Gokyo Lakes Trek 13 Days

Trekker’s Daily Routine & Moments on Gokyo Lakes Trek

Each morning of our 13 days Gokyo Lakes trek, you will be awakened by the excellent mountain panoramic views, the calming sound of the kettle in your overnight lodge, and the inviting scent of the delicious healthy breakfast.

After breakfast at around 7 to 8 am, you will pack your bags, refill your water bottle, tie on your hiking boots, and set off to resume the walking adventure.

The enchanting terrain of Khumbu Valley will be your walking ground which will sometimes take you down and sometimes up, sometimes make you cross the overhanging bridges and sometimes hike along the flat terrain.

Generally, you will trek each day for about 4 to 5 hours except during the ascent to Gokyo Ri, and during journeying back to Namche and Lukla. On these days, you should anticipate walking up to 7 hours a day.

However, we will not hike continuously; we will have an hour afternoon pause to eat our lunch, chat with the locals, and capture some beautiful images.

We promise each day of our Gokyo Lakes trek journey will be varied with new Himalayan peaks rising before your eyes. You will be able to see the same mountains but from varied angles.

Some days, Dudh Koshi River will follow you while the other days, the deep vast jungles of fir and rhododendrons will show you the way. As you progress deeper, you will find yourself in the vast world of rocky terrain which will ultimately lead you to the breathtaking glacial expanse of the high Gokyo Valley and its crystal-clear lakes.

When the evening arrives, you will find rest and peace in the very welcoming Sherpa lodge. Gathered around in the warmth of the stove in the dining hall, you will share stories, eat warm dinner, and enjoy some moments with dance and music.

Different trekking routes to Gokyo Lakes

Our Gokyo Lakes trek is literally a timeless adventure that mainly highlights the gorgeous Gokyo Valley and its glacial lakes. It is perfect for those who want to escape the noise of city life and enjoy a more peaceful, less-trafficked trail.

This trek is also of moderate nature so it is also more suitable for the new hikers who are just starting their mountain journey in Nepal. However, there are other several routes to Gokyo that will not only offer you just tranquility but also some thrilling adventures.

1. Gokyo Lake Trek with Everest Base Camp and Kala Patthar

This is one of the most beautiful hiking trails that combines the two different worlds of Everest and the Gokyo. It is the ultimate adventure for those wishing to explore the best experience and adventure of standing beneath the shadow of the world’s tallest peak along with feeling the peace of Gokyo.

You will have two different routes available for this trip. One will first head you to the 5364 m Everest Base Camp and 5644 m Kala Patthar through Namche, Tengboche, Dingboche, and Lobuche. Then you will head to the wide Gokyo Valley.

The second route will first direct you toward the impressive Gokyo before reconnecting with the main trail to Everest Base Camp and Kala Patthar.

A little bit more hard, this trip will give you the greatest reward of excellent Himalayan spectacles along with the remarkable landscape.

2. Gokyo Lakes Trek with Renjo La Pass Crossing

Another fantastic option is to include a crossing of one of the Everest Passes in your Gokyo Lakes trek itinerary. After you finish exploring the Gokyo Valley, you will head towards Namche and tackle the Renjo La Pass, standing at 5360 m altitude- higher than many peaks in Europe and America.

The ascent route to the pass isn’t technically difficult and doesn’t need any special skills, but the excitement that you will be quite thrilling. This journey will prepare you for tougher mountain treks in Nepal.

3. Gokyo Lakes Trek with Everest Three Passes

This combination of the trip is quite tough and challenging and particularly suitable for experienced trekkers who have already undertaken multiple mountain adventures in Nepal.

In addition to the Gokyo Valley, you will be crossing three high Everest passes: Kongma La at 5,535 meters, Cho La at 5,420 meters, and Renjo La at 5,360 meters, with the chance to visit Everest Base Camp and Kala Patthar.

On this trip, you will explore the beautiful Dudh Koshi Valley, Imja Valley, Gokyo Valley, and Bhote Koshi Valley, where the scenery is simply amazing.

For this trip, there are two routes available: clockwise and counterclockwise. Most trekking companies will choose the counterclockwise approach with the Kongma La Pass crossing first followed by the Cho La Pass and then Renjo la Pass (the toughest among the three).

The clockwise route is also available which will first take you to Renjo and then Cho La and Kongma La.

Difficulty with Gokyo Lakes Trek

In a normal circumstance, the difficulty of the Gokyo Lakes Trekking can be considered to be moderate. On this trip, we will be going through the high-altitude Himalayan region of Nepal which can be difficult for anyone who is not prepared.

The difficulty of the terrain also needs to be considered while trekking to Gokyo Lakes. In this trek, we will be taking lots of uphill and downhill trails which can be difficult. To any experienced trekkers, this may not cause much trouble, but any beginners might have a difficult time on this  beautiful trek.

There are other things that can affect the difficulty of the trek such as your adaptability and mentality towards the trekking environment. On this trek, we will be going through some of the remote regions in Nepal. In these regions, you will not find any modern convenience.

If you find it difficult to be apart from the modern convenience you will have a hard time on the Gokyo Lakes trek. Also, if you are someone who gets easily bothered by cold it will obviously be hard for you on the trek. The temperature in the trek can get to almost sub-zero temperatures.

All such problems and other problems can be solved through proper preparation. But, we cannot recommend any children and elderly on this trek. Their involvement can increase the difficulty of the trek as they are prone to altitude sickness or any other sickness such as cold, flu, or others while on the Gokyo Lakes trek.

Overall, with sufficient and proper preparation you can complete the trek without much difficulty. If you have any health problems, we cannot recommend you for the Gokyo Lakes trekking journey.

Best Seasons for Gokyo Lakes Trek

An indisputable argument while visiting Nepal is that the best seasons to visit any part of Nepal are either Spring (March, April, May) or Autumn (September, October, November). This holds for the trek to Gokyo Lake Valley too.

During the Spring or Autumn, you will not have to face either of chilling colds of Winter or the unpredictable weather of Summer. During this time, you can enjoy the clear skies with the view of the mountains while on the Gokyo Lakes trek. Life itself is also more active during this time, so if luck favors you can come across different varieties of plants and animals.

If cold is something you do not want to deal with, then visiting Gokyo Valley in summer is a valid choice. While you cannot trust the weather forecast in summer, you will come across many plants and animals during this time. You can also trek to Gokyo Lakes in Winter if you are someone who loves a challenging adventure.

There are no restrictions on your choice of time to visit Gokyo Lake. You just need to make preparations based on your choice of your visit.

Can a beginner join this trip?

Yes, a beginner can join our Gokyo lakes trek but this trip is not recommended for beginners. The difficulty of the trek is considered to be moderate but that is for more experienced trekkers so the beginners might have a difficult time in trek.

For the beginners, there are other more suitable treks like Everest view trek, Ghorepani Poon Hill trek, Langtang trek, Pikey peak trek etc. These treks are usually more popular and offer you easier trails with better accommodations for the rest.

Altitude Sickness on Gokyo Lakes trek

If you are trekking in the Himalayan region of Nepal, then you need to prepare for altitude sickness. On Gokyo Lakes Trek pacakge, we will go over 5000 meters above sea level. Some people showcase the symptoms of altitude sickness at an elevation of 2000 meters above sea level. At an elevation of 5000 meters and above, there is a significant risk of altitude sickness.

Altitude Sickness is caused due to the low density of Oxygen in the atmosphere. The higher we move up in altitude, the less dense the atmosphere becomes. The low density of the atmosphere means less Oxygen for us to intake.

The lack of Oxygen in the brain means you might suffer from headaches, nausea, vomiting, and reduced performance. In the worst case, it may result in permanent brain injury or even prove fatal. So, you need to be aware of altitude sickness and its symptoms during the Gokyo Lakes trek.

If you notice any of the symptoms of Altitude Sickness you need to inform your friends and guide. Usually, altitude sickness can be prevented by acclimatizing at a point. If necessary, we will provide you with preliminary treatment or call the emergency services based on the severity of the case.

Accommodation, Food and Drink during the Gokyo Lakes trek

All the accommodations that are planned for the trek are a part of the 13 days Gokyo Lakes trekking package. This includes the three nights you will be spending in Kathmandu along with all other planned accommodations. It also means that any accommodation beyond the detailed itinerary is not part of the planned accommodation and the cost of those accommodations will fall under you.

The Gokyo Lakes trek package also covers the cost of the three meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner). We will provide you with the best possible food for these meals while staying in the accommodation.

But, any additional food that you will want to try during this trek will be part of your personal expense. While we will provide you with water and black tea during the trek, if you wish for any beverages like soft drinks or alcohol they will again be part of your personal expense.

One thing to note is that most of the foods that we will provide you during the trek will be on the vegetarian side. It is because we cannot guarantee the safety of animal products during the trip. We do not want to take chances with food poisoning as consuming animal products is not the best idea on Gokyo Lakes trek.

Transportation for Gokyo Lakes Trek

The Gokyo Lakes Trek 13 Days package will cover the cost of all the planned transportation during the trek. We will provide you with the ticket for the domestic flight between Kathmandu and Lukla, or Ramechhap and Lukla. We will also provide you with a private vehicle/car with a driver that will take you to different parts of Kathmandu Valley.

Do note that the cost of your international flights is not part of the package. The same is the case for the visa fee you will need to pay at the airport.

Required Permit for the Gokyo Lakes Trek

As a foreigner who wants to trek in Nepal, you will need a Trekker’s Information Management System (TIMS) permit. Since Gokyo Lake lies at the Sagarmatha National Park, you will need a permit to enter the National Park. There are also some other local permits that you will need during the Gokyo Lakes Trek.

All the permits that are needed for the trek will be provided by us. We will make sure that you will get the required permits without much hassle. The costs of these permits are included in the package so you do not have to worry about it. After getting the permit you just need to make sure that you will not lose the permit.

Trip Preparation and Fitness

The difficulty of the trek to Gokyo Lake Valley is considered to be moderate but that is based on the preparation you need to make for the trek. This trek can be both physically and mentally exhausting so you need to make enough preparation. You want to have great stamina and preservation for this trek.

If you are a physically active person, some additional training mainly involving your stamina and leg and core muscles will greatly help you in this trek. You also want to take part in some breathing exercises to strengthen your lungs to some degree. If you have any physical injuries or health problems then we cannot recommend you for the Gokyo Lakes trek.

On this trek, you will also need to have a strong and positive mentality. You will go through many difficult stretches and we do not want you to give up any inconvenience. You need to give your best during this trek. However, this does not mean that you will need to go beyond your body’s capability. If you are having any problems you will need to be open about it.

Electricity and Internet

On this trek, we will be going through some of the remote regions of Nepal. This means that you will have no access to the internet during most part of the trek, and the electricity you get is limited.

In some of the places we stay, there will be solar panels to cover the lack of electric lines. Usually, this might cost you some extra fees. While we will cover the fee for basic facilities during your stay at an accommodation such as food, bed, and toilets, if you want to access electricity then you will need to pay for it for yourself.

The internet is more or less non-existent in these regions so you will need to be prepared to get apart from it for a while. We recommend you get yourself some extra batteries and power banks during the trek as an extra measure. In the end, we cannot guarantee the availability of electricity and internet during the Gokyo Lakes trekking.

Your Extra Expenses during the Gokyo Lakes Trek

Some of the examples of extra expenses that we might make during the trek include the cost of food and drinks that might catch your attention during the trek. There are also costs of souvenirs that we will want to take back to your home. You might also want to buy some personal equipment that will help you on the trek.

There are also tips expenses for the guide and porters if you wish. First aid kit is provided by the compnay for any minor injuries but any emergency services that you might request during the trek will be your personal expense. Another thing is the cost of your international flight and visa fees which you need to pay by yourself.

Insurance

We request all the participants of Gokyo Lakes trek to take the travel insurance before their departing date. The travel insurance will protect you in case of any unwanted, unexpected, and undesirable events in the mountains.

For example, when climbing the Gokyo Ri summit, you may fall, or slip, and hurt your ankle or tear a ligament. When walking through the forest, you may get separated needing for the search and rescue effort.

Or, when you are in Gokyo Valley, you may experience acute mountain sickness that can require urgent medical evacuation by helicopter.

We are not saying the trek is thus unsafe, in fact, the trip is very safe and you will have 24-hour support from our experienced sherpa guides. But you can never predict the nature and the injuries.

So, make sure you are traveling with the proper and adequately covered travel insurance plan that covers accidents, illnesses, injuries, rescues at altitudes over 5000 meters, and other risks associated with mountain activities.

Your policy should also take care of all medical costs and guarantee quick access to the right care. Please also include miscellaneous coverages such as protection for lost or stolen equipment, baggage issues, and trip or flight cancellations.