11-Day Gokyo Lake Trek in Nepal with Gokyo Ri and Lukla Helicopter

• Arrive at Kathmandu International Airport, where you will be warmly welcomed by our representative and transferred to your hotel for check-in. The rest of the day is free for you to explore this historic and vibrant city. In the evening, your guide will meet you for a short briefing, check all your trekking equipment, and make sure everything is ready for the trek. Afterward, you will be taken to a Nepali restaurant to enjoy typical Nepali food with a cultural show that will surely wow you.

Meals: Welcome Dinner

• Take an early morning flight from Kathmandu International Airport to Lukla Airport. After arriving, head to the hotel for a delicious breakfast before setting out on your trek to Phakding. Descending above farmlands, we will pass through the Sherpa villages of Chheplung, Ghat, Sano, and Thulo Gumela, as well as the shrines and monasteries of Drangdrak Gompa and Pema Choling Gompa, with breathtaking views of the sacred mountain Kumbila and the sister summits of Kusum Kanguru.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

• Wake up early and have your breakfast before heading towards Namche Bazar. We will cross through the hamlets of Zamphute and Tok Tok, where dazzling Thamserku glistens in the sun and stays with us for most of the trek.
• Passing through the scenic Sherpa villages of Benkar, Chumoa, and Monjo, we will reach Utche Choling Gompa on a bluff above the Dudhkoshi River. From there, we continue between the bluffs to the entrance of Sagarmatha National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

• After completing halfway to Namche Bazar, we begin the second half of the march, which is likely to take more time due to the steep climb at the end. Crossing through the last village of Jorsale, a steep stepped path leads us to an amazing high bridge over the Dudhkoshi River gorge. Just before this bridge, the Dudhkoshi is joined by its tributary, the Bhote Koshi.
• Beginning the final uphill steps slowly, we will reach the heights of Namche, from where we can catch our first glimpse of Mt. Everest peering over the Lhotse-Nuptse ridge. Finally, after about 1.5 km/0.9 mile, we will reach Namche Bazar.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

• We have an acclimatization day at Namche Bazar. To help our bodies better adapt to the high altitude, we can take short walks or climb a few hundred feet during the day to look at the villages, houses, terraced fields, and snowy mountains of Kwangde, Khumbu Peak, Thamserku, and Kusum Kanguru. We can also enjoy the village's big weekly event, the Saturday market, where you can have fun mingling with the crowds and watching men and women in traditional attire.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

• After your early morning breakfast, today's trail climbs steeply out of the valley through rhododendron forest, where juniper and large conifers begin to appear as the elevation increases, making trekking especially beautiful in spring.
• The trail passes through Yak Kharka and summer settlements. The views of Khumbu La and Tawache are magnificent throughout the day.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

• After your early morning breakfast, move out for today's trek. The trail climbs a ridge for an excellent view both down the valley to Kangtega and up towards Cho Oyu, then descends to a river and climbs steeply again to the terminal moraine of the Ngozumpa Glacier.
• We will reach Machhermo by early noon.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

• After your early morning breakfast, move out for today's trek as we head to one of our final destinations, Gokyo.
• We will make this camp our base for two nights, as we will have a couple of hiking and sightseeing trips around Gokyo.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

• You will wake up very early in the morning and begin the climb to Gokyo Ri to see the sunrise from the top. Gokyo Ri is the highlight of the Gokyo Valley Trek and an epic vantage point for mountain views. We will start the climb early in the morning. The path to the peak crosses the stream at the north end of the village and climbs for two hours to a cat's cradle of prayer flags at the top of the hill.
• From the summit, there are panoramic views of Cho Oyu, Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, Cholatse, and Taboche, with the Ngozumpa Glacier cutting across in front like a massive tear in the landscape.

• We will walk back down to Gokyo and have your breakfast. Then we will spend the day in Gokyo, strolling around the lake and hiking north to other sacred lakes. After some rest, you can explore Gokyo village and enjoy a relaxed day.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

• We will walk down to Gokyo Lake and take a helicopter ride to Lukla. Fly over the serene waters of Gokyo Lake, which hold deep cultural significance for the Nepalese.
• After taking in the lake's tremendous beauty, continue the helicopter ride to Lukla. Overnight in Lukla.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

• After your very early morning breakfast, move to Hilary Airport to catch an early morning flight. From Lukla Airport, we will fly back to Kathmandu. This is a leisure day that can be used for buying gifts and souvenirs for your friends and family.
• In the evening, you will be invited to join the farewell gathering, where you can review great photos and share experiences from the trip.

Meals: Breakfast, Farewell Dinner

• If you prefer to stay longer, you can consult us about short tours such as game drives in national parks, rafting, mountain biking, or tours to Tibet, India, or Bhutan.

Meals: Breakfast