Everest Gokyo Lake Trek – 13 Days

Welcome to Kathmandu, an ancient city rich in cultural heritages, vibrant and full of diversity in every sense of the word. Our guide will receive you at the gate of Tribhuvan International Airport(TIA) with your name on the board. He/she will brief you about your schedule and information you might need the most while driving towards hotel room. We make sure your are comfortable and leave the rest of the day to yourself to relax.

We start the day by a visiting one of the most revered, ancient and believed to have self-emerged atop green hillock west of Kathmandu, the great stupa of Swayambhunath, a site over 2,500 years old. The pilgrim’s approach to the shrine is through a wooded park up a steep flight of 300 stone steps, lined with stone sculpture of animals and birds, vehicle of gods. Our guide will brief you while exploring the sites.

Afterwards, we drive towards east of Kathmandu valley to one of the important World Heritage Sites “Pashupatinath”, a renowned Hindu temple. The main deity is Lord Shiva, both destroyer and creator of the world according to Hindu belief system. Throughout the year, Shiva is worshipped at Pashupatinath as a lingum(phallus) in his incarnation as the Lord Pashupati. The Bagmati River is lined with many dharmsalas and cremation ghats. There is usually cremation in progress on one of the platforms of the river. The ashes will be scattered in the river, regarded as holy as it flows into the sacred Ganges.

At the end of the day we return back to the hotel and go through pre-briefing about next schedule. Our guide will assist you to prepare your necessary gears as per the need of upcoming trek.

Our early morning flight by Twin Otter aircraft rushes us to Lukla, the most popular as well as notorious mountain airstrip in the world. It was originally conceived by Sir Edmund Hillary’s Himalayan Trust as an runway to transport materials for building schools and hospitals. Lukla is now one of busiest runway in Nepal. On the flight we may witness the magnificent bird eye views of highest mountains peak of the world including Kanchenjunga, Lhotse and Makalu (the world’s 3rd,4th,5th highest respectively). On arrival, we meet our Sherpa guide and we pick up our trail after cup of tea. Surprisingly, the high altitude trek begins by descending to the river at Phakding. Further on and we choose one of several good lodge in wooded area at Chumoa, close to the entrance of the Sagarmatha National Park.

The early start of our hike will allow us to ascend the Namche hill first thing in the morning. At about half-way up the hill, the gap between the woods will allow us to get glimpse Mount Everest for the first time. If the weather is clear at the top, the South-West face will be visible behind the long Lhotse-Nuptse ridge.

Namche is the most prosperous and active hub of Khumbu region. A bazzar is held every Friday and Saturday. The wares on display include meat, grains and vegetables, shoes, hand woven aprons, trekking gears with your choice of cafeteria for coffee, bakeries and also pub to hang out for some drinks. Thamserku (6648 m), Kwangde Ri (6187 m) and Khumbila (5707 m) surround the natural bowl that Namche sits in.

We take the day off to allow our bodies to adjust to the rarefied atmosphere before ascending to higher altitudes. The secret to safe acclimatization is to ‘climb high, sleep low’. So, it is safe for the more energetic amongst us to hike up the hill behind the Namche to the airstrip at Syangbouche to Khunde, Khumjung village, or stroll across to the museum behind the police post. Others may prefer to ‘Chill out’ and visit one of the lodges for a freshly-baked cinnamon roll. Namche is busy and bustling trading place and there is always plenty going on.

Our journey for today heads further north leaving Namche. The trails are wide and plain in most part build by a local native with his own efforts and will. He has been doing that great job with the small fund support from the trekkers who pass the way. To our right view stand a bold Thamserku and Khangtega with beautiful Amadablam in the front. The vantage-point of Mong-La will increase our feel around Himalaya. We descend to the river bank of Phortse Tenga and continue gradual climb up until Dole for the camp.

We ascend the hill over Dole after breakfast, pass Lapharma and the easy plain trails follows to Luza and to Mahcherma. There are local people who migrate to this areas during crops growing seasons with animals and others to run lodges. The place carries fabled tales of mysterious Yeti, which the locals believe to exist. We now have the view of Giant Mount Cho-oyou (8200m).

This morning will be different than rest of the days because we have one extra day to enjoy the beautiful scenario and adjust our body to this elevation. We keep the backpack unpacked and carry our day bag with needed water and energy bar while hiking up to Mahcerma Ri. The idea is ‘climb higher and sleep low’.

Gokyo is the wonderful Sherpa land of sacred Lake, the largest glacier of Nepal and beautiful surrounding mountains. Today is the day to make it to our choice of destination. The trails ahead are gradual up but more plain until Gokyo. It is the third lake, we camp for overnight. If someone wants to push little up to 4th or 5th lake in the afternoon, we could do that as well.

The higher, the better”. It turns out to be absolutely true, when we make it to atop of Gokyo-Ri. This is one of the best vantage to experience the amazing great Himalayas of Khumbu region. We have all giant Mountain on the sight if the weather is clear. We take our moments at the top. Be sure to have your wind proof jacket and pant with hat, it will be mostly windy up there. We descend down to Dole farm land.

The conqueror of mountains, the village ‘Phortse’ holds a mountain climber from each household. We descend down to the river side of Phortse-tenga,cross to the other side and inclined trail leads to the unique climber village. The village is atop of the hill, across the hill from Tengboche and lower to the southern flank of Tawoche.

It is interesting trip today. The ‘up and down’ trails to Tengbouche. We cross phortse village, descend down to the Imja river and climb up to Tengboche in the wild forest. Our past guest were lucky to encounter Red panda. Tengboche stands tall on the other side of the hill from Phortse with the principal monastery of Khumbu region. There is prayer ceremony everyday and one of the biggest festival ‘Mani-Rimdu’ in the November. During the visiting hours we pay a visit inside monastery. Not to forget, the sunset on the wall of Lhotse wall with Mount Everest are the extra spice of Tengboche.

Khumjung and Khunde is termed as twin green valley. Since, the house roofs are all painted green and the village is close to each other. The valley is one of the most populated in Khumbu region. It holds the first School and Hospital of entire Khumbu build by the aid of Sir Edmund Hillary, Himalayan Trust. The mysterious Yeti scalp is in the show case in Khumjung Gompa. We can witness an authentic Sherpa lifestyle while being there.

n the lap of Khumbi-Yulha, we wake up to see the beautiful green valley with Thamserku, Khangtega, Kongde, Amadablam in front of our sight. We have to leave for our day ahead camp by gradual up and mostly down hill via Namche towards Monjo. The starting point of Sagarmatha National Park. Relax with the peaceful nature of Monjo.

Today will be the last day of trek. We leave behind all the beauties of the Himalaya and take only the memories with pictures to finally climb to Lukla. Our camp is located in good location for a good rest and leisure. Tonight, we may have to bid farewell to our support team. This will be the end of their services.

Another chance to experience the domestic flight of Lukla. Please note that the weather of Lukla and Kathmandu can cause delay either fog-bound or wind, be reassured that our staff in Lukla and Kathmandu will be doing everything possible to minimized the inconvenience caused if this happens. Your understanding and patience during the such situation will be greatly appreciated.

Our guide will drive you to Tribhuvan International Airport(TIA). Airport check-in and flight to onward destination. We end our services here.

This itinerary is only a guideline, and is occasionally subject to change to suit local conditions, particularly on this trek where lot of time is spent above 4000m.