Gokyo Lakes Trek 2027: 10-Day Itinerary, Cost and Best Time

Updated 7 November 2026.

Short answer: our Gokyo Lakes trek is 10 days from Kathmandu back to Kathmandu. You fly to Lukla on day 1, rest a full day at Namche Bazaar on day 3, reach Gokyo (4,790 m) on day 6 and climb Gokyo Ri (5,357 m) on day 7. It costs from USD 1,175 per person for a group of 2 to 4 on Budget, USD 2,060 on Standard and USD 4,175 on Luxury. A solo traveller pays USD 1,640, 2,320 or 4,630. The Lukla flights, your licensed guide and all three permits are in the price.

You book it as our Gokyo Valley Lakes trek, 10 days. Below is the plan day by day, what it costs, and what to expect at each height.

Gokyo Lakes 10-day itinerary at a glance

Distances and times are from our package page. They are guides, not promises. The trail decides.

Day by day

Day 1: Lukla and Phakding

The flight from Kathmandu takes about 40 minutes. From Manthali it takes about 20. The runway is cut into a hillside at 2,860 m, and it is one of the most dramatic landings in the world. After you land you walk a short way down to Phakding. In the peak seasons (roughly 15 March to 15 May and 25 September to 30 November) Lukla flights leave from Manthali (Ramechhap) instead of Kathmandu. Then we pick you up from your hotel between midnight and 2 am and drive you there, 4 to 5 hours. Flights are weather-dependent and can be delayed for a full day, so keep two spare days at the end of your trip before your flight home.

Days 2 and 3: Namche Bazaar and your rest day

Day 2 is a steady climb to Namche (3,440 m). On day 3 you do not move on. You walk up to the Everest View Hotel (3,880 m) for your first clear sight of Everest, Lhotse and Ama Dablam, then come back down to sleep. This one rest day is the reason the later days feel manageable.

Days 4 and 5: Dole and Machhermo

This is where the trek leaves the Everest Base Camp trail. Once you turn north-west from Namche towards Dole (4,110 m), the crowds thin out fast. Day 5 is a short climb to Machhermo (4,470 m). Our guides check your oxygen with a pulse oximeter every day. See our guides to Dole and Machhermo.

Day 6: Gokyo

A short day, about 4 hours, up to the lakes at Gokyo (4,790 m). The valley holds six glacier-fed lakes. Take the afternoon slowly and drink a lot. See the Gokyo village and lakes guide.

Day 7: Gokyo Ri

You climb Gokyo Ri (5,357 m) before dawn. At sunrise you can see four peaks above 8,000 m at once: Everest (8,849 m), Lhotse (8,516 m), Makalu (8,485 m) and Cho Oyu (8,188 m). Many people say this view is as good as Kala Patthar, the viewpoint on the Everest Base Camp trek. After the summit you walk back through Gokyo to sleep lower, at Machhermo. It is a long day, 6 to 7 hours.

Days 8 to 10: down to Namche, Lukla and Kathmandu

You retrace the valley to Namche on day 8 and walk to Lukla on day 9. On day 10 you fly back to Kathmandu or Manthali. If you land at Manthali we drive you on to Kathmandu, 4 to 6 hours.

How much does the Gokyo Lakes trek cost in 2027?

Prices are per person, in US dollars, for 2027, from our package page on 6 November 2026. Every trek is private with your own licensed guide, and only your group size changes the price.

VAT and our service charge are already in these prices. Even Budget includes the round-trip Lukla flight.

What changes between the tiers

A solo trekker on Standard has no porter, because porters are shared between two. Your guide carries up to 10 kg of your bag. On Luxury a solo trekker still has a porter. Budget never has one. An extra porter on any tier is USD 25 a day plus 13% VAT and the 3.5% bank charge, USD 29.24 a day in all.

What is not in the price

International flights, your Nepal visa (USD 50 for 30 days on arrival), travel insurance bought at home that covers trekking to 5,500 m and helicopter evacuation, your Kathmandu hotel (quoted separately), tips for your team, drinks outside meals, and on Budget your meals. The full cost breakdown is in Gokyo Lakes trek cost. If you want to add the Cho La pass or Everest Base Camp, see EBC and Gokyo Ri cost.

Permits

The Khumbu is not a restricted area, so there is no special permit. You need three, and we arrange and include them.

That is NPR 8,000 in all for a foreign trekker.

Best time for Gokyo Lakes

Month-by-month detail is in Gokyo trek best time.

How hard is it?

We grade it strenuous. You walk 5 to 7 hours a day on uneven stone trail, with a lot of altitude gain. You do not need previous trekking experience, but you do need good fitness and the ability to walk several days in a row. Namche is the only built-in rest day, so if you want more time, tell us and we add a night. An extra acclimatisation night on the trail is USD 130 per person-night on our site. If you are still choosing between this and Everest Base Camp, read Everest Base Camp or Gokyo Lakes. For a longer plan with a high pass, see Gokyo and Renjo La in 12 days.

Questions people ask

How many days is the Gokyo Lakes trek?

Ours is 10 days from Kathmandu to Kathmandu, with 8 of them on the trail.

How much does the Gokyo Lakes trek cost?

From USD 1,175 per person on Budget, USD 2,060 on Standard and USD 4,175 on Luxury for a group of 2 to 4. Solo is USD 1,640, 2,320 and 4,630.

How high is Gokyo Ri?

5,357 m. The Gokyo lakes sit at 4,790 m. Your insurance should cover at least 5,500 m.

Can I see Everest from Gokyo Ri?

Yes. At sunrise you see Everest, Lhotse, Makalu and Cho Oyu together. Weather decides how clear it is.

What permits do I need for Gokyo?

Sagarmatha National Park entry, the Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality permit and a TIMS card, NPR 8,000 in all for foreigners. We include all three.

Is Gokyo better than Everest Base Camp?

They are different treks. Gokyo is quieter after Namche and has the lakes and a better panorama from the top. Base Camp is the famous goal. Pick Gokyo if you want the Khumbu in ten days with fewer people.

Do I fly into Lukla from Kathmandu?

In the quiet months, yes. In the peak seasons flights leave from Manthali, and we pick you up between midnight and 2 am.

How do I book, and what if my plans change?

A 10% deposit confirms your dates. We cover the 3.5% card charge on it. You pay the balance in Kathmandu in US dollars or euros, cash or card (card carries 3.5%). The deposit is not refunded if you cancel, but you can move your trip free to any date within a year with 72 hours' notice. If we cannot run the trip, we refund what you paid less taxes, bank and card charges and money already spent on permits and flights.

Next step

Message me on WhatsApp, +977 9810351300 with your dates and how many of you are going, and I will send you a plan and a price. We are a family company, independent since 2016, with three generations of family guides behind us, and a four-time TripAdvisor Travellers' Choice winner (2019, 2020, 2023, 2024). The trek page is here: Gokyo Valley Lakes trek, 10 days.