Gokyo Lakes, Gokyo Ri Trekking Package - 10 Days

Overview

Day by day itinerary

1. 1Fly to Lukla (2860m), trek to Phakding (2610m) – 30-minute flight, 2-3 hours trek.⌄

   Early in the morning, we catch a flight to Lukla from the Kathmandu domestic airport. The views from the plane build our anticipation and excitement for the trek. After landing, we are welcomed by our crew and the cool Himalayan breeze. We pass beautiful Sherpa villages, their agricultural fields, and many mani stones and prayer wheels. We see a spectacular view of Kusum Kanguru as we reach Phakding.

   Meals: Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner

   Overnight: Local Guest House.

2. 2Trek from Phakding to Namche Bazaar (3440m) – 6-7 hours.⌄

   After breakfast, we begin to head to Namche Bazaar. We cross several suspension bridges, enjoying views of Thamserku. Following the Dudh Koshi River bank, we pass other small Sherpa villages, reaching Monjo and officially entering Sagarmatha National Park. We stop at Jorsalle village for lunch and continue along the riverbank through pine forests. We cross the highest suspension bridge of the Everest region and trek upwards. We catch our first glimpse of Mt. Everest and continue to Namche Bazaar. Overnight in a guest house.

   Meals: Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner

   Overnight: Overnight at a local guesthouse.

3. 3Acclimatization and exploration day in Namche Bazaar.⌄

   Wake up with a pleasant view of Mt. Kongde Ri as we have our breakfast. Today is our acclimatization day. In higher altitude, there is less oxygen in the air. We must take time to let our bodies adjust to the difference. To help acclimatize, we take a short day hike up to Sagarmatha National Park Museum and Khumjung Village. The supposed Yeti scalp at the monastery and the Everest Viewpoint are memorable moments of the hike. Also, from the museum, we can see a perfect view of Mt. Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse, Ama Dablam, and many more pristine peaks. On the way up, we can stop at the famous Everest hotel and enjoy a cup of tea. Afterward, we explore Khumjung village and stop for lunch. After lunch, we head to Namche Bazaar. Namche is a major trade center in the Khumbu region and is densely populated by the Sherpa people. The city is bustling with trekkers who have finished or are preparing for the Everest Base Camp Trek. Bakeries, cafes, equipment stores, jewelry shops, and restaurants line the streets of Namche Bazaar. Overnight in the guest house.

   Meals: Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner

   Overnight: Overnight at a local guesthouse.

4. 4Trek from Namche to Dole (4038m)– 5 hours.⌄

   After breakfast, we ascend for 25 minutes to the top of Namche Bazaar for a nice view of Kongde Ri. The gentle trail from here to Kyanjuma was built by Pasang Sherpa from donations given by trekkers. Soon, a junction appears, dividing the Gokyo Lakes Trek and the Everest Base Camp Trek. Taking the Gokyo Lakes Trek path, we headup to Mong La Danda. The view of Mt. Ama Dablam and Thamserku is amazing. After taking some photos, we descend to Phortse Thanga and stop for lunch. Between here and Dole, we have the best chance to see the rare, majestic Musk Deer. Ascend another couple of hours through birch and juniper forests until Dole, a beautiful little village with gorgeous views of Thamserku.

   Meals: Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner

   Overnight: Overnight at a local guest house.

5. 5Trek from Dole to Machhermo (4470m) – 4 to 5 hours.⌄

   Dole to Machhermo takes about 4 hours on a gradual uphill path. We can see Mt. Cho Oyu after ascending 15 min from Dole. There are two small villages (Lafarma and Luza) between Dole and Machhermo that we can take a rest in.By the time we reach Machhermo, we are above the tree line, and the scenery is extraordinary. Machhermo is a very quiet village located near a river. After having lunch, we can go to visit the river and explore the rest of the village. Overnight at guest house.

   Meals: Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner

   Overnight: Overnight at a local guesthouse

6. 6Trek from Machhermo to Gokyo Village (4750m) – 4 hours.⌄

   Today, we are going to see the beautiful Gokyo Lakes, a highlight of our trek. We stop at a village on the way to have some tea and take in the surrounding beauty. About an hour after our tea break, we reach the first lake. After another hour of hiking, we can see the first lake. The second lake is nearby. Both lakes are mesmerizing with their blue-green hue. We hike for another hour and arrive at the third lake. The views of Mt. Cho Oyufrom here makes the experience even more special. Our eyes are wide as we observe the beautiful, tranquil lake. We have our lunch here, and then walk up to Ngozumpa Glacier. It is the longest glacier in the Himalayas, though it is melting rapidly because of climate change, so we are privileged to see it before it is gone. We continue to Gokyo Village. Overnight at guest house.

   Meals: Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner

   Overnight: Overnight at a local guest house.

7. 7Trek from Gokyo village to Gokyo Ri (5357m), then back down to Machhermo –6-7 hours⌄

   Again, we get an early start. However, you’ll feel well rested from getting lots of sleep last night. The goal is to reach Gokyo Ri before the sun rises, which provides a spectacular viewpoint to see the glowing peaks. It’s a steep 600-meter climb, where we see four 8,000 meter peaks before our eyes – Mt. Everest, Cho Oyu, Lhotse, and Makalu. We head back to Gokyo village for breakfast and then head to Machhermo, which we reach just in time for lunch. Overnight at guest house.

   Meals: Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner

   Overnight: Overnight at a local guesthouse.

8. 8Trek from Machhermo to Namche Bazaar –5 hours.⌄

   After breakfast, we head down to Namche Bazaar,passing through Dole. The trail is mostly downhill except for a 40-minute climb from Phortse Thanga to Mong La Danda. After that, the trail is relatively easy, passing down through Kyanjuma. We stop at Namche Bazaar. Take some time to explore and buy any souvenirs before leaving the Everest region! Overnight at guest house.

   Meals: Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner

   Overnight: Overnight at a local guesthouse.

9. 9Trek from Namche Bazaar to Lukla –6-7 hours.⌄

   After having breakfast with gorgeous mountain views, we start head down to Lukla. We head down for half an hour while enjoying the last view of Mt. Everest and say bye to the mountains. We will cross six suspension bridges and pass several Sherpa villages today before arriving in Lukla. After crossing the highest bridge, we walk another 3 hours to Phakding and stop for lunch. We arrive in Lukla after 2.5 hours of walking the beautiful trail through Sherpa settlements. Time to enjoy the last night of the Himalaya in Lukla!

   Meals: Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner

   Overnight: Overnight at a local guesthouse.

10. 10Fly from Lukla to Manthali in the morning and drive to Kathmandu– 30-minute flight⌄

    Have breakfast and then walk to Tenzing-Hillary airport and fly to Manthali in the morning and drive to Kathmandu. The drive to Kathmandu will take about 5 hours. We spend most of the day drive to Kathmandu via beautiful local villages.

    Meals: Breakfast · Lunch