Gokyo Lakes
Everest, Khumbu
Twelve days to the turquoise lakes above 4,700 m and the summit of Gokyo Ri, where Everest, Lhotse, Makalu and Cho Oyu stand in one frame. Quieter than Base Camp.
- Duration
- 12days
- Max altitude
- 5,357m
- Difficulty
Challenging
- Best seasons
Spring — March to May
Autumn — September to November
From · 3–5 people
€1,000
Day by day
The route
Day 01
Fly to Lukla → Phakding
A mountain flight into Lukla starts the trek. The trail descends gently along the Dudh Koshi past small Sherpa villages and pine forest to the riverside settlement of Phakding.
- Altitude
- 2,610m
- On foot
- 3–4 hrs· 8 km
Mountain flight, then a gentle river-valley descent
Day 02
Phakding → Namche Bazaar
Suspension bridges, including the Hillary Bridge, and the Sagarmatha National Park entrance at Monjo. A long uphill climb finishes at Namche Bazaar, the trading centre of Sherpa country.
- Altitude
- 3,440m
- On foot
- 6–7 hrs· 11 km
Suspension bridges, then a sustained climb
Day 03
Acclimatisation day in Namche
A short hike up to the Everest View Hotel or Khumjung for views of Everest, Lhotse and Ama Dablam, then an afternoon in Namche — markets, bakeries and the Sherpa cultural museum. Climbing high and sleeping low is the point.
- Altitude
- 3,440m
- On foot
- 3–4 hrs· 5 km
Acclimatisation side hike
Day 04
Namche Bazaar → Dole
A steady climb through rhododendron and juniper forest, with Khumbila and Tawache growing ahead. Dole is a quiet place of yak pasture and alpine country.
- Altitude
- 4,038m
- On foot
- 6–7 hrs· 11 km
Steady forest ascent into alpine pasture
Day 05
Dole → Machhermo
A gradual ascent along the ridge above the Dudh Koshi with wide Himalayan views, past seasonal yak settlements to Machhermo — a village long associated with Yeti stories.
- Altitude
- 4,470m
- On foot
- 4–5 hrs· 6 km
Gradual ridge ascent
Day 06
Machhermo → Gokyo
Past two smaller lakes to the turquoise Third Gokyo Lake, with Gokyo village at its edge — one of the most striking settlements anywhere in the Everest region.
- Altitude
- 4,790m
- On foot
- 3–4 hrs· 7 km
Short ascent past the lower lakes
Day 07
Gokyo → Fifth Lake → Gokyo
A day in the upper valley, past the Fourth Lake and on to the Fifth, with Cho Oyu, Everest, Makalu and the Ngozumpa Glacier — the longest glacier in Nepal — laid out along the way. Back to Gokyo for the night.
- Altitude
- 4,790m
- On foot
- 5–6 hrs· 10 km
High day hike, no pack
Day 08
Gokyo Ri at sunrise → Dole
A pre-dawn climb to Gokyo Ri at 5,357 m for a 360-degree view taking in Everest, Lhotse, Makalu and Cho Oyu at once. After sunrise, down past Machhermo and on to Dole.
- Altitude
- 4,038m
- On foot
- 6–7 hrs· 13 km
Steep pre-dawn summit hike, then a long descent
Day 09
Dole → Khumjung
Down through alpine pasture and forested ridge to Khumjung, a traditional Sherpa village. Its monastery holds a relic said to be a Yeti scalp.
- Altitude
- 3,790m
- On foot
- 4–5 hrs· 9 km
Descent through pasture and forest
Day 10
Khumjung → Monjo
Back through Namche and down the Dudh Koshi valley to Monjo, a quiet village by the national park gate.
- Altitude
- 2,835m
- On foot
- 5–6 hrs· 11 km
Long valley descent
Day 11
Monjo → Lukla
The last trekking day, over suspension bridges and through pine forest and Sherpa villages, with a final short climb into Lukla.
- Altitude
- 2,860m
- On foot
- 5–6 hrs· 14 km
River valley, with a final climb
Day 12
Fly to Kathmandu
A morning flight from Lukla back to Kathmandu with a last look at the Himalaya, then a transfer to your hotel.
- Altitude
- 1,400m
- Driving
- 30 min flight, or 4–5 hrs drive from Ramechhap
Mountain flight
Maptoolkit · © OpenStreetMap contributors
What’s included
Licensed female guide
Experienced and licensed, with all salary, meals and accommodation covered.
All meals on trek
Full board — breakfast, lunch and dinner, plus two servings of tea, coffee or another hot drink each day.
Accommodation
High-rated teahouse stays throughout the trek.
Transport
All transportation related to the trek.
Permits and taxes
All necessary government and local permits, paperwork and taxes.
Trekking essentials
Trekking poles, microspikes or crampons, and seasonal fruit on the trail.
What’s not included
Travel insurance
Strongly recommended for high-altitude treks, and required for helicopter evacuation cover.
Personal expenses
Wi-Fi, laundry, battery charging, bottled or hot water, hot showers.
Alcoholic and personal drinks
Tips for your guide
You can add
A porter
Hired from the region you are walking through, so the work and the money stay in the villages on your route — and you walk with a lighter pack and someone who knows the ground.
[PRICE TBC]
Permits
Sagarmatha National Park · Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality — arranged for you. Restricted areas require a licensed guide by law.
Safety
Our altitude protocol
Altitude is the thing most people worry about, so here is exactly what we do about it. This is our operating protocol, not medical advice.
A guide trained in mountain safety and first aid
Licensed, and trained specifically for the conditions on these routes.
Daily health monitoring
We record your SpO2 and heart rate each day with a pulse oximeter, alongside an AMS assessment, and keep it in a wellness log you can see.
A first aid kit on every trek
Essential emergency supplies, including altitude sickness medication.
Pre-trek safety briefing
Altitude awareness, pacing, weather and emergency procedures — before you start walking, not on the trail.
Emergency coordination
With local health posts, rescue services and helicopter evacuation. The evacuation itself is covered by your travel insurance.
The Gokyo valley runs parallel to the Everest Base Camp trail and sees a fraction of the traffic. The draw is a chain of glacial lakes above 4,700 m, an extraordinary blue against grey moraine, and the climb up Gokyo Ri — which puts four of the world’s six highest mountains in a single view.
Twelve days, with a proper acclimatisation day at Namche and a high point of 5,357 m. It is a serious walk at altitude, but it asks no technical skill.
Questions
Before you go
Why are the Gokyo Lakes considered special?
They are the highest freshwater lake system in the world, and are held sacred by both Hindus and Buddhists.
When is the best time to trek to Gokyo?
The clearest skies and best mountain views are March to May, and September to November.
Can I see Everest from this trek?
Yes. From Gokyo Ri at 5,357 m you get Everest, Lhotse, Makalu and Cho Oyu in one frame.
What makes it different from Everest Base Camp?
It is quieter and less crowded, and the focus is the turquoise glacial lakes, the Ngozumpa Glacier and Sherpa culture rather than the Base Camp itself.
Who lives along the trail?
This is Sherpa country — known for mountaineering, hospitality, Tibetan Buddhist tradition and centuries-old monasteries.
What wildlife might I see?
Himalayan thar, musk deer, snow pigeons, and the Himalayan monal, Nepal's national bird.
What are the teahouses like?
Family-run and welcoming, with simple rooms, hearty local meals and warm dining halls with wood stoves.
Not sure this is the right trek?
Book a free call with someone who has walked it. We will tell you honestly if another route suits you better — that happens often, and it is the whole point of talking first.