Have you ever been to a mountain lake? Imagine a blue serene lake that a village on one of its sides, big brown hills on the other, and the entire area is located against the backdrop of giant white peaks. The blue, brown and white colors make you feel as if you’re a part of a canvass. Standing at the lake, you feel the chilling atmosphere, with cold wind hitting your face, and yet you’re happy, excited and thrilled. That’s what being at a mountain lake is all about, and Everest Gokyo Lake trek is a way for you to experience all that. A way for you to experience the beauty of Gokyo Lakes!
Gokyo Lakes are actually a complex of lakes, situated at an altitude between 4700 and 5000 m. They are few of the most popular attractions of Everest region, and as a matter of fact, they’re considered as the world’s highest fresh water lake system. The complex has six lakes altogether, and the largest one is known as Thonak. The only way to reach this area is by going on the Everest Gokyo Lake trekking.
GOKYO LAKE TREK
Going for the Everest Gokyo Lake trek is one of the best ways to explore Everest region. It doesn’t just take you to Everest Base Camp, which, undoubtedly, is the most popular attraction of the region, but also gives you the opportunity to explore the Gokyo area. Gokyo area consists of Gokyo Lakes, which is a complex of high altitude mountain lakes, Gokyo Ri, a mini mountain close to Gokyo Lakes, and Gokyo village, a serene village lying against the backdrop of the mountains.
When you plan to go for the Everest Gokyo Lake trek, you’ll have to choose one of the two options. The first one is to make your itinerary light, which you can do by excluding the Everest base Camp trek from your trek. When you follow this itinerary, you head straight north towards Phortse village instead of going northeast towards Tengboche. The route will then take you to villages such as Dole, Machhermo, and finally to the Gokyo village. You stay here for 1-2 days, and explore the Gokyo Lakes, Gokyo Ri, and so on. You return to Namche following the same route. And your trek ends at Lukla.
Following the second option will make your trek longer, more challenging, and add a lot of attractions to your trek. The trekkers choosing this alternative, first trek on the classic Everest Base Camp trek to reach the Base Camp. Then, in terms of returning, from Lobuche, they head west towards Dzong La, instead of going south towards Dingboche, and following the same route back. The trekkers cross Dzong La and Cho La, and finally, they reach Gokyo Lake. The rest of the itinerary is quite similar to the above option.
Choosing the second option is a detailed way to explore the region, as you don’t just get to cross the two high altitude passes on the trek, you also cover Kala Patthar, the peak that offers you the best views in the region. You get to explore the village of Tengboche, which is the home to Tengboche Monastery. It is one of the most significant Buddhist pilgrimage sites in the region. And finally, you get to explore Everest Base Camp. Coming to the region, and not visiting the Everest Base Camp would be such a disappointment, as you would miss out on all the thrill and excitement that you could have experienced otherwise.
Gokyo Lake Trek Difficulty
Gokyo Lake trek difficulty level varies depending on which trekking option you choose. If you choose the first one, well, Gokyo Ri trek difficulty level would be moderate, whereas if you choose the second one, it’s going to be quite challenging. What makes it mainly difficult is the ascension of two mini mountains, namely Kala Patthar and Gokyo Ri, and crossing the two high altitude passes, namely Cho La and Dzong La. Gokyo Ri altitude is 5357 m, and that of Kala Patthar, Cho La, and Dzong La are 5545 m, 5330 m and 4830 m respectively. The increased length of the trek, the altitude, the weather, and so on would also contribute to making the trek challenging. However, this certainly doesn’t mean that the trek is impossible to complete. With the right preparation, positive attitude, and an experienced guide, you can definitely overcome all this, and experience the best of Everest.
Gokyo Lake Trek Map
While you’re on the Everest Gokyo Lake trek, it’s crucial that you own a Gokyo Lake trek map. The entire region, and most importantly the trekking route is full of side treks and attractions. A lot of times the trekkers miss out on these attractions, as they’re not aware of it. When you own a Gokyo Lake trek map, you’re better able to scan the area, and know what’s coming your way. A map helps you customize your itinerary while you’re on the trek, or even before you start your journey. This way, you’re able to explore the region the best possible way, and you’re sure that you’ve covered all the major attractions.
If you are interested in Everest Base Camp Trek, you can read: Exploring The Everest Base Camp | EBC Overview
