Trekking Routes: Solu-Khumbu & the Everest Region Treks

Lobuje to Gokyo via Phortse

Day 1: Lobuje to Phortse Lobuje to Pheriche: 3 hours; Pheriche to Pangboche: 1 hour; Pangboche to Phortse: 2 hours. Elevation Loss: 3,582 ft. (1,093m). If you have plenty of time and want to see as much of this region as possible, you may want to climb both Kala Pattar and Gokyo Ri. There are a couple of options for linking up the Kala Pattar trek and the Gokyo trek. The easier route is to head back down the valley from Lobuje through Pheriche to upper Pangboche. From upper Pangboche, follow the trail that contours high above the Imja Khola. Do not take the trail that leads down to the river, because it will take you to Tengboche. About 2 hours from Pangboche, the trail rounds a ridge into the valley of the Dudh Kosi and reaches the spread-out village of Phortse (12,588 ft.; 3,840m), where many of the homes are surrounded by walled fields. There are several lodges here. Day 2: Phortse to Macherma Phortse to Phortse Tenga: 1 hour; Phortse Tenga to Dole: 2 hours; Dole to Macherma: 2 hours. Elevation Gain: 2,700 ft. (820m). Elevation Loss: 638 ft. (194m). From Phortse there are two possible routes: the east valley route and the west valley route. The east valley route, which is on the same side of the valley as Phortse, is rarely used by trekkers and consequently has few lodges and may sometimes be difficult to follow. However, if you are doing this route in reverse, you can make good time descending the east valley route. You should be able to walk from Gokyo to Phortse in a day. The west valley route, though it entails descending to the Dudh Kosi and then climbing the far side to regain lost elevation, is preferable. It takes 45 minutes down to the river and another 10 minutes up to Phortse Tenga and the main trail from Namche Bazaar to Gokyo. From this point on, there are lodges and teahouses every hour or two. You can probably reach Macherma on the same day. See above for a description of the route from Macherma to Gokyo.

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