Day 1
Lukla to Phakding
3 hrs / 8 km / sleep 2,610 m
Fly into Lukla and descend along the Dudh Koshi River to Phakding.
Everest
Gokyo Lakes Trek
A less-crowded alternative to EBC in the same region. Trek to the stunning turquoise Gokyo Lakes and climb Gokyo Ri for views of four 8,000m peaks including Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, and Cho Oyu.
Challenging12 days5,357 mMar - May, Sep - Nov
Photo: Tom Simcock / Wikimedia CommonsOverview
Trek overview
Long-form route context for planning, pacing, and realistic expectations.
Key Highlights & Takeaways
- Gokyo Ri sunrise (5,357m)
- Four 8,000m peaks visible
- Turquoise Gokyo Lakes
- Ngozumpa Glacier - longest in Nepal
A less-crowded alternative to EBC in the same region. Trek to the stunning turquoise Gokyo Lakes and climb Gokyo Ri for views of four 8,000m peaks including Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, and Cho Oyu.
This itinerary is synced from TrekGuard mobile app data and includes 12 planned days, 100 km of walking, and 5,200 m of total elevation gain.
Highlights include Gokyo Ri sunrise (5,357m), Four 8,000m peaks visible, Turquoise Gokyo Lakes, Ngozumpa Glacier - longest in Nepal.
Itinerary
Daily route plan
Day 2
Phakding to Namche Bazaar
6 hrs / 11 km / sleep 3,440 m
Follow the river, cross suspension bridges including the Hillary Bridge, and climb steeply to Namche Bazaar.
Day 3
Namche Bazaar acclimatization
4 hrs / 6 km / sleep 3,440 m
Acclimatization day. Explore Namche, visit the museum, or hike to Khumjung village.
Day 4
Namche Bazaar to Dole
5 hrs / 9 km / sleep 4,038 m
Diverge from the EBC trail heading west. Trek through rhododendron forests with views of Cho Oyu and Kangtega.
Day 5
Dole to Machhermo
4 hrs / 8 km / sleep 4,470 m
Gradual uphill through the Dudh Koshi valley. Pass through small settlements of Lhabarma and Luza.
Day 6
Machhermo to Gokyo
5 hrs / 9 km / sleep 4,790 m
Pass the first Gokyo Lake (Longpongo) and second lake (Taboche Tsho) before reaching Gokyo village on the shore of the third lake.
Day 7
Gokyo acclimatization
5 hrs / 6 km / sleep 4,790 m
Pre-dawn hike to Gokyo Ri (5,357m) for breathtaking 360° views of Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, and Cho Oyu. Afternoon explore the Fourth and Fifth lakes.
Day 8
Gokyo to Dole
5 hrs / 17 km / sleep 4,038 m
Begin the descent, retracing through Machhermo to Dole.
Day 9
Dole to Namche Bazaar
5 hrs / 9 km / sleep 3,440 m
Continue descending back to Namche Bazaar. Last chance for shopping and farewell dal bhat.
Day 10
Namche Bazaar to Lukla
6 hrs / 19 km / sleep 2,860 m
Final trekking day. Descend through forests to Lukla for celebration.
Day 11
Lukla to Kathmandu
0 hrs / 0 km / sleep 1,338 m
Fly back to Kathmandu. Keep a buffer day for weather delays.
Day 12
Kathmandu acclimatization
0 hrs / 0 km / sleep 1,338 m
Buffer day for weather-delayed flights. Explore Kathmandu or rest.
Altitude profile
How high you sleep, night by night
The single biggest safety factor on a high trek is how fast your sleeping altitude rises. Here's the shape of this itinerary.
2,860 m
Start
4,790 m
Highest sleep
5,357 m
Max altitude
12
Nights
See which days climb too fast and add rest days to build a safer schedule.
Check acclimatization →Map
Interactive route preview
Leaflet route rendering with checkpoints, altitude markers, and GPX geometry where published.
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GPX and KML downloads
Static route references for offline planning.
- Duration
- 12 days
- Altitude
- 5,357 m
- Updated
- 2026
Route files are planning references only. Always follow current trail conditions, local notices, and guide advice.
Packing checklist
Use a mobile-friendly checklist for clothing, electronics, medicine, documents, and trail gear.
Altitude and safety
Prepare before pushing higher.
Climb gradually and take acclimatization seriously.
Check weather, wind, and daylight before long days.
Descend and seek help if altitude symptoms worsen.
Gokyo Lakes Trek FAQ
Straight answers on length, altitude, permits, season and cost for the Gokyo Lakes Trek, generated from the same route data the TrekGuard app uses.
How many days does the Gokyo Lakes Trek take?
The TrekGuard planning itinerary for the Gokyo Lakes Trek runs 12 days and covers 100 km of walking. That includes 3 acclimatization days where you sleep at the same village instead of climbing higher. Treat it as a baseline: weather, flight delays and how you acclimatize can add days, so build slack into your schedule.
How high does the Gokyo Lakes Trek go?
The Gokyo Lakes Trek tops out at 5,357 m. The highest place you sleep on this itinerary is about 4,790 m, which matters more for altitude illness than the daytime high point.
What permits do you need for the Gokyo Lakes Trek?
The Gokyo Lakes Trek normally requires: Sagarmatha National Park Entry Permit, Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality Permit. Permit rules, fees and issuing offices change between seasons - confirm the current requirements with the Nepal Tourism Board or a registered agency before you travel.
When is the best time to trek the Gokyo Lakes Trek?
Mar - May, Sep - Nov is the usual window for the Gokyo Lakes Trek. Outside it you are trading stable weather for either monsoon cloud and leeches or deep winter cold and snow-blocked passes.
How difficult is the Gokyo Lakes Trek?
The Gokyo Lakes Trek is rated challenging, with 5,200 m of total ascent over 100 km. Walking days are roughly 3-6 hours. Above 4,000 m the limiting factor is usually altitude rather than fitness, so pace and rest days matter more than training volume.
Can you get altitude sickness on the Gokyo Lakes Trek?
Yes. The Gokyo Lakes Trek reaches 5,357 m, well above the 2,500 m mark where acute mountain sickness (AMS) becomes possible for anyone, regardless of fitness or age. Keep sleeping-altitude gains gradual, take the built-in rest days (3 on this itinerary), and descend if headache, nausea or breathlessness get worse rather than better. This is general information, not medical advice - see a travel-medicine clinician before the trip.
Is there a GPX file for the Gokyo Lakes Trek?
Yes - the Gokyo Lakes Trek GPX and KML tracks are free to download from this page and open in TrekGuard, Gaia GPS, Garmin Connect, Organic Maps or Google Earth. The track is a planning reference built from route data, not a surveyed trail: verify junctions on the ground and follow local signage and guides over the line on your screen.
Where does the Gokyo Lakes Trek start and finish?
The Gokyo Lakes Trek starts and finishes at Lukla, in the Everest region.
Read next
Guides for the Gokyo Lakes Trek
Long-form articles covering acclimatization, permits, packing and navigation for this route.
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Honest comparison of five offline Nepal trekking apps - TrekGuard, Gaia GPS, Mapy.com, Organic Maps, Maps.me - on maps, GPX, altitude safety, battery, and cost.
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Planning aid - not a guide or rescue service. GPX lines, checklists, forecasts, and altitude readouts support your judgment. Trails, weather, permits, and illness can change faster than any app. Download offline map packs before signal ends; live map tiles and fresh weather need network. SMS SOS sharing needs cellular texting - not satellite.
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Download map packs on Wi‑Fi, pull weather while online, then use GPS altitude, planner & safety tools on trail - free on Google Play. Not a guide or rescue service.
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