Gokyo Circuit Trek

The best times for the Gokyo Circuit Trek are spring and autumn/fall. Spring begins in March and ends in May, and autumn begins in September and ends in November.

Springtime, with longer sunshine hours, is one of the best seasons for drives, treks, and various adventures. As well as for stunning views of the Himalayan Mountain ranges, cold mornings, within the shade, and at night.
Late afternoon can get overcast with light rain and snowfall sometimes.
Autumn begins in September and ends in November, one of the best times for trekking to Everest and other Himalayan regions. During autumn, most days are clear, for clear views and exciting walks. But with shorter sunshine hours. It gets dark by 5 p.m.  Most days are bright with sunshine, except for snowfall sometimes above 3,000 m. Cold mornings, and in the shade, nights, but with clear, starry nights.

Interested trekkers can enjoy the trek during the wintertime from December to February. Despite the cold and freezing morning and night temperatures, most days are crystal clear with sunshine. Days are short due to limited sunlight hours, and the sunrise is from late 6 a.m. onward till sunset at 5 p.m. needs to cover the distance before darkness falls, the best time during the winter trekking on an isolated trail, and encountering fewer groups of trekkers.

During the Gokyo circuit trek high regions of Khumbu and Everest, including the Eastern Himalayas, are inhabited by the Sherpa tribes. The Sherpa’s follow a strong Buddhist tradition, which is similar to the Tibetan heritage and culture.  The name ‘Sher-Pa’ comes from the Tibetan language, which means East-People. Trekkers will encounter Buddhist monuments, spinning wheels, and prayer walls with monasteries, from Salleri and Solu onwards to the high Khumbu Villages. Sherpa menfolk are regarded as the best natural mountain guides and mountaineers. The Sherpa has set various world records, climbing Mt. Everest more than 20 times. The famed hero of Mt. Everest is the late legendary Tenzing Norgay Sherpa, who lived in Thame Village, west of Namche Bazaar.

The views of Nepal’s dramatic countryside captivate trekkers from the moment you fly from Kathmandu. Overlooking grand views of rolling green hills and valleys with farm villages, as well as the Himalayan range of snow peaks.
From Lukla onwards, views of stunning farmland and villages, along with scenery of snow-capped mountains. The best views are from the top of Namche Bazaar, and the Mong high ridge en route to Phortse. At Gokyo Valley, amidst the fabulous scenery of the giant mountains that surround the Gokyo Valley and the emerald colored lakes.
The most excellent views of Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, and Cho Oyu from the high ridge of Gokyo-Ri. The next best spot is on top of Renjo-La Pass, as well as along the trails to Namche Bazaar and Lukla.

The food and accommodations on the Gokyo Circuit and Renjo-La Pass within Khumbu and Everest regions. Trekkers will be delighted staying overnight in a cozy lodge with rooms facing grand views.

The food variation as listed on the menu from breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with main courses. Includes snacks, warm and cold refreshment drinks, which are served in a nice, cozy dining room with a fireplace. In Nepal and Khumbu, the most popular food is Nepali Dal Bhat, which is a boiled or steamed rice. Served with a seasonal vegetable mild curry, includes Dal, a lentil bean soup, and pickles, hot sauce as an option.

Breakfast from oats porridge, cereals to cornflakes with toast/ chapattis, and pancakes with a choice of egg variation.
Lunch and Dinner from Continental, Chinese, Indian, Nepali, and Tibetan main courses with a choice of soups. The lodge accommodation and food are best in the Khumbu areas en route to Gokyo. The lodge accommodations from Namche Bazaar onwards are simple but with nice rooms.

From Namche Bazaar, most lodges offer common bathrooms and toilets. But with a good food menu with a limited variety, some villages offer fresh homemade bakery items.

In higher areas, the rooms are shared basis, with a common bathroom and toilets. This is due to the harsh and cold conditions, where the pipeline for running water freezes. The morning, evening, and nighttime. Due to freezing temperatures from Namche Bazaar onward, using hot showers will be an extra cost.

All lodges have electricity to light the large dining room, powered by local hydro or solar power. For charging electronic items, at an extra cost per hour, and for each gadget. Internet and Wi-Fi are available, but it is slow and unreliable in some places due to weather conditions. At Phortse and Lungden, the lodge facilities are simple due to their remote location. But offers nice and warm rooms with simple meals to enjoy after an exciting day.

Ngozumpa Glacier, located around scenic Gokyo Valley, is formed by the snows and icefalls of Mt. Cho Oyu. It runs below the world’s 6th-highest Mt. Cho Oyu 8,201 m / 26, 906 feet. The Ngozumpa Glacier is a large, persistent body of ice and the longest glacier in the Himalayan region. Located in Gokyo, Khumbu-Nepal, it stretches 36 k.m / 22 miles, and is the main source of the Dudh Koshi River.

Lukla at 2,820 m with a small airport named after Tenzing & Hillary, the first conquerors of Mt. Everest. Most people have described it as a dangerous airport in the world; the right word would be an amazing and unique airport.

Nevertheless, due to its short runways and smaller parking spaces, only smaller STOL aircraft can fly in and out. Sometimes, even in the best seasons of the year for trekking and other adventures. The Himalayan weather pattern can be unpredictable, with unfavorable conditions for flying in and out of Kathmandu/ Lukla.

In this situation, the company and guide will do their best to convince the clients and make it convenient at all costs. But sometimes the situation will be beyond the control of the companies. In this case client should be positive to understand the situation. The company may charter for Helicopter service at an extra cost for the clients. Please note that when the air traffic is busy in Kathmandu during the high seasons of trekking around Everest and Khumbu. The flight from Kathmandu will be diverted to another airport in Manthali Town in Ramechap district. Which is about 155 km away from Kathmandu, if the flight operates from Ramechap. All clients will be transferred a day ahead, or early morning to Ramechap airport and vice versa from Lukla.  The cost can differ from the trip package; the company will inform you of the extra cost of transportation or of Helicopter Services.

Gokyo and Gokyo-Ri high ridge and viewpoints are located in the central areas of high Khumbu Valley of the Everest region. In the early days before the influx of trekkers and mountaineers, it was a summer grazing area for yaks. As well as for other domesticated cattle, the arrival of trekkers made Gokyo and Gokyo-Ri a special scenic destination. The most popular trekking routes are to Everest base camp, but slowly Gokyo and Gokyo-Ri are drawing more trekkers at present.
Gokyo Valley is the midway point for the Everest Three Passes when crossing from east of Khumbu towards Khongma, Chola, and Renjo-La Passes. Most trekkers visit Gokyo and Gokyo-Ri and then head towards Everest base camp via the high Cho-La pass. The major attractions to Gokyo are its turquoise glacial lakes and the best views of Mt. Cho Oyu. Includes the grand viewpoint of Gokyo-Ri, which offers a panorama of the world’s 4 highest peaks. Mt. Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, and Mt. Cho Oyu, as well as the longest Himalayan Ngozumpa Glacier.

All age groups can join for this adventure, from a minimum of 16 to a maximum of 70 years old. Individuals below 18 years must be accompanied by parents or guardians, as well as elderly persons. All need to obtain Travel and Medical Insurance in case of unfortunate incidents and accidents. Sometimes, treks may be rerouted to other safe destinations due to broken trails by avalanches and landslides. The unfavorable weather can obstruct the scheduled flight from Kathmandu to Lukla.
Including the return flight to Kathmandu, if some members get seriously ill, they need immediate evacuation. By the fastest means of transportation or using a Helicopter service to the nearest hospital.

In this condition, if it arises, the trekker has to bear all the extra expenses as well as those for accompanying staff. Should be claimed from the insurance company for the extra expenses incurred. The company and medical doctors will provide a supporting letter so that you can claim the reimbursement from your insurance.

For the Gokyo Circuit Trek, all members should be physically fit and in a sound health. For a person with a medical history and special dietary needs, please inform Vertex Holiday. So that the company can make necessary arrangements upon booking for these adventures. To stay physically fit, one needs to exercise, walking, jogging, or any other activity
for a good physical exercise to maintain a fitness level. It is best to check up with your doctor before booking the trip for the Gokyo Circuit & Renjo-La Pass Trek.

Trekkers joining these treks or other adventures around the Nepal Himalayas must be aware beforehand. Nepal is a country of the world’s highest mountain range, from the foothills to the world’s tallest peaks. From green valleys and mid-hills to rugged mountainous landscapes and terrains.

The treks take you on steep climbs and long downhills for some days, with only a few gradual sections. The Gokyo Circuit trek start from gradual winding path with a few short steep ups till Jorsalle. After crossing the high bridge, on leaving the Dudh Koshi River.

Then trekkers have to be ready for a steep, undulating climb for a few hours to Namche Bazaar. From Namche onwards, on a wide, scenic, winding, gradual up. A few hours climb up to the Mong high ridge and downhill within a lovely forested path to Phortse till Dole. As the walk progresses leads you to a short, steep climb reaching the high ridges of Gokyo. The only difficulty one faces is the steep climb of a few hours to the top of Gokyo-Ri.

As well as climbing up to cross Renjo-La Pass, the rest of the walk on the return journey leads to a long downhill.
The only difficulty to face is that some days are longer, like from Gokyo to Lungden, and then towards Namche Bazaar and Lukla. Heeding slow and steady with enough short rest will overcome the difficulty with the altitude and climbs.

The Renjo-La Pass at 5,360 m/17,585 ft. is located western ridges above the Khumbu Valley. For trekkers joining the Everest Three Passes, starts from east of Khumbu, it is the last and final pass. But starting from Thame Village, the same adventure clockwise, it is the first pass before Cho-La and Khongma-La. In the early days, the trail was quite rough, but over the years, the path has been well maintained. From the top of Renjo-La Pass, trekkers will have time to enjoy the panoramic views of the Gokyo Valley. Including its beautiful lakes with Ngozumpa Glacier and the grand views of Mt. Everest, Lhotse, and Cholatse with Taboche peaks. Towards the east and south views of Tharmasarku and the Kongde range of peaks, where trekkers can enjoy the packed lunch. Along with the views before heading down to Lungden or Gokyo Valley.