Gokyo Valley Trek [Sacred Lakes]

Early morning, your guide takes you to Tribhuvan International Airport for the short but scenic flight to Tenzing and Hillary Airport at Lukla (2804m). Upon arrival at the airport, your guide will brief you and introduce your porters before beginning your trek towards Phakding.

After landing we take our time to explore the village while your sherpa crew sorts and loads the trekking equipment. Then we begin the trek by descending towards the river Dudh Koshi where we join the main trail to Namche Bazaar, located just above Chaunrikharka (2713m). The walk is easy and after passing through the small village of Ghat (2550m) it is a short walk to Phakding (2610m).

breakfast – airport transfer – domestic flight – lunch & dinner – mountain lodge

After breakfast we continue trekking along the banks of the Dudh Khosi, crossing this majestic river many times on exciting suspension bridges laden with prayer flags. After entering Sagamartha National Park, the trail climbs steeply with breathtaking views. Namche Bazaar (3441m) known as the Gateway to Everest, is home to many quality restaurants, hotels, lodges, shops, money exchanges, internet cafes and a bakeries. Namche is one of the biggest villages along the whole Everest trail.

breakfast, lunch & dinner – mountain lodge

We spend a day in Namche Bazaar in order to acclimatize and adjust to the thinning of the air. Today we can make a short trek to a museum that celebrates the traditional customs of the Sherpa people. Or we can hike up the Syangboche Airport around Everest View Hotel. From this point, we can see rewarding views of the Himalayas with stunning sunrise and sunset over the panorama of Khumbu peaks.

breakfast, lunch & dinner – mountain lodge

As we continue the trail heading north, we will reach Sanasa, below Khumjung on the west side of the river Dudh Khosi.

After Sanasa, the path crosses the lower slopes of Khumbila (5761m), the mountain that rises above Namche. Sherpas worship this mountain as abode of the patron god of the Khumbu Region. The Sherpa name Khumbu Yul Lha translates as ’God of the Khumbu territory’. On thangkas (cloth paintings) and monastery murals, you will see Khumbu Yul Lha depicted as a white-faced riding a white horse.

As we climb up the side of the ridge and look across the valley, we can pick out the houses of Tengboche on the ridge below Ama Dablam (6856m) and the walled fields of Phortse sprawling across a flat-topped ridge below the snow-dusted peaks of Taboche (6541m) and Cholatse (6443m).

The track contours around the ridge to a knot of teahouses and a stupa clinging to the edge of a small pass at Mong La (3975m). North of Mong La, the trail drops steeply on switchbacks through pine forests with intermittent views towards our village for tonight: Phortse Thenga (3680m).

breakfast, lunch & dinner – mountain lodge

With the peaks rising dramatically above, you may feel a temptation to go charging up the mountain to the snowline. Resists. We are already ascending fast enough. Really.

The morning walk is quite easy. We trek through a dense forest of tall, old pines and moss-covered rhododendrons. The path squeezes past some enormous boulders and crosses a series of rocky cascades, rising past the stone summer houses of herders from Khumjung. From Dole (3950m) we can have good views south towards Khumbila.

After Dole, we have a steep climb ahead of us out of the forest to an increasingly barren hillside, covered in tundra grasses and dotted scrub junipers. When we cross the valley, past the village of Lhabarma (4330m), we pass a chorten. The trail climbs gently past a large chorten to Luza (4340m), tucked into a side valley. Then, the trail continues to climb along the side of the valley, over a series of sandy hummocks. Soon we reach another chorten and fluttering praying flags on the outskirts of Machhermo (4410m). The village is tucked into a wide, flat-bottomed valley below the terminal moraine of the Ngozumpa Glacier.

breakfast, lunch & dinner – mountain lodge

Today we leave the foothills and enter the desolate tundra of the high mountains. We climb steeply up a scrubby slope to a collection of chortens on the hilltop, and follow a ridge. On the way, we will have good views south to Kantega (6685m) and north towards Cho Oyu (8201m), the sixth-highest mountain in the world.

Soon, we’ll arrive at the tiny settlement of Pangka (4390m), squeezed against a mound of sand and rubble at the end of Ngozumpa Glacier.

We climb further up into a rocky cleft on stone steps beside one of the streams that feeds the river Dudh Khosi we saw earlier. This portal releases us onto the lateral moraine of the Ngozumpa Glacier. It is the longest glacier in the Himalaya, which begins 20km north on the slopes of Cho Oyu. Wedged between the mountain wall and this crumbling mound of sand and gravel are six sacred lakes, which reflect the peaks in their calm, mirrored surfaces.

Immediately after we cross the bridge, we pass the first lake, Longponga Tsho (4650m). Ee follow the trail, cross the glacier and soon we reach the second lake, Taboche Tsho (4710m). Rightafter, we roll into the village of Gokyo (4750m) on the shore of the third lake Dudh Pokhari.

breakfast, lunch & dinner – mountain lodge

On the north side of Dudh Pokhari, the third lake, we see Gokyo Ri (5360m). This is an epic vantage point, offering the kind view over Everest that is normally reserved for mountaineers.

Right after the first light, we cross a stream and climb for two hours to a cat’s cradle of prayer flags at the top. From the summit, there are panoramic views of Cho Oyu, Mount Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, Gholatse and Taboche, with the Ngozumpa Glacier cutting across in front like a massive tear in the landscape.

After we have enjoyed our time at the top of Gokyo Ri, we go back to the village of Gokyo.

breakfast, lunch & dinner – mountain lodge

From today, we trek back down again. Going downhill is much faster, which allows us to pass by Machhermo, where we slept a few days earlier, and sleep in Dole (4090m).

breakfast, lunch & dinner – mountain lodge

In stead of retracing our trail further, we trek via Khumjung (3780m). This is the largest village in Khumbu, which sprawls below the peak of Khumbila (5761m). It has a small and atmospheric gompa, reached by a winding path. From the flat area in front of the gompa, there are views east to Ama Dablam and the rocky pyramid of Tramserku, and north to the crags of Khumbila. The swirling clouds make these rocks look like monstrous claws.

From Khumjung, it is only a short walk left downhill. We climb into a forest, through a ravine and junipers and cross the airfield. We zigzag down, pass a huge maniwall at Chhorkung and reach Namche Bazaar.

breakfast, lunch & dinner – mountain lodge

Even though this is the last walking day of the trek, most trekkers find the descent from Namche Bazaar to the river Dudh Khosi the hardest stage of the entire trek. Although the path is all downhill, the unrelenting slope places massive impact on the knees. Once we cross the suspension bridge, the trail runs mostly level to Jorsale and then climbs to Monjo.

From here, the last part of the last day, is an easy run. Once we have reached Lukla (2804m), we reconfirm our flight for the next day.

breakfast, lunch & dinner – mountain lodge

During the scenic mountain flight to Kathmandu, you can enjoy your last glimpse of the mountains. On arrival in Kathmandu, we will bring you back to your hotel.

In the evening, we offer you and your guide a farewell dinner together in a traditional Nepalese restaurant.

breakfast – mountain flight – airport transfer – farewell dinner – hotel

If it’s the final day of your holiday in Nepal, we will bring you back to the international airport. Goodbye friends! We hope that we will meet each other again in the future.

breakfast – airport transfer