Gokyo lake trek

We start with a 35 minute flight to Lukla, followed by a 3-hour walk to Phakding. From Lukla, we trek to Chaurikharka village and descend to Dudh Koshi Ghat (2,530m). After crossing the Dudh Koshi River and trekking through gorgeous landscapes, you will reach Phakding (2,650m). The short and refreshing day allows you to acclimatize at an increased altitude. Phakding is the starting point for the Everest trek, and it has everything from gear and lodging shops to cafes and restaurants. In your spare time, you can visit the famous Rimijung Monastery.

A full day of trekking begins as we hike along the Dudh Koshi River banks crossing several suspension bridges decorated with prayer flags. The thrilling yet marvelous path will make your trek very delightful. After walking for a few hours, you will reach Monjo Village. Little ahead lies Sagarmatha National Park, where we register our permit and climb up the forest. From here, you will be able to get your first glimpses of Mount Everest. Through the woods and stone-paved way, you will finally reach Namche Bazaar, where you will rest for the night.

Today, we will take a break and acclimatize to the thinning air. However, you will not just be sitting idle. You will be wandering through the alleys of Namche as your body adjusts to the altitude. We suggest you treat yourself to bakery items from the famous bakeries in Namche.

You will also hike to Sagarmatha National Park and Khumjung (3,790m). People believe that the Khumjung monastery houses a yeti scalp. You will also be visiting Hillary’s School and several old monasteries on your way to Khumjung. If you wish, you can hike to Khunde as well. As you return from Kunde, you will also be visiting the local yak farm.

A must-not-miss place is the Syangboche Airport (3,780m) – one of the highest airports in the world. If you want to see Everest some more, you can trek to Everest View Hotel. 

The trail to Dole consists of many uphills and downhills. We descend till Mong La Pass (3,957m) before reaching Phortse Thenga. After Phortse, you will be passing through pine forests full of fascinating floras and faunas. As you trek forward, views of Mount Amadablam (6,812m) and Mount Khumbila (5,761m) emerge. Then we ascend to reach Dole. As you get closer to the destination, the views get stunning.

You will be passing by several trailside shrines and lots of prayer flags until Lapahrma. From Lapahrma, you can get an outstanding view of Mount Cho Oyu (8,201m) – the world’s fifth highest mountain. Additionally, the views of Mount Kantega (6,782m) and Thamserku (6,623m) will not fail to mesmerize you.

Along the way, you will encounter beautiful meadows with grazing yaks – at the right season. While enjoying the picturesque views, you will walk through Luja Valley to reach the beautiful village of Machhermo.

After days of ascending, we finally reach our destination – Gokyo Village. From Machhermo, we need to walk for about an hour to reach Phanga. Phanga has an area dedicated to the people who lost their lives in the landslides.

As you move ahead, you come across an iron bridge that leads to Longpongo (4,690m) lake. This lake indicates what is to come next. You will continue to traverse through the messy Ngozumpa Glacier moraines. Little ahead, you will witness a sequence of Gokyo lakes with unsurpassed beauty. The vibrant color combination of lakes and the Himalayas is beyond description. We stay overnight at Gokyo Village. With its blend of mountains, glaciers, and lakes, Gokyo village is nature’s prized treasure.

One day in this enigmatic village of Gokyo Ri is not enough. So we have allocated one more day to soak in and marvel at the natural beauty of this village.

You will be hiking to Gokyo Ri (5,430m) to see the excellent panoramic views – including an astonishing glimpse of Mount Everest. The scenery is unquestionably stunning. Unlike the Everest Base Camp Trek, from Gokyo Ri, you can witness the mighty Himalayas and beautiful turquoise lakes and glaciers at once. After a nutritious lunch, you can explore in and around Gokyo villages. You will spend the rest of the day surrounded by the exceptional landscape in complete tranquillity.

After an exciting journey to Gokyo Lakes, it is time to return. We bid goodbye to Gokyo Village and trek back to Phortse, past the dense forests full of rhododendrons blooming and pheasants flying according to season.

The descent is easier. So within a day, we will cover a distance that took us two days during the ascent. As you walk back, you will be reminiscing about various sights and spots that you passed before. We slowly lose the view of the Himalayas, but the ambiance is such beautiful and pure that you will enjoy our walk to the fullest.

As we conclude our journey to Gokyo Lakes, we head back to Namche from Phortse. You will be walking past the dense forests alive with animals like musk deer and mountain goats. The trail back is steep downhill, and your pace increases. From the path, you will enjoy the final views of Mount Everest while bidding farewell to the trek region. You will be resting at Namche on this day.

Today you will be getting final up-close views of majestic mountains looming on the horizon. The trail is mostly downhill from Namche to Phakding. Our trek passes through small villages, narrow forests, and thrilling suspension bridges. We will finally reach Phakding after a gentle walk through Benkar. As we move ahead to Lukla, we further reach a small village called Toktok. Toktok provides unique views of the snow-capped mountains near it. Eventually, you will get to Lukla, where you will be staying overnight.

After breakfast, you will be taking an early morning flight to Kathmandu. Your flight from Lukla to Kathmandu will be a relaxing one as you rest your tired muscles. You will most likely be flooded with memories you created during the trek. Your trek ends in Kathmandu, and you will have an entire day to spend freely. If you want, we can organize a city tour of Kathmandu. As beautiful as the mountains, the culture around the city is a must-see before you call it an end to your vacation.