Gokyo Lake Trek

Take a day tour to five of the Kathmandu Valley’s cultural world heritage sites: Swayambhunath, the famed “monkey temple;” the city’s historical Durbar Square with ancient temples, unique art, architecture, and the chance to see the Kumari (living goddess); Patan’s Durbar Square; the Hindu temple Pashupatinath and Bouddhanath, the world’s largest stupa.
A car and driver will take you to each site-entrance and wait for you. (Entry tickets and lunch are not included.)

After breakfast, drive to the Domestic Airport for the flight to Lukla in the Khumbu region – south of Everest. Meet your local porters and begin the discovery by trekking into the Dudh Koshi Valley: to Cheplung (2 700m) and Ghat (2 530m). Another hour’s walk takes you to Phakding. Overnight in Phakding

Walk through pine forests along the Dudh Koshi, crossing tributaries, to the Sherpa villages of Benkar (2 710m), Chumoa (2 820m), Monjo (2 840m) and Jorsale (2 830m). This is the gateway and permit checkpoint to the Sagarmatha National Park. Thamserku (6 618m) glistens east of the village. Follow the river to its confluence with the Bhote Koshi: the major rivers draining the Khumbu District. Climb steadily, crossing the high Tenzing- Hilary Bridge, to the first glimpses of Everest and the Nuptse-Lhotse ridge. A further 3hr forested climb leads to the region’s administrative and trade centre at Namche Bazaar. Overnight in Namche Bazaar.

This is the first scheduled acclimatization day. Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) experts recommend at least a 24 hr rest period. Keep active: climb high and sleep low is the acclimatisation advice.

Only Namche offers ATMs, cyber cafés, restaurants and bakeries, plus a colourful market each Friday evening and Saturday morning. The Sagarmatha (Everest) National Park Visitor’s Centre has informative displays on Sherpa culture, local flora and fauna.

The village of Khumjung (3 780m) will present a more traditional view of Sherpa life than Namche. Spend a morning walking up to the village. A circular trail is possible. At very least visit the closer Everest View Hotel (3 880m).

A more adventurous five hour trek west to Thame (3 820m): below the impressive Kongde Ri Ridge (6 187m), offers panoramic Himalayan landscapes not visible from the Gokyo or Everest trails.

From the top of Namche, the trail contours around a hill to Sanasa (3 600m); and a trail fork: NW to Gokyo, NE to Everest. Look for Himalayan tahrs on high ground, shy spotted deer, and birds – including the colourful (male) national bird: the Danphe pheasant. Turn NW along the slopes of Khumbila (5 761m) into the Dudh Khosi Valley and head up to Mong La (3 975m, with a central chorten). Descend to Phortse Thenga (3 680m) through pine and rhododendron forest before rising to Dole: and great snow-capped views.

Scrub vegetation confirms the altitude; trek slowly to minimise AMS risks. Climb to scenic ridges overlooking the valley’s summer grazing kharkas: snowy Cho Oyu appears ahead; Kangtega and Thamserku stand south of the valley. Machhermo lies in a broad valley below the moraine. Dwellings are spaced within stone walled fields.  Overnight in Machhermo.

Walk from the basin to a ridge; where the south face of the mighty Cho Oyu – Ghyachung Kang glacier field starts to come into view. Ahead is the snout of the glacier from those fields. The trail gradually descends to the river.  At Pangka (4 390m) a second path from the south joins the trail before it ascends the side of the moraine.

There are six small lakes on the western side of the moraine. A bridge crosses the edge of the first; the Longponga Tsho (4 690m). Next is the Taboche Tsho (4 710m, just after a trail onto the glacier – to Tagnag and the Cho La). A final 30 min strenuous walk leads to the Dudh Pokhari, set in a horseshoe of high peaks.

Gokyo village is perched above it on the side of the glacial moraine. The last three lakes lie further up the valley towards the huge ice wall: which is partially visible above ridges from the village. Overnight in Gokyo.

Gokyo offers two exploration options. A lower 3km trail north of the village explores the route past the remaining lakes. They, together with melt water from the glacier are the source of the Dudh Koshi that was followed from Lukla. Aim for Thonak Tsho (4 870m), Ngozumpa Tsho (4 980m) and Scoundrel’s viewpoint (5 000m) on a low hill. From here there are tremendous close-up views of Cho-Oyu, the ice wall and Ghyachung Kang plus Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse and Makalu. Allow ~2h to return to Gokyo. The Cho-Oyu Base Camp at the northern end of the sixth, Gyazumba Tsho (4 990m), is too far for a day’s walk. Return to Gokyo for the night.

The trail to the Gokyo Ri viewpoint (5 360m/17 590ft), begins after a short walk around the lake. Set out early to avoid mid-morning cloud: for the two hour climb to its summit. Below is the broad, rubble-covered Ngozumpa Glacier, Nepal’s longest, gouged from the wall of towering peaks on its eastern flank. Above is the unforgettable vista of the Mahalangur Himal that includes Cho-Oyu (8 201m) the ice wall and Ghyachung Kang (7 952m), the north face of Everest (8 848m/29 028ft), Lhotse (8 516m), Nuptse (7 861m), and Makalu (8 463m). To the south Cholatse, Taboche, Thamserku, Kangtega, Kusum Kangru and many more, all over 6 300m, some unnamed, rear their peaks.  

If time permits, walk up and onto the glacier from the path just below the second lake. At Pangka branch onto the eastern, warmer, trail: with better views of Khumbila. This is “game country” including musk deer. Overnight in Phortse.

Continue south, through Mong La (3 975m) to Sanasa (3 600m). Then follow the wider trail back to Namche before descending into the greener valley and Jorsale (2 830m). Exit the National Park and walk down to Monjo; at a more comfortable altitude. Overnight in Monjo.

Follow the Dudh Koshi, through the farming villages to Phakding (2 610m). Cross the suspension bridge at Thado Koshi and walk to Cheplung (2 700m). Descend and then climb steeply back to Lukla: where your porters will take their leave. Overnight in Lukla.

After an early breakfast, take the return flight to Kathmandu. Transfer to your hotel. Rest of day free.

Transfer to Tribhuvan International Airport for your flight to your next destination.

NB: Cloud and turbulent weather along the mountain ranges is common and may lead to internal mountain flight delays or cancellations. We suggest you allow at least one extra day after your trek before flying out of Nepal.