Gokyo Lake – Dr. Ravi Shankar Gokyo is a series of high altitude lakes at around 4800 m in the Sagarmatha National Park in the Solukhumbu district of Nepal. Gokyo Ri, a rocky ridge near Gokyo is a spectacular Himalayan view point. Elevation: 4,750 meters Location: Sagarmatha National Park Best for Trekking: March, April, May, Oct, Nov, Dec Transportation: Car / Van / Plane Nearest airport: Lukla Trek Grade: Moderate to Strenuous Trek Highlights: Scenic mountain flight to Lukla; Sherpa home town; Gokyo Lakes; amazing view of Mt. Everest, Cho Oyu; Ngozumpa Glacier The high altitude Gokyo lakes lie in the Sagarmatha National Park in the Solukhumbu district of Eastern Nepal. Founded in 1976, the park was designated as UNESCO World Heritage site in 1979. It encloses the upper drainage areas of the Dudh Koshi (milk river) and is surrounded by some of the highest mountains on earth. The first man to climb Everest, Sir Edmund Hillary had an important role in convincing the Nepalese government to establish the park and the New Zealand government to support the venture. The Gokyo valley lies to the west of the traditional trek to Kala Patthar and Everest Base Camp (EBC). Gokyo lakes lie along the lateral moraine of the Ngozumpa glacier, Nepal’s longest. Most tourists reach the lakes trekking up from Lukla, during trekking season, the second busiest airport in Nepal.

An Unforgettable Trip through the Annapurna Sanctuary - James Ward Locally called Tharpu Chuli, Tent Peak is an attractive mountain situated in the heart of the Annapurna Sanctuary. Elevation: 18,577feet / 5,663meters (17th highest trekking peak of Nepal) Location: Annapurna region of Nepal Best for the Climbing: July, August, September, October Nearest Airport: Pokhara Trek grade: Moderate & Strenuous Dominating the mountains of central Nepal is the mighty Annapurna Himal, which lies between the Kali Gandaki and Marsgyangdi river valley and forms a solid mountain bastion. It covers a distance of 40 miles and encompasses within its range some twelve peaks that rise to an elevation of more than 7000m besides numerous other smaller peaks. The Annapurna Massif forms an almost complete ring of high peaks. The sanctuary encompassing this area, known as the Annapurna Sanctuary, is an enthralling amphitheatre of ice, snow, glacier and moraine. The mountain first received attention from Jimmy Roberts who was exploring the sanctuary during a reconnaissance for the 1957 British Machhapuchhre Expedition. It was Roberts that gave the mountain its descriptive name, Tent Peak. The peak was first climbed via the south-east ridge by members of the Japanese Annapurna South Expedition from Kyoto University in 1964, led by Dr. Harou Higuchi.

Tsum comes from the Tibetan word “Tsombo” which means vivid. Tsum Valley is situated in the northern Gorkha district of Nepal, surrounded by the Buddha Himal with Himal Chuli to the west, Ganesh Himal to the south, and Sringi Himal to the north. Tsum is one of the eight sacred valleys (called Beyuls) in the inner Himalayas and owes its genesis to the 8th century Buddhist saint Padmasmbhava. Legend has it that Padmasambhava created beyuls as a refuge for people fleeing from the adverse effects of war, famine or from religious persecution. Saturated with Buddhist culture, these valleys uphold religious values and help preserve the lost way of life. Tsum valley is inhabited by Tsumbas, an indigenous community.