Gokyo Valley & Lakes Trek — 12 Days
Duration
12 days
From
$1,750/person
Max Altitude
5,357 m
Difficulty
Challenging
Starts
Lukla (fly from Kathmandu)
Group Size
2–12 People
Stay
Tea House
Meals
Breakfast & Dinner
Best Season
Mar–May, Sep–Nov
Trip Highlights
Gokyo Ri and its emerald glacial lakes offer some of the finest panoramic views in the Himalayas — Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, and Cho Oyu all visible from a single summit.
Day-by-Day Itinerary(12 days)
Altitude Profile
Peak: 4,790 m · Day 7The Gokyo Valley & Lakes Trek takes you into the heart of the Khumbu region via a less-crowded route than the classic Everest Base Camp trail. You’ll pass through the world’s largest glacier — the Ngozumpa — and reach the turquoise Gokyo Lakes at 4,700m before summiting Gokyo Ri (5,357m) for a 360° panorama of four 8,000m peaks.
Highlights
- Gokyo Ri summit: Everest, Lhotse, Makalu & Cho Oyu in one frame
- Five sacred Gokyo Lakes (4,700–5,000m)
- Ngozumpa Glacier — longest glacier in Nepal
- Namche Bazaar Saturday market
- Tengboche Monastery with Ama Dablam backdrop
Itinerary Overview
Day 1: Fly Kathmandu–Lukla, trek to Phakding. Day 2: Namche Bazaar (3,440m). Day 3: Acclimatisation day in Namche. Day 4: Dole (4,200m). Day 5: Machhermo (4,470m). Day 6: Gokyo (4,790m). Day 7: Gokyo Ri summit (5,357m). Day 8: Descend via Dole. Day 9: Back to Namche. Day 10: Lukla. Day 11: Fly to Kathmandu. Day 12: Departure.
What's Included
Included
- Government-certified English-speaking senior trek guide
- Porter (1 per 2 trekkers; 18 kg max)
- Sagarmatha National Park entry permit
- Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality permit
- TIMS card
- Kathmandu–Lukla–Kathmandu round-trip flights (scheduled)
- All teahouse accommodation on trek
- 3 meals per day (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
- Altitude illness kit and pulse oximeter
- All government taxes and service charges
Not Included
- International airfare to/from Kathmandu
- Nepal entry visa fee ($30–$50 on arrival)
- Comprehensive travel insurance with emergency evacuation
- Meals not listed in daily itinerary
- Personal trekking gear and equipment
- Tips for guides and porters
- Beverages, hot showers, and battery charging at teahouses (payable direct)
- Personal expenses and souvenirs
- Any costs arising from illness, injury, or early departure
Best Time to Go
Autumn (Sep–Nov)
Prime season. October is perfect — clear skies, stable weather, 4–6 week dry window. November gets cold at altitude but still excellent. EBC trail at its busiest.
Spring (Mar–May)
Climbing season — expeditions on Everest. Good trekking weather. Rhododendrons in Namche area. Pre-monsoon cloud builds in afternoon from May. Slightly warmer than autumn.
Winter (Dec–Feb)
Very cold. Khumbu trails remain open but temperatures extreme at EBC (-20°C+). Experienced cold-weather trekkers only. Fewer crowds. Lodges may be closed above Namche.
Monsoon (Jun–Aug)
Not recommended. Trails wet and unstable. Cloud cover obscures mountain views. Risk of landslides on lower sections.
Permits Required
What to Pack
A detailed packing list will be sent with your booking confirmation. Gear rental available in Kathmandu and Pokhara.
Customer Reviews(3)
5.0
3 reviews
Hiroshi Tanaka
🇯🇵November 2025
ゴーキョトレッキングを12日間経験しました。ガイドのテンジンさんは英語も上手で、高山病の管理も完璧でした。ゴーキョリからの眺めはエベレスト、ローツェ、マカルー、チョー・オユなど、6つの8000m峰が一望できる絶景でした。Travel Himalaya Nepalは日本人にも安心してお勧めできます。 (I experienced 12 days of Gokyo trekking. Guide Tenzin managed altitude sickness perfectly. The view from Gokyo Ri with 6 peaks over 8000m was breathtaking. I can confidently recommend Travel Himalaya Nepal to Japanese travelers.)
Ingrid Larsson
🇸🇪October 2025
Booking from Sweden was completely stress-free — the team replied within hours to every message and helped me plan the perfect itinerary. Our guide had been walking the Khumbu for 18 years and knew every tea house. The acclimatisation days in Namche were properly built in. Gokyo is stunning beyond words. My only note is to book well in advance for October — accommodation fills fast. Absolutely professional organisation throughout.
Michael Chen
🇨🇦October 2025
The Gokyo route to Everest region was the best decision I made. Our agency arranged everything perfectly — the Lukla flights, the permits, a brilliant Sherpa guide named Karma who had grown up in the Khumbu. The lakes are a completely different world to anything you've seen before — deep turquoise sitting under the flanks of Cho Oyu at 8,000m. Gokyo Ri at sunrise with six 8,000m peaks visible simultaneously... I just stood there for an hour. Cannot say enough good things about the team.
Frequently Asked Questions
On the Trail
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$1,750
/ person · all-inclusive