Gokyo Valley Trek
Mountain Hawk Trek
Everest RegionModerate

Gokyo ValleyTrek

Trek to the turquoise Gokyo Lakes and summit Gokyo Ri (5,357m) for sunrise over Everest, Cho Oyu, Lhotse, and Makalu. Walk along the Ngozumpa Glacier, the longest in the Himalayas. No pass crossings. 15 days, from USD 1,775.

View Itinerary
15
DaysTotal trek duration
5360m
Max AltitudeHighest point reached
Sep–Jun
Best SeasonIdeal trekking window
$1,775
FromPer person (twin sharing)
Trip Highlights

The moments that matter most

The Gokyo Valley is the Khumbu's best-kept alternative to the Everest Base Camp trail. After Namche Bazaar, the trail forks northwest at Sanasa and within an hour the crowds thin dramatically. The route to Gokyo passes through Dole (4,200m), Machhermo (4,470m), and a string of small settlements before reaching the lakeshore at 4,790m. The walking is steady but never steep.

Five glacial lakes sit in a chain along the Ngozumpa Glacier, each a different shade of turquoise depending on the mineral content and angle of sunlight. The third lake (Dudh Pokhari) is the largest, stretching nearly a kilometer. Gokyo village sits on its eastern shore with Cho Oyu (8,188m) rising 3,400 meters directly behind. On still mornings the mountain reflects perfectly in the lake surface.

Gokyo Ri (5,357m) is a non-technical summit reached by a steep but straightforward trail from the village. The 90-minute climb gains 567 meters. At sunrise the view is extraordinary: Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, and Cho Oyu in a single sweep, with the Gokyo Lakes glowing below and the Ngozumpa Glacier stretching south. This viewpoint consistently ranks among the finest in all of Nepal.

Trip Overview

A closer look

The Gokyo Valley Trek is a 15-day out-and-back route from Lukla to the turquoise Gokyo Lakes and the summit of Gokyo Ri (5,357m) in the western Khumbu. There are no pass crossings, no glacier walks, and no technical sections. The trail follows the Dudh Koshi valley through Namche Bazaar to Dole, Machhermo, and Gokyo village (4,790m), where five glacial lakes sit at the base of Cho Oyu (8,188m).

Gokyo Ri is the payoff. The pre-dawn climb from Gokyo village takes about 90 minutes. From the summit at 5,357 meters you see Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, Cho Oyu, and on clear days Kangchenjunga, five of the six highest mountains on Earth. Below, the Gokyo Lakes glow turquoise against the grey moraine of the Ngozumpa Glacier. Many trekkers rank this viewpoint above Kala Patthar because of the lake panorama.

The trail above Namche branches northwest at Sanasa, leaving the EBC crowds behind. Above Dole (4,200m) the landscape opens into high alpine terrain: yak pastures, stone walls, and sparse teahouses between glacial moraines. Machhermo (4,470m) has a Himalayan Rescue Association post. Gokyo village has a handful of teahouses clustered on the shore of the third lake (Dudh Pokhari).

Permits: Sagarmatha National Park Entry Permit (NPR 3,000) and Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality Permit (NPR 3,000), both included. TIMS no longer required.

To combine Gokyo with Everest Base Camp, the Gokyo Cho La Pass Trek Via EBC crosses Cho La Pass (5,420m) to reach base camp and Kala Patthar in 19 days. For the standard base camp route without Gokyo, the Everest Base Camp Trek follows the eastern Khumbu trail in 15 days. For the full three-pass circuit, the Everest Three Passes Trek includes Gokyo, EBC, and all three high passes in 22 days.

Route & Elevation

The trail, mapped

Elevation ProfileDay-by-day altitude
TrailPeak
5,360m4,356m3,353m2,349m1,345mKathmanduPhakdingNamcheMochermoGokyoGokyo RiDoleNamcheLuklaKathmandu5,360m
Itinerary

Day by day, on the trail

15 days from Kathmandu arrival to departure. Hover any day for full details.

Day01

Arrival in Kathmandu

Kathmandu

Arrive at Kathmandu airport (1,345 m). Overnight at hotel.

1,345mHotel
Day02

Pre-trip Meeting & Kathmandu Sightseeing

Kathmandu

Pre-trip meeting and sightseeing around Kathmandu Valley. Overnight at hotel.

1,345mHotel
Day03

Fly to Lukla & Trek to Phakding

Phakding

Fly to Tenzing-Hillary Airport in Lukla (2,795 m) from Kathmandu, then trek to Phakding (2,610 m), approximately 3 hours. Overnight at guesthouse.

2,610m3h trekGuesthouse1,265m
Day04

Trek to Namche Bazaar

Namche Bazaar

Trek to Namche Bazaar (3,480 m), approximately 5 hours. Overnight at guesthouse.

3,480m5h trekGuesthouse870m
Day05

Acclimatization Day in Namche Bazaar

Namche Bazaar

Acclimatization day in Namche Bazaar. Overnight at guesthouse.

3,480mGuesthouse
Day06

Trek to Dole

Dole

Trek to Dole (4,130 m), approximately 5 hours. Overnight at guesthouse.

4,130m5h trekGuesthouse650m
Day07

Trek to Machhermo

Machhermo

Trek to Machhermo (4,470 m), approximately 6 hours. Overnight at guesthouse.

4,470m6h trekGuesthouse340m
Day08

Trek to Gokyo

Gokyo

Trek to Gokyo (4,770 m), approximately 4 hours. Overnight at guesthouse.

4,770m4h trekGuesthouse300m
Day09

Gokyo Ri & Return to Gokyo

Gokyo

Early-morning hike to Gokyo Ri (5,360 m), then return to Gokyo, approximately 4 hours. Overnight at guesthouse.

4,770m4h trekGuesthouse
Day10

Trek Back to Dole

Dole

Trek back to Dole (4,130 m), approximately 3 hours. Overnight at guesthouse.

4,130m3h trekGuesthouse640m
Day11

Trek to Namche Bazaar

Namche Bazaar

Trek to Namche Bazaar (3,480 m), approximately 6 hours. Overnight at guesthouse.

3,480m6h trekGuesthouse650m
Day12

Trek to Lukla

Lukla

Trek to Lukla (2,795 m), approximately 6 hours. Overnight at guesthouse.

2,795m6h trekGuesthouse685m
Day13

Flight from Lukla to Kathmandu

Kathmandu

Morning flight from Lukla to Kathmandu. Overnight at hotel.

1,345mHotel1,450m
Day14

Leisure Day in Kathmandu

Kathmandu

Leisure day in Kathmandu. Overnight at hotel.

1,345mHotel
Day15

Departure

Kathmandu

Transfer to the international airport for your final flight departure.

1,345mTransfer
Good to Know

Before you commit

Trek Cost

TierPrice
Per Person
USD 1,775
Package Details

What's in, what's out

What's Included

11

Airport to hotel to airport pickup and drop-off by private car, van, or bus.

Standard twin-sharing accommodation in a two or three-star hotel in Kathmandu (4 nights), breakfast included.

Guided city tour in Kathmandu by private car, van, or bus.

Standard meals (lunch, dinner, and breakfast) and teahouse accommodation during the trek.

A government-licensed English-speaking guide for the trek, the required number of porters (1 porter for every 2 trekkers), and their food, accommodation, salary, insurance, equipment, and a general first aid kit.

Sagarmatha National Park Permit, TIMS card, and all other necessary permits.

Flight fare from Kathmandu to Lukla and Lukla to Kathmandu, including airport departure taxes at Kathmandu and Lukla.

Surface transfer from Kathmandu.

Down jacket, duffel or kit bag, and sleeping bag (to be returned after the trek).

All applicable government taxes.

Tourist service charge and VAT.

Not Included

8

Lunch and dinner while in Kathmandu.

Travel insurance (compulsory).

Nepal entry visa fee.

Items of a personal nature such as alcoholic drinks, soft drinks, laundry, and hot showers.

Personal trekking equipment.

Tips for trekking staff and driver.

Sightseeing and monument entrance fees.

Any other expenses not mentioned in the Price Includes section.

Add-on

Extra Nights in Kathmandu

Single Room$60per night · breakfast included
Twin Sharing$35per person / night · breakfast included

Dear guest, should you require additional accommodation in Kathmandu, we are pleased to offer the following rates: US$60 per person per night for a single room and US$35 per person per night for a double (twin sharing) room, both inclusive of breakfast.

The Reward

Why you'll love it

Three reasons this trek stays with you long after the plane home.

Scenery

Gokyo Ri sunrise is one of the greatest viewpoints in Nepal. Four 8,000-meter peaks and five turquoise lakes in a single panorama.

Thrill

Far fewer trekkers than the EBC trail. Above Namche, the Gokyo route is quiet, wild, and feels genuinely remote.

Connection

No passes to cross, no glaciers to walk on, no technical terrain. This is a pure teahouse trek to a world-class summit viewpoint.

Honest Check

Is this trek for you?

A few things worth knowing before you commit. No sugar-coating, no surprises on day one.

Expectations

Before you book

5

You want Everest region views without the crowds. The Gokyo side has a fraction of the foot traffic of the EBC trail.

You prefer not to cross high passes or walk on glaciers. This is a straightforward out-and-back teahouse trek.

You can walk 5 to 7 hours a day for 11 trekking days. The trail is well-maintained but gains altitude steadily above Namche.

The highest sleep altitude is Gokyo village at 4,790m. Two acclimatization days are built in. Prior altitude experience is helpful but not mandatory.

You want a trek that prioritizes lakes and glacier scenery over the Everest Base Camp destination itself.

Gear Up

What to pack

The full kit that's built from years on the trail. Skip it at your own risk, bring it and you'll never think about it again.

Equipment

Packing checklist

26 items

Duffel bag ( Company provide complementary)

Daypack

Down Jacket and Sleeping bag 4 season ( if you need nice and clean down jacket and sleeping bag company provide which needs to be returned after the trek)

Hiking pants

Waterproof jacket

Full, sleeves shirt

Jumper or pile jacket

T, shirts

Trekking boots (Water proof)

Camp shoes/Sandal

wool socks

Light cotton socks for under wool socks( take quite several pairs of these too. Better to carry some extra weight rather than spend the whole time washing socks)

Sun hat

Beanie

Gloves

Sun block for lips

Sun lotion

Goggles or sunglasses ( with spare )

Thermal Long underwear (take quite a few pairs. Although the weather may be cold one tends to sweat a lot)

windproof pants

Water bottle

Sewing kit

Medical & first aid kit

Flash light ( with spare batteries)

Personal towel

Personal toiletries and medication which should be labelled Please.

Tight fitting, figure-hugging clothing, such as those made with Lycra can often be offensive to locals, especially on women. If you find these items comfortable as a base layer then please pack something to wear over the top of them.

Good to Know

Frequently asked questions

Still have questions? Tap through the answers below or reach out directly. We reply within the hour.

FAQs

The most asked

8
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Trail Stories

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