Everest Base Camp via Gokyo Lake trek takes you through the isolated yet enthralling Khumbu region, offering you a glance into nature’s most well-kept secrets including Gokyo Lakes, Cho La Pass, Gokyo Ri Viewpoint, and Khumbu Icefall. This iconic route offers a quieter alternative to the traditional Everest Base Camp route, with views of some of the world’s highest mountains like Everest, Pumori, Lhotse, Cho Oyu, and Nuptse.
Get ready to explore this route to Everest Base Camp via Gokyo Lake and Cho La Pass, offering a gateway to the majestic Mount Everest Base Camp. As you make this captivating journey through the heart of the Everest region, starting from Lukla, you will be amazed by the progressing scenes of the vibrant mountain town of Namche Bazaar.
Everest Base Camp Trek via Gokyo Lake highlights
- Scenic flight from Kathmandu to Lukla with stunning views of the Himalayan range
- The beauty of the turquoise glacial Gokyo Lakes surrounded by towering mountains
- Crossing the Cho La Pass (5,420m), the highest altitude pass with views of Cho Oyu and others.
- Gokyo Ri (5, 357m) offers a stunning 360-degree view of Mt. Everest and surrounding peaks.
- Witness the foot of the divine Mount Everest and the EBC (5,364m).
- Explore the traditional Sherpa villages like Namche Bazaar.
- Visit Sagarmatha National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site famous for its diverse flora and fauna
Why make the Everest Base Camp Trek with Asian Expedition?
- Easy booking system
- Friendly and expert guides with extensive knowledge of the challenging terrains, and local conditions
- 24/7 communication via phone or social media (Email, WhatsApp, Facebook, Zoom)
- Easy payment system
- Handles logistics like flights, accommodations, meals, and transportation
- Safety measures like first aid kits and oximeters in case of emergencies
- Training regimens for trekkers as a part of the pre-trip preparation advice
Everest Base Camp via Gokyo Lakes Itinerary
Trek to the Everest Base Camp is a huge achievement and adventure on its own. Why not make it even more adventurous and fun by skipping the classic Everest Base Camp trails and following a different route? Yes, the Everest Base Camp via Gokyo Lakes is a challenging and circular alternative to the normal Everest route so you do not need to return through the same path.
Since you’re skipping the usual route on this trek, it will lead you through a quiet and serene trail that will allow you fully to enjoy nature unhindered. Let’s dive deeper into this unreal 15-day trek that will give you the memory for life.
Day 1
The first day starts with a 40-minute flight from Kathmandu to Lukla. From there, our trek starts to Phakding (2,650m) which takes about approximately 3 hours.
Day 2
From Phakding, a nearly 5-7 hours trek starts at Namche Bazar, depending on how fast you walk. As you elevate slowly from 2,610 meters to 3,440 meters, you’ll get glimpses of various eight thousanders if the weather favours.
Day 3
Because you’ve ascended a remarkable height, your body needs to acclimatize to what’s coming up. So, this day is purely dedicated to staying at Namche Bazaar so you can minimize the risk of altitude sickness as you ascend further into the mountains.
On this day, you can explore nearby villages like Khumjung and Khunde or hike to viewpoints like the Edmund Hillary Memorial. For a deeper knowledge of the Sherpa history, visit the Sherpa Culture Museum and local monasteries.
Day 4
The classic Everest Base Camp route starts from Namche Bazaar to Syangboche. However, our trek route diverges and instead of Syangboche, we trek towards a small town – Dole for about 5 hours where we will stay overnight.
This tiny yet picturesque village sits at an altitude of 4,200 meters from where you can get glimpses of mountains like Thamserku and Kongde Ri but before that, the trails will take you through lush green forests. Dole Village also lets you explore the traditional Sherpa life.
Day 5
This day, you will leave Dole and head towards Machhermo. Thankfully, the trails are quite gentle and you can enjoy the view of the majestic Cho Oyu, the sixth-highest mountain in the world.
This tiny pasture and summer village for Sherpas offers insights into the traditional lifestyle during the summer. At a height of 4,470 meters, this village serves as a perfect place to acclimatize before ascending higher.
Day 6
After leaving Machhermo, your journey starts towards Gokyo Lake. There are a total of five lakes that stay partially frozen throughout the year, even in March or April. These lakes are also home to the golden Brahminy ducks which add extra beauty to this serene place.
As you head up the Gokyo Valley, you’ll come across a village near Gokyo Ri – one of the best viewpoints of this region. In case you want to capture the best views, go there in the early morning to catch the dawn.
Day 7
As you move higher, it is extremely important to acclimatize to let your body cope with the sudden altitude. Therefore, we have chosen this day to be the acclimatization day where you can rest or explore the peaceful valley.
Also, the breathtaking views of Mt. Everest, Lhotse, Cho Oyu, Makalu, and other giants, and the stunning turquoise glacial lakes below are something you would not want to miss.
Day 8
You have to walk over 3.7 kilometers to reach Thangnak on this day. Prepare yourself as the paths are rocky and uneven and there are lots of ascends and descends for you to cover.
Enjoying the views of glacial lakes and rivers along the way, you will pass through the Ngozumoa Glacier and several yak pastures and eventually arrive at Thangnak to stay for the night.
Day 9
Early this morning, you will leave Thangnak and make a trek towards Cho La Pass. This is the path that connects the Gokyo region with the Everest Base Camp route. Prepare yourself for icy or slippery paths because a certain portion of the lake demands you to walk on the glacier itself. Now that is something adventurous.
Once you reach Cho La Pass, you will have acquired more than 2000 feet in elevation. After that, you will go downhill to reach Dzongla which is a bit easier. Enjoy the mesmerizing view of Mt. Cholatse on the way.
Day 10
This day’s journey is relatively easy as you leave Dzongla for Lobuche, rejoining with the main route of the Everest Base Camp. For a while, the Khumbu Glacier accompanies us and then the trails take us through a memorial constructed in honor of those who lost their lives in the harsh terrain.
Day 11
The eleventh day is going to be one of the most memorable ones of the entire trek because you will set foot on the Everest Base Camp. To reach there, your trek starts from Lobuche to Gorak Shep through the Khumbu Glacier lateral moraine.
Upon reaching Gorak Shep, you will need to deposit your belongings at a lodge and ascend to the Everest Base Camp. If you are not planning to climb Everest, this is the closest you will ever get to the world’s highest peak.
After some time at the Everest Base Camp, we will descend to Gorak Shep to spend the night. Again, you will get a chance to see Mount Everest after you wake up in the morning. Then, you will head to Kala Patthar viewpoint to witness the early sun rays on Everest and nearby mountains.
Day 12
On this day, you will descend from the Kala Patthar (5,555m) back to Gorak Shep in about an hour. From Gorak Shep, the trails lead out of the village and start your descent towards Pheriche. After walking a bit downhill, the path has a steeper section descending the moraine wall of the Khumbu Glacier.
As you walk for almost six hours, you’ll get the stunning views of the Everest. Once you arrive at Pheriche, you will rest and enjoy local food and accommodations.
Day 13
For almost six hours, you will trek from Pheriche to Namche Bazaar, descending from the valley. Initially, the trails drop continuously until you reach Tengboche and then some ascends to the village. After some ups and downs for a couple of hours, you reach Namche Bazar. We advise you to start early to avoid being late in Namche Bazar and enjoy every bit of the journey.
Day 14
This concludes your journey in the Everest region. You will trek from Namche Bazaar to Lukla for almost seven hours. The trek starts with a descent from Namche Bazaar and with some ups and downs over the next several kilometers. You will also cross the scenic Phakding before reaching Lukla.
Despite the elevation loss of nearly 590 meters, you have some uphills to climb. The trail takes along the Dudh Koshi River with stunning views of Mt. Ama Dablam, and Thamserku.
Day 15
On this day, you will fly directly to Kathmandu and the journey will take about 30 minutes unless there is not any change in the weather. There are certain exceptions. If you’re trekking in March, April, May, September, October, or November, there is a high chance you will fly to Manthali and drive from there to Kathmandu.
If the trek happens to be in December, January, February, June, July, and August, you will directly fly from Lukla to Kathmandu.
What to carry during the Everest Base Camp via Gokyo Lakes trek?
Since this is a long and harsh trek, we recommend you take only the basics. You can deposit your extra luggage at the Asian Expedition for free of cost. Note that we will assign a porter for two trekkers. Carry a duffle bag of over sixty liters capacity.
These are the things that you need to pack:
Clothing
Headgear
- Wide-brimmed sun hat
- Warm beanie or wool hat
- Buff or neck gaiter for both sun protection and warmth
Upper Body
- Moisture-wicking t-shirts (both long and short sleeves)
- Thermal base layers (top and bottom)
- Fleece jacket
- Lightweight down jacket
Lower Body
- Hiking pants
- Waterproof pants
- Hiking shorts (for summer)
Hands
- Insulated gloves or mittens
- Water-resistant gloves
Feet
- A pair of comfortable hiking shoes
- Lightweight shoes to wear in camp
- Gaiters
Technical gear and accessories
- A trekking pole with adjustable sections
- Crampons or chained spikes for winters
Personal equipment and safety items
- A first-aid kit with painkillers or required medicines
- Headlamp with batteries
- Whistle
- Biodegradable wet wipes
- Hand sanitizers
Electronic and miscellaneous items
- Power bank for charging devices on the go
- Sleeping gear
- Sleeping bag liner
Bags
This would be a large duffel bag of sixty liters capacity for porters to be able to carry any of the big luggage during the trek. For the daytime, you can carry a thirty-litre backpack with your instant essentials.
Everest Base Camp via Gokyo Lake (Accommodations/ Meals/ Facilities)
Accommodations
You will get comfortable tea houses and lodges along the trek. In Lukla, Phakding, and Manche (3 nights), you get rooms with private bathrooms. Accommodations on the upper trail including Dole, Machhermo, Gokyo, Thangnak, Dzongla, Lobuche, Gorakshep, and Pheriche are in standard rooms.
Most of the rooms are based on twin-sharing arrangements with basic bedding. The lodges have power for charging phones, Wi-Fi connectivity, and hot showers, but these services have a certain amount of fee.
Meals
Our trek package consists of 15 lunches, 14 dinners, and 15 breakfasts, full-board with a main course. Typical local meals include dal bhat (rice and lentils), with possible options of noodles, soups, momos, and Western food.
There will be full-board meals offered, and on the whole, you will get to consume fresh and locally sourced produce. If you happen to be a vegetarian or vegan, let us know beforehand.
Best trek season and weather conditions
Spring (March-May) and autumn (September-November) are considered the perfect time for trekking. The reasons are mild temperatures, clear skies, and the best visibility of the giant mountains. During spring, the day temperatures can get up to 20 degrees Celsius and -5 degrees Celsius at night. Autumn temperatures are slightly higher.
While winter treks are possible, extreme snowfall at high altitudes makes the trek very difficult. Monsoon treks bring heavy rainfall and difficult trail conditions in lower trek regions. At high elevations, temperatures range from 15 degrees Celsius to -20 degrees Celsius at night.
Conclusion
The Everest Base Camp Trek via Gokyo Lakes is a perfect fusion of Nepal’s Himalayan beauty and tranquillity of the Gokyo Valley together with the grandeur of the Everest Base Camp. Get ready to embark on this challenging trek, tougher than the traditional Everest Base Camp Trek as it involves the crossing of Cho La Pass which can get quite steep and icy.