However, do not expect that the cost we’ll mention here will match the actual price of the trek. We are just giving cost information based on past cost data to give you a comparable figure. The expenses are always subject to change upwards or downwards with time. We hope you use the cost details mentioned below to make a budget for the trek.
Besides just cost information, you will find a detailed itinerary, tips to lower Gokyo Lakes Trek cost, and factors influencing the trek’s cost. Each of the reads below will help you plan the Gokyo Lakes Trek cost-effectively.
Let’s begin!
Breakdown of the Gokyo Valley Trek Cost
Let’s break down the total Gokyo Valley Trek cost into smaller pieces. We will mention all the essential expenses you ought to make on the trek.
Transportation Cost
You have to reach Lukla, the entrance to Everest Region, to start the trek.
There are two ways to reach Lukla via roadways and via air.
If you choose to travel on air, you will join a straight flight to Lukla from Kathmandu. The one-way cost of the flight is around USD 150. The flight cost is subject to change due to various tourist seasons. In other words, the price is a little high during peak season and less in the off-season.
Alternatively, you can opt for an hour-long drive to reach Lukla. You have two options, Jeep and Bus drive to get there. The jeep ride is USD 150 per pax, and the local bus fare is USD 10 to 12 per pax. The roadway option is a time-consuming and uncomfortable one. Hence, we recommend you select the first option, i.e., airways.
Food and Drinks Cost
Everest Region is one of the most evolved trekking regions of Nepal. That is why you will find numerous teahouses and lodges along the trail of Gokyo Lakes Trek. And those teahouses will offer you food and drinks on the trek. They offer you varied meals from Indian, Continental, Chinese and local cuisines. You can also get beverages like energy drinks, coffee, and tea.
The most popular and common food items are Dal Bhat, Momos, spaghetti, noodles, fried rice, soups, steak, Pizza, Pancake, french fries, and more. Milk coffee, lemon tea, ginger tea, masala tea, black coffee, etc., are popular hot beverages of the trek. Also, you can eat bakery items in Namche Bazaar, Lukla, and some other places.
You can allocate around USD 25 to 30 per day for three meals and drinks. However, the cost of food and beverages increases as we go higher. That is because of the added transportation cost which the teahouse owners have to pay to the porters and mules owners. Therefore, do not panic if the price in the higher part is a little high.
Accommodation Cost
You’ll find accommodations throughout the trek as there are enough teahouses. Until Namche Bazaar, you will find good and luxurious places to rest. However, the housing will become more basic as you go higher and ruler. Most teahouses have sharing rooms with two beds, bedsheets, pillows, blankets. Some of them have attached bathrooms, and some do not. Also, some of the teahouses provide WIFI and Hot Showers. But you have to pay an extra cost for that.
The accommodation cost will depend on the luxury, quality, and comfort you get. The more luxurious and comfortable, the more cost and vice versa. Usually, the basic teahouses will cost around 4 to 5 USD per pax-per night. However, some lodges offer you free accommodation if you eat at their places.
Guide and Porter Cost
Hiring a guide and porter is not necessary. But if you want to have a comfortable trekking experience, we suggest hiring them.
The experienced guide will lead you in the right direction, to the right place at the right. Likewise, they will be there with you on the trail in case of emergencies. Therefore, having a guide is a blessing. However, you have to pay a salary to them daily. An experienced guide will charge you around USD 30 to 35 per day.
Likewise, hiring a porter is beneficial to your body. He will take your heavy loads along the trek, and you will enjoy the hike. You do not have to slow down or get quickly exhausted from a heavy load on the back. Instead, you will enjoy the walk thoroughly. The porters' charge around USD 15 to 25 per day.
Trekking Permit Costs
Two permits are necessary for Gokyo Lakes Trek. They are mentioned below with cost and details down below:
Sagarmatha National Park Permit
Sagarmatha National Park is a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site in the Everest Region. The Gokyo Lakes Trek happens through the park, and you will need a permit called Sagarmatha National Park Permit. You can get the license from Nepal Tourism Board’s office in Kathmandu for US 30 per person. If you are in a group, you can get the same permit for US$ 10 per pax.
Local Area Permit
The second permit required for Gokyo Lakes Trek is a Local Area Permit. As the villages of the Everest Region are restricted areas, you will need a permit to enter those villages. That is where the Local Area Permit will come into work. You can get the permit from Nepal Tourism Office located in Kathmandu for US$20 if you are traveling solo. If you are in a group, you can obtain the trek for US$10 per person.
Miscellaneous Costs
Tips & Donations
There can be times when you would like to give your porter or guide tips. Also, you might think of helping people of the region with donations. If you want to tip and donate, those can be miscellaneous costs for the trek.
Charging Costs
You will need to charge phones and other electronic gear on the trek. Some teahouses do not charge, but some do. They might charge you around US$ 2 to 5 per hour.
Wifi
Some teahouses provide paid wifi services during the trek. The charge to use WIFI is around US$ 1 to 3 per hour.
Hot Shower
The hot shower is an extra expense on the trek. Typically, the teahouses have hot showers for 3 to 5 USD.
Personal Costs
Travel Insurance
It is better to have travel insurance before coming on a trek. The insurance keeps you insured against all the unprecedented situations. So the cost of travel insurance can be another cost of the expedition.
Gifts
Some of the major stops of the trek have many gifts and souvenirs shops. You might want to take something back home. The price of gifts will be another addition to the overall Gokyo Lakes Trek cost.
Trekking Gear
You need various trekking gear like a down jacket, shoes, thermals, and sunglasses. If you do not have them, it is a must to buy them for a trek like this. Also, you might want to take a camera, extra batteries and other things. Those will increase the cost of the Gokyo Lakes Trek.
Factors Influencing Gokyo Valley Trek Cost
The cost of any trek relies on various things. If you travel during a peak season, you are sure to pay more and vice versa. Also, if you choose luxury over basics, that increases the cost. So we will talk about the several factors that affect Gokyo Valley Trek cost below:
Season
As said above, the cost of a trek depends on the season you are traveling in. The two busy or peak seasons for trekking and tours in Nepal are Autumn and Spring. In those seasons, the cost of flight tickets and trekking permits remains high due to the increased crowd and demand in the trails of Nepal. On the contrary, traveling during off-seasons in Nepal has various discount offers. Thus, the cost of Gokyo Lake Trek can be different in two seasons, i.e., peak and off-season.
Luxury and Comfort Level
Luxury is costly everywhere. The same is in the Everest Region. If you wish to have luxurious things and facilities all the time, the cost will go high. Instead, the price will automatically go low if you are okay with basic things and services. Hence, your preferences play an important role in driving Gokyo Lakes Trek cost.
Itinerary
The Gokyo Lakes Trek cost also depends on the itinerary you choose. There are multiple itineraries such as short, long, luxurious helicopter trek, and more. The cost of the same tour is different as per the nature of the itinerary you pick. For example, if you choose an extended Gokyo Lakes Trek, you will have more expenses and vice versa. Similarly, if you want a helicopter trek, the helicopter service will cost you more.
Extra Expenses
Generally, you have two kinds of expenses on the trek, basic and extra. The basic costs are food, accommodation, permit costs, etc. It is impossible to do a trek without incurring the basic expenses. However, there are extra or miscellaneous expenses that are not necessary. Gifts, donations, tips, alcohol, and other similar costs can be taken as extra costs. So, the more money you use on additional expenses, the higher the price will become.
Some Tips to minimize the Gokyo Valley Trek Cost
- Do not just have every gear. You can always hire necessary trekking equipment and gear in Nepal. Thus, buy the gear you will need in every trek and hire those you do not require.
- Be a budget traveler. Don’t just spend everything you see. Fix an economical budget and stick to it.
- Be a good bargainer everywhere. This is one of the best skills to have while traveling.
- If possible, hire a porter cum guide. You do not have to pay salaries to two individuals.
- If you can do an off-season trek, choose the off-seasons over peak seasons. You can get multiple discounts on tickets, accommodations, and others.
- Carry solar charger, extra batteries, and power banks. These gear are cost savers.
- Lower your extra and unnecessary expenses. Be a wise spender by spending only on basic costs.
- Go on a tour via a licensed and trustable travel company. They have a complete tour package. Once you pay the package cost, you do not have to worry about expenses on the trek.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 01: Fly from Kathmandu to Lukla and trek to Phakding(2651 m / 8697 ft) 3hrs
The tour will start with a 45-minute flight to Lukla. It will be a scenic mountain flight. After landing in Lukla, we’ll begin walking towards Phakding. Hiking through lush forests and the Dudh Koshi River’s side, we’ll reach Phakding. Overnight in Phakding’s teahouse.
Day 02: Trek from Phakding to Namche Bazaar(3438 m / 11279 ft) 5 to 6 hrs
We’ll leave Phakding behind to trek down Namche Bazaar. We’ll pass through several hanging bridges, Sherpa villages, the forest, and riverbed again. At the end of 5-6 hours of trekking, we’ll reach the lovely ambiance of Namche Bazaar. Overnight in Namche Bazaar.
Day 03: Acclimatization day in Namche Bazaar
We’ll have a day to acclimatize to the new altitudes in Namche Bazaar. To make the day better, we’ll hike to Khumjung Village or Everest View Hotel. It will be an exploration day around the places. Overnight in Namche Bazaar.
Day 04: Trek from Namche Bazaar to Dole(3680 m / 12073 ft) 6 hrs
Leaving Namche Bazaar and Everest Base Camp Trek trail, we’ll follow a path to Dole. We will enjoy the mountain vistas of Ama Dablam throughout the day. Also, we’ll climb several notable points to reach Dole. It will be a busy day. Overnight in Dole.
Day 05: Trek from Dole to Machhermo(3870 m / 12696 ft) 4 hrs
From Dole, we’ll trek ahead through the valley. We will hike above the Dudh Koshi River. More mountains will appear today, and it will be a scenic trekking day. After walking for 4 hours, we will reach Machhermo. In Machhermo, we’ll visit the office of the Himalayan Rescue Association. Overnight in Machhermo.
Day 06: Trek from Machhermo to Gokyo(4800 m / 15748 ft) 4 hrs
It is time to enter Gokyo Valley and touch the pristine Gokyo Lakes. To do so, we’ll ascend Phangga(4480m) via a steep trail. And we will watch the entire Dudh Koshi Valley, Mt Thamserku, Mt Cho Oyu, and other mountains from the top. Then, we’ll descend to cross the lateral moraines of Ngozumpa Glacier to enter the Gokyo valley finally.
We’ll walk past the three Gokyo Lakes of Six Lakes to reach Gokyo Village. The village is right on the banks of the lake. We’ll have a picturesque time before nightfall. Overnight in Gokyo Village.
Day 07: Morning Hike to Gokyo Ri and Trek Down to Dole
We’ll wake up early to do a morning hike to Gokyo Ri(5,357,) the best viewpoint of the region. After summiting the point, we’ll overlook the panoramic view of the entire Gokyo Valley. We’ll also see all the major peaks of the Everest Region. Then we will descend back to Gokyo Village for more sightseeing. Our time in Gokyo Village will end and we’ll leave for Dole. We’ll trek through the same trail, touch the Gokyo Lakes again, and cross Machhermo to reach Dole in the evening. Overnight in Dole.
Day 08: Trek from Dole to Namche Bazaar(3438 m / 11279 ft) 7 hrs
We’ll start with an uphill ascent to Phortse in the morning. The trek will provide more mountain views as we’ll reach Namche Bazaar via Khumjung village. Overnight in Namche Bazaar.
Day 09: Trek from Namche Bazaar to Lukla(2860 m / 9383 ft) 7 hrs
After Namche Bazaar, we’ll aim to reach Lukla on the last trekking day of the Gokyo Lakes Trek. We’ll walk on the same trail once again to reach Lukla. The suspension bridges, the sound of Dudh Koshi River, dense forest, and villages will happen again. Overnight in Lukla.
Day 10: Fly from Lukla to Kathmandu(1300 m / 4265 ft) 45 minutes
We’ll leave the Everest Region with a flight back to Kathmandu from Lukla. The eye-pleasing flight of 45 minutes will drop us in Kathmandu. And it will be the happy ending of the Gokyo Lakes Trek.
At Last
Thank you for sticking with us through the last. We hope that this article has helped you in some way. This article's cost facts are just for reference and knowledge. You will use the learning of this article to plan the right budget for the trek.
We furthermore hope you will have a fantastic trek in the Gokyo Valley. All the best wishes for the trip ahead. The money spent on Gokyo Lakes Trek is the money well spent. You will have no regrets in the end.
