Gokyo Lake Trek is located in the Everest region in Nepal and features the highest freshwater lake system in the country. During winter, the lakes are frozen, and thus this trek is also popularly known as a “frozen lake” trekking destination. The crystal-clear blue and green water of Gokyo Lake, along with the snow-covered mountains, is one of the most iconic and picturesque scenes in the Himalayan range and thus makes for a popular trekking destination for adventure lovers and trekkers.
This trek is particularly ideal for those who are fond of exploring and experiencing pristine natural beauty, peaceful surroundings, and unspoiled wilderness in the mountains. The trek generally commences with a scenic flight to Lukla Airport, also known as the Gateway to Mount Everest. The trek then passes through a number of traditional Sherpa villages, providing trekkers and adventure lovers with a unique cultural experience.
As you progress along the trek, you will be able to enjoy the varied landscapes, including forests, glacial rivers, and high-altitude landscapes. Crossing Cho La Pass is one of the main attractions along this trek, as it is one of the high mountain passes. From this point, trekkers will be able to enjoy the panoramic views of some of the highest mountain peaks in the world, including Mount Everest, Kusum Kanguru, Thamserku, Kangtega, Taboche, Cholatse, Makalu, Lhotse, Nuptse, Changtse, and Pumori.
In all, the Gokyo Lake Trek is an unforgettable adventure, with the perfect blend of natural and cultural attractions.
Highlights of the Gokyo Lake Trek:
Welcome! To Kathmandu, Nepal. You will be welcomed by an Asian Heritage Travel representative with a nameplate upon your arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport, and you will then be taken to your hotel located within the busy tourist district known as Thamel in Kathmandu. You will see some of the highlights of the city while traveling to the hotel, including Pashupatinath Temple, Narayanhiti Royal Palace Museum, and the peaceful Garden of Dreams. Once you arrive at your hotel, a representative will meet you to discuss your itinerary and answer any questions you might have about it. After you check into your hotel, the rest of the day is yours to explore the busy streets, cafés, and shops of Thamel or relax at your hotel.
Includes: Private transport and an overnight accommodation at Yatri Suites and Spa or a similar hotel in Kathmandu.
The start of your trek will be marked by a breathtaking flight into Lukla from Kathmandu, showcasing the elegance of the Himalayas below. After landing at Lukla, your trek will officially begin towards Phakding. The trek continues beside Dudh Koshi River – otherwise known as Milk River – and alongside it, you will be enveloped in the tranquil sound of rippling water.
You will experience walking through colourful rhododendron forests while being surrounded by the fresh aroma of Evergreen Oak. Along your journey, you will pass various delightful Sherpa settlements, prayer walls, suspension bridges and reach Phakding, a quiet village known for its beauty.
The first day gives you an introduction to the History and Culture of the Everest Region and all it has to offer.
Includes: Airfare, English-speaking Trekking guide, Porter, and an overnight accommodation at an available local lodge in Phakding.
The trek starts gently and follows the meandering banks of the Dudh Koshi River. As you walk, you may have your first view of Mount Everest off in the distance. After enjoying a leisurely lunch in Monjo, the trail steepens significantly, and the increasing elevation causes the trek to become somewhat difficult due to the need for a very gradual ascent.
As you steadily ascend, the time between the lunch break in Monjo and your arrival at Namche Bazaar may take several hours. You will eventually arrive at the vibrant Sherpa town of Namche Bazaar by late afternoon. Within Namche, visitors can shop for Nepali items, dine in different cultural restaurants, stay in one of the numerous hostels or guest houses, use the Internet, and spend time with fellow trekkers and locals to learn about how the communities thrive in the majestic environment of the Himalayas.
Includes: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, an English-speaking Trekking Guide, and overnight accommodation at a local lodge in Namche Bazaar.
On the third day of the Gokyo Lake trek, you can use your time to acclimatize, relax, and explore around Namche Bazaar. In order to enjoy the breathtaking vistas of Mount Everest, Thamserku, Ama Dablam, and other stunning peaks in Sagarmatha National Park, the majority of trekkers prefer to rise before daybreak. The opportunity to see the mountains’ shadows projected into the clouds above allows one to fully comprehend their size.
Try Champa, a type of grain that the Sherpa in the area frequently eat, and salt-butter tea as a source of energy. It is worthwhile to attend the vibrant cultural Saturday market, which is typically crowded with vendors who are frantically attempting to sell their goods.
Includes: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, an English-speaking Trekking Guide, and overnight accommodation at a local lodge in Namche Bazaar.
We will start our journey to Khumjung with an early start. The first part of the trail will take us uphill to the monastery above Thame village. On a clear day, you will enjoy magnificent views, with the natural beauty of the surrounding landscape complementing the rich Buddhist culture of the Sherpa people. Following this visit, we will head in the direction of Namche Bazaar, with Khumbila, the sacred mountain, looming in the background.
As we progress along the trail, it will gradually open up and follow the natural contours of the mountain with a mild incline. Khumjung village is situated at the foot of the revered Khumbila mountain, with a peaceful and picturesque setting. The village is also home to an old monastery, built around 340 years ago, which is said to have a Yeti scalp, commonly known as the Abominable Snowman.
Khumjung village is a pleasant place to stay and is especially relevant if you are an admirer of Sir Edmund Hillary, who contributed so much to the area.
Includes: English-speaking trekking guide, Porter, and an overnight accommodation at an available local lodge in Khumjung.
From Khumjung, we will continue on a path that heads up the hillside, going around a rocky outcropping before heading down to a stream that is fed by the water of Gokyo Lake. At the junction, we will head to the left to the village of Phortse, which is on the other side of the river, and head north.
As we make our way on the journey, the path will seem like it was taken right out of a storybook, going under frozen waterfalls and through moss-filled woods while having the opportunity to catch a glimpse of unique Himalayan animals. Coming out of the woods, the path will take us past a series of yak huts used during the summer before we come to Dole.
Includes: English-speaking trekking guide, Porter, and an overnight accommodation at an available local lodge in Dole.
From Dole, we start our ascent out of the valley, passing through Lhaparma and Luza, where you will get your first view of Cho Oyu. At over 8,000 meters, one of the world’s highest mountains, it is always a presence as we continue along the valley.
The trail is a gradual ascent with a few short, steep climbs as we make our way to Macherma. This peaceful village will be our destination for the day, where we will stay and rest.
Includes: English-speaking trekking guide, Porter, and an overnight accommodation at an available local lodge in Macherma.
We continue our climb from the village, gradually ascending through Pangka, where magnificent views of Cho Oyu are present with us during the climb. The climb involves a short steep climb, after which we descend towards the stream. We then ascend along the river, which winds its way through the valley, finally reaching the first of the three small lakes present in the valley. The lake is simply breathtaking, with its milky blue waters and the occasional presence of ducks swimming across its surface.
As we continue our climb, we cross the second and third lakes, finally reaching the beautiful valley of Gokyo. Gokyo is a beautiful valley located high up in the Himalayas. Adventure enthusiasts can take a trip to the Renjo La pass, which provides breathtaking views of the towering peak of Mount Everest.
Includes: English-speaking trekking guide, Porter, and an overnight accommodation at an available local lodge in Gokyo.
We will make an early morning ascent to the summit of Gokyo Ri, a small hill that offers trekkers spectacular views. From the summit, you will be able to witness the breathtaking view of the Upper Gokyo Valley, the extensive Ngozumpa Glacier, and the entire range of the Khumbu Himalayas.
The view will include the majestic peaks of Mount Everest, standing majestically alongside other towering peaks like Lhotse, Nuptse, Makalu (8,481 m), Cho Oyu (8,153 m), and Gyachung Kang (7,922 m), to mention a few. This is undoubtedly one of the highlights of the trek, and the view will be one of the best vantage points in the Nepal Himalayas.
After enjoying the unforgettable views, we will descend back to Gokyo for the day.
Includes: English-speaking trekking guide, Porter, and an overnight accommodation at an available local lodge in Gokyo.
We start our descent and pass through Dragnag. At this point, you have the option of viewing the magnificent Ngozumpa Glacier. The journey is easier compared to the previous parts of the trek. The journey is more enjoyable and relaxing as we walk down this trail.
However, we need to ensure that we don’t overstrain our knees as we make our way down. After this leisurely journey of several hours, we reach Dole and spend the night.
Includes: English-speaking trekking guide, Porter, and an overnight accommodation at an available local lodge in Dole.
As we start walking towards Phortse Thanga, we will be walking mostly through a forest of rhododendrons. On the way, we will be able to see waterfalls, a water-powered prayer wheel, and a very strong glacier stream. After this, we will have our lunch at a restaurant before heading to Namche.
Namche Bazaar is called the capital of the Sherpas. It is recommended to wake up early and witness the sunrise over the majestic views of the Himalayas, including Mount Everest, Thamserku, and Ama Dablam, and other snow-capped mountains from the Sagarmatha National Park Headquarters on the eastern part of the town.
You may even witness the shadows of the majestic Himalayas on the clouds, which will be a wonderful sight. During your stay here, it is recommended to try the salt butter tea and tsampa, which is a major component of the Sherpa diet. On a Saturday, you can even witness the lively trading of goods.
Includes: English-speaking trekking guide, Porter, and an overnight accommodation at an available local lodge in Namche.
The trail goes down and crosses the Dudh Kosi River, where one can see water-operated prayer wheels. The journey continues along the Sagarmatha National Park, passing through pine and cedar forests, and finally reaches the Chumoa village, which is a suitable spot to have lunch.
Then, the trail goes along the river all the way to Phakding. In this part, trekkers should not face breathing difficulties.
Includes: English-speaking trekking guide, Porter, and an overnight accommodation at an available local lodge in Phakding.
As you walk towards Lukla, the disappearance of the snow-capped peaks indicates that the most challenging part of the trek is over, and this is the beginning of the end of this incredible journey. The route takes you through a forest filled with the fragrance of evergreen oaks as you walk along the Dudh Koshi River, which is also known as the Milk River.
After a few hours of walking, you arrive in Lukla, where you can rest and soak in the culture.
Includes: English-speaking trekking guide, Porter, and an overnight accommodation at an available local lodge in Lukla.
After breakfast, you will fly back to Kathmandu with the scenic views of the mountains. Flight times are subject to change based on weather conditions. Once you arrive at KTM airport, a representative will greet you and provide private transportation to your hotel for a smooth, pleasant arrival experience.
Includes: Airfare, private transport, and an accommodation at Yatri Suites & Spa or a similar hotel in Kathmandu.
Today is the last day of your journey. Three hours before your scheduled departure back to your home or another location, our representative will pick you up in a private vehicle after breakfast and drop you off at Kathmandu Tribhuvan International Airport.
We hope you travel safely and look forward to seeing you again soon.
Includes: Breakfast and private Transport.
Getting to Nepal as an international visitor is easy with the availability of an easy-to-use Visa on Arrival service at Tribhuvan International Airport and almost all the land border crossings into Nepal. Upon arrival at the airport, you will complete the visa form, submit the necessary documents, pay the applicable visa fee online, and then you will be given your visa within a very short time.
With several different types of Nepali visas available for various duration periods, visitors have the choice of whether they want to stay for a few days or months; however, some nationalities must obtain their visa in advance of travelling, so you must check the current visa requirements.
Learn more about visa guidelines and requirements: Tourist Visa Information
Nepal offers a wide variety of accommodation to meet the varying requirements of travelers at every budget level and personal comfort preferences.
Luxury Accommodation
Enjoy the luxury and the comfort of a highly rated hotel, and are looking for a high-end experience. You will find many luxury hotels in Nepal with an array of modern conveniences, such as spa treatments, fine dining, beautiful locations, breathtaking views of the Himalayas, and individual attention from the staff. These types of hotels are perfect for people who want to relax, unwind, and experience luxurious facilities while traveling throughout Nepal.
Budget Accommodation
Travelers who want to experience Nepal without breaking the bank will be happy to know that there are also many inexpensive accommodation options, including guesthouses, boutique lodges, and homestays, which are all clean, friendly, and very good value. Budget accommodation allows a traveler to stay within their budget while experiencing the generosity of local hospitality.
We ensure that your accommodation matches your preference, whether you seek luxury or convenience.
Explore available accommodation categories: Accommodations in Nepal.
Nepal has a lot to offer with its incredible natural beauty, rich culture, and warm hospitality. Travelling can also come with risks, which is why anyone visiting Nepal needs to consider purchasing travel insurance, particularly those involved in adventure activities or trekking, as well as those who will be travelling to remote areas of Nepal. A well-rounded insurance policy can provide peace of mind through protection against the following:
Many trekking routes in Nepal are over 3000 meters (9842 ft); therefore, your policy should specifically state that high altitude travel is part of your Insurance plan, as well as the option to be evacuated in the event of an emergency. Choosing the right policy will help you receive the best possible care in your time of need.
Find out more about travel insurance for Nepal: Travel Insurance in Nepal
For hikers traveling to the Nepalese Himalayas, it’s essential to have the correct trekking equipment. Depending on what elevation you’re at, the weather might change drastically, so it’s crucial to use and carry the proper clothing and equipment in order to enjoy a safe and comfortable trip.
If you don’t want to travel with your own equipment, there are plenty of places in Nepal where you can rent or purchase what you need (particularly in Thamel, Kathmandu’s main shopping district). There are also locations within the city where you can find stores that offer a variety of high-quality trekking apparel and equipment at very reasonable prices.
See the complete trekking gear guide: Trekking Gear
