Booking, Terms and Conditions
Booking
To book this trip, you have to find the book now button and click it. After that, you will see a form where you will fill up all the required information for the trip including the departure date you want and click the button submit. Now you have completed the form and we will reply to your email promptly.
Deposit for Booking
One needs to transfer or deposit 25% amount of the total cost of the trip. Once you have made the advance payment, you need to inform our team for the confirmation of the trip.
Cancellation and Refund
You can cancel the trip if you want, but no advance payment will be returned to you. It means, no refund will be transferred to your account again for the cancellation of the trip. Once you book the trip, our team needs to prepare the transportation; accommodation and the trip crew for your trip and the company will already make certain payments to other operating sections. Therefore, the other operating departments like transportation, food and accommodation, and trekking crews are not ready to return the advance payment to us. This is the reason we are not going to return you the advance payment. But, you can postpone the trip for the future. We will offer you the same or other equivalent trip whenever you want in the future.
Trip Postponement and Transfer
Though you cannot get a refund after you cancel your planned trip, you can postpone it for the future and you can do it whenever you have a favourable time for you. Or, you can transfer the same trip to your family members, friends and relatives. If you want other people who are closer to you to do this trip, you can do the transfer or offer this trip as a gift. But for this, we require valid and reliable evidence like email addresses, other contacts and all required contracts we made previously.
Transportation
We use both drives and domestic flights as transportation. If you are doing the trip in the golden seasons (Autumn and Spring) ( Sep-Nov and Mar-May), you are driving to Ramechhap, Manthali Airport and then will take a short flight of 20 minutes to Lukla and do the same while returning.
But in the off-season, Winter and Summer ( Dec-Jan and Jun-Aug), you will directly fly to and from Lukla airport for your trip.
Driving to Ramechhap, Manthali from Kathmandu and flying to Lukla is to lessen the traffic in Tribhuvan International Airport in the Domestic Section during the golden trekking seasons (Autumn and Spring).
We drive to Manthali Airport from Kathmandu departing at midnight get there in 4-5 hours and take an early morning flight to Lukla. After you land at Lukla, you will meet your entire trekking crew and board to Phakding within 2-3 hours where you stay first overnight.
For this, you are required to prepare well for the midnight drive. You’d better fit yourself in a comfortable outfit and go to bed earlier in the evening right after your dinner as you have to work from midnight next. Please confirm that you are flying from Ramechhap, Manthali or directly from Kathmandu to and from Lukla with your trekking partner before you commence your trip and prepare accordingly.
In case your flights or drives are postponed and cancelled for and from Lukla, you can fly by helicopter back to Manthali, Ramechhap or directly back to Kathmandu. Some people are panicked due to the bad weather conditions in Lukla and they have very important schedules ahead and they must catch them on time. A helicopter flight from Lukla to Ramechhap, Manthali or Kathmandu will be the final alternative for you during this critical time.
The Trip and the Weather
The weather conditions and weather changes play a vital role in making your trip successful. Lukla weather and the weather in the Everest region keep changing constantly so it is always unpredictable to foretell the weather conditions of Lukla airport and Everest region.
Sometimes, the trekkers have to wait for the better and improved weather conditions in Lukla even for a couple of days and even a week. But, the same thing won’t be there all the time. You can have a wonderful time ahead and you will enjoy the entire magnificently including the regular and timely Lukla flight to Manthali, Ramechhap or Kathmandu. If it is fair weather in Lukla, you won’t have any issues; you can fly on time, promptly and safely back to Manthali or Kathmandu.
You may have snowfall and slight rainfall on the trail. You also have to prepare for that. You require carrying multiple layers of clothes including a jacket and rain cover to protect your luggage, trekking equipment and personal gadgets.
Check weather conditions before you depart for your trip to the Everest region and also request to find the right weather conditions before you book the trip. More importantly, you can check the weather conditions of the destination where you are heading and prepare accordingly.
As Lukla and the weather in the Everest region is always hard to foretell, be very watchful about it and it is a must to have 1-2 spare days if you are doing the trip in the Everest region. You need it to battle the worse weather conditions and you will catch everything very timely after you complete your Everest trek.
Best Time for Gokyo Valley Trek
The months of September, October and November are the best times of the year for the trip.
The second best time of the year is the months of March, April and May. These times of the year are known as Autumn and Spring respectively. People’s first preference for the best time of the year for the trip is Autumn and secondly, they also go with Spring.
These two times of the year are almost similar to offer you the most marvelous weather conditions and mountain views with no rain and no snowfall. But, in spring, you may have slight rainfall on the trail, but not heavy.
The Autumn will be in a festive mood and the spring will bring you a lot of happiness with new migratory birds and blossoms including flowering rhododendrons. It depends on which weather you like and also you need to consider your vacation. Best of all, we recommend going with Autumn for your trip to Nepal as the weather conditions, cities and mountains are in your favour. More: Weather in Nepal.
Ramechhap/Manthali Airport
Ramechhap Airport is located in Manthali Municipality in the Bagmati Province of Nepal. It was constructed in 1979 and renovated in 2025 after the earthquake hit hard. It is located at an elevation of 1,555 ft / 474 m above sea level. Largely, the flight from Kathmandu to Lukla is served from Manthali Airport to avoid the huge traffic from Kathmandu airport.
The airport is 4-5 hours drive from Kathmandu. You can do it by jeep or private car or even by regular bus services. Normally, people who are doing their trip to Everest region, drive at midnight to Manthali and get a flight to Lukla early in the morning. Unfortunately, you don’t have a flight from Kathmandu to Ramechhap airport; you must go by drive. The airport is located on the bank of a river surrounded by mountains and is safer than Lukla Airport. When there is no flight from Lukla Airport to Kathmandu, you will have regular and timely flights from Ramechhap Airport.
Postponement and Cancellation of Lukla's flight
If the flight is postponed for the next day or the next few hours due to bad weather conditions, you should be patient and wait for the next flight until the weather gets better and improves for good visibility. It frequently happens while doing your Everest trip as the weather in Lukla is always unpredictable. Your flights may postponed and those who are scheduled for the next day’s flight will given the property and your flights, because, if it is postponed, will be suspended and will be on a waiting list until the scheduled flights for the particular day are operated and the same process will be continued if the flights are postponed for several days.
If you are tired of writing for the regular flights from Lukla, you can cancel the flight and go with the option: walk down to Surke and take a jeep to Salleri and then to Kathmandu or can also go by helicopter flight from Lukla to Kathmandu or only for Ramechhap from Lukla.
An Escape to No Flights from and to Lukla
There are some beautiful escapes for not flying from Lukla due to bad weather conditions. The first option to escape for No Flights from and to Lukla will be: Walking down to Surke and taking a jeep to Salleri and then finally to Kathmandu if you are returning from the trek and taking a jeep ride to Surke via Salleri and the walking to Phakding directly if you are commencing the trek. Many people do like this when the Lukla flights are postponed and cancelled for several days of bad weather. Another way to escape to No Flights from and to Lukla will be a helicopter flight to Kathmandu or Manthali/Ramechhap or from Kathmandu to Lukla directly and begin their trek. Yes, some people go with it because they have important things to cover on time after their trip to the Everest region. But, it may be costly for you to take a helicopter flight from Lukla to Kathmandu or Manthali. You can talk to your guide or the trekking company and follow the things how they go.
If you don’t want to with these options to escape the No Flights from and to Lukla, then, you must wait for the weather to be better and catch the regular flight. Yes, the majority of the people do it.
Training for High Altitude
Training for high altitude means training for boosting your stamina to successfully cope with the new elevation your body gets during the trip in the Himalayas. For this, you are required to do short hikes and joggings, aerobics, regular exercises like Zumba dances, walking up and downs with a small backpack, joining a gym for cardio and other exercises and primarily, jogging, cycling, futsal football and short hikes/treks in the hill. You can practice both slow jogging and quick running which will help you a lot in the mountain to adjust to the new and high elevations you gain.
If you do the abovementioned things periodically, you will be able to battle acute mountain sickness and enjoy your trip blissfully. It is a must thing to do before you board the trip to delightfully celebrate the trip in the mountain with new elevation, new culture and the atmosphere.
Burn your fat if you are fatty/obese, address serious sickness in your body if you have by consulting your doctor, stop smoking and drinking (heavily) if you can, avoid stress and mental burden, have a balanced diet and keep your body fit and fine to work out in the mountain at least for 4 hours to maximum8 hours with little backpack for the trek you want.
If you love doing outdoor sports like lawn tennis, football, basketball, volleyball, badminton and any other games and sports, continue them and practice harder for the trek.
Preparations for the Gokyo Valley Trek
If you prepare the trek very well in a finely organized way, it is said, that half of the trek is already accomplished. Therefore, one must prepare for the trip with all the required things to carry and keep oneself fit and fine.
Best Ways for Preparing the Trek
- Do regular exercises related to Cardio?
- Boost up your stamina mentally and physically to be capable to adjust with the new elevation and atmosphere you will get to during the trip
- Get and pack up all necessary equipment for the trek
- Get and pack all required personal equipment and gears
- Do some research on the trek you are doing and the region you are heading to and you are going to explore
- Ask about the trip with someone who has already done it and collect important information
- Address health issues if you have any before you depart for the trip
- Prepare all required medicines you must take on the trip regularly if you are doing it
- Let your friends, family or relatives know that you are going to Nepal for the trip, destination and duration
- Prepare mentally how you are going to spend your budget on different titles and carry/collect enough budget for the trip but don’t try to be prodigal, just enough
- Prepare travel insurance and confirm that your trip is booked and reserved
- Check the weather conditions before you depart for the trip
- Let your travel partner/ company/operator what kind of person you are: vegetarian, non-veg, female, and solo-travelling lover, spiritual traveller, adventure lover, city and luxury lover and similar so that the crew/team can prepare your trip in a better way.
- Book your both ways flight tickets and confirm it so that it will be easier for you to return homeward
Arrival
You will arrive either by air or land to Nepal. If you arrive in Nepal by air, you have to use only Tribhuvan International Airport. Instead, if you use the road, you can enter or arrive in Nepal by land, you can different borders of Neighboring countries (India and China) like Jogbani, Raksaul, Sunauli, Nepaljung, Dhangadi, Birjung, Kakarvitta, Jhapa, Morang, Tatopani, Tinker, Rasuawagadi, Kimanthanka etc. You can use whichever entrances you like to suit your comfort and convenience.
On Arrival, you will have the on-arrival visa instantly if you have not applied for Nepal visa for Nepal through the consulate centre or Nepal Embassies near you or your city. Within half an hour, you can get an instant authentic visa on your passport after producing all the required documents for the visa.
Tourist Visa Nepal
A tourist Visa is an arrival visa in Nepal. It means tourists who are visiting Nepal can get the visas instantly on arrival at International Airports by producing all required documents. It’s a quick and not a delayed process.TIA (Tribhuvan International Airport) under the Department of Immigration has been facilitating tourists flying to Nepal by providing visas on Arrival. The 'On Arrival' visa procedure is very quick and simple. Within 5-10 minutes, you will get a visa on your passport. However, You can expect some queues during peak Tourist season (Autumn-Sep-Nov). If you wish to skip those queues, you can also consider getting a Visa from Nepalese Diplomatic Missions stationed abroad before arrival. We recommend you obtain a visa before you enter Nepal from the diplomatic missions located nearby you so that you don’t need to bear any hassles during the process of obtaining a tourist visa on arrival. The choice is yours.
Transfer to Hotel
The majority of people/trekkers enter Nepal by air and that is via Tribhuvan International Airport. We receive you at the arrival of any entry point of Nepal or mainly at Tribhuvan International Airport without any delay according to your arrival time. It may take some time like 30 minutes to collect your luggage and for security checking at the airport. After that, you make your way to the exit of the airport and the Haven Holidays Pvt. Ltd. Representative will be waiting there holding the Board Witten “Haven Holidays Pvt. Ltd” As you see the board, you have to go with him or her and we will make a very comfortable transfer to the hotel you are staying overnight. The transfer from Tribhuvan International Airport and Thamel, the hotel where you are staying will take just 30 minutes drive.
Get checked in the hotel take a rest and get refreshed. We will give you the time for orientation after you get checked into the hotel.
Orientation
As you are given the time when you get checked in the hotel, you will be followed by our staff for the orientation, regarding Gokyo Valley Trek. It may be on the same day or later the next day early in the morning at breakfast.
We will briefly let you know the trip you are undertaking from the next day or the same day onwards. You will be told about the highlights of the trip, preparations, equipment, food and accommodation, guide and porter, emergency rescue, travel insurance and many other important things to know beforehand.
We will introduce you to the trip crew and have a brief talk with them so that you can feel more comfortable during the trip.
If you have any queries, you can put them in this orientation meeting before you depart for your trip.
Last Minute Booking
Last-minute booking is always open for you but the same package tends to be a little more costly than the regular departure dates trip packages. Those who approach for last minute booking with us; must pay a 10% additional cost of the total trip cost mentioned on our website.
You can book the trip you like on our website even a day before the trip begins.
If you are lucky, then, the last minute may be a golden opportunity for you to get the same price or even less than that if one of the members of the trip gives up and withdraws the trip plan at the eleventh hour. So, if you are late to book the trip you like to do with us, no worries, you still have the option and we will try our level best to make your trip as successful and grand as other normal trips.
Don’t hesitate to hit the booking button at the eleventh hour, we are always open and here to organize your vacation trips in Nepal.
Trip Extension
We are always flexible and open to the extension of the particular trip you are undertaking. If you enjoy the trip you are doing, you can extend it to longer days or longer hours. But, for this, you must contact us one day prior so that we can arrange the required things like trip crew, accommodation, transportation and other minor needy things for your extended trip. If you let us know a day earlier directly or through the trip crew you are using in the field/route like through your trip leader, you will have a beautiful time ahead. For the extension of the trip, you must add some little additional cost which we will settle in mutual understanding.
Currency Exchange
You can exchange your currency even in the Tribhuvan International Airport at your arrival or you can exchange it after you check in the hotel in Thamel or other several places of Kathmandu, trekking beginning points as well. You can find several money exchange counters in different corners of Thamel city. If you are in a rush and cannot do this, you can pay USD, AUD or CAD to the people whom you need to pay for your accommodation, food, trip costs, tipping etc. You can even exchange your currency with Nepali on the trekking routes/trip routes like in Lukla, and Namche You can ask to exchange your currency with Nepal with local lodges/restaurants/hotels/ guesthouses too. But, you need to have your currency like USD, AUD or CAD. Even Indian currency does work in Nepal while paying but only Rs. 100 rupees not 500 and 1000. You can pay with your currency with the current exchange rate wherever you go in Nepal.
Haven Holidays Team
Haven Holidays Team is very professional, reliable and responsible. You can completely on them. They are well-trained, friendly and highly literate in their respective languages. You can share anything you like with them without any hesitation. They know local culture, civilization, history, foods and accommodation, weather conditions, expert in first-aid application and how to handle the sudden accidents on the trip. They are eco-friendly and better understand the non-human's rights and their lives.
However, we kindly request you not to exploit them and provoke them on the trip for your benefit. You can enjoy your trip with them to the fullest but at the same time, we humbly appeal not to try to change their mindset, perspectives, religion and culture that are following.
The Haven Holidays Team will assist you in every step of your trip to make it memorable and more convenient.
Luggage and Storage
If you are hiring a porter for your trip in the mountains, you can pack no more than 10 kg. in the duffel bag or your backpack. We provide you with a very reliable duffel bag to put your stuff to be carried on the trip. It will be very safe to be carried by a porter. Because it is the labour rule that a porter can only maximum of 20kgs in the mountain. Please, don’t pack unnecessary stuff in the duffel bag. Two people one porter put 10kg of stuff by each individual.
If you think you don’t need the stuff you have with you in the mountains, you can store it at the hotel in Kathmandu. They will keep your unnecessary luggage/stuff very safe until your return. Ask your trip leader or hotel receptionist to do it for you before you depart for the trip. Take the luggage tag while storing the unnecessary luggage.
Meals on Gokyo Valley Trek
Meals will be provided according to the itinerary and cost includes and cost excludes. If you are given the itinerary or cost including BB only, you will be provided breakfast only and if you have booked the trip package including a full-board meal, you will get all the meals including breakfast, dinner and lunch. Apart from main meals, if you have extra tea, coffee, cold drinks and other alcoholic drinks, you have to pay for them.
During the trip, you will be given enough time to have a meal. You can enjoy the meal you like from the menu. Vegan, Vegetarian?? If you are vegetarian, you will still find the choice in the menu and our guide will take good care of you through the trip.
You will have your meal at the lodge/local guesthouse, hotel or resort during the trip. You are supposed to have the meal where you stay overnight in the mountain during the trekking trip.
Sometimes, you may not get the item you want in the mountain during the trekking trip/touring trip, at the time; you have to consider it very calmly.
You will enjoy freshly cooked meals in the mountain during the trip days with local ingredient
Gokyo Valley Trek Starts
The trek commences from Kathmandu with a drive to Manthali during Spring and then flies to Lukla and Autumn( Mar-May and Sep-Nov) and in other off seasons like Winter and Rainy ( Dec-Feb and Jun-Aug) Kathmandu to Lukla. We drive to Ramechhap, Manthali for 4 hours from Kathmandu and take a short 20-minute flight and if we take a direct flight from Kathmandu to Lukla, you will fly for 35 minutes with astonishing mountain views.
We need to leave Kathmandu at 2 am for the Ramechhap drive and then fly to Lukla. Hope you will consider this thing in your mind beforehand the trip begins.
As you land at Lukla airport either from Ramechhap/ Manthali or Kathmandu, you will meet your porters, introduce them briefly and begin the formal walk towards Phakding, the very first town you are going to stay overnight on your trip. It takes around 3 hours to get Phakding from Lukla.
Electricity on Gokyo Valley Trek
You will get a good and undisturbed facility of electricity during the trip to Nepal. Even though you go to the mountain for trekking and other adventure activities, you can get the facility of electricity to charge your phones and backups. However, in some cases you may have to face the problem of load-shedding and the local lodges and guesthouses may charge you some amount to charge your batteries, backups and phones in remote areas trekking. There won’t be an electricity heating system in the mountain while doing trekking or other adventure activities.
Drinking Water on Gokyo Valley Trek
Drinking water must be pure, safe and contamination-free. You can get bottled or purified drinking water during the trip even in the mountain which is very safe for you to drink. The majority of the people who make trekking or adventure trips in the mountains go with boiled water which is prepared by the local lodges/guesthouses on the trail which is the best way to keep you safe from contaminated water. However, some people carry water purifying ingredients and they apply it to the drinking water and they drink it. But, don’t try to drink the water from the Local River, stream and taps. The bottled water you can buy along the trek in the guesthouse.
Hot Shower on Gokyo Valley Trek
A warm or hot shower makes you refresh and offers you new energy during the trip and it is very necessary. If you are travelling in the city area in Nepal, you will easily get the facility of a hot shower. But, if you are making a trip to the mountains, it may be difficult to get a hot shower during the trip. However, local lodges and guesthouses will offer you a bucket shower with warm water or they will provide a hot shower with cooking gas. If you want to enjoy the hotel shower in the mountains, you can ask the local lodge owner to manage it for you and they will charge some money like Rs. 300-500 per individual.
Communication on Gokyo Valley Trek
You can enjoy excellent facilities of communication in Kathmandu and other major cities like Chitwan, Pokhara, Nagarkot and Lumbini. However, in the case of the trekking trip in the mountains, you may not be able to have such kind of facility as in the cities. But, most of the local teahouses/lodges/ guesthouses/ hotels on the trail will offer you the facility of Wi-fi. Sometimes, you get it for free and sometimes, you may have to pay for the installation of Wi-fi during the trip in the mountains.
The best way to access good communication over your smartphone is to get a local Nepali SIM Card like NT and NCELL. You get these local Nepali SIM Cards easily in Kathmandu and even in International Airport, Tribhuvan International Airport. For this, you have to present a copy of your passport and a passport-sized- photograph. You can buy a data pack via this local SIM Card and you make a very good communication wherever you go, even from the corner of the mountain. You can make a call, access the internet over it and even make a video call instantly from the Everest Base Camp (5364m).
Gokyo Valley Trek Ends
The trek ends at Lukla officially with a flight to Kathmandu. Normally, at Lukla, you can celebrate the last day of the trek with your entire trekking crew by offering them tips and heavy dinner because they have worked hard for you and your safety all around the trip. The last day's walk is from Namche to Lukla and you wait for the next day’s flight to Kathmandu or Ramechhap and then 4 hours drive to Kathmandu. The flight to Ramechhap is for 20 minutes and the flight to Kathmandu from Lukla is for 40 minutes. Optionally, you fly back to Kathmandu directly by helicopter as well. For this, you have to make a prior request to us to arrange your helicopter flight.
Important Note
The Lukla weather keeps changing in 15 minutes so it cannot be 100% sure that the flight to Ramechhap or Kathmandu from Lukla can take place at a given time. It may get delayed postponed or even cancelled for a few days. In this case, don’t panic, don’t get agitated and don’t trouble your trekking leader for the delay, cancellation or postponement of flight. Be calm and talk to your trekking lead to find out the way to escape this situation.
You have two options in this case: the helicopter flight to Kathmandu and walk down to Surke and Paiya for 5 hours and get a jeep ride to Salleri and then to Kathmandu. You’d better approach the helicopter first and then go with a walk down to Surke and Paiya. The walk down to Surke and Paiya is very challenging to follow the trail used by mules; the trail is muddy and slippery. Be careful to follow this trail to Paiya via Surke from Lukla.
If you are doing your Everest Base Camp Trek, you have to have at least one/two spare days. This will help you make your Everest Trek less stressful and less panicked
Feedback
You can give feedback on the trek/trip you have undertaken at the end of Kathmandu. You can visit our office or you can do it in the farewell dinner we organize. Your feedback about the trip will always be taken positively. We need it to grow and to sharpen our services and facilities in the days to come.
If you cannot attend the farewell dinner at the end of the trip in Kathmandu or you don’t have time to visit our office, you can write your feedback on the trip advisor page which will be more reliable and public.
Gokyo Valley Trek Extra Personal Expenses
How prodigal you are? Your trek extra personal expenses depend on it. If you love doing extra expenses on the trip, you will go to topics like alcoholic drinks, extra tea or coffee apart from the meal, tipping, some minor donations, extra snacks on the trail, some urgent personal stuff like clothing or any other equipment you immediately require on the trip in case it gets damaged or stop functioning. And, at the end of the trek, you have to give some tips to your trekking crew. For this, you have to allocate some dollars or Nepali currency.
Typical Day on Gokyo Valley Trek
The typical trip day begins with a good breakfast. You will have breakfast at around 7-8 am and begin the day after it. Then, you will have to work/walk for 3-4 hours after breakfast and you will stop for lunch. The lunchtime will be around an hour. You will order your lunch item and the restaurant/hotel/teahouse will cook for you. Sometimes, you may have to wait for some time if the restaurant or hotel is crowded. You can find the item you want in the menu prepared by the local lodge/restaurant/hotel. If you are vegetarian, no worries, you can still find the ways.
After lunch, you will resume your work/trek/trip again and end it in the after like around 3-4 pm. After that, you will check in the hotel/guesthouse/teahouse and get refreshed. Take rest, change clothing and go for dinner at around 6-7 pm. Your leader will help you to order the meals you like. At the dinner, your leader will share the important information for the next day’s trip and you can raise the question regarding it. The leader will orient you on what to wear, how to walk, what to carry and where to eat. Follow the instructions from the guide/leader very well.
Why with Haven Holidays?
- Free Booking and Free Cancelation
- Veteran Crew Members
- Enhancing Eco-Tourism
- Prompt response, full safety and comfort guaranteed.
- No hidden cost
- Flexible
- Cost Friendly
- Wider Networks
- Expert in risk management
Gokyo Valley Trekking Trekking Packing List
When preparing for this trip it's essential to have the right equipment and packing list to ensure your safety and comfort to complete your mission. You will need to pack smart and light. This packing list doesn’t mean you need to pack everything listed here. This list is a guideline, and your final list will depend on your preferences and judgment. Follow as per your personal needs and preferences by taking this as a reference. Here’s a comprehensive list of items you should consider:
What can I expect from Haven Holidays during the trek?
Haven Holidays will provide fine-class accommodation with a beautiful breakfast, a sleeping bag (recommended own if you have one), Duffel bag. Our porters are limited to carrying (20 kg) of your personal belongings which is also the weight restriction for flights to Lukla. Be selective in what you take. We will provide you with a very professional and experienced trekking leader throughout the trek.
Additional Information
What do I expect at Gokyo Valley Trek?
You will get to know and be familiar with local Sherpa people’s lifestyle and their authentic cuisines during the trek. This part and the taste will be marvellous and exciting to experience. You will stay overnight at local lodges owned by local Sherpa People and you will have your meals there. The toilet will be outside of your bedrooms and will be common and shared. Expect to use a sharing toilet and twin-sharing accommodation during the trek. You can get luxury accommodation at Namche and Gokyo if you are ready to pay a little more.
The local lodges will get crowded during Peak Trekking seasons in Nepal( Autumn and Spring) and you should be ready to bear some interruptions and noises during your stay at the lodges. There may be hundreds of people in the same lodge staying overnight and having their meals. Sometimes, you have to wait for your meals and shower while staying at a local lodge.
Early morning hike up to Gokyo Ri and celebrate mesmerizing Mt. Everest and all other surrounding mountain peaks including the grand and massive Ngozumba Glacier. Capture as many photos and videos of the things you see from Gokyo Ri and walk back to Lukla along the same trail. If you want to skip the same and tiring trail down to Lukla, you can fly back to Lukla/Mancthali or directly to Kathmandu by helicopter.
What do I expect from Haven Holidays?
We will provide you with a veteran trekking team with fully equipped trekking gear. Also, we will provide a sleeping bag ( if necessary), a cap or t-shirt as a gift, and better accommodation and transportation to make your entire trip more safer and exciting. You will have local guides who are very knowledgeable about local culture, foods and accommodations, places to explore and destinations to visit during the trip.
We provide an authentic and comprehensive orientation regarding the trip, the trails, accommodation, foods, walking hours and distance, preparations risks and challenges beforehand the trek commences. We care for you individually all around the trip so that your entire trip will be safer and less risky.
We offer you a grand farewell dinner with your trekking team and you can give us feedback about the services we provided you during your stay in Nepal and that will help us to grow more.
A Drive from Kathmandu to Manthali
The drive from Kathmandu to Manthali/Ramechhap begins at midnight as the ghosts travel. We should be ready for this midnight drive beforehand by going the bed earlier in the evening right after dinner. Your trekking company or your guide will inform you of the exact time to leave the hotel for Manthali.
You begin this drive from the hotel at around 12.30-1 pm at midnight and head to Banepa. Next, you will switch this drive to Mid-Hill Highway. The road passes through various country settlements and landscapes. The road is black top but you will experience several bumps on the way to Manthali from Kathmandu. It takes a minimum of 3 hr 54 min (129.0 km) via Mid-Hill Hwy to get to Manthali from Kathmandu.
You are taking this almost 4 hours drive from Kathmandu to Manthali to catch the early morning flight to Lukla for 20 minutes. This drive will take place only in Spring (Mar-May) and Autumn(Sep-Nov) to avoid the big traffic from Tribhuvan International Airport – Domestic Section and in the other two trekking seasons ( Summer and Winter), the flights will directly be operated from Kathmandu to Lukla.
Manthali is a city with a little domestic airport. You fly to Lukla from here and can fly back but cannot fly from Kathmandu to Manthali. You will have only one access for Manthali from Kathmandu which is drive-in and drive-out for the recent times.
The places you explore during the Gokyo Valley Trek
The places you explore during the trek are Manthali, Lukla and Lukla airport, Phakding, Sagarmatha National Park, Monjo, Jorsalle, Namche Bazaar, Hotel Everest View, Khumjung village and the monastery, Dole, Machhermo, Gokyo Lakes. Besides, while acclimatization at Namche you can go to explore Khumjung Village or Thame Monastery. Both side trips will amaze you with some incredible insights into the ancient Khumbu region's civilization and religion.
Gokyo Valley Trek- Is this right for you?
Gokyo Valley Trek is a moderately difficult trek in the Everest region taking you’re the highest elevation Gokyo Ri (5357 m/17,575 ft.) The trek tends to be moderate till you get to Namche and Hotel Everest View. So, those who have prior trekking experience are well prepared with all required personal gear and a first aid kit.
Have you got prior trekking experience? Are you well prepared to walk at least 6 hours a day covering a distance minimum of 9 kilometers? Are you confident enough to walk to Gokyo Valley located above 4,700m-5,000m in the wild mountain? If you have the right and reliable answers to these questions, you can conquer Everest Base Camp Trek.
Test your stamina by waking and going above 4000m covering the minimum distance of 9 kilometers and decide to do the Gokyo Valley Trek.
The Gokyo Valley Trekking Trail
The Everest Base Camp Trekking trail is the same trail trodden by legendary climbers Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay Sherpa in 1953 while successfully scaling Mt. Everest. The trail begins from Lukla town to Pkakding. The trail from Lukla to Phakding is easier all the way going down through local Sherpa settlements, Buddhist monuments and monasteries. You will enjoy moving the Buddhist prayer wheels clockwise and pray for good luck for the successful trek.
Then, the trail takes you through Sagarmatha National Park via Monjo and Jorsalle. As you enter into Sagarmatha National Park, you will enjoy the serenity and peacefulness of wild nature with diverse species of flora and fauna. You will experience the thrills of crossing the suspension bridge over the Dudhkoshi River several times before you ascend to Namche Bazaar.
At the base of the Namche Bazaar, you will enjoy crossing the high and thrilling suspension bridge and walking up to Namche Bazaar through the pine forest. Finally, you will see a beautiful gate, Namche Bazaar Gate, written ‘Welcome to Namche Bazaar’ at the entrance of Namche Bazaar. The water fountain, beautiful garden, restaurants and hotels, souvenir shops, ATMs, banks, money exchanges, clubs etc. will astonish Namche.
At acclimatization, you will either walk to Hotel Everest View/Khumjung Village or Thame Monastery. This one-day acclimatization at Namche will be very exciting to spend and explore.
The Gokyo Valley Trekking Trail, next, will take to Dole village. The trail today will go down to the river (Fortse Thanga) and then ascend to Dole via deep pine woods. Further, you will ascend to Machharmo and Gokyo. The trail from Dole to Gokyo passes through various alpine vegetation. The trail while you are approaching Machhermo turns out to be more challenging as you are tired due to the high elevation and a thin layer of oxygen. Moreover, the trail passes through arid landscapes of the upper region while approaching Gokyo.
Cultural Highlights on Gokyo Valley Trek
- You will encounter various unique and authentic cultural insights during your Gokyo Valley Trek. The following will be the cultural highlights of Gokyo Valley Trek.
- Lifestyle and Economic activities of local Sherpa people
- Festivals, celebrations, rituals and rites of Sherpa People
- Religious Insights (Buddhism)
- Monuments and idols
- Art and Architectures
- Local Cuisines
- Monasteries ( Khumjung and Thame) temples, museums and art galleries
The guide and porter for Gokyo Valley Trek
The guide and the porters you will accompany as your trekking crew/team will be very professional and highly experienced. They will speak your preferred language very fluently and try their best to satisfy you with some marvellous insights and experiences during the trek. The guide will manage all required accommodations, meals and transportation for your trip. Also, if any lack or insufficiency occurs during the trip, the guide will manage all the things according to the situation. So, hiring a guide and porter will enhance your entire trip with multiple help from minor sickness and scarcity to acute mountain sickness. They will take good care of you all around the trip.
Porters will help you tremendously by carrying and taking care of your luggage. They will safely carry and drop your luggage to the destination you want to go. They will be very hospitable, hard-working, funny, and friendly and also can communicate little with you during the trip. Porters will carry a maximum of 18 kg of load in the mountain. We request you to co-ordinate with your guide and porter during the trip and make it more exciting, safer and memorable.
Safety Measures on Gokyo Valley Trek
- Carry Comprehensive First-Aid Kit
- Carry Right and Reliable Trekking Gears
- Listen to your Trekking leader and follow his/her instructions properly
- Stay hydrated and have a balanced diet
- Stay calm, cool and confident
- Try to avoid alcohol and smoking
- Carry Diamox in case you get altitude sickness
- Drink safe water (bottled and properly boiled)
- Address any serious health issue beforehand or on the trail if you have any immediately
- Share your problems with your trekking leader on the trail
- Ask for helicopter rescue if you think that you are in critical condition
Tipping for Guide and Porter
Tipping for your guide and porter is not mandatory but they expect something extra from you after they work hard for you. You’d better prepare USD 5-10 per day per individual guide and porter. But, it doesn’t mean that you have to do the same as we recommend you. You reward them with some handsome tipping as well if you are satisfied. Sometimes, you don’t need to reward them with tipping if they don’t take good care of you and try to spoil your trip with some unnecessary personal benefits and interests.
Departure
After a farewell dinner with our team and the important feedback session, we will comfortably drop you off at the Tribhuvan International Airport and to any other destination you want for your exit to your homeland or the commencement of another trip. After we drop you to the destination you prefer, you can catch up on your international flight and another trip you want. We wish you a very wonderful time ahead.