Gokyo Lake Trek with Renjo La Pass

Gokyo Lake Trek difficulty

Gokyo Lake Trek difficulty is considered moderate to difficult. Gokyo Lakes Trek Nepal is a 16-day trek in tough mountain terrain, where you have to hike for 6 to 8 hours a day, protecting a distance of 12 to 18 km. Nevertheless, the Gokyo Ri climb is not technical, and you do not need any previous high-altitude climbing skills or mountain gear. A beginner trekker with decent physical strength and prepared well can reach the Gokyo Lakes safely. Gokyo Valley to Gokyo Ri lake is simply a mile of a soothing uphill hike; hence, there is no need to worry about it.

Trip Grade: The fitness level, medical and health

The Gokyo Lake trek is relatively moderate in terms of difficulty, and average trekkers with good fitness levels can enjoy it. The daily exposure is to journey for 5-7 hours, most of the time on uneven and elevated landforms. To ensure a successful Gokyo Lake Trekking Nepal, it’s crucial to prepare well in advance. Regular exercises, such as jogging, hiking, or cardio workouts, for several months before the trek will empower you to conquer the challenges of the Gokyo Lake trek. 

The major point is that health and medical issues are vital to this Gokyo Lake Trekking Nepal, and no one can debate this. The altitude of the high mounts can cause uneasiness and illness. Therefore, a good sun exposure habit or sun protection is vital. Enjoy a walk at the park, rest throughout the day, and don’t try to hurry it all up. Above that, there is also a medical kit for the usual symptoms. People suffering from diseases before going on the course should make sure to get the advice of a doctor before starting the trek. 

Altitude Sickness

The main trouble of the Gokyo Lake trek is altitude sickness since height is reached high due to the high altitudes. The hike is initiated at Lukla (2,860 meters) and Gokyo (4,750 meters), which comes a bit later as we gradually gain height. Therefore, as you move higher in the atmosphere, the air gets thinner, and so your body is unable to breathe the oxygen it requires. Symptoms of mountain sickness include headaches, dizziness, nausea, and considerably reduced ability to breathe. It is important to take immediate action on the identified signs and make sure the business stays on track.

Acclimatization is the best of all solutions by far. Gokyo trek Nepal will have day-long trips where you rest, like in the town of Namche Bazaar (3,440 meters), to let your body adjust to the high altitude. The major constituents are the rules, such as having a proper way of walking, drinking water, and eating healthily. Do not drink, and smoking becomes a bad influence on the condition. For situations of extreme high altitude, there is no other way to get out of it except gently descent to that lower altitude.

Trekking Experience

The Gokyo Lake trek is a unique trekking experience that combines the excitement of adventure, the beauty of nature and the cultural heritage. The beginning of the trail is in Lukla, where trekkers go through the jungle, villages of Sherpa, and towns like Namche Bazaar, where they have a market. As you get higher, the surroundings become more spectacular, with panoramic views of the mountain ranges such as Everest, Lhotse, and Cho Oyu. The Gokyo trek Nepal is famous for the stunning glacial lakes, above all, the Gokyo Lakes, which are the epitome of natural beauty, offering a wonderful reflection of the surrounding mountain ranges.

The journey consists of an uphill walk to the peak of Gokyo Ri Nepal (5,357 meters), which allows the passengers to enjoy the beautiful panoramic views of the Himalayas. During the hike, you will meet the friendly locals and monastic complexes and be immersed in the Sherpa culture. 

Emergency and Evacuation 

In case of emergencies during the Gokyo Lake trek, there are options for evacuation and medical assistance. Most trekking agencies provide guides trained in basic first aid and altitude sickness management. They can assist with minor injuries and illnesses. For more serious cases, helicopters can be called to evacuate hospitals in Kathmandu or nearby towns. It’s necessary to have travel insurance that covers helicopter evacuation and medical expenses. Trekkers should carry a copy of their insurance policy and emergency contact numbers. In an emergency, notify your guide immediately and follow their instructions. Being prepared and informed about emergency procedures ensures a safer trekking experience.

Kit and equipment for Gokyo lake trek

Clothing

• Base Layers
• Insulating Layers
• Outer Layers
• Trekking Pants
• T-shirts and Long-Sleeve Shirts
• Warm Hat and Gloves
• Sun Hat and Sunglasses
• Buff or Scarf

Footwear  

• Trekking Boots with ankle support
• Trekking Socks
• Gaiters
• Camp Shoes

Equipment

• Backpack (A 40-50-litre pack)
• Daypack
• Sleeping Bag (minus degree rated) (complimentary by Himalayan Masters) 
• Trekking Poles  
• Water Bottles (complimentary by Himalayan Masters)
• Water Purification tablets (complimentary by Himalayan Masters)
• First Aid Kit
• Multi-tool or Knife
• Gokyo Lake Trek map  and Compass

Miscellaneous

• Sunscreen and Lip Balm
• Toiletries
• Towel
• Snacks
• Cash 
• Camera or Smartphone

Optional

• Portable Charger
• Sleeping Bag Liner
• Binoculars  
• Travel Pillow

Special training

Special training for the Gokyo Lake Trek Nepal is not essential, yet cardio exercises and weight lifting are valuable to get the body ready for the physical strains of the trek. Increase endurance, leg strength, and stamina through hiking, jogging, riding a bicycle, and going up and down. Besides, take a couple of walks with a loaded backpack in order to adapt to the trekking conditions. Adaption and adequate hydration are essential; therefore, learn about the specific hazards and acclimatization of high-altitude hiking.

Best Time for Gokyo Treks Nepal

Favourable weather climates will contribute to a memorable travel experience you are having. Numerous travellers and agencies advocate traveling at the following time: between March and April and between October and December. During these months, before and after the monsoon season, you’ll enjoy good weather with a clear sky full of dry and delightful paths to your hiking route.

In autumn, we celebrate mountain festivals like Mani Rumdi, and Kathmandu districts celebrate Dashain/Tihar. Therefore, if you are looking to blend different cultures in a single trekking experience, this will be the best time of year for trekking in Nepal. However, the blooming of the Rhododendron in the spring is the very picture of the forest, especially its arrangement and hues. The most important thing is that this national flower of Nepal will be the cherry on top of the beauty of the trekking trail. To sum up, the landscape of the Mountains in autumn is clearer as the trail is in the best shape in spring.

Weather Information

The weather in the region of Gokyo Lake is diverse from the point of view of a season. During the period of spring season, which is between (March and May), the weather is mostly gentle and is rarely cloudy, with blossoming flowers flanked close. Temperatures are variable; temperatures of 15 degrees Celsius at midday and -5 degrees Celsius at night are the extremes. In the late autumn (September to November), the weather is definitely better, with mild, warm days and cool nights. The mean temperature in the daytime ranges from 10-15 degrees Celsius, but at nighttime, it can reach -10 degrees Celsius. It is actually very important to pack appropriately and be ready for sudden weather shifts, but the higher the altitude you are planning to scale, the more important it becomes.

Permits for Gokyo Lake Nepal

For the Gokyo Lake trek, you will need two permits: permits for the Sagarmatha National Park Entry and the Gokyo Cho La Pass Trek, which are now issued in electronic form. The permit entree fee for Sagarmatha National Park is approximately USD 30 per individual; it is obtained in Kathmandu or Monjo. Khumjung is where you buy the Gokyo Cho La Pass Trek Permit, which costs around 20 dollars per person. It is perfectly necessary that you have the permits with you during the whole hike because they will be controlled on the checks of the trail’s intervals.

Accommodation and food during the trip

Teahouses in this trek can be as simple as basic accommodation and as luxurious as comfortable beds. Tearooms are basic dorm-style accommodations that may come with a bed with simple linen. Toilet facilities and maybe even washbasins are usually shared. Lodges offer way more comfort in the secluded rooms and even with an attached bathroom in some places. The accommodation Gokyo Lake cost differ from USD 5 to USD 20 per good night, depending on where you’re staying.

It is so that the trail food options are small in number, with a typical teahouse offering a menu that is quite similar to many of its neighbouring teahouses. Regular meals usually contain rice, noodles, soup and Tibetan bread, as well as tea or coffee. Others may carry the flavour of foreign attractions as they offer selections of international dishes. It’s good advice that you try to stick with vegetarian dishes and also rather avoid eating meat to reduce the risk of foodborne disease. Bottled water and other beverages for sale are placed on the path to quench your thirst while you are on your journey. Though the accommodation and food choices are not luxurious in any of these places, they are the essentials trekkers need to get through the trip.

Electricity and battery recharge, water during the Gokyo Lake trek

The majority of the teahouses along the Gokyo Lake trek have electricity. Generally, it is provided either through solar power or hydroelectricity. Nevertheless, one should mind having a USB charger or power bank to charge out the devices in the event of an electricity outage. It might cost extra for charging.

Trekkers should carry water in along the way, so, boil the water and filter after, before they drink the water to prevent waterborne illnesses. Filtered water or drops of water purification is good for making water be safe for drinking. The bottled water, available for purchase in teahouses, is not recommended, especially if you want to minimize plastic waste. So, it is wise to use refillable water bottles and refill those with purified water.

With Himalayan Masters

Booking/ airport pickup

Himalayan Masters go a long way in making the booking of your Gokyo Lake trek an orderly process. The website puts you in the position to choose your trekking package of preference together with the dates anytime, and you can even personalize your itinerary. After all the formalities of booking are done, Himalayan Masters will be able to assist you and give clear guidance on how to meet your guide. 

As part of the first service, a team will be awaiting you at the Airport to accompany you to your hotel with a transfer. Additionally, they brief hikers so that they are aware of the trek schedule and can also get straight answers for any questions.

Support team

Do not worry; from day one, the Himalayan Masters team has trained its staff to ensure your safety and comfort all through. An experienced guide leads the hike and is an attendant on the trail to provide direction and tell us about the region. Furthermore, the porters are also willing to carry your things, which leaves you more time to take in the beautiful scenery and relax without lugging heavy backpacks.

Starting point/ ending point

Himalayan Masters offer us a starting point at Lukla, small village with the Airport that are link between the Everest region and the World. From Kathmandu, you will then fly to Lukla and complete a trek to Phakding and then onwards to Namche Bazaar and finally to gain heights at Gokyo Lake. The stretch concludes on the same route, where you go back Lukla, to catch your return flight to Kathmandu.

A typical day on the Gokyo Lake Trek

An average day of the Gokyo Lake trek usually begins in the early morning, signalling the start of the day at the cozy tea house or lodge where you stayed the night prior. After finishing the breakfast, you start for the day’s trip, and your guide is leading you. Along the trail, natural scenery ranging from rich forests to picturesque villages can be observed. Moreover, a little encounter with rugged terrain may occur near the countryside. 

As you go by, there are short breaks along the way to rest, taking in the scenery and sipping water for hydration. As it is moved toward altitude, the air becomes thinner, making the climb more difficult. You’ll find the teahouse en route for a well-deserved warm meal here. Altogether, you have about more hours of the trip and reach your goal: go to a teahouse or lodge to spend the night. Here, you can relax, have a hot dinner, and enjoy an amazing day before settling for sleep.

Gokyo Lake Trek cost

The trekking to Gokyo Lake trek cost is around $1,400, and upon its inclusion, the Everest base camp trek will cost $200 per trip. Here comes the reward that you deserve and the reason for all – trek to the Gokyo Ri and EBC (including). You will spend approximately $50 per day on food and accommodation, $40 on Porter/guide, $50 on everything that needs to be permitted, and about $400 on that flight. Travelling together in a larger group, you can affordably share the Gokyo lake trek cost of the accommodation of porters and guides. Thus, your journey itself will not be quite expensive.

Insurance 

As far as talking about insurance, it is imperative to have travel insurance yourself. The additional expenses that make up the case for taking an insurance plan for yourself can be either medical attention or emergency evacuation, though it may cost extra. Most advanced features of the insurance are intended to cover such situations. The need for a travel insurance policy from a very respectable and credible firm is high. 

Additional Costs

Further expenses for trekking towards Gokyo Lake trek cost may include permits, accommodation expenses, dining charges, some drinking and snack bills, trekking gear for rent, tips for guides and porters, and personal expenses. The price you will pay for the Sagarmatha National Park Entry Permit is approximately USD 30 per person, and around USD 20 per person, you will have to pay for the Gokyo Cho La Pass Trek Permit. The rates of accommodation tend to differ but usually range from USD 5 to USD 20 on a daily basis. 

Meals and drinks depend on your pocket, which amounts to more or less USD 20 to USD 30 a day. Charges for a set of Trekking gears, as can be assumed, are somewhere between 1 dollar and 5 dollars per item per day. Let’s not forget tipping, one of Nepal’s few conventions. Also, visitors should add money for souvenirs and internet usage among the expenses they should have in their budget. In summary, USD50 to USD100 a day falls into an acceptable budget equal to Gokyo Lake in particular.

ATMs in Gokyo Trek Nepal

Namche Bazar is the only ATM at the last point on the Gokyo Lake trek. So please make sure to carry enough cash for the trek. The teahouses and villages also accept cards, but sometimes, due to an internet issue, the card might not work. Some places only accept Nepali cash. Make sure that you have enough Nepali cash for the Gokyo Lake trek. 

Which One Would You Prefer?

That being said, we cannot miss the perks of the summer and winter trek in Nepal. Yes, the summer trek is relatively hard due to the slippery trail and leeches all over. But it’s also the warmest and greenest month in the mountains. If you have a pretty flexible Itinerary, trekking in Gokyo in June/ August is also possible. On the other hand, we have the beautiful months of winter.

Many claim that winter is not the best time for the Gokyo trek, but the truth is, the thick layers of snow in the mountains and the frozen lakes make everything heavenly. The winter trek takes the trill to a new level if you pack the right gear and travel with great determination. We, Himalayan, can help you with the rightful preparation for the off-season Gokyo Lake trek in Nepal.

Also Read: Nar Phu Valley Trek In Nepal