Gokyo Lake Trek

Gokyo Lake Trek

Although the Everest Base Camp trek has taken center stage for years, the trek to Gokyo is the surprising jewel of the Khumbu for many people. The view of the North Face of Everest is more extensive and you'll have a more complete panorama of the Khumbu region. Beyond Gokyo, the great mass of Cho Oyu and secretive Gyachung Kang sparkle at the head of the valley. You'll also enjoy the beautiful turquoise lake of Gokyo, your turnaround point for the trek.

Itinerary

Day 1: Welcome to Ktahmandu

Stop At: Kathmandu, Kathmandu, Kathmandu Valley, Bagmati Zone, Central Region
Flying into Kathmandu, you'll have views of the Himalaya and of the terraced fields and hillsides, below. After completing customs, a representative will be waiting to greet you and drive you to your hotel.
Duration: 1 day

No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Tea House

Day 2: Fly from Kathmandu to Lukla, Trek to Phakding (8,563 feet / 2,610 m)

Stop At: Phakding, Phakding, Khumbu, Sagarmatha Zone, Eastern Region
After breakfast, you'll fly to Lukla (30 minutes) and land on a steep mountain runway, which brings you to the start of your trek. Try to get a window seat on the left-hand side of the plane and keep your camera close: the flight takes you between mountains and through valleys, with great views of the Himalaya on clear days.

You'll then trek a short distance today through local villages where you'll likely encounter fellow trekkers, locals, and yaks with their tinkling bells. (Having an easy first day is intentional, allowing you time to get used to the higher elevation.)

Continue through the Dudh Koshi Valley on a well-marked trail and stay overnight in Phakding.

Trekking time: 3-4 hours (4.7 miles / 7.5 km)
Overnight: Phakding
Duration: 12 hours

No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Tea House

Day 3: Trek from Phakding to Namche Bazaar (11,290 feet / 3,440 m)

Stop At: Namche Bazaar, Namche Bazaar, Khumbu, Sagarmatha Zone, Eastern Region
After breakfast in Phakding, you'll start a steady and steep incline towards Namche. This is a challenging day as you'll start to feel the altitude. The route also consists of a number of high suspension bridges over the Dudh Kosi River that you need to cross.

Just beyond the village of Monjo is the entrance to the Sagarmatha National Park, which was set-up in order to protect and preserve the fragile mountain environment (your guide will cover your permit fees here). The trail gets steeper along the way, and if the weather is clear, you will get the first glimpses of Mount Everest.

When you arrive at Namche, settle into your accommodations and explore the town. Namche is a great place to stock up on supplies as there are numerous small shops selling snacks and trekking gear, as well as restaurants and bars. If here on a weekend, check out the Saturday market—a meeting place for the Hindu traders from the lowlands and the Tibetan yak caravans that have crossed the glaciated Nangpa La.

Trekking time: 5-6 hours (4.6 miles / 7.4 km)
Overnight: Namche Bazaar
Duration: 12 hours

No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Tea House

Day 4: Acclimatization day in Namche Bazaar

Stop At: Namche Bazaar, Namche Bazaar, Khumbu, Sagarmatha Zone, Eastern Region
Today is a rest day so take time to relax and sleep in. Namche is tucked away between two ridges amid the giant peaks of the Khumbu and has an abundance of lodges, tea shops, and souvenir markets. It is an ideal place to spend a day acclimatizing to the higher altitude.

To speed up the acclimatization process, you can also head to the Khunde Hospital set-up by Sir Edmund Hillary, or take a highly-recommended one-hour walk up to the Everest View Hotel above Namche for views of notable peaks like Ama Dablam, Nuptse, Lhotse, and Everest. There are also good views from the Sherpa Culture Museum just above the town.

Overnight: Namche Bazaar
Duration: 1 day

No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Tea House

Day 5: Trek from Namche Bazaar to Dole (4200 m)

Stop At: Mount Everest, Sagarmatha National Park 00977 Nepal
Today is a spectacular day in terms of scenery as you follow the main trail north out of Namche. A short climb to a crest reveals a wonderful view towards Everest and Lhotse. You follow this main trail for a while longer, passing many traders selling Tibetan handicrafts, to a crossroads high above the Dudh Kosi.

The trail to Everest drops down the hill but you turn off here and climb to cross the Mon La (‘La’ means pass) before reaching Phortse Tenga. From Phortse Tenga, the trail climbs steeply to Dole, through rhododendron and birch forest festooned with hanging mosses and lichens.

Walking time: 6-7 hours
Overnight: Dole
Duration: 12 hours

No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Tea House

Day 6: Trek from Dole to Machhermo (14,665 feet / 4,470 m)

Pass By: Machhermo, Khumjung 56000, Nepal
After breakfast in Dole, you'll begin a short and pleasant hike that allows time for savoring and enjoying the views. This is also a chance to acclimatize to the high elevations, so force yourself to take it extra slow. The trek starts with a climb over Dole via a scenic ridge. You'll then cross yak pastures and tiny villages of stones huts until you reach Luza. Follow the trail along with a valley high over the river, crossing sandy spurs and pastures bordered with a Chorten and prayer flags to get to Machhermo by midday, with enough time to visit the Himalayan Rescue Association and get some well-needed rest.

Trekking time: 5-6 hours
Overnight: Machhermo

No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Tea House

Day 7: Trek from Machhermo to Gokyo (15,748 feet / 4,800 m)

Stop At: Gokyo, Gokyo, Sagarmatha Zone, Eastern Region
After breakfast, you'll start the day with fantastic views of the valley as you make your way to Kangtega and the northern part of Cho Oyu. It's another relatively short climbing day with steep trails making up for fewer hours. The landscape changes significantly and you'll likely encounter snowy trails, boulders, and ice along the river.

You'll first descend towards the river bank and then begin the climb towards the terminal moraine of the Ngozumpa Glacier through a valley formed by melting ice. The valley eventually broadens as the trail passes through a narrower section as it comes to Dudh Pokhari, with prayer flags on its eastern shore. Take a break to appreciate the view before trekking another hour or so to the village of Gokyo, located on the edge of the third lake.

Trekking time: 5-6hours (4.2 miles / 6.8 km)
Overnight: Gokyo
Duration: 12 hours

No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Tea House

Day 8: Acclimatization day, Climb Gokyo Ri (5357m)

Stop At: Gokyo, Gokyo, Sagarmatha Zone, Eastern Region
Since you'll be spending 3 nights in Gokyo, today is designated a rest day in order to help with altitude acclimatization.

Gokyo Ri Hike (2-3 hours, round-trip)
In the morning, depending on the weather, follow the steep trail up the hill that rises above the northern shore of the lake to the Gokyo Ri viewpoint (especially pretty at sunrise). The summit is marked by large cairns and prayer flags. From the top, Gokyo's turquoise lake in the distance offers a picturesque view.

Overnight: Gokyo
Duration: 1 day

No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Tea House

Day 9: Acclimatization day (Visit Gokyo Lakes)

Stop At: Gokyo, Gokyo, Sagarmatha Zone, Eastern Region
Today is a second rest day in Gokyo. Today you will tour to the fourth Gokyo Lake, which is just under two miles north of the Gokyo Village. If you're up for a more challenging day, you can continue trekking to the fifth lake. At the edge of the lake is a spot called "Scoundrel's Viewpoint" for astonishing views of Cho-Oyu, Gyachung Kang, Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse, and the Makulu mountains, as well as the massive Ngozumba Glacier. From here, trek back to Gokyo and spend the night.

Overnight: Gokyo
Duration: 1 day

No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Tea House

Day 10: Trek from Gokyo to Machhermo ( 4,470 m)

Stop At: Machhermo, Khumjung 56000, Nepal
After breakfast, you will start the walk back to Machhermo. Today will be a normal day for you since you will normally be walking down back to Machhermo.

Trekking time: 4-5 hours (3.5 miles / 5.4km)
Overnight: Machhermo
Duration: 12 hours

No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Tea House

Day 11: Trek from Machhermo to Phortse (3500m)

Pass By: Mount Everest, Sagarmatha National Park 00977 Nepal
This portion of the trail is very beautiful, traversing along a cliff-side trail, which allows magnificent views of many peaks, principally Everest (8848m), Nuptse (7896m), Amadablam (6856m), Thamserku (6808m), and Kusum Kanguru (6569m). It is an upward trek to Mongla, our lunch stop, which provides more lovely views. After lunch, you continue across and up to Phortse.

Trekking time: 5-6 hours (7.2 km)
Overnight: Phortse

No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Tea House

Day 12: Trek from Phortse to Tengboche (3867m).

Stop At: Tengboche, Tengboche, Sagarmatha Zone, Eastern Region
From Phortse it’s an easy stroll to the village of Pangboche, which has the oldest monastery in the Khumbu region. It was founded by Lama Sange Dorje in the 17th century. The trek then leads us through beautiful dense rhododendron forests with Spanish moss mixed with dwarf conifers where you can often see danphe pheasants and musk deer.

Suddenly you emerge from this forest and you have arrived at Tengboche where you will stay the night. Apart from the sheer beauty of the surrounding area, a visit to the monastery is a must for most trekkers and is often one of the highlights for many visitors.

Trekking time: 4-5 hours
Overnight: Tengboche
Duration: 12 hours

No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Tea House

Day 13: Trek from Tengboche to Monjo (9,301 feet / 2,835 m)

Stop At: Monjo, Monjo, Khumbu, Sagarmatha Zone, Eastern Region
After breakfast in Tengboche, you'll return to Namche Bazaar for lunch and any last-minute shopping before starting your hike down to Monjo. The route takes you steeply down along the Dudh Kosi River. You'll cross the river and follow it to Jorsale, and then continue crossing the river a few more times to Monjo where you'll stay overnight.

Trekking time: 8-9 hours (10.2 miles / 16.4 km)
Overnight: Monjo
Duration: 12 hours

No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Tea House

Day 14: Trek from Monjo to Lukla (9,186 feet / 2,800 m)

Stop At: Lukla, Lukla, Sagarmatha Zone, Eastern Region
After breakfast in Monjo, begin the final day of the trek as you head along the Dudh Kosi river to Lukla. You'll first walk from Monjo to Ghat and stop for lunch before continuing to make your way through villages like Chumoa, Benkar, Phakding, and Chuthawa, eventually reaching the Pasang Lhamu Memorial Gate signifying the end of the trek. Though most of the route is an easy downhill slope, the last section of the trail before arriving takes you uphill—a fitting way to finish.

With Lukla's handful of shops, bars, and cafes—and even a faux Starbucks!—there are plenty of things to occupy your time as you reflect on your experience.

Trekking time: 5-7 hours
Overnight: Lukla
Duration: 12 hours

No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Tea House

Day 15: Flight from Lukla to Kathmandu

Stop At: Kathmandu, Kathmandu, Kathmandu Valley, Bagmati Zone, Central Region
Flight from Lukla to Kathmandu
After breakfast in Lukla, pack up early and head for the airstrip to hop on a flight back to Kathmandu.

Upon arrival, you'll be transferred to your hotel and will be able to enjoy the rest of the afternoon and evening at your leisure. Explore Kathmandu's streets on foot, bicycle, or rickshaw, perhaps shopping for souvenirs or seeing anything you may have missed at the beginning of your trip.

Other ideas include rewarding your muscles after the trek with a massage service at Seeing Hands (services are offered from the visually impaired), or the more upscale Kinjalla Spa. You can also take an early evening yoga class at Pranamaya Yoga, with two locations in Thamel and Patan.

In the evening, choose from a selection of Nepali, French, Vietnamese, and Middle Eastern dishes in Kathmandu.

Accommodation: Hotel
Overnight: Kathmandu
Duration: 12 hours

No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Kathmandu Hotel

Day 16: Depart Kathmandu

Stop At: Kathmandu, Kathmandu, Kathmandu Valley, Bagmati Zone, Central Region
It's time to say farewell to Nepal! Enjoy your last moments in Kathmandu with breakfast in a café, a city stroll, and/or souvenir shopping. A representative will meet you at your hotel and drive you to the airport for your return flight home.
Duration: 12 hours

No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.