Gokyo Lakes Trek

A high alpine lakes trek in Nepal.

Trip Facts

duration Duration 14 days
trip-difficulty Trip Difficulty Difficult
trip-difficulty Highest Point 5420m
Average Group Size 8-12
trip-code Trip Code GVTAH
trip-code Area Everest Region
trip-code Start Point Kathmandu
trip-start-point Trip End Point Kathmandu
trip-accomodation Accomodation As Mentioned
trip-meals Meals As Mentioned
transportation Transportation On Private Basis

Trip Highlights

  •  
  • Cross Renjo-la pass situated at an elevation of 5,340 meters above sea level.
  • Marvellous views of three 8,000m above peaks.
  • Warm hospitality of the local sherpas.
  • Trekking in the less crowded hiking trails of the Everest region.
  • Explore some of the highest freshwater lakes and vintage monasteries throughout the trek.
  • Cross one of the most beautiful passes, Renjo la pass.
  •  

Trip Overview

Located in the Khumbu region of Nepal, Gokyo lakes trek is one of the most popular picturesque valleys of Nepal. It is an ideal choice for the trekkers who are willing to explore the Everest region of Nepal in the less crowded area. Renjo la pass that lies at an elevation of 5,340 meters above sea level is the highest point of the Gokyo valley trek. Starting from Lukla the trek ends at the same point.

Meanwhile, you can also experience the scenic flight to Lukla and back to Kathmandu. During the flight you can have marvellous views of the high mountain ranges. Everest, Lhotse, Cho Oyu and Amadablam are some of the major mountain ranges that can be seen during the Gokyo lakes trek in Nepal. Besides that, you can also witness the highest freshwater lake system of the world.

Gokyo lakes trek in Nepal is a moderate difficulty level of trek. Because of that, one who is physically fit can complete the trek easily. Besides that beginners without any hiking experience can also go for the trek. The only difficult part of the Gokyo lakes trek in Nepal is the Renjo la pass. But no climbing skills and gears are required to cross the pass.

Kathmandu sightseeing is the first day before your trek to Gokyo lakes. During the sightseeing of Kathmandu valley you can explore some of the UNESCO world heritage sites. Swayambhunath, Boudhanath, Pashupatinath and Kathmandu Durbar square are the four heritage sites that you will be exploring. You can also choose some other heritage sites that you are willing to visit during the day. Besides that, this day can also be used as a trek preparation day.

Our Gokyo lakes trek starts after a scenic flight to Lukla Airport. During the flight you can have the marvellous views of the mountain ranges and the valleys. You can also witness Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, Cho oyu and many other mountain ranges during the 30 minutes flight. Upon reaching Lula you will meet the rest of the team and start walking. Monjo is the stop point of the first day of the trek that lies at an elevation of 2,835 meters above sea level. Besides that, you can also choose to stay overnight at Phakding village.

During your trek to Namche Bazaar you will pass through some of the rural villages and vintage gompas and monasteries. The sherpa capital is the main highlights of the trek and you can also meet with other hikers or have a hike to nearby places during the acclimatization day. Dole lies at an elevation of 4,200 meters above sea level.

During the sixth day of the trek you will reach Gokyo lakes and you can also take a hike to Gokyo ri the next day. The best view of Gokyo 5 and Everest can be seen from Gokyo ri. Renjo la pass is the highest point of the Gokyo lakes trek that lies at an elevation of 5,340 meters above sea level. After crossing this pass you can reach Lunde and then to Namche Bazaar. From there you will take the same route to reach Lukla and fly back to Kathmandu.

Gokyo Lakes

Gokyo lakes are the highest altitude lakes that lie in the Khumbu region of Nepal. Altogether there are 19 lakes in the Gokyo valley, but among them six of the lakes are the major lakes. Among all the lakes, Thonak lake is the largest. Similarly, The minimum elevation of Gokyo lake is 4,700 meters above sea level and the highest elevation is 5,000 meters above sea level.

Gokyo lakes lie in the north-eastern part of Nepal in the Solukhumbu district of Nepal. Marvellous views of the Gokyo lakes as well as the mountain ranges can be seen from the top of the Gokyo Ri that lies at an elevation of 5,360 meters above sea level. Besides that, astonishing views of Everest can also be seen from the top of Gokyo ri. Besides that Gokyo village that lies at an elevation of 4,790 meters above sea level besides the Goko lake 3 is also the main highlights of the area.

Sagarmatha National Park

Sagarmatha National Park is the most popular national park of Nepal that lies in Province 1 of Nepal. Established on July 19, 1976 it covers an area of 1148 square kilometers. Meanwhile, this national park was included in the UNESCO world heritage site in 1979. Besides being the home to rare species of flora and fauna, Sagarmatha National Park also holds some of the deep valleys, glaciers, lakes as well as the 8 mountain ranges above 7,000 meters.

The warm hospitality of the sherpas are also the major things to experience inside the Sagarmatha national park. Besides that you can also learn the tradition and culture of the local Sherpas. Some of the most popular areas around the Sagarmatha National Park include the Namche Bazaar, Dingboche, Everest Base Camp, Kalapatthar, Gokyo Lakes, Gokyo Ri and many more.

Renjo La Pass

Renjo la pass is the highest point of the Gokyo lakes trek besides that it is also one of the major high trekking passes of Nepal. It lies at an elevation of 5,340 meters above sea level. Besides that, it is also one of the most challenging passes of the Everest region. Besides that, you can also witness the marvellous views of the high mountain ranges and the deep valleys from the top of the pass.

You can reach Lunde village after crossing the Renjo La Pass from Gokyo Lakes. The alpine glacial views and snowy trails are the exciting part of this pass. Renjo La pass is one of three major passes in the Everest region.But the scenarios, landscape and the sherpa culture are worth any difficulties during the trek. Trekking route to Renjo La Pass is less crowded than other trekking routes of the Everest Region. So it is a must place to try if you are willing to trek in the less crowded trekking route of the Everest region.

Best Time for Gokyo Lakes Trek

Gokyo valley is one of the least crowded trekking trails of Everest region of Nepal. Meanwhile, it is an ideal choice for the adventure seekers who are willing to try the least crowded area of the same region. Due to the heavy rainfall in the Monsoon season of the year, it is better not to trek Gokyo valley during this season of the year. Besides that, due to high snowfall, the winter season of the year is also not favourable for trekking.

March, April and May are the best time for trekking in the Gokyo lakes trek in Nepal. Meanwhile, during this season you can also witness the beautiful rhododendron flower blooming in the lower parts of the trek. Similarly, another best time for Gokyo valley trek is during the months of September, October and November. Due to high visibility you can witness the astonishing views of the mountain ranges during these months of the year.

Permits and Entry Fees

Before 2018 the trekkers travelling to Gokyo valley need to pay for the TIMS card. But after 2018 the local government of the Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality will replace the TIMS card. Instead of a TIMS card you will need to get a Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality Permit. Meanwhile, you can get this pass only in Monjo or in Namche. Similarly, the cost of Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality Permit is Nrs 2,000 per person.

Another pass you will need during the Gokyo lakes trek is the Sagarmatha National PArk Permit. Almost all the trekking trails of the Gokyo valley lie inside the Sagarmatha National Park of Nepal. Because of that it is mandatory to get a Sagarmatha National Park Permit. You can get this pass from Kathmandu or from Monjo. The cost of this permit is Nrs 3,000 per person.

Difficulty Level of Trek

Gokyo valley is a moderate to difficult level of trek that lies in the Khumbu region of Nepal. The trail to Gokyo lake is not so difficult, but the trail to reach the Renjo la pass is one of the difficult parts of the trek. The altitude of the Renjo La Pass is 5,340 meters above sea level. Because of that there are high chances of getting altitude sickness. Because of that you will need to slowly gain altitude in order to avoid altitude sickness. But no technical climbing skills are required to cross the pass.

Daily 6-8 hours of walk is required to complete the trek in time. This trekking trail gets comparatively less travellers than that of Everest base camp trek. But the trail is easily navigable as there are various sign boards throughout the trekking trails. Meanwhile, you will need to walk steep uphill as well as downhill of the rough trails of the himalayas. Because of that, the hikers must be physically fit and regular exercise a few weeks before the trek is a must.

Detailed Itinerary

Day 01

Kathmandu Arrival

Your Arrival Time (?): Our office representative will meet and greet you at Kathmandu Airport and transfer you to your hotel in Kathmandu. 

At 06:00 PM: In the evening we will meet for a coffee and will brief you on the details of your trek program. You will get every necessary information you need for trekking in the Everest region. All your paperwork and permits will be made available to you, to be kept with our guide. In the evening, you can explore the Thamel area. The nightlife around Thamel is vibrant.

duration 30 Minutes
duration 10Km
ascent 1350m
trip-accomodation Kathmandu Eco Home
trip-meals N/A
transportation On Private Basis
Day 02

Kathmandu Sightseeing and Trek Preparation

At 08:00 AM: You will visit for a full day sightseeing of Kathmandu Durbar Square and Swayambhunath, Boudhanath and Pashupatinath temple. After sightseeing, you can shop for trekking and get the necessary gear from the trekking shops around Thamel. 

In the evening, the briefing for the trek will be provided by one of our informed representatives. If you have any queries and want to know anything, you can ask our representative.

duration 6-8 Hours
duration 30Km
trip-accomodation Thamel House Hotel
trip-meals B
transportation On Private Basis
Day 03

Fly to Lukla, Trek to Monjo

At 08:00 AM: After breakfast, you will take a drive to Tribhuvan Airport. After that, you will take a flight to Lukla airport also known by the name Tenzing Hillary Airport. The airport itself is also a major attraction of the day. Plus, the scenic flight to Lukla is admirable. You can get aerial views of the Khumbu region and Sagarmatha National Park. Upon reaching you will meet other members. Trekking to Monjo takes around 4-5 hours to reach Kathmandu. 

After that, you will start moving. You will pass through Phakding before reaching Monjo for the overnight stay. 

duration 6-8 Hours
ascent 2835m
trip-accomodation Local Lodge
trip-meals B,L,D
transportation On Private Basis
Day 04

Trek to Namche Bazaar

At 08:00 AM: You will start the trek to Namche Bazaar after breakfast. It is one of the difficult days of the trek as most of the trekking trails of the day are steep uphill climbs. Namche Bazaar lies at an elevation of 3,440 meters above sea level and is also known by the name Sherpa capital. Similarly, there are many hotels, restaurants, pubs and many more are available around the Namche Bazaar.

Namche Bazaar is one of the most admired places in the Khumbu region of Nepal. This is also known for its amazing offerings, Sherpa settlements and monasteries in the area. 

duration 5-6 Hours
duration 10Km
ascent 3440m
trip-accomodation Local Lodge
trip-meals B,L,D
Day 05

Acclimatization in Namche Bazaar

At 08:00 AM: After breakfast, you are free for the day. During the rest day at Namche Bazaar, you can interact with the locals as well as the other hikers. Besides that, you can also learn the tradition and culture of the locals. Similarly, this day can also be used as the exploration day. During the day you can hike to Hotel Everest view or to Khumjung. Besides that, you can also take a hike to the Khunde village which is popular for having the skull of the Yeti. Overnight stay at Namche Bazaar.

duration 5-6 Hours
ascent 3870m
trip-accomodation Local Lodge
trip-meals B,L,D
Day 06

Trek to Dole

At 08:00 AM: After breakfast, you will start the trek to Dole village from NamcheBazaar. The distance from Namche Bazaar to Dole is about 11 kilometres. During the day you will have to walk steep uphill and downhill climb a few times to finally reach Dole for the overnight stay. From Phortse you will follow the Dudh Koshi river to reach the Dole village. 

In the initial phase, you will be trekking in the same trail of Everest Base Camp, but a little ahead of Namche after about 2 hours of hike, the trail separates towards Gokyo Lakes. After getting in the Gokyo lakes trail, you will trek towards Mongla village. Passing through several waterfalls and some Sherpa villages, you will reach Dole.

duration 6-8 Hours
duration 11Km
ascent 4200m
trip-accomodation Local Lodge
trip-meals B,L,D
Day 07

Trek to Machhermo

At 08:00 AM: The distance from Dole to Machhermo is about 6 kilometres only. Meanwhile, you will have to walk steep uphill during most parts of the trek. Machhermo lies at an elevation of 4,400 meters above sea level. Besides that, you can also have marvellous views of the high mountain ranges during the trek. Overnight stay at Machhermo.

duration 5-6 Hours
duration 6Km
ascent 4470m
trip-accomodation Local Lodge
trip-meals B,L,D
Day 08

Trek to Gokyo Lake

At 08:00 AM: The trek to Gokyo lake is the most beautiful part of the whole Gokyo valley trek. The distance from Machhermo to Gokyo lake is about 7 kilometres. It will take about 5-6 hours to reach Gokyo lake from Machhermo. Meanwhile, during the hike to Gokyo lake, you can also witness Gokyo lake 1 and 2. The uphill hike is strenuous, however, it is rewarding in terms of the lakes and Himalayas, you witness. The oligotrophic lakes in this area are the most fascinating part of the trek.

duration 5-6 Hours
duration 7Km
ascent 4800m
trip-accomodation Local Lodge
trip-meals B,L,D
Day 09

Hike to Gokyo Ri

At 08:00 AM: Gokyo Ri is an amazing place to witness marvellous views of the Gokyo lake as well as the high mountain ranges. Gokyo lake 4 and 5 are the lakes that can be seen from the top of the Gokyo Ri. Meanwhile, the best view of Everest can also be seen from the top of Gokyo Ri. This hike to Gokyo Ri is fascinating as you can explore a wide range of Himalayan panorama from the top. Also, the Ramsar area of Gokyo is spectacular from Gokyo Ri. 

duration 3-4 Hours
duration 4Km
ascent 5360m
trip-accomodation Local Lodge
trip-meals B,L,D
Day 10

Trek to Lunde via Renjo La Pass

At 08:00 AM: The total distance of the trek today is 12 kilometres. To witness the marvellous sunrise view over the mountain ranges from the top of the Renjo la pass, we will need to start early. The cold wind that blows post noon makes it difficult to cross the pass. Because of that, we also need to start the trek early. The trail to Renjo la pass is a steep uphill walk. However, after that, you will descend downhill until Lunde or Lungdhen for the overnight stay.

duration 6-8 Hours
duration 12Km
descent 4380m
trip-accomodation Local Lodge
trip-meals B,L,D
Day 11

Trek to Namche Bazaar

At 08:00 AM: After breakfast, we will start the trek. The total distance of the trek today is about 18 kilometres. But the trail today is a complete downhill walk. Besides that, you can also choose to stay overnight at Monjo or Phakding village too. The total duration of the trek from Lunde to Namche Bazaar is about 6 hours. Namche Bazaar, also known as the Sherpa capital, boasts a wide range of facilities in the entire trek. There are a few coffee shops, hotels, spas and several nightclubs to explore in Namche. 

duration 6-8 Hours
duration 18Km
descent 3440m
trip-accomodation Local Lodge
trip-meals B,L,D
Day 12

Trek to Lukla

At 08:00 AM: The trek to Lukla is the last day of hiking. During the day you will follow the same route to reach Lukla from Namche Bazaar. Upon reaching Lukla you can check in the hotel and enjoy your last day in the Khumbu region. The trekking to Lukla takes about 6 hours to complete. 

duration 6-8 Hours
duration 18Km
descent 2800m
trip-accomodation Local Lodge
trip-meals B,L,D
Day 13

Fly to Kathmandu

At 08:00 AM : Wake up early and have your breakfast. After that we will move toward the Tenzing Hillary Airport to take a flight back to Kathmandu. Upon reaching Kathmandu you will check in the hotel and you can have free time. We will meet in the evening and have a farewell Nepali dinner together.

duration 2 Hours
duration 10Km
descent 1350m
trip-accomodation Thamel House Hotel
trip-meals B,D
transportation On Private Basis
Day 14

Departure

At 08:00 AM : You will be free until your flight time; we will drop you at Kathmandu Airport 3 hour before your flight.

duration 30 Minutes
duration 10Km
trip-meals B
transportation On Private Basis

Trip Guide

The information about the Gokyo Lakes Trek is in-depth; feel free to contact us 24/7. We will be available on WhatsApp to assist you instantly. You can write an email if this trip doesn't fit your vacation schedule and requirements. Altitude Himalaya aims to offer the best possible travel experience to the customers. Depending on the needs of the visitors and the group size, we customize each vacation package. We will put together a bespoke itinerary just for your private group.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Can I see the Mount Everest from Gokyo?

    Yes, you can see marvelous views of Mount Everest from different parts during your Gokyo lakes trek. Meanwhile, the best view of Mount Everest can be seen from the top of the Gokyo Ri and the Renjo La Pass.

  • How difficult it is to reach Gokyo Lakes?
    Gokyo lakes trek is significantly difficult as it requires trekking in the higher elevations. If you are planning to trek in this area, having a guide and support person can drastically lower the difficulty and the experience can be better. The chances of altitude sickness are high while trekking in this area, so we suggest you to be prepared accordingly or consult for the possibilities to alleviate the risk of Acute mountain sickness. 
  • How high is Gokyo peak?
    The Gokyo peak, also known as Gokyo Ri, sits atop an elevation of 5357 m. above sea level in Gokyo valley. The Gokyo peak offers a wide range of Himalayan vistas and spectacular beauty of mountain scenery. 

Services Includes

  • All arrival and departure at Kathmandu airport as mentioned.

  • Flight (Kathmandu/Lukla/Kathmandu) as mentioned in the itinerary.

  • A 3 star hotel accommodation in Kathmandu as per the trek itinerary.

  • Daily breakfast throughout the trip.

  • Lunch and Dinner from trek start day to trek end day.

  • All necessary paperwork. (National Park Entry Permits and TIMS Card)

  • English speaking licensed trek guide.

  • Porter during the trek. (Can carry 20KG Baggage of 2 people)

  • Lodge or Tea house accommodation during the trek.

  • One local SIM card (returnable) during your stay.

  • All government and local taxes.

  • Guide and Porter’s salary, food and accommodation during the trek.

  • Arrangement of emergency helicopter service which will be paid by your traveller’s insurance company.

  • Sleeping bag, duffle bags and trekking route maps – if necessary.

  • Farewell Nepali dinner on your last night.

Services Excludes

  • Personal expenses.

  • Kathmandu sightseeing entrance fee.

  • Lunch and dinner in Kathmandu.

  • Nepal visa cost. (You will require 2 passport size photos and 30 USD)

  • International flight ticket.

  • Travel health insurance. (Recommended)

  • Tips for the guide, porter and driver.

  • Sweet things like dessert/chocolate.

  • All alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks.

14 Days from US$ 1420
USD 1320 / Person

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