Gokyo Lakes Trek

This trek into the Everest region is strenuous but does not require any previous trekking, mountaineering or technical climbing experience; only that you be in good physical conditioning. The trek requires you to be able to hike for 6 to 7 hours over hilly terrain with a light day pack for 11 days. Good cardio-vascular conditioning and exercises for muscles that are used to hiking will make your trip much more enjoyable. You will spend 14 days in a land where life is simple, trails are steep and the air is thin. Begin training today if you want to make the most from this trip.

Your itinerary starts from Kathmandu, the capital city of Nepal. We receive you at the Kathmandu International Airport and transfer you to your hotel located in Thamel, the tourist district of the city. You spend this day in the city and the next morning take a small aircraft from Kathmandu to Lukla (Duration 30 mins) from where we start trekking. On reaching our destination, we take the downward trail back surrounded by breathtaking views of Nepal from river banks and pine forests to snow caped peaks. We fly back from Lukla to Katmandu, trying to keep an additional day as buffer in case of delays due to bad weather. After a day spent in Kathmandu, we transfer you to the International Airport, which marks the end of your itinerary.

Accommodation in Kathmandu on arrival and post the trek will be in a standard 3-star hotel in Thamel district, on double sharing basis.

Our base package contains all accommodation of twin sharing basis, however, on request we can arrange for upgrades to single occupancy in Kathmandu and also to 4 star or 5 star hotels in Kathmandu at an additional charge.

Accommodation during the trek will be arranged in mountain lodges/tea houses. These tea houses are standard lodged with rooms containing a bed, mattresses, warm blanket and a pillow. The base package we provide has rooms on twin sharing, with common bathrooms.

However, you can be upgraded to single occupancy and attached bathroom rooms in all tea houses (except in Lobuche and Gorakhshep).

No, as the trek does not involve any technical climbs, no special climbing equipment is required. A rucksack (60-70 lts), good pair of trekking shoes, a warm jacket and a pair of thermals are good enough. Also, we will be sending you a comprehensive mail on the list of Items to be carried which will help you pack rucksack better.

The highest altitude that you gain while on the trek is 5360 meters, during your morning hike to Gokyo Ri.

The temperature in Kathmandu shall be in a range of around 10 – 15 Degrees Celsius. Afternoons are usually hot and humid and evenings are towards the colder sides. The temperature during the first 2 to 3 days of the trek are pleasant during the day and can be expected to be around 08 - 12 degree Celsius.

As and how we proceed and gain attitude, the temperatures will fall by 2 to 3 degrees every day and go below sub-zero when we cross 4000 M, hence layering oneself well will be of utmost importance. Even though you may be trekking during peak season time, one can always expect drizzles in the mountains. Carrying a rain jacket or a poncho during the trek shall be mandatory.

The communication systems on the trek are very well established. There are multiple options to be in touch with your friends and family while on the trek. You can activate international roaming on your phone or even buy a local sim card in Nepal. The sim card will cost anywhere between NR 600 - 700 depending on the plan you would like to purchases.

However, your sim-card will lose network you cross Debuche/ After that the only option available for communication is by purchasing wifi at the tea house. Different tea houses charge different amount for purchase of wifi usually ranging anywhere between 600 – 800 Nepali rupees for a 24 hour cycle.

Our team carries a full-fledged medical kit that contains generic as well as high altitude medicines. We will be doing oxygen level checks everyday as well, and our team leaders will also be doing physical examination to ensure how the trekkers are feeling.

In case anyone shows any signs of high altitude sickness, medicines will be given by our leaders according to the symptoms shown.

Most tea houses also have access to emergency oxygen cylinders that be rented from the tea house if needed.

In case a person cannot continue further up ahead on the trek, if he/she is not physically fit or is unable to acclimatize etc. he/she will be advised by the leader on whether he can continue the trek or should go back with one of our guides. Owing to safety protocols, the trek leaders decision shall be final and binding.

Depending on the condition of the trekker, a helicopter evacuation or a horse – either could be used to go back, the cost of which will have to be borne by the trekker himself.

Carrying good apparels and accessories plays a very vital role in ensuring a good experience while exploring the mountains. We have provided a detailed list on our website for all the clothes and accessories that will be mandatory to carry on the trek.

In the hotel, our base package covers bed and breakfast plan, so breakfast will be included which will be organized as a buffet. Lunch and dinner/anything ordered from the menu, will be on actuals.

While on the trek our base package covers 3 meals and 3 beverages daily. One order/item is considered as one meal/beverage. These meals can be decided by the individual basis his/her preference. The tea houses have a variety of options for meals ranging from bread with butter/Jam/honey, porridge, oats, pancakes, etc. to Daalbhat tarkari, spaghetti, fried rice, and even burgers and pizza etc. Beverages include hot water, tea, coffee, milk, ginger lemon water, etc.

After 4000 meters the temperatures begins to drastically fall and the nights are a lot colder, hence we do recommend you carry sleeping bags.

Despite the fact, that the tea houses provide good warm shelter in the harsh conditions and also one blanket to each trekkers, having a sleeping bag always comes in handy. You can opt to rent out sleeping bags in Kathmandu in case you don’t wish to purchase one. Our team in Kathmandu will be able to assist you for the rentals.

The entry and exit for the Gokyo Lakes Trek is Kathmandu, which is the capital of Nepal. On arrival in Kathmandu after a one-night hotel stay, we drive to a place called Ramechaap, which is an approximate 4 hour drive. This drive needs to be done through the early morning to reach the airport well within time. We start around 1 am and target being at the Ramechaap airport by 5 or 6 O' clock to be prepared for our Lukla flights in time. Lukla is the start point of our foot journey.

Acclimatization basically means enabling your body to adapt to the altitude, heat, cold, air, etc. In the mountains, this becomes very important to ensure a comfortable trekking experience.

The basic 5 things to do in order to acclimatize well is –

1. Keep your hydration levels high. One needs to consume minimum 4 litres of water on a daily basis.
2. Keep your appetite going well. Loss of appetite is one of the first signs of being affected by AMS. Keeping a decent appetite from day 1 is important and it will also give your body the required nutrition.
3. Sleep – It is of utmost importance that your body is well rested. Minimum 7-9 hours of sleep is recommended to rest, recover and recharge yourself for the next day.
4. Protecting your eyes – Wearing sunglasses in the mountains is a must. The sun glares are much stronger in the high altitudes than our cities, and can often lead to headaches which can stay for very long.
5. Walk and talk pace – your pace of walking should be such that you should be able to talk. Especially when gaining altitude, it is advisable to walk slower as you gain the height, which allows your body to adapt better.

Our team usually carries a full fledge medical kit which include generic medicines ranging from headache, indigestion, allergies, anti-inflammatory, to high altitude medicines like Diamox etc. from oxy meters, thermometers, bandages, water purification drops

But apart from that in case there are specific medicines that work for you or your doctor has prescribed, you should carry those. The list of medicines you can carry has also been highlighted in the ‘Things to carry’ tab on our website.

Yes. A medical certificate is compulsory for this trek.

It is important that you have yourself assessed by a qualified doctor before the trek. The physical examination conducted by the doctor will include a check of your blood pressure, pulse, recording your blood group, mentioning any previous injuries/accidents or allergies, etc. This assessment will be beneficial not only for the trekker but also the team in case if any medical situation arises.

The format of the certificate will be shared by our team to all the participants and needs to be submitted as per the deadlines mentioned by a representative from Adventure Pulse.

No. As part of the premium services we provide at Adventure Pulse, backpack off-loading is also included. The main bag/duffle bag that you will need through your journey will be our teams responsibility and be carried from Lukla onwards and be loaded either on jobgyors or carried by our porter staff, which has a weight limit of 12 Kgs. In case your bag weighs more than 12 Kg, extra porter charges will be applicable.

The only bag that you will be carrying with you, will be a small day bag which can be between a 20-30 L capacity bag, to accommodate your water bottle, snack, thin jacket, poncho etc.

In case you would like a personal assistant to carry your day bag as well, the same can be arranged and hired at an additional cost.

We will be organizing group pickups in cars from the airport to the hotel. There will be around 4-6 people who will be picked together depending on their arrival timings. Since these are group pick ups there will be a certain amount of waiting time involved. However, if you wish to opt for a personal vehicle, the same can be arranged on additional charges.

The package covers your food, accommodation, on ground transport etc. but you will need money for either personal expenses like – shopping, purchase of hot shower facilities, wifi, food in café’s, patisseries, tips to the guides etc.

For Kathmandu you can budget around 3000 to 3500 Nepali rupees per day & for your trek you can budget around 2000 to 2500 Nepali Rupees per day for any extras and additional expenses.

Your credit/debit cards will work in Nepal if they are activated internationally. Even UPI payments option through Google pay, Paytm, etc. are available provided you have a working sim associated with that bank account. However, in the mountains there will be no access to ATM’s except at Namche Bazaar. The only way to make expenses in the mountains is by paying in cash, strictly in Nepali currency only. It is safer to keep cash handy with you.

In case you would like to convert your currency to Nepali, there are multiple forex shops in Thamel itself who can do that.

In case you’d like our team to help you with the conversion, you can inform our representative accordingly, at least 2 days in advance, and the amount you would like to convert, so that necessary arrangements can be made.