The Gokyo Lake Trek is a hiking adventure for trekkers who love to see lakes, glaciers, and great views. You can reach Gokyo Lake without walking up to the Everest Base Camp.
The Gokyo Lake Trek is a captivating 12-day adventure that showcases the awe-inspiring beauty of the Everest region in Nepal. Nestled amidst the towering peaks of the Himalayas, the Gokyo Lakes lie at an elevation of 4,750 meters, offering a captivating vista of majestic peaks like Cho Oyu, Lhotse, Makalu, Pumori, and Ama Dablam. The Gokyo Lakes trek is a moderately difficult challenge, culminating in the ascent of Gokyo ri, a vantage point that rewards climbers with an unparalleled panoramic view of the Gokyo Lakes and the surrounding peaks. The trek itinerary includes essential stops at Namche, Dole (4038 m), and Machhermo (4470 m), and culminates in reaching Gokyo Valley (4,750 m) before conquering the climb to Gokyo Ri for an awe-inspiring panoramic view. En route, trekkers traverse the Ngozumpa Glacier, one of the largest glaciers in the Himalayas, and behold the remarkable Ngozumpa Tse Peak.
For trek enthusiasts, climbing Gokyo Ri is a highlight of the journey. The climb to the summit of Gokyo Ri typically takes about 2 to 3 hours from Gokyo Nepal. It's a challenging ascent due to the high altitude and steep terrain, making it moderately difficult. The Gokyo Lake trekking usually covers a distance of approximately 70 to 75 miles (112 to 120 kilometers) round trip, depending on the specific route taken. The cost of the Gokyo Lake Trek can range from USD 1,075 to USD 2,400 per person. The best time to trek Gokyo Lakes is during the spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) when the weather is favorable, offering clear skies and stunning views of the surrounding peaks and lakes. This trek is a hidden gem, blending the renowned Everest Base Camp experience with the tranquility of the Gokyo Lakes, providing a truly unforgettable adventure for trekking enthusiasts.
To the Gokyo Lake Trek, there are alternative routes that offer varied experiences for trekkers in the Everest region of Nepal. One popular option is the Gokyo Renjo La Pass Trek, which combines the beauty of Gokyo with the thrill of crossing Renjo La Pass. This route diverges from the main trail, providing a less crowded and equally scenic path to Gokyo. Trekkers can relish the stunning views of the Everest massif, Gokyo Lakes, and surrounding peaks while traversing the Renjo La pass, adding an adventurous element to the journey. Everest Base Camp Gokyo Lakes Trek, The ebc and Gokyo Lakes trek is a comprehensive journey that showcases the best of both worlds: the iconic Everest Base Camp and the tranquil Gokyo Lakes. This trek offers a blend of adventure and serenity as it leads trekkers through the majestic landscapes of the Khumbu region, providing breathtaking views of towering peaks and pristine alpine lakes.
For those seeking a shorter but rewarding trek, the Short Everest Base Camp Trek is an excellent choice. This route offers a condensed version of the classic trek, allowing trekkers to experience the highlights of the Everest region in a shorter time frame. While the trek covers essential attractions like Namche Bazaar and Tengboche, it takes a more direct path to Everest Base Camp, making it a suitable option for those with time constraints or seeking a faster-paced adventure.
Each of these alternative routes provides a unique perspective of the stunning landscapes and majestic peaks of the Everest region, catering to the diverse preferences and time commitments of trekkers. Whether opting for the classic Everest Base Camp Trek via Gokyo Lake, the adventurous Gokyo Renjo La Pass Trek, or the efficient Everest Base Camp Short Trek, all options promise a remarkable trekking experience amidst the Himalayan grandeur.
Northern Trekking Team warmly welcomes you in this land of Himalayas, Nepal. We will receive you at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) and drive you to the hotel in Thamel.
You will be introduced to the guide or trek leader who will be with you throughout your adventure period—10 days trek. He will brief you about the trip and will dictate with essential things to bring for the trek.
If time permits, you can roam around the streets of Thamel and enjoy this touristic destination of Nepal.
Well, trekking begins from today but prior to that, we have to reach Lukla (2,860m-9383ft). It is a starting point of our trek. We get in Lukla by air. It is a scenic flight of 35 minutes. Built by Sir Edmund Hillary, the airport in Lukla—Tenzing-Hillary Airport—is one of the most dangerous airstrips in the world. Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay Sherpa were the first to scale Mt. Everest in 1953.
After arranging porters in Lukla, Witnessing traditional Nepali cultures and the lifestyle of hilly people, we proceed toward Phakding (2,643m-8671ft).
We head toward Namche Bazaar ((3,440m-11286ft)—the biggest commercial hub of the entire Khumbu region, after breakfast. Walk today is not easy as it was yesterday but the uphill climb will reward you with scenic beauty. As we proceed, we will be walking along the bank of the Dudh Koshi river. The 5 suspension bridges that you witness from a distance will make your mood. I bet you will not miss this moment to capture forever!
If weather permits, you will also get a distant view of a couple of peaks—Khumbila (5,761m-18900ft), Kusum Kangroo (6,369m-20895ft), Thamserku (6,608m-21679ft), and Mt Everest (8,849m-29032ft)—while on the way to Namche.
Normally, it takes seven hours to get to Namche Bazaar from Phakding.
The beauty of this hike—Everest View —begins from today. Yes, we will take you to Everest View Hotel (3,880m-12729ft) on this rest day. On this walk of nearly two hours, the first half is a steep climb and the second is flat.
We will sit in the hotel and enjoy coffee with the heart capturing a view of Mt. Everest ahead. This is the essence of this trip.
We now proceed toward Khumjung (3,790m-12434ft). It is a small settlement and Sherpa are the natives of this village. The monastery called Khumjung is the major attraction of this place. You can observe the Yeti scalp here. After spending nearly an hour here, we will get back to Namche Bazaar where we will be visiting a couple of monasteries and the Sherpa museum.
It is going to be an interesting walk as we will be following an uphill trail followed by a downhill to reach the Dudh Koshi river. We head toward the north from here, Dudh Koshi river. We arrive at Mongla (3,980m-13057ft). It is the birthplace of Lama Sange Dorjee who is regarded as the reincarnation of a Lama from Rongbuk Monastery in Tibet. He is the one who spread Buddhism in this part of the globe, the Khumbu region. A few hours of walk from Mongla will bring us to Phortse Thanga (3,680m-12073ft).
It takes nearly six hours to reach Machhermo ((4,470m-14665ft) from Phortse Thanga. We will reach here penetrating through the dense forest of rhododendron. The waterfall near Dole (4,040m-13254ft) village is beautiful. We will pass a few more villages—Dhole, Lafarma, and Luza—to arrive at Machhermo.
The fact behind Gokyo is that you will witness the beauty of three blue lakes. The view of Kangtaiga (6,782m-22250ft), Thamserku (6,608m-21679ft), and Mt. Cho Oyu (8,153m-26748ft) will further trigger your excitement.
We cross all three lakes—Longpongo Lake, Taboche Tsho, and Dudh Pokhari (Milk Pond) to get to the village of Gokyo.
The valley goes on widening as we reach Pangkha. Following descending riverbank trail for a few hours will get us at Ngazumpa Glacier but prior to reaching here, we need to climb as well. Crossing the iron bridge and observing silent Longpongo lake, we reach a place where you will see footprints of Lama on a stone. Similarly, the further walk will take us to another lake— Taboche Tsho.
On this day of acclimatization, we will lead you to several places that will open out the beauty of the Khumbu region. The spectacular views of the Himalayas from Gokyo Ri (5,357m-17575ft) is heart capturing. You will also visit the fourth Gokyo Lake. The key attractions of the site are Mt. Cho-Oyu (8,188m-26863ft), Gyachung Kang (7,952m-26089ft), along Ngozumba Glacier.
We go down on a trail along the Dudh Koshi River and pass the first Gokyo lakes. On the way, we also adore views of the Cholatse (6,440m-21128ft) and Taboche (6,495m-21309ft) peaks. Our trail descends before climbing a high ground. After reaching the Chorten, we can see great views of Thamserku ((6,608m-21679ft), Cho Oyu (8,188m-26863ft), and Kangtega (6,782m-22250ft) mountains. We walk past Machhermo (4,470m-14665ft), Luza, and Lafarma villages before reaching Dole.
We go down on a steep trail to Phortse Thanga. On the way, we will see rhododendrons and waterfalls. We also come across mountain goats, musk deer, and pheasants. After reaching Mong dada we can get a good view of Khumbila peak. On our way to Namche, the view of Taboche, Ama Dablam, Thamserku, and Kangtega mountains are ours to commend. We walk on a trail that holds on to a forested by Kyangjuma, turning through several angles. After reaching Namche Sherpa Museum hill, we look back to see Lhotse, the tip of Everest and Tengboche for one last time. About a minute from here in Namche Bazaar.
Leaving the beauty of Khumbu behind, we proceed ahead to get to Lukla. We will be walking for nearly seven hours to arrive in Lukla and here ends our trip to Gokyo Lake Trek.
We will try to catch the first flight to Kathmandu and this will get us in the capital by 8 am. From the airport, we will escort you to the hotel. You will have ample time to roam around Kathmandu.
In the evening we, Northern Trekking team, will offer you dinner. We want you to share your experience along with feedback on the trip so that we can improve ourselves.