Gokyo Lake Trek

Gokyo Lakes Trek Overview

The Gokyo Lakes Trek is one of the least challenging treks in the Himalayas in Nepal. It takes you to a picture of the wonderful view of the Gokyo Lakes – or a series of blue waters sitting at the base of glaciated limestone lakes. 

You will have a view of Everest, Makalu, Lhotse and all the rest. It is an EBC route option, and, in fact, it is almost the same scene but with fewer crowds.

This covers the town of Lukla to Sherpa villages, through forest and the plains. They get to learn some culture and hospitality of the people in the region as they proceed. Full day walking brings the walker to Gokyo, the starting point of the four main Lakes. Here are splendid view of the accompanying mountain and the Ngozumpa glacier, the longest glacier in Nepal.

Further up, the destination is Gokyo Ri which is an alpine town station with some excellent view of surrounding hollows or lakes. From here you will be able to see the whole Himalayan range with the Everest and many others peaks. 

The challenge will be the altitude because the hike is moderate but because it brings people to the stature of the Himalayas without leaving the comfort of their resident valley, then it is worth.

The Gokyo Lakes Trek is not a simple hike, despite containing elements of hike activity. However, it’s also the opportunity to learn about Sherpa people. Namche Bazaar, Dole, and so on, the villages through which the track passes in the Khumjung region, are also traditional places, and they provide a general idea of real village life in the local area on a day-to-day basis. 

Crossing the city, one will be able to see Buddhist wats, prayer flags and old Chedi. Such cultural activities provided an extra dimension of beauty to the climb and turned the experience into one of its own kind.

About Gokyo Lakes

The Gokyo Lakes are a set of six glacial lakes located in the Everest region of Nepal. These lakes are known for photographs of the most extraordinary turquoise waters and what lurks [beings that live within] the snow. Lakes at high altitudes (4700 to 5000 m) are pure natural beauty for which a hiker could reflect during a trail.

The main lakes of Gokyo are: Gokyo Lake, Tanjung Lake, Longpongo Lake, Taboche Lake, Ngozumpa Tsho and Rakshay Tsho. More than just a scenic spot, these lakes are religiously significant to the Sherpa as aboriginal people. 

Difficulty of Gokyo Lakes Trek

Gokyo Lakes Trek is categorized as moderate to hard due to its high altitude and slopes.  Perhaps the most challenging part of the route is Gokyo Ri (5,357 m), a viewpoint. Climbing is also severe and arduous with altitude. 

Prevention of altitude sickness demands physical fitness and decrease in walking speed. Certainly, by the time one gets to the top the extraordinary view of Everest, Lhotse and the ranges behind all pretty good for the effort required.

Altitude and Sickness of Gokyo Lakes Trek

The Gokyo Lakes Trek is an extremely high-altitude trek, culminating at Gokyo Ri (5,357 m). The higher trekkers go, the more likely they are to be affected by symptoms of altitude sickness, such as headache, vertigo and nausea. 

It is said that all members of the majority of trekkers should be prepared to pre-plan at least 1-2 days of rest for 100% acclimatization at major trek breaks on the route, i.e., Namche Bazaar or Do le.

Lack of ability to adapt to oxygen (hypoxia) at altitude has a direct relation to the influence of altitude sickness (elevation sickness). Hydration, nutrition, and avoidance of excessive exertion are critical in order to minimize risk. 

There is an urgent need for a lower altitude to be descended if even 1 or more of the above symptoms persist, and medical treatment needs to be sought. Despite the difficulty of the trail due to gradients, with adequate acclimatization and preparation, it is manageable enough for the vast majority of trekkers to complete the trail hike.

Hiking at altitude demands a good level of physical fitness and psychological preparedness for acclimatization to potential fatigue. 

Not only is Gokyo Lakes Trek a physically demanding if not even exhausting experience, and it is endurance based, but its more challenging days at altitude are quite demanding. Physiological conditioning, due to exercise preceding travel, may result in increases in endurance and provide something to look forward to for the journey.

Food during the Gokyo Lakes Trek

There is a provision of food served for the period of the Gokyo Lakes trek, a blend of Sherpa ethnic food with typical Western food and other cuisines. A menu for food selection is present on the bottom floor, including dal bhat (mixture of lentils and rice), momos (dumplings), mixed vegetables and/or chicken curry, etc. 

They are not only nutritionally and calorically matched meals but also, at the end of the day, supply the energy to make the long journey. The more remote level, the more restricted the selection of food for consumption as the food supply increases, but the more basic items that can be eaten still exist.

The further you climb the food range, the more comfortable it is and, in certain circumstances, a broad range of food is scaled down to dal bhat, noodle purées, and at least potatoes. The majority of the trailside tea houses have this kind of simple menu with food and snacks like chocolate bars, cookies, energy drinks, and such. 

Although the spectrum of food quality available at the drive-through is less broad than that available in a small town, the pull is there if calories and nutrients can be “consumed” to power the travel.

Adequate hydration during hiking is also a major factor, and hence an amount of water and the consumption of tea is reported to be significant. Water purifying tablets are also used, e.g., by some trekkers, to safely sanitize drinking water, etc. 

There is, however, not necessarily a lot of variation in what is consumed in the Everest region, but it supplies the energy for the climb and is a culturally rich part of the experience.

Gokyo Lakes Trek Accommodation

At the Gokyo Lakes Trek, accommodation is based on tea houses, which are small lodges, providing a very simple but very comfortable one. Tea rooms are usually outfitted with a furniture bed, which can be moved, and a shared bathroom. 

Rooms are small, clean, almost certainly have a wooden floor and are, per definition, equipped with an extremely large vitrine in the direction of a mountain or a village. Although basic facilities are available, they are adequate for trekkers who wish to stay close to safe, comfortable places so that they can rest after a hard day of walking.

At lower parts of the trek, e.g., Namche Bazaar or Dole, tea houses have better facilities (wet laundry facilities including the possibility at the tea houses to wash clothes together with linen laundry with washing points for an electronic device). 

Tea houses play a major role, in addition to trekking, in Nepal, not only as a place of refuge, comfort and belonging for trekkers who trek themselves but also for trekkers who have trekked with others from around the world.

Gokyo Lakes Trek Distance

The shortest distance travelled by the walks depends on the path selected and the path already travelled (the total distance walked in the trek is 70-80 km or 43-50 miles), and the option to change the trek route as well. It is 10-12 days in duration, and the daily distance between subjects is 6-10 km. 

Trekking starts in Lukla and goes through villages (Namche Bazaar, Dole, and Machhermo), ending in Gokyo Lakes. Despite the medium length of roads, caused by terrain and a topographical limitation of the world, the road surfaces are extremely rough.

Typical Day During EBC and Gokyo Lakes Trek

You will wake up around 6-7 in the morning. Then after having the breakfast you will begin your trek. Lunchtime is mainly in the afternoon and in the village or roadside tea stall, respectively. The stopover is brief yet tolerable so that hikers can get some fresh air, some drinks, maybe eat and then duck back home. 

In the late afternoon, say mid-day, the walk continues – a further 3-4 hours of, relatively low-pace, movement up or down after the completion point of the itinerary. As the altitude goes up, the trekking days may be tougher; however, the spectacle is ever more rewarding.

Lunchtime trekkers arrive at their daily endpoint, whether a tea chalet or a guest lodge in which they can rest. The evening is best for chilling out; there is an evening meal, and all the trekkers get to know one another. 

Dinnertime is a family tradition of typical Nepali food, like dal bhat or Italian food, which includes pasta and stews/soups. The day will most often (i.e., after a very early bedtime at night) end with the commencement of the next day at sunrise.

Kathmandu to Gokyo Lake Distance

The straight distance is approximately 135 km (84 mi) between Kathmandu and Gokyo Lake. However, as the tour is, in fact, flight and walking, it accordingly is a greater distance walked. Following by air, from the capital city Kathmandu, you fly 138 km (86 mi) to Lukla. 

Permits For EBC and Gokyo Lakes Trek

Trekking to the Everest Base Camp (EBC) and Gokyo Lakes Trek must be accomplished with a Sagarmatha National Park Permit and a KhumbuPasang Lhamu Rural Municipality Permit. 

These permits are necessary for the site, Sagarmatha zone, where the two treks are situated. The Sagarmatha National Park Permit is around NPR 3,000 (foreign hikers), and the Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Permit is around NPR 2,000 (hikers). Such permits are on offer in Kathmandu or at the Monjo border point before entry into the national park.

Travel Insurance

It’s advisable hiring a tour with a trip to Gokyo Lakes and The Everest Base Camp; one should book travel insurance. So, the adequate insurance service for traveller should be medical, operations, loss of luggage, and trip cancellation. 

For instance, it is useful to be insured for high-land trekking because all the complications that may occur at height require helicopter evacuation. Insurance policy shall be correctly executed just in case of altitude sickness and rescue.

Gokyo Lakes Trek Cost

Gokyo Lakes Trek Cost can differ by season, distance of trekking (budget or luxury and etc). Budget treks are likely to cost between $700 to $1200 per person including the permit fees, guide, porter, meals and accommodation fees. The expense tends to reach up to $2000 to $3000, or slightly higher, depending on the 5 star hotel, meals and other provisions. 

Best Time to Trek Gokyo Lakes

The Gokyo treks are also best to be done in the autumn seasons (September-November) and the spring seasons (March-May).

Autumn (September to November): 

Trekking in Nepal is most popular in the autumn season. The days are warm, the nights are cold, and, therefore, the best and breathtaking views of the Himalayas are captured best. It has relatively favourable conditions and average temperatures to favor the trek. This monsoon there is no much wilting making the trails dry and trekking conditions are also quite good.

Spring (March to May): 

As is the case for many other good seasons, Gokyo Lakes Trek is also the season into the winter. The weather is good, and the tracks are covered by rhododendron flowering plants, so they are pleasant to walk on. The sky is blue, and there is a beautiful view of the mountainscapes. It’s still another busy season for hikers, which, therefore, results in more people being on the trail.

Other Seasons: 

Winter (December to February): 

Winter’s weather is cold, especially in the high elevations, and the track can get icy with deep snow. The climate is peaceful and quiet for the trekking season, even if there are relatively few trekkers at this time. However, winter is a trek only for experienced hikers to the Gokyo Lakes Trek.

Monsoon (June to August): 

Monsoons are the worst time to go on Gokyo Valley trekking, due to continuous rains, and consequently the tracks are muddy and wet and slippery. Landslide risk is also present in some regions with greater susceptibility to land sliding. Mathematically, it is proposed that it is better not to climb during monsoons.

Drinking Water

Hydration is especially crucial for the Gokyo Lakes Trek. Bottled water is provided along the route, but is also better to treat the water with water purification tablets or a water filter to turn the water potable. 

A great number of trekkers also refill reusable water bottles in a bid to reduce the amounts of plastic waste. In order to avoid dehydration, for example, at altitude, where air is extremely dry and thin, drink lots of water.

WiFi, Electricity, and Communication

WiFi and electricity are easy to get in Everest region, for the most part, at tea houses during the Gokyo Lakes trek, where their presence drops off rapidly at higher elevations. 

WiFi is available at a low price (predominantly in the hamlets, which are larger in size, e.g., Namche Bazaar and Gokyo). However, the connection may be slow or unreliable. 

Electricity is usually supplied in the form of solar power or generators. However, it is recommended to always carry a power bank in order to charge the devices.

Communication could be by means of compromised links in remote areas. However, voice calls and message transmission through mobile networks like Ncell can be made use of in some parts of the country.