Gokyo Ri Trek Itinerary- Outline Itinerary
This is a standard 10 Day Gokyo Ri Trek itinerary that follows the classical trekking route of the Gokyo Valley and takes you across the popular highlights of the region.
Day 01: Flight from Kathmandu [1,400 meters/ 4,593 feet] to Lukla [2,850 meters/ 9,350 feet] and trek to Phakding [2,650 meters/ 8,694 feet]
Day 02: Trek from Phakding to Namche Bazaar [3,440 meters/ 11,286 feet]
Day 03: Acclimatization day at Namche
Day 04: Nachme to Dole [4,200 meters/ 13,779 feet] trek
Day 05: Trekking from Dole to Macchermo [4,470 meters/ 14,665 feet]
Day 06: Trek from Machhermo to Gokyo Lake [4,790 meters/ 15,715 feet]
Day 07: Early morning hike to Gokyo Ri [5,357 meters/ 17,575 feet] and trek back to Dole [4,200 meters/ 13,779 feet]
Day 08: Dole to Namche Bazaar [3,440 meters/ 11,286 feet] trek
Day 09: Trekking down to Namche Bazaar from Lukla [2,850 meters/ 9,350 feet]
Day 10: Flight back from Lukla to Kathmandu [1,400 meters/ 4,593 feet]
Detailed Day-to-Day Itinerary- Gokyo Ri Trek Itinerary
Day 01: Flight from Kathmandu [1,400 meters/ 4,593 feet] to Lukla [2,850 meters/ 9,350 feet] and trek to Phakding [2,650 meters/ 8,694 feet]
Elevation Gain: 1,450 meters/ 4,757 feet
Flight Duration: 40 minutes
Trek Duration: 2-3 hours
On the first day of your Gokyo Ri Trek Itinerary, you will take a morning flight from Kathmandu to Lukla. This 40-minute flight is one of the major highlights of the treks in the Everest region as you fly over valleys, lush hills, charming settlements, and soaring rivers, enjoying the panorama views of the Himalayan peaks.
After landing at Lukla, you will take a short break and meet the rest of the crew members here before proceeding toward Phakding. During the first part of the trek from Lukla, you will trek past the Chaurikharka Village and make your descent to the Dudh Koshi Ghat [2,530 meters/ 8,300 feet].
Then, crossing the Dudh Koshi River, you will move along the ridge and trek past mani walls, praying wheels, and chortens to reach your resting point tonight, Phakding.
Day 02: Trek from Phakding to Namche Bazaar [3,440 meters/ 11,286 feet]
Elevation Gain: 790 meters/ 2,591 feet
Trek Duration: 6 hours
It is another day of exciting trekking adventure; after breakfast, you will trek out of Phakding and head toward Namche Bazaar, the Sherpa capital. Your trekking route on this will also move alongside the banks of the Dudh Koshi River, and you will cross many fascinating suspension bridges, as well as the Hillary Suspension Bridge.
You will pass through several beautiful high-altitude settlements like Tok-Tok and Bhenkar before reaching Monjo, the entry point of the Sagarmatha National Park. Your trekking route will unfold the first glimpse of the towering Mt. Everest from this point onward.
After making the descent to Jorsale from Monjo, you will then trek alongside the river bed and ascend over a steep section to reach Namche Bazaar. From this vibrant Himalayan town, you will have the opportunity to immerse in the magnificent beauty of the surrounding peaks like Lhotse, Kangaru Peak, Kusum, Kwangde, and Everest.
Day 03: Acclimatization day at Namche
You have climbed over a significant altitude after starting your adventure from Lukla. So, you will get one day to acclimatize here before continuing your journey to other higher elevation points of this trek.
Namche is an ideal acclimatization destination during trekking adventures in Everest thanks to its strategic location and the remarkable highlights that keep trekkers engaged during the rest day.
You can do some short hikes around the region like Khumjung [3,790 meters/ 12,434 feet], Sagarmatha National Park, Everest View Hotel [3,962 meters/ 12,998 feet], and Syangboche Airport [3,780 meters/ 12,401 feet] for effective acclimatization.
During the daytime, you can explore this magnificent Himalayan town, checking out cafes, restaurants, and the local lifestyle of the people. If you reach Namche Baazar on Friday, you will also get to participate in the weekly market ‘Haat Bazaar’ which is organized every Saturday.
Day 04: Nachme to Dole [4,200 meters/ 13,779 feet] trek
Elevation Gain: 760 meters/ 2,493 feet
Trek Duration: 5 hours
After proper acclimatization, on this day’s trek, you will head toward the west from Namche Bazaar, pushing for the Khumjung Village. After leaving the village, you will head toward the Mong Village; the incredible views of Ama Dablam, Khumbila, Thamserku, and Tawache will loom over you on this trekking route.
Moving further in your trekking route, you will then make your descent till Mong La Pass [3,957 meters/ 12,982 feet] and head toward the riverbed of the Dudh Koshi River. From here, climb over the ridge across the rhododendron and pine forest to reach Phortse Thenga.
Then, continuing your ascend across the scenic forested trails, you will reach your resting destination, Dole. You will be able to get stunning and close-up views of Cholatse, Tawache, Khumbila, and Ama Dablam from here as you settle in for the night.
Day 05: Trekking from Dole to Macchermo [4,470 meters/ 14,665 feet]
Elevation Gain: 270 meters/ 885 feet
Trek Duration: 5-6 hours
On this day’s exciting trekking adventure, after breakfast, you will continue trekking on the steady trails, soaking in the magnificent beauty of Himalayan gems like Kantega, Thamserku, and Cho Oyu. Traversing across the spiritual trail with the trailside shrines, chortens, and praying flags, you will first head toward Lapahrma.
Then, continuing with your ascending trails, you will then climb toward the Luza Village and trek over the Dudh Koshi River for a while. Your trail up ahead in the Luza Valley will take you across the sandy path before you reach Macchermo.
At Macchermo, there is a Himalayan Rescue Hospital, which runs altitude sickness classes. If you want to learn more about the AMS and its precautionary methods, you can attend the class.
Day 06: Trek from Machhermo to Gokyo Lake [4,790 meters/ 15,715 feet]
Elevation Gain: 320 meters/ 1,049 feet
Trek Duration: 4 hours
It is finally time to move toward the major highlight points of the Gokyo Ri Trek itinerary. After breakfast, you will leave Macchermo behind and head toward Phanga, which will take about an hour.
Then, moving along with your ascending trail, you will also trek past Nilibuk Village and Longpongo Lake [4,690 meters/ 15,387 feet]. Your trekking trail further ahead will pass across the messy glacial moraines of the Ngozumpa Glacier.
Moving further in this day’s trek, you will start seeing the first sequence of the Gokyo Lake, there are a total of six lakes in this highest freshwater lake system in the world. The trail is leveled and flat here, and you will cross the second lake to reach the Gokyo Lake, where there is a settlement.
This will be your resting destination tonight as you settle down, relishing the astonishing Himalayan ambiance surrounded by towering peaks, glaciers, and pristine lakes.
Day 07: Early morning hike to Gokyo Ri [5,357 meters/ 17,575 feet] and trek back to Dole [4,200 meters/ 13,779 feet]
Elevation Gain: 567 meters/ 1,860 feet
Trek Duration: 7- 8 hours
Today’s trek will take you to the highest point of the Gokyo Valley, Gokyo Ri. You will do an early morning hike on this day to reach this vantage point to enjoy the incredible sunrise view rising amidst the sparkling peaks.
It will take about two and a half hours for you to reach Gokyo Ri, and from the top of the viewpoint will be able to enjoy the panoramic views of the Himalayan peaks like Everest, Cho Oyu, Makalu, Lhotse, Nuptse, and Gyachung Kang.
Savoring the incredible moments at this vantage point of Gokyo Valley, you will then make your descent to Gokyo. Then, retracing your steps back on the same trekking route, you will head to Dole for an overnight stay.
Day 08: Dole to Namche Bazaar [3,440 meters/ 11,286 feet] trek
Elevation Loss: 760 meters/ 2,493 feet
Trek Duration: 5 hours
As you have completed your incredible Himalayan journey, it is time for you to move along the descending route to reach the starting point of this trek. After breakfast, you will trek out of Dole and follow the trails toward Phortse Thenga.
Rejoining the path alongside the Dudh Koshi River, you will trek past the Mong and Khumjung Village to reach the Namche Bazaar. Enjoying the vibrant and colorful atmosphere of this bustling Himalayan town, you will rest here tonight, preparing for the descending journey tomorrow.
Day 09: Trekking down to Namche Bazaar from Lukla [2,850 meters/ 9,350 feet]
Elevation Loss: 590 meters/ 1,935 feet
Trek Duration: 6- 7 hours
The exhilarating trekking adventure of this day will finally take you back to the starting point of this incredible Himalayan journey. First, you will trek across the beautiful settlements of Jorale and Monjo, enjoying the scenic lush landscapes.
Then, you will trek past several other charming settlements trekking alongside the riverbed of Dudh Koshi River to reach Lukla. You will spend the last night of this trek enjoying the peaceful serenity and the fascinating beauty of the Himalayas at Lukla.
Day 10: Flight back from Lukla to Kathmandu [1,400 meters/ 4,593 feet]
Elevation Loss: 1,450 meters/ 4,757 feet
Flight Duration: 40 minutes
Today, after bidding farewell to the Himalayan region, you will take a morning flight from Lukla for your return to Kathmandu. After landing at Kathmandu, you will be dropped back to your respective hotels by our representative.
You can use the remaining part of the day to stroll around the capital, explore nearby tourist sites, and shop for souvenirs.
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Permits for Gokyo Ri Trek
Your Gokyo Ri Trek itinerary takes you across the protected and restricted areas in the Everest region. So, you will need to get three permits to explore this incredible trekking route in the Himalayas.
- Sagarmatha National Park Permit
- Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality Entry Permit
- Trekker’s Information Management System (TIMS) Card
These are some mandatory permits required for doing the Gokyo Ri Trek. In this exciting Himalayan exploration, you will pass through the protected areas of Sagarmatha National Park and Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality. So, you will need to get permits to access these sections; they cost about US$ 30 and US$ 20, respectively, per person.
On the other hand, the TIMS Card is a special permit that is required for high-altitude treks in Nepal. This permit has been made compulsory by the authorities for high-altitude treks in order to ensure the safety of the trekkers. The cost of a TIMS Card is around US$ 17 per person.
What About the Route Difficulty?
Your standard Gokyo Ri Trek itinerary has been graded as a ‘moderate’ level of trekking excursion. You don’t have to overcome any high Himalayan passes in this adventure, nor will you require any technical skills to overcome the route difficulty.
However, as you ascend to significant altitudes during this trek and reach the highest point, Gokyo Ri (5,357 meters), you should follow the precautionary measures for altitude sickness.
Similarly, in the Gokyo Ri Trek, you will walk an approximate distance of 92 km (57 miles). It means you will have to trek for about 5-6 hours on average during the trekking part of the exploration. The remote and rugged trails of the Himalayas on the ascending route can be challenging if you are not prepared for it.
But, if you make an adequate amount of preparation for the trip, you will be able to overcome the route and altitude difficulty quite easily.
Is This Trek Suitable for Me?
Although while following this high altitude Gokyo Ri Trek itinerary, you have to overcome some difficulty factors, they are nowhere close to high pass treks or mountain expeditions. Even if you are completely new to the high-altitude treks, you won’t find it hard to complete this adventure if you are physically prepared.
The success rate of the Gokyo Ri Trek is about 98%; with reference to this success rate, you can properly assess the difficulty level of obstacles that trekkers have to face along the route.
Yes, altitude sickness can be a significant challenge in high-altitude adventures like this. However, you will receive enough acclimatization period to safely transit between elevation ump points.
If have basic fitness and good health, then this trek won’t be that physically demanding for you. You can also stick to the recommended training programs to reduce the difficulty level even further.
How to Prepare for the Trek?
Your Gokyo Ri Trek itinerary takes you across remote and secluded parts of the Himalayas with significant altitudes. You will trek for long periods on rugged trails during each day of the trek, and the paths are not constantly leveled. So, you will need to overcome the steep sections as well.
Your strength and stamina level come into play when you are taking on a Himalayan adventure. So, these should be the key focus factors of your training programs for the trek. Strength and endurance training will help you make the experience comfortable as you will get used to physical activities.
On the other hand, stamina and cardiovascular training will improve your body’s overall oxygen-handling capabilities and will make long-haul trekking more pleasant. These exercises will also improve your body’s overall capabilities for acclimatization at higher altitudes.
Strength and Endurance Exercises: Squat, Deadlift, Lunge, Glute Bridge, Plank, Bicep Curl, Calf Raise, Pull Up, Leg Raise, Tricep Dips, Step Up, Hammer Curl, Plank, Leg Curl, etc
Cardiovascular Exercises: Mountain Climber, Jumping Jack, Aerobics, Jogging, Jumping Rope, Cardio, Burpee, Cycling, Swimming, etc
**Note: You should start your training at least 3-6 weeks before your actual trek so that your body will adapt to the physical activities. You can also do some practice hikes and proper physical assessment to design an effective training plan**
