Gokyo Lake Trek

Sparkling mountains surrounding the Kathmandu Valley will welcome you as your flight approaches the Tribhuvan International Airport. Upon landing at the airport and completing the checkout formalities, our representatives will escort you to your hotel. During half an hours drive to your hotel from the airport, you will get a glimpse of this modern yet ancient city of Kathmandu. If you arrive early, you may stroll around Thamel, a colorful market providing every type of service. Probably the busiest place in Kathmandu, Thamel has everything, from a clothing store to grocery shop, trekking gear shops, handicraft shops, souvenir shops, jewelry shops along with a diverse range of restaurants to satiate your hunger. Taste the Nepali cuisine before calling it a day.

The second day of the journey is set for sightseeing in Kathmandu. Today, we will explore the four iconic cultural heritage and artistic sites listed in UNESCO Heritage Sites. We will start todays program by visiting the ageless palace:

Kathmandu Durbar Square.

Kathmandu Durbar Square: Constructed in the 3rd century, the palace was renovated and expanded multiple times by later rulers. The complex includes Basantapur Tower, Hanuman statue, Dhansa, Taleju Temple and Gaddi Baithak. The beautiful palace is a favorite place to retreat for Kathmanduties. You will see both foreigners and locals hanging out in the place. The devastating 2015 earthquake damaged almost all the structures in this area thus, construction work is going on. Stroll around the ancient courtyard, click pictures, learn Nepali culture, marvel at the fine architectures and treat yourself with local delicacies before heading to Swayambhunath, our next destination.

Swayambhunath:

Merely 15 to 20 minutes of the drive will take us to the oldest historical site of Nepal, Swayambhunath. Built-in around the 13th century, the complex since then has seen multiple changes. Several new shrines, statues, gardens, ponds, and vantage points have been added over time. The beautiful stupa sits on the top of the valley, offering an eagle-eye view of the gorgeous Kathmandu city. If you want to add a little thrill, we can take a 365 staircase to the top. Otherwise, we will enter from the southwest gate, which leads us to the backside of the main platform of the temple. Witness monks chanting, offer the prayers, treat monkeys and enjoy the peaceful ambiance before hopping on the vehicle for our next destination,

Pashupatinath.

Pashupatinath: Seeing the people flooding in the temple throughout the day, it won;t take you much time to realize that the place has great significance among the Nepali people. The breathtakingly beautiful complex reflects Nepali culture, belief, and art. The main temple is of Shiva standing on the bank of Holy River. Sadly, non-Hindu cannot enter the main premises of the complex, so we will check out this heavenly piece of art from across the river. However, the outer courtyard welcomes everyone where we can see multiple temples, statues, and shrines. Make sure to carry your belongings carefully, we are going to encounter hundreds of monkeys here. After spending quality time in this holy place, we will drive to Bouddhanath.

Bouddhanath:

Drive past some busy cities for around 10 minutes to reach Bouddhanath. A giant ancient structure amid the modern buildings looks fascinating. Colorful prayer flags and beautiful marigold flowers enhance the look of the stupa. Stroll around the stupa, check out local shops selling souvenirs, handicrafts, and clothes, etc. The place houses many coffee shops, cafes, and restaurants. WE can have lunch here then head back to the office for a briefing. We will meet again for the final preparation. You will be introduced with fellow travelers, guides and make sure you are well equipped so that we wont face any difficulties during the trek.

Trek to Phakding (8,563 feet/ 2,610 m) 4 hours: The most anticipated journey will start early in the morning. Wake up at around 4 o;clock, do the last minute packing, have breakfast then head to Tribhuvan airport to board the flight to Lukla. Get ready to be completely blown away by this 30 minutes flight. We will meet our remaining staff outside the airports terminal. Depending on the time of arrival (arrival time may vary due to the delay in flight), we will have our lunch here. Take some time to soak into this peaceful atmosphere, then start the first day of the trek.

Toda;s trek is nothing more than a warming up as we will be walking on a very easy trail. Begin the trek by descending to the colorful forest, then walk alongside the raging Dudh Koshi River. We will walk past beautiful villages, including Chheplung and Ghat. Phakding is barely four hours away from Lukla. Spend a comfortable night in a teahouse.

Today, we will get the real taste of trekking in the Everest region. Shortly after departing Phakding, we will cross a long suspension bridge over the Dush Koshi River then follow the path on the west side.

The early ortion of the trek will benice and easy. A gentle climb on the trail passing through stone homes and shops for around two hours will take us to a small village named Tok Tok. A short walk from here takes us to Benkar from where we will get our first glimpse of Mt. Thamserku. In Monjo, we will take a short break. After completing the entry formalities, we will continue our journey to Jorsale. After crossing the last suspension bridge, the trek gets tougher. A steep hill with few zigzag sections offers a magnificent view of Taboche Peak and Mt. Everest. Spend a night in a well-furnished cozy teahouse in Namche Bazaar.

It;s mandatory to spend a day in Namche Bazaar for acclimatization. Note: do not confuse it with a rest day. Today, we will embark on a short hike to Khumjung village in the morning and spend our afternoon strolling around the streets of Namche Bazaar.

Namche is a beautiful town housing every type of amenities possible at this altitude. From well-furnished restaurants to cafes, coffee shops, souvenir shops, shops selling trekking gears, bakeries, internet cafes, you will find everything here. You can buy any trekking essentials that you would require later as, beyond Namche Bazar, you would not find such a market in the Everest region. A short hike to Syangboche rewards us with amazing vistas of Thamserku, Kongde and Khumbila mountains.

Today;s trek will begin with a gradual climb to a village. After a short break, we will march on the flat terrain above the Dudh Kosi River. On a clear day, we will get amazing views of sparkling mountains all around. Kantega, Nuptse, Ama Dablam, and Everest keep on playing hide and seek with us. We will walk past several villages including Kyangjuma village.

As we approach Sansa, we willcome across a junction: one trail leading to Tengboche and another to Gokyo. A steep climb is followed by a hike on a flat trail piercing sparse forest. We will walk on steep stone staircases and navigate some steep hill. A brief rest in a beautiful village Mong La re-energizes us for the further trek. A downhill trail passing through the pine forest will take us to Phortse Tenga, where we will have ourlunch. From here we will head northwest. A pleasant walk on the Dudh Koshi Valley for some hours will lead us to Dole.

Today;s trek will be relatively easier than yesterday as today, we won;t come across any steep hills. However, the trek will still test our stamina. The trail is straightforward yet does not fail to mesmerize us with amazing scenery. It is barely a half-day trek, so we will spend the rest of the day by strolling around Machhermo.

A short climb out of Machhermo is followed by a long gradual climb on the rocky and drier terrain. The canyon becomes narrower and narrower as we approach Gokyo. Soon, we will get a glimpse of first Gokyo Lake. A broad valley with a gigantic mountain on the backdrop looks breathtakingly beautiful. We will walk above the third Gokyo Lake to reach the Gokyo village.

Gokyo is a major highlight of this trek. Today we will witness one of the finest sunrises, thus, our journey begins before the dawn. A grueling on the rocky steep hill for around 4 to 5 hours will take us to the popular lookout platform, Gokyo Ri. The vista of snowy mountains above and tranquil lakes below worth all the hard work. Overnight stay in Gokyo.

We will spend the 10th day of this journey, exploring this striking hidden gem. A stunning Gokyo village adorned by turquoise Gokyo lake has a lot to offer. Today, we will hike to Gokyo fifth lake. Follow the steep rocky trail leading to the 5th Lake at an elevation of 4,956 m. The serene lake on the shadow of gigantic mountains looks stunning. Head back to Gokyo for overnight stay.

After early morning breakfast, we will start our trek to Phanga. We will mostly walk downhill today. The trail passes through beautiful forests, rocky terrain and small villages including Machhermo. After walking for around seven hours, we will reach Phanga.

Just like the earlier day, today also we will be descending throughout the day. Walk past colorful forests housing beautiful pheasants, wild lives and flowers. If we are lucky enough, we may encounter wild animals like musk deer. Follow the trail sculpted through beautiful villages including Dole. Upon reaching Khumjung, the capital of Sagarmatha National Park, we will take a brief rest then head out toexplore this small settlement sitting in front of Mt. Khumbila.

Savor into the delicious breakfast while enjoying the enchanting vistas of soaring mountains. Toda;s trek is probably the easiest trek of the Gokyo Lake Trek. Descend for around one and a half hours to reach Namche Bazar. Check into the teahouse, charge your gadgets and head out to explore the small town. If you wish to buy souvenirs, you may do. We can visit the Sherpa museum or watch a movie or documentary in a theater. We may embark on the short hike to Thamo to explore an ancient monastery.

After a comfortable night in Namche Bazaar, it;s time to continue our journey. Follow the downhill trail after early morning breakfast. Hiking down can be a little tricky as the path is steep and slippery in some places. Cross a large suspension bridge leading to Jorsale. From, here we won;t be able to see the mountains, however, the beautiful sceneries will keep us entertained. Walk past colorful villages, farming lands and meadows to reach Phakding.

The last day of the trek is a bit strenuous than the previous day as some section of today's trek has few uphill trails. Leaving Phakding behind, we will head to Ghat. Follow a wide flat trail dotted with mani walls. A long uphill climb into the beautiful forest followed by a short walk from the forest will take us to Lukla. As we will reach Lukla in broad daylight, we will have enough time to stroll around. We will spend the evening sharing our Nepal trek experience.

It is time to conclude the Everest region trekking. We will wake up early in the morning, breathe in the mountain air one last time, soak into the breathtaking Himalayan sceneries, have a delicious breakfast on the lap of the mountain then head to the airport to catch a flight to Kathmandu. From Tribhuvan airport, we will drive you to your hotel. You may spend the remaining day as you wish. If you wish to stroll around the city, you may do so otherwise take the much-needed rest. Savor into the delicious local meal before calling it a day.

The time of your departure has arrived. As per your flight schedule, you will be escorted to the airport for your final departure.

Make your 2020 amazing with the Gokyo Lake trekking. Capture the spectacular view of the Himalayas and Gokyo Lake with a closer glimpse. This spring, pack your bags and head for Gokyo Lake trekking, and for your assistance, Zeal Nepal Treks and Expedition will arrange your tour and packages. Feel free to contact us. We are here at your service.

See you soon!