The classic teahouse trek from Lukla through Sherpa villages to Everest Base Camp (5,364 m) and the Kala Patthar viewpoint, with acclimatisation days in Namche and Dingboche.
- Days
- 12 days
- Maximum altitude
- 5,644 m
- Difficulty
- Strenuous
Everest Region (Khumbu)गोरकशेप
Gorak Shep
The last lodges below Everest Base Camp, on a sandy dry lakebed beneath Kala Patthar.
- Altitude
- 5,164 m*
- Best months
- Mar-May, Oct-Nov
- Type
- Trek stop
- District
- Solukhumbu, Koshi
- Permit
- Permit required
Higher seasonal exposure: altitude (All year), snow (Dec-Mar), cold (Nov-Mar), seasonal closure (Jun-Sep).
Why go
Gorak Shep is a seasonal settlement of lodges at about 5,164 m on the edge of a sand-covered former lakebed beside the Khumbu Glacier. Within the Everest region it is the highest overnight stop on the Everest Base Camp trek and the base for both base camp, about 1.5-2.5 hours away along the glacier, and the dawn climb of Kala Patthar directly above.
Most trekkers arrive from Lobuche in the morning, drop their bags, walk to base camp and back in the afternoon, and climb Kala Patthar early the next day before heading down. At this height nights are bitterly cold, sleep is difficult and the lodges are basic, with water and fuel carried up. Few people stay more than one night.
History and culture
Gorak Shep served as the base camp for the 1952 Swiss Everest expedition, before later expeditions moved their camp closer to the foot of the Khumbu Icefall. The name is usually translated as 'dead raven'. The lodges are closed for much of the year and reopen for the trekking seasons. A small helipad on the lakebed is used for rescue flights.
Things to do in Gorak Shep
Walk to Everest Base Camp
A round trip of about 3-4 hours over moraine and glacier edge to the base camp area at about 5,364 m.
Climb Kala Patthar
About 1.5-2 hours up steep switchbacks to the viewpoint for Everest, Nuptse and the Khumbu Icefall.
Weather and the best time to visit Gorak Shep
Weather in Gorak Shep
Forecast for 5,164 m. Conditions change fast in the mountains.
Weather data: MET Norway, licensed CC BY 4.0. A forecast, not a guarantee.
Best time to visit
Mar-May, Oct-Nov
- Jan
- Feb
- Good month: Mar
- Good month: Apr
- Good month: May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Good month: Oct
- Good month: Nov
- Dec
- Autumn (Sep-Nov)
- October and November usually bring the clearest skies and stable weather, with cold nights well below freezing.
- Winter (Dec-Feb)
- December to February is very cold, with snow possible on the trail; some lodges close and the high passes can be impassable.
- Spring (Mar-May)
- March to May is warmer and busy, with more afternoon cloud; late spring brings expedition traffic towards base camp.
- Monsoon (Jun-Aug)
- June to August brings cloud and rain, poor mountain views and frequent delays on the Lukla flights; few lodges stay fully open.
Where to stay
LodgesTeahouses
A few basic lodges; rooms are unheated and beds are short in peak season.
No partner stays are listed here yet. List a property.
Getting there
Gorak Shep is reached on foot from Lobuche in about 2-3 hours, usually on the eighth day from Lukla.
Nearest hub: Lukla (Tenzing-Hillary Airport)
- flightKathmandu or Ramechhap (Manthali) to Lukla, roughly 25-40 minutes, weather permitting; in busy seasons many flights leave from Ramechhap.
- trekLobuche to Gorak Shep, about 4-5 km and 2-3 hours over rough moraine.
Getting to Gorak Shep, by mode
Nearest hub: Lukla. Times are typical ranges, not schedules, and vary with roadworks, weather and the season.
By airfrom Kathmanduabout 0.4-0.7 hLukla (Tenzing-Hillary)often delayed or cancelled by weather
A 25-40 minute mountain flight to Lukla, weather permitting, then the walk in. In the busy seasons most flights leave from Ramechhap (Manthali) instead of Kathmandu, a 3-4 hour drive east, which means a night-time road transfer. Cancellations for wind and visibility are routine, so spare days belong in the plan.
When to set off: Lukla flights are scheduled at first light, before the south-west wind builds from mid to late morning; Ramechhap departures leave Kathmandu by road around 03:00-04:00
On footfrom Lobucheabout 2-3 h2-3 h from Lobuche, about 4-5 km and roughly 250 m of ascent over rough moraine
A short morning from Lobuche so the afternoon is free for the base camp round trip; most parties sleep here only one night.
When to set off: teahouse stages start after breakfast, usually by 07:30, to arrive before the afternoon cloud and wind
Where people go next
- Kala Pattharon foot, about 1.5-2 hThe pre-dawn climb for the Everest view.
- Lobucheon foot, about 2-3 hBack down the moraine on the descent.
- Phericheon foot, about 5-7 hLong descending day to Pheriche after Kala Patthar.
- Dzonglaon foot, about 5-7 hVia Lobuche to Dzongla for the Cho La.
Permits and fees
Permit required
This stop is inside Sagarmatha National Park; the park entry permit and the Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality permit apply. Check whether a TIMS card is currently required.
- Sagarmatha National Park entry permit: Issued in Kathmandu or at the park entrance near Monjo; check the latest rules and fees.
- Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality entry permit: Local permit collected in the Lukla area.
- Licensed guide: Since April 2023 foreign trekkers in national parks and conservation areas are generally required to go with a licensed guide; the local municipality in Khumbu has disputed this, so check the current rule.
Verify before travel: permit rules and fees change. Checked 2026-10-06 against Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation.
On the trail
On the Everest Base Camp trek, Three High Passes trek.
- Previous stop:
- Lobuche
- Next stop:
- Everest Base Camp and Kala Patthar, then Pheriche or Dzongla
- A typical day:
- From Lobuche, about 2-3 hours and roughly 250 m of height gain, then an afternoon round trip of 3-4 hours to base camp.
Risks and conditions
Seasonal risks around Gorak Shep
What this place is typically exposed to, and when. These are seasonal patterns, not a report on conditions now.
Altitudehigh in a typical yearAll year
Gorak Shep is the highest lodge stop of the trek at about 5,164 m, and nobody is acclimatised to sleeping here. Acute mountain sickness is common on fast ascents - it affects roughly 40 per cent of people who go up quickly to 3,000 m, and more above that. General information, not medical advice: gain height slowly, keep sleeping-height gains small (about 300 m a day once high), build in rest days, learn the symptoms - headache, nausea, breathlessness, broken sleep - and descend if they get worse. See a doctor before travelling and carry insurance that covers helicopter evacuation.
Snowhigh in a typical yearDec-Mar
Deep winter snow can block the trails above Tengboche, and spring storms leave fresh snow on the higher stages; December to March is the usual snow window at this height.
Coldhigh in a typical yearNov-Mar
Nights are far below freezing from November to March at this height, with wind on the open moraine and unheated bedrooms in the teahouses; a winter-rated sleeping bag and down layer are the norm.
Seasonal closurehigh in a typical yearJun-Sep
Lukla flights are the weak link in the monsoon: poor visibility stops operations at the airstrip about half the time in that season and about half of flights are cancelled, and waits of several days happen. Any itinerary built on the flight needs spare days at both ends.
Seasonal closuremoderate in a typical yearDec-Feb
Above Tengboche many teahouses do not stay open through the deep-winter months, so the high stages are seldom walked in December to February and food and beds are harder to find.
Othermoderate in a typical yearAll year
The stages above Lobuche follow rough, shifting moraine beside the Khumbu Glacier, and the base camp round trip adds 3-4 h on the same ground at over 5,000 m.
Otherlow in a typical yearJun-Aug
The monsoon brings cloud and rain rather than views, and the stages are wet and misty underfoot, although the upper valleys get less rain than the forest below.
Check current conditions before you travel
Roads, trails, passes and flights change with the weather and with roadworks, and nothing on this page describes conditions today. Before you set off, check the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology for weather and flood warnings, the Nepal Disaster Risk Reduction Portal for incidents, and the local authority, police or your licensed operator for road, trail and flight status.
Practical tips
- This is high altitude: go up slowly, watch for headache, nausea and unusual tiredness, and descend if symptoms get worse. General information, not medical advice.
- This is the highest night of the trek; if you feel unwell, go down rather than wait.
- Food and water cost more here because everything is carried up.
- Charging, hot showers and Wi-Fi, where available, are paid extras and depend on solar or small hydro power.
Treks through Gorak Shep
A long, demanding circuit of the Khumbu over the Kongma La, Cho La and Renjo La, all above 5,300 m, taking in Everest Base Camp, Kala Patthar, the Gokyo Lakes and the Thame valley.
- Days
- 19 days
- Maximum altitude
- 5,644 m
- Difficulty
- Challenging
Questions about Gorak Shep
How far is Gorak Shep from Everest Base Camp?
About 1.5-2.5 hours each way along the Khumbu Glacier, depending on fitness and conditions.
Can you sleep at Everest Base Camp?
Trekkers normally sleep at Gorak Shep; base camp is used by climbing expeditions with their own permits.
How high is Gorak Shep?
About 5,164 m, the highest overnight on the base camp trek.
More in Everest Region (Khumbu)
All of Everest Region (Khumbu)Lake · 4,750 m
Gokyo Lakes
A chain of glacier-fed lakes beside the Ngozumpa glacier, with views of Everest and Cho Oyu from the hill of Gokyo Ri.
Viewpoint · 5,644 m
Kala Patthar
A dark ridge-top viewpoint above Gorak Shep with a close view of Everest, Nuptse and the Khumbu Glacier.
Viewpoint · 4,065 m
Pikey Peak
A grassy 4,065 m summit in lower Solukhumbu with a long view of the eastern Himalaya, reached on a short trek through Sherpa villages.
Trek stop · 4,730 m
Chhukung
A high lodge settlement at the head of the Imja valley, below Lhotse's south face and Island Peak.
Mountain pass · 5,420 m
Cho La
A glaciated pass linking the Everest Base Camp trail with the Gokyo valley, crossed between Dzongla and Thagnak.
Trek stop · 4,410 m
Dingboche
A walled-field Sherpa village in the Imja valley, the usual acclimatisation stop on the way to Everest Base Camp.
Trek stop · 4,038 m
Dole
A small lodge village in the upper Dudh Kosi valley, the first night above Namche on the way to Gokyo.
Trek stop · 4,830 m
Dzongla
A tiny lodge stop on a high pasture below Cholatse, the eastern base for crossing the Cho La.
Nearby
Valley or region
Everest Region (Khumbu)
The Sherpa homeland below Everest, reached on foot from Lukla through stone villages, monasteries and glacial valleys.
Editorial draft: facts are being checked against the sources below. Last checked 2026-10-06. Sources: Gorak Shep, Wikipedia, Kala Patthar, Wikipedia