Gokyo Lakes Trek in the Everest region is one of the best trekking destinations for trekkers. The freshwater lake Gokyo is created from the glacial remains flowing down from these mountains. Gokyo Lake is a chain of 6 glacial lakes: Gokyo Cho (Dudh Pokhari), Thonak Cho, Gyazumpa Cho, Tanjung Cho, Ngojumba Cho, and Kyajumba Cho. The Gokyo Lakes Trek distance is 100.4km in 10 days trek. Gokyo Lakes Trek takes you through scenic landscapes, serene lakes, and beautiful settlements with phenomenal views of Everest, Lhotse, Ama Dablam, Pumori, Makalu, Cho Oyu, Thamserku, Ama Dablam, Khumbila, etc. Also, experience the Sherpa culture, their lifestyle, and warm hospitality. Traverse the highest challenging Renjo La Pass (5,360m) which is full of adventure. Ascend Gokyo Ri (5,357m), trek through diverse flora and witness some wild animals in the vicinity of Sagarmatha National Park, visit ancient monasteries, and get mesmerized with the overall scenery of Gokyo Valley during the Gokyo Lakes Trek.
Highlights of the trek
- Varied flora and fauna in the vicinity of Sagarmatha National Park
- Ancient Buddhist Monasteries, Stupas, Sherpa culture, lifestyle, and hospitality
- Nepal’s longest Ngozumpa Glacier
- Serene Gokyo Lake and its chain of six glacial lakes
- Cross the challenging highest Renjo La Pass (5,360m)
- Gokyo Ri (5,357m) hike and get fabulous views of Gokyo Valley, Lakes and snow-capped peaks
- Phenomenal views of Everest, Lhotse, Ama Dablam, Pumori, Makalu, Cho Oyu, Thamserku, Ama Dablam, Khumbila, Kwande, Pumori, and Nuptse from Renjo La and Gokyo Ri
Gokyo Lakes Trek Distance and Duration
The standard Gokyo Lakes Trek duration is 11 days and the total trek distance covers 100.4 km in 10 days.
Gokyo Lakes Trek Distance and Duration in Table
| Day | Trek Destination | Distance | Duration |
| 1 | Lukla to Phakding | 8 kilometers | 3-4 Hrs. |
| 2 | Phakding to Namche | 11 kilometers | 5-6 Hrs. |
| 3 | Namche to Mong La | 8 kilometers | 4 Hrs. |
| 4 | Hike to Everest View Point | 6 kilometers | 3-4 Hrs. |
| 5 | Mong La to Machherma | 9 kilometers | 5-6 Hrs. |
| 6 | Machherma to Gokyo | 7 kilometers | 5-6 Hrs. |
| 7 | Hike to Gokyo Ri (5,357m) | 3.4 kilometers | 3-4 Hrs. |
| 8 | Gokyo Lungdhen via Renjo La | 11 kilometers | 7-8 Hrs. |
| 9 | Lungdhen to Thame to Namche | 18 kilometers | 6-7 Hrs. |
| 10 | Namche to Phakding to Lukla | 19 kilometers | 6-7 Hrs. |
Gokyo Lakes Trek
11 Days
Adventure Treks
USD1,149 per person
Gokyo Lakes Trek Distance Day-to-Day Itinerary
Day 1: Fly to Lukla and Trek to Phakding (2610m) Distance
Drive Hours: 30-45 minutes
Flight hours: 35 minutes
Trek distance: 8km
Walking Hours: 3-4 hours
Attractions:
- Scenic flights from Lukla to Kathmandu with views of snow-covered Himalayan Mountains and beautiful surroundings
- Trek through stone-paved pathways relishing beautiful settlements and surroundings
Drive to Tribhuvan airport in the morning and take a scenic flight to Lukla. An adventurous flight is more pleasing with views of snow-covered Himalayan Mountains and beautiful surroundings. Along with a guide and porters at Lukla commence the trek to Phakding. Trek through stone-paved pathways relishing beautiful settlements and surroundings. Arrive at the first stop of the journey a small riverside and beautiful village of Phakding.
Note: Flight schedule Information
All flights operate from Ramechhap to Lukla and Lukla to Ramechhap in the months of April, May, October, and November due to high air traffic in Kathmandu. First drive to Ramechhap and fly to Lukla and vice-versa.
*Direct flight to Lukla operates from Kathmandu except for the above-mentioned months.
Day 2: Trek from Phakding to Namche (3440m) Distance
Trek distance: 11km
Walking Hours: 5-6 hours
Attractions:
- Pass through scenic Dudh Koshi River
- Walk in the vicinity of Sagarmatha National Park
- Traverse through the amazing and lengthy Hillary suspension bridge
- Vibrant Sherpa capital Namche
Pass through the scenic Dudh Koshi River and enter the vicinity of Sagarmatha National Park. March forward on ascending and descending trails and arrive at Monjo. Show the permits for registration of Sagarmatha National Park and after lunch continue to trek. Traverse through the amazing and lengthy Hillary suspension bridge and pass through forested trails. Ascend uphill as a final stretch to reach the vibrant Sherpa capital of Nepal.
Day 3: Acclimatization day (Hike to Everest View or extended trip to Khumjung) Distance
Trek distance: 6km
Walking Hours: 3-4 hours
Attractions:
- Everest View Hotel Hike
- Get the first glimpse of Mount Everest
- Panoramic views of Lhotse, Nuptse, Thamserku, Kongde Ri, Khumbila, etc.
- Optional hike to Khumjung Monastery
The first acclimatization day is spent hiking to Everest View Hotel. From there, get the first glimpse of Mount Everest. Also, relish the panoramic views of Lhotse, Nuptse, Thamserku, Kongde Ri, Khumbila, etc. There is also an optional or extended hike to Khumjung Monastery. After a short hike, later explore the Sherpa capital Namche. There are several cafes, pubs, souvenir shops, and restaurants. Savor fresh coffee, bakery items, and drinks at pubs. Do not miss the bustling Saturday market if your visit coincides with a Saturday.
Day 4: Trek from Namche to Mong La (4000m) Distance
Trek distance: 8km
Walking Hours: 4 hours
Attractions:
- Beautiful Kyanjuma Village
- Incredible breathtaking vistas of Everest, Lhotse, Ama Dablam, Thamserku, and Kongde Ri
Walk past flat trails relishing the scenery and enter the beautiful Kyanjuma village. Adore the incredible breathtaking vistas of Everest, Lhotse, Ama Dablam, Thamserku, and Kongde Ri. Ascend through the trail and arrive at Mong La.
Day 5: Trek from Mong La to Machherma (4470m)
Trek distance: 9km
Walking Hours: 5-6 hours
Attractions:
- Trek through trails decorated with shrines and prayer flags
- Stunning views of the world’s 6th highest Mount Cho Oyu, Mount Kantega, and Thamserku
- Beautiful landscapes and grazing animals
After breakfast, start the trek and adore the beautiful landscapes and grazing animals. Trek through trails decorated with shrines and prayer flags. Continue to trek to Dole where you witness the stunning views of the world’s 6th highest Mount Cho Oyu, Mount Kantega, and Thamserku. Enjoy the surrounding views, pass the scenic Luja Valley, and reach the charming village of Machherma.
Day 6: Trek from Machherma to Gokyo (4790m) Distance
Trek distance: 7km
Walking Hours: 4 hours
Attractions:
- Crystal-clear water lake of Longpongo Lake
- Nepal’s largest glacier-Ngozumpa Glacier
- Mesmerizing 6 Gokyo Lakes
Start trekking after breakfast and cross Phanga leading to an iron bridge. Cross the bridge and relish the sight of the crystal-clear water lake of Longpongo Lake. Trek further to pass through Nepal’s largest glacier-Ngozumpa Glacier. Adore the beautiful scenery after crossing the glacier’s rugged moraines. Get mesmerized by the stunning views of 6 Gokyo Lakes: Gokyo Cho (Dudh Pokhari), Thonak Cho, Gyazumpa Cho, Tanjung Cho, Ngojumba Cho, and Kyajumba. Gokyo Village is nestled near Dudh Pokhari in the vicinity creating beautiful scenery.
Day 7: Hike to Gokyo Ri (5357m) and 5th Lake Distance
Drive distance: 3.4km
Drive Hours: 3-4 hours
Attractions:
- Hike to Gokyo Ri (5,357m)
- Phenomenal views of Himalayan mountain ranges including Everest, turquoise glacial lakes, and expansive glaciers.
- Enchanting Gokyo Village
The second rest day starts with a hike to Gokyo Ri at an elevation of 5,357m. Ascend slowly relishing the surrounding views. From the top, adore the phenomenal views of Himalayan mountain ranges including Everest, turquoise glacial lakes, and expansive glaciers. Take some pictures and slowly descend. Explore the enchanting Gokyo Village post-lunch.
Day 8: Trek from Gokyo to Lungdhen (4380m) via Renjo La (5360m) Distance
Trek distance: 11km
Walking Hours: 7-8 hours
Attractions:
- Crossing the challenging highest Renjo La Pass (5360m)
- Impressive panoramas of Everest, Cho Oyu, Makalu, Lhotse, etc.
Trek commences with a slow ascend to the highest Renjo La Pass at an elevation of 5,360m. Crossing it is challenging but the views from the top are magical. Get the impressive panoramas of Everest, Cho Oyu, Makalu, Lhotse, etc. Descend slowly from the top and trek further to arrive at Lungdhen.
Day 9: Trek from Lungdhen to Thame to Namche (3440m) Distance
Trek distance: 18km
Walking Hours: 6-7 hours
Attractions:
- Traverse through a zig-zag trail along the riverside
- The old village of Thame that connects the was once traditional pathway for the Tibet-Nepal trade route
- Oldest Thame Monastery
Traverse through a zig-zag trail along the riverside from Lungdhen to arrive at Thame. Have lunch at this old village that was used as a connection for the traditional pathway for the Tibet-Nepal trade. Explore the oldest Thame Monastery. From Thame, the trail is mostly straightforward forward that leads to Namche.
Day 10: Trek from Namche to Phakding to Lukla (2840m)
Drive distance: 19km
Drive Hours: 6-7 hours
Attractions:
- Admire the natural beauty of the surroundings, passing small villages, and crossing numerous bridges
Walk on a descending trail from Namche admiring the natural beauty of the surroundings. Pass small villages while walking on ascending and descending trails, and cross numerous bridges to arrive at Lukla.
Day 11: Fly from Lukla to Kathmandu
Flight hours: 35 minutes
Drive Hours: 30-45 minute
Attractions:
- Scenic flights from Lukla to Kathmandu with views of snow-covered mountains.
Take an early morning scenic flight to Kathmandu. Adore the fabulous views of snow-covered mountains, green hills, and Kathmandu Valley. Transfer to the hotel after reaching the airport.
Note: For flexibility, you may book your own accommodations Hostel to a 5-star Hotel in Kathmandu and you can stay more than one night in Kathmandu before and after the trek at your preferred place.
Best Trekking Agency for Gokyo Trek
Recently got back from an intended trek to the Renjo La Pass which was organized by Harka Gurung at Himalaya Trip.
I must say Harka did a 1st class job in arranging our trek and was very quick to respond to all of our emails (I must have sent him a million emails covering every possible concern imaginable and he patiently replied to all of them addressing my concerns/questions!!).
On the trek we were assigned Jay as our guide and Dil as our porter – two great chaps who were tremendous company during our stay in the Everest region and really ensured our trip went smoothly. Jay was a responsible guide who, when I got some altitude sickness took the wise decision to wait it out for a day to acclimatise. This meant our trip could continue as normal once the symptoms dissipated.
Be warned we saw some trekking agencies taking stupid risks with their clients by going up 800+ meters in a day only to have to come straight back down during the night as both the client and guide got altitude sickness. Thankfully we were blessed with intelligent and caring guide/trekking firm which actually had the best interests of their clients in mind meaning we were kept safe during our visit.
Before we arrived for our trek, there was heavy snow in Nepal which meant the Renjo Pass was covered in 3m meters of snow making it inaccessible. Harka/ Jay were very flexible and adapted our itinerary in order to ensure we still managed to see a great deal and thanks to Harka’s foresight, he asked us to bring crampons and ice axes with us which meant we could summit to the top of Gokyo Ri for absolutely stunning panoramic views of Everest and the top of the world.
In short, I highly recommend Himalaya Trip and the next time I visit Nepal I will be sure to utilize them for my trek.
UK, March 2015
Incredible Renjo La Pass Trek!!!
With a plethora of trekking companies offering services in Kathmandu, sorting through them and deciding on a quality trekking company can be difficult. Luckily for us, Himalaya Trip is already known to one member of our group. With familiarity of the company and knowledge of the quality service they offer, we began our preparation of our trek about 6 months before our planned trek dates of early April 2018. Himalaya Trip is a family business. Our lead guide, Hari, is one of the brothers in the family business. Hari was as friendly as anyone could be. He constantly had a smile on his face, and really demonstrated his problem solving ability when the airline we were flying on would not allow my brother board our KTM bound flight from Hong Kong due to his passport had an expiration date less than 6 months from our travel date. Hari coordinated with Nepal Immigration at KTM as well as the airline service desk, and was able to resolve the issue for us. Kudos to Hari right from the beginning! Through out our 11-day trek, which culminated with our reaching the top of Renjo La Pass at 5360m on day 9, Hari and his crew of one assistant guide and 3 porters made our trek an unforgettable experience. Trekking at high altitude in the Himalayas is a physically demanding endeavor. As such, you are the best judge of whether you are physically capable of doing something like that. That being said, hiring a professional trekking company like Hari and his crew will ensure a successful and memorable experience of a lifetime! I highly recommend Himalaya Trip for your Nepal trekking adventures. In fact, we are heading back to Nepal this December for another trek with Hari and his crew.
USA, April 2018
Amazing Gokyo Trip
We had the pleasure to hike through Gokyo Valley and up to Gokyo Ri with our guide Hari and our porter Bikash, who both not only did a great job but really became our friends along the way. The trek was extremely well planned and we felt very well cared for, with all our needs and wishes immediately catered for. Hari even made it possible to spontaneously adapt our route so that we could cross the Renjo La Pass and hike back through the neighboring valley.
When planning the trip from home, Harka was very helpful and always replied immediately to E-mails. We absolutely recommend this company!
Switzearland, March 2019
Gokyo Ri and Renjo La Pass circuit- excellent company, guide and porter.
My father and I recently went on a 12 day trek with Himalaya Trip. We met Harka the day after we arrived, showing and telling what we would be doing. He had organised the trek whilst we were still in Australia very well, and we were both easily able to understand what the trek would entail. Nauser our guide and Parksh our porter were excellent. Both very friendly and very knowledgeable about the surrounds and trek itself. I am hoping to come back to Nepal for a trek in the next 2 years and would certainly choose this company and the guide and porter we had – Nauser/Parksh. They were fantastic, I would highly recommend.
Australia, May 2019
Review About Gokyo Lake Trek
My partner’s no stranger to the services provided by Himalaya Trip and for good reason. This is his second time trekking with them and my first. The team were a pleasant and adaptable group who ensured we had the best experience possible. Harka, our organiser, did a great job at mapping out our itinerary and keeping us prepared and informed throughout our trip to Gokyo and we extend that thanks to Jay for his assistance before the start of this trek. We commend our lovely guide, Ramesh, whose support and dedication were deeply appreciated especially for a beginner trekker. Our porter, Dill, was a delightful companion, but unfortunately, had fallen slightly ill during the trek. After reaching one of our stops, Ramesh made the journey to retrieve our baggage from where our porter had to stop. We were impressed by the effort he made to do this all after a days trekking and as it was getting dark. Another porter, Depak, was quickly organised. Despite the short notice, he promptly made his way to Namche from Lukla to trek with us and luckily our trip went on.
We were well looked after on this trek. Even as I grew tired and a bit sick, the team remained supportive and their care and encouragement helped me endure. The views were beautiful and unforgettable. The lakes at Gokyo were as stunning as the mountains around us. I felt grateful to have shared this experience with our little family as Ramesh had called us. It was a hard good bye but I’m sure we’ll return.
Australia, Oct 2023Trekking permits for Gokyo Lakes Trek
1. Khumbu Rural Municipality Permit
For Foreigners: NPR 2000 (Approx. USD 20)
For SAARC Nationals: NPR 1000 (Approx. USD 10)
2. Sagarmatha National Park (SNP)
For Foreigners: NPR 3000 (Approx. USD 30)
For SAARC Nationals: NPR 1500 (Approx. USD 15)
3. Trekkers’ Information Management System (TIMS)
For Foreigners: NRS. 2000 (Approx. USD 20)
For SAARC Nationals: NRS. 1000 (Approx. USD 10)
