Namche Bazaar to Gokyo Trek
Namche Bazaar to Gokyo trek is an adventurous trek in the Khumbu region that takes you through the breathtaking sight of the Gokyo lakes. This trek starts at the heart of the Everest Base Camp, the market situated at the highest altitude of 3440 meters. The marketplace in Namche Bazaar is crowded with the local sherpas selling their local products for tourists to buy.
Namche Bazaar to Gokyo trek has many options in store for you. You can enjoy the Namche Bazaar to Gokyo trek as Gokyo Ri Trek and come back directly from Gokyo. But many adventurous trekkers like to experience the trek to its full extent. They usually take the way back from Everest base camp. You’re already halfway to the Everest base camp. It would be a huge miss not to visit the all-so-popular Everest Base Camp Trek.
The Namche bazaar to Gokyo trek starts from Kathmandu, reaches Namche bazaar, and reaches Everest base camp through the hike around the majestic Gokyo lakes. During the Gokyo trek, you can explore the sherpa culture of Namche bazaar experiencing their unique lifestyle and goods.
The place is also popular for yak milk which is considered a delicacy.
The journey from Namche Bazaar to Gokyo valley is really a sight to see. The whole place and the roads are enveloped in the culture of the Sherpas. Often called by rescue pilots the death valley, the Gokyo trek is one challenging trek.
The major highlight of the Namche Bazaar to Gokyo Trek is the Gokyo Ri which allows you to see the awestruck panoramic view of the highest peaks like Everest, Cho-Oyu, Lhotse, and many more.
Highlights of the Namche Bazaar to Gokyo Trek
Starting from the market located at the highest altitude, this trek takes you to see the majestic view of the mountains and the Gokyo lakes. The highlights of the trek are listed below:
Kathmandu-Lukla flight view
One of the major highlights of the Namche Bazaar to Gokyo Trek is the spectacular view from the Kathmandu-Lukla flight to and from Namche bazaar. The flight is a seat for the best view of the mountains, valleys, and snow-covered forests. This calms down the audience and makes them forget everything else.
Namche Bazaar
A joint for all the tourists and merchants in the area, Namche Bazaar is the most famous marketplace and tourist destination in Nepal. The sherpas sell their products here. The tourists buy these products and experience the culture it emits.
Cho-la pass
Chola pass takes you through the old monasteries, mountains, and valleys along with snow-covered alpine forests. It gives tourists the best view and experience of the Himalayas.
Gokyo Lakes
Gokyo lakes consist of 6 different lakes flowing from the Gokyo mountain. This all merges into a milky river called the Dudh Koshi River. It is a refreshing view for tourists.
Dudh Koshi river
Another main attraction in the Namche Bazaar to Gokyo Trek is the Dudh Koshi river emerging from the Everest Massif. This river is milky white in color and is the main attraction for everyone traveling to the Everest Base Camp.
Gokyo Ri
Gokyo Ri is the viewpoint for the major mountains in the base camp. This viewpoint provides you with the perfect panoramic view of the highest mountains of Nepal like Cho-Oyu, Lhotse, Everest, etc.
Best Season
Spring and Autumn seasons are the best seasons for Namche Bazaar to Gokyo trek. The months from March to May and September to November are considered the best for the Gokyo Ri trek. The temperature during this time is favorable for the trek. During these months, the sky is clear making the view more majestic. The mountains stand gloriously staring at us.
You should not embark on the Gokyo Ri trek during the rainy season. The rain makes the roads slippery which has been known to be a cause of many accidents on the way. The rainy season may hamper your safety. It is always better to take safety measures and follow precautions.
How to Reach Namche Bazar
The beginning of trip starts at Namche Bazaar. The Namche Bazaar to Gokyo trek is only a few days longer for those at Namche Bazar. But to many foreigners, the main question remains like how to reach Namche Bazaar. The trek package includes the trek to Namche Bazaar as well. The trek package includes going to Namche bazaar from Kathmandu. Also, the trek package takes you through a journey of a lifetime as it gives you a quick peek of the Everest Base Camp on the way back.
The itinerary for reaching Namche bazaar is listed below:
Day 01 – Kathmandu to Phakding
On the first day of the trek, we fly from Kathmandu to Lukla. Lukla is a small town in the Solukhumbu district at an altitude of 2804 meters. From Lukla, we will trek for 4-6 hours. The trek will take us to our destination for the day i.e, Phakding at an altitude of 2623 meters.
Day 02 – Phakding to Namche
The second day is when we will head to our destination, Namche Bazaar. Today we will trek from Phakding to Namche Bazaar for 6-7 hours. We will reach an altitude of 3440 meters before arriving at Namche Bazaar.
Day 03 – Rest/Acclimatization
After reaching Namche Bazaar, we will rest for the day today. As the altitude has suddenly increased drastically, we will acclimatize today in order to avoid any altitude sickness. Also, we will explore Namche and Syangboche today. Syangboche is at an altitude of 3880 meters.at Syangboche, we will see the historical Syangboche Airport. This is one of the highest-altitude airports.
The aircraft there have now been officially closed for operation due to the lack of single-engine aircraft. But the historical airport remains a popular tourist destination. We will return to Namche after visiting this historical landmark. Tonight, we will sleep at Namche Bazaar. If we are lucky, you will get to experience the Saturday market in Namche, filled with unique products. The Saturday markets in Namche Bazaar are the most popular attraction.
Trips similar to Namche Bazaar to Gokyo Trek
Namche Bazaar to Gokyo
After reaching Namche Bazaar, the real Namche Bazaar to Gokyo trek begins.
Day 04 – Namche to Dole
The Namche Bazaar to Gokyo Trek starts from this point on. Today we will trek to Dole. At an altitude of 4200 meters, it takes 5-7 hours to reach the small village. The trail from Namche to Dole is filled with Rhododendrons and alpine trees surrounded by snowy caps. Through the Kyanjuma Village, a rocky mountainous path above the religious river, Dudh Koshi river takes us to Dole. At Dole, we will enjoy the beautiful sunset from among the mountains. The peaks look otherworldly in the sunset.
Day 05- Dole to Machhermo
From Dole, another 6-7 hours of trekking will take us to Machhermo. It is a small village at an altitude of 4450 meters. The trail from Dole to Machhermo is rather steep. We will be able to see the glorious view of Mt. Thamserku after passing through Alabama and Luza. We will stay overnight at the lodge in the village.
Day 06 – Machhermo to Gokyo
A 5-6 hours long trek from Machhermo takes us to our destination. At an altitude of 4750 meters, we will reach Gokyo today.
The trail there is narrow and steep. On the way from Machhermo along the narrow trails, we will meet the first Gokyo lake. The lake lives to its praises. Passing through the pastures and beautiful landscapes of shepherds with their livestock, we will finally reach Gokyo village. It is a small village on the shore of the Dudh Pokhari. The hill nearby allows you to be mesmerized by the view of the glorious Dudh Koshi River and the Ngozumpa glacier. We will stay the night in Gokyo village surrounded by all the beauty, soaking it all in.
Day 07- Hike to Gokyo RI and Thangnak
The very next morning we will hike to Gokyo RI and check out the beautiful scenery from the place. The Gokyo peaks stand tall with their glaciers and lakes and provide a majestic view of all the highest peaks like Cho-Oyu, Lhotse, Everest, etc.
After exploring the Gokyo lakes and their beauty, we will trek to Thangnak for 6-7 hours. We will reach an altitude of 4700 meters.
Day 08- Thangnak to Dzongla
Today we will walk for another 6-8 hours and reach Dzongla through the Cho-la pass at an altitude of 5387 meters. This is one of the toughest trails to trek, the way is filled with boulders making it hard for trekkers to get through. Also, the path is very steep and slippery.
Within around 4-5 hours of trekking, you will reach the Cho-La pass. The pass will provide you with the vibes of reaching a monastery or a festival. It is filled with colorful prayer flags that flutter above your head as a protective totem.
Day 09- Dzongla to Lobuche
From Dzongla, we will travel to Lobuche at an altitude of 4930 meters. This will take us about 6-7 hours of trekking. This path is filled with a beautiful view of the peaks like Mt. Tawache and Cholatse finally exposing the majestic Lobuche peak.
Day 10- Lobuche to Gorak Shep and base camp
From Labuche, we will trek to Gorak Shep at an altitude of 5170 meters. From there, we will hike up to the Everest Base Camp at an altitude of 5364 meters. On the way, we will witness Mt. Everest, Khumbutse, and Pumori.
This view slowly gets more and more breathtaking. Trekking and hiking for 6-8 hours, we will stay at the Everest Base Camp for the night.
Day 11- Hike to Kalapathar trek to Periche
The next day we will hike to Kalapathar at an altitude of 5545 meters. There, you can enjoy the view of the mountains standing tall with their glorious snow caps. This point provides you with the best view of the sunrise hitting the tall mountains.
The mountains slowly getting basked in the sunlight and glowing looks like a scene straight out of a movie. Soon, we will trek to Periche at 4280 meters. The descent starts from this point on.
Day 12- Pheriche to Namche bazaar
From Periche we will trek down to Namche Bazaar again. The way is culturally and religiously rich with monasteries and sherpa monks. You will see the Tengboche monastery on the way. The place is rich in culture and religion. The Buddhist monastery with the monks will provide you with a sense of calm. This will take us about 5-6 hours.
Day 13- Namche to Lukla
In a span of 6-7 hours, we will trek from Namche to Lukla along the Dudhkoshi River. It is an easy descent from Namche to Lukla.
Day 14- Fly back to Kathmandu
Finally, we will end the Namche Bazaar to Gokyo trek by flying back to Kathmandu from Lukla with the beautiful scenes of the valley and the mountains on the way back.
Day 15- Departure
This officially is the end of the Namche Bazaar to Gokyo trek. Today you will depart back to your country.
How Much Does It Cost?
The Namche Bazaar to Gokyo trek cost is based on the services you use. The roundabout trip that takes you from Kathmandu to Namche Bazaar to Gokyo and returns via Everest Base Camp will take 15 days to complete. The cost for this package is USD 1390 for 2 people.
Cost Inclusions
- International and domestic airport pickups and drops
- Accommodation at a 3-star hotel in Kathmandu with breakfast
- Two-way flight from Kathmandu to Lukla
- Full board meals
- Medical safety kits, first aid kits
- Permit fees including Sagarmatha national park permit and rural municipality entrance fees
- Guides and porters as required
- Achievement certificate
Cost Exclusions
- Nepal entry visa and international airfare
- Travel insurance for altitude
- Snacks and drinks and other personal items
- Wifi charges
- Battery charge and other specialties like hot showers
Tips for Namche Bazaar to Gokyo trek
- Take your time with the acclimatization to avoid any altitude sickness.
- The roads are very steep so it requires a lot of strenuous walking. I would recommend you exercise every day to prepare for the trek.
- Do not rush into the valley of death as there have been many cases of fatality in the Gokyo.
- Explore the Saturday market at Namche Bazaar for the best experience.
- Do not travel during the rainy season because the roads are very slippery.
If you are in for a chilling adventure through the Valley of Death, then the Namche Bazaar to Gokyo Trek is the one for you. We will ensure you get through the valley of death safely and reach your destination. We assure you that your journey will be filled with beautiful memories of you trampling over obstacles and getting to a beautiful destination. Please get in touch with us for more details about the enthralling adventure of the Gokyo Ri trek.
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