GOKYO VALLEY TREK

Morning after breakfast, our city guide takes you on a tour around the world heritage sites within Kathmandu city. After an exciting and interesting tour back to the hotel, preparation and packing for trekking.

Non-essential clothing and items not required for treks, can be stored in the Hotel or with Kirat Society Adventure.

Starting early in the morning for a super scenic flight to Lukla, a short drive to Kathmandu domestic airport. After going through security, board on a small spacious aircraft for a 30 minutes exciting flight. During the flight, enjoy a spectacular panorama of the Himalayan range of peaks with views of Mt. Everest. Slowly the plane lands at Lukla’s Tenzing & Hillary Airport. After collecting the baggage and having time for a short refreshment. Start the trek following our expert guide through Lukla town and then down to Dudh Koshi River.

Walking past lovely Sherpa villages, where the path is lined with Buddhist monuments and prayer walls. Facing grand views of Kongde and Kusum Khanguru peaks. Slowly the pleasant walks reach Phakding for overnight halt. Located by the raging glacial Dudh Koshi River, check into a nice lodge with time to explore around.

Today’s walk takes you to the famous Namche Bazaar, the Sherpa Capital of Khumbu and Everest region. Morning walk follows a nice pleasant trail with ups and down to cross a long suspension bridge. Then a short steep climb to Monjo village with views of Thermasarkhu peaks. From Monjo the trail leads Sagarmatha National Park entrance. (Sagarmatha a Nepali name for Everest, for the Sherpa it is called Chomolungma of Tibetan origin). From here over a bridge above the same river to Jorsalle. This is the last settlement before Namche Bazaar, possible lunch stops, afternoon walk on the river bed. The walk leads through a lovely cool forest of pines, fir and rhododendron trees. From here our route leads to cross a high bridge to follow an undulating winding up to Namche Bazaar.

Namche Bazaar is a fascinating small town with fancy restaurants, luxury hotels and resorts, as well many shops and stores. Facilities of banks and ATM for trekkers, an exciting place to be with close views of Kongde peaks.

A leisure and free day, for short hikes higher up to support acclimatization before heading towards Gokyo Valley.

Places of interest around Namche Bazaar for short hikes: The best and short hike above Namche Bazaar, a climb to the Park Museum. An interesting place situated on a high ridge facing the grand vista of Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse with majestic Ama Dablam. Includes views of Kangtiga, Thermasarkhu and Kwangde range of peaks with Khumbila, the patron god of Khumbu Sherpa. An enjoyable tour of the museum provides full information of the Khumbu and Sherpa’s cultures.

The next good hike for a few hours climbs to Syangboche ridge with a small old airstrip. From here continue to walk up to Everest View Hotel, located on a high green hill covered in beautiful forest. The first luxury deluxe hotels of Khumbu area, established in 1971. Listed on the Guinness Book of World Record in 2004 as the highest hotels. At 3,962 m / 13,000 feet, enjoy the serene surroundings with views of Mt. Everest.

Optional Hike to Khumjung and Khunde villages, located down from Everest View Hotel on a wide glacial valley. Beneath Mt. Khumbila, Khumjung with 500 years old Gompa / monastery treasures a scalp believed to be of a Yeti.

Continue the walk to Khunde, the first and only hospital of Khumbu built by the late Sir Edmund Hillary. From here follow a pleasant trail and steep downhill back to Namche Bazaar.

From Namche Bazaar, morning a short climb then on the main winding trail facing glorious views of Mt. Everest. After an hour of good walking reaching a junction where the trail to Everest base camp, Gokyo and Khumjung branches off. Our route diverts heading high to a scenic hill at Mong, a small place with few lodges and shops. Enjoy a magnificent panorama of snow-capped peaks and then downhill to a river gorge of Dudh Koshi at Phortse Tenga.

Stopping at Phortse Tenga for lunch, a small settlement with a few simple lodges and restaurants, amidst beautiful dense trees. Afternoon a slow climb into a gorge covered in rhododendron, pine and fir trees. As climb leads higher reaching an open area at Dole, a nice settlement with several good lodges for overnight stop.

After a pleasant overnight stay in a nice lodge at Dole, morning a short steep climb leading to an open area. Where tree lines get sparse for short rhododendron and juniper bushes, following the high ridge towards Luza. A nice small place with few lodges, as the walk leads higher on a gradual path reaching above Machermo. Facing grand views of Mt. Cho-Oyu towards north with Machermo peak in the west. From the top a slow descent to enter a river gorge lined with willow and poplar or populous trees. A short steep up to a nice plateau where Machermo settlement is located, arriving for lunch and overnight stop.

A lovely place to enjoy the afternoon relaxing and marveling at the surrounding views of high peaks.

Today another shorter day walk to Gokyo, our first main destination. The morning trail leads to a steep up of less than half hour climb reaching an open exposed high ridge. The walk continues with views of Cho-Oyu and Cholatse peaks in the east with Dudh Koshi River down below. The morning walk proceeds to a small isolated place of Panga, from here heading closer to Gokyo.

The walk leads into a patch of vegetation and rocky areas, as climb starts reaching the first lake of Gokyo. Slowly the walk leads to the second and then to the third main lake, close to the settlement of Gokyo. The lodge is situated further up from the 3rd lake, also called Dudh Pokhari (a milky pond). As the lake remains frozen with white ice most of the seasons. But when it is free from ice, it looks like a turquoise or emerald colored lake. Enjoy the afternoon after a nice lunch in the lodge restaurant, overlooking views of Cho-Oyu and surrounding towering peaks.

Early morning a 2-3 hours hike up to Gokyo-Ri ridge top, a good climb to support acclimatization. From Gokyo-Ri, enjoy the glorious panorama of Gokyo valley with Ngozumpa glacier. Includes a grand vista of the world's four tallest peaks, Mt. Everest, Lhotse, Makalu and Mt. Cho Oyu at one single look.

From the top back to the lodge for breakfast and lunch. Energetic people can take the options, a long day hike to 5th lake. Enjoy a leisure afternoon marveling at the scenic surroundings.

From here onwards a pleasant downhill walk to Machermo, following the same scenic trail. Reaching Machermo by lunch time and for an overnight halt. Rest of the afternoon at leisure and short hike around Machermo view-points.

Start the morning following the same route to Dole, from Dole downhill to Dudh Koshi River near Phortse Tenga. From here across a bridge, and then on a pleasant winding trail to Phortse, a sleepy, quaint village. On arrival by afternoon tea time and staying in the comfort of a nice simple lodge.

After a refreshing overnight stay at Phortse, morning a pleasant walk on a scenic trail to Tengboche Monastery. The route follows with views of snow-capped peaks. Then on winding uphill above Imjatse River to reach upper Pangboche for lunch stop. Afternoon an hour downhill to a bridge with a few hours climb to picturesque Tengboche and the monastery. Tengboche is encircled by an array of peaks with grand views of Mt. Everest and Ama Dablam. A lovely spot surrounded by green tree lines. At Tengboche there is time to visit the monastery interior of great religious and cultural interest. Tengboche has several good lodges for overnight stops.

Start the morning with a long descent and enjoy the morning glorious views of snow-capped peaks with Mt. Everest. Reaching at Imjatse River with a slow climb to Shanasha and Kyanjima, a small settlement with grand views of Everest and Ama Dablam. The walk leads on a winding trail to Namche Bazaar for a possible lunch stop. After Namche Bazaar descends to a river bank and towards Jorsalle and a short steep up to national park exit gate. From here a short walk from the park to lovely Monjo village in the comfort of a nice lovely lodge.

Enjoy the last day of the journey to Lukla, following a pleasant trail from one nice village to another. Crossing bridges a few times towards Phakding, and then reaching Ghat village. After a few hours of good walk, an uphill walk for an hour more to the entrance gate of Lukla. On reaching Lukla town transfer to a nice hotel or lodge for the last overnight around Khumbu and Everest region.

Early breakfast and then a short walk to Tenzing & Hillary airport, as the plane arrives. Get on board for a scenic flight of half hour to land at Kathmandu airport, and then transfer to your hotels. Rest of the day at leisure for individual activities after a great wonderful adventure to Gokyo Valley.

We have reserved a day free as contingency in case of flight day on both ends to and from Kathmandu and Lukla. As Himalayan weather, even in the best seasons of the year, can be unpredictable with bad unfavorable. The flights cannot operate, if all goes well according to our itinerary days. Enjoy the free day for shopping or join in for a tour to Patan or Bhaktapur cities, worth a visit.