Gokyo Lakes Trek

Information

Distance

95.0 km

Duration

12–15 days

Max elevation

5,357 m

Country

Nepal (NP)

Difficulty

Moderate to strenuous — sleeping at 4,790 m, climbing Gokyo Ri (5,357 m); requires good cardiovascular fitness and careful acclimatization

Best Season

March–May (spring, rhododendrons in bloom) and September–November (autumn, clear skies)

Permits & Fees

Sagarmatha National Park Entry (NPR 3,000) + Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality Permit (NPR 2,000) + TIMS-equivalent permit (~NPR 2,000); a licensed guide has been mandatory since 2023; available from the Nepal Tourism Board in Kathmandu or at the park gate in Monjo

Description

The Gokyo Lakes Trek leads trekkers to the world's highest freshwater lake system, set inside Sagarmatha National Park in Nepal's Khumbu region. Departing from Lukla (2,860 m), the route follows the familiar Everest Base Camp trail to Namche Bazaar (3,440 m) before branching northwest into the quieter Gokyo Valley. The centrepiece is a chain of six glacially-fed lakes at 4,700–5,000 m, their turquoise waters contrasting with the surrounding ice and rock; the third and largest lake, Dudh Pokhari (4,750 m), lies at the foot of Gokyo village (4,790 m). From there, an ascent of Gokyo Ri (5,357 m) rewards trekkers with simultaneous views of four 8,000-metre peaks — Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, and Cho Oyu — a panorama many consider more impressive than the Everest Base Camp viewpoint itself. Nepal's largest glacier, the Ngozumba, flanks the eastern edge of the valley, while the route passes Sherpa settlements, yak pastures, and small Buddhist monasteries throughout.

Trail Highlights

Six turquoise-blue glacial lakes at 4,700–5,000 m — the highest freshwater lake system in the world; the summit of Gokyo Ri (5,357 m) with simultaneous panoramas of Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, and Cho Oyu; the Ngozumba Glacier — Nepal's largest glacier; the Sherpa village of Gokyo (4,790 m); a route far quieter than the Everest Base Camp route