Gokyo Trek

Trip Info,

Trip name: Gokyo Trek
Duration: 13 Days
Start Point: Lukla
End Point: Lukla
Transportation: By Flight
Accomodation: Hotel, Tea Houses

Introduction

This trek features the unbelievable scenery of the remote Gokyo Valley and its festival of beautiful turquoise lakes, moonscape-like glaciers, and stunning mountain vistas that include Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, and Cho Oyu - four of the eight highest peaks on earth! The 360-degree view from Gokyo Ridge is the best in the Khumbu!

The beginning of this trek is the same as hiking to Everest Base Camp. On the way, we'll stay two nights in the village of Namche Bazaar to acclimatize. Namche is considered the trading center for the Khumbu region, and people walk from as far away as Tibet every Saturday to sell their wares here. This is also the hub onto which each trail converges, so yaks and people compete for space in this amphitheater style city.

After visiting Namche, we'll head up the valley leaving the usual Everest trail and following the rivers run off from the Ngozumpa glacier. After two days we will stop again in the village of Machhermo for another rest day and the chance to hike up Machhermo RI. Our Next stop will be the Gokyo Valley.

Your arrival into this high mountain valley called Gokyo is welcomed by a string of cobalt blue lakes that continue for the 3-hour hike to Gokyo Village, which sits at the foot of Gokyo Ri (18,300 ft) a huge black mound of rock and dirt. The next morning, you're invited to take the 3-hour hike to the summit of this black, rocky mound to witness the 360-degree Himalayan view offered only from this vantage point. The Himalayas stand like giants guarding the border into Tibet. From Gokyo Ri you'll see much more than Mount Everest -- there are magnificent views of many of the other 8000-meter peaks from here as well.

Detail Itinerary,

Day 1: Flight to Lukla and Trek to Phakding.(2610m/8563ft.)
An early morning to Lukla from Kathmandu and trek to Phakding. Approx. walking 3 to 3:30 hours, O/N at guest house. A.P. Plan

Day 2: Phakding - Namche Bazar(3440m/11286ft)
Trek to Namche Bazaar. Approx. walking 5:30 to 6 hours hours, O/N at guest house, AP plan

Day 3: Namche Bazar - Kumjung (3790m)-Namche
Short but important day to go to Khumjung & back to Namche, not rushing for acclimatization. Visit of the Everest National Park' Museum (first viewpoints of Khumjung village. Wonderful view of the prince of the place: the Ama Dablam (that means:the mother who rises). In the afternoon, visit of the Kunde experimental "hospital". 3h walk.

Day 4: Namche- Phortse Tenga (3675m)Today's walk will be not long and it is easy with level trail and some gentler descending. The views of Thamserku and some more of the mountains will make you relax enjoyable for the day. This short walk is done keeping in mind to avoid high altitude risk later. Our stop will be at Phortse Tenga today.Lodge. 3.30 hours walk

Day 5: Phortse Tenga - Dole (4040m)
We start walking through the hillside and later catch the trail off into the trail to Gokyo valley while going up into a rhododendrons forest embellished with nice waterfalls. Our overnight stay will be at Dole, small high mountain pasture village. 4h30 hours walk.

Day 6: Dole - Machermo (4440m)
The trail passes from one village to another, and we progressively discover new mountains, especially Cho Oyu (8143m) making border with Tibet. Camp in a high mountain pasture village: Over night at Machermo. 3 hours' walk. To avoid high altitude risk short walk is precautious.

Day 7: Machermo - Gokyo (4750m)
Our destiny today is to reach up to Gokyo lakes then we will understand that Cho Oyo means "Turquoise lake". We witness 3rd lake on our trail and stop for the night at Gokyo, center of mountains cirque which is considered by some as aesthetically better than Everest one... 4 hours walk.

Day 8: Gokyo Peak (5280m)
Easy way on the south hillside so slowly our acclimatization is going well. It\s about 5 hours walk in total. The view from Gokyo Ri is only one of the many reasons for visiting Gokyo. Relaxing on the lodge, picturesque lake is worth seeing, and for many more.

Day 9 & 10: Explore around Gokyo to Knobby Views, Fifth Lake and Nameless fangs.
Nameless Fangs (5800 m): It's well worth scrambling up to have a close look at these tooth-like towers and the views are fantastic. But one should be cautious to make the climb due to high elevation risk, you have to be fit enough and properly acclimatized. The views of Cho Oyo and Gyanchung is breath taking form this distance, also, extensive view of Everest you'll get anywhere in the Khumbu region.
Ngozumpa (the fifth lake/ 4490 m): it takes 3.30 hours from Gokyo climbing the moraine, the views of Everest from here is more extensive than from Gokyo Ri or Kala Patthar. OR you can choose to go to Knobby View (5553m): Another stunning viewpoint better even than Nameless fangs. To summit is more satisfying. It is most probably the best viewpoint in whole Khumbu. The only route that can be recommended is the spur that begins close to the fifth lake. Initially the ridge is steep but later it soon eases off. There are so called two summits here, one what looked the summit from below is a surprise, the real one is couple of knobs away. Even though, the false summit is also satisfying for most of the trekkers. From the real summit the lakes, glacier, snow and ice everywhere is an alpine scene without climbing any major peaks. Our expert guide will be very supportive to take you to the summit and carefully to take you down as descending is also not easy and it is tricky.

Day 11: Namche Bazar – Phakding

Day 12: Phakding to Lukla

Day 13: Lukla - Kathmandu(1310m)
An early morning, flight to Kathmandu. O/N at hotel. B.B Plan

Cost Includes

1. All the ground transportation by our private car.
2. Meals on full board (Breakfast, lunch and dinner) (Note: A.P Plan) during the trek.
3. All accommodations in lodges/tea houses during the treks.
4. Domestic flight both ways from Kathmandu/ Lukla/ Kathmandu with airport tax.
5. An experienced Government licensed holder guide and porter and their food, drinks, insurance, salary, equipments, transportation, local tax etc.
6. All necessary paper works and national park entry permits & TIMS (Trekkers' Information Management System)
7. All government taxes.

Cost Excludes

1. Lunch and dinner at Kathmandu.
2. Laundry, telephone calls, Bar Bills ( Mineral Water, cold drinks, whisky, beer etc),
3. Emergency evacuation if required, donation, tips and all personal nature expenses.