Gokyo Lake lies at the heart of the Everest Region. The Gokyo Lake trek takes you to the mesmerizing view of the lakes along with a breathtaking view of the mountains. End of March 2023 I planned the trip to Gokyo Lake along with my sister, mom, and a friend. It is basically 10 days trek but depends upon which mode of transport you choose to reach Lukla which is the starting point of the hike.
Landmarks of Gokyo Lake Trek
Kathmandu-Lukla-Phakding
As we did not get a direct flight to Lukla from Kathmandu we drove to Manthali airport which is known to be one of the most dangerous airport in the world. From Manthali we took a flight to Lukla. As it was my first ever flight experience I was petrified and praying the whole 20 minutes that we would land safe. Once it landed safely, we were thrilled as we were embarking the journey to Gokyo Lake. From Lukla, we headed towards Phakding and decided to stay there for the night. Our trek led us through picturesque villages, dense forests along the roaring Dudh Koshi River.
Phakding to Namche
Our path continued steep uphill to Namche bazar. We were enthralled as we passed through the bustling Sherpa settlement of Namche bazaar. The best part is that it snowed the day we reached Namche bazar. We were quite surprised to see the bustling Namche bazar. One can find pubs, restaurants, bakeries, ATM booths, basic to luxury tea houses here.
Everest View Hotel
We stayed one day extra for acclimatization and explored the Namche bazar and Everest View Hotel the next day. We can see the breathtaking panoramic views of the highest peak in the world, The Mount Everest from the top of the Everest View Hotel.
Namche-Dole
We left Namche and headed towards Dole which was our next stop for the day. We were constantly motivated and overwhelmed by the panoramic view of the mountains. We hiked through rhododendron trees and stunning mountain views. The journey turned out to be more and more exhilarating as there was always something more to offer. We were mesmerized each time by the pristine landscape.
Dole-Machhermo-Gokyo lake
We stayed at Machhermo for acclimatization and headed towards Gokyo lake the very next day. The pristine beauty of First Gokyo Lake was a welcome treat. We kept walking, passing by the Second and Third Gokyo Lakes, making each one more enchanting than the last. I cannot express in words how we felt when we reached the third lake. We’re astonished by the tranquil view of the clear blue peaceful waters of the lake.
Gokyo Ri
Ascending to Gokyo Ri is the highlight of this trek. Gokyo Ri is at elevation of 5360 meters. I along with my sister decided to ascend and we made it to the top. The entire journey was challenging yet rewarding at the end. We saw the panoramic view of Mt. Everest, Lhotse, Makalu and Cho yu and the view was to die for.
Descend to Namche Bazar
We descended to Namche bazar taking all the memories and good friendship we had made along the way be it sitting by fire and enjoy talking to fellow travellers and playing cards, talking to locals and most importantly having the most famous himalayan butter tea.
Back to Lukla and Kathmandu
In this way we returned to Lukla as the trip ended.Â
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Conclusion
The Gokyo Lake Trek takes you to a hidden sanctuary among the world’s tallest mountains. It’s a journey that engages not only the senses but also the heart. The calm lakes, majestic hills, and kind hospitality of the Sherpa people make it an unforgettable experience. The entire journey was overwhelming as it was our family trek and the 10 long days we spent walking was memorable.
Also Read: The best hiking boots for trekking in Nepal