Although it is gaining popularity in recent years, this incredible trek still offers a much more authentic experience and is more challenging than the more famous routes, going through spectacular terrain with its own culture. You will find yourself on paths that are a little rough in some places, rivers and waterfalls, valleys of all kinds, the Larkya-La pass at 5106 metres and the presence of the beautiful Manaslu.
The most famous of all Nepal’s treks, but if seeing the highest peak in the world is its great attraction, it is no less so that any Khumbu tour involves walking surrounded by great mountains and an overwhelming landscape. However, we have changed the classic itinerary to make it more interesting and avoid as much as possible to go and back by the same route.
The beginning of this trek is quite close to Kathmandu and progresses towards the north, starting from the area of Helambu between fields, forests, low mountains and Sherpas and Tamang populations, to cross the Laurebina-la pass and enter Gosainkund, with its set of small sacred lakes, and the Langtang valleys, very close to Tibet.
The most common itinerary today when talking about the Annapurna Circuit, starting in Besi Sahar surrounded by terraced rice fields and small farms, to change the landscape, entering pine forests and alpine areas to reach the white peaks of the Himalayas while also changing the human and cultural environment to enter fully Tibetan lands until Jomsom where we finish.
Right next to Tibet, north of Kathmandu, the Langtang Valley is a good option for those who want to avoid the much-crowded areas of Everest and Annapurna. It is rich in landscape, with rushing rivers, forests and pastures and high mountains around 7000 meters of altitude. There are a good number of different itinerary options, including or not the Gosainkund lakes or linking with Helambu.
A trek to enjoy quietly, first going through the interesting Gurung areas of Ghandruk to enter later into the deep valley that marks our main route, surrounded by thick forest and high walls where long waterfalls fall, to reach the beautiful circus that forms the south face of Annapurna, where we can enjoy its colour change as the sun tint it with the first lights of dawn.
A trek with an undeniable interest, in a very peculiar and special human, cultural and scenic environment, which still enjoys that spirit of discovery, of seeing new things, of participating in the life of its inhabitants and, perhaps, of having to adapt to the conditions of the route. A trek that we especially like because it is clearly much more than just walking.
The route that joins the beautiful Gokyo Valley and its lakes with the Everest Base Camp cross through the Cho-la pass, at 5420 meters of altitude. The Cho-la is a demanding but affordable pass, which joins the valleys surrounded by peaks from which impressive glaciers hang. It is a spectacular itinerary and much more interesting than that of the Everest Base Camp.
The Renjo-La pass is the least visited of the three classic passes that link the Khumbu valleys. Therefore, this route is one of the least crowded and most peaceful in the whole Khumbu area. Climbing up through the beautiful Gokyo Valley and descending through the Thame Valley, we are in the heart of Sherpa land, surrounded by high mountains and overwhelming scenery.
While the entire Khumbu area is spectacular, the Gokyo Valley has always been considered as one of the most beautiful valleys. An itinerary to enjoy quietly and with no hurry, starting among forests in the early stages to move to alpine landscapes and ending among beautiful mountains and lakes beside the moraine of the glacier and climbing to Gokyo-Ri from where we can see the pyramid of Everest.
