Gokyo Valley Trek

Today marks the beginning of our 10-day journey to Gokyo Valley. Getting up early in the morning, you will have breakfast. One of the guides will come and pick you up. We will then take a short ride towards Tribhuvan International Airport. From there, we will take a short 30-minute flight from Kathmandu to Lukla.

As an alternative, we can also take a short ride towards Manthali, which takes about 3 to 4 hours. Upon reaching there, we will take a 20-minute flight to Lukla. After arriving at Lukla, we will have our lunch and prepare ourselves for our first day of trekking journey towards Phakding. The trail today is relatively easy. Passing through some remote villages, we will finally reach our first destination, Phakding.

After spending a night at Phakding, on the second day, we will embark on a journey towards Namche Bazaar. Starting at 2610m, we will head towards a higher altitude on a relatively difficult route. Throughout the route, we will cross the Dudh Koshi River 5 times through suspension bridges. As we walk, we will see many remote villages and a few viewpoints along the way.

Prior to reaching Jorsale, we will enter the Sagarmatha National Park, where we are requested to present the entry permit. After entering the national park area, we will continue up towards a steep climb and increasing altitude. We will finally reach Namche bazaar after walking for another hour or two. At Namche, we will be greeted by a bustling market town and friendly locals.

Today, we will spend an entire day acclimating before heading toward the higher altitude. To get used to the thin air, we will explore the Namche Bazaar and nearby remote villages nested in Khamnung Valley. After spending a few hours around Namche Bazaar, we will embark on a short hike to Everest View Hotel. From here, we will witness a breathtaking view of the majestic Mount Everest and the surrounding landscapes.

After enjoying lunch in the serene surroundings, we will get back to the town slowly by taking the same route. Upon arriving at the town, we will visit some monasteries and spend the rest of the day shopping for souvenirs and local handicraft items. We will spend another night at the same lodge.

The next morning, we will wake up early and start following the trail heading to Dole. Today’s journey begins with a climb out of Namche, heading towards Dudh Koshi River valley. Along the way, we will come across multiple vendors and a dense pine forest covered with rhododendron fields to arrive at the village of Mong. Here, we will take our first halt of the day and enjoy lunch at one of the tea houses.

This short break offers some of the best views of Lhotse, Ama Dablam, and other mountains. The trail after lunch is a bit tricky, with continuous climbing, which might be stressful. After a few hours of challenges, we will finally reach the village of Dole, preached at 4038m. Stopping here for the night, we will enjoy the views of towering hills, deep gorges, and green terrain.

After spending a restful night at Dole, the next morning we journey towards Machhermo, post breakfast. We will begin on an easy, plain walking path that slowly ascends the hill. As the climbing continues, we will cross the juniper forest and also see beautiful summer settlements.

While taking a strenuous climb, we will be treated with a glimpse of Cho Oyu and other peaks like Kantega and Tamserku. In the evening, we will arrive at Machhermo and spend the rest of the day and night exploring this beautiful village.

The trail from Machhermo to Gokyo is a bit long and tiring, so we will head out early after having a quick breakfast in the morning. As we step out of Machhermo village, a long uphill climb greets us. With every step, the climb continues to get higher; the oxygen level continues to decrease, making it a bit challenging to breathe.

Along the way, we cross razing yak fields and come across the memorials made in honor of the ones who lost their lives in landslides. The famous Ngozumpa glacier, which we pass before reaching Gokyo Valley, can also be seen. Upon reaching the valley, we will explore the village and visit the nearby Gokyo lake. After a tiring day, we spent the night at one of the tea houses.

A final hike from Gokyo Valley takes you to the summit of the trek, Gokyo Ri. Leaving early in the morning after breakfast, the trailhead starts at the west side of Ngazumpa and continues upwards along a rough path. After all the hard work, the summit comes into sight from where mesmerizing views of the rolling hills and towering peaks can be enjoyed.

After taking a few pictures and spending time taking in the serene beauty of nature, we will head back to Dole following the same route we climbed through. The trek is completely downhill with some switchbacks, which makes it easier to cover the distance faster. After walking for around 12 kilometers beside the shimmering mountains, the trail ends at the beautiful village of Dole.

From the village of Dole, our next stop when returning is the Namche Bazzar. We will trek through a bit of highs and lows, passing several remote villages and dense forests of pine and rhodondens fields. Old Tibetan monasteries and ancient Chortens can be seen along the way, where we will take short breaks and immerse ourselves in the local culture. Finally, we reach Namche and will get some rest at the teahouse.

The last day of hiking is from Namche Bazaar to Lukla. Walking along the Dudh Koshi River, we will descend the steep hills and cross Hillary’s Suspension Bridge to reach Lukla. At Lukla, we will freshen up and get some rest at the lodge, along with the farewell dinner. This is going to be our final stop on the route before returning back to Kathmandu.

On the final day of the trek, we will leave Lukla and take a flight back to Kathmandu. After this 30-minute flight, we will land at TIA and get back to the hotel. To spend the day, you can either rest or go shopping on the streets of Kathmandu. Finally, we will say goodbyes and end our 10-day journey towards Gokyo Valley. Wish you a safe journey.