Ready for an adventure that's as serene as it is exhilarating? Join us at Himalaya Heart Treks on our Gokyo Valley Trek, a journey that promises more than just a path through the Everest region. It's an invitation to explore some of the less-trodden, yet incredibly stunning parts of the Himalayas.
Indulge in the joy of peaceful surroundings with Gokyo Valley Trek in the Everest region. The alternative trekking route to the Everest Base Camp, it offers exciting trekking and cultural experience. Unlike, other popular trekking trails like Everest Base Camp Trek, the Gokyo Valley Trek trail is less explored route.
Not everyone has the desire to follow the well-worn trail to get up close to Mount Everest. Some people choose less-trodden routes to get deeper into the beating heart of the Solu Khumbu Region. It may be the perfect adventure for you.
The Gokyo Valley Trek is just a beautiful exploration of the glacial lakes of the Gokyo Valley combined with mountain vistas to die for. Gokyo Valley Trek provides you with a challenging hike and some fantastic mountain views along the way. The five pristine lakes of Gokyo valley never fail to cast a mystical charm that makes trekkers soon forget all the hard work they have put in to reach there. To get the most out of this journey, you must be physically fit, as it can be strenuous at times.
Although the lakes and the mountain views are the main attractions, the hike itself is also very rewarding. Traversing the Dhud Kosi River valley with its surrounding greenery is truly an enjoyable experience. Gokyo Valley Trek gives you an experience of staying with wonderful Sherpa people in beautiful Sherpa Villages.
The view of the mountains from Gokyo Ri is breathtaking. Mt. Everest, the massive Ngozumpa Glacier, and the whole of the Khumbu Himalayan Range, including Mt. Lhotse, Mt. Nuptse, Mt. Makalu (8481m), Mt. Cho-Oyu (8153m), and Mt. Gychung Kang (7922m), cap off a great ten days on the trail.
Gokyo valley can also be reached via Cho La pass after trekking to Everest base camp.
The best time to embark on the Gokyo Valley Trek is during the spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) seasons. These months offer the clearest skies and the most stable weather, providing spectacular views of the mountain peaks and the vibrant turquoise lakes.
Spring brings the added beauty of blooming rhododendrons and other wildflowers, while autumn boasts clear skies and comfortably cool temperatures, ideal for trekking.
However, each season has its own charm. Trekking in the off-peak seasons like winter (December to February) and the monsoon period (June to August) can also be rewarding, with fewer tourists and more solitude on the trails.
Winter offers crystal clear views, though it can be quite cold, especially at higher elevations. During the monsoon, the trails are wetter and the views are sometimes obscured by clouds, but the landscape is lush and waterfalls are plentiful, adding to the trek’s beauty.
The Gokyo Valley Trek is considered moderately challenging, suitable for enthusiastic walkers who can handle approximately 5-7 hours of trekking a day on rugged terrain.
The highest point of the trek is Gokyo Ri, standing at 5,357 meters (17,575 ft), which requires good physical fitness and acclimatization to avoid altitude sickness. The trek involves long days, steep climbs, and crossing icy streams, all of which demand a decent level of fitness and stamina.
Preparation is key to enjoying this trek. It’s advisable to engage in cardiovascular exercises such as running, swimming, or cycling before your trek to build endurance. Mental preparedness is also important, as the high altitudes and remote conditions can be mentally taxing.
Overall, with the right preparation and a positive attitude, trekkers of most experience levels can successfully complete the Gokyo Valley Trek and enjoy its stunning natural beauty.
Fixed departure group treks are a fantastic option for solo trekkers or those looking to join other adventurers on the Gokyo Valley Trek. These pre-scheduled trips are designed to facilitate easy planning and provide a cost-effective way to experience the trek with the camaraderie and safety of a group.
Himalaya Heart Treks offers several fixed departures throughout the best seasons, ensuring that you have plenty of opportunities to join in no matter your schedule.
Joining a fixed departure trek also means benefiting from experienced guides and porters who not only enhance your trekking experience with their knowledge and expertise but also provide insight into the local culture and environment.
This is also a great way to meet new people from around the world, share experiences, and make new friends during a shared journey through some of the most breathtaking landscapes on Earth.
To trek in the Gokyo Valley, you'll need a couple of important permits: the Sagarmatha National Park Permit and the Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality Entrance Permit.
The Sagarmatha National Park Permit is required because the trek goes through this protected area, home to the iconic Mount Everest. This permit is crucial for conservation efforts and to maintain the trails and facilities within the park.
The Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality Entrance Permit is specifically required for trekkers entering the local rural municipality areas in the Khumbu region.
Both permits can be obtained in Kathmandu or at various checkpoints along the trek. The fees from these permits go towards maintaining the paths, supporting local community projects, and ensuring that the impact of trekkers on the environment is minimized.
Be sure to have these permits in order before starting your trek to avoid any complications along your journey.
Please Note:
Lukla Flights are currently departing and returning to Ramechhap (instead of Kathmandu due to ongoing upgrades at Kathmandu Airport, which are due to finish on November 30mber 30). It is around a 4-hour drive to Ramechhap from Kathmandu, so we need to be ready for the drive to the airport around 2 a.m. The return drive at the end of the trek is between 4 and 6 hours, depending on traffic.
It can happen any time of year, but are especially likely around monsoon season (late May to early September). If your flight is delayed, Himalaya Heart Treks will reschedule you on the next possible flight. As conditions can change rapidly, this may be very soon after your scheduled departure, or on very rare occasions, it may be as much as a few days later. It is very difficult to predict. This can be pretty frustrating, but it is simply part of the journey to the Everest region. We strongly recommend you add at least a day or two to the end of your trip if you have an international connecting flight, to give yourself some flexibility in the case of any delays.
A Himalaya Heart Treks representative will be at the airport to welcome you and take you to the hotel. After you have settled, you will meet your tour guide for a briefing on the tour.This is an ideal opportunity to ask any questions you may have. If we need to complete any details we can do this today or alternatively at our office after sightseeing on day 2.
A full-day sightseeing tour around Kathmandu valley is scheduled after breakfast today. You will visit Pashupatinath Temple, Swyambhunath along with other ancient UNESCO World Heritage sites. Visit Boudhanath - the Largest Buddhist Stupa in the world and witness the fine arts and historical architecture of Kathmandu Durbar Square . Evening is free to explore the local areas, gullies, and lifestyle.
In the early morning we take the spectacular flight to Lukla (2827m) either from Kathmandu or from Ramechhap. If we fly from Ramechhap, we need to drive for about 4-5 hours from Kathmandu. The flight time is about 40 minutes to the Lukla airstrip built by Sir Edmund Hillary and the Sherpas in the mid-1960s.
After landing we will have time to explore the village while the Sherpa crew sort and load the trekking equipment. In the afternoon, we begin the trek by descending towards the Dudh Kosi River, where we join the main trail to Namche Bazaar, just above Chaunrikharka (2713m). The walking is easy and after passing through the small village of Ghat (2550m), it is a short walk to Phakding to stay overnight. Overnight Lodge.
From Phakding, the trail follows the Dudh Koshi Valley northwards, meandering through the beautiful pines, crossing the river twice by small suspension bridges before reaching the village of Monjo, the entrance gate to Sagarmatha National Park. We begin with a slight climb to Jhorsalle from Monjo and the trail passes through waterfalls and villages. The trek also goes through pristine greenery where we find trees like Rhododendron, Magnolia, and fir.
Along the way, we are rewarded with our first glimpse of Kusum Kanguru (6369m), Thamserku (6608m), Everest (8848m), and Nuptse (7879 m). A steep climb up to the beautiful village of Namche Bazaar (3440m) offers us further spectacular views of the mountains. This bustling trading hub in the region, Namche Bazar is a comfortable place to spend the second night of the trek. Overnight Lodge.
As we are going to be at over 5000 metrs in a few days we need to spend a day here allowing our systems to get used to the higher altitude. We spend an extra day at Namche Bazar to explore the surroundings and adjust with the increasing altitude of the mountains.
Set in a beautiful natural amphitheater, Namche Bazaar is one of the most attractive settlements in the Khumbu region. This is a good opportunity to make short acclimatization treks. One is the hike up to Khumjung, a lovely Sherpa village above Namche visit The Everest View Hotel from where there are wonderful panoramic views of Everest, Ama Dablam, Thamserku, Nuptse, Lhotse, Tawche, and Kwangde . Then, we trek back down to Namche Bazar to soak up the atmosphere. Overnight Lodge
The walk from today onward leaves the Everest Base Camp Trekking trail and heads towards the Gokyo valley. Our destination today is Dole.It is a peaceful trail with some good views along the way with nature and mountains to soak up as we go.
You will meet a fewer trekkers here allowing you to fully appreciate the wilderness. Dole is a small settlement set within beautiful surroundings.Great views of Cho Oyu, one of the 8,000-meter peaks and the world’s 5th highest at 26,864 feet. We have an opportunity to hike higher and back to help with acclimatisation. Overnight Lodge.
The route to Machhermo today is fairly short and straightforward. It is basically a gentle climb that gains a net 1,200 feet; a half day of walking that allows for a little rest and acclimatisation.The village sits in a little cove,with a beautiful mountains rising just above it.
Machermo is essentially a summer farming and pasture village for the Sherpas, remade now as a trekking stop through the season.
From Macchermo, the trail leads us up to a scenic ridge, from here there is a majestic view of Kangtega.The valley is narrow to begin with before widening out as we make are way up. We reach Pangkha before a descent down to the Dudh Koshi riverbank.
From here it is a steep climb to the terminal moraine of the Ngozumpa Glacier. We get our first view of the first Gokyo lake. Ahead, there are some amazing landscapes with small summer houses of the shepherds dotted along the way.
Gokyo appears at last, a beautiful small village situated on the shore Gokyo’s third lake, Dudh Pokhari. From the hill close to Gokyo village, Ngozumpa glacier is visible. The hill is the most beautiful viewpoint of Ngozumpa glacier. Overnight Lodge.
This is a special day when we hike to Gokyo Ri (5,360m). We start walking towards the base of Gokyo Ri after breakfast. It takes around three hours of steady push to reach the top.
Once at the top, we can enjoy some superb views of Mt. Everest, the massive Ngozumpa Glacier and the whole of Khumbu Himalayan Range including Mt. Lhotse, Mt. Nutse, Mt. Makalu (8481m), Mt. Cho-Oyu (8153m) and Mt. Gychung Kang (7922m). If there is enough time, we can take a walk around Gokyo Lake before heading back to our lodge. Overnight Lodge.
Today the trek back to Dole is an easy downhill walk along the Dudh Koshi River.The river itself is formed out of the Ngozumpa Glacier. We pass by the second and then the first of the Gokyo Lakes and continue our trek as we descend to Pangka (4390m).T
here is a beautiful view of Cholaste (6335m) and Tabuche (6495m) peaks that rear up to the right of us. The trail goes below Pangka, and across a level terrace on a slope before a climb to a rib where there is a chorten on the far side of the hill side.
Upon reaching the Chorten at the edge, we have great views of Thamserku, Cho Oyu, and Kangtega. We then have an easy walk down to the sprawling village of Machhermo. Again, through the charming settlement of Luza and Lhabarma to finally reach Dole (4090m). Overnight Lodge.
We are on the way back towards Lukla on the trek. The trek today takes us to Monjo village to stay overnight. We will have a lunch stopover at Namche Bazar and continue trekking to Monjo after the lunch.
Overnight Lodge.
Our last day on the trail as we head back to Lukla for the flight the following day.
From Monjo the trail descends for a while back ove the Dudh Koshi over the suspension bridge then a short easy level walk to Benkar. We continue heading towards Lukla past Phakding. It is the time to celebrate the accomplishment with our trekking crew once we reach Lukla. Overnight Lodge.
Time to leave this wonderful part of the world,at least for the time being.In the morning we take an early flight from Lukla to Kathmandu. On arrival in Kathmandu you will be transfered to the hotel. The afternoon is free and in the evening we often arrange a farewell meal. Overnight Hotel.
It is the final day of the trip and we hope you have had a great time with us and we would like to meet again in the future. If you are flying today, we will drop you at the airport as per your flight schedule. If you are staying some extra days in Nepal, please let us know.
No, You should not drink the water from the tap or streams on most treks mineral water is available on the trail. It is expensive to buy not to say damaging to the envireonment also (perhaps 10 times more than in Kathmandu). You can use a water purifier or SteriPen.
Elevation on treks that exceed 3,500m. The possibilities of getting altitude sickness generally start at this elevation. But in order to avoid this as much as possible, Himalaya Heart have designed our itineraries to minimise any risk
There is no knowing who will suffer from altitude sickness. It does not follow that the younger and fitter people will not get altitude sickness where the older and less fit will. It is not related to (general) fitness or age. Talk to your doctor at home. There are prescription medications which help avoid the onset of altitude sickness. But above all, go slowly, listen to your body, be aware of any changes, and listen to your guide if he feels you are showing symptoms (which you might not notice).
We will collect your travel insurance policies and details before the trek which must include an evacuation clause. In case of an emergency Himalaya Heart will initially fund the rescue and coordinate with your insurance company and the helicopter providers for evacuation. It is essential that your insurance covers this risk.
On every trek Himalaya Heart carry a first aid kit. We also recommend you carry your own.
Yes, Himalaya Heart only provides insurance for our own staff. We recommend you buy insurance in your country. Note: Insurance must cover you for the altitudes you are trekking at (not all do).
Yes, bring your own or you can rent it or buy it in Kathmandu. Renting a sleeping bag in Kathmandu will cost you $1 or $2 per day. To buy a new sleeping bag in Kathmandu expect to pay around $150 to $200 for a good quality one.
No, The trails are well marked . Unless you go in mid-winter you will not need crampons. Instead of crampons, carry micro spikes which are not technical, lightweight to carry, cheaper and fit any shoe size.
If you forget something it probably won’t be difficult to find here. There are many trekking and adventure shops in Kathmandu. Please enquire if you would like us to send you a comprehensive checklist for (general) trekking in Nepal. If you are not a frequent hiker, you can rent most of the trekking gear in Nepal when you arrive.
In general no, unless you have booked on a more remote trek. There are guesthouses along the trek with beds and mattresses. If you are joining a camp group Himalaya Heart provides the essential gear.
Anything you don’t want to take on the trek with you can be stored at your hotel or in the Himalaya Heart office in Thamel. We suggest you ensure your bag is lockable.
Himalaya Heart use our own experienced local guides. On each trek our guides have been to the relevant areas numerous times. All of our guides are authorized licensed guides with the Government of Nepal and have udergone mountain first aid training.
It is preferable. If you use a porter it has double benefit: you can fully enjoy your trek without carrying a heavy bag, and its improves the income of the local community.
On average a porter carries 22kg including their own backpack. So, they can carry up to 18kg of your gear and equipment. We provide backpacks for porters.
Yes. Himalaya Heart make sure all our staff are well insured.
Check the list of items necessary for trekking in Nepal.
If this trip is not suitable for you. We can make Tailor Made Trip for you.
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