Fantastic video. I love watching these journeys while I'm waiting to go back in February for the forth time to Nepal. The mountains keep calling you back. 👍
Thanks for the comment and I'm glad you enjoyed. You are so lucky to be going in February. Enjoy! Our trip was supposed to be a "one off" but we are thinking of heading back. Such a wonderful place 🙏
Great video! My wife and I did nearly the same trek a few years ago with Life Himalaya. We always look back and are so happy with making the choice of going up Gokyo Valley instead of the traditional EBC trek, the views from Gokyo Ri alone were worth the extra effort. It was also funny when we hit the intersection with the other trekkers on their way to basecamp, they were exhausted from the altitude, and we were feeling great having been up Gokyo Ri and over Cho La Pass for some real acclimitization.
Hey.. Thanks for watching my video and commenting. I hope it brought back good memories for you!! I never mentioned effects of altitude in the video becaue in all honesty we both were fine. No headaches or anything just a little shortness of breath. Like you said I put this down to the extended route and twice heading over 5000 metres and back down (Gokyo Ri and Cho La Pass) before getting to base camp. It certainly felt a little claustrophobic once we merged in with the crowds at Lobuche so I was so glad we chose the Gokyo route. In fact the only thing I would have changed would be an extra day at Gokyo because I thought the place was stunning!
Lovely video. I have been back in the Himalayan over the last three years after a hiatus of 30 years - Annapurna and Manaslu Circuits in 2021 and 2022, and in 2023 went back to the Khumbu with my wife and 23 year old daughter following the same route as you guys ( with extra nights in Namche and Gokyo, and a stay at Dragnak) …….. last time I was in the Khumbu was to climb Cholatse and Pumori (separate trips) in the very early 90’s. A lot of change since then, but still the Gokyo/Cho La trek is one of the best in the World. Well done to you guys …….
Thanks for commenting on my video. Hope it brought back good memories of your own trip.. I wish I would have took longer. We compressed Namche and I was desperate to spend longer at Gokyo. We always said that EBC via Gokyo would be our one trip to the Himalayas but now that we are back home I just have to go back. Maybe a different area like Annapurna.. BTW What an amazing feat to climb Cholatse and Pumori.. I will never forget how Pumori domintated the view when climbing Kala Patthar. It looked amazing!!!
The name 'Chola' is after Tamil Nadu's 'Chola' dynasty Emperor Karikalan. More than 2000 kms separate these two places and it is also going back to more than 2000 years of history, during Lord Buddha's life time. Unbelievable! But the Chola Range and Chola Pass stand as rock-solid proof for Karikalan's achievements.
Wonderful video thank you so much. Funnily enough I was just 2 days behind you, arriving at Gokyo from Phortse (which takes you along the trail on the opposite side of the valley to Dole and Machermo) My journey ended at Gokyo as I had walked in from Jiri 16 days earlier so it was great to see footage of the Cho La. Huge few days for you with Machermo to Gokyo 4th Lake, then up Gokyo Ri and onto the other village, then over Cho La, then Kala Pattar. Wow. Were you carrying your own gear? Would you have done anything differently?
Hey! Thanks for watching my video and for the lovely feedback. Just checked out your hike on a map from Jiri and that looks epic.. I suspect you got lots of time away from the crowds on that hike? Our hike was amazing and it was great to reach EBC but in all honesty that was a little of an anti-climax after Gokyo and Cho La Pass. We did not carry our own gear on this trip but if I was to return (which I hope to one day) I would do something more obscure away from the crowds. Maybe something less structured where I just had a rucksack and took it day by day.. Regarding, what would I have done different.. Definitely would have took a couple of extra days at Gokyo and explored that area. It was amazing!! :)
Thanks v much for your reply. Yes, I sensed it had been a bit of a wrench for you leaving Gokyo. Such an incredible place.hey? I was last in Gokyo 27 years earlier and had promised myself, I would return. The village had changed a lot, 27 years ago, there was one small lodge! The other big change was that the glacier has melted, so that was a bit sad, but the view from the top of Gokyo is still of course utterly sublime. I loved your footage of the Cho La Pass And wonder if it was tougher than the hike up to Gokyo Ri? The Walk in from Jiri was super special although I got lost frequently as road construction has destroyed a lot of the old trails. It certainly quiet in terms of trekkers - I had the whole trial to myself for the first week Then it became a super highway around Lukla so it was good to peel off to Gokyo. Again thanks for your beautiful videos, so much work must’ve gone into making them!
I really enjoyed Cho La Pass. As the elevation was similar to Gokyo Ri then the effort was also similar. There is an initial climb from the teahouse then a small descent and then the final ascent to the actual pass. It is this last section that is the steepest but there are fixed wires to hold onto. We had perfect conditions; cloudless sky and no wind. Would have been a bit grim if it had been wet and windy! When I go back, I will definitely do a trip similar to yours which is totally off the beaten track :)
Really liked your video and you did a great job of documenting each day. I am planning on doing the same trek this season. Probably the first week in April and wondering if Gokyo Lake will be melted out. I am also contemplating using a low-cut shoe with some gaiters and noticed your partner had low cut shoes. How did that work for her? Did she wish she had a shoe with more stability? Did you ever suffer from super cold feet or frostbite?
Thanks for watching my video and I hope it has helped you envisage what is in store. You will not be disappointed. I was also hoping for Gokyo Lake to be totally melted out but that was not the case. It was still amazing though. Our guide said when it melts is dependent upon how cold and long Winter had been. It was melting around the edges when we went (late March) so there is a good chance if you go in April then it will be fully melted. Regarding shoes, we both wore low cut shoes rather than boots. The shoes we had were 'Approach Shoes' with firm soles and we had no issues with debris entering or stability. In all honesty, the trek is pretty straight-forward with minimal loose rock/scree to contend with. Whilst it was cold at altitude, we never had any issues with very cold feet. I just wore thick thermal socks and all was good. Enjoy the trip, it is a spectacular route!!
Thanks for watching my video. I am sure you will have an amazing time on the trek, it is epic 😀Regarding the software, the maps were created in Adobe After Effects using a mapping plugin called GEOlayers3, Hope that helps and have a super trip!
Great video, I enjoyed watching. I am doing the same route in March / April this year. Could I ask what camera you used for the stills? I use a Nikon Z50 with 18-140mm but wondering if smaller and lighter may be better for this trip. Was charging batteries easy at the tea house?
Thanks for watching my video and for taking the time to comment.. The route is amazing and I am sure you will have a great time. The Gokyo diversion is away from the hordes so really peaceful. The majority of the stills were taken with my iPhone 15 and the rest were with the GoPro I filmed the video with. I then did a little editing in Adobe Lightroom. Lot's of people had 'proper' camera equipment and I suspect you will get some amazing shots with your set up. I had no issues charging my camera gear. I took three power banks with me but only had to use them at Gorak Shep. Everywhere else had power in the room. Hope you have an amazing trip!
Thanks for the response. I think I may try and take my son’s GoPro for this trip as well if I can juggle the weight limits, amazing quality. This trip has been on my bucket list for over 30 yrs so now is the time to go.
Hi! Thanks for the great video. My wife and I are planning on this route. Probably November. We are mid 50’s and in pretty good shape. Wife and 14yr done been to EBC once already. I hope you can answer a couple of questions please! You had no acclimatisation days?? Impressive. Do you think this is because of the Gokyo route and sleeping lower than the days accent? What are you wearing on/over your boots on the snow sections? I see Marie used poles but you didn’t - any reasons? Thanks!
Hi, thanks for watching my video. We were supposed to acclimatise at Namche Bazaar but due to our flight being delayed we decided to compress this into day two. We had no issues with acclimatising apart from the usual mild symptoms and as you said I think this was because the Gokyo route takes you up high then drops you back down (Gokyo Ri, Chola Pass). However if I had more time then I would have taken an extra day but would have done this at Gokyo as it was a stunning place and I would have liked to explore that area more. For the glacier section after Cho La Pass we wore a pair of 'Microspikes' (kahtoola.com/traction/microspikes-footwear-traction/?srsltid=AfmBOooNb6zLnulOGyZ6nyb9R45A6g6JBj_MJ0RLCIpU-6vUtF9pSfDp). Maire also wore them on the ascent of Gokyo Ri. I did have poles but most of the time I had a camera in my hand so they were collapsed in my pack or carried in my other hand.. This is an amazing route and I felt a little claustrophobic once we joined the main EBC path later on in the trip so if you like plenty of time on your own then this will suit you perfectly. I am sure you will have an amazing time :)
Hiii thank you for amazing video. I have a question, did you have a porter and a guide? How much did it cost?? And how much was the cost for hotel? Appreciate
Yes we had a guide and porter. Here is the link to our trip. This provides information and costs lifehimalayatrekking.com/gokyo-chola-and-ebc-trek.html
Hi, very nice video you got here. May I know you the extra $800+ you paid for the helicopter ride to Lukla was it for per person? What camera are you using for this video? Thank you in advance!
Hi there.. Thanks for watching the video. Regarding the helicopter flight; Three of us shared the helicopter. the $800 was for myself and Maire. The helicopter company also got the refund from the flight. I think that was $400. I am not sure how much the third person paid but assuming it was the same as us then another $600 so $1800 in total. Our trip included the helicopter out fortunately but a lot of people were on a tight schedule trying to get back out and i was told the price of a helicopter from Gorakshep had shot up to over $3000!!!
@@johnchye1313 Apologies for missing this - 99% of the video was shot with goPro Hero11.. I also did a few shots with an inta360 camera and my iPhone but only a couple of shots from them made the video
Do you require to carry and use crampons/microspikes and/or ice-axe for the Cho La Pass ? I am considering the Gokyo Ri to EBC trek, but dont have any hiking-on-snow/ice experience.
Most people carry microspikes for the traverse of the Glacier section after Cho La Pass.. It is not technical and no experience is required. Certainly do not let this put you off this epic trek :)
Great video. Are they actually having that stupid sign there in front of the base camp rock? I have no words to express how disappointed i would be to go there and find this idiotic thing obscuring the view.
The actual rock has toppled over but I agree with you that the choice of location for the sign is poor. It was a topic of significant conversation by everyone at Gorak Shep and divided opinion. The highlight for me was Gokyo Ri and Cho La Pass so I was not too bothered 😊
What a sport…poor porters carrying ,others just watching and enjoying…ırish pub etc… thats not what it suppose to be…that just destroy culture,environment…its like spoiling,abusing
I must say this video is the best I’ve seen on trekking EBC
Thank you so much for that feedback. Glad you enjoyed the video :)
Fantastic video. I love watching these journeys while I'm waiting to go back in February for the forth time to Nepal. The mountains keep calling you back. 👍
Thanks for the comment and I'm glad you enjoyed. You are so lucky to be going in February. Enjoy! Our trip was supposed to be a "one off" but we are thinking of heading back. Such a wonderful place 🙏
I really enjoyed your vlog and trek. Excellent videography and great commentary. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you so much for your comments. Glad you enjoyed
Thank you for sharing this absolutely amazing video!
Wawow adventuring Himalayas 🎉🎉🎉🎉😅
Absolutely amazing film that big lad loved it , what an experience for you both. Scenery , commentary and everything about it was just brilliant.
Cheers Big Lad. Glad you enjoyed. The video does not do justice to how immense those mountains are.. It is a amazing area to hike
well come to Nepal
Amazing documentary !!! Thank you.
Great video! My wife and I did nearly the same trek a few years ago with Life Himalaya. We always look back and are so happy with making the choice of going up Gokyo Valley instead of the traditional EBC trek, the views from Gokyo Ri alone were worth the extra effort. It was also funny when we hit the intersection with the other trekkers on their way to basecamp, they were exhausted from the altitude, and we were feeling great having been up Gokyo Ri and over Cho La Pass for some real acclimitization.
Hey.. Thanks for watching my video and commenting. I hope it brought back good memories for you!! I never mentioned effects of altitude in the video becaue in all honesty we both were fine. No headaches or anything just a little shortness of breath. Like you said I put this down to the extended route and twice heading over 5000 metres and back down (Gokyo Ri and Cho La Pass) before getting to base camp. It certainly felt a little claustrophobic once we merged in with the crowds at Lobuche so I was so glad we chose the Gokyo route. In fact the only thing I would have changed would be an extra day at Gokyo because I thought the place was stunning!
Lovely video. I have been back in the Himalayan over the last three years after a hiatus of 30 years - Annapurna and Manaslu Circuits in 2021 and 2022, and in 2023 went back to the Khumbu with my wife and 23 year old daughter following the same route as you guys ( with extra nights in Namche and Gokyo, and a stay at Dragnak) …….. last time I was in the Khumbu was to climb Cholatse and Pumori (separate trips) in the very early 90’s. A lot of change since then, but still the Gokyo/Cho La trek is one of the best in the World. Well done to you guys …….
Thanks for commenting on my video. Hope it brought back good memories of your own trip.. I wish I would have took longer. We compressed Namche and I was desperate to spend longer at Gokyo. We always said that EBC via Gokyo would be our one trip to the Himalayas but now that we are back home I just have to go back. Maybe a different area like Annapurna.. BTW What an amazing feat to climb Cholatse and Pumori.. I will never forget how Pumori domintated the view when climbing Kala Patthar. It looked amazing!!!
हर हर महादेव ❤❤❤
Absolutely beautiful
Thank you! 😊
The name 'Chola' is after Tamil Nadu's 'Chola' dynasty Emperor Karikalan. More than 2000 kms separate these two places and it is also going back to more than 2000 years of history, during Lord Buddha's life time. Unbelievable! But the Chola Range and Chola Pass stand as rock-solid proof for Karikalan's achievements.
Stunning visuals! The landscapes are so beautifully shot. Can’t wait to see more! sub & 👍19
love from nepal
This is awesome 🩵
Well com Nepal
Wonderful video thank you so much. Funnily enough I was just 2 days behind you, arriving at Gokyo from Phortse (which takes you along the trail on the opposite side of the valley to Dole and Machermo) My journey ended at Gokyo as I had walked in from Jiri 16 days earlier so it was great to see footage of the Cho La. Huge few days for you with Machermo to Gokyo 4th Lake, then up Gokyo Ri and onto the other village, then over Cho La, then Kala Pattar. Wow. Were you carrying your own gear? Would you have done anything differently?
Hey! Thanks for watching my video and for the lovely feedback. Just checked out your hike on a map from Jiri and that looks epic.. I suspect you got lots of time away from the crowds on that hike? Our hike was amazing and it was great to reach EBC but in all honesty that was a little of an anti-climax after Gokyo and Cho La Pass. We did not carry our own gear on this trip but if I was to return (which I hope to one day) I would do something more obscure away from the crowds. Maybe something less structured where I just had a rucksack and took it day by day.. Regarding, what would I have done different.. Definitely would have took a couple of extra days at Gokyo and explored that area. It was amazing!! :)
Thanks v much for your reply. Yes, I sensed it had been a bit of a wrench for you leaving Gokyo. Such an incredible place.hey? I was last in Gokyo 27 years earlier and had promised myself, I would return. The village had changed a lot, 27 years ago, there was one small lodge! The other big change was that the glacier has melted, so that was a bit sad, but the view from the top of Gokyo is still of course utterly sublime. I loved your footage of the Cho La Pass And wonder if it was tougher than the hike up to Gokyo Ri? The Walk in from Jiri was super special although I got lost frequently as road construction has destroyed a lot of the old trails. It certainly quiet in terms of trekkers - I had the whole trial to myself for the first week Then it became a super highway around Lukla so it was good to peel off to Gokyo. Again thanks for your beautiful videos, so much work must’ve gone into making them!
I really enjoyed Cho La Pass. As the elevation was similar to Gokyo Ri then the effort was also similar. There is an initial climb from the teahouse then a small descent and then the final ascent to the actual pass. It is this last section that is the steepest but there are fixed wires to hold onto. We had perfect conditions; cloudless sky and no wind. Would have been a bit grim if it had been wet and windy! When I go back, I will definitely do a trip similar to yours which is totally off the beaten track :)
Really liked your video and you did a great job of documenting each day. I am planning on doing the same trek this season. Probably the first week in April and wondering if Gokyo Lake will be melted out.
I am also contemplating using a low-cut shoe with some gaiters and noticed your partner had low cut shoes. How did that work for her? Did she wish she had a shoe with more stability? Did you ever suffer from super cold feet or frostbite?
Thanks for watching my video and I hope it has helped you envisage what is in store. You will not be disappointed. I was also hoping for Gokyo Lake to be totally melted out but that was not the case. It was still amazing though. Our guide said when it melts is dependent upon how cold and long Winter had been. It was melting around the edges when we went (late March) so there is a good chance if you go in April then it will be fully melted.
Regarding shoes, we both wore low cut shoes rather than boots. The shoes we had were 'Approach Shoes' with firm soles and we had no issues with debris entering or stability. In all honesty, the trek is pretty straight-forward with minimal loose rock/scree to contend with. Whilst it was cold at altitude, we never had any issues with very cold feet. I just wore thick thermal socks and all was good. Enjoy the trip, it is a spectacular route!!
@@go_explore This helps and I really appreciate you taking the time to answer!
Love your video thanks, I am doing EBC next march. Can I asked you what software you used to show trek animation on your video
Thanks for watching my video. I am sure you will have an amazing time on the trek, it is epic 😀Regarding the software, the maps were created in Adobe After Effects using a mapping plugin called GEOlayers3, Hope that helps and have a super trip!
Great video, I enjoyed watching. I am doing the same route in March / April this year. Could I ask what camera you used for the stills? I use a Nikon Z50 with 18-140mm but wondering if smaller and lighter may be better for this trip. Was charging batteries easy at the tea house?
Thanks for watching my video and for taking the time to comment.. The route is amazing and I am sure you will have a great time. The Gokyo diversion is away from the hordes so really peaceful. The majority of the stills were taken with my iPhone 15 and the rest were with the GoPro I filmed the video with. I then did a little editing in Adobe Lightroom. Lot's of people had 'proper' camera equipment and I suspect you will get some amazing shots with your set up. I had no issues charging my camera gear. I took three power banks with me but only had to use them at Gorak Shep. Everywhere else had power in the room. Hope you have an amazing trip!
Thanks for the response. I think I may try and take my son’s GoPro for this trip as well if I can juggle the weight limits, amazing quality. This trip has been on my bucket list for over 30 yrs so now is the time to go.
Hi! Thanks for the great video. My wife and I are planning on this route. Probably November. We are mid 50’s and in pretty good shape. Wife and 14yr done been to EBC once already.
I hope you can answer a couple of questions please! You had no acclimatisation days?? Impressive. Do you think this is because of the Gokyo route and sleeping lower than the days accent?
What are you wearing on/over your boots on the snow sections?
I see Marie used poles but you didn’t - any reasons?
Thanks!
Hi, thanks for watching my video. We were supposed to acclimatise at Namche Bazaar but due to our flight being delayed we decided to compress this into day two. We had no issues with acclimatising apart from the usual mild symptoms and as you said I think this was because the Gokyo route takes you up high then drops you back down (Gokyo Ri, Chola Pass). However if I had more time then I would have taken an extra day but would have done this at Gokyo as it was a stunning place and I would have liked to explore that area more. For the glacier section after Cho La Pass we wore a pair of 'Microspikes' (kahtoola.com/traction/microspikes-footwear-traction/?srsltid=AfmBOooNb6zLnulOGyZ6nyb9R45A6g6JBj_MJ0RLCIpU-6vUtF9pSfDp). Maire also wore them on the ascent of Gokyo Ri. I did have poles but most of the time I had a camera in my hand so they were collapsed in my pack or carried in my other hand..
This is an amazing route and I felt a little claustrophobic once we joined the main EBC path later on in the trip so if you like plenty of time on your own then this will suit you perfectly. I am sure you will have an amazing time :)
@@go_explore
Thanks for getting back to us! Great advice, yes we’ve added a day at the lake. Looking forward to it. Going early November.
@@ksrjfamily7895 Amazing! You will not regret the extra day in Gokyo.. Have an amazing adventure and let me know how you got on...
Hiii thank you for amazing video. I have a question, did you have a porter and a guide? How much did it cost??
And how much was the cost for hotel?
Appreciate
Yes we had a guide and porter. Here is the link to our trip. This provides information and costs
lifehimalayatrekking.com/gokyo-chola-and-ebc-trek.html
Hi, very nice video you got here. May I know you the extra $800+ you paid for the helicopter ride to Lukla was it for per person? What camera are you using for this video? Thank you in advance!
Hi there.. Thanks for watching the video. Regarding the helicopter flight; Three of us shared the helicopter. the $800 was for myself and Maire. The helicopter company also got the refund from the flight. I think that was $400. I am not sure how much the third person paid but assuming it was the same as us then another $600 so $1800 in total. Our trip included the helicopter out fortunately but a lot of people were on a tight schedule trying to get back out and i was told the price of a helicopter from Gorakshep had shot up to over $3000!!!
Thank you for the reply. May I know which camera you used to shoot this video? Very clear and easy on the eyes to watch.
@@johnchye1313 Apologies for missing this - 99% of the video was shot with goPro Hero11.. I also did a few shots with an inta360 camera and my iPhone but only a couple of shots from them made the video
@@go_explore thank you for the info. Looking forward to see more of your TH-cam posts.
Do you require to carry and use crampons/microspikes and/or ice-axe for the Cho La Pass ? I am considering the Gokyo Ri to EBC trek, but dont have any hiking-on-snow/ice experience.
Most people carry microspikes for the traverse of the Glacier section after Cho La Pass.. It is not technical and no experience is required. Certainly do not let this put you off this epic trek :)
@@go_explore thats great to know! :) what time of the year did you do this ?
Great video. Are they actually having that stupid sign there in front of the base camp rock? I have no words to express how disappointed i would be to go there and find this idiotic thing obscuring the view.
The actual rock has toppled over but I agree with you that the choice of location for the sign is poor. It was a topic of significant conversation by everyone at Gorak Shep and divided opinion. The highlight for me was Gokyo Ri and Cho La Pass so I was not too bothered 😊
Beautiful & Magnificent❤ I hope one day i can go there too🙏
What a sport…poor porters carrying ,others just watching and enjoying…ırish pub etc… thats not what it suppose to be…that just destroy culture,environment…its like spoiling,abusing