Everest Gokyo Lakes Trek
€2000
(One tour per person)
The Epic Gokyo Lakes Trek
Join us on one of the most epic trekking routes in the world – the 18-day Gokyo Lakes trek in the Everest region of Nepal. This picturesque adventure offers stunning views of the Himalayan mountains, including four of the world’s highest peaks: Mount Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, and Cho Oyu.
The highlight of the trek is the series of turquoise blue Gokyo Lakes, situated at an altitude of over 4,700 meters. This challenging yet rewarding trek also provides a unique cultural experience, allowing you to interact with the local Sherpa community and explore their way of life.
About the Gokyo Lakes Trek
The Gokyo Lakes trek is an epic Himalayan trekking experience that takes you through the stunning Everest region of Nepal, offering breathtaking views of the world’s highest peaks and the turquoise blue Gokyo Lakes. The trek begins with a scenic flight to Lukla, followed by a trek to Namche Bazaar, the gateway to the Khumbu region.
You’ll then trek to the beautiful Gokyo Valley, passing through picturesque Sherpa villages and crossing suspension bridges over rushing rivers. You’ll spend several days exploring the Gokyo Lakes, including a hike up Gokyo Ri for stunning panoramic views. The trek also includes a visit to the iconic Everest Base Camp and the Khumbu Icefall.
Highlights of the Trek
- The Gokyo Lakes: The series of turquoise blue lakes located at an altitude of over 4,700 meters is the main highlight of the trek, offering a serene atmosphere amidst the mountains.
- Views of the Himalayas: The trek offers breathtaking views of some of the world’s highest peaks, including Mount Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, and Cho Oyu.
- Unique Sherpa Culture: You’ll have the opportunity to experience the unique Sherpa culture and way of life, interacting with friendly locals and learning about their traditions, beliefs, and practices.
- Everest Base Camp: The trek includes a visit to the iconic Everest Base Camp, a dream destination for many trekkers.
- Gokyo Ri Hike: The hike up Gokyo Ri offers stunning panoramic views of the Himalayas, including the Gokyo Lakes, Mount Everest, and other peaks.
Why Choose Summit Mountaineering?
- Experience: With over 15 years of climbing and trekking experience in the Himalayas, Summit Mountaineering has led numerous treks to base camp and summited several Himalayan giants.
- Expert Guidance: Our experienced guides will ensure your safety and comfort throughout the trek, and we offer personalized advice and support before and during the journey.
- Comprehensive Support: We provide fully supported treks with porters and Yaks to assist with carrying gear, and we offer accommodations in teahouses and lodges for an authentic Himalayan experience.
- Medical Monitoring: We conduct and record two medical checks daily on clients throughout the trek to monitor their adaptation to the altitude and prevent any problems as we ascend.
- Equipment Assistance: We’ll accompany you to the shops to ensure you have the correct equipment and quantities, offering expert guidance on the necessary gear.
- Local Knowledge: As a South Africa-based company, we provide an opportunity to get to know us and establish a connection before embarking on the trek.
- Personal Growth: We understand the mental challenges of trekking in the Himalayas and aim to support your personal growth and development throughout the journey.
Trekking Distance and Duration
The Gokyo Lakes trek covers a distance of approximately 80-90 kilometers (50-56 miles) over the course of 12-15 days, including several days of acclimatization and rest to adjust to the high altitude. The daily trekking distance averages around 11.32 kilometers (7 miles), with about 5 hours of hiking divided into two segments separated by a lunch break.
Physical Fitness Requirements
A good level of physical fitness is required to undertake the Gokyo Lakes trek. The trek involves long days of walking, with steep ascents and descents, at high altitude. It is recommended that trekkers engage in a regular fitness regime in the lead up to the trek, including cardiovascular exercise, strength training, and hiking with a backpack. Proper acclimatization to the altitude and taking necessary rest days during the trek are also crucial.
Best Time for Trekking
There are two main trekking seasons in the Himalayas:
Pre-monsoon (April to May): This season is colder, with more ice on the higher mountains and drier air, which can cause issues with lungs. It attracts high-altitude climbers due to the stable ice conditions for Everest summit attempts.
Post-monsoon (September to November): This season is warmer and greener, and hikers tend to acclimatize better due to the higher oxygen levels from plants. There is no high-altitude climbing during this season due to the lack of good ice conditions on the higher slopes.
Preparation and Final Thoughts
Before embarking on the Gokyo Lakes trek, it is essential to prepare both physically and mentally. Engage in a regular fitness regime, gather the necessary equipment, and mentally prepare for the challenges and personal growth that await. With proper preparation and a positive attitude, this trek can be an unforgettable and rewarding experience, offering breathtaking views, cultural immersion, and a sense of accomplishment.
INCLUDED
- Return fights from Kathmandu to Lukla
- 2 nights accommodation in Kathmandu. We make use of 3 star hotel in the Thamel District called the Avatar Hotel. So…. 1 night before the trek and 1 night on return from the trek. Savvy? Any additional nights accommodation are for your own account sunshine.
- All airport transfers. We take care of the airport pick up when we arrive. The transfer back the next day for the flight to Lukla. The transfer after the trek from Lukla to the hotel. The transfer from the hotel back to the airport for your departure flight back to South Africa. Make sense? I’m glad. If you are not happy with this you can dial 5 now.
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner on the trek into Everest Base Camp
- Guide
- Porters
- 12 nights accommodation in tea houses ( mountain lodges) on the trek.
- All trekking permits
- All local taxes
- Includes us putting up with all your crying, blisters and longing for your mommy.
- Medical Kit and Emergency oxygen
- A day tour to the Temples of Kathmandu
NOT INCLUDED
- A bespoke turnkey solution that incorporates a bilateral and systematical deviation to your corporate jargon that us mountaineers refuse to use.
- International Flights
- Dinners and lunches when in Kathmandu
- Extra nights accommodation if we finish the trek early or if you need to come down earlier than scheduled due to unforeseen circumstances.
- My wife
- Hiking equipment ( backpacks, sleeping bags and so fifth)
- Travel Insurance. We highly recommend you take out TIC travel insurance that must include helicopter evacuation. Trust us on this one. If you need to get evacuated due to an altitude related illness and you are not covered best you have a spare R50k in your skyrocket.
- Tea/coldrinks/bottled water in the tea houses.
- My left nut
- Entry fees into any tourist attractions like the Monkey Temple and the Eiffel Tower.
Day 1
We fly from Johannesburg to Khathmandu. Depending on flight schedules and cost, we usually fly via Doha or Dubai. There will be a layover here.
Day 2
We arrive in Khathmandu. Hopefully by say 2pm if the flights are favourable. Our team leader will be waiting at the airport for us. We then take the 1 hour drive through to the Thamel District to the Avatar Hotel-Our humble abode for the knight who happens to be Sir Lancelot.
We also sleep in the same hotel as him. We check into the hotel, have a shower, go for dinner and indulge in a beer or 10. Please do not trash the hotel upon return from dinner as we need to stay there when we get back. And my mom will get upset.
Day 3
We send a swarm of toasters and a foghorn into your hotel room to entice you from the slumber process. Our aim today is to get to the airport by 6am to catch a flight to Lukla. Why so early you may be asking? Well I have a few minutes spare so let me explain. We cannot book a flight time with the airlines who fly to Lukla. It works on a purely first come, first serve type of system.
And we like to get served first. Our ego wont accept a 5th serving. And of course there may be a few ‘Egyptian handshakes’ involved to ensure a ‘first serve’ passage-If you know what I mean. A necessary budgetary expense I’m afraid. We then hop on the twin engined plane and take the 45 minute flight into Lukla.
What if there is bad weather?
Right. Lets get this topic out of the way shall we. Sometimes the flights are cancelled due to bad weather. This means there is no way to get into Lukla unless you are up for a 200km walk taking over 2 weeks. And no….we are not responsible for the bad weather. We did not bring it on because we didn’t feel like trekking. Weather is something beyond our control and stresses us out as much as it does our clients. If flights are cancelled or delayed we have to adjust the trip itinerary to compensate for the lost day or days. Please bare with us on this. And that does not mean take your clothes off either. We would have said bear with us but that could be a bit grizzly.
Okay, so if everything goes according to plan…we land in Lukla by say 10am. You are gonna love the landing!!!!!! We then meet our Sherpa Team, have a spot of tea and start the Everest Base camp trek by about 11am. The first part of hike meanders through various villages for about 1.5 hours until we reach the the highlight of today. The first sightings of ancient Sanskrit tablets and a small monastery. We then continue for about an hour into Phakding at 2610m. We spend the night here. Dinner is served at 6:30pm. So you have the rest of the afternoon to explore the area. We tuck you into bed with your favourite teddy bear and some warm Yak milk. NOT!!
Hiking distance: 8km
Duration: 3 hours 2 minutes and 14 seconds
Day 4
Cock a doodle do!!! Or don’t. Wake up at 7am. Have a wee, pooh and brush teeth. Breakfast at 8am. Ready to start the hike by 9am. This is basically the daily morning routine on our Everest Base Camp Trek. Today is a challenging day. We basically follow the Dudhi river into the Sagarmartha National park. We cross 3 suspension bridges before we head up a steep and long hill into Namche Bazaar at 3,440m. We may even get to see a tiger that doesn’t exist. One climber didn’t see it back in 2010.
Hiking distance: 10km
Duration: 6 hours 4 minutes and 22 seconds
Day 5
Today is a rest day. Well…sort of. We are going to take you on a 45 minute stroll up the Everest Veiw point where you will a good view of our guides bum, I mean Everest, situated about 40km away. W also spend some time at the old village where Edmund Hillary spend many a day. We also send and hour or so in the local monastery with the local monk. The afternoon is usually spent in the bakery devouring the best black forest cake ever.
Day 6
We Follow the normal morning routine and begin the hike by 9am. Today we trek up through the mysterious heath like vegetation towards our humble abode for the night-the Everest Hotel situated at Tengboche, 3860m. The tea house has some of the most incredible views of Everest from the dining hall. This village is spectacular. It is surrounded by some Himalayan giants as is basically at the base of the iconic Ama Dablam mountain.
Hiking distance: 9km
Duration: 6 hours 10 minutes and 41 seconds
Day 7
Today. Well it may not be today as you might be ready this in the future. But you get what we mean. Today….we head up the village of Dingboche at 4,410m. So the altitude will most likely start to affect you at this point. The trekking speed will be slow so as to allow our bodies to adapt to the tanning air.
Hiking distance: 8km
Duration: 6 hours 2 minutes and 11 seconds
Day 8
Rest and acclimatization day. Rest day???? Ha ha ha. Yeah right. We need to get you acclimatized. So we are going to drag your sorry ass up to 4800m. A steady trek that takes about 3 hours up and down. Then you can rest sunshine. So hopefully back by say 11am so you can chill.
Day 9
We start to head into alpine territory. So the vegetation will become sparse as will the ping pong balls. The highlight of the trek today is the time we send at the Everest memorial sight. This is sombre place indeed that is home to all of the climbers who have died in the Himalayas. We then continue up to the village of Lobuche at 4,900m.
Hiking distance: 7km
Duration: 5 hours 45 minutes and 19 seconds
Day 10
An early start as we have a long days trekking ahead today. We start with a 3 hour hike into Gorek Shep at 5,164m. We have lunch and then take the 3 hour trek into Everest Base camp at 5,300m. We spend about 45 minutes here harassing the tiger that doesn’t exist and of course the climbing teams. We may shed a tear or two to commemorate the sense of accomplishment before we head on back to Gorek Shep for the evening. Ginna be a long night I’m afraid. The altitude here is not conducive to good sleep. But you will survive.
Hiking distance: 12km
Duration: 8 hours 12 minutes and 34 seconds
Day 11
Wake up at 3:30am. What???? Did you say 3:30am? Well yes sireeeee…we did. In fact you have 30 minutes to get ready because at 4am we start or climb to the summit of Kala Patar at 5,610m. It is from here you will get THE BEST VIEW EVER of Mount Everest. You cannot see the summit of Everest from the bas camp or even Gorek Shep as the looming mass of Nuptse and the Khumbu Icefall is in the way. Back down for breakfast by say 8am. We give you about 3 hours to chill before we head on down Dzongla (4,830m)
Hiking distance: 11km
Duration: 7 hours 18 minutes and 56 seconds
Day 12
Trek from Dzongla to Gokyo (4790m) via Chola pass (5400m).We get an early start today to traverse the Chola Pass. Mornings almost always provide the best weather for crossing high altitude passes. Later in the day, the wind picks up and also, melting ice is dangerous. After about 5 hours of climbing up the rocky incline, we reach the pass. A sharp downhill brings us to Thaknak, our lunch spot. Two and a half hours from here, we reach Gokyo Village, one of the most beautiful places in the Everest region. Overnight at guest house.
Hiking distance: 9 km
Duration: 7 hours 34 minutes and 02 seconds
Day 13
Early morning hike up to Gokyo Ri (5483m) and trek back to Machhermo (4470m).Again, we get an early start. However, you’ll feel well rested from getting lots of sleep last night. The goal is to reach Gokyo Ri before the sun rises, which provides a spectacular viewpoint to see the glowing peaks. It’s a steep 600 meter climb, where we see four 8,000 meter peaks before our eyes – Mt. Everest, Cho Oyu, Lhotse, and Makalu. We head back to Gokyo village for breakfast and then head to Machhermo, which we reach just in time for lunch. Overnight at guest house.
Hiking distance: 12 km
Duration: 6 hours 37minutes and 22 seconds
Day 14
Trek from Machhermo to Khumjung (3790m). Waking up with views of Thamserku, Cholatse and many other mighty peaks, we have our breakfast and hit the trail. We pass waterfalls and windblown pastures until we reach Phortse Thanga (after about four hours). We stop here for lunch and carry on the gentle path to Khumjung village. Here, there is a monastery on a hilltop with a supposed Yeti scalp that is worth checking out. Overnight at guest house.
Hiking distance: 12 km
Duration: 5 hours 37 minutes and 22 seconds
Day 15
Trek from Khumjung to Phakding. After breakfast, we make our way to Phakding, first passing Namche Bazaar. You can stop for some time and buy any last-minute souvenirs if you’d like. About 2.5 hours after leaving Namche Bazaar, we soon reach Monjo village and take another break, this time for lunch. Phakding is only about 1.5 hours of walking downhill from here. Overnight in guest house.
Day 16
Trek from Phakding to Lukla. After breakfast, we prepare for our final day of the trek. The hike takes about four hours, but sometimes a little longer with extra breaks. We enjoy our last moments with the amazing Everest region scenery and celebrate a successful journey in the evening. Overnight at guest house.
Day 17
Early morning fly back to Kathmandu. Have breakfast and then walk to Tenzing-Hillary airport and fly back to Kathmandu in the morning. Spend the rest of the day exploring the city. We’ll have a farewell dinner for you in the evening. Overnight in hotel.
Day 18
Tear the city of Kathmandu apart. Visit the temples and chill.
