The Gokyo Ri Trek is a 13-day moderate trek that has also been referred to as the Hidden Treasure alternative trek to the Everest Basecamp Trek. Although Gokyo Ri is located at a height of 5,483 meters, climbing permits are not required to climb the peak. In total, two types of permits are required: the permit for Sagarmatha National Park and the permit for Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipalities. The Gokyo Ri Trek is one of the most amazing treks in the Everest region. I would like to speak to you today about the Gokyo Ri Trek and how adventurous it is! It is located in the country of Nepal. In the past, the Gokyo Ri Trek in Nepal was once considered to be the best place to get a view of the Everest range.

The Gokyo Ri Trek is without a doubt one of the most beautiful treks in Nepal. The trek confirms the mythical status of Gokyo Lakes as a heaven on earth and the most pristine pastures of Khumbu. The Everest Gokyo RI Peak rises 5,483 meters above sea level, thus standing between Everest base camp and Thame valley. Located on the rim of the Everest region, the Gokyo Ri Ridge is bound by Renjo La and Cho La passes as well as the 5,553-meter Ngozumpa Tse peak. The Gokyo Ri Trek takes you to the highest point of the trek during a moderate trekking trip in the high Himalayas of the Everest region. Consequently, trekkers choose this itinerary over the more commercial Everest Trek to enjoy less crowded trails. Whether you are an experienced traveler or a novice, this can often be an excellent choice.

Best season for Gokyo Ri Trek

The best time for Gokyo Ri Trek is during the Spring season (March-May) and the Autumn season (September-November). The sky is clear during these months due to which the views are fantastic. A person should see to it that it is not raining in the area of trekking. The fun of trekking is ruined due to rains, and even the safety is compromised. During the spring season, a person would get to enjoy the lush vegetation of Gokyo Ri, especially in the trail regions at lower altitudes.

Overview

Itinerary

Cost

Overview

Permit cost: Gokyo Ri Trek

You cannot get this permit in Kathmandu. You can only acquire this permit from either Lukla or Monjo. Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality Permit costs about US$ 18 per person.

Additionally, you need to hold a national park permit to enter the Sagarmatha National Park. You can get this permit either from Nepal Tourism Board in Kathmandu or directly from Monjo. The cost of the Sagarmatha National Park Permit is US$ 27 per person.

If you want to embark on the Gokyo Ri Trek from the classic Jiri route, you also need to obtain Gaurishankar Conservation Area Project Permit (GCAP). The cost of the permit is US$ 27 per person and is available at Nepal Tourism Board, Kathmandu.

Remember, all the permit fees are payable in Nepalese currency only.

Foods During the Gokyo Ri Trek

Breakfasts –Oatmeal, Corn Flakes, French Toast with Jam, Butter, Cheese, and Honey Tibetan Bread or Roti, Local Tsampa Porridge, Hashed Brown Eggs, Varieties of eggs, Pancakes, Muesli Breads, Fruits and Vegetables, Hot Drinks – varieties of Teas, Coffees, Hot Chocolates, etc.

Lunches / Dinners – Dal (lentils), Bhat (Rice) & Tarkari (Curry), Tibetan Bread, Various Soup Items, Sherpa Stew, Steaks, Sandwiches, Momo (dumplings), Macaroni Dishes, Thenduk, Spaghetti Noodles, Thukpa, Pasta, Vegetable Curry, Potato Items, Vegetables, Salads, Pizza, Snacks, Papad, Prawn, Korean Raman, Dessert Items (Rice Pudding, Apple Pie), Steaks.

Accommodation During the Gokyo Ri Trek

During the trek, we will be staying at lodges/ teahouses. You may find comfort and better quality teahouses – having attached bathrooms – until Namche which is a thriving town seeing many more tourists and a more excellent range of accommodation. It should be noted that at higher elevations the quality of accommodation may not be as good, with more basic rooms with the bare necessities.

Essential Equipment for Gokyo Ri Trek

Head

Sun hat or scarf
Winter hat or insulating hat or wide-brimmed hat
Headlight with extra batteries

Face

Sunscreen
Sunglass with UV protection
Face/body wipes

Hands

Lightweight gloves
Heavyweight winter gloves

Body

Hiking shirts
Long-sleeved shirt
Hooded rain jacket
Fleece jacket
Lightweight cotton pants
T-Shirt (bring Lightweight wool)
Polypropylene underwear
Down jacket (available for rent in Kathmandu)
Sweater
Waterproof jacket and pants

Footwear

Hiking Boots
Thick wool socks (take an extra pair of thick light socks)

Essential gear

Backpack or daypack (Size depends on whether you take a porter or not).
Thermal bottle
Water purification
Trekking pole
Sleeping bag (-15 bag is best in high altitude trekking)

Toiletries

Medium size drying towel
Toothbrush
Toothpaste
Deodorant floss
Biodegradable bar soap
Nail clippers
Small mirror

Personal accessories

Money
Watch
Cell phone
Camera

Extra items

First aid kit
Extra passport photos and photocopies of passport
Notebook and pen
Binoculars

Day 1 :

Arrival in Nepal

Our office representative will pick you up from the airport and transfer you to the hotel in a private vehicle.

Day 2 :

Trek Preparation and Kathmandu Sightseeing

We tour Durbar Squares, Pashupatinath temple, Swayambhunath stupa, and Bouddhanath stupa which are all world heritage sites. The Durbar Square sheds light on the life of the royals in ancient times. Pashupatinath temple is one of the most important places of pilgrimage for all Hindus. You can buy or rent all the trekking gear in Thamel at a reasonable price.

Day 3 :

Flight from Kathmandu (1,400m) to Lukla (2,850m) Trek to Phakding (2650m)

The beautiful adventure of the Gokyo Ri trek begins with a 40-minute flight from Kathmandu to Tenzing-Hillary Airport, Lukla. Since most aerial trips to this town take place early in the morning, you’ll have plenty of time for yourself. Take advantage of the time and trek to the small village of Phakding instead.

The trail to Phakding is short and gentle through the valleys until you reach the Dudh Koshi River. You’ll come across several suspension bridges, chortens, Mani walls, and prayer flags. It takes approximately 3 to 4 hours to reach Phakding.

Day 4 :

Trek from Phakding (2,650m) to Namche Bazaar (3,440m)

A full day of trekking begins as we hike along the Dudh Koshi River banks crossing several suspension bridges decorated with prayer flags. The thrilling yet marvelous path will make your trek very delightful. After walking for a few hours, you will reach Monjo Village. Little ahead lies Sagarmatha National Park, where we register our permit and climb up the forest. From here, you will be able to get your first glimpses of Mount Everest. Through the woods and stone-paved way, you will finally reach Namche Bazaar, where you will rest for the night. The trekking duration from Phakding to Namche Bazaar is 6 hours.

Day 5 :

Acclimatize at Namche Bazaar

Today, we will take a break and acclimatize to the thinning air. However, you will not just be sitting idle. You will be wandering through the alleys of Namche as your body adjusts to the altitude. We suggest you treat yourself to bakery items from the famous bakeries in Namche Bazaar.
Namche Bazaar

You will also hike to Sagarmatha National Park and Khumjung (3,790m). People believe that the Khumjung monastery houses a yeti scalp. You will also be visiting Hillary's School and several old monasteries on your way to Khumjung. If you wish, you can hike to Khunde as well. As you return from Kunde, you will also be visiting the local yak farm.

One must not miss place is the Syangboche Airport (3,780m) - one of the highest airports in the world.

Day 6 :

Trek from Namche (3,440m) to Dole (4,200m)

The trail to Dole consists of many uphills and downhills. We descend to Mong La Pass (3,957m) before reaching Phortse Thenga. After Phortse, you will be passing through pine forests full of fascinating floras and faunas. As you trek forward, views of Mount Amadablam (6,812m) and Mount Khumbila (5,761m) emerge. Then we ascend to reach Dole. As you get closer to the destination, the views get stunning. You have to trek for around 5 hours to reach Dole.

Day 7 :

Trek from Dole (4,470m) to Machhermo (4,790m)

From Dole, you will be passing by several trailside shrines and lots of prayer flags until Lapahrma. From Lapahrma, you can get an outstanding view of Mount Cho Oyu (8,201m) - the world's fifth highest mountain. Additionally, the views of Mount Kantega (6,782m) and Thamserku (6,623m) will not fail to mesmerize you.
Machhermo

Along the way, you will encounter beautiful meadows with grazing yaks - at the right season. While enjoying the picturesque views, you will walk through Luja Valley to reach the beautiful village of Machhermo. It takes around 5-6 hours of trek to get to Machhermo village.

Day 8 :

Trek from Machhermo (4,470m) to Gokyo (4,790m)

We finally reach our destination today after days of ascending. From Machhermo, you need to walk for about an hour to reach Phanga. Phanga has an area dedicated to the people who lost their lives in the landslides.

After a walk, you come across an iron bridge that leads to Longpongo (4,690m) lake. This lake indicates what is to come next. You will continue to traverse through the messy Ngozumpa Glacier moraines. Little ahead, you will witness a sequence of Gokyo lakes with unsurpassed beauty. The vibrant color combination of lakes and the Himalayas is beyond description.
Gokyo Village

You will stay overnight at Gokyo Village enjoying its blend of mountains, glaciers, and lakes, Gokyo village is nature's prized treasure. Around 4 hours of the trek is required today to reach Gokyo village.

Day 9 :

Rest day to acclimatize at Gokyo. Summit of Gokyo Ri (5,400m)

This day marks the major highlights of the entire trek. On this day, you’ll hike to the vantage point of Gokyo Ri at an elevation of 5,357 meters. The climb to the viewpoint is hard and takes around 3 hours to reach the top.

Enjoy the panoramic sights of mountains like Everest, Nuptse, Thamserku, Makalu, Lhotse, and Pumori from the top. The exhilarating views of Gokyo lakes and Ngozumba glaciers will surpass your expectations.

View from Gokyo Ri

You’ll retrace your route back to Gokyo Valley for the overnight stay.

Day 10 :

Trek from Gokyo (4,790m) to Phortse (3,950m)

Today, we say goodbye to Gokyo Village and trek back to Phortse, past the dense forests full of rhododendrons blooming and pheasants flying according to season.

Phortse Village

The descent is easier. So within a day, we will cover a distance that took us two days during the ascent. As you walk back, you will be reminiscing about various sights and spots that you passed before. We slowly lose the view of the Himalayas, but the ambiance is such beautiful and pure that you will enjoy our walk to the fullest. Today’s trek is around 6 hours.

Day 11 :

Trek from Phortse (3,950m) to Namche Bazaar (3,440m)

We head back to Namche from Phortse. You will be walking past the dense forests alive with animals like musk deer and mountain goats. The trail back is steep downhill, and your pace increases. From the path, you will enjoy the final views of Mount Everest while bidding farewell to the trek region. You will be resting at Namche on this day. You have to trek for around 6 hours to reach Namche Bazaar.

Day 12 :

Trek from Namche Bazaar (3,440m) to Lukla (2,850m)

The trail is mostly downhill from Namche to Phakding. Our trek passes through small villages, narrow forests, and thrilling suspension bridges. We will finally reach Phakding after a gentle walk through Benkar. As we move ahead to Lukla, we further reach a small village called Toktok. Toktok provides unique views of the snow-capped mountains near it. Eventually, you will get to Lukla, where you will be staying overnight. From Namche Bazaar you have to trek for around 6 to 7 hours to reach Lukla.

Day 13 :

Fly back to Kathmandu (1,400m) from Lukla (2,850m)

After breakfast, you will be taking an early morning 40 minutes flight to Kathmandu. Your flight from Lukla to Kathmandu will be a relaxing one as you rest your tired muscles. Your trek ends in Kathmandu, and you will have an entire day to spend freely. If you want, we can organize a city tour of Kathmandu. As beautiful as the mountains, the culture around the city is a must-see before you call it an end to your vacation.