Gokyo Lakes Trek

based on 14+ reviews

Country
Nepal

Duration
15 Days

Maximum altitude
5357m/17571ft

Activity
Trekking

Difficulty
Moderate / Difficult

Best Season
September, October, November, December, February, March, April

Accomodation
Excluded

Meals
Excluded

Start/End Point
Lukla

Trek Overview

The Gokyo Lakes trek gives an alternative to the traditional Everest base camp trek. The trek starts from Lukla after a half-hour mountain flight from Kathmandu, following the Dudh Koshi River towards Namche Bazaar, the gateway of the Khumbu region. After Namche, you branch off from the busy main trail towards the sleepy villages of Phortse Tenga, Dole, and Machhermo. The Machhermo village is situated at 4465 m/14645 ft. The town is partially sheltered from the wind by steep hillside spurs to the north and south and has a tremendous view of the rocky amphitheater that blocks the glen to the west. The lodge is basic but comfortable enough. Also, the community is building a porter shelter and a health post in the village

Gokyo Lakes trek from Machhermo: the view is dramatically changing landscapes to broad pastures, narrow clefts with steeply climbing trails, an icy stream to cross stony wastes and the banks of turns, and the first lake of the trail continues to way up to stone steps to the third lake, Dudh Pokhari, turquoise in color and reflecting the white face of Cho Oyu (8153 m/26741 ft) seen ahead, and finally reach your ultimate destination, Gokyo Lake (4750 m/15580 ft), where a few tea houses are available for overnight.

Gokyo Lakes trek highlights are to climb Gokyo Ri (5357 m/17571 ft). From there, you can observe great Himalayan views of Mt.Everest (8848 m/29029 ft) and three other 8000-meter peaks (Mt. Cho Oyu, Lhotse, and Makalu). From here, you can also see the largest glacier in Nepal, named Ngozumpa. Apart from them, the view of the tremendous ice ridge between Cho Oyu and Gyachung Kang (7922 m/25984 ft) is one of the most dramatic panoramas of the Gokyo Lake Trek. From Gokyo Lake, there are many options for high-altitude walking, including the crossing of Cho La Pass and Rengo La Pass; however, you will not cross those passes. Rather, you return to Namche Bazaar and Lukla via the same previous route. This Gokyo Lake trek is indeed less crowded than the Everest Base Camp trek .

Trek Highlights

Exciting mountain flight Kathmandu / Lukla.

Namche Bazaar gateway of Mt. Everest

Sherpa culture and lifestyle in Khumjung

Tranquil Gokyo lake

Climbing Gokyo- Ri (5483m/17984ft)

Great view of Mt Everest, Mt Lhotse, Mt Makalu, Mt Cho Oyu, and other mountains from Gokyo Ri

Excursion to the fifth lake

Ngozumpa Glacier is the world’s biggest glacier.

Outline Itinerary

Day 1

Arrival in Kathmandu

Arrival in Kathmandu (1,324 m, 4,344 ft) International airport. Tranffer to hotel. Refreshment. Preparation for Trek.

Day 2

Fly to Lukla. Trek to Phakding

Drive to domestic airport. Fly 35 m to Lukla ( 2,845 m, 9,334 ft)Tenzing-Hillary Airport, Refreshment. Trek to Phakding(2610m).4 hours walking(6.2 km).

Day 3

Trek Phakding to Namche Bazaar

Walking through the bank of the Dudh Koshi River and passes the beautiful village of Toktok,Monju and Jorsalle. Crossing few suspension bridge and steep climb ultimately you will reach Namche bazaar( 3,440 metres ,11,286 ft).7 hours walking, 12 kilometers.

Day 4

Acclimatization in Namche Bazaar

Syangboche Airport 3,780 m /12,402 ft) and Everest view hotel (l3962 m and 13000 ft). From here view of Mount Everest (8,848 m (29,029 ft), Lhotse (8,516 m (27,940 ft), Thamsurku (6,608 m (21,680 ft), Ama Dablam(6,812 m (22,349 ft) and other surrounding mountains. Decent to the Khumjung village ( 3,790m (12,434 ft). Explore Sherpa village and Monastery. Trek back to Namche.

Day 5

Namche Bazaar to Phortse Tanga

Today is perfect scenic walking to Sanasa (3,600m) closeup view of Mt. Thamsurku , Ama Dablum. The incredible view of Mount Everest and Lhotse. Further climb to the Mong-La Danda (3,973m), great mountain view. Decent though rhododendron and pine-tree to the Phortse Tanga (3,680 m).Walking distance: 3.5 miles or 5.7 kilometers. 5 hours.

Day 6

Phortse Tanga to Dole (4200m)

Today is short and tough walking to the Dole (4200m, 13779 ft). The accent the rhododendron forest and small water fall near Dole hill. Acclimatization. Climb hill above the Dole. 3 hours walking.

Day 7

Trek Dole to Machhermo

The trail ascent dusty and barren land through the Gokyo valley. The trail pass small tea stop and lunch spot Lhabarma(4330 m) and Luza(4360m) you will reach Machhermo(4470 m,14665 feet.) 4 hour walking.Walk up hill in Machhermo.

Day 8

Trek Machhermo to Gokyo Lake

The trail pass through the rocky and hilly terrain to Dudha Pokhari with amazing views of Mt.Cho-You (8,188 m ,26,864 ft) and other mountains. Today you will reach ultimately dream destination to Gokyo Lake(4,790 m,15715 feet).

Day 9

Climb to Gokyo-Ri, back to Gokyo

Early morning start climb to Gokyo Ri (5,357 meters / 17,575 feet), After 3 to 4 hours walking you will reach to Gokyo Ri to sunrise view of four above the 8000m mountains, including Mount Everest, Makalu 8,485 m,27,838 ft), Lhotse (8,516 m,27,940 feet), and Cho Oyu (8,188 m,26,864 ft). 2 hours decent to the Gokyo Lake.

Day 10

Gokyo to Dole

From Gokyo Lake you will trek back to the Dole (4,200 m,13779 feet). 8 hours walking.

Day 11

Trek Dole to Namche Bazaar

The trail decent to the Phortse Tanga(3650 m ,11,975 ft) and climb to the Mong La Pass ( 3,975 m). From here trail decent to the Sanasa (3,600 m). The trail contour to the Namche Bazzar with back drop view of the Mount Everest and other reknown mountains.

Day 12

Trek Namche Bazaar to Phakding

The trail decent to the gorge of the Dhudha Koshi and cross the thrilling suspension bridge several times to Jorsale village92,740 m) and Monjo village (2,835 m). Have a Lunch at Monjo. The trails pass through the bank of the Dhudha Koshi river until Tok Tok Village (2,800 m 9,186 feet) to Phakding village (2,610 m).

Day 13

Trek Phakding to Lukla

The trail passes the tiny village of Ghat (2,540 m, 8,333 feet), Thado Koshi (2,550 m) and Chaurikharka (2,413 m), From here trail final ascent to the Lukla bazaar (2,860 m,9,383 ft)

Day 14

Fly Lukla to Kathmandu

Fly 35 minutes. The flight is amazing mountain flight to the Kathmandu. From Domestic airport transfer to Kathmandu hotel. Refreshment.

Day 15

Final Departure

Preparation for Departire. Transfer to the Kathmandu Internation airport according to your flight schedule. Departure.

Package Price

Price Table

Travelers	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8
Silver	USD 1710	USD 1200	USD 1195	USD 1050	USD 1045	USD 1030	-	USD 1020
Gold	USD 2130	USD 1620	USD 1615	USD 1470	USD 1465	USD 1450	-	USD 1440

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The trekkers should pay by themselves the expenses of their meals and accommodation in the tea house while they're trekking. But other services are the same which are included in the Gold price and are also included in the Silver price.

Price Includes

Airport to hotel pick up and drop by private vehicle
Two-night accommodation in Kathmandu at the three-star hotel with breakfast.
One highly experienced mountain Guide and porters (1 porter for 2 people),
Accommodation food, drinks, salary, insurance, transportation of both trek guide and porters
Group medical supplies (first aid kit)
All necessary paper works and national park entry permits
TIMS Card (Trekker’s Information Management System card)
All additional government tax
Domestic flight both ways from Kathmandu/ Lukla/ Kathmandu with airport tax.

Price Excludes

Nepal entry visa fee (USD 30 for 15 days/ USD 50 for 30 days from the date of issue) (You may easily get a Nepal visa upon your arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu)
International airfare
Travelers Insurance
All Meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) during trekking
Accommodation in Mountain lodge run by local people during trek
All kinds of drinks (Alcohol, hot and cold drinks)
Lunch and dinner in Kathmandu (Approx 10-12 USD)
Bar bills, telephone bills, and other personal expenses (shopping/ laundry)
Tips to guide and porter
All expenses due to unavoidable events e.g. Personal illness, strike, etc.
Helicopter evacuation charge in case of emergency whilst trekking

We provide you with accommodation in a tea house and all meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner), while you're trekking.

Price Includes

Airport to hotel pick up and drop by private vehicle
Two-night accommodation in Kathmandu at the three-star hotel with breakfast.
All Meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) during trekking
Accommodation in Mountain lodge run by local people during trek
One highly experienced mountain Guide and porters (1 porter for 2 people),
Accommodation food, drinks, salary, insurance, transportation of both trek guide and porters
Group medical supplies (first aid kit)
All necessary paper works and national park entry permits
TIMS Card (Trekker’s Information Management System card)
All additional government tax
Domestic flight both ways from Kathmandu/ Lukla/ Kathmandu with airport tax.

Price Excludes

Nepal entry visa fee (USD 30 for 15 days/ USD 50 for 30 days from the date of issue) (You may easily get a Nepal visa upon your arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu)
International airfare
Travelers Insurance
All kinds of drinks (Alcohol, hot and cold drinks)
Lunch and dinner in Kathmandu (Approx 10-12 USD)
Bar bills, telephone bills, and other personal expenses (shopping/ laundry)
Tips to guide and porter
All expenses due to unavoidable events e.g. Personal illness, strike, etc.
Helicopter evacuation charge in case of emergency whilst trekking

Trek Map

Detailed Itinerary

Extend Your Trip

Day tours in kathmandu

Kathmandu valley sightseeing

Trek FAQs

You don't need to carry all your stuff which is not required for trekking. You can be left at your hotel or Himalayan Smile Treks office in Kathmandu. Nearly all hotels have a luggage deposit but we do not store clients valuables in our office. Also the hotel you will provide locker their you can store your valuables things. After you come back from trekking, we handover your luggage and other stuff to you.

We assign one of our officers to look after you, who constantly stay in touch with you during your stay in Nepal. We give you his mobile number. Or you may directly contact to our office number also.

In fact you don't need to be a mountaineer with rippling muscles to enjoy trekking. If you are reasonably fit, have a spirit of mountain journey and like walking, you are always qualified for any trekking in Nepal. You do not need any previous experience. However we suggest you some physical fitness programs such as running, swimming, hiking before you embark on journey.

If you're doing camping trek we offer standard meals as well as a vegetarian meal option. Just let us know if you want vegetarian meals when you book your trek. But we can't fulfill every trekkers requirement(i.e., dietary requirements or special meals ). Also tea house trekking you will get vegetarian meal. Please tell about your trekking guide about details of your food allergy.

If your solo trekkers we will provide you on single room in tea house. In peak season (October, November, December , March, April) you have to share room with a member of the same sex but it is rarely.

You will be served freshly cooked food during trekking. In all tea houses/ lodges along trekking trail Western, Continental and Nepali dishes are available. Three meals a day will be provided you in full board (Gold) package.

Up to a maximum of 5-6 hours a day with lunch breaks along the trail. The maximum altitude is depends upon which trek you are going. In Nepal normally the maximum altitude of most of the trekking falls between 3500m to 5000m.

To some trekkers when they go over 3000 m they may feel some affect of altitude sickness like shortness of breath and possibly a light headed which is fairly common. Sometime they may also get diarrhea as well as sprains and muscle aches. In such case our guide who is experienced in first aid treatment and high altitude sickness will advise you about any health requirements and also treat you. Altitude sickness is dangerous but it can be avoidable. If your follow a few simple rules you will not suffer from altitude sickness. Rules are trek slowly with your guide, drink at least two liters of water per day (not including beer or soft drinks), If you feel shortness of breath, a slight headache or dizziness, tell your guide and rest immediately. Lie down, drink water. If you are still feeling unwell you may consider going down a few hundred meters. Do not pretend you are okay, and do not go down alone. For further information of altitude sickness

You must disclose at the time of booking any medical condition that could affect your ability to do the Himalaya trekking. The Himalayan Smile Treks advise to do trek who has with heart conditions, knee problems, severe asthma or pregnant should not participate in the trek. The Himalayan Smile Treks could not be responsible in Himalaya trekking due to the lack of the medical facilities any problems due to your special dietary requirements or medical condition

There is no government restriction on the age limit for the Nepal trekking. If the trekkers children under the age of 8 years old and adults over 70 years old. The Himalayan Smile Treks recommend to hire an extra porter(our package price including one porter for two people).

In our trek packages one porter is including for two people. The one porter can carry 20-25 kg your luggage( per person 12 KG). If you're interested to hire extra porter we will recommend to hire in Lukla for Everest base camp trek. The porter cost approximately USD 15. If you want to hire a porter then please let us know at the time you make your trek booking. After Lukla it is very difficult to get porter. if your hire porter above the Lukla or Namche bazaar the porter cost USD 20 to 30 but they cannot always be reliable.

As general rule, it is hot enough during the days to wear an open-neck shirt with shorts and you will not be cold. During the evening, it gets cold so, long trousers and a warm jersey is essential.

Please consult your local doctor and follow his advice. However, if you are taking any particular medicines, it would be best to bring them with you.

There are trekking shops at Thamel, in Kathmandu, where you can easily rent or buy items like sleeping bags, down jackets, walking sticks, rucksacks, duffel bags and other equipments on reasonable price.

We will recommend you to rent or buy sleeping bags as low as -30 °C. This temperature is suitable for Everest base camp trekking(above 4000m). We will suggest to buy /rent sleeping bags and so you can try it out. Also you can rent /buy sleeping bag in Kathmandu trekking store.

If you are flying from a remote mountain airstrip like Lukla, Jomsom, Simikot, Taplejung and Dolpo, you should keep at least two spare days before your departure for home.

Trekking areas like Everest, Annapurna and Langtang, all most tea houses/ mountain lodges have telephone facilities. From there you can make international calls to your home and friends staying any part of the world.

Nepal is absolutely safe country to travel. Our staffs do take every precaution to ensure the comfort and safety of the trekkers. Before 2006 when Maoist movement was going on, there was a kind of fear in few trekking destinations. But today they have also come to peaceful political stream. So there is no more any fear and need to give donation for any party.

We offer you an experienced trekking guide. He is in charge of your overall trekking. This is the person you should go to with all problems, concerns and questions. He is well trained in all aspects of trekking, high altitude medicine, first aid and emergency procedure. He is selected in terms of his professionalism. Remember that trekking guides are local citizens and their English may be basic and limited to trek related topics. About porters, they carry your luggage. They are also local citizens. Normally one porter carries 20 to 25 kg of stuff. Normally we provide one porter for every two trekkers

Our group size is minimum 2 and maximum 12 however we will start trek from One people. We can organize trek according to customer requested date.

In Everest region trekking we offer you accommodation in tea house (mountain lodge). A Tea House is the combination of guest house, restaurant, and social hang out. The rooms are spare with twin beds and very little additional furniture. Around 5000 m trekking you don't need crampons but if you're going cross the high pass like Larkya la pass(5,235 m), Throng la Pass(5216 m) and Cho La Pass( 5,420 m) it is recommended. We will provide clean sleeping bag during the trekking.

Most of the Tea Houses have running water facility. Many of them also available hot water for shower. The hot shower is bucket shower(not running hot shower) except Namche bazaar. Most bathrooms are shared and toilets can be either squat type of the western version.

In tea House serves the traditional Nepali meal Dal Bhat (rice and lentils), as well as a variety of different food items, such as rice, vegetables, noodles, potatoes and soup. In tea house your will get vegetarian food. Also we will recommend to eat Vegetarian food. Also in tea house has western food such as pizza, pasta and French fries. Soft drinks, snacks and beer are available in most of the Tea Houses and trail side restaurants

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Traveler Review

Gokyo Lakes Trek was surreal. Crystal-clear lakes, glaciers, and mountain views blew my mind. Lakpa Sherpa was outstanding—attentive, kind, and deeply knowledgeable. He made sure we felt safe and motivated. I highly recommend this trek for nature lovers seeking less-crowded, breathtaking trails. A dream come true!

We couldn’t have asked for a better experience. Karma Sherpa was professional, patient, and always smiling. The Gokyo region felt untouched and pure. Reaching Gokyo Ri at sunrise was unforgettable. Every moment was magical. Thank you for a life-changing journey in the Himalayas!

Trekking to Gokyo was peaceful and beautiful. Chiring Sherpa was our guardian angel—experienced, friendly, and always encouraging. The views of Cho Oyu and Everest from Gokyo Ri were unreal. Highly recommend this trek if you prefer fewer crowds and more serenity. Five stars!

Gokyo Lakes is a hidden gem in the Everest region. Our guide Namel Dherpa was top-class—organized and incredibly supportive. Each lake was more beautiful than the last. Trekking here felt adventurous yet peaceful. Perfect for those seeking nature, solitude, and adventure.

What an experience! Dawa Sherpa guided us through the magical Gokyo Valley with great care and positivity. His energy lifted us, especially during long days. The Gokyo Lakes, especially under moonlight, were something I’ll never forget. So grateful for this trek.

Michele Tamang was an excellent guide. Calm, informative, and always smiling. The Gokyo Lakes Trek gave us moments of silence, beauty, and raw Himalayan wilderness. We felt like explorers in another world. I highly recommend this route for peaceful trekking with incredible rewards.

The Gokyo Lakes were everything I dreamed and more. Thanks to Dhurba Khanal, who made each day smooth and stress-free. We saw mountains, glaciers, and lakes that looked like paintings. Dhurba handled altitude management really well, too. Absolutely magical trek!

Trekking with Pramod Paggeni was an unforgettable experience. He knew every twist in the trail and made us feel confident. Gokyo Ri gave us jaw-dropping views of Everest, and the lakes were breathtaking. Less crowded and more spiritual than EBC. Loved it!

Dorje Sherpa was a fantastic guide. His planning and mountain knowledge made everything smooth. The Gokyo region felt pristine and untouched. Watching the sunrise from Gokyo Ri was a highlight of my life. I recommend this route over the classic EBC—less crowded and more stunning.

Stunning trek! Nawaraj Tamang guided us with great warmth and insight. The peaceful trails, blue lakes, and Everest views were unforgettable. This trek was the perfect balance of adventure and peace. Would come back for another trek with Himalayan Smile.

Thanks to Dawa Dorji Sherpa, our Gokyo trek was smooth and memorable. He adjusted the pace to help with altitude and knew the best viewpoints. The lakes, snowy passes, and Gokyo Ri were magnificent. Amazing service and incredible nature!

Gokyo was pure Himalayan magic. Lapsang Dherpa’s energy and experience kept us safe and joyful. From sunrise reflections to yak trails, this trek offered everything. Highly recommended for photographers, hikers, and spiritual seekers alike. Nepal is incredible!

We were lucky to have Wanche Sherpa. He was organized, humble, and fun to trek with. The peaceful atmosphere of the Gokyo Lakes was exactly what we needed. The beauty of this trek will stay with me forever. Perfect alternative to the busy Everest route.

Dhurba Bhatta gave us the best trekking experience. He was helpful and super patient with beginners like me. The trail was less crowded, which made it perfect for meditation and connection with nature. Gokyo was peaceful, challenging, and stunning. Can’t recommend it enough!