The country, its people and its culture have already grown a little on my heart. I have now been there for the sixth time and for the second time with geoDiscovery Tours. But this time my expectations, or rather my hopes, were definitely exceeded. Admittedly, I was never a fan of the Everest region because everyone wants to go there, especially to Everest Base Camp. But Gülüstan made the Gokyo Valley sound appealing to me, or rather said it would suit me. How right she was. My doubts about a good and timely acclimatisation (Lukla is at 2,800m, after all) did not turn out to be justified. Also thanks to a very thoughtful guide.
At the moment only few tourists are travelling here, and out in the wilderness you are sometimes completely alone and can enjoy nature with all your senses, unrestricted. You can’t get more recovery than this. The guesthouses are almost empty and I will miss the evening rounds with the Sherpas and my guide around the warm stove, with stories of climbs and of the Yeti.
Gokyo Ri is worth every bit of effort. All of it. Here too I was lucky, because on this very early ascent morning there were only four of us, including ourselves, who set out.
Even though the trekking was the centrepiece of the trip, I really want to highlight the very warm and caring support from the team in Kathmandu too. In these unstable times shaped by rules, Gülüstan and especially Arun managed to give me a very relaxed and easy-going time. Derai derai Dhanyabad!!
And yes, I’ll come back. To Nepal. With geoDiscovery Tours.
Katja S.
