Gokyo Valley Trekking

Upon your arrival at the Kathmandu airport, you will be greeted by a representative from Rugged Trails Nepal who will take to your hotel. Welcome drinks upon arrival at the hotel, free time until 6 pm. Evening welcome dinner in a traditional Nepali Restaurant with authentic Nepali cuisine and cultural program. Overnight in Kathmandu Hotel.

After breakfast proceeds our short guided sightseeing tour at the Swayambhunath Temple. After Swayambhunath temple, we will visit another UNESCO World Heritage sites Patan Durbar Square, and Buddhist shrine (Bouddhanath), which is also one of the largest stupas in the world.

After sightseeing drives back to the hotel and briefing of the rest of the trip plan. At the same time if you have to buy any trekking gear or things for the rest of the days Guide will help take you to the trekking equipment store in Thamel.

Wake Up early morning to take a flight to Lukla (2,860 m), you will receive a packed breakfast. Wake up around 3 in the morning and drive to Manthali Airport. 25 -30 minutes flight to Lukla (9,186ft) from Manthali Airport. Enjoy one of the most beautiful air routes in the world on a hillside surrounded by mountainous peaks. We will meet the rest of our crew members at the Lukla airport, a gateway destination from where our trek begins. A gentle walk to Phakding village through Chaurikharkha village, Mt. Khumbila, and monastery.

This is the day that you hear the most is the trek into Namche Bazaar, walking through a beautiful pine forest Dudh Koshi River and go on passing Chumoa to Monjo, and the entrance to Everest National Park. Then after crossing a suspension bridge, we pass Jorsale village and walk alongside the Dudh Koshi and Bhote Koshi rivers. The path to Namche is very well-traveled so you'll continually come across locals, other tourists and then continue traffic of Yaks and porter. It is infamous for its long consistent steep inclines uphill brings us to the prime heartland of Sherpa village - Namche Bazaar. At one hour’s distance to reaching Namche Bazaar, we can view the sights of Mt. Everest and Mt. Lhotse. Overnight in Namche Bazaar.

There are plenty of things to do around Namche Bazaar, we wake up to another spectacular morning and view from our room and sun rose of the breathtaking mountains. Let us make you clear something up that is a big misunderstanding about the Acclimatization day. Acclimatization day is not a rest day, it is something completely different so don’t think that after the huge climb of getting into Namche Bazaar you’ll spend today lazing around the lodges or shopping in local stores. Our team will take you to explore the real charm of Namche Bazaar. So after breakfast, we will start the gentle hike up to Everest view hotel where we can see the views of Mount Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse, Ama Dablam, Thamserku, Kongde and so on. Day hike up to 3,700 m (12,139 ft)

We climb the trails steeply out of the valley through rhododendron forest, juniper and large conifers start to appear as the elevation increases trekking beautiful in spring. The trail passes through yak Kharkas and the Khumjung hill. We visit Mohang, the birthplace of the re-incarnated Lama of Rongbuk Monastery of Tibet who is believed to have introduced Buddhism in the Khumbu region of Nepal. The views of KhumbiLa and Tawache peak are magnificent throughout the day. Overnight in Phortse Thanga.

The trail climbs uphill to Machhermo with a ridge for an excellent view both down the valley to Kengtega and up towards Cho Oyu and descent to a river and again climbs steeply to the terminal moraine of the Ngozumoz glacier. On the trail alongside a rhododendron forest and pass through a waterfall before reaching Tongba Village. The long mountain valleys here will provide an excellent source of inspiration for our photographer to teach about compositional rules during this day. Overnight in Machhermo.

We follow a very scenic path to Pangka and then descend slightly, to the riverbank before climbing onto the terminal moraine of the Ngazumpa Glacier on a steep trail. We climb a steep rocky incline into the valley by the side of the glacier, passing the first of the holy lakes. We get a chance to observe lama footprints on a stone. We soon arrive at the second lakes, crossing the path which heads across the glacier to Cho La our route to Lobuche and Everest, later in the trek. Taboche Tsho, we become mesmerized by the shimmering turquoise blue sheet of water sparkling in the sun. The third lake is known as Dudh Pokhari and on its eastern shore is the settlement of Gokyo. Walking by the side of the lake, the scenery is breathtaking with the summits of Cho Oyu and Gyachung Kang reflected in its emerald green waters.

Rise early for a pre-dawn climb up Gokyo Ri, a renowned viewpoint in the Everest region, to witness a truly unforgettable sunrise. This early start ensures you won't miss the trip's main highlight—the sun illuminating the world's highest peaks. From the summit, located at the edge of the fifth Gokyo Lake, you'll be rewarded with an astounding 360-degree panorama of mountains, including Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse, Makalu, Cho Oyu, and Gyachung Kang. You'll also see the immense Ngozumba Glacier, the largest glacier in the world. This stunning location is the perfect setting for your photographer to lead their first full photoshoot, giving you a chance to learn photographic skills as they capture subjects against this incredible backdrop. After descending, we'll have a warm breakfast, followed by a hike around the tranquil Gokyo Lakes. These six sacred glacial lakes, revered by both Hindus and Buddhists, offer a peaceful escape as you walk along their serene shores, admiring the mesmerizing blue and green waters. We'll spend the afternoon exploring other nearby viewpoints before returning to Gokyo for the night. This day is carefully designed to help your body acclimatize while maximizing your time in this area of unparalleled natural beauty.

The descent from Gokyo will retrace our steps along the same trail, following the tranquil Dudh Koshi River. You'll appreciate the soothing sound of the river as we make our way down the valley. The trail offers scenic views from above, with villages nestled in the wide river basin. As we descend, we will eventually reach the treeline, signaling our approach to the village of Dole.

Alongside tumbling waterfalls and through rhododendron forests, we will start our descent on a steep trail that leads to Phortse Thanga. We might see Himalayan pheasants, musk deer, or mountain goats in this wildlife-rich area. We will be treated to breathtaking views of Mount Khumbila once more as we proceed in the direction of Mong.We will be able to take in breathtaking views of Ama Dablam, Thamserku, Kantega, and Taboche as we continue our journey towards Namche. After a few hours of hiking, we will reach the Namche army camp for a last look at the mountains before continuing on a short hike to Namche Bazaar, where we will spend the night.

We will be walking all the way back where we had trekked on day 02 from Phakding to Namche. We need to walk cautiously as our shaky legs continuously battle the rocky terrain. The trail becomes more normal once we cross the suspension bridges over the Dudh Koshi River. And finally, we will get a chance to stretch our legs, and today is the last night where you can thank, greet, and give some tips to our crew who joined from Lukla.

Here we say bye to Khumbu region and fly back to Kathmandu. Check-in at the hotel and free time for shopping or exploring around Thamel. Evening Farewell dinner will be organized by rugged trails Nepal team. Overnight in Kathmandu.

Transferred to the international airport on your flight schedule and if some have extra days in Nepal they can continue with other activities. If any help is needed for further plans feel free to contact Rugged trails Nepal team.