Gokyo Lakes - Heli Trek | Gokyo Lake Heli Tour

Gokyo Lakes Heli trek is one of the short and exciting trips around Khumbu region. This trip majorly focuses on spending most of the time around Gokyo Lakes after trekking from Lukla. The beautiful Gokyo Valley with a number of placid and pristine Gokyo Lakes is a major attraction here. In addition to enjoying the beauty of the lakes, this trip also offers a great chance to view the number of gigantic Himalayan peaks. This trek is also gaining popularity as it is the part of the extended trek to Everest Base Camp (EBC). In this trek, you will reach as far as Gokyo Ri and enjoy the nice sunset view. In choosing this package you will get the first-hand experience of trekking around Everest region. Also, you will be benefitted with comfortable helicopter ride directly to Kathmandu from Gokyo and hence will not have to trek all the way back to Lukla. This will save a lot of your time and energy.

The journey begins with a tour around Kathmandu valley where you will visit the major religious and historical sites. On the next day, you will fly to Lukla. The trek on foot begins from Lukla.

The trail passes through traditional Sherpa villages where you can know more about Sherpa’s festival, culture, tradition, and lifestyle. You can also enjoy local traditional dishes at tea houses during the trek. You can also relish the beauty of rhododendron, birch and pine forest all along the way. You will walk through Namche Bazaar, Dole and Machhermo before reaching Gokyo valley.

The main highlight of this trek is Gokyo Valley with a number of freshwater lakes situated at the highest altitude. There are six major lakes around the valley. Both national and international tourist visit here every year to enjoy these unique beauties. Additionally, these lakes also have religious significance. Both Hindus and Buddhists consider the lakes holy and pay their visit during their major religious festivals. After spending enough time around the lakes, you will climb Gokyo Ri to enjoy the best sunset view. On a concluding day, you will directly fly back to Kathmandu through a chartered helicopter enjoying the best wide view of Gokyo Lakes, number of peaks and stunning landscape.

Trip highlights:

One day guided tour around major religious and historical sites around Kathmandu
Scenic flight from Kathmandu to Lukla
Observation of unique and culturally rich Sherpa lifestyle
Pleasing view of mountain peaks all along the trek
Enjoying the exotic beauty of Gokyo valley with a number of beautiful lakes
Climb up to Gokyo Ri for the magnificent sunset view
An exciting helicopter ride from Gokyo to Kathmandu offering the best aerial view of Gokyo valley and surrounding peaks

Outline Itinerary

Day 1 : Arrival at Kathmandu (1,300m/4,264ft)
Day 2 : Kathmandu Valley Sightseeing and trek preparation (1,300m/4,264ft)
Day 3 : Fly to Lukla and head to Phakding (2,651m/8,700ft) 3-4 hours
Day 4 : To Namche Bazaar (3,440m/11,283ft) 5-6 hours
Day 5 : Acclimatization Day (3,440m/11,283ft)
Day 6 : Trek to Dole (4,200m/13,779ft)6-7 hours
Day 7 : To Machhermo (4,470m/14,665ft) 4-5 hours
Day 8 : To Gokyo (4,790m/15,715ft) 3-4 hours
Day 9 : Explore Gokyo Lakes and hike up to Gokyo Ri for sunset View.
Day 10 : Fly back to Kathmandu by Helicopter
Day 11 : Departure Day

Day 1: Arrival at Kathmandu (1,300m/4,264ft)

We receive you from the Tribhuvan International Airport with a warm welcome and take you to the hotel in Kathmandu. After getting fresh and taking some rest, we host a welcome dinner for you at the finest restaurant in the city with Nepali cuisine. We brief the team of trekkers about the trip and take you back to the hotel for the night’s sleep.

Day 2: Kathmandu Valley Sightseeing and trek preparation (1,300m/4,264ft)

We take a trip around the UNESCO world heritage sites in Kathmandu, which are the major attraction points. Pashupatinath temple, Boudhanath stupa, Swayambhunath Stupa and Kathmandu Durbar Square are the areas we will be roaming around for the day. These religious sites and revered by both Hindus and Buddhists. During the major religious festivals people from all over the country as well as from other Hindu and Buddhist nations visit these places. The sites are also equally rich in art and architecture and hence an ideal place for tourists and art lovers. They also tell ancient history of Nepal. We will also visit many small temples around these sites and spend our day thus. In the evening we return to the hotel and pack our bags with proper clothing and trekking equipment. We stay overnight at the hotel in Kathmandu

Day 3: Fly to Lukla and head to Phakding (2,651m/8,700ft) 3-4 hours

We begin the day with the flight from Kathmandu to Luka. The flight lets you enjoy the beauty of green hills with a background of snowy mountain peaks. The flight to Lukla is taken to be most thrilling and exciting as the pilot gracefully flies between hills and lands on a small strip atop a hill. The trek begins from Lukla and we head towards Phakding. First we will be passing through the Cheplung village enjoying the sight of Mount Khumbila. We will further move downhill and finally reach Phakding village. We are welcomed by the grand sight of mountain Kusum Kangraru. We can get a sense of increasing tourism business in the village as there are number of lodges and tea houses serving the guests. We stay for the night at Phakding.

Day 4: To Namche Bazaar (3,440m/11,283ft) 5-6 hours

Moving ahead from Phakding, we take the trail ahead and cross the Dudhkoshi river several times by suspension bridges as we pass through the Sherpa villages of Tok Tok, Benkar, Monjo (from where Sagarmatha National Park area begins). We will take care of all the required formalities at the entrance) and Jorsalle. From here, we ascend the valley gradually to the foot of the steep climb to Namche Bazaar. In the halfway up this climb, we may get the first view of the Mount Everest, Mount Nuptse and Mount Lhotse. A final 1 hour climbing takes us to the Namche Bazaar, the land of Sherpas, where we spend our night.

Day 5: Acclimatization Day (3,440m/11,283ft)

We will go for an acclimatization hike this morning, ascending out of Namche past the world highest airstrip at syangboche, to the Everest View Hotel, from where we can have a great panoramic view of the highest peaks on earth - Mt.Everest, Mt.Lhotse, Mt.Nuptse, Mt.Thamserku, everyone's favorite mountain Ama Dablam and many other Himalayan giants. This spectacularly located hotel with stunning view of the highest peaks on earth is an amazing place for a short tea break. We will then be descending through the Syangboche airstrip to the National Park head quarter where there is a statue of Tenzing Norgay Sherpa, the first person to reach the summit of Mount Everest along with Edmund Hillary and there is also the Sherpa museum. We spend some time to visit this wonderful place. We then return to Namche Bazaar and stroll around the village and visit ancient monasteries. We stay overnight at Namche Bazaar.

Day 6: Trek to Dole (4,200m/13,779ft)6-7 hours

We take the trail uphill from Namche Bazaar and walk ahead towards Kyangjuma. From there you get to have spectacular sights of mountainous beauty. Mount Everest, Mount Nuptse, Mount Ama Dablam and various other peaks can be viewed up close from Kyangjuma. Then we take a trail uphill through rhododendron forest and towards Sanasa village. We then reach a junction and take the stone step trail and continue walking through Mongla pass until reaching the bank of Dudh Koshi River. We leave the bank of Dudh Koshi River and hike toward Dole through pine and rhododendron forest. We spend the night in a lodge at Dole.

Day 7: To Machhermo (4,470m/14,665ft) 4-5 hours

We take a walk uphill from Dole passing through local tea houses where we can rest and enjoy the scenic beauty. We then head north and can view snowy peaks around. The vegetation and human settlement in this area is sparse and surrounded with rocky peaks. We then do some uphill and downhill climbing and reach Ngozumba glacier. The trail ahead takes us to Machhermo which has few human settlement areas. We take good night’s rest at Machhermo.

Day 8: To Gokyo (4,790m/15,715ft) 3-4 hours

The day’s destination is Gokyo valley where the trek passes through uphill and flat walk to the base of rocky mountain. We then cross the bridge and reach the first Gokyo Lake: Longpunga Tsho. We take the trail ahead towards second Gokyo Lake: Taujung Tsho. We then take a walk ahead through the glacier area and reach third Gokyo Lake: Gokyo Tsho. Various lodges are scattered around the lakeside. We take a rest enjoying the breathtaking view of landscapes around. We will spend the time exploring the lakes and glacier and spend our night at one of the lodges in Gokyo.

Day 9: Explore Gokyo Lakes and hike up to Gokyo Ri for sunset View.

We spend the day exploring the valley and adjusting the body to the changing environmental situation and increasing altitude. We take photographs enjoying the spectacular snowy beauty around. We will spend some time around the lakes. Then we will hike around the glacier and up to Gokyo Ri from where we can view six beautiful Gokyo lakes. The sunset view from Goyo Ri is extremely amazing. We will enjoy our time till sunset and then return to the lodge and spend the night there.

Day 10: Fly back to Kathmandu by Helicopter

Today we will bid goodbye to beautiful mountain landscapes and Gokyo valley. We will take a helicopter flight from Gokyo to Kathmandu. The majestic beauty of Gokyo Lakes, number of surrounding peaks and stunning beauty of landscape can be enjoyed from the flight. Once at Kathmandu you will be escorted to the hotel where you can get a nice rest. Spend the night at the hotel.

Day 11: Departure Day

Nepal Ascent Treks will make all the necessary arrangements for you on the departure day. We offer you the facility to drop at the Tribhuvan International Airport. We exchange final greetings and wishes and hope to see each other next time as well. We wish pleasant journey and bid the final goodbye. If you like you can also continue your stay in Nepal and choose the next trip.

What's included ?

A porter and his entire expenses.
Airport pickup and drop facility.
Airport tax
Breakfast,Lunch and dinner during the trek.
Down jackets and sleeping bags (provided upon request).
Flight Certificate
Fresh seasonal fruits after the dinner (while on the trek).
Full day guided city tour in Kathmandu (Day 2) by a private vehicle.
Insurance of guide and porter.
Kathmandu-Lukla flight tickets.
Licensed, experienced and English speaking trekking guide.
Lodge expenses during the trek.
Stay in the city at finest hotel (3 nights twin sharing room at Kathmandu).
Trekking permits/TIMS.
Welcome and farewell dinner at one of the finest Nepalese Restaurant with traditional ethnic music and dance.
Private helicopter from Gokyo to Kathmandu.

What's excluded ?

Additional meals and drinks
Cost for additional trips.
Cost incurred during the tour around the city.
Extra hot showers, wifi & battery charging on a trek.
Extra porter charge.
Meals in the city except for breakfast and other mentioned special dinner.
Nepal arrival visa.
Personal expenses.
Tipping to staffs (as an appreciation).
Travel insurance which covers emergency rescue and evacuation.

The given cost are per person and exclude international flights. Given below are the departure dates available for online booking. If the given date is not favorable then please write us and we will happily customize your trip on dates more appropriate for you.

Please Check Available Dates for The Year of:

Start Date	End Date	Status	Price
1st Mar, 2023	10th Mar, 2023	Available	USD 3074
4th Mar, 2023	13th Mar, 2023	Available	USD 3074
7th Mar, 2023	16th Mar, 2023	Available	USD 3074
10th Mar, 2023	19th Mar, 2023	Available	USD 3074
13th Mar, 2023	22nd Mar, 2023	Available	USD 3074
16th Mar, 2023	25th Mar, 2023	Available	USD 3074
19th Mar, 2023	28th Mar, 2023	Available	USD 3074
22nd Mar, 2023	31st Mar, 2023	Available	USD 3074
25th Mar, 2023	3rd Apr, 2023	Available	USD 3074
28th Mar, 2023	6th Apr, 2023	Available	USD 3074
31st Mar, 2023	9th Apr, 2023	Available	USD 3074