Early morning you will be picked up at the hotel by our guide and escort you to domestic terminal of Kathmandu airport. Then you board the flight from Kathmandu to Lukla. During the 40 minutes, you enjoy stunning views of Himalayas. After landing at Tenzing-Hilary airport you meet your porter. He will carry your luggage. Then you start your trekking. Today you trek of three hours. It’s easy and gentle. The trail starts passing a Kani (ceremonial gatehouse). It descends steeply then runs level above Kyangma village, which has a large gompa (monastery) and school. After that, you enter Cheplung village. The trail descends through community forest with the sight of Dudh Koshi River. Crossing suspension bridge it’s a short climb around the ridge to Ghat. Leaving Ghat the trail passes a school and complex of mani walls, chortens and prayer wheels. Then the trail climbs to the hamlet of Chhuthawa. From Chhuthawa after a short walk, you reach to Phakding. Overnight at a mountain lodge.

After breakfast, you continue trekking along the banks of the Dudh Koshi River. Continuing up the Dudh Koshi valley you will reach a cluster of local Bhatti (porter rest houses) and a small hydroelectric project. The trail climbs up over the ridge and pines to the small village of Toktok. You will soon get your first view of Thamserku peak (6608m). The trail again climbs steeply around the ridge and reach Benkar. Here you find waterfalls. Leaving Benkar the trail crosses east bank of Dudh Koshi River over suspension bridge and heads to Chumoa. From Chumoa it’s another steep climb to the outskirts of Monjo village. Just above the Monjo, there is check point for Sagarmatha National Park. Your trekking card is checked here. Afterward, the trail cuts across to the west bank of the Dudh Koshi River on another suspension bridge and runs to Jorsale. Above Jorsale you follow the river bank over gravel before climbing to the forest. You will see flowing together of Bhote Koshi and Dudh Koshi rivers. From here it continues ascent through dense pine forests and then eventually enters to Namche Bazaar. Overnight at a mountain lodge.

Today you stay at Namche Bazaar to avoid symptoms of Altitude Sickness (AMS). This doesn’t mean you have to stop walking. You hike up the Shyangboche. You cross grass airstrip at Shyangboche and walk towards the Everest View Hotel, the highest hotel in the world according to the Guinness Book of Records. From here you can have a good view of Mt. Everest and surrounding peaks. Then you continue walking to Khumjung, the largest Sherpa village in Everest region which sprawls below the peak of Khumbila (5761m). The houses here are large and ostentatious and many locals own tracts of land further north along the valley. You visit Khumjung Gompa. One of the treasures kept here is a Yeti Skull. From the flat area in front of the Gompa, there are views east to Amadablam, Thamserku, and Khumbila. After the visit of Khumjung village, you return directly to Namche Bazaar following the path behind the village school. Today you will have also option to visit Sagarmatha National Park Visitor center where you can see some well-preserved displays on Himalayan flora and fauna and the culture of Sherpa people. Overnight at a mountain lodge.

After breakfast, you follow the path by the giant mani in Chhorkung and trek north around the long ridge. At the end of the bluff is a viewpoint over a panorama of Thamserku, Ama Dablam, Lhotse, and Everest. Then trail reaches Kyangjuma. After short walk, it takes to trail junction at Sanasa. You catch the path leads to Gokyo and climb the ridge. Just across the valley, you will be able to see houses of Tengboche on the another ridge and the walled fields of Phortse. Then the track contours the ridge and reaches a small pass, Mong La (3975m). Locals say village nearby this pass is the birthplace of Lama Sange Dorje, the saint who introduced Buddhism to the Everest region. Crossing Mong La the path drops down to Dudh Koshi through pine forests and it arrives at Phortse Thanga. Overnight at a mountain lodge.

The day starts crossing the river at Phortse Thenga and moves up through the forest. Then the trail splits. You follow the trail that climbs northwest along the valley of the Dudh Koshi towards Gokyo. Continue your trekking to the next village Dole along the west side of the valley. From Dole, you have mountain views of Khumbila to the south and Taboche to the north side. From Dole, it’s a steep climb out of the forest to a barren hillside covered in tundra grasses and dotted scrub junipers and arrives Lhabarma. From this small village, the trail climbs gently past a large Chorten to Luza. The trail continues to climb along the side of the valley over a series of sandy hummocks. You will soon reach a Chorten and fluttering prayer flags on the outskirts of Machhermo. Overnight at a mountain lodge.

Today leaving Machhermo you enter the deserted tundra of the high mountains. It climbs steeply up a scrubby slope to a few of chortens on the hilltop. Then it follows the ridge. On the way, you have good views of Kantega (6685m) and Cho Oyu (8210m), the sixth tallest mountain in the world. Then you will come to a small settlement of Pangka. From Pangka the trail dips then climb into a rocky cleft on stone steps beside the stream. Afterward, it reaches the first lake, Longponga Tsho (4650m). Just past the lake, a small side trail cuts east towards Cho La Pass to Lobuche. The trail now becomes almost level as it crosses a barren landscape. You will soon reach the second lake Taboche Tsho (4710m). From this lake, after short walking, you will arrive at village nearby Gokyo lake (4790m). Gokyo village is located between a wall of moraine and the lake which is backed by a basin o fang-like peaks. Overnight at a mountain lodge.

Early in the morning, you go for up hike up Gokyo Ri. You follow the path crosses the stream at the north end of the village then climbs for two hours to prayer flags at the top of the hill. From the summit, you have astonishing panoramic views of Cho Oyu, Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, Cholatse and Taboche with the Ngozumpa glacier, the longest glacier in the Himalayas. From here you see the Gokyo village is a tiny dot on the side of the moraine and the Gokyo lake is a giant green pond. After enjoy this great view you slowly down to your mountain lodge and take a rest. Overnight at a mountain lodge.

After breakfast, you retrace following the previous trail. It’s an easy downhill walk along the Dudh Koshi River that comes out of the Ngozumpa Glacier. Passing by the second and then the first Lakes, you come to a small village of Pangka. The trail descends below Phangka, and across a level terrace on the slope to climb a rib on the far side of the hillside. Then you slowly walk down to the village of Machhermo. Continue walking pass through Luza and Lhafarma to reach Dole. Overnight at a mountain lodge.

After breakfast, your trek starts to drop down Phortse Thenga. On the way, you can enjoy on watching wildflowers and Rhododendrons. You may encounter mountain goats, musk deer, and pheasants. Upon reaching MongLa, you have again the chance of a beautiful view of Mt. Khumbila. Taboche, Ama Dablam, Thamserku, and Kangtega. You can also see Tengboche in a distant. After a while, you reach Sanasa, the junction of trails. You follow the path of Namche Bazaar clings to the steep wooded slope beyond Kyangjuma, winding through several bends. Reaching Namche Bazaar you check into your lodge and have a rest. Overnight at a mountain lodge.

From Namche Bazaar, you follow the steeply downward path. Once you cross the high suspension bridge the trail runs mostly level to Josale and then climbs to Monjo where your trekking card will be checked out. Then it’s an easy run through Benkar and Phakding to Lukla. After arriving at Lukla it ends your overall trek. Most trekkers make a celebration of finishing their trekking with their guide and crew members at Lukla. Overnight at a mountain lodge.

Early in the morning, you move to Tenzing-Hillary airport. Then catch once again that scenic mountain flight to Kathmandu. After you land in Kathmandu airport you will be transferred to your hotel. You have free time rest of the day. You can have a hot shower, spa for relaxing your body in Kathmandu. Evening you will be offered farewell dinner with Nepali cuisines and cultural dances at typical Nepali Restaurant. Overnight at hotel.

The trip concludes today. Our tour officer will drop you at Kathmandu International Airport for your flight departure from Nepal.

All foreign nationals except Indian Nationals are required to arrange a visa in order to enter Nepal. A Nepalese Visa can be obtained either prior to your arrival at a Nepalese embassy abroad or on arrival time in Kathmandu at the airport. But nationals from Afghanistan, Iraq, Cameroon, Ghana, Somalia, Swaziland, Palestine, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Ethiopia, and Liberia cannot secure the Nepalese Visa upon arrival. The Visa can be also taken at entry points at Nepalese borders. For Nepalese Visa it requires your passport with at least six months validity, recent digital photo (size: 1.5″ x 1.5″) and the following fees either in USD dollars cash or the equivalent local currency:

We would offer you the meeting and greeting service in Kathmandu International Airport on your arrival time. For this, you need to pass us your International flight details at least 2 days before your arrival date in Kathmandu. After you get down from the aircraft you just pass on the Customs and come out of the Terminal building where you will see our tour officer standing with a playing card with your name written on it. He will greet and welcome you with auspicious garland and escort you to the hotel.

Trekking to Everest Gokyo Lake does not require tremendous logistics in terms of accommodation as you will find plenty of clean and friendly lodges along the trail. Lodges typically offer a room with a wooden bed with a simple mattress or foam pad, a cotton pillow, and a blanket or quilt. They have electric lights and all have a spacious dining room-lounge. We will accommodate you and your group in local lodge available each day. We send a porter ahead of us to book the required rooms for you (here rooms cannot be booked in advance).

In the case of Kathmandu, we offer you tourist standard hotel under 3-star categories unless it is mentioned otherwise or clients have a special choice.

In the trail of Everest Gokyo Lake, it’s commonly available for Authentic Nepali meal: Dal Bhat (rice with lentils soup and seasonable vegetables), noodles, pasta, chapatis, eggs, French fries, porridge, and muesli. The restaurant of lodges also serves Tibetan foods like momo, thukpa, chowmein, along with pizza, spring rolls, pancake and another continental as well as Indian foods.

Tea and hot lemon are traditionally the main drinks on the trail though coffee is found everywhere. Bottled soft drinks, bottled water, and even beer are common along the route but the price of each bottle rises each day when you move upward.

The trekking team who will go with you is the most significant thing that makes your Everest Gokyo Lake trekking successful, enjoyable and memorable. We would provide you skilled, experienced, courteous, knowledgeable and helpful trekking guide and porters. The trekking guide leads you on the trail and brief you all the about this route and porters carry your luggage. Our all trekking guides are carefully selected in terms of their appropriate experience, leadership skills and their knowledge about local culture, ecosystem, geography, flora and fauna, and history. With aim of sustaining local communities, we only employ local people as trekking guide and porter. Our all trekking guides are certified by Nepal Government, Ministry of Tourism. We manage trekking team such a way that one trekking guide in each group and porters like one porter for two trekkers.

During the trek, your main luggage will be carried by porters or pack animals (usually yaks or cross-breeds). You simply carry a day pack with water bottle, camera, sunscreen, spare jacket, etc. – a small load that allows full enjoyment of the trek. A trek bag is ideal for your main luggage, plus a small lockable bag for travel clothes or anything that you do not need during trek which you can leave at hotel’s locker room in Kathmandu for free of charge.

Every morning, first of all, packing your bags and then have a hearty breakfast at the lodge restaurant. Then set off on the day’s walk. After walking for 3-4 hours you all stop for lunch in local restaurant. Then continue walking to your destination. After lunch, it’s the only couple of hours walking. You usually arrive at your destination in the time of afternoon tea. Check in at the lodge. The rest of the day is at leisure. At the free time, you may explore surrounding village, do a bit of washing or simply relax by reading books and writing a diary. On some days you will arrive at your destination by lunch time and entire afternoon will be free. Most people also spend free time by playing cards and other games reliving the day’s adventures. Then in the evening have a dinner and you will be briefed by your trekking guide about your next day’s walking and then go to your bed for well-earned sleep.

Everest Gokyo Lake Trekking is moderate trek suitable for any passionate walkers who able to walk at least 5-7 hours a day with a light day pack. Walking in higher altitudes is more physically demanding than walking in lower altitudes; however, if you are in excellent health with average physical fitness and have a positive attitude, self-confidence, and strong determination, you can do this trek successfully. Exercising and jogging regularly for some weeks prior to the trip is a good idea to enhance your strength and stability. Past hiking experience would be an asset but no compulsorily required for this trip. It is vital for participants with pre-existing medical conditions such as heart, lung, and blood diseases to consult their doctor before taking the trip.

At high elevations, the combination of reduced oxygen and lower atmospheric pressure can produce a variety of unpredictable effects on the body, known collectively as Acute mountain sickness (AMS) is also commonly known as Altitude Sickness. Everyone who treks over 3500 m experiences some mild symptoms of AMS like slowness, dizziness, headache, nausea, loss of appetite, shortness of breath, racing pulse, disturbed sleep and swelling of the hands and feet but serious cases are very rare. The golden rule of prevention from Altitude Sickness doesn’t walk too fast at altitude, drink plenty of liquids, eating well, getting plenty of sleep and avoiding alcohol. If in case you feel any mentioned symptoms the simple cure is to move down (descend) and you shouldn’t ascend further until you start feeling better. To treat AMS there is also available medication Acetazolamide (better known under the brand name Diamox). The dosage is 250 mg every twelve hours. Diamox improves respiration at altitude and can, therefore, accelerate acclimatization. Some doctors recommend a preventive dose (125 mg twice a day) for people trekking at high elevations. At the time of trekking our trekking team always guides you to prevent from Altitude Sickness and they always have Diamox along with first aid kit.

We believe casualty and a serious sickness will not happen on the trip. If it happens we will do everything to transfer you to the nearest hospital. Since all the expenses incurred in evacuation liable to you please make sure that it is covered by your insurance before assigning for it or be prepared to pay on your own after getting back to Kathmandu.

We strongly advise you to take travel insurance before joining a tour which should cover medical expenses, emergency repatriation and helicopter evacuation at high altitude places and loss of your luggage. We would request you to bring your insurance documents when you come to Nepal.

This is a basic checklist of the essential items that you should not forget to bring with you during your Gokyo Lake Trek:

• A sturdy pair of trekking boots with good ankle support
• Rucksack (5o to 65 liters) with waterproof cover
• Trekking pants and waterproof trousers
• T-shirts or shirts
• Down jacket*
• Wind/ waterproof light jacket
• Fleece jumper or jacket
• Inner Thermal (top and trouser)
• 4 to 6 pairs of Socks and underwear
• Sunglasses, sun hat, woolen cap, or balaclava
• Inner and outer gloves
• Headlamp, power bank, and extra batteries
• Sun protection cream, lip balm, wet wipes, and hand sanitizer
• Towel, flip-flop or rubber sandal, toiletries
• Water bottle and water purification tablets
• 4 season Sleeping bag (good to -20 degrees C or 28 degrees F); *
• Hiking poles, if you need
• Your daily medicine if any, small personal first aid kit, aspirin, plasters (band-aids), anti-diarrhea pills, anti-headache pills, cough or cold medicine, anti-altitude sickness pills, etc.
• A small daypack/backpack for carrying your valuables

*Down jacket and sleeping bag you can rent/hire from Trekking gear shops in Kathmandu.

The above list is essential for your trekking. The weight limit for your luggage is 15 kg or 33 pounds. Remember that your luggage will be carried by a porter if you choose a package that includes a porter. Even if you have a porter you are required to carry a small day-pack with your valuables or anything important. We advise you to pack only what is necessary.

The itinerary for each trip should be taken as a guideline only. Depending on the situation, you can modify it to some extent after consulting with your guide. However, the date of trip ending should always coincide with the original itinerary.

Kindly keep in mind that sometimes unforeseen events may contribute to the need for a change in itinerary. In such cases, we or your guide will suggest the best alternative similar to your original.

In Everest region as you climb through the hills mixed deciduous forests and scattered rice terraces give way to pine forests, then rhododendrons, then scrub junipers, before finally, the only vegetation is low alpine shrubs and grasses. As you walk, scan the skies and the undergrowth for golden eagles and the spectacular Himalayan Monal (danphe or impeyan pheasant) with its regal, shimmering green, blue and purple plumage. In forested areas around Namche Bazaar, Thame, Phortse, and Tengboche keep your eyes peeled for Himalayan Thar and musk deer often spotted beside trails early in the morning. You may also hear the strange hoarse call of the muntjac or barking deer. Everest is also home to both leopards and snow leopards and allegedly the fearsome yeti.

Naturally Everest Region is so beautiful but equally, it is fragile as well. Increasing population density and numbers of trekkers threaten the very beauty of this area. We at Silver Himalaya Adventures are extremely conscious about protecting its beautiful natural environment and preserving the fascinating local culture. We are doing our level best to minimize our impact as much as possible. Our all trekking guides and porters are well trained and motivated to following guidelines of responsible tourism and eco-friendly tourism. In trekking, they also advise you do’s and don’ts to minimize your impact on the local environment.

In addition to your Trekking trip, you can join in various side Trips in Nepal like a cultural tour of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Jungle Safari in National Park,  White Water Rafting in Himalayan Rivers, Golfing, Adventure activities like Bungee Jumping, Altra Light Flight, Paragliding, Jeep flyer etc. You also can extend your trip to neighboring Himalayan Countries: Bhutan, Tibet, Sikkim (India) which seems more appealing to you. On your request, we will give you the detail of the side trips.