Plan my trek
Plan my trek
5,357 m (Gokyo Ri)
11–13 days from Lukla
Moderate–strenuous
Lukla (2,860 m)
SNP + Khumbu fee
Oct–Nov, Mar–May
The Gokyo Lakes trek follows the Everest Base Camp route as far as Namche Bazaar, then turns north up the quieter Dudh Koshi valley to a chain of turquoise glacial lakes at around 4,700–5,000 m. The reward is Gokyo Ri (5,357 m), a steep hill above Gokyo village with one of the finest mountain panoramas in Nepal: Everest, Lhotse, Makalu and Cho Oyu, four of the world’s six highest peaks, in a single sweep.
Most people walk it in 11 to 13 days from Lukla. That is roughly the same length as the classic Everest Base Camp trek, but the experience is different. You see Everest better from Gokyo Ri than from Kala Patthar, you share the trail with far fewer people, and the high days are spent beside lakes and Nepal’s longest glacier, the Ngozumpa, rather than on the moraine of the Khumbu Glacier.
Days start in pine and rhododendron forest below Namche, pass through Sherpa villages with stone walls, prayer flags and potato fields, and climb above the tree line at Mong La. From Dole onwards the valley opens into yak pastures dotted with seasonal herders’ huts. Gokyo itself is a small cluster of lodges on the shore of the third lake, Dudh Pokhari, with the grey rubble of the Ngozumpa Glacier on one side and the water on the other.
The lakes are a protected wetland: the Gokyo lake system was listed as a Ramsar site in 2007 and lies inside Sagarmatha National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. They are sacred to both Buddhists and Hindus, and during the Janai Purnima full moon (usually August) pilgrims come to bathe in them.
It suits people less well if you have a hard time with altitude, very limited holiday, or a fear of small-plane flights, because the Lukla flight is part of almost every itinerary.
Compared with Everest Base Camp, Gokyo is quieter, slightly lower (Gokyo village sits at about 4,790 m against Gorak Shep at about 5,160 m) and gives the better Everest view, but you do not stand at Base Camp itself. Compared with Annapurna treks such as Poon Hill it is much higher and needs proper acclimatisation. The Annapurna Circuit crosses a higher pass but has road access in places; Gokyo is a pure walking trek with no roads at all beyond Lukla. For an overview of all the options, see our trekking in Nepal guide.
This is the standard 12-day itinerary from Lukla and back, with two nights at Namche and two or three at Gokyo. Add a day in Kathmandu before (permits, gear check, briefing) and at least one spare day at the end in case Lukla flights are cancelled by weather, which is common. Walking times are typical for a steady pace and include short breaks.
| Day | Route | Altitude | Walking time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fly to Lukla (2,860 m), walk to Phakding | 2,610 m | 3–4 h |
| 2 | Phakding to Namche Bazaar, via Monjo park gate | 3,440 m | 5–6 h |
| 3 | Acclimatisation day: Everest View Hotel area, Khumjung | 3,440 m (hike to ~3,880 m) | 3–4 h |
| 4 | Namche to Dole, via Mong La (3,975 m) | ~4,040 m | 5–6 h |
| 5 | Dole to Machhermo | 4,470 m | 3–4 h |
| 6 | Machhermo to Gokyo, past the first and second lakes | 4,790 m | 3–4 h |
| 7 | Gokyo Ri at sunrise, rest of day at Gokyo | 5,357 m (sleep 4,790 m) | 3–4 h |
| 8 | Fourth and fifth lakes, Ngozumpa viewpoints (optional) | up to ~5,000 m | 5–7 h |
| 9 | Gokyo to Dole (or to Phortse Thanga) | ~4,040 m | 4–5 h |
| 10 | Dole to Namche Bazaar | 3,440 m | 5–6 h |
| 11 | Namche to Lukla | 2,860 m | 6–7 h |
| 12 | Fly Lukla to Kathmandu or Ramechhap (Manthali) | 1,400 m | 35 min flight |
Altitudes vary by up to 100 m between maps and sources, especially for Dole and Machhermo. The figures above are the most commonly used ones.
The highlight. A steep, zigzag path climbs about 570 m from the lodges in 2 to 3 hours, and most people leave around 4:30–5:00 am to be on top for sunrise or soon after, when the air is clearest. From the prayer-flag summit you look east over the Ngozumpa Glacier to Everest, Lhotse and Makalu, with Cho Oyu to the north. It is cold on top: take down, gloves and a flask. Descent takes about an hour.
A long but gentle day north of Gokyo along the edge of the glacier. The fourth lake, Thonak Tsho, is the largest in the system. Beyond it the fifth lake (Ngozumpa Tsho) and a ridge known locally as Scoundrel’s Viewpoint look straight across to the Cho Oyu face and the Gyazumpa glacier. Allow 5 to 7 hours return, go with a guide in poor visibility, and only attempt it once you are well acclimatised.
Instead of retracing your steps to Namche, cross the river below Dole to Phortse Thanga and descend through Phortse, a traditional Sherpa farming village, to rejoin the main trail at Kyangjuma. It adds variety and great views of Ama Dablam. Phortse is also a good base for a side trip to Pangboche or Tengboche monastery.
The most popular extension. From Gokyo you cross the Ngozumpa Glacier to Thangnak (about 4,700 m), then climb over the Cho La (5,420 m) to Dzongla and on to Lobuche, Gorak Shep, Everest Base Camp and Kala Patthar. The full Gokyo–Cho La–EBC loop takes 15 to 17 days from Lukla. The pass day is the hardest of the trek (see the difficulty section) and early in spring the upper slope can be icy, so microspikes are often needed. You can also do it in reverse, which lets you acclimatise on the EBC side first.
The Renjo La (5,360 m) links Gokyo with the Bhote Koshi valley via Lungden and Thame, making a loop back to Namche without retracing your steps. Its western side has some of the best views back over the Gokyo lakes to Everest. It is usually crossed from Gokyo westwards (5 to 7 hours to Lungden). Together with the Cho La and Kongma La it forms the Three Passes trek, typically 18 to 21 days.
With limited time, some trekkers skip the fifth-lake day and walk Namche–Dole–Machhermo–Gokyo in four days, climbing Gokyo Ri the morning after arrival and descending straight away. This 10-day version works for people who acclimatise well but leaves no buffer. We would not cut the Namche rest day or the Dole/Machhermo stops: the rise from Namche to Gokyo is 1,350 m and should not be rushed.
Gokyo is a moderate to strenuous trek. The trails are good and well marked as far as Gokyo, there is no technical climbing, and daily walking times above Namche are often only 3 to 5 hours. What makes it serious is altitude: you sleep at 4,790 m for two or three nights and climb above 5,300 m. Add the Cho La or Renjo La and it becomes strenuous, with a long day over a glaciated pass.
On the standard trek it is Gokyo Ri: an early start in the cold and dark, 570 m of steep climbing in thin air. On the Cho La extension it is the pass day from Thangnak to Dzongla, which typically takes 7 to 9 hours. You scramble up a boulder slope, cross a short glacier section near the top that can be icy, then descend a steep, loose rocky path. This is where many of the minor injuries on the circuit happen. Start before dawn and go with a guide if you have not crossed a glaciated pass before.
You need to be able to walk for 6 hours on consecutive days with a 6–8 kg day pack (more if you have no porter). Start training 8 to 12 weeks ahead: long weekend hill walks, stair or step sessions with a weighted pack, and two or three cardio sessions a week. Our Everest Base Camp training plan applies just as well here.
Above 3,000 m the usual guideline is to raise your sleeping altitude by no more than 300–500 m a day and to take a rest day for every 1,000 m or so gained. The standard itinerary follows this: Namche (3,440 m) twice, then Dole (~4,040 m), Machhermo (4,470 m) and Gokyo (4,790 m). Machhermo has a Himalayan Rescue Association (HRA) aid post, usually staffed in the main seasons, that gives free altitude talks in the afternoon.
Drink plenty, walk slowly, avoid alcohol until you are descending, and tell your guide about any headache, nausea, dizziness or unusual breathlessness. Read our guide to altitude sickness in the Everest region before you go.
The Everest region uses its own permit system and does not need a TIMS card. You need two permits, plus a third only if you walk in from Jiri.
| Permit / fee | Cost for foreigners | Where to get it |
|---|---|---|
| Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality entry fee | NPR 3,000 (about £17) | Lukla or Monjo (not sold in Kathmandu) |
| Sagarmatha National Park entry fee | NPR 3,000 + 13% VAT = NPR 3,390 (about £19) | Nepal Tourism Board office, Kathmandu, or Monjo park gate |
| Gaurishankar Conservation Area (Jiri or Salleri walk-in only) | NPR 3,000 (about £17) | Kathmandu |
| TIMS card | Not required | n/a |
The municipality fee rose from NPR 2,000 to NPR 3,000 for most foreign visitors in July 2024; SAARC and Chinese nationals pay NPR 2,000 and children under 10 are exempt. In 2026 the municipality fee is issued as a digital trek card with a QR code that may be scanned at checkpoints such as Namche. Both fees are usually paid in cash in rupees, so carry enough. Fees change often; check at the counter or with your operator before you go.
Since 1 April 2023 the Nepal Tourism Board has required foreign trekkers in Nepal’s national parks and conservation areas to trek with a licensed guide arranged through a registered agency. The Everest region is the main exception: Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality, which controls the Khumbu, said it would not enforce the rule, and independent trekkers have continued to walk to Gokyo and Base Camp since then.
That position has never been fully settled in national law. Some 2026 reports describe stricter questioning of solo trekkers at Lukla and Monjo. Treat solo trekking here as permitted but not guaranteed, and check the latest position before you travel. Whatever the rules, a guide is a real safety asset on the Cho La, Renjo La and the glacier crossing, and our trips always use licensed guides.
| Style | Approximate cost | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Independent teahouse trek | £35–55 a day on the trail, plus flights and permits | Room, three meals, hot drinks, a few extras like charging and showers |
| Guide and porter hired locally | Add roughly £45–65 a day for both | Licensed guide plus one porter shared between two trekkers |
| Land-only guided package, 12–14 days | Roughly £1,000–1,800 per person | Permits, Lukla flights, lodges, meals, guide, porter, Kathmandu transfers |
The best months are October and November, followed by March to May. Gokyo is quieter than Base Camp at any time of year, which makes the shoulder months (late September, early December) attractive if you can cope with colder nights.
| Months | Weather | Crowds | Views |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan–Feb | Very cold, clear; −15 °C or lower at night at Gokyo | Very quiet; some lodges closed | Excellent but snow can block Cho La |
| Mar–Apr | Warming, mostly dry; afternoon cloud; rhododendrons below Namche | Busy, peaking in April (Everest expedition season) | Good, hazier by late April |
| May | Warmest; pre-monsoon cloud and showers build | Moderate | Clear mornings, cloudy afternoons |
| Jun–Aug | Monsoon: rain below Namche, cloud, leeches, flight cancellations | Very quiet | Poor; occasional clear spells |
| Sep | Monsoon clearing in the second half | Building | Improving, still some cloud |
| Oct–Nov | Stable, dry, cold nights (−5 to −10 °C at Gokyo) | Busiest months | Best of the year |
| Dec | Cold and dry, short days | Quiet | Very clear |
Winter (December to February) is a real option for experienced trekkers with good gear: skies are often perfectly clear and the trail is empty. The Cho La and Renjo La can be closed by snow, though, so keep the standard out-and-back route as your plan. Monsoon trekking is possible but views are rare and Lukla flights are frequently cancelled.
For a wider look at seasons across the country, see the best season to travel in Nepal.
Every night is spent in a teahouse (a family-run trekking lodge). Standards drop as you go higher, but the Gokyo trail is well served and you will not need a tent.
Expect a simple twin room with two beds, a foam mattress, a pillow and sometimes a blanket. Walls are thin plywood and rooms are unheated. In Lukla and Namche many lodges have rooms with attached bathrooms and some have electric blankets. From Dole upwards toilets are usually shared, often squat style, and may freeze at night. Rooms are cheap, typically NPR 500–1,500 (about £3–9), sometimes free if you eat your meals at the lodge. Gokyo lodges fill up in October, so a guide or operator who books ahead helps.
The dining room has a central stove, usually burning yak dung higher up, and is the only warm place in the evening. Menus are long and similar everywhere: dal bhat (rice, lentils and curry, with refills), noodle soups, fried rice, pasta, potatoes, pancakes, porridge and eggs. Dal bhat is the best value and the most reliable. Budget around NPR 4,000–6,500 (about £23–37) a day for three meals and hot drinks, at the higher end at Gokyo. Meat is carried up from below and is best avoided above Namche.
Charging costs roughly NPR 300–700 per device per charge at higher lodges, sometimes free in Namche. Bring a power bank and keep batteries warm in your sleeping bag. Wifi is sold through prepaid data cards (Everest Link and similar) that work in most villages, including Gokyo, at a few thousand rupees for a data bundle; speeds vary. Nepal Telecom and Ncell mobile data works in Lukla, Namche and patchily higher up.
Hot showers are gas- or solar-heated and cost roughly NPR 500–1,000 above Namche. Many people stop showering above Machhermo because it is so cold; a bowl of hot water and wet wipes are the practical alternative.
Do not drink untreated tap or stream water. Plastic bottles are discouraged in Sagarmatha National Park and expensive high up. Bring a filter or purification tablets and refill from lodge taps, or buy boiled or filtered water from lodges and refill stations, typically NPR 100–300 a litre depending on altitude. Aim for 3–4 litres a day.
Acute mountain sickness (AMS) is the main risk. Mild symptoms such as headache and poor sleep are common at Machhermo and Gokyo. If symptoms worsen, or you show signs of HAPE (breathlessness at rest, a wet cough) or HACE (confusion, loss of coordination), descend immediately: even 300–500 m can make a big difference. The HRA post at Machhermo can advise. Helicopter evacuation from Gokyo to Kathmandu is routine in good weather but depends on visibility and insurance approval.
Sudden snowfall can close the passes and hide the path across the Ngozumpa Glacier, whose surface shifts each season. Stay on the marked route and do not cross the glacier or a pass alone in cloud. Watch for yaks and mule trains on narrow paths: always step to the uphill side to let them pass. Read more in our safety tips for trekking in Nepal.
Lukla’s short, sloping runway is one of the most demanding in the world, and flights only operate in good visual conditions. Delays of a day or more are common, especially in spring afternoons and the monsoon. Build in spare days and avoid tight international connections.
You need a policy that explicitly covers trekking to at least 5,500 m (6,000 m if you plan any extension beyond the passes) and helicopter rescue. Many standard policies stop at 2,000–4,000 m. See do I need travel insurance for trekking.
At the time of writing (October 2026) the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office does not advise against travel to Nepal. Its main current warning concerns flooding and landslides after the 26 August 2026 floods in Rasuwa district and nearby areas, which are well away from the Khumbu. Kathmandu saw serious anti-government unrest in September 2025; the situation has since settled, but protests can still occur. Check the latest FCDO advice for Nepal before you book and again before you fly.
Porters carry most loads in the Khumbu, often in cold conditions. Choose an operator that limits porter loads (around 20–25 kg for two trekkers’ bags is common practice), provides proper clothing, footwear, insurance and shelter, and pays fair wages. Tip at the end of the trek; in practice 10–15% of the guide and porter cost is a common guideline.
Almost everyone starts the trek in Lukla (2,860 m). There is no road into the Khumbu, so you either fly, take a helicopter or walk in from the road heads further south.
| Route | Time | Approximate cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flight Kathmandu–Lukla | About 35 min | US$236–240 (about £180) one way | Off-peak months; 10 kg hold + 5 kg hand baggage |
| Drive Kathmandu–Ramechhap (Manthali), then fly to Lukla | 4–6 h drive + 20 min flight | Same flight fare, plus a shared or private vehicle | Used in peak spring and autumn months |
| Shared helicopter Kathmandu–Lukla | About 1 h | Often US$500+ per seat | Fallback when planes are grounded |
| Jeep to Salleri or Thamdanda, then walk | 1–2 days drive + 3–4 days walk | Cheap transport, extra lodge nights | Avoids flights; adds Gaurishankar or local fees |
To ease congestion at Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan International Airport, the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal has moved most Lukla flights to Manthali airport in Ramechhap district during peak seasons since 2019. In practice this usually covers roughly March to May and September to November, but the exact dates are announced each season, sometimes at short notice. In autumn 2026, for example, Manthali–Lukla flights were stepped up from late September.
When the shift is in force you leave Kathmandu around 1–3 am for the drive of roughly 130 km, which normally takes 4 to 6 hours and can take longer where the road is damaged. Flights from Manthali to Lukla take about 20 minutes. Your operator usually arranges a shared vehicle. If you would rather avoid the night drive, a helicopter from Kathmandu is the alternative.
Flights out of Lukla leave in the morning, so you stay your last night in Lukla. Confirm your seat with the airline office or your operator the evening before. If you landed in Manthali, you will usually fly back there and drive to Kathmandu, arriving in the afternoon. For your time in the capital before and after, see our Kathmandu guide.
The old expedition approach from Jiri, or the shorter walk-in from Salleri or Thamdanda in the Solu region, takes 3 to 6 days to reach Phakding or Lukla. It improves acclimatisation and avoids the flight altogether. See our Solukhumbu guide for the lower valleys.
Lukla flights limit you to 15 kg in total, so pack light. Porters usually carry one duffel per trekker (about 10–12 kg); you carry a day pack with water, layers and snacks.
Good-quality down jackets and sleeping bags can be rented cheaply in Thamel, Kathmandu. Our full Everest Base Camp packing list works for Gokyo too.
Gokyo is easy to combine with other routes in the Khumbu, and with the rest of Nepal before or after.
Plan your Gokyo Lakes trek with Get Lost Forever. We work with licensed local guides in the Khumbu, build in acclimatisation and flight-delay days, and keep our advice current on Lukla flights and permits. Tell us your dates and fitness and we will suggest the right route. Start planning your trip.
Most itineraries take 11 to 13 days from Lukla and back, or about 14 to 15 days including Kathmandu and a spare day for flight delays. Adding the Cho La to Everest Base Camp makes it 15 to 17 days from Lukla.
It depends what you want. Gokyo Ri gives a better view of Everest than Kala Patthar, the trail is much quieter and the lakes are spectacular. Everest Base Camp has the famous destination and the Khumbu Icefall. If you can spare a few extra days, cross the Cho La and do both.
Gokyo Ri is usually given as 5,357 m (17,575 ft), although some maps show figures up to about 5,380 m. Gokyo village is at about 4,790 m, so the climb is roughly 570 m and takes 2 to 3 hours.
Nepal’s licensed-guide rule from April 2023 applies to most trekking areas, but the local Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality has allowed independent trekkers in the Everest region. The position is not fully settled and checkpoints have reportedly become stricter, so check before you go. A guide is strongly recommended for the Cho La, Renjo La and glacier crossings.
You need the Sagarmatha National Park entry permit (NPR 3,000 plus VAT, about NPR 3,390) and the Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality entry fee (NPR 3,000). A TIMS card is not required in the Everest region.
It is moderate to strenuous. Daily walking is 3 to 7 hours on good trails, but you sleep at about 4,790 m and climb above 5,300 m, so acclimatisation matters more than speed. Reasonable fitness and a sensible itinerary are enough for most healthy adults.
The protected Gokyo wetland includes 19 lakes, but trekkers usually talk about six main ones strung along the Ngozumpa Glacier. Gokyo village sits on the third, Dudh Pokhari; the fourth, Thonak Tsho, is the largest.
Yes. The Cho La (5,420 m) links Gokyo with Dzongla and Lobuche on the Base Camp trail. It is a long, steep day with a short glacier section, and microspikes are often needed in spring and winter.
In peak seasons (roughly March to May and September to November) most Lukla flights depart from Manthali airport in Ramechhap, a 4 to 6 hour drive from Kathmandu. Outside those months they usually fly from Kathmandu. The exact dates are announced each season.
As a rough guide, independent trekkers spend about £35–55 a day on the trail plus around £360 for return Lukla flights and about £36 in permits. Land-only guided packages are typically £1,000–1,800 per person.
October and November give the clearest, most stable weather, followed by March to May. December to February is clear but very cold, and the passes may be snowbound. June to August is monsoon, with cloud and frequent flight cancellations.
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