Trekking Routes: Solu-Khumbu & the Everest Region Treks

Namche Bazaar to Gokyu

Number of Days: 12-13. Total Elevation Gain: 8,790 ft. (2679m). Total Elevation: loss 8,790 ft. (2679m). The following is a route description of the trek to Gokyo. This trek can be done in addition to or instead of the trek to Kala Pattar and Everest Base Camp. There are several picturesque lakes along this route, including Gokyo Lake. It takes 2 fewer days to get a spectacular view of Everest than it would to reach Kala Pattar, which makes this route a good choice if you are short on time but still want to see Everest up close. If you fly into Lukla you can reach Gokyo and be back in Lukla in 12 to 13 days. If you choose to visit both Gokyo and Kala Pattar, plan on 20 to 21 days. To reach Namche Bazaar from Lukla, follow Days 2 and 3 of the Lukla to Kala Pattar trek described above. This route has come to be known as "the valley of death" because of the many trekkers who develop (and ignore) symptoms of altitude sickness as they trek up to Gokyo. It is very easy to gain too much elevation too quickly on this route, so be particularly watchful for signs of altitude sickness in both yourself and the other members of your trekking party. Do not even think about continuing up to Gokyo from Namche Bazaar until you have spent at least 2 and preferably 3 days acclimatizing. You may want to try one of the day hikes from Namche Bazaar described in the Kala Pattar section in the Lukla to Everest Base Camp & Kala Pattar trek. Day 1: Namche Bazaar to Dole Namche Bazaar to Sanassa: 1 1/4 & hours; Sanassa to Mon Pass: 2 hours; Mon Pass to Phortse Tenga: 45 minutes; Phortse Tenga to Dole: 2 hours. Elevation Gain: 3,150 ft. (960m). Elevation Loss: 1,050 ft. (320m). There are two routes out of Namche Bazaar to Phortse Tenga, the small village from which you begin the steep climb up to Gokyo. You can climb the steep hill directly behind Namche Bazaar to Shyangboche airstrip and continue from there, through fields and forests of dwarfed pines, to Khumjung, a large Sherpa village in a wide gray valley (at least, outside of the monsoon season it's gray). The trail then joins the main route below Khumjung. Alternatively, you can reach Phortse Tenga by starting the route from Namche Bazaar to Tengboche described in Day 6 of the Kala Pattar trek. Climb to the national park headquarters and head north up the valley. This trail, which passes through open pastures, is much easier than the trail through Shyangboche. After about 1 1/4 & hours, you will come to Sanassa, where there are several lodges and teahouses. The trail divides here, with the lower trail leading to Tengboche and Kala Pattar and the upper trail leading toward Gokyo. Watch for musk deer and danphe pheasants (the national bird) in the vicinity of Sanassa. From here the trail leads up to the Mon Pass (13,000 ft.; 3,962m) and then descends steeply to Phortse Tenga (11,950 ft.; 3,642m), where there are a couple of very basic lodges. I don't recommend staying here unless it's too late in the day to continue for another 2 hours to Dole. From Phortse Tenga, the trail stays on the west side of the valley and climbs through dense forest to the yak pastures and stone huts at Gyele (13,150 ft.; 4,008m) and on to Dole (13,400 ft.; 4,084m). The lodges here, including the Yeti Lodge, have good views across the valley. Because the Elevation Gain from Namche Bazaar to Dole is a bit more than is recommended for a single day at this altitude, watch for symptoms of altitude sickness. If you or anyone in your party experiences difficulties with the altitude (headaches, loss of appetite, dizziness, nausea), it may be wise to take an acclimatization day in Dole. Day 2: Dole to Macherma Dole to Luza: 1 1/2 & hours; Luza to Macherma: 30 minutes. Elevation Gain: 1,250 ft. (381m). For acclimatization reasons, this is a very short day. At Dole, the forest ends and the trail becomes easier and more gradual. Above Dole, you enter high pastures in a narrow valley and the huts of Lhabarma (14,200 ft.; 4,328m). Here the trail levels off for a while before climbing gradually again. Just past Luza (14,400 ft.; 4,389m) the trail tops a low ridge from which you can see Macherma (14,650 ft.; 4,465m) across a side valley. Of the several lodges in Macherma, try the Himalayan Lodge. Day 3: Macherma to Gokyo Macherma to Pangka: 30 minutes; Pangka to first lake: 1 1/2 & hours; first lake to Gokyo: 1 1/4 & hours. Elevation Gain: 924 ft. (282m). Climb from Macherma to crest a ridge. The view from this ridge is quite good, with Cho Oyu (26,750 ft.; 8,153m) ahead of you and Kangtenga (22,226 ft.; 6,774m) behind you. Across the valley to your right are Cholotse (21,125 ft.; 6,439m) and Taboche (21,460 ft.; 6,541m). From this ridge the trail descends to Pangka (14,689 ft.; 4,477m), which has one lodge. Looming ahead of you is the terminal moraine of Ngozumba Glacier. Continue descending from Pangka to a stream flowing down the west side of the valley. Cross the stream and climb up the steep, rocky moraine to the source of the stream, a small glacial lake at 15,350 feet (4,679m). This is the first of five lakes that often take on a startling shade of blue, which is in brilliant contrast to the gray and brown of the surrounding hills. Continue past this lake; in less than an hour, you'll reach a second lake. Continue up the valley to Dudh Pokhari, the third lake. Passing a mani wall, you arrive in Gokyo (15,574 ft.; 4,747m). There are numerous lodges in Gokyo. The most comfortable is the Gokyo Resort Lodge, which has a sun room. Day 4: Gokyo Gokyo to Gokyo Ri: 2 hours. Elevation Gain: 2,416 ft. (736m). Though the view from Gokyo is spectacular enough, you may want to climb just a bit higher for a truly memorable view. There are two choices. The most popular mountain-viewing spot is the top of Gokyo Ri (17,990 ft.; 5,483m), the peak that rises above Gokyo and Dudh Pokhari. The summit of this peak can be reached in about 2 hours. (Though the skies are usually clearer in the morning, you might want to give your body time to acclimatize and wait until afternoon to climb above Gokyo.) You can also hike up the valley to the fourth or fifth lake; the views are good above these lakes. From any of these locations, you will be treated to breathtaking views of Cho Oyu, Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse, Makalu, and many other peaks. Below, in the valley, are the shimmering turquoise lakes and the convoluted gray bulk of Ngozumba Glacier. Remember to take it easy as you climb these peaks. If you're bothered a little by the altitude, give yourself an extra day to acclimatize before attempting Gokyo Ri. If you're feeling fine, consider sticking around for another day or two to explore this high-altitude region. Days 5-6: Gokyo to Namche Bazaar Gokyo to Phortse Tenga: 1 day; Phortse Tenga to Namche Bazaar: 1 day. Elevation Gain: 1, 050 ft. (320m). & Elevation Loss: 5,324 ft. (1,623m). Since you will be descending and won't have to worry about altitude sickness, you will make much better time on the return to Namche Bazaar. You should be able to reach Phortse Tenga in 1 day from Gokyo. The next day you should be able to reach Namche Bazaar with no trouble. Alternatively, you can hike down the east side of the Dudh Kosi valley and stop your first night in Phortse, which is across the valley from the much smaller Phortse Tenga. The lodging situation in Phortse is much better than that in Phortse Tenga. Try the Namaste Lodge. From Phortse you can return to Namche Bazaar by dropping down to the Dudh Kosi and climbing up to Phortse Tenga to rejoin the route you followed up to Gokyo. Another alternative, if you have an extra day to spare, is to proceed from Phortse to Tengboche and from Tengboche back to Namche Bazaar. This route follows the trail out of Phortse at the upper end of the village near the gompa, and goes toward Pangboche before branching off and descending precipitously down a shadeless slope to the Imja Khola. Use caution on this section of the trail: it is steep and covered with loose rock, and a slip could be fatal. It takes less than an hour to reach the valley floor from Phortse. From the river, the trail climbs even more abruptly than it descended, though luckily it is through a cool, moist forest. Tengboche is about an hour from the river.

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