Everest Base Camp & Gokyo Lakes Trek via Cho La Pass

The Everest Base Camp & Gokyo Lakes Trek via Cho La Pass trek is considered to be a strenuous trekking route in Nepal. You do not require any previous trekking or mountaineering experience and it is not required that you have any technical experience, only that you be in good physical condition and are able to walk for four to six hours per day over hilly terrain with a light bag pack. If you are not an experienced trekker or do not exercise regularly, we recommend that you embark on a training program well in advance of commencing this trip. You will be given plenty of time to rest throughout the trek and the pace will be slow to help you acclimatize safely to the increasing elevation.

In Kathmandu, your accommodation will usually include an attached bathroom and have facilities such as air conditioning, reception and dining services. The level of accommodation is generally Nepalese 3 star and is comfortable and clean. If you require an upgrade of accommodation in Kathmandu, there are many 4 star and 5 star options at an extra cost. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you require an upgrade.
Once you start your trek, you will be staying in “Teahouses.” Accommodation is limited, especially the higher you get, so your room may vary from a private single/double room to a bed in a dormitory. Bed mattresses are usually firm, not sprung mattresses that you may be used to at home. The accommodation is very basic and there will usually be shared shower and toilet facilities. There is a communal dining hall in all teahouses offering limited meal choices. Although basic, the teahouses are clean and are a welcome, friendly and warm resting place after a day trekking.

We ask that all our customers bring water purification tablets and a water bottle with them. (they can be bought in Kathmandu if forgotten) Mosaic supports responsible tourism so we do not encourage trekkers to buy bottled water when in the Himalayan region, although it is be available, there is no proper disposal system for plastic bottles and we would like to keep our mountains clean and trash free. There will be plenty of water available along the way to fill your bottles and most brands of purification tablets take just 30 minutes before you can drink your water. We recommend that you drink a minimum of 3 to 4 liters of water per day whilst on your trek.

Any luggage that you will not require during your trek can be kept securely in the hotel in Kathmandu or in the store room of our office.

Walking poles are not essential but can be useful especially on the way down. Poles help you balance on the way down and take the strain off of your legs (quad muscles) on some of the steep climbs. You can buy or hire poles in Kathmandu and they easily collapse so you can attach them to your back pack when they are not needed.

There are plenty of trekking shops in Kathmandu selling equipment inexpensively compared to the prices you would normally pay at home, although, the quality of these products cannot always be guaranteed. If you do not want to take the risk, we recommend you buy major items such as trekking shoes, before you arrive in Nepal. It is also recommended you buy your shoes well in advance of your trek so you can “break them in” and avoid blisters during your trip.

Yes, you can, in the teahouses. Please remember that plugs might be different than at home so don’t forget to bring adapters with you or buy them in Kathmandu before the trip. You will have to pay for the use of the electricity to recharge your electrical items, usually at a cost of $2-3 US per hour.

Most people can obtain a visa on entry to Nepal. There are some countries where a visa will need to be obtained prior to traveling (you can find a list of these countries at www.immi.gov.np)
If you want to avoid the sometimes lengthy queues at the airport, you can obtain a visa from the Nepali embassy in you home country before you travel. Please visit the appropriate websites in your country for details.
If you want to obtain a visa on arrival, you will need to fill in a landing card, (most airlines provide these before landing in Kathmandu, if not, they will be available in the airport) pay a fee (cost differs depending on your length of stay) and provide a passport photo so don’t forget to bring one in your hand luggage to present to the immigration officers. Visa fees are as follows:

US Dollars 25 or other convertible foreign currency equivalent thereto for 15 days multiple entry visa.
US Dollars 40 or other convertible foreign currency equivalent thereto for 30 days multiple entry visa.
US Dollars 100 or other convertible foreign currency equivalent thereto for 90 days multiple entry visa.
(information from the department of immigration, Nepal)

We would advise you to bring US dollars to pay for your visa, most major currencies are usually accepted also. Although there is a currency exchange in the airport (if they will not accept your currency), you may not get the best exchange rate; therefore it is always a safe bet to bring US dollars.

Showers are available at the teahouses. They will usually be shared bathrooms in most teahouses, especially the higher up you go. You will have to pay for a hot water shower per person. The higher you are, the colder it gets and you may find that you do not want to shower as often so you can wait just a few days until your descent.

Local currency in Nepal is rupees. We recommend you bring US dollars with you to Nepal and exchange them here as this is easily done and is a widely accepted currency. Although you may get a lesser rate on traveler’s cheques, we suggest you carry a mixture of both depending on your needs. The amount of money you will need on a daily basis depends on your spending habits. A guide would be $10 per day for extra drinks and bar bill during your trek and $20 per day to cover lunch/dinner whilst in Kathmandu.

You will need to carry a reasonable sized daypack, big enough to carry personal items, water, camera, snacks, sunscreen, hat, a fleece jacket and gloves for higher altitudes. The porters will carry the bigger packs with your clothes etc…. They will carry packs up to 20kg. (10kg per person)

We will arrange a pickup service free of charge at anytime of the day or night to transfer you from the airport to your hotel. You will be met by a Mosaic representative on arrival. If you have booked a trip with us but have arranged to arrive in Kathmandu earlier and do your own thing until the trip starts, we will still pick you up at the airport, you just need to let us know your arrival date and time so we can come and meet you. Kindly look for signage showing the Mosaic  Adventure logo or your name. Please note; We recommend that you deal with your own bags at the airport and carry them yourselves. There are people who will offer to carry your bags and will expect payment. You are not obliged to pay these people and it is not advisable to get out your wallet in front of them.  Just tell them ‘No, thank you!’ if someone approaches you and walk away.

It depends on the nature of the sickness. Usually, if you become sick, you will descend to a lower altitude with the help and support of the guide and porters. If you are seriously ill, we will arrange an emergency helicopter evacuation service. Our guide will take immediate action according to the situation. Please ensure you arrange travel insurance that covers you for an evacuation service and trekking at high altitudes.
*Altitude sickness can affect everyone whilst trekking including young and healthy people and is a genuine concern in higher altitudes.  If you feel dizzy, suffer palpitations or severe headaches, return immediately to a lower altitude. Do not take altitude sickness lightly. It can be fatal! Please familiarize yourself with the symptoms of altitude sickness before your trek. Do not ignore even the mildest of symptoms, inform your guide immediately. Our guides carry basic medicine and first aid equipment including simple painkillers, altitude sickness tablets, bandages, balm for muscle ache and medication to treat diarrhea and vomiting.

These are the questions we are often asked and we hope that you will find the answers useful. Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any further queries.