Facts of the Trip
Introduction to Gokyo Ri Trek
The Gokyo Ri Trek is a popular trekking route in Everest that takes you to the Gokyo Valley to explore the beautiful Gokyo Lakes and hike up to the Gokyo Ri peak height of 5,483 m. The trekking package is also known as Gokyo Lake Trek. It is the best trekking route for panoramic views of Mount Everest, Mount Lhotse, Mount Makalu, and Mount Kanchenjunga in the background. It offers incomparable views of Mount Everest and several other peaks, including the Gokyo Valley from the top of the Gokyo Ri.
As Gokyo Lakes and Gokyo Ri trek route comes in the second position in the Everest region after the Everest Base Camp Trek. With a combination of adventure trekking, a real taste of Sherpa village, and beautiful landscapes, including glaciers, lakes, and high-altitude passes, this trek is becoming outstanding.
Major Highlights of Gokyo Ri Trekking
There are six lakes, with three major beautiful lakes in Gokyo Valley. All these combine to form Gokyo Lakes, and the Imja Glacier creates a valley called Gokyo Valley. So trekking is well known as Gokyo Lake Trek, Gokyo Valley Trek, or Gokyo Ri trek parallel. So, the major highlights of this trekking route are Gokyo Lake and Gokyo Ri Top. Allows yoo explore the pristine Gokyo Lakes, a series of six turquoise glacial lakes. The sight of these lakes against the backdrop of stunning mountains is breathtaking.
Highlights of the Gokyo Ri Trekking are as follows:
Gokyo Ri Hike:
Reaching the summit of Gokyo Ri (5,357m) is the climax of the trek. From the top of the Gokyo Ri, you can witness panoramic views of some of the world’s highest peaks, including Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, Amadablam, and Cho Oyu. The stunning panoramic views from the top are incomparable from other places.
Exploring Gokyo Lakes and Fifth Lake:
The beautiful lakes of the Gokyo Valley are the main attractions of this trekking. You will get a chance to walk around the Gokyo Lakes during your trek. On the acclimatization day, you will visit the beautiful lake of high altitude, the Fifth Lake.
Ngozumpa Glacier:
As you approach Gokyo Trek, you’ll cross the Ngozumpa Glacier, the largest glacier in Nepal. This part of the trek provides a unique and thrilling experience. The global warming situation is gradually increasing the glacier size day by day.
Sherpa People and their Culture:
The Everest Gokyo Lake trek offers a chance to experience Sherpa culture in the heart of the Himalayas. The Sherpas are renowned for their mountaineering skills and warm hospitality. You will get an insight into the Highlander people and their culture during the trek.
Explore the Sagarmatha National Park
Gokyo Valley is protected under the Sagarmatha National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site. You will enjoy the high-altitude wildlife, flora, and fauna during your trek. You will see some mountain goats, yaks herds on the pastures, elusive snow leopard, and Himalayan Thar.
Monasteries and Prayer Stones:
Along the way, you’ll encounter beautiful Buddhist monasteries and intricately carved prayer stones, adding a spiritual dimension to the trek.
Each of these highlights contributes to the overall experience of the Gokyo trek, making it a treasured adventure for those who embark on it.
Gokyo Trek Route and Difficulty Level?
Gokyo ri trek difficulty
The Gokyo trekking route is moderately difficult. The trekking route follows the same route to Everest Base Camp until Kyangzuma. The Gokyo Lake trek begins after the scenic mountain flight from Kathmandu to Lukla. The walking adventure starts from Lukla airport, which follows the meandering Dudh Kosi River leading to the vibrant hub of Namche Bazaar. Namche is the largest settlement on, then as the gateway to Mount, and the tfamouspopular as the Sherpa capital.
Lukla to Gokyo trek continues through the ascends to Dole and Machhermo before reaching the serene Gokyo village, which serves as the base for the triumphant ascent of Gokyo Ri.
Upon this trek’s completion, the return route to Lukla includes a worthwhile detour to the esteemed Thame and Khumjung Monastery, a celebrated Buddhist sanctuary of the Everest region.
The Everest Gokyo Ri Trek involves daily hikes of 5-8 hours, climaxing at a daunting 5,360 meters at the Gokyo summit.
The Gokyo trek journey is physically demanding and involves high altitudes and potentially cold weather; trekkers are advised to be in excellent physical shape, have high-altitude experience, or, at the very least, be well prepared for the conditions they’ll encounter on this remarkable journey.
The Gokyo Lake trek difficulty is considered moderately complex due to several factors. Although it doesn’t require technical climbing skills, the Gokyo trek presents challenges such as long days of walking, often over steep, rocky, and occasionally icy terrain.
High altitude is another significant factor affecting the trek’s difficulty. Gokyo Ri stands at an elevation of 5,357 meters (17,570 feet), and the risk of altitude sickness is real. Acclimatization days are crucial to help your body adjust to the thinning air. Having decent fitness to undertake the trek and enjoy its stunning views essentialmportant.
When is the best time for Gokyo Valley Trek?
The Gokyo Valley Trek is best undertaken during the spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) seasons.
In the autumn (September to November), the weather is generally stable, and the skies are clear, offering stunning views of the surrounding peaks, including Everest.
Spring brings blooming rhododendrons and lush vegetation, while autumn offers pleasant temperatures and stable trekking conditions.
Winter (December to February) can be extremely cold, with heavy snowfall, making the trek challenging.
The monsoon season (June to August) brings heavy rainfall and limited visibility, making it less suitable for trekking.
So, trekking to Gokyo Valley is best in the spring and autumn seasons for the best accessibles and accessible walking routes with comfortable weather.
However, with proper preparation and gear, the Gokyo Valley Trek can still be enjoyed during these seasons for experienced trekkers seeking solitude and unique experiences in a quieter environment.
How much does it cost to do the Gokyo Trekking?
The Gokyo Valley trek cost depends on various factors. Private trekking is more expensive than the group joining trekking. The cost of the Gokyo trek can differ significantly based on several factors, including the trek length, the trekking company, the level of service, and whether or not you hire a guide or porter.
The Gokyo Ri trek costs $1250 for a guided trek that lasts approximately two weeks. This includes accommodations, meals, permits, guides, porter fees, and round-trip flights from Kathmandu to Lukla.
It’s worth noting that additional expenses can arise for personal gear, travel insurance, tips for your guide and porters, and any unplanned costs, like extra nights in a lodge or unforeseen health issues.
The cost of the trekking goes to food, accommodation, guide, porter salary, flight tickets, and tips. Preparation costs for clothes, gear, and insurance are extra.
Gokyo Lakes Trek Itinerary:
Gokyo ri trek itinerary
| Day 1: | Flight from Kathmandu to Lukla and Trek from Lukla to Phakding |
| Day 2: | Trek from Phakding to Namche Bazaar |
| Day 3: | Acclimatization Day at Namche Bazaar |
| Day 4: | Trek from Namche Bazaar to Dole |
| Day 5: | Trek from Dole to Machhermo |
| Day 6: | Trek from Machhermo to Gokyo |
| Day 7: | Early morning hike to Gokyo Ri, Spend the rest of the day exploring Gokyo Valley |
| Day 8: | Trek from Gokyo to Dole |
| Day 9: | Trek from Dole to Namche Bazaar |
| Day 10: | Trek from Namche Bazaar to Lukla |
| Day 11: | Flight from Lukla to Kathmandu |
Alternative Treks for Gokyo Lake Trek
There are other trekking routes as alternatives, one as the Gokyo trek. You can extend the trek to Everest Base Camp in the clockwise direction by passing Cho La Pass. If you want to visit Everest Base Camp first and come to visit the Gokyo Valley after passing the Cho La pass, you can join the Everest Base Camp Chola Pass Trek.
Gokyo Lake Everest Base Camp Trek
The Gokyo and Everest Base Camp trek is a popular trekking destination in the Everest region. Gokyo Lake Everest Base Camp Trek is a single trekking package that combines the beauty of Gokyo Valley and its stunning glacial lakes with the iconic Everest Base Camp Camp. The trek offers the turquoise Gokyo Lakes, the breathtaking view from Gokyo Ri, the legendary Khumbu Icefall, and the opportunity to stand at the base of Mount Everest. This trek offers a unique and immersive experience, showcasing the best of the Everest region’s natural beauty and cultural richness.
Everest Base Camp – Gokyo Valley Trek
The Gokyo trek follows the anticlockwise direction, which first visits the Everest Base Camp, and after crossing the Cho La Pass, you will enter the Gokyo Valley. If you want a thrilling hiking adventure with superb views of stunning mountains, this EBC Gokyo trek is option one.
Itinerary
After breakfast, we will be escorted to the domestic terminal of Kathmandu airport for an early
morning flight to Lukla (2,800m/9,186ft), a gateway destination from where our trek begins. After
an adventurous 40-minute flight above the breathtaking green and white mountains, we will
reach the Tenzing-Hillary Airport at Lukla.
This is one of the most beautiful air routes in the world, culminating in a dramatic landing on a
hillside surrounded by high mountain peaks. Upon arrival at Lukla, we meet our other crew
members, and after some packing and planning, we will start our trek through the prosperous
village of Lukla until we reach Phakding.
To assist in acclimatization, we only have a short hike today. However, we can take a side trip to a nearby monastery if you want additional activities. Overnight at Phakding.
Upon breakfast, we will start a pleasant trek. The walk today will have a few short uphills and
downhill routes, with multiple crossings over the Dudh Koshi River and a magnificent view of
Mt. Thamserku (6,608m/21,675ft) when we reach Benkar village.
We will then cross more bridges before reaching the entrance of Sagarmatha National Park at
Monjo, where our trekking permits are checked to keep a record of trekkers. A descent and gradual walk will bring us to Jorsale, the last village before Namche Bazaar.
The walk is enjoyable as we pass along the river bed and reach the Hillary Suspension Bridge. As we climb up towards Namche Bazaar, we will be treated to a magnificent sight of Kwangde—peak, Kusum, Kangaru, Mt. Everest, Lhotse, Tawache, and many other fabulous mountains. We will break at the Chautara to admire the view before finally reaching the colourful village of Namche Bazaar: the main gateway to the Khumbu region.
This is the first of the two days for “acclimatization.” Health experts recommend staying active and moving during the rest day so we can either spend the day taking a hike to Thame, visiting Khunde or relaxing and exploring Namche Bazaar itself.
Namche Bazaar is the main centre of the Everest (Khumbu) region. It has government offices, ATMs, Internet cafes, shops, restaurants, a bakery, and a colourful market each Friday evening and Saturday. Suppose we trek a few hundred vertical feet during the day. In that case, it will help us properly acclimatize, so our guides will take us to the Tourist Visitor Center near the headquarter of the Sagarmatha National Park, where we can observe an assortment of things threats to the first Everest ascenders and Sherpa culture, and learn about the various plant and animal life of the Everest region.
We can also take an enjoyable side trip up to Khumjung and climb to the famous airstrip at Syangboche. Above the airstrip is the Everest View Hotel, a deluxe hotel with great views of the highest mountains on Earth.
The snowy peaks of Kongde and Thamserku and the sacred mountain Khumbila hosts a well-known monastery surrounding the Khumjung valley. We will also pay a visit to ‘Hillary School’ located at the same site. After having lunch and spending time in Khumjung, we returned to Namche Bazaar.
After breakfast in Namche, we will start our trek, enjoying superb views of Mt. Everest, Nuptse,
Lhotse, Ama Dablam, and a close-up view of Thamserku. Our trek follows the gradual trail, with
a few ups and downs overlooking the magnificent view of the great Himalayas. We can spot pheasant, musk deer, and Himalayan Thar wildlife along the way.
The trail then gradually descends before climbing to Kayangjuma and eventually reaches Sansa – the major trail junction to Gokyo Valley and Everest Base Camp. We will then trek progressively up through the Mongla pass (3975 m), from where we can glimpse Ama Dablam, Thamserku, Tawoche, and Mt. Khumbila. Sherpas regard Mt. Khumbila as the sacred mountain of the patron God of the Khumbu area.
Descending to Dudhkosi Khola (3250 m), we will cross a bridge and trek up through a rhododendron forest full of Musk and Himalayan wild deer. Finally, we’ll arrive at the walled fields of Phorse, just under the snow-dusted peaks of Tawoche and Cholaste. From here, a short trek leads to Phorse village.
We will return from the previous day’s trail up to Phorse. Upon crossing the Dudh Koshi River bridge, we will spot wildlife, including pheasants, mountain goats, and the elusive musk deer. Through forests and waterfalls, we reach Dole, a small place with a handful of teahouses.
Further on, we will climb steadily up through a scenic ridge above Dole as the trail climbs via Lhabarma. Offering good views of Cho Oyu, Kantega, and Thamserku, the course takes us through many summer settlements and the charming hamlet of Luza (4360 m). While ascending from Luza, we will reach the Dudh Koshi valley before walking along the hillside above the thundering Dudkoshi, passing through some small hamlets and sandy spurs until we reach Machhermo.
Machhermo is the last major settlement on the way up to Gokyo. The beautiful stream flowing down from the Kyajo Ri and Phari Lapche mountains runs through the middle of the village before draining into the Dudh Koshi. It is where the Khumbu people got their first sighting of a yeti in 1974. We will then visit the Himalayan Rescue Hospital for an informative lecture regarding altitude sickness.
Today, we climbed through a ridge Chorten from where we can see fabulous views down the valley and of Mt. Kangtega, Thamserku, and the northern part of the Cho-Oyu (8153m). Beyond the ridge, the valley widens as the trail passes through Chorten and reaches Pangka(4480m).
We’ll descend to the river bank before climbing up to the terminal moraine of the Ngozumpa Glacier. It is a steep climb on the moraine, and upon crossing an iron bridge over a stream, the trail levels out as it follows the valley past the first lake, Longpongo (4690m). At the sight of the second lake, Taboche Tsho, we will be mesmerized by the shimmering blue water sparkling in the sun.
A little ahead of the second lake, we reach the third lake, linked by a surging stream. Gokyo village stands by the third lake, and Cho-Oyu Mountain is a spectacular backdrop. After lunch, we explore the area around the third Lake, Dudh Pokhari, and spend the night in a house with comfortable bedrooms.
Today is an acclimatization day. If the weather is good, we will grasp the opportunity to climb. Gokyo Ri and enjoy the scene from the best viewpoint in the Everest Region. Or as we know, Gokyo is famous for its grand view and the six lakes it hosts, so we can also take this chance to observe the fourth (Thonak Tsho) and fifth Lake (Ngozuma Tsho).
The fourth Lake is about 3 km north of Gokyo, with high cliffs and peaks rising above it. The trail continues to the fifth Lake. If interested, we can climb up a hill on the edge of the Lakes to achieve astounding views of Cho-Oyu, Gyachung Kang, Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse, and Makulu – at ‘The Scoundrel’s Viewpoint.’ Beyond the fifth Lake is the Cho Oyu Base Camp.
The Northern part of the fifth Lake provides fabulous views of Cho-Oyu Base Camp and the biggest glacier in the world- the Ngazumpa glacier. Depending on the time and energy of the group, we also have the option to go to the sixth Lake before returning to Gokyo village.
The way back from Gokyo is an easy downhill walk along the Dudh Koshi River, which emerges
from the Ngozumpa Glacier. Passing by the second and then the first Gokyo Lakes, we come
to a small gushing stream over an iron bridge and the hamlet of Phangka ahead.
Cholatse and Taboche peaks rear up on the right of us as the trail descends below Phangka and across a level terrace on the slope leading us to climb a rib on the far side of the hill. Upon reaching the Chorten at the edge, we will see fantastic views of Thamserku, Cho Oyu, and Kangtega before slowly walking down to the sprawling village of Machhermo. Again, we reach Dole through the charming hamlet of Luza and Lhafarm.
The trail descends steeply downward, so we must stroll as we battle the rocky terrain. After crossing the suspension bridges over the fast-flowing Dudh Koshi and its tributaries, the trail becomes more level and natural.
Although travelling the same route, we will experience completely different views, including a mixture of open plains, rhododendron, and pine forests. We will walk through the Sherpa villages’ noticing the Buddhist culture of prayer stones and flags. On arrival in Lukla, we will recall the experiences of the last couple of weeks.
Following downhill through paved stone steps, passing Manjo and Pakhding village, you will come to Lukla. The long journey comes to the rest point with all the beautiful events as memory. It
it takes around 6 hours to reach Lukla.
The suspension bridge, Monastery, Chorten, rhododendron forest, mane, bank of Dudhkoshi, and the Himalayan screen turn off as you finish your trekking. Night stay on Lukla.
We will fly back to Kathmandu after a long mountain journey. The early morning flight drops us in Kathmandu. After reaching Kathmandu, we have the rest of the day off to rest or explore. To celebrate the successful completion of our journey, we will have a farewell dinner in the evening.
