Gokyo Valley Trek-13 day

You will begin after dawn to catch an early flight to Lukla. The flight is scenic and thrilling, as you traverse above towering peaks. After about 30 minutes, you will land at the narrow airstrip of the mountainous airport, renowned for its challenging descent. At Lukla you will meet your guides and porters, have breakfast in the presence of mighty mountains, and finally begin the long-awaited trek! As you cross Dudhkoshi river, the trail gets lined by lush and beautiful forests. You will walk for around four hours crossing suspension bridges and passing through Sherpa villages before stopping for the night in a lodge in Phakding. The beautiful trail and scenic mountains will contribute to your excite

As you begin the trek from Phakding, you will be facing a long day of trek to Namche Bazaar, the destination for today. The actual trekking duration is about seven hours with ample amount of stopovers. The trail is scenic, and at this altitude you will even pass through lush rhododendron forests. The excitement will push you further today where you’ll cross high-altitude suspension bridges, including the famous Hillary Bridge. After crossing Monjo, your trail enters Sagarmatha National Park with breathtaking views of valleys and mountains. After a quick permits-check, you will begin today’s final stretch to Namche located at 3,440 metres. The climb is steep, but every inch of the ascent to Namche Bazaar is worth it. 

As you reach Namche, you will be filled with amazement to have reached this close to the gigantic mountains. You will immediately feel at home in this vibrant old town filled with markets, cafes, lodges, and shops bustling with tourists and locals alike. This is where you will rest for the day soaking in hot water and enjoy high-speed Internet connection. Nearby, you can explore monasteries and stupas if you feel energetic and not worn out by the day’s trek. And if the day is clear, you may even catch your first glimpse of some iconic peaks of Everest.

Sleeping this close to mountains has its own benefits — like having a breakfast with sumptuous views of the giant peaks. As your excitement builds up for the day, you will realise that it’s not more walking for the day. All you have to do is relax and enjoy the day in this mountain village with very short hikes for some acclimatisation. Today is also your chance to catch some breath and let your body adjust to the thinner air at this altitude. During the day you can hike up to Hotel Everest View, for jaw-dropping glimpses of Mt. Everest itself. And if time provides you can wander around the shops, check into a bakery or a cafe, and indulge in a treat. Just make sure you do not miss the golden sun setting against the peaks – bringing you a feeling of inspiration and awe! You will suddenly realise that you are in the heart of the Everest region – and your adventure is just getting started.

Starting after breakfast, you will trek for nearly seven hours through beautiful trails to reach the village of Dole for the night. Early on, you will have views of Ama Dablam and Thamserku as you pass through villages and rhododendron forests. Later in the day you will have inspiring views of Khumbila and Tawache, too.

As for the trail for today, it snakes from Namche Bazaar  with panoramic views of Dudhkoshi river and mountains like Thamserku, Cho Oyu, and Kangtega. To add to the excitement, you might possibly be surprised by a couple of sightings of native wildlife like high-altitude pheasants and even the elusive Himalayan bear. Further up the trail you will cross forests and suspension bridges before arriving at Dole for the night.

The trek today from Dole to Machhermo takes around four hours. Although we gain only around 400 meters of ascent on the overall altitude, it’s quite a lot when we’re talking about vertical landscapes and mountainous terrain. Today the trail offers splendid views of the Khumbu region. 

We trail along passing scattered forests and several kharka(s). A kharka is a temporary summer-time shed made specially for the cattle in the mountains. There are even some grasslands with glimpses of Cho Oyu along the road uphill. Each step we take will be towards gaining altitude. And although the walk is difficult, the view gets more and more lustrous — covering glaciers, peaks, and even more scenic vistas.

After a challenging walk (but with ample stopovers), we finally arrive at the hamlet of Machhermo for the night. As you can guess, it’s a quaint hamlet with a couple of buildings with the looming view of Ngozumpa Glacier. The beautiful Dudhkoshi river flows nearby while the surrounding mountains provide a cosy sense of isolation.

We begin early expecting more scenic views along the way. Completely surrounded by mountains on nearly all sides, we move through the challenging trail ahead. As the rocky trail unfolds, we are more determined by the thought of seeing the turquoise lake of Gokyo, hence we keep moving, overcoming the tiredness at each step. At times we are treated with scenic vistas of the white peaks, a grand reminder of nature’s geographical beauty.

Our trail ascends gradually taking us towards the lake.. The road is difficult being lined with rocks and as we reach near Gokyo, we being to see prayer flags, and are instantly rewarded with a serene view of peaks and ancient glaciers. With a sense of triumph, we move ahead. With each step we take, we know we are moving towards the pristine Lake Gokyo, as seen in countless movies & documentaries, and today we’re arriving at the lake in person. 

With anticipation of more adventure, inspiringly beautiful landscape, and newer routes, we unwind for the night in a cabin beside the turquoise lake of Gokyo.

On this day, we embark at dawn for the ascent of Gokyo-Ri (peak) at 5,357 metres. The vistas are comparable to those at Kalapatthar, letting you view peaks such as Cho Oyu, Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, and others. We capture the moments, and after watching a spectacular sunrise, we return for breakfast. Exploring Gokyo Valley later on is a scenic venture as the large lake seems to be present everywhere. We will even see Ngozumpa Glacier from closer quarters, the longest glacier in the Himalayas that we saw earlier.

Today as we acclimate ourselves to the thin air, we savour each moment  as it’s a valuable experience that’ll fuel us for a long time to come. The majestic landscapes of the Himalayas will remain with us forever, and with this beautiful thought, we take rest in Gokyo village, nestled in breathtaking beauty.

You will be trekking back to Dole as you come to the last leg of this trip. From there it’ll be Namche and  then a flight from Lukla. So you will feel the urge to enjoy the views as much as possible, especially scenic views of several peaks including Mount Everest. Once you arrive at the point where Gokyo will no longer be visible, you will have a sense of loss. Ironically enough, you will also have a sense of achievement, having successfully reached the pristine lakes of Gokyo in the  Everest region of Nepal. Enjoy the view and rest for a while before walking along steep paths. 

On the road to Dole today you will trek through several small lakes and a range of peaks, each a beauty on its own. Once you arrive at Dole, you will unwind for the night in the quiet solitude far from civilization, you’ll feel an elevated level of joy on having touched the lakes of Gokyo.

Leave Dole early with a newly discovered inspiration, you’ll quickly be coming towards the end of this trip.  Trekking down through the rugged paths, you begin to long for the comforts of Namche Bazaar, where you can once again take a hot shower, have a selection of food, and a good sleep. This anticipation will keep you on the trail filled with lush valleys and picturesque villages, not missing the scenes of Thame, an old trading outpost en route to Tibet. Along the way you will even cross some suspension bridges high above gushing rivers.

You will keep trekking down and enter rhododendron forests — and later in the day you will rejoice at the sight of Namche Bazaar — civilization at last! A sense of relief overpowers you in the evening as you soak your feet in hot water — and you will begin to reflect on the arduous but once-in-a-lifetime journey you just undertook.

Today is the day you bid farewell to Namche. Lacing up your boots with a mixed feeling of joy and humility, you will take the first step towards ending your epic journey. The scenic descent towards Lukla is at times made more beautiful with the presence of the raging Dudhkoshi River. The trail winds down further with steep slopes through forests and valleys before reaching Phakding — where you’ll have one more lunch at the foothills of the mighty Himalayas.

Trekking on from Phakding, you will finally arrive at Lukla after a leisurely trek of some hours. Here at Lukla, you’ll see the settlements, the shops, the cafes, the little lanes and the narrow airstrip. The people moving here and there going about their own business will make for a happy sight as you eagerly look forward to your flight back to Kathmandu.

The flight from Lukla is a scenic one, with views of the peaks you just went to, and some more. A stream of memories will fill you as you land in Kathmandu. The bustling city will be quite a sight in itself as you drive in the traffic jam towards your hotel. In the afternoon you can take a soothing massage or simply wander the market hunting for souvenirs and those “hashish-rickshaw” t-shirts that everyone returning from Nepal buys. And in the evening, you will join in a farewell dinner, sharing stories and once again, being grateful for the soul-enriching journey you just took to Gokyo.

After breakfast or depending upon your flight schedule we will transfer you to the airport. As your plane takes off from the runway in Kathmandu, your journey to Nepal comes to an end for this time — until you decide to visit again for some memorable and soul-searching trip in the Himalayas.