Gokyo Valley Trek is a fine alternative to the Everest Base Camp Trek which climbs the valley to the west of Everest to the village of Gokyo and five sacred lakes on the moraine beside the Ngozumpa Glacier. This two week spectacular climb almost as high as the Everest Base Camp Trek offers similarly jaw dropping Everest views, but the trails are less crowded and quieter with traditional Sherpa villages serving local meals to legions of hungry trekkers. The trail follows the Dudhkoshi River to its source – a series of emerald green lakes. Gokyo is a Sherpa village that lies besides the largest of these lakes. From Gokyo we climb to Gokyo Ri (5360m) for a heart stopping view over Everest, Lhotse, Cho Oyu and Makalu, Cholatse and Taboche.
As Everest Base Camp Trek has Kala Patthar at an elevation of 5545m , Gokyo Valley Trek has Gokyo Ri at an elevation of 5360m on the north side of Dudh Pokhari which is an epic vantage point , offering the kind of view over Everest that is normally reserved for balloonists or mountaineers.
In this trek as well, we fly from Kathmandu to Lukla and start our trek onwards to Namche Bazaar (3,440m), the trading center of Khumbu Region. We take a days rest for acclimatization in Namche. From Namche Bazaar, 3 days trek will take us to Gokyo, where we take another day of rest for acclimatization and exploring around. The next day we climb Gokyo Ri (5360m) for the superb views of Cho Oyu, Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, Cholatse and Taboche, with the Ngozumpa Glacier cutting across in front like a massive tear in the landscape. We then walk downhill to Gokyo (4750m).
The Gokyo Valley Trek is specially designed for those who prefer a less crowded trail with only basic lodge facilities and in this trail one will miss out most of the famous monasteries of Khumbu region.
Day 01: Arrival in Kathmandu (1,350m/4,428ft)
Day 02: Kathmandu: Sightseeing and trek preparation
Day 03: Fly to Pokhara (823m/2,700ft) and trek to Ulleri (2050m/6725 ft) (30 mins flight, 1 hrs drive, 6 hrs trek)
Day 04: Ulleri to Ghorepani (2,750m/ 9,020 ft) (4-5 hrs trek)
Day 05: Ghorepani to Tadapani (2,700m/8,860ft) with a visit to Poon Hill – (3,210m/10,529ft)-6-7 hrs
Day 06: Tadapani to Ghandruk (1940m/6360 ft) (3-4 hrs)
Day 07: Ghandruk to Pokhara (4 hrs trek and 1 hrs drive)
Day 08: Fly from Pokhara to Kathmandu (30 mins flight)
Day 09: Fly from Kathmandu to Lukla, trek to Phakding (8,700ft) (40 mins flight, 3-4 hrs trek)
Day 10: Phakding to Namche Bazaar (3,440m/11,283ft) (5-6 hrs)
Day 11: Namche Bazaar (3,440 m/11,283 ft) – Acclimatization Day
Day 12: Namche Bazaar to Khumjung (3,810 m/12500 ft) (4 hrs)
Day 13: Khumjung to Tengboche (3,870m/12694ft) (4-5 hrs)
Day 14: Tengboche to Monjo (2,950m/9,676ft) (6-7 hrs)
Day 15: Monjo to Lukla (5-6 hrs)
Day 16: Fly to Kathmandu
Day 17: Final departure – Home Sweet Home
