Gokyo Lakes Trek - 10 Days

Gokyo Lakes Trek - 10 Days

Deep within the Everest region lies the most magical lakes on Earth. The indescribable blue-green waters of the Gokyo Lakes are a stark contrast to the steep, rugged Gokyo Valley walls. The adventurous journey diverts away from the more populated Everest Base Camp Trek for a more intimate experience with the culture and beauty of the Everest region. The highlight of the trek and a moment cherished for all your life is reaching Gokyo Ri (Peak) (5357 meters/17,575 feet). Words cannot describe the view here. In the distance lies the Ngozumpa Glacier, the longest in Nepal, while Mt. Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, Cho Oyu, Nuptse, and more peaks act as a backdrop to this jaw-dropping panorama. Many trekkers consider the Gokyo Lakes Trek to have more magnificent views than even the Everest Base Camp Trek. Join us for the adventure of a lifetime!

Itinerary

Day 1: Fly to Lukla (2860m), trek to Phakding (2610m) – 30-minute flight, 2-3 hours trek.

Pass By: Lukla, Lukla, Sagarmatha Zone, Eastern Region
Early in the morning, we catch a flight to Lukla from the Kathmandu domestic airport. The views from the plane build our anticipation and excitement for the trek. After landing, we are welcomed by our crew and the cool Himalayan breeze. We pass beautiful Sherpa villages, their agricultural fields, and many mani stones and prayer wheels. We see a spectacular view of Kusum Kanguru as we reach Phakding.

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Local Guest House.

Day 2: Trek from Phakding to Namche Bazaar (3440m) – 6-7 hours.

Pass By: Sagarmatha National Park, Sagarmatha National Park, Sagarmatha Zone, Eastern Region
After breakfast, we begin to head to Namche Bazaar. We cross several suspension bridges, enjoying views of Thamserku. Following the Dudh Koshi River bank, we pass other small Sherpa villages, reaching Monjo and officially entering Sagarmatha National Park. We stop at Jorsalle village for lunch and continue along the riverbank through pine forests. We cross the highest suspension bridge of the Everest region and trek upwards. We catch our first glimpse of Mt. Everest and continue to Namche Bazaar. Overnight in a guest house.

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight at a local guesthouse.

Day 3: Acclimatization and exploration day in Namche Bazaar.

Stop At: Namche Bazaar, Namche Bazaar, Khumbu, Sagarmatha Zone, Eastern Region
Wake up with a pleasant view of Mt. Kongde Ri as we have our breakfast. Today is our acclimatization day. In higher altitude, there is less oxygen in the air. We must take time to let our bodies adjust to the difference. To help acclimatize, we take a short day hike up to Sagarmatha National Park Museum and Khumjung Village. The supposed Yeti scalp at the monastery and the Everest Viewpoint are memorable moments of the hike. Also, from the museum, we can see a perfect view of Mt. Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse, Ama Dablam, and many more pristine peaks. On the way up, we can stop at the famous Everest hotel and enjoy a cup of tea. Afterward, we explore Khumjung village and stop for lunch. After lunch, we head to Namche Bazaar. Namche is a major trade center in the Khumbu region and is densely populated by the Sherpa people. The city is bustling with trekkers who have finished or are preparing for the Everest Base Camp Trek. Bakeries, cafes, equipment stores, jewelry shops, and restaurants line the streets of Namche Bazaar. Overnight in the guest house.
Duration: 1 day

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight at a local guesthouse.

Day 4: Trek from Namche to Dole (4038m)– 5 hours.

Pass By: Sagarmatha National Park, Sagarmatha National Park, Sagarmatha Zone, Eastern Region
After breakfast, we ascend for 25 minutes to the top of Namche Bazaar for a nice view of Kongde Ri. The gentle trail from here to Kyanjuma was built by Pasang Sherpa from donations given by trekkers. Soon, a junction appears, dividing the Gokyo Lakes Trek and the Everest Base Camp Trek. Taking the Gokyo Lakes Trek path, we headup to Mong La Danda. The view of Mt. Ama Dablam and Thamserku is amazing. After taking some photos, we descend to Phortse Thanga and stop for lunch. Between here and Dole, we have the best chance to see the rare, majestic Musk Deer. Ascend another couple of hours through birch and juniper forests until Dole, a beautiful little village with gorgeous views of Thamserku.

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight at a local guest house.

Day 5: Trek from Dole to Machhermo (4470m) – 4 to 5 hours.

Pass By: Sagarmatha National Park, Sagarmatha National Park, Sagarmatha Zone, Eastern Region
Dole to Machhermo takes about 4 hours on a gradual uphill path. We can see Mt. Cho Oyu after ascending 15 min from Dole. There are two small villages (Lafarma and Luza) between Dole and Machhermo that we can take a rest in.By the time we reach Machhermo, we are above the tree line, and the scenery is extraordinary. Machhermo is a very quiet village located near a river. After having lunch, we can go to visit the river and explore the rest of the village. Overnight at guest house.

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight at a local guesthouse

Day 6: Trek from Machhermo to Gokyo Village (4750m) – 4 hours.

Pass By: Sagarmatha National Park, Sagarmatha National Park, Sagarmatha Zone, Eastern Region
Today, we are going to see the beautiful Gokyo Lakes, a highlight of our trek. We stop at a village on the way to have some tea and take in the surrounding beauty. About an hour after our tea break, we reach the first lake. After another hour of hiking, we can see the first lake. The second lake is nearby. Both lakes are mesmerizing with their blue-green hue. We hike for another hour and arrive at the third lake. The views of Mt. Cho Oyufrom here makes the experience even more special. Our eyes are wide as we observe the beautiful, tranquil lake. We have our lunch here, and then walk up to Ngozumpa Glacier. It is the longest glacier in the Himalayas, though it is melting rapidly because of climate change, so we are privileged to see it before it is gone. We continue to Gokyo Village. Overnight at guest house.

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight at a local guest house.

Day 7: Trek from Gokyo village to Gokyo Ri (5357m), then back down to Machhermo –6-7 hours

Pass By: Sagarmatha National Park, Sagarmatha National Park, Sagarmatha Zone, Eastern Region
Again, we get an early start. However, you’ll feel well rested from getting lots of sleep last night. The goal is to reach Gokyo Ri before the sun rises, which provides a spectacular viewpoint to see the glowing peaks. It’s a steep 600-meter climb, where we see four 8,000 meter peaks before our eyes – Mt. Everest, Cho Oyu, Lhotse, and Makalu. We head back to Gokyo village for breakfast and then head to Machhermo, which we reach just in time for lunch. Overnight at guest house.

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight at a local guesthouse.

Day 8: Trek from Machhermo to Namche Bazaar –5 hours.

Pass By: Sagarmatha National Park, Sagarmatha National Park, Sagarmatha Zone, Eastern Region
After breakfast, we head down to Namche Bazaar,passing through Dole. The trail is mostly downhill except for a 40-minute climb from Phortse Thanga to Mong La Danda. After that, the trail is relatively easy, passing down through Kyanjuma. We stop at Namche Bazaar. Take some time to explore and buy any souvenirs before leaving the Everest region! Overnight at guest house.

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight at a local guesthouse.

Day 9: Trek from Namche Bazaar to Lukla –6-7 hours.

Pass By: Sagarmatha National Park, Sagarmatha National Park, Sagarmatha Zone, Eastern Region
After having breakfast with gorgeous mountain views, we start head down to Lukla. We head down for half an hour while enjoying the last view of Mt. Everest and say bye to the mountains. We will cross six suspension bridges and pass several Sherpa villages today before arriving in Lukla. After crossing the highest bridge, we walk another 3 hours to Phakding and stop for lunch. We arrive in Lukla after 2.5 hours of walking the beautiful trail through Sherpa settlements. Time to enjoy the last night of the Himalaya in Lukla!

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight at a local guesthouse.

Day 10: Fly from Lukla to Manthali in the morning and drive to Kathmandu– 30-minute flight

Pass By: Sagarmatha National Park, Sagarmatha National Park, Sagarmatha Zone, Eastern Region
Have breakfast and then walk to Tenzing-Hillary airport and fly to Manthali in the morning and drive to Kathmandu. The drive to Kathmandu will take about 5 hours. We spend most of the day drive to Kathmandu via beautiful local villages.

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
No accommodation included on this day.