The Ultimate Guide to Gokyo Lake Trek: Routes, Highlights, and Tips
Gokyo Lake Trek is one of the most popular trekking destinations in the Everest region of Nepal. Offering you views of scenic landscapes, amazing Himalayan Mountains, and beautiful turquoise lakes. It is a great alternative to the traditional Everest Base Camp trek. The trek leads you to the series of six magical glacial lakes located at an altitude between 4700m to 5000m. Four lakes out of six lakes are situated on the west side of Ngozumpa, which is the largest glacier in Nepal.
The turquoise blue lakes are some of the highest freshwater lakes in the world that are a large part of the Himalayan ecosystem and ooze serenity to the environment. This trek also guides you to the exquisite Gokyo Valley, one of the most amazing towns in the region. Situated in the lap of giant mountains and alongside the mesmerizing Gokyo lakes, Gokyo Valley is full of unique culture, traditions, and beautiful sceneries.
The Gokyo Lakes trekking overall provides you with a lifetime opportunity to explore the World’s Highest freshwater lakes, Gokyo Lakes. In addition to that, you get to witness the panoramic vistas of the world’s four highest peaks including Mt. Everest (8848m), Mt. Cho Oyu (8188m), Mt. Lhotse (8516m), and Mt. Makalu (8463m) all in one glance. The trail to the Gokyo Valley and Gokyo Lakes loops through stunning river valleys as you get accompanied by lush green forests, open pastures, and terraced farms. Every settlement and village you pass through on the way during the trek showcases the unique culture and lifestyle of the Sherpa people. Gokyo RI located high at an altitude of 5360m is another treasure of the region that offers epic sunrise and sunset views with an astonishing scenery of the giant Himalayas.
Highlights of the Gokyo Lake trek
Explore the combination of the six highest turquoise freshwater glacier lakes.
Considered one of the sacred serene lakes in Nepal, Gokyo Lakes holds several natural and religious significance to the people of the surrounding area. The world’s highest freshwater glacier lake, without a doubt, is the primary highlight of the trek. The sight of the mystical turquoise blue lakes is something you’ll recall for a lifetime. Furthermore, compared to other treks of the Khumbu region, the trail to Gokyo Lakes is a lot less crowded. Thus, the trek to the Gokyo lakes can be regarded as one of the off-beaten trails filled with tranquil nature and magnificent sceneries.
Relish the sight of some of the tallest peaks in the World
As it is a trek in the Everest region, the entire trail offers astonishing sights of the mountains. As soon as you begin the trek, you will be greeted with panoramic views of one of the tallest peaks in the world; Mount Everest. You can witness the 360-degree panorama of the massive snow-capped mountains like; Mt. Everest 8848m, Mt. Cho Oyu 8188m, Mt. Lhotse 8516m, and Mt. Makalu 8463m, etc during the trek. Especially, you can get astounding views of the Himalayas from the highest point of the trek, GokyoRi.
Walk through the trails inside the Sagarmatha National Park
The trek takes you inside the Sagarmatha national park, which is one of the national parks located at the highest altitude in the World. The Sagarmatha national park is also listed as one of the UNESCO World Heritage sites. The park is well known for being wealthy in its diverse range of flora and fauna. During the trek, you will get a chance to encounter numerous flowers, and plants including some endangered animals as well. Walking inside the trail of the national park adds more thrill and adventure to your trekking experience.
Witness and experience the lifestyle and culture of the renowned Sherpa community
Another major highlight of the Gokyo Lake trek is the cultural richness it offers. You can get insight into the culture and traditions of the renowned Sherpa people during the trek. There are several villages you will pass by all along the trail on your trek that help you gain experience with the ancient Sherpa culture, traditions, rituals, and lifestyle of the local community. You can further witness prayer walls, Flags, spinning wheels, monasteries, and houses that represent the culture of the ethnic Buddhist communities of the region.
Routes to the Gokyo Lake
The trek can be completed in 12-15 days depending on the speed of the trekkers. As for the trail, the trek follows the exact trail as the Everest Base camp up to Namche Bazaar. A short thrilling flight from Kathmandu leads you to Lukla, from where you’ll start the walking journey. From Namche Bazaar, the trail switches its way to Dole.
You’ll continue your journey toward a village named Machhermo from Dole and then head to the Gokyo Valley. You can have one extra day in Gokyo Valley to explore the surrounding of the village and hike further to GokyoRi. On your way back, you will follow the same trail you took to ascend.
During the entire journey, you’ll pass through several ancient Buddhist monasteries and suspension bridges. The route to the Gokyo Lakes is an off-beaten trail offering trekkers an opportunity to discover the unknown little villages all while exploring the diverse landscape of the region.
Some tips for your Gokyo Lake trek
- Have some extra days separated during the trek, which can be used in case of flight delays or any other mishaps that may occur in terms of weather.
- Make sure to hike to GokyoRi, although it might seem like a tough walk, you will not be disappointed by the sight the viewpoint offers.
- Do not rush and take it slow. It is suggested not to hike over 300 – 400 meters per day once you are above 3000 m.
- As most part of the trek involves walking at an altitude above 4000 m, it is highly recommended to have some light hikes and treks before this trek.
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