Gokyo, Everest & Solukhumbu: story, things to do and when to go

The air at Gokyo

Altitude4,790 m54.1% of the way to 8,849 m

BeltHimalहिमाल · Ice, moraine and the high passes

Each breath55%of the oxygen at sea level

Water boils83.6 °Cso dal takes longer here

vs Kathmandu-22.0 °Ctypical difference by height

Oxygen, boiling point and temperature are worked out from the standard atmosphere for 4,790 m; real days vary with weather.

The Gokyo valley runs north from Namche beside the Everest route but feels a world apart. Fewer trekkers, wide yak pastures and, at its head, a chain of glacial lakes the colour of turquoise lying beside the grey rubble of the Ngozumpa glacier. Gokyo village, a handful of stone lodges and summer herding huts, sits on the shore of the third lake, Gokyo Tsho, also called Dudh Pokhari.

Above the village rises Gokyo Ri, a brown hill of about 5,357 m. From its summit on a clear morning you see four of the world's fourteen 8,000 m peaks: Cho Oyu close at hand to the north, then Everest, Lhotse and, far to the east, Makalu. Below lies the Ngozumpa, one of the longest glaciers in the Himalaya, its surface pocked with grey-green ponds.

Gokyo suits trekkers who want big mountains without the crowds of Base Camp, or who want to link the two by crossing the Cho La. The Renjo La to the west leads over to Thame. The lakes are protected as a Ramsar wetland and are sacred to both Buddhists and Hindus. Give the valley time: at least one rest day, and a walk to the fourth and fifth lakes.

Why go

Gokyo Ri at sunrise

A steep 2–3 hour climb from the village to about 5,357 m gives a 360-degree view of Cho Oyu, Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, the Ngozumpa glacier and the turquoise lakes below. Start before dawn with every warm layer.

The fourth and fifth lakes

North of the village, a gentle trail along the glacier's edge leads to the fourth lake and on to the fifth, with a viewpoint over the Ngozumpa glacier to Everest's north-west face. A full day, but almost flat.

Gokyo Tsho, the village lake

The third lake, Gokyo Tsho or Dudh Pokhari, lies right beside the lodges, deep blue-green in autumn, often frozen in winter. Brahminy ducks swim on it in season and prayer flags line the shore.

Ngozumpa glacier viewpoint

From the moraine ridge just above the village you look down onto the rubble-covered Ngozumpa glacier, one of the longest in the Himalaya, with its grey meltwater ponds and occasional rumble of falling ice.

Renjo La and Cho La passes

Gokyo links to Thame over the Renjo La, about 5,360 m, and to the Everest Base Camp trail over the Cho La, about 5,420 m. Both are long, high days for fit, acclimatised trekkers with a guide.

१The story of Gokyo

Summer pastures, sacred lakes and a moving glacier

Gokyo was a yersa, a summer settlement, where Sherpa families from villages lower in the valley brought their yaks and nak to graze in the monsoon months. Stone huts stood empty for half the year. Lodges came with trekkers from the 1980s, and some Gokyo families now live here through the trekking seasons, moving down in winter when the lakes freeze and the trail fills with snow.

The lakes form a chain of six main bodies of water fed by the Ngozumpa glacier's seepage and meltwater, lying at roughly 4,700 to 5,000 m. In 2007 the Gokyo and associated lakes were designated a Ramsar site, a wetland of international importance, covering about 7,770 hectares. They are sacred: Buddhist prayer flags ring the shore, and Hindu pilgrims come to bathe at the festival of Janai Purnima in August.

Beside them the Ngozumpa glacier, about 36 km long and often described as the longest in Nepal, flows south from Cho Oyu. Its surface is buried in rock and dotted with meltwater ponds, which scientists have watched grow as the glacier thins. Trekkers crossing towards the Cho La walk over it on a path that shifts each year as the ice moves.

२The legend

As it is told · गोक्यो

Lodge keepers on the way to Gokyo tell of Machhermo, a day below the lakes. Local accounts say that in 1974 a young Sherpa woman herding yaks near the village was attacked by a yeti, which also killed several of her animals before vanishing up the slopes. Police and journalists came; no creature was found. Machhermo still tells the story to anyone who asks, and guides point out the meadow where it is said to have happened.

३The people

Who lives here

Gokyo's lodges are run by Sherpa families from villages lower in the Dudh Koshi valley, such as Phortse and Khumjung, who live here in the trekking seasons and move down in winter. Summer brings yak herders to the pastures. Porters, many from lower valleys, carry in all supplies. Sherpa is the language of the lodges, with Nepali and English for guests.

४Words you will hear

Sherpa

yersa

Summer herding settlement in high pastures

Sherpa

མཚོ

tsho

Lake; Gokyo's lakes are counted first to sixth

Nepali

पोखरी

pokhari

Pond or lake, as in Dudh Pokhari, 'milk lake'

Every word on this site

५What to eat

Nak cheese on Tibetan bread

Hard, tangy cheese made from nak milk, sold everywhere as 'yak cheese', is a Khumbu staple. At Gokyo lodges it comes melted on fried Tibetan bread or in a cheese omelette. Ask for it by the slice to carry up Gokyo Ri.

६Few people know

Things most guides leave out

The Gokyo and associated lakes were designated a Ramsar site, a wetland of international importance, in September 2007, covering about 7,770 hectares at altitudes of roughly 4,700 to 5,000 m.

Ramsar Sites Information Service: Gokyo and associated lakes

Hindus regard the Gokyo lakes as sacred, and pilgrims come to bathe in them during the Janai Purnima festival in August, alongside the Buddhist traditions of the Sherpa villages.

Wikipedia: Gokyo Lakes

From the summit of Gokyo Ri, about 5,357 m, four 8,000 m peaks are visible on a clear day: Cho Oyu, Everest, Lhotse and Makalu.

Wikipedia: Gokyo Ri

Untold Nepal, region by region

Experiences

Four ways to spend a day in Gokyo

Trekking

Gokyo4–5 hours

Gokyo Ri for four 8,000 m peaks

Cross the lake outlet before dawn and climb Gokyo Ri, about 5,357 m, for the sun rising behind Everest and …

Rivers and lakes

Gokyo6–7 hours

Walk to the fourth and fifth Gokyo lakes

On your rest day, follow the edge of the Ngozumpa glacier north from Gokyo past the fourth lake, Thonak Tsho, …

Nature

Gokyo1–2 hours

Look down on the Ngozumpa glacier

Climb the moraine ridge just east of Gokyo village and look down onto the Ngozumpa glacier, about 36 km long, …

Adventure

Gokyo7–9 hours

Cross the Renjo La from Gokyo to Thame

Climb west from Gokyo over the Renjo La, about 5,360 m, for a view back over the Gokyo lake and …

Getting there

How to reach Gokyo

On foot

From Namche Bazaar, 3–4 days via Mong La, Dole and Machhermo, gaining about 1,350 m. From Dzongla on the Everest trail, over the Cho La in a long day. From Thame, over the Renjo La in two days via Lungden.

Air

The nearest airport is Lukla, six or seven walking days away. Helicopter charters and rescues land near Gokyo; ensure insurance covers evacuation above 4,000 m.

Where to stay

Gokyo has around a dozen lodges along the shore of the third lake, from basic teahouses to better lodges with some attached bathrooms, solar hot showers and lake-view dining rooms. Rooms are unheated and nights cold, often below minus 10 °C from November. Lodges are busy in October, November and April, so book through your guide. Some close in December to February. There are no luxury hotels in the valley.

Local tips

Rest a night at Machhermo before Gokyo; do not skip acclimatisation on the way up.
Climb Gokyo Ri early: clouds often rise from the valley by mid-morning.
Carry microspikes for the Cho La or Renjo La in late autumn and spring.
Walk to the fifth lake on your rest day; it is high but almost flat.
Respect the lakes: do not wash, swim or leave rubbish near the shore.

On the map

Gokyo and what is near it

Drawn by Book Nepal Trip from Natural Earth outlines (public domain). International borders as depicted by Nepal. Rivers: Karnali, Gandaki and Koshi systems. Not for navigation.

Trips

Trips that stop in Gokyo

Everest & Solukhumbumax 5,545 m

17 nightsStrenuoustrek

Gokyo Lakes, Cho La and Everest Base Camp

A loop that sees the Khumbu from two valleys. You walk up to the turquoise Gokyo lakes and climb Gokyo Ri, cross …

fromUSD 1,950See the days

Everest & Solukhumbumax 5,550 m

19 nightsStrenuoustrek

Everest Three Passes Trek

The full circuit of the Khumbu: three passes above 5,300 m, Kongma La, Cho La and Renjo La, linking the Imja, Khumbu, …

fromUSD 2,150See the days

Everest & Solukhumbumax 5,360 m

13 nightsChallengingtrek

Gokyo Lakes and Renjo La Trek

A quieter Everest trek that trades base camp for lakes. You walk up the Gokyo valley to the turquoise lakes beside the …

fromUSD 1,550See the days

Routes

Namche Bazaar to Gokyo

Nearby

Pair Gokyo with

Everest & Solukhumbu3,440 m

trek stopLekhनाम्चे बजार

Namche Bazaar

Khumbu's trading town, built in a bowl at 3,440 m

Mar – Apr · Oct – Nov

Everest & Solukhumbu3,800 m

villageLekhथामे

Thame

Tenzing Norgay's village on the old salt road to Tibet

Mar – May · Oct – Nov

Everest & Solukhumbu5,364 m

base campHimalसगरमाथा आधार शिविर

Everest Base Camp

A tent city on moving ice at 5,364 m, with Kala Patthar above

Apr – May · Oct – Nov

Everest & Solukhumbu3,790 m

villageLekhखुम्जुङ

Khumjung

Hillary's first school and a yeti scalp under sacred Khumbila

Mar – Apr · Oct – Nov

Questions

Gokyo: what travellers ask

How high is Gokyo?

Gokyo village lies at about 4,790 m beside the third Gokyo lake. Gokyo Ri, the viewpoint above, rises to about 5,357 m. Plan acclimatisation stops at Dole and Machhermo on the way up from Namche, and at least two nights in Gokyo to climb Gokyo Ri and walk to the upper lakes.

How long is the Gokyo Lakes trek?

A Gokyo Lakes trek from Lukla and back usually takes 11–13 days, including acclimatisation days and Gokyo Ri. Adding the Cho La and Everest Base Camp makes it 15–17 days. Including Kathmandu and spare days for Lukla flights, plan about two weeks for Gokyo alone.

Is the Gokyo trek better than Everest Base Camp?

It depends what you want. Gokyo is quieter, with turquoise lakes, a huge glacier and a view of four 8,000 m peaks from Gokyo Ri. Everest Base Camp gives the famous camp and Kala Patthar. Gokyo is slightly lower. Many trekkers combine both via the Cho La.

Are the Gokyo lakes a Ramsar site?

Yes. The Gokyo and associated lakes were designated a Ramsar site, a wetland of international importance, in 2007, covering about 7,770 hectares. They lie within Sagarmatha National Park and are sacred to Buddhists and Hindus. Please treat them with care: no washing or rubbish near the water.

What is the best time to visit Gokyo?

October and November offer the clearest views and stable weather. April and May are also good, with milder temperatures, though afternoons can be cloudy. December to February are very cold and the lakes freeze; some lodges close. June to September is monsoon, wet and cloudy.

Can I combine Gokyo and Everest Base Camp?

Yes, by crossing the Cho La, about 5,420 m, between Gokyo, Dragnag and Dzongla on the Everest trail. It is a demanding pass with a glacier section. The combined trek usually takes 15–17 days from Lukla. Go with a guide and only when fully acclimatised.

Are there lodges in Gokyo?

Yes, around a dozen lodges along the lake shore, from basic teahouses to better lodges with some attached bathrooms and lake-view dining rooms. Rooms are unheated. Lodges fill in October, November and April. Some close in winter. Machhermo, a day below, also has several lodges.

Is Gokyo safe for altitude?

It is safe if you acclimatise properly: two nights in Namche, rest at Machhermo and climb no more than about 500 m of sleeping altitude per night above 3,000 m. Altitude sickness is common at 4,790 m. Know the symptoms, tell your guide early and descend if they worsen.

Why are the Gokyo lakes sacred?

Sherpa Buddhists regard high lakes as dwelling places of deities and water spirits, and Gokyo's are ringed with prayer flags and mani stones. Hindus also consider them sacred; pilgrims bathe in them during Janai Purnima in August. Visitors should not wash, swim or leave rubbish.