Classic Gokyo Lake Trek

Fly from Rammechap to Lukla, Trek to Phakding Private group · 3 hours · Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Included Early in the morning at 1:30 am drive from Kathmandu to Rammechap( 4-5 hours drive). Then fly to Lukla (25-minute flight). Try to get a window seat on the left- hand side of the plane and keep your camera close: the flight takes you between mountains and through valleys, with great views of the Himalayas on clear days. After your arrival, you'll then trek a short distance today through local villages where you'll likely encounter fellow trekkers, locals, and yaks with their tinkling bells. (Having an easy first day is intentional, allowing you time to get used to the higher elevation.) Continue through the Dudh Koshi Valley on a well-marked trail and stayovernight in Phakding.  Trekking distance: (4.7 miles / 7.5 km)

Trek from Phakding to Namche Bazaar (11,290 feet / 3,440 m) Private group · 6 hours · Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Included After breakfast in Phakding, you'll start a steady and steep incline towards Namche. This is a challenging day as you'll start to feel the altitude. The route also consists of a number of high suspension bridges over the Dudh Kosi River that you need to cross.   Just beyond the village of Monjo is the entrance to the Sagarmatha National Park, which was set-up in order to protect and preserve the fragile mountain environment (your guide will cover your permit fees here). The trail gets steeper along the way, and if the weather is clear, you will get the first glimpses of Mount Everest. When you arrive at Namche, settle into your accommodations and explore the town. Namche is a great place to stock up on supplies as there are numerous small shops selling snacks and trekking gear, as well as restaurants and bars. If here on a weekend, check out the Saturday market—a meeting place for the Hindu traders from the lowlands and the Tibetan yak caravans that have crossed the glaciated Nangpa La.  Trekking time: 4-6 hours (4.6 miles / 7.4 km)

Acclimatization day in Namche Bazaar Private group · 4 hours · Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Included Today is a rest day so take time to relax and sleep in. Namche is tucked away between two ridges amid the giant peaks of the Khumbu and has an abundance of lodges, tea shops, and souvenir markets. It is an ideal place to spend a day acclimatizing to the higher altitude. To speed up the acclimatization process, you can also head to the Khunde Hospital set-up by Sir Edmund Hillary, or take a highly-recommended one-hour walk up to the Everest View Hotel above Namche for views of notable peaks like Ama Dablam, Nuptse, Lhotse, and Everest. There are also good views from the Sherpa Culture Museum just above town.

Trek from Namche Bazaar to Dole (4200 m) Private group · 7 hours · Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Included Today is a spectacular day in terms of scenery as you follow the main trail north out of Namche. A short climb to a crest reveals a wonderful view towards Everest and Lhotse. You follow this main trail for a while longer, passing many traders selling Tibetan handicrafts, to a crossroads high above the Dudh Kosi. The trail to Everest drops down the hill but you turn off here and climb to cross the Mon La (‘La’ means pass) before reaching Phortse Tenga. From Phortse Tenga, the trail climbs steeply to Dole, through rhododendron and birch forest festooned with hanging mosses and lichens. Walking time: 6-7 hours  Accommodation: Teahouse

Trek from Dole to Machhermo (14,665 feet / 4,470 m) Private group · 5 hours · Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Included After breakfast in Dole, you'll begin a short and pleasant hike that allows time for savoring and enjoying the views. This is also a chance to acclimatize to the high elevations, so force yourself to take it extra slow. The trek starts with a climb over Dole via a scenic ridge. You'll then cross yak pastures and tiny villages of stones huts until you reach Luza. Follow the trail along with a valley high over the river, crossing sandy spurs and pastures bordered with a chorten and prayer flags to get to Machhermo by midday, with enough time to visit the Himalayan Rescue Association and get some well-needed rest. Trekking time: 5-6 hours

Trek from Machhermo to Gokyo (15,748 feet / 4,800 m) Private group · 6 hours · Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Included After breakfast, you'll start the day with fantastic views of the valley as you make your way to Kangtega and the northern part of Cho Oyu. It's another relatively short climbing day with steep trails making up for fewer hours. The landscape changes significantly and you'll likely encounter snowy trails, boulders, and ice along the river.  You'll first descend towards the river bank and then begin the climb towards the terminal moraine of the Ngozumpa Glacier through a valley formed by melting ice. The valley eventually broadens as the trail passes through a narrower section as it comes to Dudh Pokhari, with prayer flags on its eastern shore. Take a break to appreciate the view before trekking another hour or so to the village of Gokyo, located on the edge of the third lake. Trekking time: 5-6hours (4.2 miles / 6.8 km)

Acclimatization day, Climb Gokyo Ri (5357m) Private group · 3 hours · Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Included Since you'll be spending 3 nights in Gokyo, today is designated a rest day in order to help with altitude acclimatization. Gokyo Ri Hike (2-3 hours, round-trip)  In the morning, depending on the weather, follow the steep trail up the hill that rises above the northern shore of the lake to the Gokyo Ri viewpoint (especially pretty at sunrise). The summit is marked by large cairns and prayer flags. From the top, Gokyo's turquoise lake in the distance offers a picturesque view.

Trek from Gokyo to Marlung (17,585 feet / 5360 m) via Renjo La Pass Private group · 7 hours · Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Included After your final meal in Gokyo Village, you'll start the morning early in order to complete the long day’s trek ahead. The trail moves alongside Dudh Pokhari (another lake) and you'll walk for a few hours before descending towards the Renjo La pass. Views from the Renjo La pass are similar from Gokyo Ri with the third Gokyo Lake and Gokyo Village visible beneath the Ngozumpa Glacier. You'll also get outstanding views of Mt. Everest from the top of the pass. Continuing from here, the trail winds down a stone staircase and over a loose scree to reach the south bank of Angladumba Tsho Lake. The presence of ice on the trail while descending down can make this portion of the trek a bit hazardous so be careful. Along the way, you'll see Relama Tsho and Renjo Lake, and then walk down a narrow valley clogged with giant boulders to Lumde. You'll then walk for almost an hour to get to Marlung on the east bank of the Bhote Koshi River.  Trekking time: 7-8 hours Accommodation: Teahouse

Trek from Marlung to Thame (11,319 feet / 3450 m) 4 hours · Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Included Start the day with breakfast in Marlung before you descend to Thame along a route that follows a traditional path used for centuries by Tibetan traders. From here, you'll cross the Bhote Koshi River and descend to Taranga and continue moving downwards while crossing two bridges before reaching Thame. Overlooking Thame is the village's famous Gompa situated on a hill to the west.

Trek from Thame to Monjo (2,835 m/9,301 ft) 6 hours After your breakfast in Thame. You will start walking down from Thame (3800m) to Monjo (2835m) which takes you from the stark terrain of the upper elevations back to the green river valley. We will have one more night on the trail before reaching Lulka the day after.

Trek from Monjo to Lukla (9,186 feet / 2,800 m) Private group · 5 hours · Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Included After breakfast in Monjo, begin the final day of the trek as you head along the Dudh Kosi river to Lukla. You'll first walk from Monjo to Ghat and stop for lunch before continuing to make your way through villages like Chumoa, Benkar, Phakding, and Chuthawa, eventually reaching the Pasang Lhamu Memorial Gate signifying the end of the trek. Though most of the route is an easy downhill slope, the last section of trail before arriving takes you uphill—a fitting way to finish. With Lukla's handful of shops, bars, and cafes—and even a faux Starbucks!—there are plenty of things to occupy your time as you reflect on your experience. Trekking time: 5 hours

Today after your early breakfast, We walk on a jungle trail, cross a bridge over the Handi Khola and reach Surke Village. From here we continue moving south and cross the Chutok La pass before reaching the small settlement of Paiyan, also known as Chutok. Overnight in Paiya.

We descend for a while and reach a small bridge. From here the trail is slippery until we cross the Kari La pass. We walk through rhododendron and bamboo forests on a narrow mountain trail. On today’s trip we also get to be in awe of the Dudhkoshi Valley. We continue our trek to Panggom Village whose settlers are dependent on farming and trading. Overnight in Panggom.

Today, after your heavy breakfast you will be driven to Salleri by jeep. You will have to walk all the way down to Kharikhola in case of bad road conditions. Pasang or Lakpa one of them will be coming with you to drop off to Salleri and arrange the transportation to Kathmandu. Upon your arrival, I will be there to help you get to your respective hotel.

It's time to say farewell to Nepal. Enjoy your last moments in Kathmandu with breakfast in a café, a final stroll through the narrow alleys and temples, and some souvenir shopping. A driver will be waiting for you at your hotel to take you to the airport for your return flight home. It's best to be at the airport at least two hours prior to departure.