploring opportunity it offers you is more than EBC trek. Gokyo not only offers you with the dramatic mountain views but also with the largest glacier. Trek to this valley is great for first time trekkers as well. Talking about trekking patterns, this trek offers you with highly competitive trails to easy trails. If you are seeking for adventure in peace and nature then Gokyo Valley Trek is best fit for you. Let’s connect with peace and adventure, and explore Gokyo Valley.
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