Gokyo Valley Trek

Arrive at Tribhuvan International Airport and meet your Mantra Adventure guide. Transfer to Thamel hotel for check-in, orientation briefing and welcome dinner. The evening is the perfect time to explore Kathmandu's streets, pick up any last-minute gear, and mentally prepare for the journey ahead. Overnight: Kathmandu hotel. Meals: Dinner.

Early morning flight to Lukla (35 minutes) over cloud-draped ridges and silver river valleys. Trek north along the Dudh Koshi River through pine and rhododendron forest, crossing the first suspension bridges of the route. Arrive at Phakding for an early afternoon rest — a gentle introduction to teahouse life. Walking time: 3–4 hours. Meals: All included.

The day's centrepiece is the famous Hillary Suspension Bridge and the 600-metre climb into Namche. Enter Sagarmatha National Park at Monjo — permit check here. The forest thickens as you ascend, and at the park gate viewpoint, Everest appears for the first time above the ridge. Namche Bazaar bustles with trekkers, Sherpa traders and yak caravans. Walking time: 5–6 hours. Meals: All included.

Rest and acclimatise. Morning hike to Everest View Hotel (3,880m) and Khumjung village — one of the most rewarding side trips in the Khumbu. The views of Everest, Ama Dablam and Lhotse from Syangboche ridge are extraordinary. Afternoon at leisure in Namche — visit the Sherpa Culture Museum, sample yak cheese, and browse the Saturday market if timing allows. Meals: All included.

Today the Gokyo route diverges from the main EBC trail, heading west up the Dudh Koshi Valley. The path climbs steeply out of Namche through dense rhododendron and birch forest before breaking above the tree line into open alpine terrain. Dole is a cluster of stone lodges at the valley's widening, with excellent views of Kangtega and Thamserku. Walking time: 4–5 hours. Meals: All included.

Continue up the Dudh Koshi Valley through yak pastures and a series of lateral moraines. The landscape becomes more remote and beautiful as altitude increases — massive peaks crowd the skyline and the air takes on a crystalline clarity. Machhermo is a small settlement famous as the site of a reported yeti encounter in 1974. The teahouses here are well-equipped and the views of Cho Oyu (the sixth-highest mountain in the world) first become visible. Walking time: 3–4 hours. Meals: All included.

The approach to Gokyo involves crossing the lateral moraine of the Ngozumpa Glacier — Nepal's largest glacier. The trail winds past the first, second and third Gokyo Lakes, each more spectacularly coloured than the last. Gokyo village sits beside the third lake: a mirror of turquoise set against the icy flanks of Cholatse and the enormous bulk of Cho Oyu. Walking time: 4–5 hours. Meals: All included.

Pre-dawn ascent of Gokyo Ri — the definitive panoramic viewpoint of the Everest region. From the summit, a 360-degree feast of peaks: Everest, Makalu, Lhotse, Cho Oyu, Kangchenjunga on the horizon, and the vast Ngozumpa Glacier creaking and calving below. Many trekkers describe this as the finest mountain view in Nepal. Return to Gokyo for breakfast, then explore the fourth and fifth lakes in the afternoon. Walking time: 3–4 hours for Gokyo Ri plus afternoon exploration. Meals: All included.

Begin the return journey south, retracing the route along the glacier moraine and through the string of glacial lakes. The descent is gentle and the views — with you now facing down-valley — are entirely different from the ascent. Machhermo in the afternoon sun is peaceful and the teahouse dal bhat hits particularly well after a high-altitude rest day. Walking time: 3–4 hours. Meals: All included.

A longer descent day, retracing through Dole and down through the rhododendron and birch forest back to Namche Bazaar. The lower altitude brings noticeably more oxygen and energy. The familiar sights of Namche — the prayer wheel at the village entrance, the bustling bakeries, the panoramic viewpoint — feel like returning to a well-loved place. Walking time: 5–6 hours. Meals: All included.

Descend south through the Sagarmatha National Park, crossing the Hillary Bridge once more and winding through pine forest to Phakding. The trail, mostly downhill, is hard on knees but the lower altitude makes breathing easy. Phakding, with its clean guesthouses and warm showers, is a welcome base for the penultimate night. Walking time: 3–4 hours. Meals: All included.

A short but steady climb from Phakding returns you to Lukla. Your Sherpa and porter team gather for a farewell celebration — tika blessings, ceremonial scarves and the warmth of genuine friendship shared over the course of the trek. Walking time: 3 hours. Meals: All included.

Morning flight back to Kathmandu, weather permitting. Transfer to hotel; afternoon free. Celebration dinner in the evening — share stories, show photographs, and toast the journey with your guide. Overnight: Kathmandu hotel. Meals: Breakfast, dinner.

Airport transfer for your international departure. End of Mantra Adventure services. The Gokyo Valley, with its jewel-coloured lakes and the summit of Gokyo Ri against a blue Himalayan sky, will stay with you always. Meals: Breakfast.