GOKYO LAKES TREK
The Gokyo Lakes trek is a great alternative for those who wish to avoid the popular (and busy) trail to Everest Base Camp. Moreover, the views of the mountains from Gokyo Ri (5,357m/17,575ft.) and Renjo La pass (5,465m /17,930ft) are better than those from Kalapathar. Everest, Cho-Oyu, Makalu, Pumori, Amadablam, Thamserku, Tarboche, Cholatse etc are some of the many majestic mountains that can be seen on this trek.
A little past Namche, the trail to Gokyo splits – the right trail goes towards Everest Base Camp. Thereon, head north following the Dudh Koshi river to its source near the Ngozumpa glacier. Finally, the Gokyo Lakes trek culminates at Gokyo on the banks of the third lake. Here, we will spend three nights exploring the area. Hike to either Gokyo Ri or Renjo La pass for views of the lakes and the mountains (see photo below). Thereafter, on the third day, hike to the 5th lakes for up-close views of Cho Oyu and other mountains.
WHY TREK WITH US?
- We do NOT nickel-and-dime on services – all inclusions and exclusions for the Gokyo Lakes Trek are clearly listed in cost details. However, some companies will advertise trips for very low prices but they have a lot of exclusions that is usually not clear. Do read this article “Value offered by Crystal Mountain Treks” to learn more about this. We urge you to compare apples to apples.
- We’ve been awarded the 2025 TRAVELERS’ CHOICE AWARDS by Tripadvi
sor. We had been presented with this award in 2024 too. Tripadvisor is a - forum where traveler’s share their travel experience. Here, our trekkers’ share their experience with our company. This should speak of our dedication to providing the best service. According to Tripadvisor, this is how awardees are chosen: “Each year, we recognize travelers’ favorite businesses around the world, based on reviews and ratings collected over 12 months. You scored a spot at the top thanks to their reviews—congrats on your win.”
- We have been in business for over 30 years and we employ only the most professional and friendly staff. Additionally, most of our trekkers are either repeat clients or referrals.
- All our Gokyo Lakes Treks are private treks for a minimum of one participant for a date of your choosing. Therefore, with small groups, we are able to provide a private, premium and personalized experience
- We are also proud to give back to our community through our giving arm – 3 Summits For Nepal – managed by Crystal Mountain Trek’s staff.
WHY SMALL PRIVATE GROUPS:
“Being only two people in the group was a massive advantage we had — it was easier to get helicopters with a smaller group, easier to change where we’d stay on a given day, easier to ask to push further when we felt good, etc. In fact, because of this flexibility, we beat many big groups to EBC, who took many hours longer than us because they had to wait for stragglers, and they ended up missing the views because the clouds had already come in. Basically this helped us get in/out of Lukla more easily, move faster, and adapt the schedule to the changing weather.”
Luke L., Chicago IL, USA
OPTIONS FOR TREKS IN THE EVEREST REGION
It is possible to combine trekking to the Gokyo Lake with the Everest Base Camp trek. Check out our 19-day Everest Base Camp Trek or the 15-day Everest Base Camp – fast paced trek. Also, if you have more time and wish to be more adventurous, check out the Ultimate Everest Trek. This involves crossing two passes: the Cho La pass (Everest Base Camp to Gokyo lake) and the Renjo La pass (from Gokyo lake to Thame). Furthermore, an even more physically challenging trek is the Everest Three Passes Trek. No climbing skills are required for these treks. We are also happy to customize any of these treks for you.
Understanding the four major treks in the Everest region:
- Everest Base Camp Trek = Straight forward trek to Everest Base Camp and back on the same route (No passes)
- Gokyo Lakes Trek = Straight forward trek to Gokyo and back on the same route. (No passes)
- Ultimate Everest Trek = Crossing of Cho La Pass to Gokyo and Renjo La Pass to Thame (two passes)
- Everest Three Passes Trek = Crossing of the Kongma La Pass from the Imja valley to Lobuche, Cho La Pass to Gokyo and Renjo La Pass to Thame (Three Passes)
ACCOMMODATION AND MEALS
The Gokyo Lakes Trek is a lodge trek. This means you will sleep and eat meals in local lodges along the trail. The quality of the lodges on this trek are quite comparable to those on the Everest Base Camp Trek. And quite a few of them have en suite rooms with hot showers. Meals are also quite varied with many options including rice with veggies, noodles, local breads etc. Read our article about food options on Everest treks.
BEST SEASON
Like most treks in Nepal, the best seasons for the Gokyo Lakes Trek are Spring (March-May) and Autumn (October-November). Additionally, it is also possible to do this trek in Winter months of December, January and February if you do not intend to cross the passes. While it will obviously be very cold (up to -20 C/, -4 F), it will not be as crowded as in Spring and Autumn. Lodges on the route are open throughout the year.
GOKYO LAKE TREK RATING
The Gokyo Lakes trek is rated 4 on a rating scale from 1 (easy) to 5 (challenging). In other words, it is rated “strenuous”. The highest altitude reached is at Gokyo Ri (5,357 meters) and the highest overnight elevation is at Gokyo Lakes (4,750m/15,500 feet). Therefore the highest overnight elevation is much lower than Gorakshep (5,160m/17,100ft) on the Everest Base Camp Trek. Furthermore, average daily hiking times is 5 to 6 hours with one long day of around 7 hours on the day hike to the 5th lakes. Thus, it is important to prepare for any trek in Nepal. Read our advice on training for treks.
