Calvin Jiricko

Gokyo is the quieter side of the Everest region. Instead of following the crowded main trail to Everest Base Camp, RMI's Gokyo Trek crosses the 17,000-foot Renjo La Pass into a serene valley of turquoise glacial lakes, with the same giants, Everest, Lhotse, Ama Dablam, and Cho Oyu, ranged across the skyline. It is for travelers who want the Khumbu's scale and culture without its busiest trail.

The route is built around the Gokyo valley itself. After crossing Renjo La, the team drops to the alpine village of Gokyo on the shore of Dudh Pokhari, then explores the chain of glacial lakes leading up toward the south face of Cho Oyu, one of the world's highest peaks. The trek runs in the fall, when the Khumbu trades the bustle of the spring climbing season for clear days, crisp air, and the changing colors of the forested hillsides lower down.

It is a serious trek at real altitude, with a high point above 17,000 feet, but it requires no climbing experience, only good fitness and patience for long days on foot. For travelers who have read about Everest Base Camp and want something quieter and just as spectacular, Gokyo delivers the lakes, the passes, and the Himalayan panorama with far fewer people on the trail.