This guide is about Gokyo Lakes trek guide, written from what we see on the trail every season.
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Most people who plan a trek in the Everest region think of Base Camp first. The Gokyo Lakes trek is the quieter answer to the same mountains. You share the first days with the Base Camp route, then turn north-west up the Dudh Koshi valley to a string of turquoise lakes beside the Ngozumpa Glacier.
This guide covers how our private 13-day Gokyo Valley trek is laid out, what the altitude profile looks like, and who it suits.
What you are walking to
Gokyo village sits at 4,790 m beside the third of the Gokyo lakes. The Ngozumpa Glacier, the largest in Nepal, runs alongside. The high point of the trip is Gokyo Ri at 5,360 m, a steep early climb that pays off with a view of Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse, Makalu, Cho Oyu and Gyachung Kang along one skyline.
Far fewer travellers walk this route than the Base Camp trail. That is the main reason people choose it.
How the 13 days run
Day 1 is arrival in Kathmandu at 1,400 m and a pre-trip meeting with your guide. On day 2 you fly to Lukla (2,840 m) and walk three to four hours to Phakding. Day 3 is the climb to Namche Bazaar at 3,440 m, and day 4 is a full acclimatisation day there, with a hike to the Everest View Hotel at 3,880 m.
From Namche the route heads up the valley: Dole at 4,040 m, then a shorter day to Machhermo at 4,470 m, then Gokyo at 4,790 m. You spend two nights in Gokyo, which gives you the morning for Gokyo Ri and time to walk the lakeshore.
The way back goes down to Dole, on to Namche via Khumjung, and then to Lukla. You fly to Kathmandu on day 12, with a farewell dinner, and day 13 is departure. Walking days run from three to seven hours.
Gokyo or Everest Base Camp?
Both start with the same trail to Namche. After that, Base Camp heads up the main Khumbu route, while Gokyo goes north-west through Dole and Machhermo. At the top, Gokyo gives you a panorama over lakes and glacier rather than a visit to Base Camp itself.
If you are still deciding, our Everest Base Camp trek cost guide and the Everest Base Camp Trek page are worth a look side by side. If you want a bigger challenge in the same area, read about the Everest Three High Passes Trek.
Altitude and pacing
We grade this trek as strenuous. The sleeping altitude climbs steadily, and you spend two nights at 4,790 m. The itinerary builds in a full acclimatisation day in Namche, and the Machhermo day is shorter on purpose.
Your guide carries a first aid kit with an oximeter and checks your pulse and oxygen levels every day. Mild symptoms mean rest or descent, and serious symptoms mean going down at once. For more on this, read our guide to altitude sickness on Nepal treks. This is general information only, not medical advice, so please talk to your own doctor before a high-altitude trip.
When to go
We run this trek in autumn (September to November) and spring (March to May). For a month-by-month view, see our guide to the best time of year to trek in Nepal.
Flights and the Kathmandu buffer
In March to May and September to November the Lukla flight usually operates from Ramechhap (Manthali). That means leaving Kathmandu between 1 and 3 am for a four to five hour drive and a 20-minute flight. In other months it usually flies direct from Kathmandu in about 35 minutes. The airline decides which airport is used.
Lukla flights depend on weather, so keep a buffer day in Kathmandu before your international flight home.
What the price covers
Our Gokyo Valley Trek is priced per person by group size: US$1,660 for one traveller, US$1,385 each for two or three, US$1,300 each for four to six, and US$1,220 each for seven or more. Every trek is private, so the group is just your own party.
The price includes two nights in a three-star Kathmandu hotel, 10 nights in teahouses, full board on the trek, Lukla flights, the park and local entry permits, a licensed guide, and one porter for every two travellers. It does not include international flights, your visa, travel insurance with high-altitude evacuation cover, drinks, tips or personal gear. Our permits guide explains the paperwork, and teahouse trekking covers what the lodges are like.
Is it right for you?
It suits travellers who are comfortable walking most of the day on consecutive days and want mountain scenery without the busiest trail. A couple of months of regular hill walking beforehand makes a real difference.
If that sounds like you, see the full Gokyo Valley Trek itinerary, or ask us about dates and a plan built around your party.
Gokyo Lakes trek guide: next steps
Use this Gokyo Lakes trek guide to shortlist your dates, then message us. We will check the Gokyo Lakes trek guide details against the season, the permit rules and your group before you commit to anything.
Questions about Gokyo Lakes trek guide that this page did not answer? Ask us and we will add the answer here.
A good Gokyo Lakes trek guide should leave you able to plan, and ours is built for that. Read the Gokyo Lakes trek guide once through, check the key details, then compare it with the trip page.
Our team is a member of TAAN, Nepal’s trekking agents association. If this Gokyo Lakes trek guide raised a question, ask us. A short recap of the Gokyo Lakes trek guide: check the season, check the permits, and plan the days before the price.