Everest Via Gokyo Lake Trek 17 Days

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Upscale your Lodging in Kathmandu and En route to EBC

On our 17 days Everest Gokyo trek, you will rest in the pleasant double occupancy room of a fine three-star hotel in Kathmandu such as Hotel Manang or Hotel Thamel Park for just $45 a night per person.

When trekking to Everest and Gokyo, cozy mountain shelters commonly known as tea houses will be your haven for the night. However, if you like to level up your stay and enhance some luxuries, then we have excellent upgrade options for you. In Kathmandu, you can opt to spend the nights in four or five-star rated hotels which offer you the incredible and endless amenities of sauna, staff attendance, gym, lounges, spa, pool, elegant decorations, large and comfortable bedding, along with inbuilt restaurants with gourmet menus.

If you go for the four-star hotels, we will arrange for you to Hotel Ramada, Hotel Shankar, or Hotel Yatri Suites, for $95 a night per traveler. Or, if you want to go all out at a five-star stay at places like Hotel Yak & Yeti, Hotel Radisson, or Hyatt Regency, the cost will be just $150 a night per traveler. Likewise in the Sherpa settlements of Lukla, Phakding, Namche, Debuche, Dingboche, and Gokyo, we can arrange for you top-end lodges that offer you a single room with the luxuries of a spa, Jacuzzi, and sauna.

In the midst of the high mountains, you can literally enjoy the sushi and indulge in the grandest lavishness. In Lukla, Namche, and Phakding, Yeti Mountain Home will be the best setting for you while at Debuche, the fantastic Rivendell Lodge will offer you a sophisticated stay.

In Dingboche get ready to enjoy the top-class services of Hotel Bright Star and on the serene Gokyo, the Gokyo Resort will offer you world-class luxury by the shore of the sacred lakes.

Please notify us about your interest and we will make it happen before you depart for Kathmandu.

Helicopter Charter between Kathmandu and Lukla

We offer you the exceptional opportunity to transform your journey between Lukla and Kathmandu with our exciting and exclusive helicopter charter flights.

Helicopters have always been one of the most thrilling, safest, and most luxurious modes of transportation. Imagine, sitting inside a small cabin with few travelers, with headphones on your head watching through the large glass windows below the sky.

It is also one of the secure travel options that very little depends on the weather and offers you more flexibility and an intimate experience. If you also wish to have a remarkable experience, then we can arrange for the charter heli flight for you between Kathmandu and Lukla: one way or the round trip.

You just need to inform us beforehand so we can turn your simple journey into something extraordinary.

Important Trip Information

Right Time for the Everest base camp trek via Gokyo

We can go to Everest Base Camp, Kala Patthar, and Gokyo Ri in all four seasons of Nepal with the right gear and preparation. However, the hiking trip to Nepal means the excellent panoramic views of the high Himalayas, the luxurious nature, the perfect weather, and the most enchanting trails.

Considering these factors, therefore, the autumn time starting from mid-September and ending last November is the most right time for our Everest base camp trek via Gokyo. The clear cool air, the comfortable day heat, and the fantastic weather of this season make any hiking journey in Nepal a blissful adventure. Moreover, the winter snow slowly disappears, the trails then open up, and the transparent sky offers a stunning and unparalleled mountain view.

The second right time for our Everest Gokyo trek would be spring spanning between March through May. The scenery slowly transitions into fairytale-like land, trails burst with vibrant rhododendrons and lively forests while the daytime heat lingers at 25°C. On top of that, the Gokyo Lakes also generally stay melted except for early spring and the path taking us to Gokyo Ri also clears of snow.

However, the minus-degree heat of December, January, and February often covers the entire Gokyo Valley, the Cho La Pass, and Kala Patthar in thick snow that can sometimes make the trip almost unachievable. And, the summer high heat and the heavy rain of Monsoon in June, July, and August bring the threat of flood, landslides, and leech infestation in forest trails which is quite unpleasant making the winter and summer the least recommended time for the Everest base camp trek via Gokyo lake.

Everest base camp trek via Gokyo Lake: Toughness and Difficulty

The Everest base camp trek via Gokyo is regarded as a B Class adventure, which means it is a medium-tough journey but it doesn’t need any special skills.

The trail leading up to Gokyo via EBC is pretty clear and easy to follow, with plenty of teahouses and places to stay along the way. You will start from the 2800 m mark and then tackle the everyday climb with two acclimatization days at Namche and Dingboche.

However, you have to be mindful though as there are some sections while not overly tough are still sharply vertical. For example the last 600 m stretch to Namche, Tengboche, and the hike up to Kala Patthar, the Cho La Pass, and of course Gokyo Ri.

The biggest challenge in the journey comes from the altitude as we will be spending most nights above 4000 m so proper and timely acclimatization is very important. Still, anyone in decent shape with some basic hiking experience will be able to handle such challenges. If you are a new adventurist, we suggest you the autumn and springtime and if you are a seasoned trekker, you can go whenever you like.

Can a beginner hiker engage in 17 days Everest Gokyo trek?

If you have some hiking experience, it will be a great plus point for our Everest Gokyo trek but remember, it is not a must-have skill. If you are ready to put in your effort for the long hours of trekking and are in good health with a strong determination, then you can definitely engage in our Everest base camp trek via Gokyo with ease.

However, you cannot forget about the challenges of this adventure. The sharp and sudden climbs and descents in the tough terrain of the high Himalayas, the upward sharp climb over Kala Patthar, Cho La Pass, and Gokyo Ri can be quite demanding. And you should also pay attention to the constantly increasing altitude and the fluctuating Himalayan weather. You also have to understand that the comfort level along the journey may not match what you are used to at home so you must be ready for a little compromise.

But the payoff will be the incredibly peaceful and pristine nature among the behemoths of snow. In addition, our team has composed the itinerary such that everyone can succeed on the trek.

So if you are an active person who loves nature and walking, we will be thrilled to have you as part of our group even if this is your first time in the mountains of Nepal.However, if you already are suffering from serious health issues related to your heart or lungs, or if you are pregnant, please talk to your physician before signing up for this journey. Threat of AMS (Acute Mountain Sickness)and Placement of Acclimatization

The altitude of this trek is no doubt relatively high which is one of the concerns of our Everest base camp trek via Gokyo Lake. We start our expedition from the 2800 m height of Lukla and progressively reach EBC, Kala Patthar, spend the night at Gorakshep, and cross the Cho La Pass which all exceed the 5000 m altitude.Hiking at such elevation therefore puts us at risk for altitude sickness for which we need to be very cautious. Symptoms of AMS can start showing up above 3,000 meters, like mild fatigue, slight headaches, and some breathing issues during activity.They are considered normal and shortly disappear once you get adjusted to the altitude. But if they persist or get worse, then you should head back down to where you last felt fine.

Therefore, we encourage all our hikers to stick to the acclimatization schedule we have planned for you and avoid climbing more than 700 meters in a day. To help with this, we have planned stops at Kathmandu, Namche, and Dingboche where we will do short hikes to stay active. This will help you get used to the high-altitude conditions in the Khumbu and Gokyo Valleys.We advise you to take your climb and descent slow and take breaks often in between the walks. Aim to drink at least 4 liters of water and avoid alcohol, soft drinks, and smoking.

You can also take Diamox when in Kathmandu to help with adjusting to the altitude, as long as it is safe for you.

Preparation and Training Needed for Everest Gokyo Trek

The Everest base camp trek via Gokyo is a great travel option for people of varied ages and health levels but if you are in decent shape, then it will definitely make your experience better.

You don’t have to be very athletic but it is wise that you get into a good training routine before you go to build your endurance. We suggest you begin training yourself two months ahead of your Everest Gokyo trek.

Since you will be hiking for 6 to 7 hours, it is essential that you work on both your strength and cardio. Activities like swimming, cycling, hiking, running, and climbing will really help.Aim for about three hours of training each week progressively increasing it in intensity. You can also run in local parks or tackle some hilly streets. Plus, you should also consider carrying a backpack that weighs around 5 kg during your walks. As for practical preparation and mental resilience, you may want to try the Everest trail first before adding the Gokyo trek to your adventure.

Alternate Path to Everest base camp trek via Gokyo

One of the very exciting options to combine our Everest base camp trek via Gokyo Lake with another adventure will be the Everest Three Passes Trek.

Already, we will be crossing one of the most visited Everest Pass of Cho La, so we can add two more passes of Kongma La and Renjo La. Or, we can even approach the Goky Valley first and then take on the challenge of EBC and Kala Patthar. Another option to simplify the trek will be to forgo the trek to Everest Base Camp and instead hike only to Gokyo Valley or bypass the Gokyo trek altogether and head only to EBC.

One more exciting option will be to journey forward towards the most beautiful base camp on earth- the base camp of Ama Dablam. The initial path will be similar until Tengboche, after which you will trek to Deboche to reach the Ama Dablam Base Camp. From there, you will advance to Pangboche and then to Dole. You may also consider the Tashi Lapcha Pass to get to EBC.

Accommodation and Meals

A comfortable three-star hotel will be your place to stay when in Kathmandu for three nights. A double-person room with two single beds, an attached toilet with a hot shower 24 hours, and WiFi will be offered to you as the amenity of the hotel.

During the hiking part in the villages, the cozy mountain shelters called the tea houses will be your resting haven after a day of hike. These shelters are sometimes modest with sharing facilities of the latrines and dining room. For more privacy, we also offer upgrade options which you can check out on our add-on options.

As for the dining arrangements in Kathmandu, your each morning will start with a hearty breakfast in your host hotel. Lunches and dinners will be in your chosen restaurants on your own.

When walking, full three times meals (lunches, breakfasts, and dinners) will be served at the host lodges. Dal Vat and momos will be the common items on the menu along with some European varieties of pizza, pie, noodles, etc.

Transportation

All airport transfer-in and transfer-out between TIA and your hotel will be conducted in a private vehicle (car, bus, jeep, or van). We will also be looking after the arrangement of internal flights between Kathmandu and Lukla.

Private transport will be utilized in case of a need to reroute to Ramechhap for the flight to Lukla.

Prerequisite Permits and Rules for the 17 days Everest Gokyo trek

Please remember that you can’t trek alone independently in the Everest region anymore. You must be with a licensed local guide, and all trekking has to be arranged through a certified company like ours.

As for the essential permits, we must have two obligatory permits on our hand for our Everest base camp trek via Gokyo: the permit for the Khumbu municipality that needs the payment of USD 20 per hiker and the National Park permit for Sagarmatha that needs the payment of USD 30 per hiker.

Please don’t stress as our guide will sort out the permit processing for you.