Trekking to Mt. Everest Base Camp in Nepal is one of the great walking adventures in the world. But there is more than one way to get there.

Most people take what we will call the Standard Route. There is another, more difficult route called the Gokyo Lakes So let’s do a simple comparison of the Gokyo Lakes and Standard routes to Everest Base Camp.

Summary:

The Gokyo Lakes Route is simply a diversion — a tough but very scenic diversion — from the Standard Route. The first three and a half days are the same on each trek. Same for the last several days. But from the middle of Day 4 through Day 9 the Gokyo Route follows a different valley to an additional viewpoint, then connects back over to the Standard Route via a long and difficult pass called the Cho La.

Time:

The Standard Route should be done in 12 to 14 days. Leave about three more days than that for Gokyo.

Distance:

The Standard Route is about 80 miles round trip; Gokyo adds about 20 miles to that.

Advantages to the Standard Route:

It’s shorter and easier, and its villages get more visitors and therefore have more services.

Advantages to the Gokyo Lakes Route:

You see fewer people and experience an entirely new valley you wouldn’t otherwise see. And in that valley you will see magnificent lakes, another set of peaks, and a second high viewpoint in addition to Kalapatthar near Base Camp.

Disadvantages of Gokyo Lakes:

It is longer and more difficult, in particular in that it adds a second high viewpoint and a long, difficult day over the Cho La.

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