Gokyo ri trek is one of the admired trekking to Gokyo lakes situated in the home of tallest mountain on earth, Mount Everest.
LISTEN GOKYO RI TREK CONTENT
Gokyo ri trek also famous as Gokyo valley trek or Gokyo lake trek is a short & relatively low altitude trek in Everest region.
View of Mount Everest from the top of Gokyo ri is better than from Kalapatthar summit, during Everest base camp trek. Gokyo ri at an altitude of 5360 meters or 17581 feet is best view point for Mount Everest. Gokyo ri trek is a part of “Everest base camp trek via Gokyo lakes and cho la pass” as well as “Everest three high pass trekking”.
This Everest Gokyo trekking package follows short Gokyo lakes trek itinerary. 6 different Gokyo lakes in cascade pattern is the major attraction of Gokyo lakes trek.
What comes after famous Everest base camp? That is none other than Everest Gokyo lake trek. Valley of Gokyo is full of Rhododendron in spring and this jungle is conserved by Sagarmatha National park. Gokyo Lake at 15580 feet or 4750 meter altitude is the mirror of infinite mountain range. That is why Gokyo lakes of Nepal are world admired trekking destination in Nepal. Inhabited by mountaineer Sherpa, Rai and Tamang – Gokyo valley trek itinerary takes from Lukla to the top of Gokyo ri with cultural diversity & traditional composition of Temple, monastery and 1000s of prayer wheels. Mount Everest and Gokyo lakes trek in Nepal is overwhelming Everest trek.

GOKYO Ri LAKE TREKKING VS EVEREST BASE CAMP
Gokyo ri trekking is a best trekking view point for Mount Everest. That is why this short and famous trekking of Everest region is often compared with Everest base camp itself. The accommodation, food, level of difficulty, altitude and scenery of Everest base camp is compared with Gokyo ri trekking.
Gokyo lakes are as famous as Everest base camp.
1. PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS/ Gokyo Ri trek Difficulty
In comparison of Everest Base camp trek, the Gokyo Lake Trek is an easier trek. Trek with less fitness level for altitude adjustment with insights f most of Everest, Gokyo ri trek is the best. You will have enough time to go slow, but still you should be relatively fit and healthy in order to make the most of the trek. Most of the trek means to cover all the highlights of Gokyo ri trekking. We recommend only those who are comfortable and prepared to walk 6-8 hours a day embark on this trek.
The highlight and toughest part of this trek will require you to climb to an altitude of 4000-5000m, about 500m less than the highest point of 5500m for Everest Base Camp, where you will be at one of the best vantage points to view Mount Everest, Gokyo Lake, Ngozumpa glacier and the many other 8000+ mountains in the area. The view is spectacular and not to be missed!
Gokyo lake Trekking can be done in a recommended 11 days in comparison to Everest Base Camp Trekking where a minimum of 12 days is recommended to acclimatize to the high altitudes.
2. SCENARY
Gokyo Lake is well known among trekkers as one of the few trails that feature glacial lakes! There are 6 lakes at Gokyo Valley, each with pristine clear water, and all of them interconnected to each other. They are vital the livelihood of the Sherpa people who live in the mountains, as well as the surrounding wildlife. The view of lakes and mountains provides a lush backdrop for trekking. Apart from the Gokyo lakes there are many other lakes in nearby glaciers of Everest region by Gokyo valley trek.
Apart from lakes, Gokyo Ri provides one of the best vantage points to see Mount Everest. It is a controversial topic on whether Kala Pattar or Gokyo has the best view! Although Kala Pattar is closer to Everest and provides a close-up of the mountain, Gokyo is in many ways more scenic because you are able to take in the surrounding Himalayan ranges, lakes, glaciers and the village in the distance below!
For this reason, many trekkers often will make Gokyo a stop in their EBC treks, adding a few more days to cross over Cho-La Pass to see the spectacular beauty of the glacial lakes in Gokyo Ri. Gokyo is also a well-trodden destination in the 3 Passes Trek.
You might love to read a story by our guide on a trip to Gokyo Chola pass trekking. Story and some informative link are listed below. These links will definitely help you for your Nepal Travels.
- Story of EBC chola pass Gokyo ri trek by out guide
- Nepal visa information
- Everything you need to know for successful trekking
- Trekking equipment list
- Comparative analysis of Everest Annapurna & Manalsu Trek
Outline itinerary of Everest Gokyo ri Lake trek in Detail
- Day 1 – Fly to Lukla and trek to Phakding (flight-30 minutes / Trek-3hours)
- Day 2 – Trek to Namche (trek duration – 8 hours)
- Day 3 – Rest and acclimatization at Namche (hike duration 3 hours)
- Day 4 – Trek to Dole at altitude at 3200 meters
- Day 5 – Trek to Machhermo at height of 3440 meters
- Day 6 – Trek to Gokyo Lakes
- Day 7 – Day trip to 5th lake and trek to choyu base camp, overnight at Gokyo village
- Day 8 – Climb gokyo ri and trek to Machermo
- Day 9 – Trek to Namche
- Day 10 – Trek back to Lukla
- Day 11 – Fly Back to Kathmandu
Download Detail Itinerary of Gokyo Ri Trek
Cost of Gokyo Ri Trek – Nepalgram Adventure
S.No. | Luxury | All Incl | Service | |
1 | Cost (in USD $) Details | 1675 | 1105 | 875 |
2 | Licensed Guide | √ | √ | √ |
3 | Accommodation during trek | Standard | Private | Shared |
4 | Transportation to trek start point | Private | Shared | Shared |
5 | Shower | √ | √ | √ |
6 | Airport/bus terminal Shuttle service | Private | Private | × |
7 | Hotel at KTM/Pokhara | 5 Star | Standard | × |
8 | Food on trek(BLD) | Unlimited Meal | 3 Meal | × |
9 | Desert | From Menu | Fresh Fruit | × |
10 | Soft drink | unlimited | 1 | × |
11 | Porter | Private | Shared | × |
12 | Company Cap & T-shirt | √ | √ | × |
13 | Dawn Jacket & Sleeping – bag to be returned | √ | √ | × |
14 | Hard drink | Local Brand | × | × |
15 | Warm up hike | √ | × | × |
16 | Farewell party/dinner | √ | × | × |
17 | Buffer day for trek | √ | × | × |
18 | Food in the city | × | × | × |
Note – Minimum people in group must be 02 so as to apply above price range.
Daily Activity of Everest Gokyo ri Lake trek in Detail
• Altitude – 2610 meters
• Special – Scenic view during the flight and trek
• Time – 30 minutes flight and 3 hours trek
• Activity – Walking mostly downhill by the side of the dudh koshi river
Phakding is at 2600meters and the height of lukla is 2800meters, so you can guess the trail is mostly downhill. The trek by the side of the dudhkoshi river is beautiful and easy. Today is a warm up hike of Gokyo ri trek.
• Altitude – 3440 meters
• Special – View of Everest
• Time – 8 hours
• Activity – Walking along the river and crossing the suspension bridges
From Phakding to namche the trek goes along the river and cross the suspension bridges several times. The interesting part of 2nd days Gokyo trek is that, we cross the same river for 5 times and after the last bridge it will be time to see Everest. From 2 hours away from Namche you will be able to Mt Everest on your 2nd day of trek to Gokyo ri trek itself.
• Altitude – 3880 meters
• Special – Sherpa museum and Everest view Hotel
• Time – 3 hours
• Activity – short hike
Namche is a 3440 meters above the sea level, so getting AMS while trekking in this height might be an issued for trekkers. Considering this situation we do a rest day at Namche. Apart from Acclimatization hike, this rest option will make trekkers refreshed and gives ample of time to adjust with altitude and cold of Everest. Activity that we do in this day will add more interesting facts on Gokyo Lake trek. Activities to do in Rest or acclimatization day: -Visit Sherpa Museum or Sagarmatha national park museum -Hike uphill to gain height and view the entire range of Everest and Mt Everest herself from Everest view hotel at 3880 meter -Visit Syagboche airport (airstrip on the highest altitude of world) -Optional or instantaneous trek to khumjung village and visit khumjung monastery to see scalp of Yeti.
• Altitude – 3200 meters
• Special – View of Mt. Kangtega, Mt. Thamsherku and river valley
• Time – 5/6 hours
• Activity – Trekking through the jungle
Trek till Mong village is gradual uphill but after that the trek is easy. We will walk through the jungle and end at bushes. This place of Everest Dole is at near to no tree line zone. View of Mt. Thamsherku, Mt. Kangtega and the river valley is outstanding.
• Altitude – 3440 meters
• Special – Pachermo peak base camp and Everest view point
• Time – 4 hours
• Activity –Trekking
In high altitude it is not recommended to change height more than 500 meters a day for the reason of AMS. Among HACE and HAPE either of them might attack and takes one’s life easily from altitude sickness. So it is highly recommended to follow the itinerary. Duration of walk from Dole to Machhermo is 4 hours but there are hikes on the ridge to see Everest. In the remaining time our guide will take you to Pachermo peak base camp or Everest view point above Machhermo village.
• Altitude – 4800 meters
• Special – Gokyo valley and gokyo lakes
• Time – 7 hours
• Activity – Trekking
Trek duration to Gokyo lake from Machhermo is 7 hours. The trek passes through a village of Everest region by the side of the river. Trekking to Gokyo valley is beautiful today. The contrast of Mountains and the reflection of those White Mountains on blue/green water of glacial lake is mesmerizing. We pass by 1st gokyo lakes and then the 2nd gokyo lakes. By the time we get to 3rd lake of Gokyo valley that is where we will stay overnight, called Gokyo village. By this time we will already see Gokyo ri trail. Among 6 lakes of Gokyo valley 3rd lake (which we sleep by the village) is the largest and beautiful lake.
• Altitude – 4900 meters
• Special – View of Everest and the surrounding mountains
• Time – 6 hours
• Activity – Trekking
To get to choyu base camp we need to walk 6 hours and we will trek by 4th lake of Gokyo along with 5th and finally to the 6th lake of Gokyo. Choyu base camp has great view of Everest and the surrounding mountains. You will love the peace and silence of 5th lake area in Gokyo ri trek. The trek to choyu base camp is too much isolated and it is a pristine peace we can encounter in the Himalaya of Everest.
• Altitude – 5360/3440 meters
• Special – Gokyo ri and mountains
• Time – 8/9 hours
• Activity – Trekking
In the morning we climb Gokyo ri and get the brilliant view of hundreds of mountains, glacier and the Everest. Everest from the top is Gokyo ri is far in distance but it is clear than the view of Everest from the top of Kalapatthar. Get to the top of Gokyo ri from Gokyo valley village. People go to the top of Gokyo ri for sunrise as well as sunset. Both of them are nice. Gokyo lake altitude is 4800 meters above the sea level, whereas Gokyo ri altitude takes you all the way up to 5360 meters above the sea level. Trekking down from Gokyo ri to Gokyo village is 1 hours downhill. The view of Gokyo village, lakes, glacier and the entire mountains - all around your eyesight are awesome than you can imagine.
• Altitude – 3880 meters
• Special – Scenic view, mountains and greenery
• Time – 8 hours
• Activity – Trekking back following the same trail
Trekking back to Namche is on the same trail with all the memories from Gokyo lakes, cho you base camp and Gokyo ri. Trek duration from Machhermo to Namche is about 8 hours. We will have lunch at Phunkitanga in general.
• Altitude – 2860 meters
• Special – mountains and greenery
• Time – 9 hours
• Activity – Trekking
Today we cover 1st and 2nd days of trekking trail in a day so the walking duration back to lukla is 9 hours – it is a final get back to civilization.
• Altitude – 1350 meters
• Special – Scenic view from plane
• Time – 30 minutes flight
• Activity – Flying in Plane
A short flight in a small plane from Lukla to Kathmandu is nice. If you sit on the right side of the plane while flying from Lukla to Kathmandu, you will get Mountain View flight.