Gokyo Valley Trek - an Alternative Route to Everest Base Camp Trek
The Gokyo Valley Trek is One of the well-renowned and fascinating mountainous trekking routes in the bewitching Khumbu region of Nepal. Gokyo Valley Trek presents trekkers with a remarkable and once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to gaze at the loveliness of the elegant Himalayas accompanied by several snow-capped mountaintops with the world’s highest peak, Mt. Everest (8,848m) as the focal point; along with exquisite glaciers such as Ngozumpa Glacier, which is the largest glacier in the entire Himalayan range and second-largest on the planet. Gokyo Valley Trekking offers an opportunity to witness mesmerizing Himalayan Vista from Gokyo Ri (5357m) including the world’s highest peaks Mt. Everest (8848.86m), Mt.Makalu (8485m), Mt. Cho Oyu (8188m) and Mt.Lhose (8516m), glaciers lakes, Epic scenery, stay with Sherpa peoples in their tea house and discover their lifestyle and culture.
A scenic 30-minute flight to Lukla takes you to the outlandish Khumbu region. From here onwards, the escapade takes you across the Dudh Koshi Valley brimming with peculiar bio-diversity, classical Buddhist monasteries, and long-established Sherpa settlements. In the end, we arrive at the paragon of Sherpa civilization, Namche Bazaar. This mesmerizing town renders an irresistible outlook incorporating the world’s highest peak, Mt. Everest (8,848m), and other splendid neighboring peaks like Ama Dablam (6,812m), Thamserku (6,623m), Lhotse (8,516m) and Nuptse (7,861m) on your doorstep. We now continue to ascend on the trail, which passes through Phortse Thanga, Machheremo, and finally to Gokyo. At the foothill of Gokyo Ri, Gokyo is one of the highest settlements in the world i.e. positioned on the eastern shore of Dudh Pokhari (the third Gokyo Lake). An outlook of the turquoise lake with the climbing peak of Gokyo as a backdrop is so other-worldly that observers often consider it as ‘Mother Nature’s ultimate imagination’. After capturing the sublime vistas with our cameras and hearts, we eventually trek back to Phortse Thanga, Monjo then Namche Bazaar.
From Namche Bazaar we descend via Manjo and Phakding to Lukla, a charming Sherpa town connected to Kathmandu by air. During the trekking high season, there are no direct flights between Kathmandu and Lukla. An alternative route is from Kathmandu to Ramechhap by car, then by plane to Lukla, and similarly back from Lukla to Kathmandu. If you fly from Ramechhap to Lukla, you need to board the jeep from Kathmandu very early, around 1 am. In the mountains, only flight is available in the morning. Our Gokyo Valley trek will be over in Kathmandu after dropping you at the Kathmandu Airport.
Gokyo Valley Trekking Itinerary
- Day 01: Arrival in Kathmandu (1350m) and transfer to Hotel
- Day 02: Early Morning Flight to Lukla (2840m) and Trek to Phakding (2610m)/ Kathmandu to Ramechhap in a Car/Jeep 145km then flying to Lukla -15 minute and 2 Hours trek to Pokhading (8 Km/4.8 miles)
- Day 03: Phakding to Namche Bazar (3340m)(6/7 hours) (11km/6.8 miles)
- Day 04: Acclimatization Day in Namche Bazar (3340m): Explore around
- Day 05: Namche Bazar to Dole (4200m): 6/7 Hours,( 12 Km/3.5 miles)
- Day 06: Dole to Machhermo (4470m): 5/6 hours (6km/3.7 miles)
- Day 07: Machhermo to Gokyo (4800m): 5/6 hours ( 8km/4.9 miles)
- Day 08: Hike to Gokyo Ri -5357m (3/4 hours): 4 Km/2.4 miles)
- Day 09: Gokyo to Dole (4200 m): 6/7 hours (15 km/8.6 miles)
- Day 10: Dole to Namche Bazar(3440m):5/6 hours (12km/7.4miles)
- Day 11:Namche to Lukla (2860m): 6/7 hours (19km/11.8 miles)
- Day 12: Final Departure
Gokyo Valley Trekking seasons
Generally, Nepal Trekking depends on the season. Like other trekking trails, The Gokyo Valley Trekking also requires the best time. Sometimes even in peak time, the weather is not clear and does not favor the trip very well. Therefore, preparation is the first need for the trek. Please choose the right time, allow some spare days, and prepare your gear perfectly, then surely you will have a wonderful trip forever.
Fall Season (September to November):
This is considered the peak season for trekking in Nepal. The weather is warm, stable, and clear skies however nighttime temperatures drop below freezing in High elevations. This is the busiest period on trail and tea house book up very quickly. If you are traveling during this period, please do not forget to book your Travel in advance.
Spring (March to May):
This is the second-best time for the trek in Nepal. Generally, the weather is warm, the days are a longer and more pleasant time for walking. The skies are clear and stable weather conditions which helps for beautiful photo opportunities. Spring is the flowering season; the views of the mountain and the combination of the flowers look great. As the monsoon period builds toward the end of May, the days become hotter and more humid.
Rainy Season (June to August):
Monsoon is the rainy season in Nepal and it is considered as the off-season for Gokyo Valley Trek. The flight between Kathmandu Lukla is affected due to the bad visibility, heavy rain makes the trail wet, blocked, and slippery. If the weather is good, you may consider the Gokyo Valley Trek during the monsoon but requires additional days for the journey and good preparation.
Winer (December to February):
This is the coldest period on the Mountain. Depending on the elevation, daytime temperatures will be cold, and nighttime temperatures drop well below freezing. Due to the off-season, the trails are much less busy. The highest point of the trek at Gokyo Valley Ri- 5357m, is often blocked with snow and may be closed for days on end. Clouds prevail more frequently, but clear days are still common. If the weather is not bad you may consider winter trekking on the Gokyo Valley trekking.
Gokyo Valley Trekking Permits
Like other trekking regions of Nepal, Gokyo Valley Trek requires some permits to get entry into the Region. Particularly, two types of permits are compulsory to head onward from Lukla and Manjo to the ultimate destination, those are Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality and Sagarmatha National Park Permit respectively. However, there is an additional permit called the TIMS (Trekkers Information Management System) card, which helps with rescue for guides and porters. All three permits are included in the Gokyo Valley Trek package. The necessary documents are a passport copy and a passport-size photo to obtain the permits. The cost for the Gokyo Valley Trek is as mentioned below :
- Sagarmatha National Park Permit fee is per person Rs.3000/USD 25
- Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality Permit fee is per person Rs.2000/USD16
- TIMS (Trekkers Information Management System) Card fee is per person Rs.2000/USD16
Gokyo Valley Trekking Package
The Gokyo Valley Trek package info will help to clear all doubts about our complete Gokyo Valley Package, itinerary, cost, gear, requirements, permits, and formality. Please kindly check the detailed information and do not hesitate to travel with our team, we will try our best for your adventure Holiday!!
Gokyo Valley Trekking Cost for 2025-2026
The breathtaking Gokyo Valley Trek package offers accommodation in Kathmandu and the mountain, food, guide, permits, and transportation as mentioned in the package. This standard package of Gokyo Valley Trek costs from USD1100 to USD1300 per person which depends on the group size. Please do not forget to contact us if you want to travel differently.
- The Gokyo Valley Trekking cost for a single is USD1300
- The Gokyo Valley Trekking cost for the group (2-5 pax) is USD 1200 per person
- The Gokyo Valley Trekking cost for group (6-10 pax) is USD 1100 per person
Airport Transfer
Our package will start from Kathmandu Airport Pick up, and end in Kathmandu Airport after drop off. The airport representative will be present at the Airport upon the plane landing. you will meet them outside the terminal with your name on the Himalayan trekking Path board. Our crew will offer you a flower garland as a gesture of welcome. Thereafter, you will be dropped off at the Hotel in a private car. afterward, our trekking leader will pick you up at the Himalayan Trekking Path office to finalize the trip. While your adventure is over, we provide you with a free airport shuttle service.
Accommodation in Kathmandu
This package included a total of 2 nights' accommodation in Kathmandu at the Deluxe Hotel. The well-decorated hotel will offer comfy beds, air-conditioning, 24-hour hot showers, wifi, an attached bathroom, etc. You can accommodate here one night before the trek and another night after the trek. If you like to extend your night you have to pay an extra fee.
Transport to trailhead:
You are going to the Khumbu area, where only air transport is connected. If there is a direct flight from Kathmandu to Lukla, you can fly in 30 minutes. In high season, direct flights are often disrupted by air traffic, so you have to travel by jeep for 5/6 hours to Ramechhap before flying to Lukla. if we go through Ramechhap we have to depart at 1 am from Kathmandu. Flight to Lukla is only available in the early morning due to wind and clouds. Eventually, in the same way, we can back to Kathmandu after the trip ends. The Gokyo Valley trekking package provides all mentioned transportation for free.
Mountain Accommodation:
Mountain accommodation is included in the Package. You will be staying in local guesthouses/tea houses run by mountain families. Usually, you'll have well-decorated motels where you'll have a comfy bed, warm blankets, and a shared bathroom. There is usually a private bedroom in the lower area. At high altitudes, you may have to share rooms with others, depending on the tourist traffic to the guesthouse. However, some tea houses may not be neat enough, so it is recommended that you bring a sleeping bag with the liner to use for comfort.
Trekking guide:
This package offers a professional Trekking guide, who can speak the English language and has a trekking guide license from Nepal Government. The guide is well-versed in the local culture, as well as the flora and fauna, and can even provide first-aid services. Opting to travel with a local geode is an excellent way to experience firsthand the culture and way of life of the local inhabitants. The guide will handle everything very smoothly.
Trekking Porter
This package does not include a porter, but if you need a porter for your trip, we can help arrange it. The Gokyo Valley Trek is an advanced trek that passes through rocky and rough roads, so traveling with a heavy backpack is not so comfortable. Having a Porter will make your trip much more comfortable than not having a Porter. In addition, we recommend that our customers consider hiring porters to reduce the weight of their backpacks while traveling comfortably and appreciating the stunning natural beauty. The porter can be shared between two hikers and the maximum total weight is 15-20 kg. Also, if you need a porter for your Gokyo Valley Trekking trip, don't hesitate to contact us.
Mountain meals
The Gokyo Valley trek package provides complimentary breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner in the mountains. In this package, you can pick out your meal for breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner from the menu as you like. Meat objects are now not endorsed in the mountain due to hygiene reasons. We hope that you will revel in the meals in the mountains from local to worldwide cuisine. However, you will have breakfast and Dinner at the lodge the place you spend the night, and Lunch you will have on the way to the destination. If you have any pointers or requests concerning meals, please let us know, and we will furnish them as per your interest. Furthermore, we will additionally supply you with veg and vegan foods in the package. Experts also suggest high-altitude trekkers avoid alcohol, caffeinated drinks, hot chocolate, and dairy items.
Travel Insurance
We ask that you bring complete travel insurance for the Gokyo Valley Trek for your safety. It is one of the most magnificent hikes in the Khumbu region, although the trail takes us to altitudes exceeding 5000m via a hard rocky path. You'd rather not consider all of the things that could go wrong on your voyage, but they can and do happen. Travel insurance might save your life as well as your belongings. As a result, we recommend acquiring medical and rescue coverage insurance for the unexpected; it is required before embarking on the Gokyo Valley trip.
Gokyo Valley Trekking: Discover Hidden Gems with Local Guides
For those interested in discovering the untouched beauty of the Gokyo Valley trek, we encourage you to reach out to our team of local experts. We provide competitive pricing, exceptional service, and a highly professional team. Visit our website at www.himalayantrekkingpath.com, email us at info@himalayantrekkingpath.com, or contact us via WhatsApp at +977-9849683092.