Overview

Gokyo Lakes Trek is a spectacular off-the-beaten adventure in the Everest region. This alternative trekking journey allows you to skip the crowded trails of the Everest Base Camp. Moreover, the unique perspective of the scenic Himalayan vista makes the trek even more beautiful.

Gokyo region is famous for its tranquil turquoise lakes. There are altogether six freshwater Gokyo Lakes along with other minor lakes. The lake system gets its water from the underwater seepage of the Ngozumpa glacier. Thonak Cho is the largest lake, whereas Gokyo Cho (Dudh Pokhari) is the major one. Other Gokyo lakes include Gyazumpa Cho, Tanjung Cho etc.

Besides that, there are other remarkable natural landmarks in the region. Stunning mountain passes, glaciers, and peaks add to the trek’s beauty. You will pass through protected areas of the Sagarmatha National Park. The area’s exotic wildlife includes animals like Himalayan tahr, snow leopards, musk deer, black bears, etc.

The cultural exploration in the trek routes is also an exciting aspect of the trek. You can explore the local Sherpa community and its traditional lifestyle. You can find many Buddhist heritage sites along the trails, like monasteries, gompas, chortens, etc.

Gokyo Lakes Trek 13 days route starts from Lukla, where you arrive on a flight from Kathmandu. You will continue your trek to Namche, passing through Phakding. After that, the trail of this trek diverges from the regular EBC trek and moves toward the Gokyo region.

The trails pass along the bank of Dudh Koshi River, which you will cross through several suspension bridges. While the trek is moderately challenging, you need proper training in advance. The trail traverses through the Dole and Machhermo settlements. You will also climb the majestic Gokyo Ri and get stunning views of the Ngozumpa Glacier.

From Machhermo, you will arrive at Gokyo village, where you will acclimatize and explore the serene Gokyo lakes. You will pass through rocky trails with many boulders and steep glacial moraines. A scenic vista of the snow-clad mountains of the Himalayan region throughout the trek makes it unique.

These snow-clad mountain peaks include Makalu, Lhotse, Cho Oyu, etc. There are many viewpoints along the trail to observe these outstanding Himalayan vistas. Overall, we will provide the Gokyo Lakes Trek 13 days at a reasonable cost. Read on for a complete description of the Everest Gokyo lake trek. Happy traveling!

Highlights of the Trip

Scenic mountain views of the snow-clad mountains, including Mt Everest, Lhotse, Cho Oyu, etc
Exploring the beautiful landscapes of the Sagarmatha National Park
Exploration of diverse wildlife and vegetation of the region
Many rare and endangered animals, including Himalayan tahr, black bears, dance, snow leopards, birds, etc
Passing through the cultural settlements of the Sherpa community
Exploring around the Gokyo lakes, including Thonak Cho, Gokyo Cho, etc
Climbing the trekking peak of Gokyo Ri
Exploring the various glaciers, including Ngozumpa
Passing through the beautiful Khumbu Icefall
Gorgeous sunrise from multiple viewpoints along the trail
Warm welcome and hospitality in the teahouses.

Day 1 :

Arrive at Kathmandu and Transfer to hotel

Kathmandu Altitude: 1,450 m/4,600 ft.

Overnight: Kathmandu

The trip starts with your arrival at the Tribhuvan International airport. The staff members can greet you, and then you will travel to the hotel in Kathmandu. You will be briefed about the tour after being welcomed by the staff. You will spend the night at a hotel in Kathmandu.

Day 2 :

Flight from Kathmandu - Lukla, Trek to Phakding

Phakding Altitude: 2,650 m/8,562 ft.

Walking Hours: 3-4 hrs

Overnight: Phakding

The beautiful Gokyo Lakes Trek 13 days starts with the scenic mountain flight from Kathmandu. The flight then takes you to the gateway of the Everest region. After arriving at Lukla, you will then start the trek to Phakding.

The paths of the trek take you through the Dudh Koshi River. You will then pass through the Chaurikharka Village, which provides you with scenic views of the region. You will cross suspension bridges and trek for around 4 hours to arrive at your destination. The trail finally arrives at Phakding, where you will stay overnight at a lodge.

Day 3 :

Trek from Phakding to Namche Bazaar

Namche Bazaar Altitude: 3,440 m/11,285 ft.

Walking Hours: 6 hrs

Overnight: Namche Bazaar

The trek from Phakding to Namche Bazaar starts early in the morning after you have your breakfast. The beautiful trail then leads you through the challenging landscapes. It takes around 6 hrs to complete the journey, covering approximately 5.8 miles.

The trail traverses through the banks of the Dudh Koshi River. You will cross many suspension bridges along the route. You will also traverse the Hillary Suspension Bridge as you pass through the local people's settlements.

Furthermore, there are beautiful landmarks in the Sagarmatha National Park. Before arriving at a viewpoint, you can pass through the forested landmarks to observe the snow-clad mountains. Finally, we will trek through Namche Bazaar. You can explore the area in the evening and then spend the night at a teahouse.

Day 4 :

Namche Bazaar Acclimatization

On the 4th day of the Gokyo Lakes trek 13 days, you will explore and acclimatize at the beautiful settlements of Namche Bazaar. The beautiful trails of the region are ideal for exploration in the area. There are various viewpoints around the area, like Khunde and Khumjung. There you can go to get spectacular views of the snow-clad mountains.

Acclimatization is an essential journey as it helps you adapt to the changing high altitude conditions. There are various challenges in the high altitude region, including less oxygen and air pressure. This will cause you difficulties in breathing in the high-altitude region. The beautiful trail of this trek moves up and down a lot, providing you with a challenge in the area.

A good acclimatization journey will give you the best adaptability to the tricky conditions ahead. We will have our breakfast and gradually explore the region. You can observe the snow-clad mountains of the area. There you can also observe the green hills and forested trails. The trail of this trek then descends to Namche. You will finally arrive at Namche Bazaar and spend the night at a teahouse.

Day 5 :

Trek from Namche Bazaar to Dole

Dole Altitude: 4,200 m/13,270 ft.

Walking Hours: 5 hrs

Overnight: Dole

After acclimatizing to Namche, we will continue our trek from Namche to Dole. This point separates the trek from the regular Everest Base Camp trek. The beautiful walk will continue in the region with various challenging terrains. The trail then leads you through the beautiful settlement of Dole.

The uphill terrain for the trek climbs uphill on a forested trail. Dole is a beautiful settlement with many rocky landscapes all around. Trekkers will pass through the Mong La Pass, where you arrive at the region approximately 2 hours after trekking.

The scenic views of the snow-clad mountains, including the Ama Dablam and Mt. Khumbila. The trail then takes you downhill with the forested trails of rhododendron and pine trees. You will trail along with the riverside settlements of Phortse Tenga before finally arriving at Dole. You can rest in the teahouse in Dole.

Day 6 :

Trek from Dole to Machhermo

Machhermo Altitude: 4,470 m/14,450 ft.

Walking Hours: 5-6 hrs

Overnight: Machhermo

On this day, the trek then continues through the challenging terrain. You will observe the snow-clad mountains of the region from the viewpoints of the region. The trail then leaves Dole as we pass through the challenging settlements of the region to arrive at Machhermo.

After a few hours of trekking, we will arrive at an uphill terrain and continue over the pasture lands. There you can find yaks and yak herders along with the pasturelands. The beautiful trail also includes a various religious heritage of the Buddhist community, including monasteries, chortens, prayer flags, etc.

The various snow-clad mountains of the region, including Mt. Cho Oyu, Ama Dablam, Lhotse Shar, Nuptse, etc. There are multiple settlements in the area, including Pharma and Luja, before arriving at Machhermo. We will spend the night at a teahouse in Machhermo.

Day 7 :

Trek from Machhermo to Gokyo, Climb Gokyo Ri

Gokyo Ri Altitude: 5,357 m/17,575 ft.

Walking Hours: 4 hrs

Overnight: Gokyo

The trail on this trek section passes through the region's settlements. There are various challenging pasturelands to find many yak grazing and yak herders. Trekking the beautiful terrains of the region is quite enchanting. You can find the memorials in the memory of people who perished in the landslides.

You will pass through the narrow cliffs of the region. Hence, the trails of the trek remain covered in rocks and boulders. The strenuous walk along the path passes through challenging terrains. Gokyo valley is one of the most serene landscapes in the region.

There you can find Gokyo Lakes around the area as well. The trail of this trek then passes underneath the Ngozumpa glacier's west side. The constant uphill and downhill terrains of the region are pretty enchanting.

The beautiful trail of this trek is quite rugged and covers the rocky terrains traversing through the tremendous hilly terrains. Finally, we will arrive at our destination after trekking for a few hours. We will spend the night at a teahouse in Gokyo.

Day 8 :

Trek from Gokyo to Machhermo, Hike to 4th Gokyo Lake

Gokyo Lake Altitude: 4,470 m/14,665 ft

Walking Hours: 5-6 hrs

Overnight: Machhermo

The trail of this trek takes you from the Gokyo region to Machhermo. The beautiful walk leads you through the uphill and downhill terrains for 5-6 hours. We will first go on an exploration of the 4th Gokyo Lake. After exploring, we will continue our trek through the steep terrains consisting of rocky boulders.

Moreover, the incredible hike provides stunning views of the snowy peaks. The trail passes alongside the banks of Gokyo Lake. The region's settlements include Gokyo Tso, and Tanjung. We will also trek past the Ngozumpa Glacier's south side. Phang Village also has Buddhist heritage sites.

The trail then passes through the Dudh Koshi River Valley. We will trek six hours and finally arrive at Machhermo and stay at the guesthouse.

Day 9 :

Acclimatize and Climb Gokyo Ri (5357 m)

Gokyo Ri Altitude: 5357 m

Walking Hours: 5-6 hrs

Overnight: Machhermo

The beautiful climb of Gokyo Ri is the central part of the trek. The Gokyo Ri is a trekking peak with an elevation of 5357m. The beautiful summit of Gokyo Ri (5,357 m) provides you with scenic views of Mt. Everest, Pumori, Makalu, Cho Oyu, Nuptse, etc.

Gokyo valley is an excellent region with incredible natural terrains. It takes around 5-6 hours of the trek to reach the summit of Gokyo Ri. You can explore the 5th Gokyo lake and get the best views of Mt Cho Oyu. After that, you can return to the tea houses where you can rest in the evening.

Day 10 :

Trek from Gokyo to Dole

Gokyo Lake Altitude: 4,470 m/14,665 ft

Walking Hours: 5-6 hrs

Overnight: Dole

The Gokyo to Dole section of the trek is another excellent hike aspect. The trail of this trek will continue through the uphill and downhill terrains. There are various challenging terrains off-the-beaten terrain. The beautiful trek then mostly downhill, passing through the Ngozumpa glacial moraines.

The walk then also passes through the chortens of the Buddhist region. There is a viewpoint along the region, including Thamserku and Kantega. We will walk past the Dudh Koshi River Valley. You will trek through the settlements to arrive at Dole and stay overnight.

Day 11 :

Trek from Dole to Namche

Dole Altitude: 4,470 m/14,665 ft

Walking Hours: 5-6 hrs

Overnight: Namche

The trail from Dole to Namche is around 7.4 miles. Although the course is not that lengthy, there are pretty uphill and downhill terrains. You will pass through the densely forested trails. There are remote settlements of the local people, including Sanasa, Phortse Thanga, and Mong.

The Buddhist heritage of the region includes Tibetan monasteries and ancient Chortens. Namche provides you with the snow-clad mountains of the area. There are various exploration opportunities around the hills. You will arrive at your destination and rest at a regional lodge.

Day 12 :

Trek from Namche Bazaar to Lukla

Namche Bazaar Altitude: 4,470 m/14,665 ft

Walking Hours: 5-6 hrs

Overnight: Lukla

The Gokyo Lake itinerary ends in Lukla. The region's trail then leads you to steep hills and challenging terrains. There is Hillary's suspension bridge, where you will cross the area. You will then pass through the Dudh Koshi River Valley, providing you with the snow-clad mountains. After a few trekking hours at Lukla. You can finally celebrate the beautiful terrains.

Day 13 :

Flight to Kathmandu and transfer to the hotel

We will take a flight from Lukla to Kathmandu early in the morning. For the last time, you can observe the Himalayan views of the snow-clad mountains. The flight takes around 30 minutes to arrive in Kathmandu. You can then travel to your hotel in the city

Best Season for Gokyo Lakes Trek

Autumn Season (September – November)

Autumn is a beautiful time in the Everest region. You can trek and explore the area in all its glory. The diverse landscapes of the region are exceptional in the season. The stable weather and pleasant atmosphere of the Autumn season make the trek quite enthralling.

There are dry trails with moderate temperatures in the region. The days in the season are warm, with nights being chillier. The temperatures range around 20-25 degrees in the lower trails and 5-15 degrees in the upper courses. The temperatures at nighttime can drop significantly in the early morning and night.

There are negative temperatures in the higher altitude landmarks like Everest Base Camp. The temperatures get gradually colder as you move ahead in the Autumn season. You can also observe occasional rainfall in the region. There are clear blue skies with sweeping views of the Himalayan mountains.

Another exciting aspect of the trek is the cultural festivities in the area. Therefore, trekkers can explore the unique settlements of the local people and interact with the locals.

Spring Season (March-May)

Spring is another beautiful trekking season in the Gokyo region. There is warm weather during the day. Trekkers can traverse the beautiful trails under the glorious sunlight. You can also observe the lush vegetation and diverse wildlife that remains active in the season.

The days are longer, which makes the trek safe and comfortable. The Gokyo region has less rainfall with minimal humidity. Rhododendron flowers cover the hills in the region, turning them quite colorful. The picturesque view of the entire region is a highlight of this trek.

Tekkers can observe the snow-clad mountains, including Mt Everest and other 8000m peaks. There is stable weather with no precipitation in the region. Therefore, there are no weather-related challenges like landslides, avalanches, etc. Hence, the Spring season is generally considered the best time for the Gokyo Lakes trek 13 days.

Off-season treks

There are other off-seasons in the region as well. The off-season treks in the winter provide you with many challenges in the area. The Gokyo region experiences minimal temperatures in this season, ranging from December-February.

There are sub-zero temperatures in the region that drop significantly. Trekkers can also observe snowstorms, blizzards, and extreme temperatures. There is also heavy snowfall in the Gokyo valley with thick inches of snow.

You can experience less sunshine and the days are shorter. Temperatures range around -10 to -15 Degree Celsius in winter. It is pretty challenging to trek through thick snow along the trails. In the monsoon season, there is heavy precipitation with slippery trails.

There are hot and humid conditions with leech-infested trails. The season of the month ranges from June to August. The extreme heat and humid conditions make this trek quite challenging. Hence, the off-season treks are not ideal for the Gokyo Lakes Trek 13 days.

Difficulty Level of the Gokyo Lakes Trek

The Everest Gokyo lake trek is a beautiful adventure in the less traveled Everest region. You will pass through incredibly tricky terrains to arrive at the destination. The difficulty of the tour is considered to be moderately challenging. However, those trekkers who have not trekked in the region will find this trek quite tricky. Some of the significant challenges of the walk are as follows:

Long-distance rugged trails

The Everest Gokyo Lake trek provides you with a great adventure. Various remote trails require 5-6 hours of walking in strenuous terrain. You will cover 10-15 km during each section of the trek. The rocky terrains have a long-distance, adding to the trek’s difficulty.

Altitude Sickness

This high-altitude Gokyo Lakes itinerary takes you through the maximum elevation. This leads to the challenging conditions of altitude sickness. The oxygen level and air pressure are pretty low in the region. This can cause altitude sickness among the trekkers.

Dizziness, nausea, headache, breathing difficulty, lack of sleep, lack of appetite, etc., are three symptoms of altitude sickness. Trekkers should descend immediately in case they get altitude sickness. They should also carry Diamox tablets for precaution against altitude sickness. Hydrating regularly and avoiding alcoholic beverages are also crucial during the trek.

Unpredictable weather

The high-altitude region in Gokyo Lake has unpredictable weather. There are high altitude conditions that will bring overcast conditions and unpredictable rainfall. However, you will generally get stable weather if you trek during peak season. The peak season of Autumn and Spring is therefore ideal for the trek.

Gokyo Lake Trek

Overview

Itinerary

Useful Info

Overview

Highlights of the Trip

Itinerary