12-Day Gokyo Valley Trek from Kathmandu with Gokyo Ri and Lakes

• Begin the day's trek from Lukla, following a gentle climb up the mountainside on the left bank of the Dudh Koshi River.
• Keep an eye out for Nupla (5885 m), a peak atop the Kongde Ridge, which can be seen in the distance on the opposite bank.
• Descend along a mountainside path that merges into your route to Everest, with views of a valley to your right and, at its far end, Kusum Kang (6367 m).
• Marvel at the Dudh Koshi as you pass a Mani wall and arrive at a Ghat teahouse.
• Continue along a small path with many climbs and descents while following the left bank of the Dudh Koshi to Phakding.

Stay overnight in a tea house lodge.

• Trek and cross the Dudh Kosi River on high suspension bridges.
• Look beyond Monjo (2800 m) as you come across the entrance to Sagarmatha National Park, set up to protect and preserve this fragile mountain environment.
• Make a steep ascent to Namche Bazaar, and along the way, catch your first glimpse of Mt. Everest in the distance, depending on the weather.
• Enjoy views of Mt. Kusum Kangaru, Thamserku, Konde-Ri, and Tawache Peak.
• Visit some of the village monasteries on the way to Namche Bazaar (3440 m).

Stay overnight at a hotel in Namche Bazaar.

• Spend the day acclimatizing at high altitude before heading off towards Thyangboche.
• For acclimatization, walk up to Khunde Hospital, which was set up by the late Sir Edmund Hillary.
• Hike for an hour up to Tyangboche (3800 m), where Everest View Hotel is situated, for outstanding views of Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse, Ama Dablam, Thamserku, and Kusum Kangaru.
• Savour the beautiful views from the National Park Center and Museum just above the town.

Stay overnight at Namche Bazaar.

• From Namche, head uphill to Khumjung, a picturesque village that also has its own gompa at the top end of town.
• Soon after leaving Khumjung, follow the trail that climbs to a large chorten on top of a ridge. This ridge descends from Khumbila, a 5734 m peak said to be the abode of the patron god of the Khumbu region.
• Descend slightly towards Sanasa and then ascend to Mongla (4000 m).
• Take in panoramic views of various mountains, then descend steeply through Phortse Tenga. From there, continue on the steep path to Dole through rhododendron and birch forest festooned with hanging mosses and lichens.
• Enjoy a delicious meal at Phortse Tenga (3650 m).

Stay overnight in a tea house lodge.

• From Dole, climb steadily along the side of the valley, where small thorny bushes give way to scrub juniper as the altitude increases.
• Look forward to majestic views of Cho Oyu, while back down the valley are the peaks of Kantega and Thamserku.
• Arrive at Machhermo in time for lunch.

Stay overnight in a tea house lodge.

• Follow a very scenic path to Pangka and then descend slightly, following one of the meltwater rivers that flow down the west side of the Ngozumpa Glacier.
• Climb a steep rocky incline into the valley by the side of the glacier, passing the first of the holy lakes.
• Arrive at the second of the lakes, crossing the path that heads across the glacier to Cho La (5420 m) and your route to Lobuche.
• Visit the third lake, known as Dudh Pokhari, and on its eastern shore is the settlement of Gokyo.

Stay overnight in a tea house lodge.

• Leave camp just after first light, following a steep path up the hillside to Gokyo Ri.
• As you climb, the summits of Everest, Lhotse, and Makalu slowly come into sight.
• Savour the view from the summit of Gokyo Ri, one of the finest in the Everest region - some say it is even better than that from Kala Patthar.
• After lunch, take a short walk to the village of Machhermo.

Stay overnight in a tea house lodge.

• Note as the trail to Phortse descends opposite the Dudh Kosi valley to the village of Phortse.
• Take the downhill walk, following the east side of the valley, which provides different views of the Khumbu peaks.
• Enter Phortse, a magnificently situated village beneath steep hills and overlooking the junction of the Dudh Kosi and Imja Khola, at the upper part of the village to camp among the potato fields.

• After a great morning with views of the surrounding snow-capped peaks, follow the route as it climbs and contours around the west side of the Imjatse Khola valley. This provides excellent views of Ama Dablam, the Nuptse-Lhotse wall, and Everest.
• Enter Pangboche and, after lunch, visit the monastery.
• From Pangboche, head downhill again towards the Imjatse River. After crossing the wooden bridge, an easy gradual walk brings you to Pangboche village.
• From here, return to green vegetation and tree lines, then make a short half-hour gradual climb to reach Deoboche. From there, climb the path for another half hour to Thyangboche for the night.

• An easy descent of one hour brings you to the bottom at Phunge-Tenga. From here, cross the bridge over the Imjatse River.
• Walk for half an hour, following the trail that leads uphill on a gradual path before winding up to the familiar place of Shanasha.
• Continue the walk for another two hours on the winding scenic trail to Namche Bazaar.
• After a break here, continue your journey on the same downhill slope to the river, crossing it three times before arriving at Monjo for the night.
• Stop just a few minutes farther from the Sagarmatha National Park entrance gate.

• Retrace the journey back to Phakding on the easy winding downhill track. Follow the Dudh Koshi River downstream, with a few short uphill sections in between.
• Walk from Phakding, heading back to the busy village of Lukla for the last overnight camp of this memorable adventure.

• Take a flight to Kathmandu and enjoy the panoramic view.