Here at Exodus we thrive on feedback from our customers. It's the only way we can ensure our trips continue to be the best they can be. So, for the real tales, twists and turns of the trip you're interested in, look no further than the reviews from our previous travellers. Any feedback collected (Good or bad) from Exodus clients is posted straight onto our website - totally unedited. Read more...
What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
To have had the priviledge to stay at Everest Base Camp for 2 nights alongside the Indian Expedition Team - ArunTreks. This memory will stay with me and my husband for the rest of our lives and there is no doubt, that no matter how much you try and explain to someone what this experience was like, unless they had actually been there, they will never understand. None of my photos highlight the actual size and depth of this place. The Khumba Ice Fall - magic!
Gokyo Ri - stunning. A very beautiful area and am so pleased that we decided to do this particular trip rather than just Everest Base Camp visit.
Fantastic!
What did you think of your group leader?
Lakpa - what an absolute star! I could not have done this trip without him. I was ill on a couple of occasions and he was there to sort me out on each. He was kind, thoughtful and had a wonderful sense of humour. His knowledge of the area is absolutely outstanding.
I feel I owe him so much - This man deserves a medal!
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Ensure you are prepared for the cold. It was -25 at Base Camp and in a tent, you need to be prepared. We took our own sleeping bags which went down to -22 but these bags were in no way any comparison against the Exodus sleeping bags you can hire - we had these on a previous holiday and I sure wish we had them on this one!
You do have to have mental stamina. We had 4 hard climbs on the trot - Gokyo Ri, Cho La Pass, Kala Patthar and then Everest Base Camp. If you are not feeling well, you need mentally to have the strength to carry on. Having a good leader like we did, is a huge bonus also.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Don't keep thinking about it - do it! Exodus have a fantastic reputation and there is no doubt that we will continue to travel with them for many years to come.
David Sale
EVEREST BASE CAMP & GOKYO LAKES
Written
Great trip, very hard and may need re evaluating by Exodus
What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Climbing up to the top of Gyoko Ri and looking over 4 x 8000m peaks
What did you think of your group leader?
Our group leader was great, and very well supported by our assistant guide. My wife got altitude sickness at Gorak Shep and they did a brilliant job in looking after her and in the end we went down to Lobuche that evening. As Exodus are one of the biggest groups in the region, they were able to borrow an assistant guide from another group so the remainder of our group could continue, but we could go down with 2 people and be safe. Amazing service and can't recommend Exodus highly enough.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
The TNE trip is really hard and the days that you do Gyoki Ri, Cho La pass and Base Camp need all th energy you have.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
I truly believe that this trip needs to be re evaluated as doing Ri, Pass and BC are too hard back to back to back. The Cho La pass is now much more difficult with boulders coming down from the mountains and it takes a long time to get over. I think that it would be much better having an extra rest day before Cho La would help get over that and leave energy fork base camp and kalar pattar. This trip only has 1 rest day at Namche Bazaar but that is on the 2-3rd day and there is another really hard 12 after that.
A demanding but highly rewarding trek encompassing the spectacular Gykyo lakes, encompassing climb of Gykyo Ri through the Cho La pass towards Kala Pattar and Everest base camp.
What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Inspiration is daily occurance throughout this trip whether observing the locals in their daily activities or the magnificent scenery that there is to behold. The trip is not for the faint hearted however with endurance there is great reward.
What did you think of your group leader?
In my experience Exodus group leaders are highly professional and dedicated to their work with great empathy and understanding of their country and communites.
I do not think our group leader could have done more, his commitment to the group was equally matched by his commitment of his team of guides and porters. Leading from the front whilst creatng a very re;axed and friendly environment. Well done.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Train for the trip and you will be rewarded, one person on our trip had not trained and therefore not prepared and then stuggled where he should have enjoyed more. Ensure you have enough warm clothes evenings can be cold. The trip notes are very good and quite accurate with the exception on tipping you need to allow a bit more.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
This trek is really great, for us it proved to be the best Exodus trip we have done. Given the great trips we have done before I thought that would be impossible but I was obviously wrong on that point.
A great trip and I was very pleased that I opted for this trip rather than the Everest Base Camp dash. The route to the Gokyo lakes was well worth the extra time required.
What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Gokyo Ri, crossing the Cho La Pass and associated glacier and making Base Camp.
What did you think of your group leader?
Our guide Dawa Sherpa and 'RB', assistant guide were great, they were always smiling, incredibly attentive to all that was happening within the group and made sure that we were well looked after in each Tea House. We had one case of altitude sickness within the group and this was dealt with most efficiently and with complete understanding for all members of the group.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
I had picked up a respiratory infection which did not kick in until about day 2 of the trek when at first I thought it may have been altitude sickness. (Diamox was being used). Breathing suffered for the rest of the trip until I was able to get an examination and atibiotics on the way down in Pheriche, too late for any real relief unfortunately. So I would recommend discussing this situation with your doctor though they may be reluctant about perscribing antibiotics when fit and well! And, forget about showers and washing, baby wipes and facial wipes suffice, it is too cold for that sort of exposure. Note - ice on the inside of the bedroom windows in the morning!
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Do it! It was an absolutely great trip, the views were magnificent and the weather great just a couple of small snow showers late afternoon along with some cloud reduced visability otherwise blue sky all the way. Exodus are well established and our guides, and for that matter the porters, were brilliant.
What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
There were numerous highlights but I think reaching the summit of Gokyo Ri and seeing the most incredible view of the Himalayas and the glacier below us dissapearing down the valley was a special moment.
Other highlights included the landing in Lukla, seeing Everest for the first time from Namche Bazaar and of course having that first shower after two weeks on the trek..!!
What did you think of your group leader?
The group leader was excellent, clearly an experienced guide. It was reassuring to see he paid close attention to any members of the group he thought might be having problems.
Also the other guides were great, very friendy and always there to offer assistance.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
If youre not a regular hillwalker definatley make sure you do some training before you go ! As other reviews have already indicated you need to be reasonably fit if you want to get the most out of this trip. The guides make sure pace isnt too quick but there are some very steep climbs and that combined with the effects of the altitude make the going tough at times. The Cho La Pass involves some scrambling over some large boulders and up some loose rock so be prepared for that..
And invest in a good sleeping bag as it gets veeeery cold at night and only the main dining rooms are heated in the lodges!
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Well its an experience you wont forget - it will make you appreciate the little things after you have spend two weeks in pretty basic accomodation. Of course the headaches / aching limbs / bad toilets are all forgotton when youre standing at over 5500 metres on Kala Pattar under the bluest skies youve ever seen looking across at some of the highest mountains on the planet, including the biggest one of them all..
A strenuous but well-worth trek encompassing two spectacular and incredibly diverse valleys, encompassing two summits, a high pass and culminating in the trek to Everest Base Camp for close up views of the highest mountain in the world (when its not hidden behind the Lho La ridge).
What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
There are far too many to choose from, from the first proper sighting of everest through the tree-line heading up to Namche Bazaar, the crystal clear Gokyo lakes and the stunning cloud-strewn views from the top of Gokyo Ri, the sheer satisfaction in having reached the top of the demanding and icy Cho La Pass, the final trek towards the edge of the Khumbu icefall and discovering the vast tent city of Base Camp, the unrivalled views of the highest mountains on earth from the top of Kala Patthar....
What did you think of your group leader?
Jangbu Sherpa displayed tremendous knowledge of the valleys as we ascended higher up, he spent most of the time looking after the slower ones of the group and making sure they made it to the next lodge but he was sometimes reluctant from mingling with our group, we dont bite honestly!
Our assistant guide Nima was always chirpy and full of enthusiasm and often led the group during the day's trekking. Singing and dancing his way up the mountain he also got us out of bed in the morning with cups of tea and was our 'waiter' of an evening in the teahouses.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
This trek is not to be underestimated, its a long haul and you have to be in good fitness and good health to really enjoy it or you will struggle with it. Dont skimp on the decent gear, particularly warm clothes for the early starts and when the weather turns (as it usually does in the afternoon). The many days spent at high altitude does have some effect on you, be it a loss of appetite or trouble sleeping and these are to be expected in even the fittest of you, altitude can affect anyone.
The Cho La pass in particular is a definate challenge involving alot of scrambling, fairly exposed sections and the glacial travel which is often uneven and slippery underfoot unless you have full crampons on your boots. Care is to be taken on this section as its a long day and you can easily lose concentration.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
For those confident in their fitness, determination, those that relish a challenge and want to be surrounded by striking and dramatic scenary with every step, all the while following in the path of climbing parties the world over in their bid to conquer the great Mt Everest, there is little to compare this trip to. The diversity of the Gokyo valley means it is a great alternative to the standard trek as it takes in a seperate route on the ascent to base camp to the descent. This trek should be on every wannabe adventurer's bucket list and is truely one of the greatest treks in the world. For those that go the extra mile the views from Kala Patthar will truely take your breath away - literally and figuratively!
It was a great trip, but really, really hard! The actual walking was not harder than your average day in the Lake District, but with the altitude, freezing cold nights, early starts, and basic tea house washing and toilet facilities it all added up to something of an endurance test. I was the only woman with a load of adrenaline junkies, so needless to say I generally found myself bringing up the rear. Come on women, get booking - don't just stick to the easier treks. You can do it if I can!
What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
The views from Gokyo Ri and Kala Pattar were great, but I got a real buzz of excitement when we arrived at Base Camp. The climbers themselves weren't actually there yet, but there were streams of yaks and porters pouring in carrying all sorts of ridiculous things - there was a real sense of them getting ready.
The Cho La might have been beautiful, but I was in no fit state to notice - getting up there nearly killed me!
What did you think of your group leader?
Prem Gurung was our leader, and he was absolutely fantastic. Very knowledgeable, competent, calm and fun. He and the 2 guides - Indra and Norbu - did a great job, and one of them always kept me company at the back of the pack. Prem kept a sharp eye on us for signs of altitude sickness, and brooked no resistance when he thought someone needed to start on Diamox. One of our porters got altitude sickness on the Cho La (I'm not joking about how hard it was!), and they decided to quickly get him down to Pheriche 1,000m lower - no messing about: they saw the problem and acted to fix it. Just what you need in that environment.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
All you need is to be reasonably fit, being super fit won't necessarily help. Do some reading about altitude sickness, and take Diamox and loads of Paracetamol/Ibuprofen with you. Not to mention Immodium! And loads of wet wipes and hand gel. I did manage to have a hot shower every second day, and even washed my hair twice, but in between it was very dirty. Only take 1 bottle of biodegradeable soap - it goes a long way, especially when you rarely see water!
I took salted peanuts and dried fruit as snacks, plus Pepperami and biltong to supplement my post-Namche vegetarian diet. As well as chocolate bars, of course.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
The trip gave me a great idea of how the different valleys and routes around Everest all fit together, and it was interesting to see the massive range of trekkers from all nations - some in groups, some independent with guides, and some totally independent on their own (not necessarily a safe option). I'd have a much clearer idea of what's available to do if I came back - which I probably will do, but maybe not next year!
A demanding but highly rewarding trek encompassing the spectacular Gykyo lakes, encompassing climb of Gykyo Ri through the Cho La pass towards Kala Pattar and…
from 22 reviews.
Login above to retrieve a previously saved list or 
Click on 'Add to wishlist' to pin trips here.
