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Everest Gokyo Trek: A Journey to Tranquil Lakes and Himalayan Splendor

9th January 2025

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Discover the Hidden Gem of the Khumbu Region with Pristine Lakes, Majestic Peaks, and Unforgettable Adventure.

While Everest Base Camp Trek (EBC) might be more popular, Everest Gokyo Trek is equally enthralling. Both have their starting point at Namche Bazaar 3,440M but take a different direction and route accordingly. While Everest Base Camp Trek might lead you to Everest's base camp, Everest Gokyo Trek will ultimately find you at Gokyo Valley 4,600M where two main attractions Gokyo Lakes and Gokyo-Ri 5,357M are situated. So why do trekkers choose Everest Gokyo Trek over EBC? The answer lies in the fact that Gokyo Valley is home to a chain of several lakes known as Gokyo Lakes 4,700-5,000M which are considered the highest freshwater lakes in the world, and the valley itself is another hidden gem in the Khumbu (Everest) region. 

Your journey begins from Kathmandu 1,400M, the Capital of Nepal of course. Then you will be flying to Lukla Airport 2,860M from Kathmandu where you will start the adventure for the next ten days of the main trek. These ten days are marked with arriving at Namche Bazaar 3,440M, the last big settlement before heading to the 100 km trek up north and back. The route traverses through beautiful valleys, crystal clear streams and Himalayan landscapes which are simply out of this world. 

The lakes being the main attraction hold significant place for both Hindus and Buddhists alike and people flock to these places on the festival of Janai Purnima which falls in August every year. One can see Hindu gods Shiva and Vishnu at the western flank of the lake and people also believe that Nag Devta (Snake God) resides in these lakes. 

Those looking for more challenges and having more time can also take an extended route that goes all the way to Everest Base Camp 5,364M from Gokyo area which passes through Cho La Pass 5,420M and returns through a different route. For this, you can consult our trekking company that is looking after your trekking arrangements or you can even go for a customized trekking arrangement if you feel like one. 

Everest Gokyo Trek and Its Itinerary

Day 01: Airport Pickup—the guests will be picked up from Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu 1,400M and driven to their hotels. 

Day 02: Kathmandu to Lukla and to Phakding—one will fly to Lukla (2886 m) from Kathmandu which takes about 30 minutes and the official start of the trek begins this day as you will be trekking to Phakding (2640 m) from Lukla the same day which takes approximately three hours.  

Day 03: Phakding to Namche—you will be reaching the famous Namche Bazaar (3440 m) from Phakding after a trek of five hours on this day. Remember, Phakding is a small village, whereas, Namche is the main commercial area in the Everest region. 

Day 04: Rest at Namche—the day is used actually to acclimatize for higher altitudes for your coming days and can also be used as an excursion of the beautiful Namche Bazaar. The place is a thriving market and a commercial hub for people preparing to trek, climb or simply enjoy the Everest region. 

Day 05: Namche to Dole—you will now slowly be reaching higher grounds as you trek to Dole (4040 m) from Namche Bazaar through Khumjung which takes six hours. Khumjung (3790 m) is a village having such famous places like Tengboche Monastery whereas Dole is just a stopover for tourists and trekkers that just happens to be on the Everest trekking route. 

Day 06: Dole to Machermo—here again you will be stopping over for a night at Machermo (4470 m) after trekking five hours from Dole, and Machermo’s existence like Dole was primarily meant for tourism and trekking purposes.

Day 07: Machermo to Gokyo—you will finally reach your destination Gokyo (4740 m) from Machermo after four and half-hour trek on this day.  

Day 08: Rest day at Gokyo—as you would have reached the last stop of the trek a day before, this day will be used as an excursion of the area for the whole day and for seeing places like the Gokyo lakes which are the main purposes behind your visit in the first place.

Day 09: Trek back to Machermo—this day starts the beginning of your return trek but not before climbing the mountain Gokyo Ri after which you start your return trek back to Machermo. 

Day 10: Machermo to Namche—you will be slowly moving towards Namche Bazaar after trekking for five hours where you will be resting for the day. You can also use the luxury of a hot shower once you are here because Namche has all that despite being very remote.

Day 11: Namche to Lukla—this will be your last leg of the return trek where after six hours of trekking you will reach Lukla where you will be stopping over for the night. 

Day 12: Fly back to Kathmandu—flying back to Kathmandu from Lukla Airport will take you 40 minutes. Lukla Airport happens to be one of the most challenging airports in the world to land and by now you will have been part of that challenge which must be a matter of pride for you. 

Everest Gokyo Trek vs Everest Base Camp Trek

The first one is the less traveled route, and the latter is the most popular trekking route in the world. So, for many who want to choose the less crowded place over the most visited one, Gokyo Trek will certainly not betray your expectations. Many also choose this trek because they want to go for a less-beaten trail. The scenes and the destinations in Gokyo trek are equally beautiful if not more. The view from Gokyo Ri of Mt. Everest is simply beyond this world. You can visit this peak which lies just above the Gokyo village for sunset or sunrise over the Himalayas. 

The other interesting fact about this trek is that Gokyo village 4,750M might be the highest all-weather settlement in the world. You can visit this place any time of the year, even in the dead of winter—you can expect to find a cozy and warm place to stay for the night. Everest Base Camp (EBC) on the other hand is basically closed during winter and monsoon because most tea houses and lodges at the end of the trek remain closed, leaving you with no option but to arrange for food and overnight stay for yourself like using tents. 
One very striking feature of Gokyo Trek is the Gokyo Lakes which are the highest freshwater lakes in the world, of which there are 19 in total in this region. Another interesting sight you get to see is the Ngozumpa Glacier which lies just below Cho Oyo (8188m), the sixth-highest mountain in the world. This glacier is also the longest in the Himalayas with 36 km in length. You also get to see birds wading in these lakes which is very surprising considering the low temperatures in the region. 

S.N. Everest Gokyo Trek Everest Base Camp Trek
1 Length: 100 km Length: 130 km
2 Elevation: 5357m (highest point) Elevation: 5550m (highest point)
3 Difficulty: Moderate Difficulty: Moderate
4 Mountain View: Cho Oyu, Everest, Nupse Mountain View: Everest, Lotse, Nupse
5 Accommodation: Tea houses, lodges Accommodation: Tea houses, lodges
6 Glaciers: Ngozumpa (longest in the Himalayas) Glaciers: Khumbu Glacier (highest in the world)

Three Passes Trek

Three passes Trek can unofficially be called an Everest Gokyo Circuit—you trek around EBC and then get to Gokyo Valley on your return trip crossing three high passes. We are mentioning this route because this combines both EBC and Gokyo treks in one. For hard-core trekkers who seek the ultimate thrill, the Three Passes Trek could very well be for them. This is one of the hardest trekking routes in the Khumbu Region simply because you have to cross three very challenging passes en route. They are Kongma La (5535m), Cho La (5420m) and Renjo La (5340m). The trek too is naturally longer than both EBC and Gokyo trek. It normally takes around 20 days to complete and is a highly challenging one. 

To go on a hard trek like Three Passes Trek, you will need an experienced guide for sure because you don’t want to get lost in the Himalayas. Better still if you arrange this trek through a trekking agency like Peace Nepal Treks you will not have to worry about anything. We have been in the trekking business for a long time and you can leave all the arrangements to us and you just worry about completing the trek without a hitch. The trek starts from Lukla and ends in Lukla too. The usual route is to take EBC in the first leg of the trek and then reroute to Gokyo and return to Lukla. Three Passes Trek combines the thrill of EBC with the Gokyo Trek in a single one cutting unnecessary travel time and money along the way. 

Accommodation and Food on Everest Gokyo Trek

Accommodation and food are some of the most important parts of any trekking. Having a good place to rest during the overnight stay and with good and nutritious food to complement it will go a long way in making any trek a memorable one. You will be staying in teahouses and lodges during all Everest Gokyo Trek and will taste Nepali food or something that is on the menu. The lodges and guesthouses are clean and are tourist standard. You will get breakfast, lunch, tea, and dinner during the time of the adventure.  

FAQs For Everest Gokyo Trek

1.    Is the Everest Gokyo Trek difficult?

No, Gokyo Trek is not difficult as it is a moderate trekking route and anyone can go and join a trekking group while you are in Nepal. You can also have a custom-planned trip. Our Trekking agency will certainly help anyone with questions if they have one. 

2.    Who can join in a trip?

Anyone with a thrill of seeking adventure can go for Gokyo Trek. Both mental and physical strength are necessary during any trek in the Himalayas and this one is no exception. But anyone between the ages of 16 to 65 can go for the Everest Gokyo Trek. If you have the determination, anyone regardless of the age can join in for the adventure.

3.    Are Everest Gokyo Trek and Everest Base Camp (EBC) Trek similar?

No, these two treks are quite different. Though both treks might be similar in length, the characteristics of these two different treks are different. People who want to go for the trekking, in general, will choose the EBC but trekkers who want to go for the off-the-beaten-track will choose the Everest Gokyo trek.

4.    Is Everest Gokyo Trek costly?

Not really. You will not burst your bank when choosing Everest Gokyo Trek. It is average in cost when compared with other treks in the Himalayas. But I think one should not look only at the money when setting off on an adventure rather we should look at the satisfaction too. This trek has all the elements a normal trek is expected to have like excitement, moderate difficulty, and affordable. 

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