Gokyo Lakes Trek
The quieter Everest valley
- 16 days
- Challenging
- From $4,900
- Duration
- 16 days
- Walking grade
- Challenging
- Highest point
- 5,357 m
- Best months
- Mar, Apr, Oct, Nov
- Starts and ends
- Kathmandu
For trekkers who want a wide view of Everest, with fewer people on the trail.
- The turquoise Gokyo lakes beside the Ngozumpa Glacier
- Four of the world’s six highest peaks from Gokyo Ri
- A quieter valley than the Base Camp trail
- Two nights each at Machhermo and Gokyo
The Gokyo valley runs parallel to the Base Camp trail and sees a fraction of its traffic. It holds a chain of turquoise lakes along the Ngozumpa, the longest glacier in Nepal.
The route leaves the main trail above Namche, climbs to the ridge at Mong La and follows the Dudh Koshi north past summer pastures and small settlements to the lakes. It is a high trek, but a gentler one than Base Camp, with shorter walking days and fewer people. It suits fit walkers who want Everest with more quiet and more space.
From Gokyo Ri you see four of the world’s six highest mountains in one view: Everest, Lhotse, Makalu and Cho Oyu. We build in two nights at Machhermo and two at Gokyo, so the climb comes on a morning when you feel strong.
Below Namche you stay in the Khumbu’s best lodges. Above it, the lodges are simple stone teahouses, and we book their best rooms early. You end with a warm lodge in Namche, a farewell dinner in Lukla and a last night in Kathmandu in case the mountain flights are delayed.
Gokyo Lakes Trek: the route
8 places · starts and ends in Kathmandu
Your journey at a glance
Choose a day
Highest night 4,790 m at Gokyo · highest point 5,357 m
Way upWay backPositions are approximate; peaks are shown for orientation.
Gokyo Lakes Trek, day by day
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Days 1–2 Kathmandu Luxury hotel Arrival 1,400 m
Your host meets you at arrivals and drives you to your heritage hotel in Kathmandu. The next morning a guide takes you through the old city, its temples and hidden courtyards, followed by a briefing and a careful gear check with your trekking guide. In the evening you eat with a Kathmandu family, an easy first taste of Nepal.
- Getting there
- Arrival
- Sleeping altitude
- 1,400 m
- Where you stay
- Heritage luxury hotel in Kathmandu (Dwarika's or similar)
- Meals
- Dinner
-
Day 3 Lukla · Phakding Premium lodge 3–4 h · 8 km 2,610 m
An early start for the thirty-five-minute flight to Lukla (in the busiest months it leaves from Ramechhap, four to five hours' drive from Kathmandu, and we confirm which a few days ahead), the plane tracking along the Himalaya before landing on the short, sloping runway at 2,860 metres. After tea you meet your porters and walk gently downhill, past prayer wheels and mani stones, to the Dudh Koshi river. Phakding is lower than Lukla, which helps your first night. You arrive in the early afternoon to a heated room.
- Walking
- About 3–4 h, 8 km
- Getting there
- Flight 35 min
- Sleeping altitude
- 2,610 m (+1,210 m)
- Where you stay
- Premium Khumbu lodge with heated rooms and en-suite bathroom (Yeti Mountain Home or similar)
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
-
Days 4–5 Namche Bazaar Premium lodge 5–6 h · 11 km 3,440 m
The first day follows the river north, crossing it several times on high suspension bridges, and enters Sagarmatha National Park at Monjo. Then comes the long climb to Namche Bazaar, with a first glimpse of Everest on the way up if the sky is clear. Take it slowly. The second day is for acclimatisation: a short climb to the terrace above the village, then a quiet afternoon in the Sherpa capital.
- Walking
- About 5–6 h, 11 km
- Sleeping altitude
- 3,440 m (+830 m)
- Where you stay
- Premium Khumbu lodge with heated rooms and en-suite bathroom (Yeti Mountain Home or similar)
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
-
Day 6 Mong La Best teahouse 3–4 h · 5 km 3,970 m
A short but beautiful day. From Namche you follow the balcony trail towards Khumjung, then climb to Mong La, a ridge top crowned with a chorten, where Ama Dablam and Thamserku stand across the valley. The lodges at Mong La are small and simple, and you arrive by lunchtime. The short distance is deliberate: you have gained height, and the afternoon is for rest.
- Walking
- About 3–4 h, 5 km
- Sleeping altitude
- 3,970 m (+530 m)
- Where you stay
- Best available teahouse, private room, often with shared bathroom
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
-
Days 7–8 Machhermo Best teahouse 4–5 h · 8 km 4,470 m
You drop to the river and climb into the Gokyo valley through rhododendron and juniper, past Dole and its summer pastures, to Machhermo, a small settlement in a side valley with Cho Oyu at its head. The second day is for acclimatisation: a slow walk up the ridge behind the village, and if it is running, the afternoon altitude talk at the Himalayan Rescue Association post.
- Walking
- About 4–5 h, 8 km
- Sleeping altitude
- 4,470 m (+500 m)
- Where you stay
- Best available teahouse, private room, often with shared bathroom
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
-
Days 9–10 Gokyo Best teahouse 4 h · 7 km 4,790 m
A gentle climb onto the moraine of the Ngozumpa Glacier, past the first and second lakes, to Gokyo on the shore of the third lake, its water a milky turquoise. The next morning starts before dawn with the climb of Gokyo Ri to 5,357 metres, for sunrise on Everest, Lhotse, Makalu and Cho Oyu. If you have the energy, you can walk on to the quieter fifth lake later in the day.
- Walking
- About 4 h, 7 km
- Sleeping altitude
- 4,790 m (+320 m)
- Where you stay
- Best available teahouse, private room, often with shared bathroom
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
-
Day 11 Dole Best teahouse 5 h · 12 km 4,040 m
Down the valley the way you came, past Machhermo and Luza, losing height steadily. The walking is mostly easy and the views back towards Cho Oyu are lovely in the morning light. Dole is a handful of lodges among juniper and birch, and you will notice how much better you sleep after the nights at Gokyo.
- Walking
- About 5 h, 12 km
- Sleeping altitude
- 4,040 m (−750 m)
- Where you stay
- Best available teahouse, private room, often with shared bathroom
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
-
Day 12 Namche Bazaar Premium lodge 5–6 h · 12 km 3,440 m
You drop to the river at Phortse Tenga and climb back up through the forest to the ridge at Mong La, then follow the balcony trail around to Namche. You arrive by mid-afternoon with time for a hot shower, a good meal and a walk through the market. After the simple lodges higher up, a heated room feels like a treat.
- Walking
- About 5–6 h, 12 km
- Sleeping altitude
- 3,440 m (−600 m)
- Where you stay
- Premium Khumbu lodge with heated rooms and en-suite bathroom (Yeti Mountain Home or similar)
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
-
Day 13 Lukla Premium lodge 6–7 h · 18 km 2,860 m
The last walking day is long but mostly downhill, with a final climb back up to Lukla in the afternoon. You cross the bridges for the last time and pass the villages of Monjo and Phakding again. In the evening there is a farewell dinner with your guides and porters, the traditional moment to thank the team who looked after you in the mountains.
- Walking
- About 6–7 h, 18 km
- Sleeping altitude
- 2,860 m (−580 m)
- Where you stay
- Premium Khumbu lodge with heated rooms and en-suite bathroom (Yeti Mountain Home or similar)
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
-
Days 14–15 Kathmandu Luxury hotel Flight 35 min 1,400 m
Morning flights from Lukla are the most reliable, so you are usually back at your hotel in Kathmandu by mid-morning. The next day is held in reserve. If cloud has delayed the Lukla flight, it absorbs the delay and nothing is missed; if not, it is a free day for Patan or Bhaktapur, or simply rest, with a guide if you would like one.
- Getting there
- Flight 35 min
- Sleeping altitude
- 1,400 m (−1,460 m)
- Where you stay
- Heritage luxury hotel in Kathmandu (Dwarika's or similar)
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
-
Day 16 Departure Departure
A last breakfast in Kathmandu and a private transfer to the airport, timed around your flight. If you are flying late, your guide can fill the hours with a last walk in the city.
- Getting there
- Departure
- Meals
- Breakfast
Walking times are typical at an unhurried pace and include rests; your guide adjusts each day to the group and the weather.
Is this journey for you?
- Walking
- Five to eight hours a day, sleeping near 5,000 metres for several nights.
- Fitness
- Good fitness and ideally a previous multi-day trek.
- Altitude
- You sleep as high as 4,790 m, with acclimatisation built into the route. We send a health questionnaire and talk it through before you book.
- Terrain
- Stone-stepped trails and suspension bridges below Namche, then ridge and valley paths and loose glacial moraine around the lakes, with a steep climb up Gokyo Ri.
The practical details
Where you stay
Named lodges or similar, confirmed in your proposal.
- 4 nights
Luxury hotel
Heritage luxury hotel in Kathmandu (Dwarika's or similar)
Kathmandu
- 5 nights
Premium lodge
Premium Khumbu lodge with heated rooms and en-suite bathroom (Yeti Mountain Home or similar)
Phakding · Namche Bazaar · Lukla
- 6 nights
Best teahouse
Best available teahouse, private room, often with shared bathroom
Mong La · Machhermo · Gokyo · Dole
Best time for the Gokyo Lakes Trek
- JanJanuary: Possible. Cold and clear; snow can close high passes.
- FebFebruary: Possible. Cold and clear; snow can close high passes.
- MarMarch: Best. Spring begins: clear mornings, rhododendrons in bloom lower down.
- AprApril: Best. Peak spring season: warm days, flowers, busier trails.
- MayMay: Good. Warmer and hazier, with afternoon cloud as the monsoon nears.
- JunJune: Not recommended. Monsoon: rain most afternoons, leeches low down, mountains often hidden.
- JulJuly: Not recommended. Monsoon: heavy rain and frequent flight cancellations.
- AugAugust: Not recommended. Monsoon: heavy rain and frequent flight cancellations.
- SepSeptember: Good. Monsoon clears late in the month; lush valleys, some cloud.
- OctOctober: Best. Peak autumn season: clear views, festivals, busier trails.
- NovNovember: Best. Clear, stable and cooler; quieter after mid-month.
- DecDecember: Possible. Cold, clear and quiet; short days at altitude.
Seasons for this journey: Spring, Autumn. Choose a month for what to expect.
Comparing prices for the Gokyo Lakes Trek?
Cheaper treks are usually group departures. Ask any operator:
- Is the guide yours alone?
- Yes. Only your own party travels together, never a group departure.
- How many guides and porters?
- A senior guide and a porter for every two guests.
- Are altitude checks written down?
- Twice a day above 3,000 m, with bottled oxygen on every high route.
- What if someone needs evacuating?
- A standing helicopter agreement, and insurance confirmed before you travel.
Included
- Himkora Host, plus a senior guide and a porter for every two guests
- All hotels and lodges as described
- All meals, including dinners in the cities
- Lukla flights
- Permits: Sagarmatha National Park and Khumbu fees
- Porters, private vehicles and every transfer
- Down jacket, sleeping bag and a Himkora duffel on loan
- Treated drinking water every day on the trail
- Twice-daily oxygen and pulse checks, and a full first-aid kit
- Guided sightseeing in Kathmandu as described
- The Himkora Care Standard, in full
Not included
6 items
- International flights
- Nepal visa (US$50 on arrival for 30 days)
- Travel insurance with evacuation cover (required)
- Gratuities and drinks
- Wi-Fi, charging and hot showers where lodges charge for them
- Extra nights or helicopters caused by weather delays (often covered by insurance)
Before you go
Permits we arrange for you
- Sagarmatha National Park entry and Khumbu Pasang Lhamu municipality fee
We need a scan of your passport photo page and one passport photo about six weeks before travel. Permit fees are included in your price.
Visa and insurance
- Most nationalities get a Nepal tourist visa on arrival at Kathmandu airport, or online in advance. Check the Department of Immigration before you travel.
- Travel insurance is required. It must cover trekking to at least 6,000 m and helicopter evacuation; we check your policy before departure.
How we manage altitude
- Above 3,000 m, sleeping altitude rises by about 500 m a night (never more than 700 m, and then next to a rest day), with acclimatisation days built in.
- Your guide checks blood oxygen and pulse twice a day and carries bottled oxygen and a full medical kit.
- Guides always have the authority to descend, and we hold a standing helicopter-evacuation agreement in Kathmandu.
Getting ready
- Walking grade: Challenging. We send a training plan with your proposal.
- Talk to your doctor or a travel clinic about altitude medication and vaccinations at least six weeks before you travel.
- We send a health questionnaire before booking and talk it through with you.
Mountain flights
- Lukla flights depend on clear weather. In busy months they may leave from Ramechhap, four to five hours' drive from Kathmandu; we arrange the transfer.
- Your itinerary ends with a spare day in Kathmandu, held in case weather delays the Lukla flight. If delays run on, we can arrange a helicopter (at cost).
- Domestic baggage is usually limited to about 15 kg including your cabin bag; extra can stay at your Kathmandu hotel.
Weather
- Days are usually bright and mild in season; nights drop below freezing above about 4,000 m.
- Afternoon cloud is normal; mornings bring the clearest views.
We provide
- A Himkora duffel for your porter to carry (up to 12 kg per guest)
- Down jacket and sleeping bag rated to −20°C, on loan
- Water purification, first-aid and the Care Standard kit
You bring
- Broken-in walking boots and four pairs of trekking socks
- Layers: base layers, fleece, waterproof shell jacket and trousers
- Warm hat, sun hat, gloves, sunglasses (category 3 or 4) and sunscreen
- Daypack (25–30 litres), refillable bottles, headtorch
- Personal medicines, and a copy of your insurance policy
A full packing list comes with your proposal.
Money
- Your journey is paid in advance, so you only need cash for drinks, souvenirs and tips.
- Nepali rupees are best on the trail; there are ATMs in Kathmandu, Pokhara, Lukla and Namche.
Connectivity and tipping
- Most lodges have Wi-Fi, often slow and sometimes paid; mobile data works in many villages. Your guide carries a satellite messenger.
- Gratuities are not included and are always your choice. We send guidance for guides, porters and drivers with your pre-departure notes.
Similar journeys
All journeys
Everest Luxury Lodge Trek
Everest, hosted: the Khumbu's best lodges every night, Tengboche at dawn, and the option of a private helicopter up to the foot of the mountain.
Everest Base Camp Trek
The full walk to Everest Base Camp and Kala Patthar, with the best lodges low down, the best rooms higher up, and two acclimatisation days.
Everest View Trek
Namche, Khumjung and the Everest View terrace in nine unhurried days, staying in the Khumbu's best lodges throughout.
Questions guests ask
More answers on our questions page, or write to hello@himkora.com.
How much does the Gokyo Lakes Trek cost?
The Comfort journey is $4,900 per person for two travelling privately, and the Signature journey is $5,900. The price includes guiding, porters, accommodation, meals and permits as listed. Your proposal gives one clear price for your dates.
How many days is the Gokyo Lakes Trek?
16 days as we have planned it, from your arrival in Nepal to your departure. Because it is private, we can add rest days or extra nights, or shorten it if you have less time.
How difficult is the Gokyo Lakes Trek?
We grade it challenging. Five to eight hours a day, sleeping near 5,000 metres for several nights. Good fitness and ideally a previous multi-day trek.
How high does the Gokyo Lakes Trek go?
The highest point is 5,357 m, and the highest night is at 4,790 m. The itinerary includes acclimatisation days, and your guide checks your oxygen levels every morning and evening.
When is the best time for the Gokyo Lakes Trek?
The best months are March, April, October and November. See the month-by-month guide above for the rest of the year.
Which permits do I need for the Gokyo Lakes Trek?
You will need: Sagarmatha National Park entry and Khumbu Pasang Lhamu municipality fee. We arrange all of them for you and include the fees in your price.
Is every journey private?
Yes. You travel only with the people you choose, on your dates. Your guide, porters and vehicles are yours alone, and the route can be adjusted before or during the journey.
What is included in the price?
Your Himkora Host and senior guide, porters, every hotel and lodge named in the itinerary, meals as listed, domestic flights, permits, park fees and private transfers. International flights, your Nepal visa, travel insurance, drinks and gratuities are not included.
How do deposits and payment work?
A 30% deposit confirms your journey, and the balance is due 90 days before travel. Your proposal sets out the full price and the cancellation terms before you pay anything. Our full booking terms are on the Booking terms page.
How fit do I need to be?
Each journey has a walking grade, explained on its page. Before you book, we send a short health questionnaire and talk through your walking history. If a route isn't right, we will say so and suggest one that is.
How do you manage altitude?
Above 3,000 metres our itineraries raise sleeping altitude by about 500 metres a night, never more than 700 metres and then only next to a rest day, with acclimatisation days built in. Guides check blood oxygen and pulse twice a day, carry bottled oxygen on high routes, and always have the authority to turn back.
Do I need special travel insurance?
Yes. Your policy must cover trekking to the highest altitude on your route (up to 6,000 metres on our high journeys), emergency medical treatment, helicopter rescue and repatriation. We check it before you travel.
What if flights to Lukla are delayed?
Mountain flights depend on the weather, and in busy months they may leave from Ramechhap rather than Kathmandu. Every Everest itinerary keeps a spare day in Kathmandu after the Lukla flight, so a weather delay doesn't cost you any of the trek. If delays run on longer, a helicopter can be arranged at cost.
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