Gokyo Lakes Trek - 15 Days

Activities: We will meet you at the airport and drive you to your hotel, just relax for the rest of the day to recover from your long journey.

Highlights: Bustling Thamel, an array of restaurants, bars and shops.

Accommodation: Kathmandu 3 star hotel.

Highlights: Pashupatinath, Boudhanath Stupa, Swaymbhunath and Patan Durbar Square, cultural and historical sights of the Kathmandu Valley.

Accommodation: Kathmandu 3 star hotel.

Hours of walking: 3.

Difficulty: Easy.

Elevation reached: 2840m in Lukla and 2610me in Phakding.

Terrain: Flat and downhill, well developed paths, stone steps.

Views on offer: Amazing Himalayan views on approach to Lukla.

Highlights: The breathtaking flight between the mountains.

What’s to see?: The traditional Sherpa people and Buddhist shrines

Accommodation: Basic Teahouse.

Hours of walking: 6.

Difficulty: Moderate.

Elevation reached: 3440m.

Terrain: Rocky and dirt tracks, stone steps, mostly uphill, gradual with some steep inclines.

Views on offer: Spectacular approaching views of Namche Bazaar, snow capped peaks and the river valley.

Highlights: The colourful Sherpa town of Namche Bazaar – the gateway to the high Himalaya and crossing some impressive suspension bridges over the river valley.

What’s to see?: The milky waters of the Dudh Kosi River, thick rhododendron, magnolia and fir tree forests, herds of yaks carrying supplies.

Accommodation: Basic Teahouse.

Hours walking: 4.

Difficulty: Easy – moderate.

Elevation reached: 3962m at Mountain View Hotel, 3790m at Khumkung.

Terrain: Hilly, grassy trails, some steep inclines and flat tracks.

Views on offer: Everest, Lhotse, Lhotse Shar, Taboche Peak and Ama Dablam.

Highlights: Your first sight of Everest!

What’s to see?: Khumjung Edmund Hillary School, Sherpa museum, shops and markets around Namche Bazaar.

Accommodation: Basic Teahouse.

Hours of walking: 4

Difficulty: Moderate.

Elevation reached: 3680m.

Terrain: A mountain pass (Mong La), ridge trail and some rocky inclines.

Views on offer: Snow capped peaks, the Dudh Kosi Valley.

Highlights: Khumjung village and school.

What’s to see?: Mani stone walls and chortens.

Accommodation: Basic Teahouse.

Hours of walking: 5.

Difficulty: Moderate.

Elevation reached: 4470m.

Terrain: Steep inclines, forest paths.

Views on offer: Colorful rhododendron trees and distant mountain peaks.

Highlights: Walking through lush kharkas. (Meadows.)

What’s to see?: The villages of Dole, Lhabarma and Luza.

Accommodation: Basic Teahouse.

Hours of walking: 5.

Difficulty: Moderate to difficult.

Elevation reached: 4790m.

Terrain: Some steep inclines and rocky tracks.

Views on offer: Cho- Oyu and Gyachung Kang amongst other Himalayan giants.

Highlights: Exploring the sacred lakes.

What’s to see?: The reflection of Cho-Oyu and Gyachung Kang reflected in the glistening waters of the lakes, The dudh Pokhari/Khunda. (The third lake.)

Accommodation: Basic Teahouse.

Hours of walking: 8.

Difficulty: Difficult/strenuous.

Elevation reached: 5360m.

Terrain: Uneven, ridge tracks, rocky, uphill and flat trails.

Views on offer: Everest (8848m), Lhotse (8516m), Lhotse Shar (8400m), Nuptse (7855m), Makalu (8481m), Cho-Oyu (8153m) and Gychung Kang. (7922m.)

Highlights: Conquering Gokyo Ri.

What’s to see?: The Ngozumpa Glacier, the Gokyo valley and a ton of towering mountains!

Accommodation: Basic Teahouse.

Hours of walking: 7.

Difficulty: Moderate to difficult.

Elevation reached: 4110m.

Terrain: Glacial paths and steep descents.

Views on offer: The first (Longpongo) and second (Tajung Tso) of the Gokyo Lakes.

Highlights: Returning to lower altitudes! Walking alongside the Nagozumpa glacier.

What’s to see: The villages of Machermo and Luzo.

Accommodation: Basic Teahouse.

Hours of walking: 6.

Difficulty: Easy to moderate.

Elevation reached: 3440m.

Terrain: Descents through forest paths.

Views on offer: Thick forests and a magnificent mountain backdrop.

Highlights: Soaking up the vibrant atmosphere of Namche Bazaar with its array of bars, cafes and restaurants.

What’s to see: Rhododemdron and fir trees, wild mountain goats and the lophophorus bird which is the national bird of Nepal.

Accommodation: Basic Teahouse.

Hours of walking: 7.

Difficulty: moderate.

Elevation reached: 2840m.

Terrain: By the banks of the river, stone steps and some descents and last ascents up to Lukla.

Views on offer: The glistening river amidst a mountain backdrop.

Highlights: Last day of walking in the Khumbu region. Well done, you completed your trip!

What’s to see: Thick forests, an array of birds and some final views of the mountains.

Accommodation: Basic Teahouse.

Highlights: Another breathtaking airplane ride on a twin-engine otter amidst the mighty Himalayas.

Accommodation: 3 star hotel in Kathmandu.

Highlights: Time to shop, relax, get a massage.

Accommodation: 3 star hotel in Kathmandu.

Goodbye and farewell from Nepal!