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20 days Everest Gokyo Trek
19 Nights, 20 days
About This Trip
This is an outstanding trek visiting the high lush valleys of the Khumbu with time to explore villages and monasteries and to sample the incredible hospitality of the Sherpa people. Adventure begins with a sweeping flight to Lukla. A popular destination which provides a fascinating contrast to the high mountain scapes as we approach nearer. We trek slowly to Phakding our first day and night’s camping spot. Next day then, we trek ahead to the Sherpa capital at Namche Bazaar.
We have time to acclimatize ourselves, before following the quite trail to Gokyo and Khumjung village in the high valley and visiting the ancient Buddhist monastery here. Descending to Khumjung, we are treated to incredible view of Khangtiaga, Thamserku and the Nuptsse – Lhotse wall with the Mt. Everest rearing above. At the Khumjung we camp below Khumbila Peak, home of the patron God of the Khumbu, before making our way through lovely forests towards Pangboche and Thyangboche the main highlights of the adventure. The views along the trail throughout are tremendous, panorama of snow capped chain of mountain ranges to all sides and many more exciting fun and enjoyment on the way.
The Everest region is understandably as one of the most popular and spectacular destinations for walkers, and it offers some of the most fascinating and enjoyable trekking, with beautiful views of the high snow capped peaks of the world, and to the highest spot at Gokyo Ri at 5,357 meters for outstanding breathtaking views of panorama of peaks and its glacier including Mt. Everest at close stone throw distance.
“Nepal: Back on Top of the World”
- Best Season: Mid March to May & mid Sept to November.
- Accommodation: Tea-House / Lodge
- Trek Grade: Moderate to Adventurous.
- Highest Altitude gain: 5,357m at Gokyo Ri
Trip dossier:
Arrive at Kathmandu.1,300m.
On arrival at Kathmandu Tribhuvan International Airport you will be received by our staff and will transfer you to the Hotel, where our guide will give you a brief orientation on the Hotel, Kathmandu, Trekking, do’s and don’t and other related information that you might require while in Nepal.
A day in Kathmandu. 1/2 Day guided tour.
After your first night in Kathmandu, you will be well informed on arrival about the time for your half day guided sightseeing tour in Kathmandu at places of interest.
Fly from Kathmandu to Lukla & trek to Phakding.
25 minutes flight to Lukla 2,800m 9-10km (2 1/2 -3hr walk) to Phakding at 2,652m. Early morning after breakfast you will be transferred from the Hotel to domestic Airport a short drive of 20-30 minutes, after the necessary security formalities (keep your pen-knife-lighter-matches and other sharp cutting items including scissors and other knife in the bigger baggage not in hand bags) board in the smaller twin otter or similar plane for the sweeping panoramic flight to Lukla. On arrival you will be received by our trekking guides. In Lukla you will have time to wander around, while the Sherpa crew sort and divide the load baggage on the Ghopkyo (mix breed of Yak & normal cow, as the Yak cannot survive below 3000m) some loads are carried by porters, lunch hour depending upon the time of arrival at Lukla either in Lukla or few walks farther down enroute to Phakding. The walk is gradual and most of the way, with few ups from Tarhe khola, where you can have a superb view of Kusum-Kangru 6,369m crossing a short suspension bridge, from here after a short climb brings us to the Ghat village, another 11/2hr of gradual walk brings you to Phakding village for the overnight stop near the bank of the Dudh-Kosi river.
Namche Bazaar 3,440m. Approx. 5-6 hrs.
From Phakding after crossing the suspension bridge over the Dudh-Kosi the walk is pleasant with few short uphill and downhill and re-crossing the same river again, with magnificent view of Thermasarkhu 6,608m,from the village of Benkar, cross the long suspension bridge over the Bhote-Koshi river, after the bridge on this busy trail of trekkers and Ghopkyo and porters, finally arrive at a small village of Monjo.
Monjo is situated below the magnificent peak of Thermasharkhu and near the entrance of Sagarmatha National Park. After few minutes walk from Monjo, reaching at Sagarmatha National Park, from here a short descend and a gradual walk brings to the suspension bridge over the Bhote-Koshi river, after the bridge Jorsalle village is reached, the last village and the only place to shop till Namche Bazaar is reached, after a short walk, a second bridge is reached over the same river, the walk is pleasant on the river bed till the last bridge over the Imjatse river is reached, from here the walk is along the winding uphill path all the way to Namche Bazaar, with magnificent view of Kwangde peak and its other sister peaks towards east, with Kusum Kangru on the back as you climb higher, view of Mt.Everest- Nuptse wall, Lhotse and the closer view of Taweche peak can be seen all the way up to Thop Danda, where there’s a resting stone wall for the porters and trekkers few years ago a teahouse existed here, from here another 1-2 hour walk up brings us to the famed most talked about place Namche Bazaar, the colourful houses are situated in an amphitheater U shaped bowl.
Rest Day at Namche Bazaar.
Suggested activities a short walk uphill to the Sagarmatha National Park Headquarter, a magnificent spot perched on top of Namche Bazaar with breathtaking view of the surrounding snow capped giants and the valleys way down, with an interesting museum with all kinds of information regarding the history of the Himalayas, geographic, culture, mountaineering history and existing information on flora and fauna of this region, afternoon at leisure.
Trek to Thame. 3,800m. 5 hrs.
From Namche, our route turns west, contouring the hillside. After reaching the ridge looking Namche down below, walk follows a gradual winding path as we head up the Bhote Kosi valley, once a popular trading route into Tibet. However, this route is quite often used by the Tibetan traders even up to today. Along the way we pass many prayer flags and Mani stones, all indicative of the Tibetan Buddhist culture of this area. The trail passes through Gonglha and Drama and the village of Thomde where one can make a detour and visit the monastery at Mende. After descending to the Bhote Kosi the trail climbs steeply for 45 minutes to Thame village where we camp for the overnight. Here at Thame there are excellent views of Teng Kangpoche and Kwangde and to the north is the Nangpa-la 5,710m pass leading to Tibet. Thame monastery is situated above overlooking the valley and is the important site for the spring celebrations of the Mani Rimdu festival.
Trek to Khunde village 3,800m. 5-6 hrs.
After a great time at Thame, we trace the our route down the Bhote Kosi valley towards just above Namche. We follow the trail to Khunde and Khumjung the largest of the Sherpa villages in the Khumbu area. Our trek leads towards the Syangboche where there is a small airstrip. The first one and an half hour walk is quite strenuous uphill due to high altitude overlooking the magnificent view of Mt. Kwangde, Thermasherkhu and other neighboring peaks with an aerial view of Namche Bazaar down below. On reaching Syangboche, we take a short climb towards the Khunde village situated in the same glacial valley as Khumjung village beneath the sacred Mt. Khumbila 5,761m. A quiet gentle path brings us to the sleepy village of Khunde for the overnight halt. At Khunde, there is a hospital built with the help of Sir Edmund Hillary’s Foundation, we can visit this only hospital of the Khumbu area which is just 15 minutes walk from the campsite.
Trek to Phortse Tenga. 3,900m. 4 hrs.
After a wonderful time here, a slow gentle an hour descend leads to the valley at Khumjung village with time to visit the villages and its old Monastery the one and the only place which has a Yeti scalp. Khumjung also has a High School built with the help of Sir Edmund Hillary. The walk is fairly easy for the first half, from Khumjung the trail leads to an hour downhill joining the main busy trail at Shanasa. On this area there is more chances of seeing the beautiful colourful Danphe pheasant (Impeyan Pheasant) national bird of Nepal and the elusive musk deer, and sometime even herd of Himalayan Thar (mountain goat). From Shanasa, Gokyo route diverts from the main trail towards north. The path climbs gently on the steep rock steps embedded in a narrow cleft in a large boulder; the two trails soon join and continue towards a large Chorten on the top of the ridge at 3,973 metres. This ridge descends from Khumbila 5,716m abode of the patron god Khumbu. From this ridge, the path meanders in a series of switchbacks down a sandy slope to the Dudh Kosi at Phortse Thanghka for our overnight camp.
Trek to Dole. 4,200m. 3-4 hrs.
After Phortse, we continue trek to Dole, from here the trail climbs steeply out of the valley through a patch of rhododendron forest which gives way to juniper and conifers trees. In the spring time, this place will be vivid when all the flowers in bloom. This path passes many summer pastures where the Yak and other cattle graze in this high pastureland. The trek winds through the Tongba village at 3,950m and Gyele at 3,960m and finally arriving at Dole. A superb view of Khumbila and Tawache 6,542m can be seen throughout the walk.
Trek to Machermo 4,410m. 3-4 hrs.
From Dole we climb steadily along the side of the valley, rhododendron forest giving way to scrub juniper as altitude gains gradually. The trail climbs on a fairly level path for one hour to Lhabarma Khraka at 4,325 m and a further an hour to Luza at 4,390m. skirting around a ridge to gain our first views of Machermo village, spread out in the valley below. There is an excellent Swiss chalet style lodge at Machermo, Arriving at Machermo on good time for the overnight halt and camp. We will have time as there are plenty of possibilities for exploration above the village where there is a superb view encompassing Cho Oyo 8,210m and all the mountains that flank the Ngozumba Glacier.
Trek to Gokyo 4,760m. Approx: 4-5hrs.
Today, we head for the holy lakes at Gokyo. We follow a very scenic trail to Pangka 4,545m and then descend slightly, following one of the glacial fed rivers which flow down the west of Ngozumba Glacier. We then climb a steep rocky incline into the ablation valley by the side of the glacier, passing the first lake. We soon arrive at the second lake, crossing the path which heads across the glacier to the Cho -La (another tough route to Loboche and beyond to Everest Base Camp). Coming to the third lake known as Dudh Pokhari and on its east shore is the summer settlement of Gokyo at 4,790 meters. Walking by the side of the lake, the scenery is magnificent with the peak of Cho Oyo and Gyachung Kang reflected in its emerald green waters.
At Gokyo for local hike.
Today we have a rest day and free from packing after breakfast a hike to Gokyo Ri is one of the highlight of the trip, the view around Gokyo itself is marvelous, for the very best panorama we take a hike to Gokyo Ri, a small peak above the lake. Gokyo Ri at 5,357m offers breathtaking views providing a panorama of Cho Oyu, Gyachung Kang, Everest, Lhotse, Cholatse, Twache and far as to Mt. Makalu in the east. A two hours climb brings you to this wonderful spot.
Trek to Na. 4,440m. 3 hrs.
After a wonderful time here at Gokyo a leisure morning as today is a short walk of 2-3 hours. We retrace the journey back on the same way for few hours then our route turns east descending to the village of Na situated at the foot of the Ngozumba glacier.
Trek to Phortse. 3,800m. 5 hrs.
Our trail leads to a descend opposite side of the Dudh Kosi valley to the village of
Phortse. Downhill walk is straight forward following the east side of the valley providing different views of the Khumbu peaks. We enter Phortse at the upper part of the village to camp among the potato fields. Phortse magnificently situated village, beneath steep hills and overlooking the junction of the Dudh Kosi and Imja Khola.
Trek to Thyangboche. 3,865m. 5 hrs.
After a great morning with the view of the surrounding snow capped peaks our route climbs and contours around the west side of the Imjatse Khola valley providing excellent views of Ama Dablam, the Nuptse-Lhotse wall and Everest. The trail initially has some steep drops but the paths are good. We enter Pangboche and after lunch visit the monastery. From Pangboche we head downhill again towards Imjatse River, after crossing the wooden bridge, an easy gradual walk brings you at Pangboche village. After Pangboche an hour descent leads to another bridge over the whipping fast Imjatse River, from here on back to green vegetation and tree-lines, a short half hour gradual climb brings you at Deoboche. From here the path climbs for another half hour to Tyangboche for the overnight stop, a wonderful spot near the Thyangboche Monastery.
Trek to Monjo 2,750m 6hrs via Namche Bazar.
An easy descend of one hour brings you at the bottom at Phunge-Tenga, from here cross the bridge over the Imjatse River. The walk from here leads uphill for half an hour, with a gradual path for a while, again the path winds up for an hour bringing you to the familiar place of Shanasha. The walk continues for another two hours on the winding scenic trail to Namche, after a break here we continue our journey on the same downhill slope to the river crossing the same thrice before we arrive at Monjo for the overnight stop just few minutes further from the Sagarmatha National Park entrance gate.
Trek back to Lukla via Phakding. 5 hrs.
Retrace the journey back to Phakding on the easy winding downhill track following the Dudh Koshi River down streams with few short ups in between.
Walk from Phakding will be very pleasant, except for the last 45 minutes climb after the last final climb, its more of a stroll leading us back to the busy village of Lukla for the last overnight camp of this memorable adventure.
Fly Lukla-Kathmandu.
The flight time to Kathmandu is scheduled for morning normally, because of the wind in the afternoon. Sometime the flight time can be delayed due to bad weather and other reason. Depending upon the flight this scenic flight from Lukla takes about 30 minutes to Kathmandu. A panoramic view of the snow capped peaks can be seen from window of the plane. Arriving at Kathmandu domestic terminal, our staff will receive and escort you back to the Hotel.
Free day at leisure.
A free day in Kathmandu, please inform our staff if you would like to go on another short tour in and around Kathmandu Valley.
Transfer to Airport for the International departure.
Today as per your international flight time, keep your confirmed air ticket, and your passport handy. Our office staff will take you to the airport for your final departure from this amazing country, Nepal.
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