Gokyo Valley Trek

Detailed itinerary

• day 01
  Arrival in Kathmandu (1,400m/4,593ft)

  Ground zero of your big Himalayan trek is Kathmandu at 1,400m (4,600 feet). Everything will be taken care of as you land in the country. Our representative will meet you at Tribhuvan International Airport and transfer you to your hotel. Take time to rest and adjust to the time zone. In the evening, we’ll hold a comprehensive pre-trip meeting where we’ll review your trek itinerary, discuss gear requirements, and answer any questions you may have.

  Points of Interest:

  • Thamel district (shopping and restaurants)

  • Durbar Square (if time permits)

  • Local markets and temples

  • Accommodation: 3 Star Hotel
  • Meal: Not included
• day 02
  Fly to Lukla (2,840m/9,334ft) and Trek to Monjo (2,835m/9,301ft)

  A half-hour flight takes you to Lukla, a small tourist town overlooking Everest. Landing at the Tenzing-Hillary Airport officially places you inside the Everest Region, where your Gokyo Valley Trek begins. We’ll start with a three-hour trek downhill to Phakding village and continue to Monjo.

  Note: During peak seasons (March, April, May, October, and November), flights to Lukla operate from Manthali/Ramechhap, requiring a 5-6 hour drive from Kathmandu. We’ll wake up early around 2:30 am and take the ride to Manthali for our Lukla flight.

  Flight: 30 minutes (Kathmandu to Lukla) or 20 minutes (Manthali to Lukla) Trek Distance: 8km (5 miles) Trek Duration: 3-4 hours Difficulty Level: Easy (gentle downhill with some flat sections)

  Points of Interest:

  • Tenzing-Hillary Airport
  • Dudh Koshi River valley
  • Buddhist prayer wheels and mani stones

  • Accommodation: Guesthouse
  • Meal: Breakfast
• day 03
  Trek to Namche Bazaar (3,440m/11,290ft)

  Today features one of the most significant elevation gains of the trek. We’ll climb for six hours through forests and past gorges to reach Namche Bazaar. This small town bustling with tourists is a destination in itself, famous for its vibrant atmosphere, night clubs, and bars. After breakfast, we’ll follow the Dudh Koshi River, crossing several suspension bridges including the famous Hillary Suspension Bridge. At Monjo village, we’ll enter Sagarmatha National Park (UNESCO World Heritage Site) where permits will be checked.

  Trek Distance: 10-12km (6-7.5 miles) Trek Duration: 6 hours Difficulty Level: Moderate to Challenging (significant uphill sections)

  Points of Interest:

  • Hillary Suspension Bridge
  • Sagarmatha National Park entrance
  • First viewpoint of Mt. Everest (weather permitting)
  • Namche Bazaar market

  • Accommodation: Guesthouse
• day 04
  Acclimatization Day in Namche Bazaar (3,440m/11,290ft)

  We’ll rest at Namche for a day for acclimatization purposes. In the middle of the Everest region and at temperatures nearing or below 30°F, this rest day is essential 3. Following the mountaineering principle of “climb high, sleep low,” we’ll take an acclimatization hike to higher elevation while returning to Namche to sleep. This helps your body adapt to the altitude and reduces the risk of altitude sickness. You can spend the day leisurely walking around town, talking to local Sherpas or fellow travelers. If you want to go for last-minute shopping, you’ll find almost everything at the Bazaar.

  Hike Distance: 4km (2.5 miles) round trip Hike Duration: 3-4 hours round trip Difficulty Level: Moderate

  Points of Interest:

  • Everest View Hotel
  • Khumjung village
  • Sherpa Culture Museum
  • Sagarmatha National Park Visitor Center

  • Accommodation: Guesthouse
• day 05
  Trek to Dole (4,038m/13,248ft)

  Dole village is another stop on the Gokyo route. This is a challenging day of hiking through stone stairs carved on the sides of mountains, which are covered with snow and surrounded by forest. After leaving Namche, we’ll follow a relatively flat trail along the hillside with magnificent views of Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse, and Ama Dablam before beginning our ascent to Dole.

  Trek Distance: 10km (6.2 miles) Trek Duration: 5 hours Difficulty Level: Moderate to Challenging

  Points of Interest:

  • Panoramic mountain views
  • Mong La pass
  • Phortse Thanga
  • Alpine forests

  • Accommodation: Guesthouse
• day 06
  Trek to Machherma (4,470m/14,663ft)

  The terrain starts getting more rugged and barren at this elevation. It’s only bare mountains and valleys for four hours until we reach Machherma village. The view from up here is amazing as you will see the Dudh Koshi River Valley below and Himalayan peaks above. As we gain altitude, you’ll notice the landscape becoming increasingly stark and the air thinner.

  Trek Distance: 7km (4.3 miles) Trek Duration: 4 hours Difficulty Level: Moderate to Challenging

  Points of Interest:

  • Dudh Koshi River Valley views
  • Kyajo Ri (6,186m/20,295ft)
  • Machherma village
  • High-altitude terrain

  • Accommodation: Guesthouse
• day 07
  Trek to Gokyo Valley (4,790m/15,715ft)

  We will reach the Gokyo Valley after six hours of trekking. There are mountain streams and lakes to admire as we reach the beautiful valley that is surrounded by the Himalayas. Fatigue may begin to set in at this elevation and distance into your journey, but the amazing view of Mount Everest and the surrounding Himalayan peaks make the effort worthwhile. The trail passes by the first and second Gokyo lakes before reaching the third lake, beside which sits Gokyo village.

  Trek Distance: 8km (5 miles) Trek Duration: 6 hours Difficulty Level: Challenging

  Points of Interest:

  • First, second, and third Gokyo lakes

  • Ngozumpa Glacier (the largest glacier in Nepal)

  • Gokyo village

  • Mountain views including Cho Oyu

  • Accommodation: Guesthouse
• day 08
  Trek to Gokyo Ri (5,357m/17,575ft) & Back to Machherma (4,470m/14,663ft)

  In the Gokyo Valley, we will walk to the base of Gokyo Ri (Gokyo Peak) at 5,357m (17,575 feet). You can reach the summit in approximately three hours. From the top, you will be treated to clear views of Mount Everest, Mount Makalu, Mount Lhotse, and Mount Cho Oyu. The mountain is located just next to the largest glacier in the Himalayas, the Ngozumpa Glacier. After spending time admiring the Himalayan panorama, we will descend and trek back to Machherma for the night.

  Trek Distance: Gokyo to Gokyo Ri: 2km (1.2 miles) round trip | Gokyo to Machherma: 8km (5 miles) Trek Duration: Gokyo to Gokyo Ri: 3 hours round trip | Gokyo to Machherma: 4 hours Difficulty Level: Very Challenging (Gokyo Ri), then Moderate (descent to Machherma)

  Points of Interest:

  • Gokyo Ri summit
  • Panoramic views of four 8,000m peaks
  • Ngozumpa Glacier
  • Gokyo Lakes

  • Accommodation: Guesthouse
• day 09
  Trek to Tengboche (3,860m/12,600ft)

  ou’ll trek for close to six hours to reach Tengboche. As you descend in altitude, you’ll start to feel warmer here. Tengboche is located at the confluence of the Imja River and the Dudh Koshi River, and the largest monastery in the region, the Tengboche monastery, is situated here. The trail descends from Machherma to Phortse Thanga before climbing to Tengboche through beautiful rhododendron forests.

  Trek Distance: 15km (9.3 miles) Trek Duration: 6 hours Difficulty Level: Moderate (long distance with varied terrain)

  Points of Interest:

  • Tengboche Monastery (established in 1916)
  • Spectacular mountain panorama
  • Evening prayer ceremony at the monastery
  • Confluence of Imja and Dudh Koshi rivers

  • Accommodation: Guesthouse
• day 10
  Trek to Namche Bazaar (3,440m/11,290ft)

  Downhill treks such as this one are relatively easier now. We will cross rivers at a few places to return to Namche Bazaar, where we stayed on the fourth and fifth days of our tre. It’s a great place to share your experiences with fellow trekkers and reflect on the exotic views of the Himalayas you’ve witnessed up close. The trail offers beautiful views as you descend through forests and small villages.

  Trek Distance: 9km (5.6 miles) Trek Duration: 4-5 hours Difficulty Level: Easy to Moderate (mostly downhill)

  Points of Interest:

  • Kyangjuma viewpoint
  • Phunki Tenga
  • Suspension bridges
  • Namche Bazaar market

  • Accommodation: Guesthouse
• day 11
  Trek to Lukla (2,840m/9,334ft)

  We are so far down that we actually have to climb up to reach Lukla. But this is the last ascent you’ll need to make as the trekking ends in Lukla. You have completed the trek to and from Gokyo Ri. From Namche, we’ll descend steeply to the Dudh Koshi River and cross the Hillary Suspension Bridge. We’ll follow the river, passing through the checkpoints and entrance gates of Sagarmatha National Park at Monjo, then continue through several small settlements before the final climb to Lukla.

  Trek Distance: 18km (11.2 miles) Trek Duration: 6-7 hours Difficulty Level: Moderate (long distance with varied terrain and final uphill to Lukla)

  Points of Interest:

  • Monjo (checkpoint)
  • Phakding
  • Final views of the Khumbu region
  • Lukla town

  • Accommodation: Guesthouse
• day 12
  Fly to Kathmandu (1,400m/4,593ft)

  You will return to Kathmandu in no time. The city will be quite a change in scenery from the exotic Himalayas you were conquering just days ago. We’ll have an early breakfast and head to the Lukla airport for our return flight. Morning flights from Lukla are often subject to weather conditions, so be prepared for possible delays.

  Note: During peak seasons, flights may operate via Ramechhap/Manthali instead of directly to Kathmandu due to air traffic congestion, requiring a 5-6 hour drive back to Kathmandu.

  Flight Duration: 30 minutes (Lukla to Kathmandu) or 20 minutes (Lukla to Manthali) Drive Duration (if applicable): 5-6 hours (Manthali to Kathmandu)

  Points of Interest:

  • Scenic mountain flight from Lukla
  • Views of terraced fields and villages (during drive if applicable)
  • Kathmandu Valley

  • Accommodation: Hotel
  • Meal: Breakfast
• day 13
  Final Departure.

  We will see you off at the airport. It will be a bittersweet moment as we know it’s hard to leave this wonderful country, but you’ll be departing with rich memories of your adventure 7. Depending on your flight time, you may have some free time for last-minute shopping or relaxation before your transfer to Tribhuvan International Airport.

  Airport Transfer: Scheduled according to your flight time (typically 3 hours before international flights)

  Practical Information:

  • Standard hotel check-out time is 12:00 PM
  • Luggage storage available for those with evening flights
  • Extension options available (Chitwan, Pokhara, Nagarkot)

  • Meal: Breakfast