3 Namche (in 3d)
A 16-day Trek to Gokyo-Ri & Lakes ... starting from Salleri & return via Lukla in Everest region, Nepal
Trek Day-05 - 18th Oct 2019 - Pakhepani to Cheplung
Trek Day-06 - 19th Oct 2019 - Cheplung to Monjo
Trek Day-07 - 20th Oct 2019 - Monjo to Namche Bazar
The Norbu Linkha Guest House at Chepplung . . . . . where I stayed on 18th Oct for 1 night
Trek Day-05 - 18th Oct 2019 - Pakhepani to Cheplung
Starting trek from Pakhepani at 7:40 AM going down steeply to the stream way below and crossing the bridge to reach Surkhey Village at 9:10AM. From Surkhey a long steady climb up, under a steady stream of flights coming into to land at Lukla above my head.
Bicharey Shreshta, my porter-guide ... as we descend towards Surkhe Village
Later passed the junction where the trail to Lukla demerges. Keeping straight and after 2.5 hours of steady climb reached the main trail from Lukla at Chepplung. Just a few Meters from there, found a nice looking Teahouse "Norbu Lingkha GH" run by a Sherpa-Lady. Decided to stay there for the day. Not many Guests at GH; surprising considering it was October, the most busy month for EBC trekkers. Had a Veg Sherpa Stew for dinner. Awesome atmospheric place Chepplung! In pic above, you can see the Sherpa owner lady sitting next to entry door.
Album of all pictures of this 1st day's Trek: G05
The front garden of Pakhepani GH ... looking towards Lukla and Dudh Kosi up valley
At Cheplung, looking back to the trail (R) coming in from Salleri (and Jiri) meets the left trail from Lukla ... the signpost says it all.
View towards Sagarmatha Entry Gate ... from front steps of my Monjo GH
Our Monjo GH front balcony .... fronting the main trail
Entering the Sagarmatha National Park .... at around 8:10AM
Trek Day-06 - 19th Oct 2019 - Cheplung to Monjo
Left Chepplung at 7:30 and walked along the familiar route that I have been on 3-4 times before. The Teahouse are many now and look well painted and maintained. The Sherpa families on this EBC route are making good money from the many Trekkers coming to see Everest. Passed Ghat, Phakding and stopped at Benkar for lunch around noon, in the Teahouse opposite the Waterfall Lodge where I stayed one time.
Our Lunch Stop Teahouse at Benkar
As I neared Monjo, I saw two Indians (Bengali's from Kolkata it turned out)
sitting at a tea shop drinking Tea. Talking to them I found out they were returning from the same GokyoTrek that I was planning to do.They had come out via Rhenjo-La pass and said the pass was OK and safe; though a bit Icy in parts at the top.
At Monjo just before Sagarmatha Entry gate found a guy giving a haircut to a local next to Teahouse. Needing a haircut myself I asked him if he would do that for me. He agreed and turned out he was the owner of that Teahouse and did haircuts for extra income! I stayed there in his GH and got a hair cut too. Bicharey my porter-guide took some pictures of that haircut on his phone! Sent Bicharey ahead to the Gate, to get me the Sagarmatha Permit for next day entry.
Album of all pictures of this 1st day's Trek: G06
Trek Day-07 -20th Oct 2019 Monjo to Namche Bazar
We left Monjo Lodge at 8:00AM and went through the Sagarmatha Gate and climbed down thereafter and crossed the river bridge to other side to enter Jorasale. Had breakfast there and continued along the river bed for sometime. Soon reached the newly built staircase climbing all the way upto the Upper level new Suspension Hillary Bridge at 9:30 AM.
Crossing that and climbing for another hour and half reached the midway rest-stop. No luck as Everest was not visible from here today.. Continued on to reach Namche Bazar at Noon. Went up the central steps to my previous stay teahouse "Mountain Dreams GH" and checked in. Dal-bhat lunch at 1:30 PM and then for a nap in my Room 204.
Album of all pictures of this 1st day's Trek: G07
The Mountain Dreams Lodge - entry to right - narrow steps in Namche
Daywise Itinerary (Actual):
Gokyo Trek October-2019
12OCT Day-1 Flight Mumbai (01:00) Kathmandu (05:00) Trek/guide arrangements
13OCT Day-2 Share Jeep Kathmandu (04:30) to Salleri (16:00)
14OCT Day-3 Share Jeep to Ringmo & Trek Start (10:00) to Nunthala (14:00)
15OCT Day-4 Trek Nunthala (07:00) to Khari-Khola (13:30)
16OCT Day-5 Trek Khari-Khola (07:15) to Tham-Danda (11:50)
17OCT Day-6 Trek Tham-Danda (07:30) to Pakhepani (11:30)
18OCT Day-7 Trek Pakhepani (07:40) to Chepplung (12:40)
19OCT Day-8 Trek Chepplung (07:35) to Monjo (14:00)
20OCT Day-9 Trek Monjo (08:00) to Namche (12:10)
21OCT Day-10 Trek Namche (07:40) to Mong-La (12:00)
22OCT Day-11 Trek Mong-La (07:30) to Dole (12:30)
23OCT Day-11 Trek Dole (07:30) to Macherma (11:30)
24OCT Day-12 Macherma Rest Weather Snowy Trek to both side Ridges
25OCT Day-13 Trek Macherma (07:30) to Gokyo (12:00)
26OCT Day-14 Trek Gokyo (10:15) to Gokyo-Ri (13:45) back to Gokyo (16:00)
27OCT Day-15 Trek Gokyo (08:00) to Machermo (12:00)
28OCT Day-15 Trek Machermo (07:45) to Mong-La (15:00)
29OCT Day-16 Trek Mong-La (07:45) to Namche (11:00)
30OCT Day-17 Trek Namche (08:00) Benkar Lunch 2Hrs to Phakding (15:00)
31OCT Day-18 Trek Phakding (08:15) to Lukla (12:45)
01NOV Day-19 Flight Lukla (08:30) KTM (09:05)
02NOV Day-20 Flight Kathmandu to Mumbai via Delhi