Gokyo Lakes Valley Trek
Trip Overview
Trip Facts
- Country: Nepal
- Trip grade: Moderate
- Destination: Gokyo Valley
- Activities: Trekking
- Accommodation: Hotel, Teahouse
- Meals: Breakfasts, Lunches, Dinners
- Maximum altitude: 5357m
- Group size: 1+
- Best Season: Mar-May / Sep-Nov
One of the beautiful trekking adventures in the Everest region, Gokyo Lakes Valley Trek takes you to the Gokyo Valley. The valley is the hub of beautiful glacial lakes – Gokyo Lakes – that stand in the spectacular surroundings of the mountains. You can enjoy the magnificence of the mountains and nature throughout the trek and eventually reach the Gokyo valley to explore more wonders.
The adventure takes you on the trail to the Everest Base Camp up to Namche Bazar and then takes you through a different route. However, you can also trek to the Everest Base Camp via Gokyo valley crossing Cho La. But this adventure returns from Gokyo valley after exploring its magnificence.
What you see during Gokyo Lakes Valley Trek
When you are on this trekking adventure, you will experience peaceful nature, beautiful Sherpa culture, and Himalayan magnificence. In addition, you will also exploit the beauty of the glacial lakes at Gokyo valley.
The entire trekking adventure gives you a beautiful experience to cherish. But the experience of exploring Gokyo valley, lakes, and Gokyo Ri is something unmatchable to any other adventures. It is simply enchanting to be in the surroundings of those beautiful lakes in the Gokyo valley. You will also enjoy the striking views of the mountains from the Gokyo Ri. It also offers you a view of the emerald green lakes below with a vast glacier and mountains.
This trek offers a short yet magnificent exploration of one of the most spectacular areas in the Everest region. The adventure begins with an adventure flight to the Lukla airport where the trek begins. It is an incredible experience of walking through the river valley up the mountains with increasing elevation every day as you head towards the Gokyo valley.
Reasons this trip becomes an Experience
Nepal Climbing Adventure always strives to offer an adventure traveling experience that you can cherish. While the Gokyo Lakes Valley Trek is beautiful in its all essence, your experience of trekking there becomes even more beautiful with us.
By the time we take you to the base camp and bring you back, we take one step ahead to offer you a beautiful experience. We keep your safety and happiness as our top priority and you will experience the same during the trip.
Trekking with us to Gokyo Valley is traveling in safe hands.
Highlights of Gokyo Lakes Valley Trek
- Trekking through the remote mountains
- Beautiful and serene Gokyo Lakes
- Mountain and Glacier view
- Gokyo Ri Hike and beautiful sunrise
Detail Itinerary
Day 01: Arrival in Kathmandu (1400m)
Normally, your arrival in Kathmandu is the day one of this trip. We will come to pick you up at the airport as per your flight time and transfer you to the hotel. There are no activities today apart from a trip briefing meeting. The information about the meeting time will be available upon your arrival at the hotel.
You have time to relax and go for any last-minute preparation for the trip. Welcome to Kathmandu!
Accommodation: Hotel
Day 02: Sightseeing Tour in Kathmandu
We have a full day in Kathmandu to explore the heritage sites in the valley. If we have not met for the meeting yesterday, we will meet today after breakfast. If we have met yesterday, we will continue on a full-day sightseeing tour.
Your entire afternoon will be busy going around different ancient and medieval heritage monuments in the Kathmandu valley. We will take you to Swoyambhunath, Kathmandu Durbar Square, Boudhanath, and Pashupatinath to explore the ancient and medieval magnificence of the valley.
The tour will show you a lot about the culture, spiritual practice, history, and lifestyle of people in the valley. You will have an awesome cultural tour day today. Our city tour guide will make it easier for you to understand what you are looking at to make your experience even better.
Accommodation: Hotel
Meal: Breakfast
Day 03: Kathmandu – Phakding (2,680m)
We will start our trekking adventure towards Gokyo Lakes today. Early in the morning, we will take a flight to Lukla. The adventurous flight of about forty minutes takes us to Lukla to enter the Everest trekking region. Once we land in Lukla airstrip, we will get ready to start the walk of the day.
We start the trek to Phakding as our overnight destination today. It is about 4 hours of an easy trek on a gentle and gradual downhill trail to Phakding on the bank of a river called Dudh Koshi. It will be an amazingly peaceful day on the trail to Everest base camp.
Accommodation: Teahouse
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 04: Phakding – Namche Bazar (3,440m)
We continue the walk on the Everest base camp trail after breakfast. Our destination for the day is the beautiful mountain town of Namche Bazar. The trail takes us through a winding trail up the mountains. As we continue the walk towards the destination, we cross several suspension bridges on the trail. After checking into the Sagarmatha national park at Monjo, we continue the walk to Namche for the day.
Once we reach Namche Bazar, a prosperous mountain trading town in the Everest region, we will check into a guest house and relax. A nicely settled town in the terraced slope, Namche Bazar brings you the spectacular views of mountains like Thamserku (6,6232m) and Kongde Ri (6,187m) to its west.
Accommodation: Guesthouse
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 05: Acclimatization Day
We are already above 3000 meters above sea level so we need to take an extra day at Namche to acclimatize. On this extra day at Namche Bazar, we will go for a hike and explore the surroundings.
We will have the latter half of the day to rest and relax once we are back from the hike.
Accommodation: Guesthouse
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 06: Namche - Dole (4038m)
The trek today continues towards Gokyo Lakes and the destination for the day is the beautiful settlement of Dole. The trek ascends up a ridge and then descends down from the Khumbila peak. We descend down towards Sanasa and ascend up to Mongla. Along the way, the panoramic views of the Himalayas can be viewed. The trail descends further through Phortse Tenga and climbs steeply to Dole through the Rhododendron forest. We spend overnight at the local lodge.
Accommodation: Teahouse
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 07: Dole - Machhermo (4,470m)
Our trek continues through the peaceful trail with fewer trekkers. The trek takes us to Machhermo to stay overnight today. We climb up steadily along the side of the valley. The trail passes through settlements with views of Mt. Cho Oyu, and views of Kantega and Thamserku as we descend down the valley. By lunchtime, we arrive at Machhermo. We stay overnight at the local lodge.
Accommodation: Teahouse
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 8: Machhermo - Gokyo (4750m)
We follow the trail to Pangka and descend following one of the rivers flowing down from the west side of Ngozumpa Glacier. The path climbs past the first of the holy lakes and leads to the second lake. Crossing the second lake heads to Lobuche. Gokyo is located at the eastern shore of the third lake, Dudh Pokhari. We stay overnight in a lodge.
Accommodation: Teahouse
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 09: Explore Gokyo
Today we explore the Gokyo valley and its lakes. We visit the first mountain lake 'Longpunga Tso', the second 'Taujung Tso' and the third ' Gokyo Tso'. We explore the Cho-Oyu base camp where photography of mountains is highly encouraged. We can also take a trip to the Fourth and the Fifth Lake. We stay overnight at the lodge.
Accommodation: Teahouse
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 10: Gokyo - Gokyo Ri (5357m) - Machhermo
Early in the morning today, we ascend a steep up the hillside to Gokyo Ri. From Gokyo Ri the summits of Everest, Lhotse, and Makalu can be viewed at their finest. After lunch, the trip to Machhermo village is a short walk. We spend overnight at the lodge.
Accommodation: Teahouse
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 11: Macchermo - Namche Bazaar
The trail descends through Dole and continues to descend through the Rhododendron forest to Photse Tenga. The path ascends through Mongla Danda and again descends to Kyanjoma. The walk leads to Namche Bazaar where we spend overnight at the lodge.
Day 12: Namche – Lukla (2,860m)
It’s the last day of trekking when we trek to Lukla today. The lower we walk, the farther we are leaving the iconic Gokyo valley behind physically but we are carrying a beautiful memory of being there. We cross suspension bridges and walk past Phakding and advance towards Lukla. Once we reach Lukla to bring our trekking part to an end, we duly thank our supporting team members. If it were not for their amazing effort, our journey would be very difficult. We celebrate the joy of making it to the base of the highest peak in the world.
Accommodation: Teahouse
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 13: Lukla – Kathmandu 1,400m
We take a morning flight from the Lukla airstrip leaving the mighty mountains behind us. Another exciting flight with adventure takes us back to the city civilization. Once in Kathmandu, we spend leisurely time back in the chaos of the city after so many days of serene mountain air and incredible adventure.
Accommodation: Hotel
Meal: Breakfast
Day 14: Departure Day
The trip has come to an end today. We have to bid farewell for this time hoping to meet again for another adventure soon. We will drive you to the airport for your departure flight as scheduled.
Meal: Breakfast
Cost Details
What is included?
- All airport and hotel transfers
- Welcome and farewell dinner
- Accommodation and meals during the whole of the trek.
- All necessary paper works and permits
- Government and local taxes
- An experienced English speaking trekking guide, assistant trek guide(4 trekkers, 1 assistant guide), porters(2 trekkers, 1 porter) including their salary, insurance, food, lodging and all equipment.
- A comprehensive medical kit
What is not included?
- Nepal Visa fee(bring small denomination cash USD and two passport photographs)
- International airfare
- Excess baggage charges
- Extra night accommodation apart from the schedule due to any reasons
- Lunch and evening meals in Kathmandu and in case of early return than the scheduled itinerary
- Flight to Lukla and back
- Travel and rescue insurance
- Personal expenses
- Tips for travel guides or porters
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions - Trekking in Nepal
Are you a licensed trekking agency?
Do the guides speak English and have first aid training?
How big are the groups?
Are permits included in the price of the trek?
Do you arrange private treks?
Do you provide any equipment while trekking?
How difficult are the treks?
How long do we walk each day?
What is exactly 'teahouse' trekking?
What do we mean by FOT trek?
What is security like during trekking?
Security for our clients is always a foremost priority for us. All our guides and other support crew are carefully chosen for your trips. Our guides hold licenses issued by the Nepal Government. They are very honest and reliable. But we would also advise you to take care of your own personal belongings. If you are on ‘camping treks’ please do not leave your bags unattended at any time for your own safety. Take your main bag inside the tent once you reach the campsite. At night, all bags and belongings are kept in the middle of the tent. Your guide assigns a Sherpa on a rotation basis to guard the campsite throughout the night. If you are on a ‘Tea house or GAP trek’ arrangement, you will be sleeping in local teahouses. You need to take sensible precautions yourself at all times. Never leave your baggage unattended and keep your lodge room locked when you go out.
What happens if I fall ill during the trek?
What type of food is served during a trek?
Do I need to carry my own gear?
How much could porters carry?
What is the overnight accommodation like?
Can we change the itinerary?
Depending on the prevailing situation, you can modify it to some extent after consulting with your senior guide. However, the date of trek completion should always coincide with the original itinerary. You should keep in mind that this is an adventure trip into some of the most remote regions in the world, where many unforeseen circumstances may contribute to the need for a change in itinerary. In such cases, we or your guide will suggest the best alternative similar to your original itinerary.