Gyoko Lake Trek Content
Trip Overview
Welcome to a one-of-a-kind trip in the Khumbu region of Nepal: Everest Gokyo Ri Trek. Gokyo Ri is located next to the town of Gokyo, just west of the Ngozumpa Glacier. Although it is one of the best viewpoints accessible without climbing, many miss it because they prefer the increasingly crowded Everest Base Camp trails.
The summit of Gokyo Ri at 5483 m elevation offers the best possible and beautiful view of the world’s highest mountain: Mount Everest. In addition to Everest, you can also see Lhotse (8,516 meters), Cho Oyu (8,188 meters), Makalu (8,485 meters) and several other distant Tibetan peaks. It also offers incredible views of the Ngozumpa Glacier as it carves its way through the Gokyo Valley.
Apart from the extraordinary mountain views, through our Everest Gokyo Ri trek, you will also get the opportunity to trek along the three lakes of Gokyo- Longponga Lake, Taujung Lake, and Gokyo Lake. The water here is an eternal source of fresh water nourished from thousands of years of snow and ice. Known as the mysterious hidden gem of the Everest region, the Gokyo Lake and the Gokyo village truly capture the hearts of its guests.
This lake holds sacred significance in the culture of Hinduism because it is believed to be the residence of the snake god Nag Devata. If you come here in August, you will have the opportunity to attend the Janai Purnima festival of Hindu believers.
In addition to lakes and summit, through our trek, you will also walk through the naturally enriched Sagarmatha National Park that provides you the opportunity to spot the snow leopard, musk deer, Himalayan thar, blue sheep, langurs, and Himalayan bear along the way.
Each day of our Everest Gokyo Ri trek gives you a different nature, different climate, and people. The mysterious Buddhist monasteries with lamas and the soulful life of Sherpas- the indigenous people of this land will mesmerize you all along.
Regarding difficulty, our Everest Gokyo Ri trek is fairly easy by Himalayan standards. Saying that you will still be hiking at high altitudes and will need to acclimatize properly. Trekking to the summit of Gokyo Ri requires no technical training or equipment. The trail is not extremely steep but has a constant gradient throughout the duration, so general fitness is required.
But don’t fret; we have planned proper acclimatization strategies throughout our trip, so you will have no problem reaching the summit of Gokyo Ri.
Transportation
Flight/Jeep,Bus
Per Day walking:
5 to 8 hours
Best Season
Oct-Dec / Mar-May
Group Size
1 Min - 14 Max
Accomodation
Hotel/Tea House
Trip Grade
Moderate
Max Height
5483M
Start/End
Kathmandu
Trip Highlight
- An easy, nontechnical climb of Gokyo Ri
- Hair raising panorama of Everest, Makalu, Cho Oyu, Nuptse, Pumori, Ama Dablam, Lhotse and many more
- Opportunity to spend a night along the shores of the eternal waters of Lake Gokyo
- Enjoyably walk through crimson rhododendron and yellow coniferous forest with the constant melody of chirping birds
- Spot the endangered species of Sagarmatha National Park
- Observe the local culture, tradition, and customs of the indigenous Sherpa Tribe
- Learn knowledge of ancient Buddhism from the legendary monasteries
- Cultural immersion in Kathmandu
Download Complete Trip PDF
Detail Itinerary
Namaskar! Greetings on your first day in Nepal. Our English-speaking local guide will receive you at the Kathmandu International Airport and take you to the hotel.
He will hold a short meeting at the hotel to get acquainted with the group members and disseminate itinerary content. In the afternoon, you can take advantage of going for a short walk around the city.
In the evening, we will delight in a welcome dinner with traditional Nepali dances as a wish for success on the trip for the group.
Meal: Welcome Dinner
Accommodation: 3-star Hotel
We will leave for the domestic terminal of the Kathmandu Airport to fly to Lukla. The short flight to Lukla offers some of the breathtaking mountain scenery. At Lukla, we will meet our local crew and enjoy tasty breakfast with a cup of coffee or tea.
Then, we will head to Phakding, walking along the Dudh Koshi River bank. Walking along a flat, easy terrain, we will pass the Chaurikharka and Chheplung villages. A little uphill walk will then lead us to Phakding, where we will rest for the night.
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Guesthouse
After breakfast, our trek starts from Phakding to Namche Bazaar. Again, walking along the Dudh Koshi River bank, we will walk across the suspension bridge past the villages of Benkar and Monjo. At Monjo, we enter the Sagarmatha National Park, where we will have our permits checked.
Then we head to Jorsalle and have lunch. After lunch, the road will go up a high hill and reach Namche, standing with the image of Mount Everest in the distance.
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Guesthouse
Today is an altitude and climate acclimatization day in Namche. We will climb to Everest View Hotel at 3880 m elevation and have breakfast enjoying the panoramic views of Mount Everest in the distance, Lhotse, Nuptse, Thamserku, Ama Dablam, and many other peaks.
We will then continue walking along the slope, cross the pine forest, and reach Khumjung village. We will rest here and visit the Buddhist monastery located at the highest position in the village. Then, we march down to our lodge and rest for the night.
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Guesthouse
From Namche, we will walk uphill to Mongla Hill at 3973 m above sea level, then descend to Phortse Thanga village. The Thamserku Peak will give us a glimpse from a distance. Here, the trail turns to left and right. We will turn left and walk through pine and rhododendron forest to arrive at Dole, where we will call it a day.
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Guesthouse
Today is a short day of trekking, so we will walk leisurely. Notice how the terrain has changed from dense forest to alpine vegetation of higher altitude. We will walk through the thick shrubs and scrubby junipers.
Climbing through Lhabarma and Luza, we will reach Machermo, marveling at the magnificent views of Thamserku, Cho Oyu, and Kangtega.
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Guesthouse
The day has arrived when we will hike to the beautiful Gokyo Lakes. But first, we will have to overcome a ridge beyond which lies the Pangkha village. Here, we will have lunch with the beautiful view of Cho Oyu.
Then, we will descend slightly along the melting river, which continues towards the terminal moraine of the Ngozumpa glacier. This glacier feeds the serene water of Gokyo Lakes.
Now, we will climb slightly and cross the long hanging bridge. The first lake of Gokyo, known as Longponga Lake, will first welcome you along the trail. Then, a rough trail leads us to a second lake named Taujung Lake. A short hike from here takes us to the third Gokyo Lake- the turquoise water with a beautiful view of Gokyo Ri to its next, making it the most attractive lake in Nepal.
There is a small lodge next to the lake where we will stay for the night.
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Guesthouse
The highlight of our Everest Gokyo Ri Trek is here today, but it's going to be a long day. We will wake up early and head to Gokyo Ri in time to watch the magical sunrise. We will cross the river and climb for 2 to 3 hours to reach the summit of the Gokyo Ri.
It is one of the most beautiful sunrise viewing spots in the Himalayas. From here, you can see the Gokyo Valley with mountains such as Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse, Makalu, Cho-Oyu, Cholatse, Ngozumpa Glacier, and Gyachung Kang.
Spending some time, we descend to our lodge for breakfast. Then we head down to Machermo for overnight rest.
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Guesthouse
After breakfast, leaving Namche, we descend towards Phortse Thanga. The trail is fairly easy, offering beautiful views of Thamserku, Ama Dablam, and Mount Kantega.
After a few short and flatter slopes towards the end, we will reach Namche, where we retire for the night.
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Guesthouse
We have quite a long trek ahead of us, but the trail is flat and easy on the wide plateaus. We will once again pass through the villages of Jorsalle, Manjo, Benkar, and Phakding. From here, a short three-hour walk will take us to Lukla, where we will celebrate our success with our local crew with a tasty dinner.
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Guesthouse
We will take an early morning flight from Lukla to Kathmandu. Once more, we will enjoy the majestic sight of the eternal snow mountains below our feet. After landing at Kathmandu's domestic airport, we will move back to the hotel.
Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: 3-star Hotel
We will explore the cultural features of Kathmandu Valley today. After breakfast at 8 am, our tour leader guide will take you on a tour. We will visit Pashupatinath Temple- a famous Hindu temple located on the shores of the sacred Bagmati River. Then, there is the Boudhanath stupa, which is one of the largest Buddhist temples in the world.
Next on the list is Swayambhunath, a temple known as the Monkey Temple. Here, Buddhist monks can be observed praying in the surrounding monasteries. Then we will head to Patan and visit its ancient Durbar Square.
Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: 3-star Hotel
Say goodbye to majestic and soulful Nepal today. After breakfast, we will drop you off at Kathmandu Airport, from where you will fly home.
Meal: Breakfast
What's Included In The Package
- All (international and domestic) airport transfers on a tourist /Private vehicle.
- Twin-sharing/double accommodation in hotel for 3 nights in Kathmandu including breakfast.
- Kathmandu valley sightseeing tour fees/Guide/Transportations.
- Kathmandu-Lukla-Kathmandu domestic flight.
- Twin-sharing guesthouse accommodation during the trek for 11 nights in the mountain region.
- All your standard meals during the trek (Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner), with a cup of tea.
- Experienced, first-aid trained, government licensed, English-speaking trekking guide.
- All the necessary permits (Trekking permit/Local authority permits)
- Porters during the trek for carrying luggage (1 porter for 2 clients with Max 22 kgs weight limit in total).
- Wages, accommodation, meals, gear, insurance for all staff.
- All administrative expenses and government taxes.
- Evacuation assistance in case of emergency.
- Trip completion certificate from Avventura Himalaya.
What's Excluded In The Package
- International air fare.
- Nepal Visa.
- Emergency Evacuation/s and medical treatments.
- Upgrade of accommodations.
- Travel Insurances.
- Emergency evacuation(s), Accidents, recovery & additional transport.
- Change in Itinerary due to cancelled helicopter flight or unavoidable delays on route i.e. landslides etc, extra or cancelled accommodation etc.
- Personal Expenses.
- Excess luggage above recommended levels.
- Some meals, all kind of bottled drinks, Internet services, hot showers etc.
- Tips for the guides, porters and drivers.
Fixed Departure Dates For 2024/2025
Essential Information
Before booking
- Choose the right trip, considering your health, physical ability, and experiences.
- Read the terms and conditions properly.
- Make sure the payment is delivered to ensure the final confirmation.
After Booking
High-altitude activities in Nepal are not just physically demanding, they are a test of your fitness. It’s not a suggestion, it’s a necessity to ensure you’re physically ready for these adventures. By committing to physical training, you’ll not only be prepared, but you’ll also be confident and ready to take on the challenge.
For Trekking
- For multiple days of trekking at high altitudes of over 4000m-5000 m, ensure you have trained yourself well. Box jump, circuit and resistance training, and endurance training like hiking, running, cycling, or swimming can be beneficial.
- Feed on the right nutritious food rich in protein, healthy fat, and carbohydrates.
- Keep yourself focused and determined, which helps to strengthen your willpower for the next challenge ahead.
International Flights arrangements:You are responsible for arranging the international flight ticket and travel insurance, which can cover emergency evacuation and medical treatment. Our package doesn’t include this service.
Route Map
