Loading your adventure...
Gokyo Valley Trek
4.5(0 reviews)
Overview
The peaceful Gokyo Valley Trek provides a breathtaking journey through the majestic Everest region. Therefore, adventurous hikers can explore stunning turquoise glacial lakes away from busier standard trails. Furthermore, you will walk amidst massive snow giants while experiencing authentic Himalayan alpine wilderness. The scenic trail transitions beautifully from green pine forests into dramatic frozen landscapes. Consequently, this complete package delivers an incredibly beautiful, well-guided, and highly unforgettable mountain adventure. Initially, trekkers experience a thrilling mountain flight landing at high-altitude Lukla airport. Afterwards, the winding route follows the roaring Dudh Koshi River valley upstream. You will spend quality time exploring Namche Bazaar, the famous capital town of Sherpas. Then, our expert team leads you safely alongside the massive Ngozumpa Glacier moraine. Ultimately, you reach the pristine lakes to witness incredible panoramic views of Mount Everest.
Key Facts
Duration
12 Days / 11 Nights
Trip Highlights
Gaze at the Gokyo Lakes, six spectacular high-altitude freshwater glacial wonders.
Climb Gokyo Ri viewpoint at 5,357 meters for a jaw-dropping mountain sunrise.
Discover Namche Bazaar at 3,440 meters to immerse in vibrant Sherpa culture.
Enjoy panoramic vistas of Mount Everest (848.86 m) and Cho Oyu (8,182m).
Photo Gallery
Included/Excluded
- Domestic Flights: Round-trip flight tickets from Kathmandu/Manthali to Lukla, including airport departure taxes.
- All Trekking Permits: Sagarmatha National Park Entry Permit and Khumbu Local Government Fee.
- Professional Staff: A licensed, English-speaking trekking guide and an assistant guide for larger groups.
- Porters: Usually 1 porter for every 2 trekkers (carrying up to 10–12.5 kg per trekker).
- Accommodation: Twin-sharing rooms in teahouses/lodges along the trekking route.
- Meals: 3 meals a day (Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner) along the trail.
- Ground Transportation: Airport transfers in Kathmandu and shared tourist vehicles if a drive to Manthali Airport is required.
- Staff Expenses: Wages, food, accommodation, flights, equipment, and medical insurance for the guide and porters.
- International Flights & Nepal Visa: International airfare and Nepal tourist visa fees ($30 for 15 days, $50 for 30 days).
- Kathmandu Accommodation & Food: Hotels and meals while staying in Kathmandu before or after the trek.
- Travel & Evacuation Insurance: Mandatory insurance that explicitly covers emergency helicopter evacuation up to 6,000 meters.
- Trekking Gear: Personal clothing, down jackets, sleeping bags (-15°C rated recommended), and trekking poles.
- Trail Luxuries & Add-on Fees:
- Hot Showers: $4 – $7 per shower at high-altitude teahouses.
- Device Charging / Power Banks: $3 – $5 per full charge.
- Wi-Fi / Ncell/NTC Data: $3 – $6 per day for network cards.
- Drinking Water: $2 – $5 per liter for boiled or bottled water.
- Personal Expenses: Alcoholic beverages, specialty coffees, soft drinks, cigarettes, and snacks.
- Tips for Guide and Porter: Expect to tip roughly 10%–15% of your total trek cost to be pooled for your field crew at the end of the trip.
Amenities
Domestic Flights: Round-trip flight tickets from Kathmandu/Manthali to Lukla, including airport departure taxes.
All Trekking Permits: Sagarmatha National Park Entry Permit and Khumbu Local Government Fee.
Professional Staff: A licensed, English-speaking trekking guide and an assistant guide for larger groups.
Porters: Usually 1 porter for every 2 trekkers (carrying up to 10–12.5 kg per trekker).
Accommodation: Twin-sharing rooms in teahouses/lodges along the trekking route.
Meals: 3 meals a day (Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner) along the trail.
Tour Plan
12 Days1
Day 1
2
Day 2
Trek from Phakding to Namche Bazaar (3,440m / 11,286 ft) Duration: 5–6 hours. Highlights: Enter the Sagarmatha National Park boundary at Monjo. You will cross several high suspension bridges adorned with prayer flags, including the iconic Hillary Suspension Bridge, before tackling a steep uphill climb to Namche Bazaar, the vibrant sherpa capital.
3
Day 3
Acclimatization Day in Namche Bazaar (3,440m / 11,286 ft) Activity: Rest and adjust to the altitude. Side Trips: Hike up to the Everest View Hotel for a panoramic glimpse of Mt. Everest, Lhotse, and Ama Dablam, or visit the local Sherpa Culture Museum.
4
Day 4
Trek from Namche Bazaar to Phortse Thanga (3,680m / 12,073 ft) Duration: 5–6 hours. Highlights: Leave the main Everest Base Camp trail behind. The route climbs steadily, offering wide vistas of the mountains before entering forests of rhododendron and birch as you descend slightly into the quiet settlement of Phortse Thanga.
5
Day 5
Trek from Phortse Thanga to Machhermo (4,470m / 14,665 ft) Duration: 4–5 hours. Highlights: Pass through Dole village and continue climbing past summer pastures. The vegetation grows sparse as you climb above the tree line. The trail opens up into a high valley ending at Machhermo, where you can attend an altitude safety lecture by the International Porter Protection Group (IPPG) clinic. Gokyo Lake 📍 Natural feature
6
Day 6
Trek from Machhermo to Gokyo Lake (4,790m / 15,715 ft) Duration: 4–5 hours. Highlights: A stunning day of trekking. The trail climbs a ridge providing views of the Cho Oyu mountain. You then descend to the river bank and walk past the first and second lakes of Gokyo before arriving at the third lake, Dudh Pokhari, on whose shores the Gokyo Lake village rests.
7
Day 7
Hike to Gokyo Ri (5,357m / 17,575 ft) & Explore the Fourth and Fifth Lakes Duration: 3–4 hours for the morning climb, plus afternoon exploration. Highlights: A pre-dawn ascent of Gokyo Ri for one of the finest panoramic views in the Himalayas. You can view four of the world’s fourteen 8,000+ meter peaks at once: Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, and Cho Oyu. In the afternoon, take a flat walk farther up the valley to see the fourth (Thonak Tsho) and fifth (Ngozumpa Tsho) lakes.
8
Day 8
Trek from Gokyo Lake to Dole (4,200m / 13,779 ft) Duration: 5–6 hours. Highlights: Begin the descent back down the valley. Walking downhill makes the journey much faster, and you will re-enter the shrub and pine forest zones as you reach Dole.
9
Day 9
Trek from Dole to Namche Bazaar (3,440m / 11,286 ft) Duration: 4–5 hours. Highlights: Drop back down to Phortse Thanga and ascend a final steep ridge to Sanasa before joining the smooth main trail back into Namche Bazaar for a celebratory hot shower or bakery pastry.
10
Day 10
Trek from Namche Bazaar to Lukla (2,860m / 9,383 ft) Duration: 6–7 hours. Highlights: Your final day of trekking retraces the path along the Dudh Koshi River, crossing back over the suspension bridges to reach the airfield at Lukla.
11
Day 11
Fly from Lukla back to Kathmandu/Manthali Duration: 30-minute flight. Highlights: Catch an early morning flight back out of the mountains. Transfer back to your hotel for rest.
12
Day 12
Final Departure Airport transfer for your flight home. Pricing Breakdown Costs vary depending on whether flights depart directly from Kathmandu or require a drive to Manthali Airport (Ramechhap) due to seasonal flight diversions.*
Reviews
0.0
Location4.7
0
Amenities4.6
0
Tour4.2
0
Services4.5
0
Price4.4
0
Add a review
Share your experience at this trip
0 comments
No reviews yet. Be the first to share your experience!
Starting from
$1,200$1,350