23 Jun 2021 Prakash Devkota
A viewing pleasure for locals is an intriguing adventure for hikers. In a nutshell, Lobuche is a knockout with undulating landscapes, cliff tops, and valleys like nowhere else. Whether it’s the ancient village or the lofty mountain, Lobuche is a marvel by all means.
The peak itself sits at an elevation of 20,075 ft while the village dwells at the foot of Lobuche. Just out of the remote settlement, it follows several paths, each of which takes hikers to lovely places.
Out of them, the one that transcends all hiking trails with its unrivaled beauty and diverse topography is the Everest Base Camp trek. It’s the most traveled hiking path in the entire Khumbu valley as many trekkers fight their way to watch the world’s highest mountain.
The length of the trail from Lobuche to Everest Base Camp is around 5.3 miles. It winds through the steep valley and walks past a remote settlement to arrive at the base camp. Almost the entire section from Lobuche to Base Camp is rough, scrambling the steep hill and boulders.
With more than 300 meters of elevation gain, the trek from Lobuche to Gorak Shep is seemingly strenuous. The Lobuche trail runs through a barren land and into the valley above glacial moraine as it heads to the village.
After almost two hours leaving the Gorak Shep, trekkers will arrive at the base of Mt. Everest. From the time of arrival, visitors will be sighting the majestic view of lofty snow peaks and dramatic landscapes.
They will get to catch a glimpse of Mt. Everest along with Ama Dablam, Nuptse, and Cho Oyu. Trekkers, putting up a hard fight against off-the-beaten-path, will be rewarded with the crystal clear view of Khumbu Icefall. They’ll also get to enjoy the scenes of Kala Patthar and the vibrant valley.
How much is the trek distance from Lobuche to Everest Base Camp?
With many hidden places and inaccessible rugged terrains, Lobuche remains a mystery to hikers. But, what’s no secret to them is its exquisite beauty and jaw-dropping splendor that never fades away. The village, along with the base camp, is a magnet that lures trekkers from far across.
But, as generous as its scenery is, the trail of Lobuche isn’t considerate. It puts an extreme challenge on hikers, making them hold off the expedition. On top of that, they have to combat altitude sickness and traverse the dirt path with loose rocks.
A total distance of 8.5 km has to be covered by hikers to end up at the base camp. Trek from Lobuche starts with a steep climb from the edge of a hill, offering a pleasant view of Chukhung Valley.
The 2.8 miles long trail sees trekkers walking uphill for most of the day. Due to the rising altitude and low atmospheric pressure, navigating the route takes 6-7 hours, depending on the pace. Following a rocky moraine and a downhill, the trail winds up at Gorak Shep.
Roosting at an edge of a frozen lakebed, Gorak Shep is a small village in the Khumbu region. It lies at an elevation of 16,900 ft, just below the soaring Kala Patthar. Almost all mountaineers climbing, Mt. Everest stops at the village to catch a breath and have lunch.
The hike from the village to Everest Base Camp is slightly tough. Trekkers have to defy jagged trails filled with rocks and boulders to make it to the base camp. The 4 km course doesn’t seem too much, but it takes between 2-3 hours due to the low air pressure.
Trekkers will get a sneak peek of Mt. Everest and its nearby snow peaks at the base camp. It also offers them a crystalline view of Khumbu Glacier, diverse landscapes, and rock hills. Upon the sightseeing, trekkers leave for Pheriche, from where they descend the trail back to Lukla.
Some trekkers mount Lobuche Peak as the advance preparation for Mt. Everest trek. Meanwhile, a couple of them take it as a side trek and climb the snowy ridge to fetch up at 6,119 meters in height.
Lobuche Peak too steers the Everest Base Camp trail and paves its way through the steep terrains and Kongma La Pass. The winding path has many highs and lows that witness trekkers struggling a bit.
From Lobuche Peak, climbers will have to walk some extra miles than from hiking the village to end up at Everest Base Camp. Once again, it’ll also provide the spectacular scenery of high cliff tops, snow-capped mountains, and glacial lakes.
You may like: Everest Base Camp to Summit distance
Prakash Devkota
Managing Director and Team Leader
Mr. Prakash Chandra Devkota is an established name in the Tourism Sector in Nepal. He is a focused individual gifted with a brilliant mind. He is also hugely dedicated to social work. Born in the Gorkha district, a beautiful hilly region of Nepal, he first entered the tourism industry as a guide in 1997. He has gained extensive experience in almost all the trekking and climbing routes like Mera, Island, Lobuche and, Ama Dablam, etc.
He registered Nepal Guides Treks & Expedition in 2009 AD. Due to his passion for adventure and efforts to provide quality personalized service to his clients, he has established himself as a successful tourism entrepreneur. He has dedicated most of his time working diligently to elevate the tourism industry and collected more than 15 years of experience in organizing trekking and expeditions in Nepal, Bhutan, and India. He believes in the power of the tourism industry and the employment opportunities that can be created through it. He constantly looks for innovative ways to run the company.
Mr. Devkota has always been an avid practitioner of eco-friendly tourism and has always promoted environmental conservation throughout his career. He motivates his staff to embrace eco-friendly tourism through responsible tourism practices. He believes promoting eco-tourism will preserve natural resources and positively impact the environment.
