Gokyo Valley Trek

On your arrival at the Tribhuwan International Airport in Kathmandu, our airport representatives will warmly greet you, after which you will be transferred to the hotel on a private tourist vehicle.

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Early next morning following a hearty breakfast, Goreto will host a pre-trip meeting at the hotel you’re staying. During this meeting, we introduce your trip guide, and we’ll be happy to answer any question you may have. We provide you with important information about the trip, so do feel free to take notes if you want to. Also, please kindly bring three passport-size photos, passport and travel insurance policy. Legal formalities, including liability waiver, will be taken care of in this meeting.
Once the meeting concludes, we begin our sightseeing of the valley for which a private vehicle along with a professional guide will be provided. The valley is dotted with fantastic cultural heritages, some of which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites, which we’ll visit. These include Boudhanath Stupa (the largest Buddhist shrines in the world), Pashupatinath (the holiest Hindu temple in the world), Durbar Squares (Palaces and fortresses of medieval Kings), along with other popular cultural attractions. The lifestyle of the Nepalese people, holy sadhus and monks, the fascinating history and the awe-inspiring architecture will be the highlight of this day-long sightseeing trip.

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After a pleasing half an hour flight from Kathmandu to the town of Lukla in Everest region, we start our trek to Phakding. Your guide and sherpa porters will make all the necessary arrangement of your luggage and equipment.
The first leg of the trek is a descent towards the river called DudhKoshi, from where we head to Phakding. At around 2,500m, the trekking on this day is very relaxed and we take an easy pace to enjoy the wonderful scenery of the surrounding.

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On this day, we trek uphill to Namche Bazaar, also called the Gateway to Everest. We crisscross DudhKoshi over several trail bridges that are beautifully decorated with Buddhist prayer flags fluttering in the wind. We rest to learn about the Sagarmatha Natinoal Park and how it has helped upkeep the region’s ecological and social integrity while promoting tourism. The climb to Namche is well rewarded with a bustling market and native culture, and of course the majestic views of the Himalayas up close.

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We need to keep up with the altitude gain and let our body adjust to the thinner air pressure, for which we rest at Namche Bazaar on this day to acclimatize. The town has lots to offer to its visitors, from the celebrated museum showcasing from the history of Everest expeditions to the lifestyle of Sherpas. We will explore the area and see how the locals, mostly Sherpas, go about their daily lives. If time permits, there is the option of hiking to the nearby (decommissioned) Syanboche Airport for stunning views of the Everest Panorama.

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From Namche we head through trails of forest laden with rhododendrons (the national flower of Nepal) and start to ascent through the forest. The pristine forest is great to get a sense of the outdoors of Nepal, and in such a high altitude makes for a great trekking experience altogether. We’ll come across several small villages and get to learn about the local culture. The village of PhorsteThanga lies at an altitude of 3,600m.

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As we trek away from PhorstThanga, we get amazing glimpses of Cho Oyu and other mountains as we climb the ridge. There are some descents and ascents that follow on this route. This stretch allows us to get near the Ngozump glacier. After an exhilarating trek, we reach the destination of this day, Macherma, in the early hours of the afternoon.

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We begin our trek from Macherma, heading towards Gokyo, a major point and a base for the better half of this trip. This is also a great location for hiking in nearby attractions.

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GokyoRi, at 5,483m, is a fantastic viewpoint to admire the vast panorama of the Khumbu mountains. We set off early and climb the steep slopes to reach the top. The mountains you can see include the majestic Everest, Nuptse, Cho Oyu and other giants. You can also see the Gokyo valley beneath. After having a satisfying observation of the mountains, we head back to Gokyo.

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We reach Cho-la pass today, but do be prepared for the remoteness – food and lodge will be basic, perhaps dormitory style, at Thangna. The magnificent trekking and experience will surely compensate, nonetheless.

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The trek today starts very early, before sunrise, because we need to cross Cho-la pass as early as possible to avoid inclement weather during and after noontime. The pass stands at 5,300m, and we could face strong winds if we’re too late in crossing the pass. We’ll brave high altitude and possibly snowy weather to accomplish this feat, rewarded by extraordinary views of the mountains. We then reach Dzongla following a descending trail. Like in Thangna, expect basic accommodation and food, thanks to the remote location.

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Unlike the previous day, from Dzongla the trek is much easier and shorter to Lobuche. We will reach Lobuche shortly after midday.

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After enough rest in Lobuche, we do the challenging trek over the Khumbu Glacier, then to the Everest Base Camp, which stands at 5,360m. The feeling of reaching this far is simply out of this world, reaching as high as the base camp – the highest you can go without specialized equipment. After viewing the amazing mountains from the base camp, we head to GorakShep.

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Early in the morning, we hike to Kala Patthar, which is a fantastic small peak from which to view the Everest panorama. From the 5,555m altitude, you will be able to revel in sight of the crown jewel of the Himalayas, including Everest, Pumori, Lhotse, etc. We head back to GorakShep and then towards Periche on a descending track.

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We head towards Namche today, passing through the Pangboche village where a museum houses an alleged yeti scalp. Farther ahead, we cross Tengboche, yet another town that has superb panoramic views of the mountains, after which we finally arrive at Namche.

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We bid the mountains farewell as we head to Lukla via Phakding, our original starting point for trekking. We are able to cover more distance on our way back because the route is mostly a descent and at a relatively lower altitude, our lungs get more oxygen and hence, energy. Once in Lukla, the evening is free for leisure activities. We’ll celebrate our success with a few rounds of drinks and some traditional dancing with the locals.

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Today, we fly back to Kathmandu from Lukla, during which we get to enjoy birds-eye view of the marvelous mountains beneath. Once at the Kathmandu airport, you will be transferred to your hotel by Hike Himalyaa staff on a private vehicle.

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This day is free for rest and relaxation, spending some reflecting on the trek. Leisure activities like souvenir shopping, spa and more exploration of the city are definite options. You may also wish to extend your trip to include bungee jumping, rafting, Everest mountain flight and so forth. Later in the evening, you will be invited for a farewell dinner at a typical Nepalese restaurant, which will host cultural shows.

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This is the last day of the trip. You will be transferred to the airport and we wish you safe journey back home.

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