Welcome back!
Login to access your bookings & deals
or continue with email
No account yet?
Welcome back! 👋
You're now logged in to TRIPBUDDY.
Create your account
Join 50,000+ travellers — it's free!
or sign up with email
Already have an account?
🎉
Welcome aboard!
Use code
TRIP15
for 15% off your first booking
Sign in with Google
Choose an account to continue to TripBuddy
Signing in with Google…
🎉 Special offer: Get 15% off on your first booking! Use code TRIP15 · Book Now →
💧 Sacred Alpine Lakes
⏱ Best 10–14 Days
★ 4.9 Rated
Gokyo Lakes
Six sacred turquoise lakes strung along the Ngozumpa Glacier — with Gokyo Ri summit views of Everest, Lhotse, Makalu and Cho Oyu simultaneously
Scroll
About Gokyo Lakes
Six Sacred Lakes at the Edge of the World's Highest Glacier
High in the Khumbu region of the Solukhumbu District, a chain of six glacial lakes stretches alongside the Ngozumpa Glacier — Nepal's largest. The lakes are sacred in Hinduism (visited by pilgrims each year at Janai Purnima) and deeply beautiful: vivid turquoise water reflecting the ice-fields above, framed by the giants of the Himalaya. The third lake, Dudh Pokhari at 4,700m, is the base for Gokyo Ri — a 5,357m summit that gives the most spectacular 360° view in the Khumbu, with Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, Cho Oyu and Ngozumpa Glacier all visible simultaneously. The Gokyo valley is less crowded than the Everest Base Camp route and offers arguably superior mountain scenery.
🏔
4 eight-thousanders
Everest, Lhotse, Makalu & Cho Oyu all visible from Gokyo Ri summit
🧊
Nepal's largest glacier
Ngozumpa Glacier — 36km long, visible directly from the lakeside trail
🙏
Sacred Hindu lakes
Pilgrims visit during Janai Purnima full moon festival to bathe in sacred waters
🦅
Himalayan wildlife
Snow leopard (extremely rare), Himalayan tahr, red fox and Tibetan wolf in the valley
6
Sacred glacial lakes in the valley
5,357m
Gokyo Ri summit altitude
36km
Length of Ngozumpa Glacier
4×
8,000m peaks visible from summit
The Six Sacred Lakes
The Gokyo Lake Chain
From Longponga at 4,690m to the Sixth Lake at 5,000m
💧 Third Lake (Main)
Dudh Pokhari — 4,700m
The main lake — 'Dudh Pokhari' meaning Milk Lake — is the most visited of the six and the base for the Gokyo Ri summit. The lake reflects the Ngozumpa Glacier and surrounding peaks in extraordinary colours that shift between turquoise, jade and deep blue throughout the day. The Gokyo village on its shore is one of the highest permanently inhabited places in Nepal.
📍 Gokyo village, 4,700m
⏱ Base for Gokyo Ri
🙏 Sacred Hindu site
⭐ Best View in Khumbu
Gokyo Ri — 5,357m
The summit viewpoint above Gokyo village — a 2–3 hour ascent from the lakeshore that delivers what many experienced trekkers consider the single finest mountain panorama in the world: Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, Cho Oyu, the Ngozumpa Glacier and the turquoise lake chain all at once.
📍 5,357m · 2–3 hrs from Gokyo · Leave at 5am
🔷 Rarely Visited
Fifth & Sixth Lakes — 5,000m
Most trekkers stop at the third lake. An additional day's walk reaches the quieter fourth, fifth and sixth lakes above 4,900m — even more vivid in colour, utterly free of crowds, and closer to the Cho Oyu massif. A rewarding extension for those with time and strong acclimatisation.
📍 5,000m · Day walk from Gokyo · Very few visitors
🧊 Nepal's Longest
Ngozumpa Glacier
Nepal's largest glacier at 36km long stretches from Cho Oyu to the Gokyo valley. Walking on its moraine — a landscape of ice towers, meltwater pools and seracs — is one of the most otherworldly experiences in trekking. Guides lead moraine walks from Gokyo village daily.
⏱ 2–3 hrs walk · Guide required
🏘 Sherpa capital
Namche Bazaar
The vibrant Sherpa market town at 3,440m — the gateway to the Gokyo and Everest treks. Spend two nights here for acclimatisation. The Saturday market brings traders from remote Khumbu villages. The bakeries, coffee shops and gear shops make it feel surprisingly cosmopolitan for a mountain town.
⏱ 3,440m · 2 nights for acclimatisation
🕌 Monastery
Phortse & Dole Villages
The Gokyo route passes through the traditional Sherpa villages of Phortse and Dole — much less visited than the main EBC trail. Stone houses, potato fields, yak herds and small gompas. Stop for tea and a conversation with a Sherpa family — a different Nepal than the busy teahouse circuit.
⏱ On the trail to Gokyo · Traditional villages
Things to Do
Activities at Gokyo
Summit climbs, glacier walks, lake circuit and cultural immersion
⭐ Must-do
Strenuous
Gokyo Ri Summit
The defining Gokyo experience — leave Gokyo village at 5am and ascend 650m of steep trail to the 5,357m summit at dawn. The panorama: Everest directly ahead, Lhotse and Makalu to the right, Cho Oyu to the left, the Ngozumpa Glacier below and the turquoise lake chain far beneath. One of the great views on Earth.
5,357m · 2–3 hrs
Free
🧊 Glacier
Moderate
Ngozumpa Glacier Walk
A guided walk onto the moraine of Nepal's largest glacier — navigating between ice towers, frozen pools and giant boulders deposited by the glacier's slow creep. An otherworldly landscape unlike any trail in Nepal. The guide manages route-finding on the constantly shifting ice; do not attempt it alone.
3–4 hrs
NPR 1,500 guide
🔷 Hidden
Moderate
Upper Lake Circuit
Walk the full chain of six lakes — most trekkers stop at the third. Continuing to the fourth, fifth and sixth (above 5,000m) takes an additional full day and rewards with complete solitude, even more vivid lake colours and unobstructed close-up views of Cho Oyu. The upper lakes feel like the edge of the world.
Full day
Free
🎭 Cultural
Easy
Sherpa Village & Gompa Visits
The Gokyo trail is the quieter alternative to the EBC highway — passing through authentic Sherpa communities at Phortse, Dole and Machermo where life continues largely as it has for centuries. Visit the small village gompas, share tea with locals, and learn from guides about Sherpa climbing culture and Buddhist traditions.
En route
Free
🏆 Bucket List
Challenging
Three Passes Trek
The ultimate Khumbu circuit — crossing Renjo La (5,360m) into Gokyo, then Cho La (5,420m) across to the EBC trail, then Kongma La (5,535m). Gokyo is the centrepiece of this 18–22 day epic that visits every major viewpoint in the Khumbu. One of the world's great high-altitude treks.
18–22 days
Included in package
Where to Stay
Lodges on the Gokyo Trek
From Namche's comfortable hotels to high-altitude teahouses at the lake
★ Namche
Hotel Khumbu, Namche
★★★★
The most comfortable acclimatisation base in Namche Bazaar — en-suite rooms, excellent wifi, a great breakfast menu, rooftop Everest views and a helpful team who can help with permits and rental gear. Two nights here is the standard acclimatisation protocol before heading to higher altitudes.
from NPR 3,500/night
Book
Lakeview
Gokyo Resort
★★★★
The best lodge at the lake itself — run by a Sherpa family, directly overlooking the turquoise water, with rooms that have lake views from the window. Solar-heated water, filling meals and a common room with a yak-dung stove where trekkers gather in the evenings with shared exhaustion and shared awe. The Gokyo Ri sunrise from this terrace is legendary.
from NPR 600/night
Book
Mid-route
Dole & Machermo Teahouses
★★★
The staged teahouses between Namche and Gokyo at the acclimatisation villages of Dole (4,038m) and Machermo (4,470m) — essential rest stops that follow the climb-high sleep-low protocol. Basic rooms, warming food and genuinely friendly hosts. The standard accommodation on the Gokyo approach trail.
from NPR 300/night
Book
Gateway
Lukla Guesthouses
★★★
Comfortable enough guesthouses in Lukla — the gateway town served by the famous Tenzing-Hillary Airport. A night before and after the trek is standard. The Himalayan Lodge and Yeti Mountain Home are reliably good. Hot showers, proper beds and a chance to review maps and adjust gear before heading into the mountains.
from NPR 1,000/night
Book
Sample Plan
12-Day Gokyo Lakes Itinerary
Fly to Lukla, trek to the lakes, summit Gokyo Ri and return
Day 1
✈️ Fly Kathmandu → Lukla, Trek to Phakding
The 30-minute flight from Kathmandu to Tenzing-Hillary Airport (the world's most dramatic runway) starts the adventure immediately. Arrive Lukla, sort gear, and walk 2.5 hours down the Dudh Kosi valley to Phakding (2,610m). Easy trail — a good shakedown day.
✈️ Tip: Lukla flights depart Kathmandu very early (6–7am). Stay at the airport hotel the night before to avoid missing the flight. Always book with a backup day for cancellations.
Day 2
🏘 Phakding → Namche Bazaar (3,440m)
A 5–6 hour walk up the Dudh Kosi gorge, crossing dramatic suspension bridges (some over 150m long), with the first views of Everest appearing through the valley. The final ascent to Namche is steep but the arrival — a horseshoe of lodges and bakeries in an amphitheatre valley — is extremely rewarding.
Day 3–4
🎒 Namche Acclimatisation (2 nights)
Two nights in Namche is essential for altitude acclimatisation. On rest day: hike to the Everest View Hotel at 3,880m (the highest hotel with views of Everest), visit the Sherpa Museum, explore the Saturday market. The extra day at Namche is the single most important thing you can do to prevent altitude sickness higher up.
Days 1–4 Spend
Lukla flight (return)NPR 28,000
Sagarmatha NP permitNPR 3,000
TIMS cardNPR 2,000
Lodge (4 nights)NPR 5,000
Days 1–4 totalNPR 38,000
Day 5
🥾 Namche → Dole (4,038m)
Leave the EBC-crowd trail and turn up the Gokyo valley — immediately quieter, more forested, and wilder. A 5–6 hour walk to Dole, passing through Khumjung and Phortse villages with their ancient monasteries. The altitude gain is significant — acclimatise properly before this day.
Day 6
🏔 Dole → Machermo → Gokyo (4,700m)
A long (6–7 hr) but extraordinary day — past Machermo (4,470m, acclimatisation check), first lake views appearing as you round the last ridge, then descent to Gokyo village on the lakeshore. Your first real view of the turquoise lake and the Ngozumpa Glacier is genuinely staggering.
💡 Tip: If you feel any headache or breathlessness arriving at Gokyo (4,700m), spend an extra night here before attempting Gokyo Ri. There are no shortcuts to acclimatisation.
Day 7
🌅 Gokyo Ri Summit (5,357m)
Leave at 5am. The trail ascends steeply from the lakeshore through scree and frozen earth — at this altitude, every step requires deliberate breathing. Summit at dawn, when Everest glows pink-gold and the turquoise lake shimmers 650 metres below. Allow 2.5 hours up, 1.5 hours down. Then walk to the fifth lake in the afternoon.
Days 5–7 Spend
Guide (3 days)NPR 7,500
Porter (3 days)NPR 4,500
Lodge (3 nights)NPR 2,400
Meals (3 days)NPR 4,800
Days 5–7 totalNPR 19,200
Days 8–9
🥾 Gokyo → Namche (retrace or via Cho La)
Return via the same route (faster, 2 days back to Namche) or cross the dramatic Cho La Pass (5,420m) to join the EBC trail at Dzongla — extending the trek by 2 days but completing one of the great Khumbu crossings. The Cho La is a serious high-altitude glacier crossing requiring crampons — our guides carry all technical equipment.
Days 10–11
🏘 Namche → Lukla
Two days of descent back to Lukla along the Dudh Kosi — your body moving much faster downhill than up. Stop for a final lunch in Namche's best bakery and one last coffee with an Everest view before continuing down. A final night in Lukla to prepare for the flight back.
Day 12
✈️ Lukla → Kathmandu
The morning flight back to Kathmandu — watching the Khumbu shrink beneath you as you leave. Usually back in Kathmandu by noon. Celebrate at Thamel or head straight to the airport for your international connection (build one buffer day minimum — Lukla flights cancel regularly).
Return Days Spend
Guide (5 days)NPR 12,500
Porter (5 days)NPR 7,500
Lodge (5 nights)NPR 3,500
MealsNPR 8,000
Return days totalNPR 31,500
Trail Food
🍜 Eating on the Gokyo Trek
Khumbu teahouse food — filling, simple and surprisingly good at altitude
Dal Bhat — The Trekker's Engine
The legendary Khumbu dal bhat — rice, thick lentil soup, vegetable curry, pickles and papads, served in bottomless refills. After 6 hours of altitude trekking, nothing — not pasta, not pizza, not anything — restores the body like a full dal bhat plate. Every experienced trekker converts to dal bhat within 3 days.
📍 All teahouses
NPR 350–500
Sherpa Stew
A rich, warming potato and vegetable soup with noodles and spices — a Sherpa invention for high-altitude warmth. Found in every teahouse above Namche, it's the perfect dinner after a cold day on the trail. Richer and more complex than it sounds — the potatoes grown in the Khumbu at altitude are exceptionally flavourful.
📍 All Khumbu teahouses
NPR 400–550
Namche Bakery
The Namche Bakery is a Khumbu institution — cinnamon rolls, apple pie, fresh bread, filter coffee and a warm room with mountain views. Stopping here on day 2 (on the way up) for breakfast, and again on day 10 (on the way down) for a final slice of pie, is a cherished ritual for Khumbu trekkers.
📍 Namche Bazaar
NPR 200–400
Fried Potatoes & Eggs
The standard teahouse breakfast — Khumbu potatoes fried with onion and chilli, two fried or omelette eggs, and toast. Simple, hot and deeply satisfying at 5am before a summit push. The potatoes grown at altitude in the Khumbu have an earthy, complex flavour unlike any you'll find at lower elevations.
📍 All teahouses
NPR 300–450
Tibetan Bread
A thick, doughy flatbread fried in ghee and served with honey or yak butter jam — the most reliable energy food on the trail. Found in every teahouse above Namche. The version at Gokyo Resort, cooked fresh in the morning with local yak butter, is exceptionally good before an early summit attempt.
📍 Khumbu teahouses
NPR 150–250
Hot Lemon Honey Ginger
The trekker's altitude medicine — hot water with fresh lemon, honey and ginger, served in a teacup at any teahouse. Hydrating, warming and deeply soothing at high altitude when headaches or nausea set in. Drink it constantly above 4,000m. More effective than anything from a pharmacy for mild altitude symptoms.
📍 All teahouses
NPR 100–150
Insider Tips
Travel Tips for Gokyo Lakes
Altitude, permits, preparation and what makes the difference at 5,000m
PERMITS
You need Sagarmatha NP permit and TIMS in Kathmandu
Sagarmatha National Park entry permit (NPR 3,000) and TIMS trekking card (NPR 2,000) are required. Get both in Kathmandu before flying — the Nepal Tourism Board office in Bhrikutimandap is the official source. We handle all permits as part of any booking with us. Checkpoints at Monjo and Namche verify your permits.
ALTITUDE
Two nights in Namche is non-negotiable — no exceptions
Some trekkers try to skip the Namche rest day. Don't. The altitude jump from Lukla (2,860m) to Gokyo (4,700m) in 4 days is aggressive — the Namche nights are specifically designed to allow your blood to thicken. Shortcutting this is the most common cause of evacuation in the Khumbu. Two nights. No exceptions.
WEATHER
October–November and March–May are the two windows
October–November post-monsoon: crisp clear air, minimal cloud, best visibility for the Gokyo Ri summit view. March–May pre-monsoon: slightly warmer, beautiful rhododendron forests blooming on the approach. Avoid monsoon (June–September) when clouds obscure views and trails become slippery. December–February is cold but possible for experienced winter trekkers.
HEALTH
Carry Diamox — and know when to use it
Acetazolamide (Diamox) accelerates acclimatisation and is recommended for most trekkers going above 4,000m. Start 24 hours before ascending above 3,500m (half a 250mg tablet, twice daily). Common side effects: tingling fingers, increased urination, vivid dreams — all normal. Carry ibuprofen for headaches. If symptoms worsen despite medication — descend immediately. Altitude sickness can escalate fast.
PACKING
Down jacket, liner gloves and good boots — non-negotiable
Gokyo Ri at 5,357m in October at 5am can be -15°C with wind chill. A 600-fill down jacket, thermal base layers, a windproof shell, liner gloves under waterproof mittens and warm wool socks are essential. Your regular trekking layers are not enough at the summit. We can advise on or source gear before your departure.
SAFETY
Travel insurance with helicopter evacuation — essential
Helicopter evacuation from Gokyo costs USD 2,000–4,000 and is payable on demand. Without insurance, patients have been left in distress waiting for family to wire money. Choose a policy with emergency medical cover above 5,500m and no altitude exclusion clause — read the small print. We recommend World Nomads or True Traveller for trekking in Nepal.
CONNECTIVITY
Download Maps.me offline — Everlink wifi is paid and slow
WiFi is available in Namche and most Khumbu teahouses via the Everlink network (USD 3–5/session, slow) — enough for messaging but not streaming. Ncell has some signal in Namche and intermittently above; NTC has broader coverage. Download the offline Khumbu map to Maps.me before leaving Kathmandu. Our guides carry satellite communicators on all treks.
PRACTICAL
Bring a power bank — charging is expensive above Namche
Charging your devices at teahouses above Namche costs NPR 200–300 per charge and is not always available (solar only above 4,500m). A 20,000mAh power bank keeps camera, phone and headlamp going for the full trek. Cold batteries drain 3× faster — keep your power bank in a sleeping bag liner at night. Essential for the dawn summit attempt photography.
📅 Best Time for Gokyo Lakes Trek
High Khumbu climate — two narrow windows of clear weather
Jan
Cold
Feb
Cold
Mar
Good ★
Apr
Best ★
May
Best ★
Jun
Monsoon
Jul
Monsoon
Aug
Monsoon
Sep
End
Oct
Peak ★
Nov
Peak ★
Dec
Cold
Best — clear skies, ideal visibility, stable conditions
Avoid — monsoon clouds block all mountain views
Khumbu Expert Available
Stand above the
sacred lakes.
We plan your Gokyo trek from start to finish — permits, flights, guide, acclimatisation schedule and emergency backup. Our specialist calls within 2 hours.
Permits, flights and guide all arranged
Proper acclimatisation schedule built in
Satellite communicator + helicopter coordination if needed
Find Your Way
Gokyo Lakes on the Map
Khumbu, Solukhumbu District — the heart of the Everest region
💧 Gokyo Village
🏔 Gokyo Ri
🧊 Ngozumpa Glacier
✈️ Lukla Airport
🏘 Namche Bazaar
Gokyo Trek from NPR 65,000
Permits + guide included
Z
Zunkiree AI Trip Planner
Z
Zunkiree AI
by Zunkiree Labs
Hi traveller,
Tell me your plan —
I'll make it real
Share your dream trip with Zunkiree and our team at Zunkiree Labs will craft a personalized itinerary, find the best deals, and be ready to book.
Plan with Zunkiree LabsNot sure where to start? Try one of these
Z