Gokyo Valley, home to the highest freshwater lake system in the world, is in Khumbu region (Everest region of Nepal.), which itself is host to several eight-thousanders like Mt. Everest (8848m), Lhotse (8414m), and Cho Oyu (8188m). Nestled beside the sixth highest mountain in the world, Cho Oyu (8188m), Gokyo Valley is a must see place for anyone looking for adventure, for its rugged yet quiet terrain is filled with natural allure. If you happen to be a trekking enthusiast then Gokyo Valley Trek is something you would not like to miss.

Gokyo Valley Trek is labeled moderate in difficulty, so anyone with fairly good health can attempt it. Gokyo Valley is a living museum dotted with small villages and settlements still not touched by modernity and intact with an unspoiled environment. The friendly Sherpa local add the charm to the place with their simple rural lifestyles. Gokyo Valley is also the base of the highest freshwater lake system (4700-5000 m) in the world, comprising of 19 lakes, both big and small. Among them, six hold significant importance because of their size and depth. Another attraction in this area is the Gokyo village (4700 m), a quaint village situated by the bank of third Gokyo Lake. This place has several stone houses, mainly small hotels catering to tourists and trekkers. Apart from the beauty of Gokyo Valley itself, the trek features traversing through several Sherpa settlements and Buddhist monasteries while enjoying the continuous vista of the Khumbu Himalayas. The trek, following the trails of Dudh Koshi River throughout, takes the trekkers from the green forested paths of Khumbu to the stony terrains to the moraines of Ngozumpa Glacier, the largest glacier in Nepal, making the trek action-packed and not loathsome.

The most fascinating benefit of trekking in this trail is extreme view of huge ice ridge located between Cho You and Gyachung in Khumbu region. It is known for the existence of high altitude lakes as well. These mountains, ridges and glaciers are supernatural – as are your experiences with the Sherpa individuals, the well-known mountain inhabitants of this Himalayan wonderland. The glow and cordiality stretched out by the neighborhood tenants of this district, the Sherpas, will add a further dimension to your experience of Gokyo Valley Trek. This trekking trails eventually leads you to the famous point of Gokyo Ri (Gokyo Peak) from where you can have a awe-inspiring view of hundreds of pleasing scenery.

Itinerary

Cost

Review

Day 1

Day 01 : Arrive at Tribhuwan International Airport Kathmandu and transfer to hotel.

Upon your arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu, you will be greeted by our office representative who will then transfer you to your hotel. Overnight at a hotel in Kathmandu.

Day 2

Day 02: Fly from Kathmandu to Lukla (2886m.) and trek to Phakding (2610m).3-4 Hours.

You take an early morning flight from Kathmandu to Lukla. The landscape changes from green hills to snow-capped mountains as you enjoy the aerial view of your 40-minute flight. Upon landing in Lukla, the trek starts as you head towards Phakding. You will only walk a short distance today for acclimatization purpose. Passing through many Sherpa villages and enjoying the fresh air of the Himalayas, you arrive in Phakding. Overnight in Phakding.

Day 3

Day 03: Phakding - Namche Bazaar (3440 m.) 6-7 Hours

Today you will reach the commercial hub of Khumbu, Namche Bazaar, which is also known as the gateway to Everest. The trail walks mostly alongside Dudh Koshi River and goes through rhododendron and magnolia forest leading to the checkpoint of Sagarmatha National Park at Mojo. Then, crossing Dudh Koshi River several times on suspension bridges, you arrive in the Sherpa town of Namche Bazaar. Enjoy the panorama of Everest (8848m) and other mountains. Overnight in Namche.

Day 4

Day 04: Rest at Namche Bazar for acclimatization.

Today is a rest day in Namche for acclimatization purpose. However, you can hike up to Hotel Everest View (3962m), the highest operating hotel, for a stunning panorama of Mt. Everest (8848m) along with other peaks of Khumbu. Later, you can explore the market of Namche and visit the Sherpa Museum to get to understand the culture and life of the Sherpa in the Himalayas. Overnight in Namche.

Day 5

Day 05: Namche Bazar - Dhole (4040m) 5-6 Hours.

Leaving Namche, you follow the trails of Dudh Koshi River upstream and ascent on a trail filed with Mani walls and prayer flags. The peaks of Everest (8848m), Ama Dablam (6856m), Lhotse (8414m), Taboche (6367m), and so on can be seen glimmering on the skyline. You reach Dhole after passing through several Sherpa villages and small monasteries. Overnight in Dhole.

Day 6

Day 06: Dhole - Machhermo (4150m) 5-6 Hours

The trail from Dhole to Machhermo features a continuous view of the snowy peaks like Taboche (6367m), Cholatse (6335m), Cho Oyu (8188m), Everest (8848m), and so on. You make gradual ascend alongside Dudh Koshi River and pass the settlements of Kele and Luza before arriving in Machhermo. Overnight in Machhermo.

Day 7

Day 07: Machhermo - Gokyo (4750m) 4-5 Hours

Today is the day you reach your ultimate destination, Gokyo Valley. As you ascend on the banks of Dudh Koshi River with the views of the Khumbu Himalayas, you pass a few monasteries and chortens before arriving at the first Gokyo Lake. Then, walking on the moraines of Ngozumpa Glacier, you arrive at the second lake, and finally at the third lake, behind which the ancient Sherpa village of Gokyo resides. Overnight in Gokyo.

Day 8

Day 08: Excursion Day in Gokyo, day hike to Gokyo Peak (5483m).

You will spend the whole day exploring the Gokyo vicinity. You can either just stroll around the village or hike up to Gokyo Ri (5360m) for a mind-blowing vista of Cho Oyu (8188m), Everest (8848m), and the Mahalangur Himalayan Range. You will also be able to see the whole Gokyo Valley and the Gokyo lakes along with Ngozumpa Glacier from the top of Gokyo Ri (5360m). Hike back to Gokyo village and listen to the stories of the locals. Overnight in Gokyo.

Day 9

Day 9: Trek back from Gokyo -Dhole (4040m) 6-7 Hours

It is time to say goodbye to the pristine valley of Gokyo. You leave the third, second, and first Gokyo Lakes respectively and walk past the settlements of Phanga, Machhermo, Luza, and Kele to arrive in Dhole. Throughout the trek, you will be accompanied by the views of Cholatse (6335m) and Taboche (6367m). Overnight in Dhole.

Day 10

Day 10: Dhole - Namche Bazaar (3440m.) 5-6 Hours

Leaving Dhole behind, you head back to the vibrant town of Namche Bazaar. You trek downhill to Sanasa via Phortse Thanga and Mong to join the bustling Everest Base Camp trail. You then descend through the alpine forest and past small monasteries to reach Namche Bazaar. Feel free to explore the pubs and eateries in Namche. Overnight in Namche.

Day 11

Day 11: Namche Bazaar - Lukla (2886 m.) 7-8 Hours

You will retrace your way from Namche Bazaar to Lukla following the trails of Dudh Koshi River. As you trek through the rhododendron forest, you will pass many Sherpa villages, age-old monasteries, painted Mani walls, and prayer wheels before you arrive in Lukla. Later, you can explore the small town of Lukla and also interact with the locals. Overnight in Lukla.

Day 12

Day 12: Fly from Lukla- Kathmandu which takes 40 minutes.

You will fly over the mountains one more time as you board your early morning flight from Lukla to Kathmandu. Upon arrival in Kathmandu, you will be transferred to your hotel. You can spend your leisure time either exploring the vibrant markets of Kathmandu or just resting in your hotel room. Overnight at a 3-star hotel in Kathmandu.

Day 13

Day 13: Transfer to Airport for your onward destination.

You will be dropped at Tribhuvan International Airport from your hotel for your return flight to your country.

Trip Reviews

5 stars

- based on 3 reviews

We are amateur trekkers at best, and this was by far the longest and most physically demanding trek we had been on. For such a daunting challenge, we were extremely fortunate to have been in the experienced and dedicated hands of Base Camp Adventure's guides. Even before the trek, Base Camp Adventure was incredibly responsive to our email queries, and was accommodating of our special requests. Base Camp Adventure's boss, Shree, was also very personable and both received and sent us off to the airport. During the trek, the three guides we had (Jwala, Tika, Bhim) were patient and adjusted our itinerary to suit our walking pace. They also took care of our welfare, such as ensuring we had enough blankets to keep us warm at night. The scenery was, of course, breathtaking, with fantastic views of the Himalayas, and the trek was generally well-maintained. We are very grateful for the support of Base Camp Adventure, which made the trip all the more enjoyable.
Me and my husband did 11 days Gokyo Lakes with Base Camp Adventures.. absolutely beautiful trek and the best company ever!!!! Shree is the owner and since our first contact via email he was always very kind, helpful and promptly responded all my questions and doubts! He arranged the best accommodation and took care of us since the first day in Kathmandu. My husband had his luggage lost by Air Asia on the day we arrived and Shree was absolutely kind taking care about everything until we get the luggage back. We felt very welcomed, happy and safe. We had all the necessary information about the trek and the best guide Raj and porter Rebu who were absolutely fantastic at all times during the trek!!! They always made sure we were safe, comfortable,in good health conditions due to the mountain sickness and very flexible with the itinerary. They became our very good friends, such a beautiful and professional people!! Himalayans Treks are UNFORGETTABLE with Base Camp Adventures! We HIGHLY RECOMMEND them!!! We are now looking forward to come back and do Everest base Camp!
After a lot of research we booked a 16 day Everest Base Camp + Gokyo Lakes trek with Base Camp Adventure Treks & Expedition and it was absolutely incredible! The organisation and planning was all done through Shree and from our initial enquiry until the day that we left his service was outstanding. We bombarded him with questions about itineraries, what to pack and what to expect and he was great to deal with and made the whole booking process a breeze. Shree even arranged a time for us to meet our guide prior to the trek was a great idea and helped us get to know each other a lot better. The trek itself was an amazing experience. We went with a guide and a porter, both of whom were fantastic, they had excellent english, were very knowledgeable about the area and let us do the trek at our own pace and were open to adjusting the itinerary where necessary. The main reason we booked with Base Camp Adventures was due to the price and we found this tour to be fantastic value for money! If you're tossing up whether to include Gokyo in your trek, do it! The side trip was the highlight of our trek - the view of Everest from Gokyo Ri is awesome and the Cho La Pass, while difficult was an incredibly rewarding experience. We would absolutely recommend booking through Base Camp Adventures and if we ever return to Nepal we will definitely be using them again.