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All too often, people only see the Everest Region as the home of Everest Base Camp Trek. That is just not right! If you turn your sights a little away, there are several fantastic trekking destinations as well.
Gokyo-Ri & Gokyo Lake Trek, an adventure in the Everest Region. As it is pretty clear from the title, and you might also have guessed already, the trek is about the two beautiful happenings of the Everest Region: Gokyo Lakes and Gokyo Ri.
Firstly, Gokyo Ri, a sublime mountain pass with an altitude of 5,357m, is a summit in the picturesque Gokyo Valley from where you can view four eight-thousanders: Mt Everest, Makalu, Cho Oyu, and Lhotse and numerous other peaks as well. Indeed, it is a majestic place for mountain lovers.
Likewise, there is something more in this trek that can unmistakably entice lake lovers. We mean the six pristine glacier lakes that come along during the tour, better known as Gokyo Lakes. The bluish-colored lakes have the power to awe-struck any visitors.
Nevertheless, Gokyo Ri and Gokyo Lakes Trekking are not only about the lakes and the past. An excellent alternative to Everest Base Camp Trek, this trek also bestows insight into Sherpa culture and lifestyle, views of striking landscapes and vast terrains of the Khumbu Region, and more. You can take this journey as a trek to the unseen and less frequented but breathtaking side of the Everest Region.
In total, it is a 14-day long itinerary that starts from Kathmandu and ends up in the same. But what happens in between is something you have never experienced and lived. Without a doubt, Gokyo Ri and Gokyo Lakes Trek are a whole lot of adventure.
Day 1: Arrive in Kathmandu and Drive to your Hotel (1400m)
Day 2: Kathmandu Sightseeing and Trek Arrangement Day
Day 3: Fly to Lukla from Kathmandu Airport and Trek to Phakding (2651m- 4hours)
Day 4: Trek from Phakding to Namche Bazaar (3,430m- 6hours)
Day 5: Acclimatization Day at Namche Bazaar
Day 6: Trek from Namche Bazaar to Phortse (3810m- 6hours)
Day 7: Trek from Phorse to Machhermo (4470m- 6hours)
Day 8: Trek from Machharmo to Gokyo (4800m- 6hours)
Day 9: Explore Gokyo Valley, Climb Gokyo Ri, and Trek around the Gokyo Lakes (5357m- 6hours)
Day 10: Trek from Gokyo to Dole (4032m- 6hours)
Day 11: Trek to Namche Bazaar (3430m- 5hours)
Day 12: Trek to Lukla (2860m- 7hours)
Day 13: Morning flight back to Kathmandu (1400m- 45mins)
Day 14: Final departure from Tribhuvan International Airport
This 14-day-long journey of yours with us will start as you land safely at the Tribhuvan International Airport. After your landing, our team from Sabbatical Explore Nepal will receive you to give a ride to your hotel. You will have a much-needed rest and refreshments at the hotel after an exhausting flight. Later in the evening, if you would like to explore a bit of the city, you can do that with the team. There are some excellent places for evening hangouts around Kathmandu. Also, you will attend a welcome dinner hosted by the Sabbatical Team. You will get to know the entire team for the expedition along with having a sweet dinner. Overnight will be back in the hotel.
The second day of the trip is about the sightseeing of the city and necessary trek arrangements. As for the sightseeing, our city guide and his team will take you to the cultural heritage sites in Kathmandu like Swayambhunath Temple, Pashupatinath Temple, Kathmandu Durbar Square, and other places. You’ll get to know the unique Nepalese architecture, culture, and traditions on the visit. While you enjoy the tour, our team will verify your packing list for the trek. They will also finalize all of the trek permits required for the Gokyo Ri Trek. In case you are missing any gear or clothing, the team will arrange that for you. The second day will get done as you reach back to the hotel. Following, you will find a way back to the room for rest.
So the real adventure starts on the third day as we leave the city for Lukla. We will join a splendid morning flight to Lukla from Kathmandu Airport. It is lovely for the views you get to see, the bird’s eye view of the complete Himalayas, and Nepal’s landscape. Soon, we will land at Lukla after some 40 minutes of take-off. We will be good to start the trek very soon as we are at the starting point of the trek already. But before that, we will have breakfast in Lukla and a bit of exploration of the place. Then we will join the path that goes down from Lukla to the riverbeds of the Dudh Koshi River. Moving along the bank and through the lush woods, and suspension bridges a couple of times, we shall reach Phakding. We will enjoy this walk on the first trekking day of the tour. After getting to Phakding, we will call it a day in one of the teahouses.
Now, we move towards Namche Bazaar after breakfast. It will be a goodbye to Phakding to join the trail that follows the same Dudh Koshi River. Unlike the first trekking day, we will have more uphills and downhills today. The swinging suspension bridges will also not slow down; you have to cross a couple of them today as well. After crossing the Dudh Koshi River several times, we will reach Monjo, where we have to reveal our trekking permits. That is where the entrance of Sagarmatha National Park, a protected site of the region, resides. We shall confirm our permits before getting back on the track through the pine trees. A little later, we will step into Jorsalle, a village by the pine forest, for a quick lunch. The trek along the river will keep on going until we find Namche Bazaar. Our last stretch for the day will be down from Tenzing/Hillary Suspension Bridge to Namche over a winding hill. Later, we will have a convenient evening in Namche.
Now it is time to slow down a little bit. We are already above 3,400m of altitude. And we need to acclimate to the elevations nicely to move any higher in the trek. Namche is a perfect place for that. Well, a day in Namche Bazaar is not a bad idea at all. There are a lot of things that we can do in Namche Bazaar, from short hikes to nearby villages to the walk to Everest View Hotel. We can also visit the information center of Sagarmatha National Park. Or you just roam around the alleys of the town. Anything done here is worth some value. But the best thing to do while in Namche Bazaar is the hike to Khumjung and Khunde, the two traditional Sherpa villages. The visit will provide us with some informative exploration of the village and the people. We will choose one of the options to spend the day in Namche. After the visit, We’ll trace back to Namche for the night.
Our time in Namche will come to an end as we have to leave for Phortse. We will begin by climbing up from the Bazaar to join a more flat trail. That is when we will start seeing the majestic peaks: Ama Dablam, Nuptse, and others. After some hours of trekking, we will reach Mong La, a small village located on a hill over the Dudh Koshi River. The trail to Everest Base Camp Trek and Gokyo Ri and Gokyo Lakes Trek is separate from here. We’ll join the path on the left side to descend towards Phortse and ultimately to Gokyo Valley. Shortly, We will reach the river’s river bed before heading upwards to the Phortse village. Phortse, also known as Phortse Thenga, is a farming village inhabited by the authentic Sherpas. Overnight in the hamlet.
By this time, we will have entered Gokyo Valley already. Yes, but the better things are yet to come. So we will leave Phortse behind to find Machhermo. The route goes through the valley that the Dudh Koshi River sketches. Along the way, you will cross the forest area a couple of times and a few waterfalls too. Following, we will take a midday pause either at Dole or Luza Village before reaching the destination. On a lucky day of ours, we might see Musk Deer, Pheasants, and more. Moreover, peaks like Cho Oyu, Thamserku, and other peaks will remain in the backdrop for our look. This way, we will eventually arrive in Machhermo after hiking for around 6 hours. Overnight in a teahouse of the village.
After eating breakfast in Mchharmo, we shall now move towards the Gokyo Village. In the hope of seeing the lakes sooner, we will join a steep track from the village at a great pace. Later after the uphill section, the route will go down to the river banks. Soon, Ngozumpa Glacier, the longest glacier in the Himalayas, will come along today. We will just pass through its terminal moraine. By the way, we will also see the river that originates from the glacier. Having walked a bit from there, the first Gokyo Lake will come over. The lakes will keep on coming as we move further, and we will not know when Gokyo Village will arrive. Reaching Gokyo Village, we will have our mouths opened by the view of the place. The village is just by the third Gokyo Lake, the bluish lake that glitters like a diamond. We will also see Cho Oyu and several other peaks in the backdrop as well. It is such a great evening to spend. Overnight in the Gokyo Village by the lake.
All of the trek up to now was ultimately for making this day happen; the Gokyo Ri Hike day. There is no better day than this one in the entire Gokyo Ri and Gokyo Lakes Trekking. We will wake up to the view of the lake. Once we have breakfast, we will leave upwards for Gokyo Ri. It will take around 3 to 4 hours to reach the viewpoint. As we reach the peak, we will witness a breathtaking mountain panorama, including peaks like Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse, Pumori, and more. Not only that, but we also can see the Gokyo Lakes from up there. This very moment will tell you the worth of the trek. And you’ll say; Well, it's worth everything. After the viewpoint time, we will descend back to the Gokyo Village to explore the lakes a bit more. We can also spend some quality time with the locals in the village as well. And following an excellent daytime, We’ll rest in the same teahouses of Gokyo.
Now it is time for home returning as we have already explored the Gokyo Valley in every bit. We will bid a shy farewell to Gokyo after breakfast in the village to pass via the lakes and through the same trail to reach Dole. The trail will be more of a descending and easy one this time. After around 5 hours of dropping, we will get to Dole to spend the night.
Likewise, we will follow the trail to Namche Bazaar from Dole. The trek will be on the same route and through the same settlements. The mountain views will still be available; do not forget to watch them. This way, we will navigate Namche Bazaar around the evening. The Night’s Rest in Namche.
Today will be a longer trekking day than the earlier two days. This time, we have to trek up to Lukla from Namche through Phakding. That means no overnight in Phakding, straight in Lukla. We will start the day quite early as we have more to walk today. The trail will go through the same suspension bridges, river edge, and forest area. We’ll recall everything from the other days when we arrive in Lukla. The last overnight in the Everest Region will be at Lukla’s teahouse.
If everything goes as planned, we will have a take-off from Lukla Airport around the first hours. It will take 45 minutes to reach Kathmandu, and you will have a scenic flight yet again. As we land in Kathmandu, you will get back to your hotel in Kathmandu. You will end up having a rest before meeting the team for the farewell dinner in the evening. And this is how your team will sum up the fantastic Gokyo Ri and Gokyo Lakes Trekking. Overnight back in the hotel.
And, your time with the team in Nepal will come to an end as you prepare for the departure. The team will bid farewell to you by offering you an airport transfer. Have a safe journey back home.
What kind of meals should I expect during the trek ?
You will get hygienic, energetic, and well-cooked meals three times a day. The food items available on the trek are the most common ones from Nepali, Indian, Chinese, and Western but local style.
Will I get WiFi on this trek?
Yes, but not in all the places. The teahouses of the lower areas have WiFi services. But the higher areas teahouses may lack the service.
What is the best time for this Trek ?
March till May and September till November are the two-time intervals that are best for the trek.
Is it necessary to have training for the trek ?
If you are an experienced trekker, you do not need that. But if you are an amateur, it is helpful to have training like cardio, hiking, and running. Those sorts of activities will make you ready for the rugged trails of the trek.
Do I need a visa to visit Nepal?
Yes, a visa is necessary to visit Nepal for all tourists except Indian nationals. You can get a visa from the Nepalese Embassy in your country or an on-arrival visa from Kathmandu (TIA) Airport. For that, you will need a valid passport before 6 months, some passport-sized photos, and a visa fee.
How much is a Nepalese Visa fee?
The up-to-date visa fees (as of 6/6/2024) for a Nepalese visa is: US$30 for 15 days, US$50 for 30 days, US$125 for 90 days. For Visa Extension: 3 USD per Day(minimum 15 days) 5 USD per day as late fine in the case of delay
Which time is best for a Nepal tour?
The best times to visit Nepal are September to November and March to May. If you are not doing any high-altitude tours, you can visit Nepal all year round, including Monsoon and Winter.
What is Nepal best known for?
Nepal is known for multiple reasons. The country is geographically, culturally, architecturally, and religiously a gifted one. It is the birthplace of Buddha, home of Mt Everest and eight other world & highest peaks, the world best trekking trails, the land of brave Gurkhas, and more. Therefore, multiple reasons make Nepal popular across the globe.
I had an amazing experience with Sabbatical Explore Nepal when I visited Nepal during my Gap year 2018. Our guide and driver were so experienced and helpful. I remember seeing many animals like tigers, deers, rhinos during Jungle Safari in Chitwan. I even went to the Elephant Breeding Centre and that was amazing. In Lumbini, the birthplace of Buddha I visited Maya Devi Temple and other monasteries. I was mesmerized by the architectural designs of the Temples and Monasteries built by different countries. I was a little sad that I couldn't visit other amazing places but the 6 days I spent in Nepal were very meaningful and memorable. I am looking forward to my next trip to Nepal.
Felix
After Everest Base Camp Trek, I did tour to Pokhara and Chitwan National Park. I am thankful to Shiva and his Sabbatical Explore Team for managing a great guide for my trek. I knew the trek is beautiful but not entirely. All the prayer flags, busy farm fields, like traditional hamlets, and yes giant peaks, these all are running through my mind while writing this. Thanks for this amazing trek. The guide helped me deal with the challenges of the trek without getting anxious. Thanks to him and the team! I suggest this group of experts to everyone reading my experience. You won't regret joining them. I am not!
Stefanie Zendler
“I had a lot of fun on this trek. We had a seven days trek to Langtang from Kathmandu. My guide Sabin karki was super awesome. He was motivating, fun, and the perfect companion for the given situation. I am more than happy with the service provided on this trip. They organized the whole trek in a way that allowed me to both acclimatize progressively and enjoy the Langtang valley beauty. I had a blast and had the time of my life. Thank you so much, Sabbatical Explore Nepal, and Sabin karki for making this trip possible :).”
Steve Smith
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