Gorak Shep Elevation

The most searched on the internet by the Everest Base Camp Trekker is about the Elevation or Altitudes of Gorak Shep (Gorakshep) because they will sleep at least one night there. You find the right Altitude or Elevation of Gorakshep in this post, so you do not need to search more like how high Gorakshep is after reading this.

Gorakshep or Gorak Shep is a small place with several trekking lodges in the Everest Region, located at 5180 meters (16994.75 feet). It is on the side of the Khumbu Glacier and not a proper village. You can see a few trekking guesthouses here and just-made buildings for lodge use for the trekkers. It means there is no farmland in Gorakshep for farming.

The name of raven birds call Gorak and Shep mean death. People found a dead raven in the past and named Gorak Shep after this place. The Everest Base Camp trekkers spend one night after visiting the base camp and before climbing Kala Patthar during the Everest Base Camp Trek. Most trekkers can not sleep well in this place because of the High Altitude effect.

There are 5 basic trekking lodges in Gorak Shep, but during the high season, they will be occupied, and it won't be easy to find space sometimes. Most trekkers climb Kala Patthar from Gorakshep in the morning because time returns lower. However, hiking up to Kala Patthar from Gorakshep is far better in the evening for the sunset.

How to Reach Gorak Shep

Most people reach Gorak Shep through a trek in the Everest Khumbu Region in the Sagarmatha National Park. The trekking trail starts in Lukla after landing on a scenic flight from Kathmandu or Ramechhap (Manthali).

After an adventurous flight, you start walking to Phakding from Lukla, which takes about 3 hours on a descending trail. Then, you trek to Namche Bazaar, where you spend one extra night for altitude practice before going to Tengboche Hill on the fourth day of the Trek. You reach Dingboche on the fifth day and take another rest day for acclimatization. Now, you trek to Lobuche from Dingboche. Lobuche is the last town you spend a night in before going to Gorak Shep.

It takes around 3 hours to reach Gorak Shep from Lobuche. You start walking earlier in the morning compared to the other days during the Trek from Lobuche to Gorak Shep because you hike to Everest Base Camp today and return to Gorak Shep to sleep for the night. You can visit Gorak Shep with the following trekking packages in the Everest Himalayas:

Reach Gorakshep with the Everest Base Camp Trek.

The Everest Base Camp Trek is the main Trekking Package to reach Gorak Shep, which hundreds of trekkers use daily during the high trekking season in Nepal. It is a 12-day sublime journey in the Everest Region from Kathmandu to Kathmandu. Still, you can make it in 9 days by taking a helicopter flight back from Gorak Shep after visiting the Kala Patthar and the Base Camp; the Everest Base Camp Trek with Return by Helicopter. You reach Gorakshep on the 8th day to Gorak Shep if you take this trekking package.

Reach Gorak Shep with Cho La Pass Trek

Yak on the trekking trail before reaching Gorak Shep

You can also reach Gorak Shep with the Cho La Pass Trek, a combined trip between Everest Base Camp and Gokyo Lakes Treks. It is a 14–15-day adventure trip in the Everest Region, which takes you to Gorak Shep before visiting the Base Camp and crossing the Cho La Pass if you are on a counter-clockwise route.

Visit Gorak Shep with the Everest 3 Passes Trek.

You cross a High pass, Kongma La (5540 m), and reach Lobuche before visiting Gorakshep during the Everest 3 Passes Trek. It is the most adventurous high pass trek in the Everest Region, which includes three significant hills: Kongma La, Cho La, and Renjo La. You reach Gorak Shep on the 9th day of the Everest High Pass clockwise route trek.

Visit Gorak Shep with an Everet Base Camp Helicopter Tour.

The fastest and most luxurious way to visit Gorak Shep from Kathmandu is through the Everest Base Camp Helicopter Tour. This 4-5-hour scenic flight Tour reaches Gorak Shep on the third landing after the Lukla and Pheriche landings. Although the helicopter does not land at Gorak Shep, it lights up a few meters above this place at Kala Patthar. Still, you can see a nice view of the lodges in Gorak Shep from this landing.

Gorak Shep to Everest Base Camp: Distance and Altitude

One way is 3.6 kilometers from Gorak Shep to Everest Base Camp. You must hike back to Gorakshep for the night, taking the same distance on a rocky path. It means you have to complete the 7.2 Km Gorak Shep-Everest Base Camp-Gorak Shep. It is about 2–3 hours of one-way walking from Gorakshep to the Base Camp.

You hike to Base Camp from Gorakshep after you get there from Lobuche. You drop off your trekking equipment at the guesthouse, have a quick lunch, and go for EBC with a daypack, a snake, warm clothes, and water.

You gain 184 meters of Elevation from Gorak Shep to the Base Camp because the Base Camp's Altitude is 5,354 meters. In contrast, Gorakshep's Altitude is 5,180m.

Gorak Shep to Kala Patthar Distance and Altitude

Gorak Shep to Kala Patthar's distance is 1.2 Km one way. It takes around 2 hours to climb the ascending trail. You start walking from Gorakshep (5,180m) and reach Kala Patthar (95,550m), which means you gain 370m. Returning from the top of Kalapatthar to Gorak Shep is easier and faster.

You see magnificent 360°mountain views, Khumbu Glacier, Khumbu Icefall, and Gorak Shep from Kala Patthar, with the nearest look at the world's highest mountain (Everest). It means the Everest Base Camp Trek is incomplete without visiting Kala Patthar. It will be freezing and windy at Kala Patthar. Before starting the hike to Kala Patthar, wear warm clothing, including a feather jacket and thermal layers.

Gorak Shep's Minimum Temperature During the Year

Gorak Shep never gets hot, but a few months will be warm. There will be freezing in October, November, December, January, February, and March. Compared to these months, the other months have adorable temperatures. Check the month-wise minimum Temperature of Gorak Shep below:

The Temperature in Gorak Shep goes to minus degrees most of the time compared to July and August. These two months' temperatures are plus degrees; the coldest are December and January in Gorak Shep. Check detail about weather and Temperature for detailed information.

The distance you cross before reaching Gorak Shep

You cross 62.1 Km of walking from Lukla to Gorak Shep, including the acclimatization walks in eight days. Check the daily walking distance before reaching Gorakshep after landing at Lukla Airport below:

We hope you learn that Gorak Shep is a cold place from the provided information about the Temperature above. Packing warm equipment to visit Gorakshep during the Everest Base Camp Trek or other treks in the Everest Region would be best. Female trekkers must pack some extra things in their packing list than male trekkers, so check out the essential Trekking Gear for Males and Females trekkers, which they must pack to visit Gorak Shep.

The Best Time to Visit Gorak Shep

The best time to visit Gorak Shep is in the autumn and spring. September, October, and November are considered autumn, and March, April, and May are spring. However, the first half of September and the second half of May might have some rainy days on the trail to Gorak Shep.

If you can bear the cold temperatures, December is one of the best months to visit Gorak Shep because the weather stays crystal clear from morning to evening. The winter months also offer bright views, but there are better ideas than in the summer to go there.

You also get the doctor at Gorak Shep.

There is a place with medicine and a doctor for trekkers if they get altitude sickness or other health problems during the Trek in Gorak Shep. Check fees are expensive compared to the cities. However, you still get benefits rather than suffering in high altitudes. So, take some extra money for your expenses too, in case you get any health issues when you reach Gorak Shep.

Conclusion

Gorak Shep (5,180 meters and 16994.75 feet) is the highest place where trekkers spend at least one night during the Everest Base Camp Trek, Everest High Passes Trek, Cho La Pass Trek, and Helicopter Return Everest Base Camp Trek. There are five lodges where you can stay, and you get a food menu for your main course.

Hopefully, you are clear on Altitude, the best time to visit, distance, Temperature, side trips, and difficulties after reading this post about Gorak Shep. We arrange trekking trips and helicopter tours to Gorak Shep from Kathmandu. If you want to visit this lovely place, You can contact us anytime and ask anything about Gorak Shep and Everest Region Treks.