Gokyo Valley Trek is a fine alternative to the Everest Base Camp Trek which climbs the valley to the west of Everest to the village of Gokyo and five sacred lakes on the moraine beside the Ngozumpa Glacier. This two week spectacular climb almost as high as the Everest Base Camp Trek offers similarly jaw dropping Everest views, but the trails are less crowded and quieter with traditional Sherpa villages serving local meals to legions of hungry trekkers. The trail follows the Dudhkoshi River to its source – a series of emerald green lakes. Gokyo is a Sherpa village that lies besides the largest of these lakes. From Gokyo we climb to Gokyo Ri (5360m) for a heart stopping view over Everest, Lhotse, Cho Oyu and Makalu, Cholatse and Taboche.
As Everest Base Camp Trek has Kala Patthar at an elevation of 5545m , Gokyo Valley Trek has Gokyo Ri at an elevation of 5360m on the north side of Dudh Pokhari which is an epic vantage point , offering the kind of view over Everest that is normally reserved for balloonists or mountaineers.
In this trek as well, we fly from Kathmandu to Lukla and start our trek onwards to Namche Bazaar (3,440m), the trading center of Khumbu Region. We take a days rest for acclimatization in Namche. From Namche Bazaar, 3 days trek will take us to Gokyo, where we take another day of rest for acclimatization and exploring around. The next day we climb Gokyo Ri (5360m) for the superb views of Cho Oyu, Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, Cholatse and Taboche, with the Ngozumpa Glacier cutting across in front like a massive tear in the landscape. We then walk downhill to Gokyo (4750m).
The Gokyo Valley Trek is specially designed for those who prefer a less crowded trail with only basic lodge facilities and in this trail one will miss out most of the famous monasteries of Khumbu region.
Day 1 Arrival KATHMANDU (1300m/4265ft)
Day 2 Acclimatize KATHMANDU- City Tour
Day 3 Fly to LUKLA (2800m/9187ft); trek to PHAKDING (2610m/8563 ft)- 4 Hrs trek; 200m descent, 50m ascent
Day 4 Trek to NAMCHE (3420m/11221ft) 5-6 hours/1000m ascent, 100m descent-7 Hrs
Day 5 Acclimatize at NAMCHE
Day 6 Trek to PHORTSE THENGA (3680m/12074ft ) -6 hours
Day 7 Trek to MACHHERMO (4410m/14469ft)- 6 hours
Day 8 Trek to GOKYO (4750m/15585ft)- 7 hours
Day 9 Explore Around GOKYO
Day 10 Trek to GOKYO RI (5360m/17586ft) & Back to GOKYO -6 hours
Day 11 Trek to DOLE (4090m/13419ft)- 6 hours
Day 12 Trek to NAMCHE via KHUMJUNG- 5 hours
Day 13 Trek to LUKLA – 6 hours
Day 14 Fly back KATHMANDU
Day 15 Fly back HOME or extend your HOLIDAYS
