Gokyo Valley trek 14 days is a lifetime adventure in Nepal. Witness stunning mountain vistas, spend nights in lovely Sherpa villages, and explore the superb Gokyo Lakes
The Gokyo Valley is located in the Khumbu region. Trekking here offers spectacular views of Mount Everest and a very adventurous experience. Walking through the lush rhododendron foothills of the Sagarmatha National Park, you will explore Phakding (2,610 m/8,563 ft) and Namche Bazaar (3,440 m/11,290 ft).
These two are famous and beautiful Sherpa villages. Namche Bazaar onwards, the trail deviates from the mainstream EBC route and continues to the scenic Gokyo Valley. You will be following an offbeat terrain. Compared to the Everest Base Camp trek, only 35% of trekkers travel to Gokyo Valley.
It makes the Gokyo Valley trek route less crowded and pristine. So, ideal for anyone looking for a tranquil journey. The Gokyo Valley trek is popularly known as the Gokyo Lakes trek. There are 19 stunning Gokyo Lakes in the Gokyo Valley, ranging from 4,700 meters to 5,000 meters.
Among them, six are considered the main lakes. You are most likely to hike up to the fifth Gokyo Lake, which is located near Mt. Cho Oyu Base Camp. Similarly, Gokyo Ri (5,400 m/17,814 ft) is another major highlight of the Gokyo Valley trek 14 days and also the highest point of your voyage.
It is a viewpoint that offers a jaw-dropping panorama of Everest and many other mountains. The mountain views and landscapes on the Gokyo Valley trek route are exceptional. Lush hills, rhododendron forests, picturesque villages, rivers, and streams are surrounded by snow-capped tall mountains.
Once you are above the treeline, the landscape gets rustic and barren. Mountains such as Thamserku, Ama Dablam, Lhotse, Everest, Nuptse, Makalu, Cho Oyu, Island Peak, Cholatse, and many more are seen on this trek. Moreover, you will also get to see Ngozumpa Glacier, the biggest glacier in Nepal. The final stretch of the trek goes via the Ngozumpa glacier moraine before arriving at the Gokyo Village.
Itinerary
Day 1: Welcome to Kathmandu and transfer to the hotel
This will be your arrival and preparation day in Kathmandu, Nepal, for the Gokyo Valley trek. Our team will pick you up from the international airport timely and escort you to the hotel. Rest for a bit, and later, meet us for a trek briefing. After that, buy any last-minute trekking gear and pack your duffle bags.
Day 2: Fly from Kathmandu/Ramechhap to Lukla airport and trek to Phakding (2,610 m/8,563 ft)
Today, fly to Lukla early in the morning. The flight will be quite scenic. Upon landing at Lukla, you will meet with the porters and begin trekking. From Lukla, you will descend for a couple of hours through lush forests and small settlements to Phakding village. The trail follows the Dudh Koshi river and crosses it several times on the way.
Day 3: Day 03: Trek from Phakding to Namche Bazaar
Leaving Phakding village, continue trekking through forests of rhododendron and magnolia. Cross many suspension bridges on the way, including the long Hillary Suspension Bridge. Register the permits in Monjo. From here, the trail is steep to Namche Bazaar.
Day 4: Acclimatization day: hike to Hotel Everest View
Namche Bazaar is the tourist hub of the Khumbu region. You will spend an acclimatization day here. Hike to the Hotel Everest View early in the morning and spend the remaining day in Namche Bazaar resting.The hike offers stunning mountain views of Everest, Thamserku, Ama Dablam, Lhotse, and Nuptse. In Namche Bazaar, you will visit the Everest Photo Gallery and Sherpa Culture Museum.
Day 5: Trek from Namche Bazaar to Dole
From Namche Bazaar, follow a less traveled route to Dole village. You can see beautiful views of Mt. Everest, Mt. Ama Dablam, and Mt. Thamserku during trekking. The trail goes through rhododendron forests. Pass by small villages, watching the daily life of the locals.
Day 6: Trek from Dole to Machhermo
While trekking from Dole to Machhermo, you will walk on rugged tracks. There are many shrines and prayer flags along the way. You can see wonderful views of Mt. Cho Oyu, Mt. Thamserku, and Kangtega Peak on the way. The trail goes via Lapahram and Luja settlements before reaching Machhermo.
Day 7: Trek from Machhermo to Gokyo village
Walk uphill from Machhermo to Gokyo Village. In an hour of walking, reach Phanga, a landslide area. The trail then crosses a suspension bridge and gradually ascends to Longpongo Lake (4,690 m). Further, trek through the Ngozumpa Glacier moraine and pass by the first and second Gokyo Lakes. The Gokyo Village is located near the third Gokyo Lake.
Day 8: Acclimatization day- hike to Gokyo Ri
Spend one more day in Gokyo village. Hike to Gokyo Ri before the sunrises to witness breathtaking scenery. The mountain views of Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, Cho Oyu, Island Peak, etc, are jaw-dropping from Gokyo Ri. You can also hike to the isolated fourth and fifth Gokyo Lakes.
Day 9: Trek from Gokyo village to Phortse village
Begin the day with a warm breakfast. After that, start trekking from Gokyo village and follow the same route back to Dole. You will trek past Machhermo on the way and a few other small settlements. From Dole, trek to Phortse village via lush forests.
Day 10: Trek from Phortse village to Namche Bazaar
Leaving Phortse, gradually descend to Sansa. From here, you have two routes that lead to Namche Bazaar. One of them goes via the ancient Khumjung monastery. You can choose the path as you wish. Spend the evening in Namche Bazaar.
Day 11: Trek from Namche Bazaar to Lukla
As you start descending from Namche Bazaar, you can see lush vegetation around you. The trail steeply descends for the first few hours. You will reach Monjo and continue to Phakding. From here, it is an uphill walk along the Dudh Koshi river to Lukla.
Day 12: Morning flight to Manthali and drive back to Kathmandu.
Fly back to Kathmandu early in the morning. In the spring and autumn seasons, you will land at Ramechhap Airport and drive to Kathmandu. The guide will drop you at the hotel comfortably. The evening is free to rest and enjoy as you wish.
Day 13: Free day in Kathmandu
Today is your last day in Kathmandu. The entire day is free. You can visit tourist sites and go window shopping. Spend the day as you desire. We can arrange a guided sightseeing tour at a reasonable cost if you want.
Day 14: Departure to your country
The trek has ended. You will fly back to your home on this day. Our team will drop you at the international airport.