Gorakshep to Everest Base Camp and Kalapathar

The Everest Base Camp Trek is the ultimate walking adventure to do in Nepal. The journey to the foothill of the world’s tallest mountains like the Mt. Everest (8848.86 m) and the Mt. Lhotse (8516 m) can never be dull! It is indeed the most coveted journey for all across the globe. I think it is the most kept bucket list things to do in life. Therefore, today’s blog is about the most important activity to do during the Everest Base Camp Trek. It is about the journey from the Gorakshep to Everest Base Camp and Kalapathar. Note down that the section is the final stretch of the Everest Base Camp Trek. You must know about this section to boost the success rate of the EBC Trek in Nepal.

People often talk big and vague while discussing about the Everest Base Camp Trek. Yes, the things like the altitude sickness, availability of facilities (food, accommodation, internet, water, electricity, etc.), cost, and season are important. However, you should also know about the places that you trek during the journey. Therefore, this blogger is trying to provide information about the last place on the Everest Base Camp Trek via the blog “Gorakshep to Everest Base Camp and Kalapathar”.

Interesting Facts about Gorakshep Village Everest

As mentioned above, the village of Gorakshep is crucial for a successful Everest Base Camp Trek. The village is at the crossroad between the iconic Kalapathar Hill (5545 m) and the majestic Everest Base Camp (5364 m). These two places are the icons of the Everest Base Camp Trekking journey.

Before we delve deeper into finding the details of the journey from Gorakshep to Everest Base Camp to Kalapathar, let’s know some of the interesting facts about the Gorakshep Village Everest. The village is located in the Solukhumbu district’s Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality. There are two ways to reach the village either by trekking or by helicopter flight. If you are taking the trekking option to reach the village, then you have start the trek from Lukla and traverse through places like Namche Bazaar, Tengboche, Dingboche, and Lobuche. Flights also take off from Lukla!

Now, let’s know in brief about the interesting facts about the Gorakshep Village Everest.

Original Everest Base Camp in 1950’s

During 1950’s the Gorakshep village used to be the Everest Base Camp. The place was made famous by the Swiss Climbers back in 1952’s when the team of expedition camped on the shores of the glacier lake. As the glacier melted, the base camp shifted further towards the present location. Climbers had to do tough rotations before the Everest Expedition and the location of the base camp in Gorakshep took lots of time for climbers. Therefore, people shifted the Everest Base Camp from Gorakshep to just below the Khumbu Ice Fall which is the current location. Even if it is no longer the base camp, the village acts as the lifeline to the climbers stationed in the Everest Base Camp for their mountain expeditions.

Last Stop Place during Everest Base Camp Trek

Trekkers stop at the Gorakshep Village and rest before embarking to the Everest Base Camp (5364 m). They refuel and revamp their energy for one final push to the final destination of the Everest Base Camp Trek journey. Similarly, the Everest Three High Passes Trek, the EBC Chola Pass Trek, the Island Peak Climbing, and the Lobuche Peak Climbing all have to make a stop at the Gorakshep Village at least one night. Therefore, it is famously known as the last stop place. Trekkers leave their baggage in the village and head towards the Everest Base Camp.

One of the highest settlements in the world

Lots of journals and articles on internet state that the village of La Rinconada of Peru is the highest settlement village in the world situated at an altitude of 5100 m above sea level. However, the height of the Gorakshep Village is 5164 m. You can claim this village as the highest village but in terms of large human population/settlement, Dho Tarap Village of Nepal wins over all which is situated at an altitude of 4900 m even if there are other places above this altitude. All the highest situated villages listed on internet besides Nepal are mainly the mining villages which are temporary settlements. Note down that the Gorakshep Village has people living there permanently.

Dried Glacial Lake Bed

The village lies in the sand and rocks surface on the banks of the dried glacial lake in the foothills of Kalapathar besides the Khumbu glacier. The terrain is ice desert with no vegetation and flat rocky sandy surface.

Place of Dead Ravens

The word Gorakshep translates to the place of dead ravens. It is due to the extreme temperature and terrain where normal life like in the lower elevation places is not possible. The thin air with low oxygen density makes it hard for life to sustain freely.

Gorakshep to Everest Base Camp and Kalapathar

Let’s know in brief about Gorakshep to Everest Base Camp and Kalapathar in terms of difficulty, distance, and significance.

Trek to Everest Base Camp from Gorakshep

The distance between the Gorakshep Village and the Everest Base Camp is about 3.5 kilometers. It takes about 2 to 3 hours for trekkers to reach the base camp and they have to walk through the rugged trail full of boulders and rocks. They have to walk through the glacier which can be difficult and the increased in the elevation also makes it hard for the trekkers even if there are no steep uphill or downhill sections.

Kalapathar Hike for Sunrise View

Trekkers have to trek for about 2 hours to reach the top of the Kalapathar Hill (5545 m). The hiking distance from the Gorakshep Village to Kalapathar is about 1.5 kilometers but the steep climbing makes it hard for the trekkers. Interestingly, the sight of the mountains shining in the first morning sunrays can be so enticing allowing you to forget all the trekking tiredness.