Gokyo Lake to Everest Base Camp Trek

• Majestic view of Everest, Makalu and Lhotse, and other Himalayan mountains.
• Visit the turquoise Gokyo Lakes, a height above 4500 meters.
• Trek through Sherpa villages and vibrant local culture.
• Climbing Gokyo Ri for panoramic mountain views.
• Explore the Ngozumpa Glacier, the queen glacier of Nepal.
• Scenic trekking through lush forests and alpine meadows.
• A less crowded choice for the Everest Base Camp Trek.
• Crossing Cho La Pass and continuing on the amazing historical Everest Base Camp Trek is feasible.

Price includes

• Kathmandu Airport – Hotel – Airport transfer by Private vehicle
• Three Meals (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner) during the trek
• Tea and Coffee during the trek
• Twin Sharing Accommodation at Kathmandu at 3 star hotel with breakfast
• Twin sharing accommodation during the trek
• National Park Entry Fee, Local Government Entry fee
• Domestic Flight from Kathmandu/Ramechhap to Lukla and Return
• 1 Experienced guide for the group of 2 to 10  and assistant guide for a group above 10
• One porter assigned for two people to carry luggage
• Our Staff’s daily meal, wage, equipment, insurance and allowances
• First aid kit with high-altitude medicines
• Duffel bag and Sleeping bag  (Must be returned after completion of the trek)
• Trek completion certificate (Upon request)
• Our Service Charges

Trip Essential Information

Difficulty of Gokyo Lakes Trek to Everest Base Camp

Gokyo Lakes Trek is categorized as moderate to complex 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. 

Preventing altitude sickness requires physical fitness and a decrease in walking speed. Indeed, by the time one gets to the top, the extraordinary views of Everest, Lhotse, and the ranges behind are worth the effort.

Altitude Sickness During  Gokyo Lakes Trek

The Gokyo Lakes Trek is a high-altitude trek that ends at Gokyo Ri (5,357 m). The higher the altitude, the more likely trekkers are to experience symptoms of altitude sickness, such as headache, vertigo, and nausea. 

Most trekkers should be prepared to pre-plan at least 1-2 days of rest for 100% acclimatization at significant trek breaks on the route, such as Namche Bazaar or Do le.

The inability to adapt to oxygen (hypoxia) at altitude directly relates to the influence of altitude sickness (elevation sickness). Hydration, nutrition, and avoiding excessive exertion are critical to minimise risk. 

There is an urgent need for a lower altitude to be descended if even one or more of the above symptoms persist, and medical treatment needs to be sought.

Despite the trail’s difficulty due to gradients, adequate acclimatization and preparation make it manageable enough for most trekkers to complete the hike.

Hiking at altitude demands good 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 endurance-based, but its more challenging days at altitude are pretty demanding.

Due to exercise preceding travel, physiological conditioning may increase endurance and provide something to look forward to for the journey.

Food during the Gokyo Lakes to Everest Base Camp Trek

Food is provided during the Gokyo Lakes trek, a blend of Sherpa ethnic food, typical Western food, and other cuisines.

The menu includes food selections such as dal bhat (a mixture of lentils and rice), momos (dumplings), mixed vegetables, and chicken curry. 

As the food supply increases, the more remote the level, the more restricted the food selection for consumption, but the more basic items that can be eaten still exist.

The further you climb the food range, the more comfortable it becomes. In certain circumstances, a broad range of food is scaled down to dal bhat, noodle purées, and at least potatoes.

Most tea houses have this simple menu, which includes food and snacks such as chocolate bars, cookies, and energy drinks. 

Adequate hydration during hiking is also a significant factor; hence, the amount of water and tea consumed is substantial. Some trekkers also use water purifying tablets to sanitize drinking water safely. 

However, there is not necessarily much variation in what is consumed in the Everest region. Still, it supplies the energy for the climb and is a culturally rich part of the experience.

Gokyo Lakes to Everest Base Camp 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 resting places 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 significant role in Nepal, in addition to trekking, 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.

Typical Day During EBC and Gokyo Lakes Trek

You will wake up around 6-7 a.m. After breakfast, you will begin your trek. Lunchtime is mainly in the afternoon, usually at a village or roadside tea stall.

The stopover is brief yet tolerable, so hikers can get some fresh air, drink some drinks, maybe eat, and then return home. 

In the late afternoon, say midday, the walk continues—a further 3-4 hours of relatively low-pace movement up or down after the itinerary’s completion point.

As the altitude increases, the trekking days may be harrowing; however, the spectacle is ever more rewarding.

At lunchtime, trekkers arrive at their daily endpoint, usually a tea chalet or a guest lodge where they can rest. The evening is best for chilling out, as 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 next day’s commencement at sunrise.

Permits For EBC and Gokyo Lakes Trek

To trek to Everest Base Camp (EBC) and Gokyo Lakes, you need a Sagarmatha National Park permit and a Khumbu Pasang 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 to hire a tour with a trip to Gokyo Lakes and The Everest Base Camp; one should book travel insurance.

Therefore, adequate insurance services for travellers should cover medical expenses, operations, luggage loss, and trip cancellation. 

For instance, being insured for high-land trekking is helpful because all the complications that may occur at height require helicopter evacuation. The insurance policy shall be correctly executed in case of altitude sickness and rescue.

Everest Base Camp Gokyo Lakes Trek Cost

The cost of a Gokyo Lakes Trek can vary by season and trekking distance (budget or luxury, etc.). Budget treks will likely cost between $700 and $1200 per person, including permit fees, guides, porters, meals, and accommodation fees.

The expense tends to be between $2000 and $3000, or slightly higher, depending on the 5-star hotel, meals, and other provisions. 

Best Time for Everest Base Camp Gokyo Lakes Trek

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

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 most breathtaking views of the Himalayas are captured.

Relatively favourable conditions and average temperatures favour the trek. There is little wilting this monsoon season, making the trails dry, and the trekking conditions are also quite good.

Spring (March to May): 

Gokyo Lakes Trek also runs into winter, as with many other good seasons. The weather is good, and rhododendron flowering plants cover the tracks, making them pleasant to walk on.

The sky is blue, with a beautiful view of the mountainscapes. It’s another busy season for hikers, resulting in more people on the trail.

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 now. However, winter is a trek only for experienced hikers to the Gokyo Lakes Trek.

Monsoon (June to August): 

The monsoon season is the worst time to trek in Gokyo Valley because of the continuous rains. During these months, the tracks are muddy, wet, and slippery.

Landslide risk is also present in some regions with greater susceptibility to land sliding. It is proposed that it is better not to climb during monsoons.

Drinking Water in Everest Base Camp Gokyo Lakes Trek

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

Many trekkers also refill reusable water bottles to reduce plastic waste. Drink lots of water to avoid dehydration at altitudes where the air is arid and thin.

WiFi, Electricity, and Communication

WiFi and electricity are easy to get in the Everest Base Camp Gokyo Lakes Trek, mostly at tea houses during the Gokyo Lakes trek, where their presence drops rapidly at higher elevations. 

WiFi is available cheaply (predominantly in the larger hamlets, such as Namche Bazaar and Gokyo). However, the connection may be slow or unreliable. 

Electricity is usually supplied by solar power or generators. However, it is recommended that you always carry a power bank to charge your devices.

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

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