EBC Helicopter Tour – Daily Departures Guaranteed! Book Now
Gokyo Lake Trekking is an adventure of a lifetime. Overcome your fears and push your limits to relish the geographical beauty of the Khumbu region.
Gokyo Lakes Trek is a mesmerizing odyssey that promises views of breathtaking landscapes, stunning lakes, and magnificent glaciers along with cultural immersion. The Gokyo trek will provide adventurers the unparalleled satisfaction of standing at the top of Gokyo Ri, the ultimate vantage point of Gokyo Valley and the apogee of Gokyo Lake Trekking. Our Gokyo Lakes Trek package tailored to both seasoned and novice adventurers will take you to the unspoiled Gokyo valley, treasuring majestic Gokyo Lakes and providing beautiful views of otherwise obscured mountain peaks of the Khumbu region.
People consider Gokyo Lake Trekking to be a perfect substitute for Everest Base Camp Trek but we would like to refute that assertion because Gokyo Lake Trekking isn’t a substitute but a standalone trekking destination that can rival Everest Base Camp Trek in every aspect.
Gokyo Lakes Trek is an endeared trekking route that will take you to pristine Gokyo Valley, situated west of Khumbu Valley. Gokyo Valley, inundated with natural beauty and geography marvels yet explored by very few travelers, allows adventurers and trekkers to experience its inviolate beauty. Gokyo Valley consists of 6 oligotrophic lakes also called Gokyo Lakes, all formed by the thawing snow of nearby mountain peaks, which are a mesmerizing sight to witness.
Gokyo Ri is an ultimate vantage point to observe the surrounding peaks, lakes, glaciers, and overall geography of the Gokyo valley, a major highlight of the trek. You can get stunning views of Cho Yu, Mt. Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, and many other surrounding peaks. Navigating through the trail, you will pass through Sherpa settlements and localities, yak pastures, Buddhist shrines, and farmlands, a chance to observe the fascinating lifestyle of Sherpa Locals.
While in Gokyo Valley, you will get to see the longest glacier in Nepal; Ngozumpa Glacier. The enchanting view of Cho Yu and surrounding mountain peaks being reflected by the clear water of Gokyo Lakes is inarguably going to etch itself in your mind. The cold breeze, warm sunrays, stunning views, and your unwavering thirst for adventure will fuel you to transcend the limits during the whole expedition.
Conclusively, the Gokyo Lakes Trek is one of the best adventure and exploration of the Himalayas. The experience and adventure that you will have while witnessing the obscured mountain peaks of the Khumbu region, mesmerizing glaciers, crystal clear lakes, unspoiled culture, lifestyle, and tradition of the Sherpa community is unparalleled.
The Gokyo Lakes Trek begins after you take a flight from Kathmandu/Ramechhap to Lukla. After arriving in Lukla, a beautiful hillside village, you will start your trek to Phakding. From Phakding you will hike to Namche Bazar, the gateway to Mt. Everest. From Namche Bazar, you will walk off the beaten path which will be less crowded, taking you on a journey to explore Gokyo Valley and its beauty. With stops at Dole and Machhermo, you will finally reach Gokyo Valley.
While in Gokyo Valley, you will explore Gokyo Lake and hike to Gokyo Ri, the ultimate vantage point from where you can get a stunning view of the surrounding mountain peaks including Cho Yu, Mt. Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, the longest glacier of Nepal: Ngozumpa Glacier, Gokyo Lakes and overall geography of the Gokyo valley. After that, you will retrace your step along the trek trail to Namche Bazar and then to Lukla and take a flight back to Kathmandu.
Expect to witness breathtaking geographical scenery, unequaled adventure, and cultural enigma offered by the Khumbu Region. Expect to see pristine Gokyo Lakes, a combination of 6 Oligotrophic lakes beneath the august mountains. Expect to witness the majesty of the Ngozumpa Glacier, which is the origin of the Dudh Koshi River. Expect to observe an awe-inspiring view of surrounding mountain peaks; Mt. Everest, Cho Yu, Lhotse, Makalu, and many other peaks, lakes, glaciers, and overall geography of the valley from Gokyo Ri the ultimate vantage point of Gokyo Valley.
Expect to witness the austere yet content lifestyle, culture, and tradition of the Sherpa people: the toughest people on the planet, dwelling in these treacherous mountains with sparse resources. Monasteries, Buddhist shrines, prayer wheels, colorful prayer flags, and monks will adjoin you in your spiritual journey, connecting you to the mountains and geography of the region. Embarking on the trek expect to observe varied flora and fauna distinct to Sagarmatha National Park of Khumbu region.
In addition to all the breathtaking scenery, and cultural marvels of people living in the Khumbu region, expect exceptional service from our team, guide, and porter. We will deal with all the things that might bother you during the trip regarding arrangements and permits. Our guide will introduce and familiarize you with all the significant as well as subtle things that might interest you, while our porter will carry all the important belongings you might need during the Gokyo Lakes Trek.
All in all, anyone looking forward to doing Gokyo Lakes trekking can expect to have adventures that they never had and exploration of natural and cultural wonders undisclosed to the outer world.
Gokyo Lakes Trek or Everest Base Camp Trek? This could be a major question to a trekker, thinking of traveling to Khumbu Region. Fair enough, this question is indeed an expected one. Though these two treks have many things in common there are some things that one provides which others don’t.
In simple words, Everest Base Camp Trek will take you through villages and settlement areas starting from Lukla. From Lukla, you will hike to Phakding, then to Namche Bazar. From Namche Bazar, we will ascend to Tengboche, Dingboche, Lobuche ultimately to Gorakshep. As we traverse through these localities mostly inhabited by Sherpa people, we will get the opportunity to witness their culture, lifestyle, and tradition. We will come across monasteries, and shrines adorned with colorful prayer flags and wheels. From Gorakshep, we will trek to Everest Base Camp along Khumbu Glacier and the next day to Kalapatthar, from where you can see the highest Mountain on planet Earth Mt. Everest, and other mountains such as Lhotse, Nuptse, Pumori, etc. Then we will retrace our steps to Lukla in a previously stepped trail.
In contrast to Everest Base Camp Trek, Gokyo Lake Trek as its name suggests takes you to Gokyo Valley. From Namche Bazar we leave for Dole, then to Machhermo both beautiful Sherpa Village. From Machhermo we will leave for Gokyo Valley. On our way to Gokyo Valley, we will be detained by the arresting sight of Ngozumpo glacier, where the DudhKoshi river originates. On Gokyo Valley, we will explore Gokyo Lakes and summit Gokyo Ri. From Gokyo Ri, a trekker can see Mt. Everest, Lhotse, Gokyo, Makalu, Tobuche, Cholatse, and other surrounding peaks. After exploration of Gokyo Valley, we retrace our steps to Namche Bazar and then to Lukla. Gokyo Lakes Trekking will allow you to explore covert parts of the Khumbu region and allow you to explore the unexplored and pristine Gokyo Valley.
In summary, both treks have their unique offerings that others might not provide. The Gokyo Lake Trek will take trekker to Gokyo Valley while the Everest Base Camp Trek will take a trekker to Khumbu Valley, because of this mountain views and geographical exploration can vary vastly but the cultural beauty that trekker will witness will remain almost similar. Gokyo Lakes Trek provides trekkers a golden opportunity to witness pristine Gokyo Lake, an amazing glacier, and a hidden valley adjoining the Khumbu Valley to the west. If your goal is to reach Everest Base Camp, explore Khumbu Valley, and observe the natural beauty it offers then Everest Base Camp Trek could be for you. It is up to trekkers to decide what they want to be mesmerized by, the beauty of Gokyo Valley or the adventure of Everest Base Camp.
If you are looking forward to exploring the less visited part of the Khumbu region unequaled in beauty and adventure, then look no further. This trek will take you to a very less explored Gokyo Valley. the Gokyo Lakes are a visit natural wonders of the Khumbu region. The Gokyo Ri at an elevation of 5,357m/17,575ft offers a bird’s eye view of Mountain peaks like Mt. Everest, Cho Yu, Makalu, Lhotse, and other mountain peaks along with an impressive view of lakes, glaciers, and the overall geography of the region.
If you want to traverse off the beaten path, which is less crowded and pristine with beautiful lakes, glaciers, and breathtaking views of the tallest mountains of the world, then Gokyo Lake Trekking is the best trek for you. The trek allows trekkers to unravel the cultural enigma of the Sherpa people and experience unparalleled adventure and if these are the reasons why you trek then without a doubt this trek is for you.
Gokyo Lakes Trek is graded as a strenuous trek. The trek is done through and on treacherous terrain at high altitudes. Any person embarking on this trek will have to walk 5-6 hours daily for 11 days, including acclimatization days, in high-altitude regions. So, a trekker needs to ask themselves whether they can do Gokyo Lakes Trek.
Since, during the whole of the trek we will be traversing through high-altitude terrain having sound physical health is a must. If you are physically fit and active, can walk 5-6 hours daily, and do not have an underlying condition then you can do Gokyo Lakes Trekking. You will require no previous trekking experience as our itinerary is curated in such a way that any novice adventurer trekker can do it.
Even if you are not in the best shape of your life, then you can jog, exercise, and do short hikes nearby regularly for 2-3 months to build up your stamina for this trek. Furthermore, our itinerary consists of an acclimatization day that will let your body adapt to the rarefied atmosphere of high altitude, to avoid altitude sickness. Throughout the day hike, there will be stops for rest and lunch.
Taking above mentioned things into consideration, if you think you possess the physical ability to walk 5-6 hours each day steadily, with stops for rest, as stated then indubitably you can do the Gokyo Lakes Trek. Breakfree Adventures will be delighted to be your partner in this amazing trek of your lifetime.
Our proposed itinerary for the Gokyo Lakes Trek is standard. Some trekkers might find it a bit longer or want to shorten the standard itinerary. Depending upon your requirements we can skip the Kathmandu exploration and embark on the trek without further ado. Similarly, if you want to explore a specific region meticulously, while on a trek then we can make arrangements so that you don’t miss out on anything that you think is important.
We at Breakfree Adventures specialize in curating bespoke trek packages and customize standard trek packages according to our client’s needs upon consultation with our experienced guides and trek experts. Because every traveler is different and every traveler is special. For further changes, shortening, or lengthening on the “Gokyo Lakes Trek” itinerary you can contact us at +977 9851014557 or email us at: [email protected].
For every trek and tour that a person might do with their hard-earned money, it is necessary to make sure that it is worth the price. The adventure, exploration, and experience that an adventurer trekker will have during the trek must be worth every penny. Gokyo Lakes Trek is no exception, and this trek should provide the trekker with what it promises. Let’s assess if it does or not.
Gokyo Lakes Trekking is one of the most admired treks done in the Khumbu region. The natural and cultural wonders that Gokyo Lakes Trek offers are unsurpassable. Pristine Gokyo Lakes comprised 6 freshwater lakes beneath mountain peaks, Ngozompa Glacier, a mesmerizing view of Mt. Everest, Cho Yu, Lhotse, and other surrounding peaks from Gokyo Ri are major highlights of the Gokyo Lake Trek. While on this trek, you will come across localities of “Mountain Dwellers: Sherpas”. The Sherpas thriving in remote high-altitude terrain are considered the toughest people on the planet. You will witness the culture, tradition, and lifestyle of these tough people. You will get first-hand experience in observing their faith and belief in mountain gods.
The trek is not only going to be an exploration of natural and cultural wonders but a mystical one as well. You will learn to appreciate nature, and its magnanimity, the simple and joyous life of Sherpa people will teach you to enjoy simple things in your life. Gokyo Lakes Trek is a value-for-money trek. This trek will offer you a voyage to an obscured part of the Khumbu region very little traveled by adventurer travelers, this trek departs from a normal and widely done trek unraveling the beauty of the mystical valley of Gokyo. In addition to that, Breakfree Adventures will provide you with uncompromised service that assures that you get what you paid for if not more. In conclusion, without any doubt, Gokyo Lakes Trek is worth the price you pay for it.
Apart from the exploration of natural wonders, cultural enigmas, and an adventure of a lifetime, trekking with Breakfree Adventures will allow you a stress-free trekking experience. Breakfree Adventures will be dealing with arrangements and possible issues that might occur during the trek. Our diligent team of experts will make sure that you will have the best trekking experience with us. Our experienced guides, cognizant of the terrain and all its adversities will address any of your queries regarding the geography, culture, and trek, similarly,y our porter will carry your belongings safely throughout your trek making sure you possess things that you might need while on trek.
We at Breakfree Adventures are always on our marks to resolve your questions regarding the service we provide. Our responsive communication team will reach out to you as soon as possible with answers if not immediately. Breakfree Adventures has successfully established itself as a name to be reckoned with in this industry. With over 15 years of experience satisfying clients with travel and tour services, we are more eager than ever to serve our invaluable clients. You can find us at Trip Advisor and see for yourself reviews left by the invaluable clients we have served here and decide by yourself.
Our representative will welcome you at the airport and chauffer you to the designated Hotel. For early arrivals, after getting fresh if interested you can explore around the city or else you can rest and relax to recover from jetlag.
At evening you go shopping for Trekking gears at Thamel.
Overnight at Hotel in Kathmandu
The day will be filled with sightseeing tour of UNESCO World Heritage sites inside Kathmandu valley. After breakfast, our team will contact you and pick you up in a private vehicle from your hotel, and take you for exploration of our first heritage site.
Swoyambunath Temple also known as “The Monkey Temple” is a sacred religious site for both Hindu and Buddhist. Situated at top of the hill it offers a beautiful view of the Kathmandu and nearby areas. After exploring Sowyambunath, we will be heading toward Patan Durbar Square. It features temples, palaces and monuments which once belonged to kings and ruler of the region. These monuments embody outstanding architecture and beautiful work of craftmanship.
Next site we will be exploring is Pashupatinath temple, it is holy sacred place for Hindu people all over the world, abode of Lord Shiva. You will get to witness the faith and cultural rituals that are being carried in temple premise.
Finally, to Boudhanath, the biggest Buddhist Stupa in Kathmandu Valley. After lunch in Boudha, we will head back to the hotel. In the evening, our office staff and trek guide will come to you at your hotel and will briefly explain all the necessary information about the Gokyo Lakes Trekking you will be going to embark on the next day.
Overnight at Hotel in Kathmandu
At the earliest hour of day, we will be taking a trans Himalayan flight to Lukla from Kathmandu or Ramechhap depending upon the availability of flight to Luka. Flight from Ramechhap is shorter lasting, approximately 12 minutes, due to its proximity with Lukla whereas from Kathmandu it takes around 40 minutes to reach Lukla. In case of Lukla flight from Ramechhap trekkers will be driven to Manthali Airport from Kathmandu at the early hours of the day.
During the trans Himalayan flight passengers will get to savour the panoramic view of Langtang Mountain range, Gaurishankar Mountain ranges, Everest Range and Makalu range. In addition to mountain sighting the flight also provides beautiful view comprising geographical marvel of beautiful hills, valleys and rivers.
Upon arrival in Lukla, Everest High Passes Trek officially begins. After securing all goods and short briefing, first stretch of the trek begins, which will take trekkers to Phakding. During 3-4 hours trek trekkers will get to observe the charm of Khumbu Region. The hike for the day will end after reaching the prebooked lodge at Phakding where trekkers will spend the night.
Overnight at Lodge in Phakding
Today’s hike is a long stretching 9.4km and, spanning over 5-6 hours till Namche bazar. Following the trail trekkers will gain an elevation of almost 800 meters.
After breakfast your hike will commence. You will leave Phakding behind and pass through beautiful villages of Toktok, Bengkar, Manjo and Jorsalley successively before ascending through steep section that gets you to Namche. Along the way we will be able to witness the local life style, religious monuments, cross suspension bridge adorned with colourful prayer flags, prayer wheels, Buddhist shrines and local eateries.
The trail for the most part sees gradual rise in with some small ascends and descends, but after crossing Hillary Bridge a bridge memorial build in reverence of Edmund Hilary, there will be a steep climb all the way to Namche Bazar, which will be the only hard part of the hike today. The stone paved trail stretches along Dudhkoshi all the way to Hillary Bridge. The trail is cloaked with lush Pine Forest that produces placid sound whenever a gust of wind navigates its way through it. Our guide will acquire permit for our group as we will be entering Sagarmatha National Park. While ascending to Namche Bazar trekkers will get first glimpse of Mt. Everest and adjoining mountains from the first Everest View Point of the trail.
You would have arrived at mesmerizing sherpa town, Namche Bazaar, by the end of you trek today. You will be checked in at your lodge where you will spend your night.
Overnight at Lodge in Namche Bazar.
As you gain elevation, the oxygen concentration in atmosphere begins to drop and your body will be requiring sufficient time to adapt to changing environment. In order to obviate chances of getting altitude sickness we have assigned this day to let your body adapt to rarefied atmosphere. This day will make sure that your body acclimatizes to high-altitude environment.
But that doesn’t mean you will be in your room for the whole day quite contrary the day will be filled with activities, that focuses on cultural exploration and sightseeing in Namche Bazar rather than elevation gain. You will do a short hike to Hotel Everest View, the 5-star hotel on the Highest Altitude, in early morning hour which offers magical views Mt. Everest, Ama Dablam, Lhotse, Nuptse and adjoining peaks. After relishing the beautiful view of the mountain vistas, we will get back to Namche Bazar.
Namche Bazar also known as gateway to Mt. Everest is a beautiful town, mostly inhabited by Sherpa people. This beautiful town on the way of Everest Base Camp trek is a testament of human perseverance and survival on remote places. Here you can find shops, restaurants, museums and other tourist attractions, these establishment will make you forget that you are at one of the most secluded and remote part of the world. You can purchase trekking gears, souvenirs, gifts and eat variety of local as well as international cuisines. There is no compromise in luxury whilst you are in Namche Bazar. One of the most notable landmarks in Namche Bazar is Sherpa Museum which showcases the history, culture, tradition, accolades and lifestyle of Sherpa people. Just roaming the stone paved rustic alley ways of Namche Bazar is a delightful experience.
After Namche Bazar exploration we will be back to your comfortable room to rest and get ready for the next day.
Overnight at Lodge in Namche Bazar.
Today the trail will take you to Dole. The latter half of the trail comprises of steep descend and ascend all the way to Dole. The trail stretches approximately 12 km/7.5 miles and takes 5-6 hours for trekkers to cover the distance.
Leaving the Namche Bazar behind, you will hike laterally on the hillside all the way to Kyangjuma. At Kyangjuma you will observe the trail splitting into two, one taking you to Khumbu Valley and one taking you to Gokyo valley. You will take a left trail which steadily ascends all the way to Mong. From Mong the trail descends steeply till Phortse Tenga Intersection, subsequently you will come across Dole Post Sagarmatha National Park. Then you will ascend all the way to Dole village.
You will pass many yak pastures also known as “Kharkas”, summer settlements for yak herders. While hiking through trail you will get the view of 7th highest mountain Cho Yu, which will accompany you for next couple of days. As you gain elevation you will notice the vegetation get sparse as the trail is now above tree line altitude. At elevation as such you will only get to see small shrubs and grasses.
Dole has few hotels, you will be checked in at one of those hotel where you will spend the night. Enjoy views of Khumbila and Tawache (6,542m/21,463ft) while in Dole.
Overnight at Lodge in Dole.
After having your breakfast, you will resume your adventure. This day you will climb to Lhambarma at 4,330m/14,206ft and Luza at 43,60m/14,304ft two significant hills with sherpa settlement, with pastures and farmlands.
The trail is steep in most places as it climbs through brush junipers. Kharkas are there whenever there is a flat land and the slightest hint of water. The trail then continues climbing along the side of the valley, high above the river, crossing sandy spurs to Machhermo at 4465m. The hike today is likely to be strenuous as there will be lots of steep rocky section and significant elevation gain. Though short, this hike is going to be an exacting one.
After reaching Machhermo you can explore the village, visit yak pastures or rest in your lodge room.
Overnight at lodge in Machhermo.
After breakfast you will resume your hike on the trail.
You first ascend to the hill ridge providing an excellent view down the valley to Kantega and up to Cho-Oyu (8,201m/26,906ft) in addition to magnificent the mountain view of Tobuche, Cholatse and Mahalangur on the east. The trek continues beyond the ridge where the valley widens as the trail passes through Pangka at (4,390m/14,402ft). You will subsequently descend to the riverbank before starting of climb on to the terminal moraine of the Ngozumpa Glacier.
After finishing steep climb up the moraine the trail passes Taujan Lake. Continuing your journey along the trail and following the small stream you will arrive at second lake Dudh Pokhari also known as Gokyo Cho situated at 4650m. You will have stunning view of Pharilapcha massif being reflected on crystal clear water of Gokyo Cho (Dudh Pokhari), on your north you can see Gokyo Ri hill and Cho Yu Mountain.
On the bank of the Dudh Pokhari lake there are lodges and tourist establishment where you will be spending your night.
Overnight at lodge in Gokyo.
We will embark on early morning climb to the Gokyo-Ri; ultimate vantage point of the Gokyo Valley, to observe golden sunrays kissing the snow-capped mountain of the Himalayas.
The climb is approximately 2hrs to reach the top. The summit of Gokyo-Ri offers a panoramic view of peaks like Cho-Oyu, Gyachung Kang, Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, Cholatse and Tawache. The great view of Ngozumpa glacier, the largest glacier in Nepal and overall geography of the Gokyo Valley can be observed from Gokyo Ri.
Afterwards, we will hike back to Gokyo, have our breakfast and the rest of the day is free to explore/rest and acclimatize.
Overnight at lodge in Gokyo.
You will wake up to the sight of mountain view being reflected on the pristine Gokyo Lake, you will have gotten rid of tiredness and fatigue caused by previous day hike. After fuelling yourselves with breakfast, we will start our descend to Dole retracing our steps along the same path we had previously taken to reach Gokyo.
The downhill hike to Dole spans approximately 13 km or 8 miles, and will take you to anywhere about 6-7 hours to reach Dole. After reaching Dole you will be checked in at a lodge in Dole where you will spend your night.
Overnight at lodge in Dole.
After freshening up and having eaten the breakfast, we will resume our descend.
Our descent today will take approximately 5-6 hours as we cover 12km/7.5 miles. The downhill hike might be taxing in toes and knees, but there will be several stops for rest, lunch and restroom breaks. Alas you will reach Namche, at Namche you can explore local market, buy souvenirs and gifts for your friends and family. You can also eat food you might have been missing the entire trek, as there is plethora of modern restaurants.
Overnight at Lodge at Namche Bazar.
After breakfast we will start our descending trek to the small town Lukla. We will be walking along Dudhkoshi River, listening to its roar and accompanying it on its journey to the sea in our own pace.
We will stay at Lukla at a lodge and take flight back Kathmandu the next day.
Overnight at lodge in Lukla.
With all your goods secured we will get on our flight which will take us from Lukla to either Kathmandu or Ramechhap, leaving the beautiful landscapes and taking back lots of memories with us that will stay with you for the rest of the life.
Upon arrival at Kathmandu, you will be taken to allotted Hotel where you can get fresh and explore previously unexplored parts of the city. You can roam around the local markets to buy souvenirs, gifts, fabrics etc. In the evening is the farewell dinner at an authentic Nepalese restaurant with the staff of the company accompanying you.
Overnight at Hotel in Kathmandu.
Depending upon your flight time you will be dropped off at the International Airport three hours prior your departure for check in formalities. Our representative will be there assisting you, bidding you farewell and wishing you a safe flight back home as you head back towards your homeland with unforgettable experience and tons of memories you made while exploring the untouched Himalayan gem.
At Breakfree Adventures we are always seeking ways to improve travel and trekking experiences of our clients. We want to provide best service in an unbeatable price.
All our hands are on deck to make your travel and trekking in Nepal, Tibet and Bhutan an experience to last lifetime. You are a call/email away from booking a The Best Holiday with us.
The itinerary mentioned and explained above is a standard itinerary. Depending upon your requirements and need we can tweak things here and there to either shorten or lengthen the duration of your Gokyo Lake Trek. Please inquire us at: [email protected] or call at +977-9851014557 for more information regarding Gokyo Lake Trek.
We also operated private trips.
Gokyo Lakes Trek is categorized as a strenuous trek. The hike is physically demanding which requires trekkers to be physically as well as mentally prepared. We suggest you regularly go jogging and exercise for about 2-3 months before your trek date to build up your stamina if you are not physically active and fit. Walking stairs up and down is also helpful since the hike involves ascending and descending high mountain trails through stone-paved paths.
No previous trekking experience is required to accomplish the trek and even a novice trekker can do it. But if you do have any past trekking experience, it will be helpful and added advantage. Anyone with a normal fitness level can easily go for this trek since there are enough rest/acclimatization days planned.
With normal physical fitness, a positive attitude, self-confidence, and strong determination, trekking to Everest Base Camp is possible. Those with pre-existing medical conditions such as heart, lung, and blood disease should be informed ahead of joining the trek.
Though the trek can be done around the year as per the choices of trekkers, the weather climate and weather should not be neglected if you want to have the best experience, adventure, and exploration.
The best time to do the Gokyo Lakes Trek is during Spring (March to May) and Autumn (September to November). During these seasons the weather is favorable with clear blue skies providing the most spectacular mountain panorama. In spring the temperature ranges from 20 degrees in the daytime and falls to 5 degrees at night.
June to August is the time when the monsoon hits Nepal and there will be chances of Lukla flight cancelation, but some trekkers still prefer to trek in the monsoon too. This time will be the off-season in Everest so lodges and trails are less crowded which some may prefer that way.
In Autumn(September to November), the weather gets colder but it is also the ideal time to trek to EBC, only you need is warm clothing and good preparedness. As autumn progresses, snowfall makes the EBC trek much tougher. Nights will be much colder.
Winter(December to February) is the time when it starts to snow. Winter trek to EBC is also a different hiking experience and as the mist settles down you will get the most beautiful mountain views. In winter, lodges will have few guests, and trails less crowded.
The accommodation facilities are basic but good along with good food during Gokyo Lake Trekking. These lodges are well-maintained and comfortable. Lodges on the trekking trail are often called Tea-houses run by the locals which are clean and have a friendly atmosphere. You will meet lots of trekkers from around the world here.
Most of the rooms on the lodges are on a twin-shared basis i.e. the room has two beds and some basic furniture like a small table or chair. Almost all the tea-houses will provide extra blankets as it will be colder in the mountains.
Toilets on the lower elevations will be western styled but the higher elevations will have squat toilet facilities. Another thing to keep in mind is that most tea houses don’t provide toilet roll paper. So it will be a good idea to carry your toilet roll paper.
Besides the normal local lodges, there are several luxury lodges on the Everest trail that have the best facilities similar to hotels in Kathmandu like attached toilets, free wi-fi, and nice rooms. Yeti Mountain Home or Everest Summit Lodge provide these facilities but they are located at limited locations and don’t go up till the base camp. Trekkers can customize their trek and opt for luxury accommodations. Everest Luxury Trek, Chitwan Luxury Trek, and Nepal Bhutan Luxury Trek are some of the luxurious trips operated by Breakfree Adventure.
The Gokyo lakes is a combination of six bodies of lakes located at an altitude of 4,700 to 5,000m/15,419 to 16,404ft in the Gokyo Valley. Gokyo Valley is in the Sagarmatha National Park area which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Gokyo lakes are the highest altitude freshwater lake in the world. Among them, Thonak Lake, is the largest. A spare day in Gokyo is a hike to Gokyo-ri (5,360m/17,585ft) to observe Mt. Everest, Cho Oyu, Lhotse, and Makalu peaks. Also observe the largest glacier in Nepal, Ngozumpa, and ice ridges.
Packing right goods for the Gokyo Lakes Trek is one crucial thing that can make or break you. To not over burden yourself with heavy baggage that contains stuffs that you are never going to use while being on Gokyo Lake Trek is essential. Here we have briefly mentioned things you should must pack while embarking on the adventure of lifetime.
Head Coverings
Upper Body
Lower Body
Shoes and socks
Accessories and Optionals
These goods if packed will be sufficient for Gokyo Lakes Trek. To read more about packing list for the trek click here.
All foreigners, besides Indians, require a visa to enter Nepal. Visa is to be had on arrival at the Tribhuvan global airport in Kathmandu, and you may increase your visa on the valuable immigration office. Click here to understand more regarding tourist visa in Nepal.
The visa application would require a passport legitimate for at the least 6- months and a passport-length photograph. The present-day visa rate costs USD30 for 15 days, which you need to pay in cash (Please bring the exact change USD30 per person) on arrival at Tribhuvan international Airport. Citizens of China and the SAARC nations will acquire a loose visa.
A few countries – Nigeria, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Swaziland, Cameroon, Somalia, Liberia, Ethiopia, Iraq, Palestine, and Afghanistan- may not get hold of an on-arrival visa. In case you are from those international locations, you should contact your local Nepalese embassy.
Temperature varies from month to month during Gokyo Lakes Trek which are;
Acclimatization while doing challenging and strenuous treks like Gokyo Lakes Trek is very important. If you don’t give your body an opportunity to acclimatize itself to low oxygen content atmosphere, avoiding acclimatization can cause altitude sickness even to experienced trekkers. Altitude gains of as plenty as 5,000 meters or 16,404 feet require critical attention.
But our itinerary is carefully planned that prevents our trekkers from getting altitude sickness. The trick is to walk slowly and steadily, drink enough water (Don’t let yourself dehydrate), avoid alcoholic drinks or meat products and follow your trek guide’s advice. Don’t walk too fast thinking you are fit enough as it may result in getting AMS (Acute Mountain Sickness) as you are hiking at the world’s highest locations where oxygen level is very low, so you will easily get tired and dehydrated resulting in chances of suffering with Altitude Sickness.
Altitude illness in high mountain journeys is a common issue, however it is preventable and wishes instantaneous remedy. However, if you forget about symptoms of altitude sickness, it can get severe.
Mountain sickness often starts from an elevation of 3,500m/11,482ft. Our trekking leaders and guides are properly-experienced and use oximeters to monitor your oxygen degree for early detection of altitude illness.