Gokyo Lakes Trek

Trip Details

Destination: Nepal

Overview
Detail Itinerary

About Trip

The Gokyo Lake Trek provides an attractive and less crowded, more peaceful alternative to Everest Base Camp for the discerning trekker. The views are on a par, if not better; the highest altitude is nearly the same (Kala Patthar 5550m vs. Gokyo Ri 5360m); and there are many bonuses like the wonderful lakes which are the trek’s main objective.

The trek takes you from Lukla on to Namche Bazaar, before branching off up to Dole and Machhermo before finally reaching the cluster of lakes in the Gokyo Valley. It is then necessary to do a U-turn, and retrace your steps back down to Lukla.

The best times to do the Gokyo Lake trek are from March to May and late-September to late-November or even early-December. These months offer clear skies and excellent visibility, making it easy for trekkers to enjoy the magnificent views. Trekking in the Winter (December to February) can be problematic, due to snow and sub-zero temperatures. During the Monsoon (June to August), the region receives a lot of rainfall, obscuring the views and causing other problems like landslides, leeches and delayed/cancelled flights. Therefore, it is recommended to choose your trekking dates with care.

Tip: Anyone interested in combining the Gokyo Lake and Everest Base Camp Treks should click here

Trip Highlights

Beautiful turquoise Gokyo Lake
Views of several 8000-ers, including Everest (8848m)and Cho Oyu (8188m)
Sherpa culture and villages
Buddhist prayer flags and monasteries
Bustling market of Namche Bazaar, the Sherpa ‘capital’
Thrills of Lukla Airport

Outline Itinerary

Day 01: Arrival in Kathmandu and transfer to hotel
Day 02: Trip briefing and shopping for equipment
Day 03: Flight to Lukla (2860m) and trek to Phakding 3-4 hrs. (2610m)
Day 04: Trek to Namche Bazaar 5-6 hrs. (3440m)
Day 05: Acclimatization day in Namche Bazaar. Hike to Everest View Hotel 3-4 hrs.
Day 06: Trek to Dole 6-7 hrs. (4200m)
Day 07: Trek to Machhermo 4-5 hrs. (4470m)
Day 08: Trek to Gokyo 5-6 hrs. (4870m)
Day 09: Rest day- optional early morning hike up to Gokyo Ri Viewpoint (5360m)
Day 10: Trek to Dole 6-7hrs. (4200m)
Day 11: Trek to Namche Bazaar5-6 hrs. (3440m)
Day 12: Trek to Phakding 4-5 hrs. (2610m)
Day 13: Trek to Lukla 3hrs. (2860m)
Day 14: Flight to Kathmandu, transfer to hotel
Day 15: Kathmandu sightseeing and farewell dinner
Day 16: Transfer to airport for departure flight

Day 01Arrival in Kathmandu and transfer to hotelYou will be welcomed at the airport by a company representative and taken to your downtown Kathmandu Hotel. Depending on the length of your flight and your arrival time, it may be possible to sample some of the delights of the tourist hub of Thamel, or otherwise you can take it easy and catch up on sleep.
Day 02Trip briefing and shopping for equipmentAfter a relaxing breakfast, you will have a trip briefing and a check on your equipment. There will be ample opportunities to buy any missing items and to stock up on personal things like candies and snacks. Time permitting, it may also be possible to explore the old market area of Asan Tolle with its central Annapurna Shrine and baffling array of goods on sale.
Day 03Flight to Lukla (2860m) and trek to Phakding 3-4 hrs. (2610m) In the morning, we take the short flight to Lukla, landing at the tiny Tenzing Hillary Airport, named after Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary, the first to summit Everest in 1953. The airport is infamous for its short, sloping runway. After lunch, eaten while watching the comings and going in this bustling little transit town, in the afternoon we walk along a gently undulating trail to the village of Phakding, where we stay overnight.
Day 04 Trek to Namche Bazaar 5-6 hrs. (3440m)Our first full day trekking takes us from Phakding to Namche Bazaar, the Sherpa ‘capital’ of the Everest region. We have lunch at Monjo, and in the afternoon, if we are lucky, we can get our first distant glimpse of Everest. Today, we also cross the Hillary Suspension Bridge, again named after Edmund Hillary, which spans the Dudh Koshi River. It is reputed to be one of the highest suspension bridges in Nepal, being approximately 135m above the river. We may encounter mule trains along the way, carrying trekking and camping gear as well as commodities for the teahouses and locals. We arrive in Namche Bazaar in mid-afternoon, giving you time to explore this bustling and atmospheric little town before dinner.
Day 05Acclimatization day in Namche Bazaar. Hike to Everest View Hotel 3-4 hrs.In order to help our bodies slowly adjust to the demands of being at altitude, we will spend a rest and acclimatization day in Namche Bazaar, with a hike up to the famous Everest View Hotel. The dreamchild of Takashi Miyahara and opened in 1971, the hotel, which is located at an altitude of 3880m, was listed in the Guiness Book of Records in 2004 as being the ‘Highest Placed Hotel in the World’. Here we can enjoy coffee and bakery items, while soaking up the amazing views and atmosphere. Depending on your wishes, we can either go directly back to Namche for lunch or continue to Khumjung before returning.
Day 06Trek to Dole 6-7 hrs. (4200m)Today we have beautiful views of the distinctive and formidable Ama Dablam, ‘Mother’s Necklace’ (6812m), Thamserku (6608m), and hopefully Everest again. We can also look back down onto the Hillary Bridge and riverine landscape of the Dudh Koshi River. The trail is fairly flat at first, as we pass a photogenic Buddhist chorten. After a tea-break at Khyangjuma, we climb up the rocky hillside to Mong Dada, where we will have lunch accompanied by a stunning view. In the afternoon, we first walk downhill to Phortethanga, then climb up through the forest, and pass the National Park Army Check-post, where we have to sign in again. Before arriving at Dole, a Sherpa village in the valley, we can spend a little time at the stunning waterfall. An early dinner gives ample opportunities to relax in the evening.
Day 07Trek to Machhermo 4-5 hrs. (4470m)After breakfast, we trek up the exposed hillside, allowing us to see incredible mountain views. We will arrive in Machhermo in time for lunch. Machhermo is closely associated with the legend of the Yeti or Abominable Snowman, several sightings having been reported in the area. It was a devastating 1974 avalanche here, resulting in the loss of several lives, that prompted the establishment of the Himalayan Rescue Association. In the afternoon, we will climb up to the moraine of the Ngozumpa Glacier, at 36km reputedly the longest in Nepal region. It is situated in the lap of the 6th highest peak in the world, Cho Oyu (8188m), otherwise known as the Turquoise Goddess. Our explorations will help us to get better acclimatized before dinner and an enjoyable evening
Day 08Trek to Gokyo 5-6 hrs. (4870m)Today we continue to climb in a wonderful Sherpa, Himalayan landscape, with yak farms here and there, and the bubbling river that flows from the Gokyo Lakes. There are 19 lakes, all oligotrophic, in the area, ranging in altitude from 4700m to 5000m, of which 6 are regarded as the prime Gokyo Lakes. We can marvel again at the Ngozumpa Glacier, now even closer at hand. We stay overnight at the third lake, Gokyo Tsho (4734m), at the heart of the Gokyo Valley.
Day 09Rest day- optional early morning hike up to Gokyo Ri Viewpoint (5360m)Today we have the option of getting up at the crack of dawn in order to summit Gokyo Ri, one of the most popular viewpoints in the region, before sunrise. We will be rewarded with stunning views of Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, Cho Oyu and other Himalayan giants. Breakfast is back at our lodge, after which you can relax or explore the area at leisure
Day 10Trek to Dole 6-7hrs. (4200m)We say farewell to Gokyo and start to retrace our steps back down towards Dole. The descent and different perspective allow us to appreciate the wonders of the mountain views that surround us. Lunch is at Macchermo, which is always charming and welcoming. Overnight at Dole once more, the drop in altitude allowing us to sleep a little more deeply!
Day 11Trek to Namche Bazaar5-6 hrs. (3440m)Our destination today is Namche Bazaar, reached by a pleasant, mainly downhill trek. But the infamous ‘Nepali flat’ inevitably includes some climbs as well! The scenery becomes gradually softer and greener the lower we descend, until we arrive in Namche and can take advantage of all the ‘creature comforts’ and conveniences that it offers to trekkers!
Day 12Trek to Phakding 4-5 hrs. (2610m)The trek back down to Phakding, recrossing the Hillary Bridge, brings back memories of our climb up just over a week previously.
Day 13Trek to Lukla 3hrs. (2860m)It will only take a few hours at a leisurely pace for us to arrive back in Lukla. After lunch, you will have time to wander down the streets and browse in the shops of this busy little place.
Day 14Flight to Kathmandu, transfer to hotelWe will aim to be on one of the earliest flights out of Lukla, having an opportunity to marvel at the speed at which planes arrive and depart at this amazing airport, before it is time for us to board ourselves. After the transfer from Tribhuvan Airport to your hotel, you are free to spend the rest of the day at leisure, getting fresh and relaxed after your long trek.
Day 15Kathmandu sightseeing and farewell dinnerToday is a chance to explore some of Kathmandu’s best-loved sights, like the sacred Buddhist stupas of Swayambunath and Boudhanath. And, of course, there will be opportunities for shopping for souvenirs for yourself, family and friends. In the evening, you will have a farewell dinner with your guide and the MD of Search Treks & Expedition, who will present you with a certificate of achievement for reaching your target, Gokyo Ri.
Day 16Transfer to airport for departure flightFinally, it is time to leave your hotel, Kathmandu and Nepal. You will be transferred to the airport for your international flight back home. Search Treks hopes that you have had an unforgettable time…and that you will come back again in the future!