Gokyo Lake Trek

Day 01: Arrival in Kathmandu (1400m)

Upon your arrival at the Tribhuwan International Airport in Kathmandu, you will be received by a representative from Marron Treks and then transferred to your designated hotel. Once at the hotel, you are greeted with welcome drinks. We will then have a quick pre-trip meeting, where you are briefed on the trekking itineraries and some formalities that ought to be pursued. Depending on the time remaining, you can either rest or stroll around the vicinity of your hotel to get the feel of this busy, colorful and energetic capital of Nepal. Overnight at hotel in Kathmandu; breakfast included.

Day 02: Fly from Kathmandu to Lukla (2840m/40min) & Trek from Lukla to Phakding (2610m/3 – 4hrs)

We take an early morning flight Lukla after breakfast. In about 45 minutes, we land at the Tenjing Hillary airport in Lulka, picturesquely surrounded by mountains. These 45 minutes on board is going to be the best aerial journey you have had so far. We now meet up with our trekking crew and get acquainted to each other. After some unpacking and arrangements, we then proceed for our trek through the village of Lukla until we reach Phakding. Chaurikharka School, Chablung, Tharo Koshi, Ghat etc are some of the sites that entice you along the trail. On reaching Phakding, we have our lunch and then if interested, can go on a short hike to the nearby monastery. This could help getting acclimatized to the high elevation. Overnight at teahouse in Phakding; breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Note: Flights from Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) in Kathmandu to Lukla and vice versa may be rerouted to Manthali during the peak trekking seasons of March, April, May, September, October, and November due to increased air traffic congestion. Manthali is 5 hours drive from Kathmandu and we need to start at 12.30am for  Kathmandu/Manthali drive to catch the flight to Lukla from Manthali. During December, January, February, June, July, or August, you will experience a direct flight from Kathmandu to Lukla and vice versa.

Day 03: Trek from Phakding to Namche Bazaar (3440m/5 – 6 hrs)

The trail leads us along the Dudh Koshi River, through the pine forest and many suspension bridges, including the very famous, Hillary Suspension Bridge. The route then leads straight up beyond a waterfall, from where we get a breathtaking view of Mt. Thamserku (6618 m). Advancing further, we come to a check post which also happens to be the entrance to Sagarmatha National Park. As we continue our ascent through the forests and bridges, we approach the confluence of Dudh Koshi and Bhote Koshi Rivers. Trudging up further for about 2 hours brings us to Chautari (resting place), wherefrom we can relish the splendid sight of the Mt. Everest almost belittling the Lhotse-Nuptse ridge. Passing through one last settlement, the Jorsale village, we ultimately reach Namche Bazaar in about 2 hours. Namche Bazaar is the administrative center of the Khumbu region and is also the gateway to the Mount Everest. Overnight at teahouse in Namche Bazaar; breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Day 04: Rest day in Namche Bazaar for Acclimatization & Hike to Hotel Everest View (3880m/3-4 hrs)

Today is the rest day at Namche Bazaar for acclimatization and to cope with the rising elevation. You can go for a side excursion to Hotel Everest View (3880m) which is considered the hotel located at the highest point on earth. From it’s balcony you can have the first glimpse of Mt. Everest and other world’s highest peaks sipping tea/coffee. Then it’s back to your hotel in Namche Bazaar. In the evening, you can explore around Namche, talk with the locals, meeting many other trekkers and mountaineers from around the world.

Day 05: Trek from Namche Bazaar to Phortse (3810m) via Mong La Pass (3975 m/ 5 – 6 hrs)

That one extra day at Namche has probably made us all feel well rested. Let’s have some breakfast and we will resume our trek along the bumpy trail relishing the view of Mt. Lhotse, Nuptse, Everest, Ama Dablam and Thamserku. You will possibly get a chance to spot on some of the wild lives like Pheasant, Himalayan Thar and even Musk Deer. We now embark on the downhill route until we arrive at Kyanjuma. Moving ahead, the path then takes us to Sansa, from where it bifurcates into two different trails- one that leads to the Everest Base Camp and the other to Gokyo Valley. We embark on the later and move gradually up to the Mong La Pass (3975 m).The pass offers you spectacular view of Mt. Ama Dablam, Mt. Thamserku, Mt.Tawoche & Mt. Khumbila . From here we trail down through the pine forests to the Dudh Koshi River and arrive at Phortse Thenga (3680 m). We now cross a suspension bridge over the river, and make an immediate ascent through the rhododendron clusters till we get to Phortse, poised at the lower slopes of Mt. Tawoche. Overnight at teahouse in Phortse; breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Day 06: Trek from Phortse to Machhermo (4470m/5 – 6 hrs)

The Gokyo Ri trek is not about rushing. The climbs in the days ahead are steep and high subsequently making one prone to altitude sickness. So we are supposed to be slow but steady. We retrace our steps back and continue trailing until we reach Phortse Thenga (3680 m). From here, we trek easy and relatively flat to the village of Dole (4110 m). It offers good views of Mt. Khumbila and Mt. Tawoche and is also a favored trekkers’ stop. Path from Dole to Machhermo is significantly steep that takes you out of the dense forest to more of a barren hillside vegetated with dotted scrub junipers. We trail ahead past a chorten and make an ascent to the village of Lhabarma (4330 m). Relishing some fascinating views of Cho Oyu, Kantega and Thamserku, we move ahead and pass through many summer settlements including Luza (4360 m). Making our ascent along a hillside above Dudh Koshi River, we pass by few more meager settlements and sandy hillocks until we finally arrive at Machhermo, the last major settlement on the way to Gokyo. Towards the north of the village, there is a rescue post named as ‘International Porter Protection Group’, which provides emergency treatment to the porters and trekkers and also educates them about Acute Mountain Sickness. Overnight at teahouse in Machhermo; breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Day 07: Trek from Machhermo to Gokyo (4790m/5 – 6hrs)

Kissing goodbye to the foothills of Machhermo, we make our way into to the moonscape of high mountains. The root takes us steeply up to the cluster of chortens on the hillock. On the way, you get to enjoy the view of Mt. Kantega and the sixth highest mountain in the world, Cho Oyu. Moving ahead, we pass by the tiny settlement of Pangka, which has brutal history of some 40 people being killed by the avalanche in 1995. Let’s be generous enough to offer our empathy to the families of the departed souls. After this emotional moment, we make our way further down the bank of the Dudh Koshi River and then ascend right away to the mound of sand and rubble at the end of the Ngozumpa Glacier. This ascent is quite steep. We now cross a bridge over a stream and pass by the first lake- Longponga Tsho (4710 m). As we make our way ahead along a leveled trail, we cross a barren landscape and pass by yet another lake- Taboche Tsho (4740 m). We are not yet finished with the lakes. We advance further through the randomly grown rhododendron clusters, and pass by the final lake, Dudh Pokhari, which literally means ‘milk pond’. The beautiful Gokyo valley stands on the shores of this third lake. We relax on the comfy beds of the teahouse contemplating on the thrill and adventure of tomorrow. Overnight at teahouse in Gokyo; breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Day 08: Acclimatization day at Gokyo/Ascent to Gokyo Ri(5357m/5 – 6 hrs)

The beds at Gokyo are indeed comfortable, but we are not lying here all day. In fact today, we will be reaching the highest point of this trek; God forbid the bad weather! Gokyo Ri is located to the north of Dudh Pokhari. We head northwards from the village and cross a stream. Trudging up the steep route for about 3 hrs, we get to the apex of Gokyo Ri, an exclusive vantage point offering you the jaw-dropping views of Cho Oyu, Everest, Cholatse, Makalu, Tawoche and also the Ngozumpa Glacier. The elation and ecstasy of ascending to the Gokyo Ri isn’t lesser than being at Kalapathhar in any way. Gokyo is not just all about Gokyo Ri, but the six sacred lakes are also the emblem of magnificence of this valley. On day 8, we already came across four of the lakes. If we are not too worn out with the ascent to Gokyo Ri, we can go for an excursion to two of the remaining lakes- Thonak Sho and Ngozumpa Sho. When we climb to a hill at the edge of these two lakes, we get to a grassy ground festooned with prayer flags, known locally as “the Scoundrel’s Viewpoint (5000 m). It offers unobstructed views of Cho Oyu, north face of the Everest and the upper expanse of the Ngozumpa Glacier. Relishing the beauty and adventure of the surrounding, we trace back to Gokyo for overnight stay. Overnight at teahouse in Gokyo; breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Day 09: Trek from Gokyo to Dole (4110m/3 – 4 hrs)

Our previous day at Gokyo was pretty busy. We had a good acclimatization but not the kind of rest we would have wanted. It’s not something to bother about, because our today’s trek is an easy downhill walk. We trail down along the Dudh Koshi River and pass by the second and first lakes. A little ahead, we cross a bridge over a stream and arrive at Phangka. From here, we again descend to a terrace and then make a fair ascent to a ridge, arriving at edge of Chorten. Relishing the view of Thamserku, Kantega and Cho Oyu, we continue our descent and pass by the villages of Machhermo, Luza and Lhafarma, until we finally arrive at Dole, beautifully poised close to the Phune river. You can enjoy the superb view of Mt. Khumbila and Mt. Tawoche to the south and north respectively. Overnight at teahouse in Dole; breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Day 10: Trek from Dole to Namche Bazaar (3440m/4 – 5 hrs)

After that good night’s rest at Dole, it’s time now to bid farewell and move ahead. We descend to Phortse Thenga. Continuing our trek along the live trail embellished with rhododendrons and colorful wild flowers, and spotting various faunas at the same time, we cross the Mong La pass. Let’s admire the beauty of Mt Khumbila, Mt. Thamserku, Mt. Ama Dablam and Mt. Kantega. Of course, they glare at us in the same indifferent way, but we now know them all so very well, don’t we? A lengthy walk from here, will take us to Sansa, the junction to Everest Base Camp and Gokyo. From Sansa, we embark on a curvy uphill route to Kyangjuma and then to the Namche army camp hill. Short hike from here will get us to the loud Namche Bazaar. Big sigh of relief! We can rest and enjoy the modern amenities of the hotels here. Overnight at teahouse in Namche Bazaar; breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Day 11: Trek from Namche Bazaar to Lukla (2840m/6 – 7hrs)

It is a lengthy trek, but the enthusiasm of accomplishing the trek would probably get us going without complains! Let’s begin with a steep descent down the rocky terrain. We cross and re-cross the Dudh Koshi river over different suspension bridges and continue trailing along a leveled route. Passing by some splendid waterfalls, we cross the famous Hillary suspension bridge, which brings to the Sherpa village-Phakding. The towering mountains now seem to be whispering good bye to us, urging us to make a commitment to come back and see them again sometime in future. Trailing ahead along the prayer flags, enjoying the cool breeze, we arrive at Lukla; tired but content! We can feel the muscles aching, yet we manage to flash a smile at everyone we meet. Its natural…we’ve eventually made it!!! Celebrate the success with the crew members and staffs. We want you to make a promise that you will be back to Nepal very soon. Overnight at teahouse in Lukla; breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Day 12: Fly from Lukla to Kathmandu (1400m/40min)

Well, you must all be eager to hit the sky after walking for almost two weeks! Flight from Lukla to Kathmandu is outstandingly scenic. Generally, we take a morning flight, as weather could be capricious in the afternoon. Once you land at the domestic wing of the Kathmandu airport, you will be received by a representative from Marron Treks and then transferred to your hotel. You still have a whole chunk of the day remaining. So you can make the best use of time going in for a shopping. Thamel is the tourists’ shopping stop. It’s your last night in Nepal, and we want it to be memorable. In the evening, Marron Treks will host a farewell dinner featuring the range of delicious Nepali cuisines and a cultural program. You’ve toiled hard during the trek, so we want you to enjoy even harder tonight. Overnight at hotel in Kathmandu; breakfast and dinner included.

Day 13: Final Departure

After breakfast, a representative from Marron Treks will escort you to the international airport, three hours prior to your flight schedule. Have a safe flight back home and we look forward to being your adventure companion in Nepal again. 

Equipment Check-list

 

 

1. What is the Gokyo Lake Trek?

The Gokyo Lake Trek is a popular trekking route in the Everest region of Nepal. It takes you to the Gokyo Valley, where you can explore a series of stunning glacial lakes and enjoy breathtaking views of the Himalayan peaks, including Mount Everest.

2. What is the starting point of the trek?

The trek often starts from the town of Lukla, which is accessible by a short flight from Kathmandu. From Lukla, trekkers follow the trail to Namche Bazaar and continue towards Gokyo Valley.

3. Is the Gokyo Lake Trek difficult?

The Gokyo Lake Trek is considered a moderate to challenging trek, as it involves some steep ascents and descents and reaches high altitudes. Trekkers need to have a good level of physical fitness and acclimatize properly to the altitude.

4. What is the best time to do the Gokyo Lake Trek?

The best time for the Gokyo Lake Trek is during the spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) seasons. These months offer stable weather, clear skies, and pleasant temperatures, making the trekking experience more enjoyable.

5. Are permits required for the Gokyo Lake Trek?

Yes, permits are required for the Gokyo Lake Trek. The required permits typically include the Sagarmatha National Park entry permit and the Trekkers’ Information Management System (TIMS) card.

6. What are the highlights of the Gokyo Lake Trek?

The main highlights of the Gokyo Lake Trek are the pristine Gokyo Lakes themselves, a series of glacial lakes with stunning turquoise waters. The trek also offers panoramic views of Mount Everest, Cho Oyu, Lhotse, and other Himalayan peaks. Additionally, trekkers get to experience the unique Sherpa culture and explore picturesque Sherpa villages along the trail.

7. What kind of accommodation is available during the trek?

Teahouses and lodges are available along the Gokyo Lake Trek route, providing basic accommodation and meals. The facilities may not be luxurious, but they are sufficient for a comfortable stay.

Accommodation
While you are in Kathmandu, we opt to accommodate you in 3 star or 5 star hotels like Hotel Royal Singhi (3 star), Hotel Manaslu (3 star), Radisson (5 star), Yak & Yeti (5 star) or similar. During the trek, you will be accommodated in a Tea House/ Lodge or Trekking Inn. Most of these lodges and teahouses cater good services and are equipped with modern amenities. We will endeavor to provide you the best accommodation available along the route so that you get a good night’s rest in a hygienic milieu.

 

Meals
We never compromise with the quality of food and the health of the trekkers as well as the crew members. Generally, we opt for the fresh and nutritional local community food available in the Everest Region. You could make your delicious pick from an array of traditional food like Sweet Potato, Buck Wheat Barley etc. . This way, you could not only get the real sense of the local culture and life patterns but also contribute to promoting the locally available resources of organic food and beverages. Besides, a wide range of Continental, Chinese, Italian and Indian cuisines like Pizza, Spaghetti, French Fries, Soups, Breads, Masala Curry etc. are also available in the restaurants for your retreat.

 

Porter and Staff Care
When it comes to high altitude trekking, porters and staff members make up a pivot. Marron Treks ensures that all the porters and staff members going to high altitude conditions, are provided with adequate clothing and equipments.

 

Best Months
The periods between the months of January-June & September-December are considered to be the best for Everest Base Camp and Kala Patthar Trek.

 

Any Experience Required?
There is nothing hard and fast rule about trekking experience. Any adventure enthusiast, with a generic physical aptitude can definitely relish the thrill of this trek.

 

Difficulties
Difficulty here is actually synonymous to ‘high altitude’. As this trek involves some seriously high altitude climbing above 5000 meters, one is likely to experience some problem in breathing owing to the deteriorating oxygen level. But as this is something which is anticipated, we do have enough precautionary measures to tackle it.

 

Our Guides
Guides play a significant role during the trek. They are the ones who literally decipher the trekking codes for you so that you could actually connect with the nature, culture and people along the way. We have helpful and dedicated trekking guides, who are fairly literate, multilingual speakers and are very well versed to the culture, life patterns and every single detail pertaining to the Everest region. Thus, in the company of our professional Sherpa guides, your trek becomes not only entertaining, but also equally informative.

 

Travel Insurance
It is advised that you arrange your travel insurance before leaving your homeland. The main thing is to make sure that your insurance covers you for both- medical as well as evacuation costs. Having a travel insurance with you, makes your trip secure and hassle free.

The provided trip plan by Marron Treks is customizable but subject to unpredictable factors like weather, political unrest, and flight disruptions in Nepal. Delays or changes might occur due to various reasons, and Marron Treks will prioritize client safety. However, they are not liable for resulting consequences, striving to maintain the essence of the original trip plan. Since Kathmandu airport cannot handle the high volume of air traffic, all flights from Kathmandu to Lukla and vice versa will be operated from Ramechap Airport during the busiest trekking season. From Kathmandu, Ramechap is five hours' journey away.

Cost Inclusion

• Airport pick-up and drop services.
• Hotel accommodations in Kathmandu with breakfast.
• Kathmandu/Lukla/Kathmandu round airfare.
• All trekking accommodations with Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner at local lodges.
• Four seasonal sleeping bags and duffel bag bags (to be returned after trip completion).
• A comprehensive medical kit (will be carried by the trekking guide).
• Experienced Government licensed English Speaking Guide & Porter (1 porter for two people) including their food, accommodation, salary & insurance.
• Permits for Everest National Park, Khumbu Municipality and TIMS (Trekkers' Information Management System).
• Farewell dinner with a live Nepalese cultural program.
• All government and local taxes. 

Cost Exclusion

• International airfares.
• Nepal entry visa fee – Visa can be obtained upon your arrival at the Tribhuwan International Airport in Kathmandu. (USD30 for 15 days)
• Lunch & dinner in Kathmandu.
• Personal travel insurance.
• Emergency rescue evacuation (to be covered by the client's travel insurance).
• Other expenses of a personal nature (phone calls, laundry, battery recharge, extra porters, bottle or boiled water, hot shower etc.)
• Bar bills, alcoholic drinks & beverages.
• Tips to the guide & porters (Tipping is expected).