Plan my trek
Plan my trek
5,164 m
Everest (Khumbu)
EBC, Three Passes
7–8 days on foot
2–3 h each way
Basic lodges only
Gorak Shep is not really a village. It is a small group of lodges at about 5,164 m (16,942 ft) on the edge of a sand-covered, frozen lakebed beside the Khumbu Glacier, and it is the last place with beds on the trail to Everest Base Camp. Nobody lives here all year: the lodge keepers come up for the trekking seasons and most lodges close in winter.
For trekkers it is the turning point of the whole trip. From Gorak Shep you walk to Everest Base Camp and back, and you climb Kala Patthar, the brown hill above the lodges that gives the classic close view of Everest’s summit. You also spend what is usually your highest and hardest night, with only about half the oxygen of sea level in every breath.
The name is usually translated as “dead ravens”, a nod to how little lives up here. Swiss climbers used the area as their base for the 1952 Everest attempts, before later expeditions, including the successful 1953 British one, set up base camp further up the glacier below the Khumbu Icefall. The lodges came with trekking from the 1970s onwards, and the number is now limited by Sagarmatha National Park.
Expect a harsh, beautiful, uncomfortable place. Pumori (7,161 m) rises straight behind the lodges, Nuptse fills the view east, and the grey rubble of the Khumbu Glacier lies just below. The sun is fierce, but as soon as it drops behind the ridge the temperature falls well below freezing and the wind picks up.
Almost everyone feels the altitude: a pounding heart on the stairs, a dull headache, no appetite and a restless night are normal. In peak season the dining rooms are packed with trekkers in down jackets, and beds can run out by early afternoon. The point is not comfort but position: from here, the highest mountain on earth is a morning’s walk away.
Gorak Shep sits at the head of the Khumbu valley, about 2.5–3 hours above Lobuche along the lateral moraine of the Khumbu Glacier. Kala Patthar rises immediately north-west, at the foot of Pumori’s south ridge. Everest Base Camp is north-east, 2–3 hours on along the moraine and glacier. Pheriche and its Himalayan Rescue Association aid post are a long day below, and Dingboche is two days back down the trail.
Gorak Shep exists for two objectives, Everest Base Camp and Kala Patthar. Most trekkers do both in about 24 hours, so planning the order and timing is the main job here.
Kala Patthar (“black rock”) is the viewpoint ridge above Gorak Shep, usually given as about 5,545–5,550 m (some maps show the higher ridge point at around 5,640 m). From the top you look straight across to Everest’s south-west face and summit pyramid, with Nuptse, Lhotse, Changtse, Pumori, the Khumbu Icefall and base camp below.
It is a steep 1.5–2.5 hour climb of roughly 400 m on a sandy, zigzagging path, and about an hour down. For sunrise, leave around 4.30–5 am in autumn with a headtorch, every warm layer you own, and a flask; the first sun hits Everest and Nuptse from behind, so the summit glows while you are still in shadow. Wind chill at dawn can be well below −15°C. Most people are back for breakfast by 8–9 am.
Many experienced guides prefer the late afternoon. The sun is then behind you, lighting Everest and Nuptse from the west, and the colours on the summit can be superb in clear autumn weather. You also avoid a pre-dawn start after a sleepless night.
The catch is that cloud often builds in the afternoon, especially in spring, so it is a gamble. A common plan is to walk to Everest Base Camp in the morning, rest, then climb Kala Patthar for sunset only if the sky is clear, and otherwise go at dawn the next day. Leave the top with at least 45 minutes of light in hand and carry a headtorch for the descent.
From Gorak Shep the trail follows the moraine of the Khumbu Glacier north-east to Everest Base Camp at roughly 5,364 m. It is about 3.5 km and 2–3 hours each way, with ups and downs over boulders rather than a big climb. Allow 5–6 hours for the round trip including time at the marker rock and prayer flags.
In April and May the expedition tents of the climbing season stretch along the glacier; in autumn the site is usually empty apart from the famous rock. Trekkers may not sleep at base camp, and you should not wander into expedition camps or onto the Icefall. Read our full Everest Base Camp guide.
The glacier beside Gorak Shep looks like a river of grey rubble, but under the stones is ice that creaks, melts into pools and shifts each season. Near base camp it turns into white ice pinnacles (seracs), and above it the Khumbu Icefall, the first and most dangerous section of the Everest climbing route, tumbles down from the Western Cwm.
The best views of the icefall are from Kala Patthar and from the moraine near base camp. Stay on the marked path: the glacier surface is unstable, with hidden holes and loose blocks, and it is not a place to explore off-trail.
The flat sandy plain in front of the lodges is the old lakebed that gives Gorak Shep its setting, often frozen and dusted with snow, with a small pond nearby. In afternoon light it makes a fine foreground for Pumori and Nuptse.
A slow 20–30 minute stroll around it after arrival is a good way to stay gently active without climbing; avoid lying down and sleeping as soon as you arrive, which can make altitude symptoms worse. Watch your step on the ice early in the day and keep clear of yaks bringing in supplies.
Gorak Shep has a helipad, and on clear mornings you will see helicopters arriving for evacuations, supply runs and sightseeing landings. It is a reminder that this is a place where people do get ill: evacuation is routine here, but it depends on weather, landing conditions and insurance approval.
Use the lull before dinner to check on your group, talk honestly with your guide about how you feel and agree the next morning’s plan. Decisions are easier made in daylight than at 4 am.
The day before Gorak Shep, the trail crosses the Thukla Pass (about 4,830 m), where dozens of stone cairns and chortens commemorate climbers and Sherpas who died on Everest and neighbouring peaks. It is a quiet, moving place to pause on the way to Lobuche.
Near Lobuche you may also see the glass-pyramid research station that has been used for high-altitude science since the 1990s. Neither needs a special detour; both are right beside the main trail.
On a standard 12–14 day Everest Base Camp trek from Lukla, you reach Gorak Shep on day 8 of walking, after acclimatisation stops in Namche Bazaar and Dingboche and a night in Lobuche. Three Passes trekkers usually arrive after crossing the Kongma La to Lobuche, then continue over the Cho La towards Gokyo.
| Leg | Distance | Walking time | Altitude change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lobuche (4,940 m) to Gorak Shep | About 4.5 km | 2.5–3 h | +220 m, with several short climbs |
| Gorak Shep to Everest Base Camp (about 5,364 m) | About 3.5 km | 2–3 h each way | +200 m, rough moraine |
| Gorak Shep to Kala Patthar (about 5,545 m) | About 1.5 km | 1.5–2.5 h up, 1 h down | +380–400 m, steep |
| Gorak Shep to Pheriche (4,240–4,370 m) | About 13 km | 5–7 h | −800 to −900 m |
The most common plan. Walk from Lobuche to Gorak Shep in the morning, drop bags, have lunch and continue to Everest Base Camp in the afternoon, returning by dusk. Next morning climb Kala Patthar for sunrise, have breakfast and descend to Pheriche or Dingboche. It means only one night at 5,164 m, which is the main advantage.
Arrive at Gorak Shep, rest, then climb Kala Patthar in the late afternoon for the sunset light on Everest. Visit base camp the next morning and descend after lunch. Good in clear autumn weather; risky if afternoon cloud is building. It also makes the descent day long.
Spend a full day here, doing base camp and Kala Patthar on separate days. It gives a weather buffer but adds a second night at an altitude where your body does not recover well. Only consider it if you are acclimatising strongly. Many guides prefer to keep the spare day lower down.
If you arrive with a severe headache, vomiting or breathlessness at rest, the right decision is to go down, not to wait for the morning. Lobuche is 2–3 hours lower and Pheriche lower still. Reaching Gorak Shep is a real achievement in itself. Read more in our guide to altitude sickness on the Everest trek.
There are only a handful of lodges at Gorak Shep, because the national park limits new building. They are large, basic and busy, run seasonally by families from lower down the valley. Everything, from rice and fuel to beer, is carried up by porters and yaks over several days, which is reflected in the prices.
Prices are approximate and change every season; at the time of writing the following are typical (roughly NPR 175–180 = £1).
| Item | Typical price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Basic twin room, shared toilet | NPR 1,000–2,000 (about £5.50–£11) | Cheaper or free if you eat at the lodge; groups pre-book |
| Dal bhat | NPR 1,200–1,600 (about £7–£9) | Refills usually included |
| Breakfast | NPR 800–1,200 (about £4.50–£7) | Porridge, eggs, Tibetan bread |
| Hot drink (cup) | NPR 250–500 (about £1.50–£3) | Pots are better value |
| Boiled water (1 litre) | NPR 400–600 (about £2.25–£3.50) | The highest prices on the trek |
| Battery charging | NPR 500–1,000 (about £3–£5.75) per device or per hour | Solar-powered; slow; queues in the evening |
| Bucket shower | Around NPR 1,000+ (about £6+) | Not recommended this high |
| Wifi (Everest Link) | Around NPR 1,000–1,200 (about £6–£7) per GB | Patchy and slow, worse in snow |
Small rooms with two or three narrow beds, thin plywood walls, a blanket and no heating. Inside temperatures fall well below freezing in autumn; your water bottle may freeze on the bedside table. A 4-season sleeping bag (comfort rating around −10 to −15°C) and a liner are essential. In peak weeks some trekkers end up sleeping on dining-room benches.
Shared squat toilets, one or two per floor, often frozen or unpleasant in peak season. Bring toilet paper, hand sanitiser and wet wipes. Skip showering: getting wet and cold at this altitude is not worth it, and water here is hauled in or melted for every use.
The social hub and the only heated space, warmed by a single stove in the evening. Order dinner early, as kitchens are stretched. Simple, carbohydrate-heavy food such as dal bhat, noodle soup, potatoes and porridge is easiest to eat when your appetite has gone. Avoid meat and alcohol.
Organised groups usually have beds arranged in advance by their operator. Independent trekkers in October, November, April and May should arrive by late morning or ask a Lobuche lodge to phone ahead. In winter most lodges close and the few still open run with minimal staff.
The only sensible way to reach Gorak Shep is on foot, gradually, over 7–8 days from Lukla. That slow approach is not optional padding; it is what lets your body cope with the height.
| Stage | Night | Sleeping altitude |
|---|---|---|
| Fly Kathmandu (or Ramechhap) to Lukla, walk to Phakding | 1 | About 2,610 m |
| Phakding to Namche Bazaar | 2–3 (rest day) | About 3,440 m |
| Namche to Tengboche | 4 | About 3,860 m |
| Tengboche to Dingboche | 5–6 (rest day) | About 4,410 m |
| Dingboche to Lobuche | 7 | About 4,940 m |
| Lobuche to Gorak Shep (+ EBC) | 8 | About 5,164 m |
Flights from Kathmandu to Lukla take about 35 minutes and cost around US$236–240 (about £180) one way at the time of writing. In peak seasons most flights are moved to Ramechhap (Manthali), a 4–6 hour drive from Kathmandu, and Lukla flights are often delayed by weather, so build in spare days.
Helicopter tours from Kathmandu or Lukla fly to Gorak Shep or Kala Patthar for a short landing and then leave at once, because staying would be dangerous without acclimatisation. A common alternative is to trek up and fly back from Gorak Shep, which saves 3–4 days of descent; expect several hundred US dollars per seat for a shared flight, with weather and minimum numbers deciding whether it goes.
Seasons at Gorak Shep are shorter and harsher than lower down. Lodges are open in spring and autumn; in winter most close, and in the monsoon very few trekkers come. See the best season to travel in Nepal for the national picture.
| Months | Conditions | Trade-offs |
|---|---|---|
| October–mid-November | Most reliable clear skies; nights around −10 to −15°C | Best for Kala Patthar views; lodges full |
| Late November–February | Very cold (−20°C or lower at night), dry, often clear | Most lodges shut; frozen water and toilets; high wind |
| March–May | Warmer days; more afternoon cloud and haze by May | Expedition tents at base camp in April–May; busy |
| June–September | Monsoon cloud, snow showers at this height | Views rare; Lukla flights unreliable; very quiet |
There are no festivals at Gorak Shep itself. Many trekkers time their trip to include Mani Rimdu at Tengboche Monastery (October or November, set by the lunar calendar) on the way up or down. If you visit in late April or May you may see the base camp “city” of expedition tents and, on the walk, teams heading up for summit attempts.
Gorak Shep is the highest point on the trek where you sleep, and the place where good preparation matters most.
At 5,164 m the air holds roughly half the oxygen available at sea level. Mild AMS (headache, nausea, poor sleep, no appetite) is extremely common. The serious conditions, HAPE (fluid on the lungs: breathlessness at rest, a wet cough, gurgling chest) and HACE (swelling of the brain: confusion, unusual behaviour, stumbling), can kill within hours. The treatment for both is descent, immediately, with oxygen and medication as support if available. Never leave someone with symptoms alone, and never go up with symptoms.
Gorak Shep has no permanent clinic. The nearest proper medical post is the Himalayan Rescue Association aid post at Pheriche, staffed by volunteer doctors in the spring and autumn seasons and treating trekkers and porters for altitude illness for a fee. The HRA’s Everest ER tent at base camp operates for the spring climbing season. Lobuche may have a seasonal post. Otherwise help means descent or a helicopter, so check your guide carries a first-aid kit and can use a pulse oximeter sensibly.
Make sure your policy covers trekking to at least 5,600 m and helicopter evacuation, and keep the emergency number and policy number with your guide. An uninsured evacuation from Gorak Shep can cost roughly US$4,000–8,000. Weather can ground helicopters for a day or more. See do I need travel insurance for trekking.
There are no ATMs above Namche Bazaar, and nowhere at Gorak Shep accepts cards reliably. Budget more here than anywhere else: around NPR 7,000–10,000 (about £40–£57) a day for an independent trekker covering room, three meals, water, drinks and charging.
Everest Link wifi is available but slow and unreliable, and phone signal is patchy. Tell family you may be out of contact for a day or two around Gorak Shep. A satellite messenger is useful for independent trekkers.
Drink 3–4 litres a day even though you will not feel thirsty. Treat water with tablets, a filter or UV pen; filters can crack if they freeze, so keep them in your sleeping bag. Fill a bottle with hot water at night and sleep with it. Pack your down jacket, insulated gloves, warm hat and buff in your daypack for the Kala Patthar dawn.
Your Sagarmatha National Park permit and Khumbu Pasang Lhamu municipality fee are checked at Lukla and Monjo, not here, but keep them with you. Whatever the rules on independent trekking in the Khumbu at the time you go, an experienced guide is the most effective safety measure at this altitude. Our Everest Region guide explains permits and guide rules.
Carry out your batteries, packaging and plastic. Use the lodge toilets; human waste is a serious problem on the moraine. Do not take stones or prayer flags from base camp. Treat porters and lodge staff, who work here in hard conditions, with patience. Read our safety tips for trekking in Nepal.
At the time of writing (October 2026) the UK FCDO does not advise against travel to Nepal. Its current warnings focus on floods and landslides after the August 2026 floods in Rasuwa and neighbouring districts, well away from the Khumbu, and on possible protests in Kathmandu after the unrest of September 2025. Check the latest FCDO advice before you book and before you fly.
From Gorak Shep most people go down, but there are a few ways to extend the trip.
The goal of the trek, 2–3 hours on along the glacier. See our Everest Base Camp guide.
The way down. Pheriche has the HRA aid post; Dingboche, with its bakeries and sunny lodges, is the nicer place to linger.
From Lobuche, strong trekkers cross the Cho La (about 5,420 m) to the turquoise Gokyo Lakes, a superb extension of 3–5 days.
Two to three days below, Namche Bazaar has ATMs, bakeries and hot showers, and Lukla the flight home.
Our Everest Base Camp trek is paced to reach Gorak Shep well acclimatised, with experienced guides who know when to push on and when to turn round. Tell us when you want to go and we will plan the details with you: plan your trip with Get Lost Forever.
Gorak Shep is at about 5,164 m (16,942 ft), the highest place on the Everest Base Camp trek where you sleep.
About 3.5 km and 2–3 hours each way over rough glacier moraine. Allow 5–6 hours for the round trip with time at base camp.
Sunrise gives the most reliable clear skies and the famous silhouette of Everest, but it is brutally cold. Sunset lights Everest from the west and needs no pre-dawn start, but afternoon cloud is more common. In clear autumn weather, sunset is often the better photograph.
The usual viewpoint is given as about 5,545–5,550 m; some maps show the higher ridge point at around 5,640 m. Either way it is a climb of roughly 400 m above Gorak Shep, taking 1.5–2.5 hours.
Not on a trekking permit. Only expedition members with climbing permits camp at base camp, so trekkers sleep at Gorak Shep and walk to base camp and back.
No. The nearest staffed medical post is the Himalayan Rescue Association aid post at Pheriche, open in spring and autumn. In spring there is also the HRA Everest ER at base camp. Serious cases are evacuated by helicopter when the weather allows.
Yes, but both are expensive and slow. Everest Link wifi cards cost around NPR 1,000–1,200 per GB and work poorly in bad weather. Charging is solar-powered and charged per device or per hour; bring a power bank.
In October and November nights are usually around −10 to −15°C, colder with wind chill; in winter they can fall below −20°C. Rooms are not heated, so you need a 4-season sleeping bag.
For most trekkers, yes. You can visit base camp on arrival and climb Kala Patthar the next morning before descending. One night limits the time you spend at an altitude where the body does not recover well.
The name is usually translated as “dead ravens”, reflecting how barren and lifeless the area is.
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