Gokyo Lake Valley Trek  |  15 Days

Trip Note

GOKYO LAKE VALLEY TREK.

One of the most popular trekking destinations for adventure-seeking tourists, its fame and reputation have been rapidly increasing since the first summit of the Everest in 1953 by Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay Sherpa. The Gokyo Lakes Valley Trek is situated in the northeastern part of Nepal. The Base is a home to the world's highest mountain Everest, and many other towering peaks. Every year, numerous tourists go for adventures in this region. From summiting mountains to trekking in the base camp routes and villages, this Gokyo Lakes Valley Trek has a lot to offer to adventurers. Trekking through quaint Sherpa villages, you get the opportunity to experience their generous culture, rich Himalayan biomes, and the magnificent snow-laden peaks

ACCOMMODATION ON GOKYO LAKE VALLEY TREK.

Along the trails of the Gokyo Lakes Valley Trek, you will find tea houses and lodges.  All of these accommodating facilities are well maintained however they vary in standards. The facilities they provide are adequate and are comfortable. You will find plenty of options to choose from, all depending on your budget. But keep in mind, the higher you go - the narrower your options get. You will have basic facilities such as food, electricity, and toilets at all the tea houses and lodges.  However, you should also be aware that these services are very hard to be made available, thus you should use them wisely.

TRANSPORTATION ON GOKYO LAKE VALLEY TREK.

The best way to travel to the Gokyo Lakes Valley Trek is by flight. Up until now, there is one gateway to the Gokyo Lakes Valley Trek and it is the Lukla airport. All flights to the Everest region land here. You can travel by road but most of the places in this region are inaccessible by road. You will have to ride up to where the road ends and trek to the next checkpoint. Traveling by helicopter is also available, depending on how much you are ready to spend. 

FOOD & MEALS ON GOKYO LAKE VALLEY TREK.

While traveling around the Gokyo Lakes Valley Trek and higher altitudes, you will come across similar menus at all tea houses and lodges. The most commonly available foods around this Trek are Dal Bhat, noodles, eggs, potatoes, and Tibetan bread. Dal Bhat set is the best option for trekkers as it is served in large portions. It comprises rice, lentils, vegetables, and soup. Usually while trekking, your guide will contact your next lodge/tea house about your arrival and by the time you reach your destination, your meal will be ready. You may be able to find other food items besides the ones mentioned above. However, keep in mind that the choices of food items in this region are very small.

BACKPACK LIST ON GOKYO LAKE VALLEY TREK.

Preparing your backpack is one of the most important things you must do before going on adventures. You must not carry more than what's needed nor carry less. The ideal backpack list for an adventure in the Gokyo Lakes Valley Trek would be:

• Proper clothing. Warm inner layers, trekking shirts, undergarments, trousers, jackets, and socks.

• Gears: hats, beanies, buff/balaclava, gloves, and Hiking/trekking shoes.

• Accessories such as trekking poles, sunglasses, lamps/headlamps, and water bottles.

You can also carry other accessories such as books, chargers, first aid kit, medication tablets, toiletries etc. You must carry a bag that can easily accommodate all your essentials. If you have a porter it’s feasible to carry a duffle bag as well.

GUIDES & PORTERS ON GOKYO LAKE VALLEY TREK.

One of the major aspects of trekking in the Gokyo Lakes Valley Trek is hiring guides and porters. As a traveler, you will require someone that is familiar to the Trek and can help you get through the trail smoothly. Guides can make your trek efficient as they will know the best routes. Porters can be helpful if you are going on longer expeditions such as summiting mountains. Such expeditions require longer days in which you have to carry more items. It’s best to have an extra bag which the porter will carry for you. You can hire a guide and a porter easily at any travel agencies.

ELECTRICITY/ RECHARGE & INTERNET GOKYO LAKES VALLEY TREK.

As you ascend higher, it is hard to even get some basic services at such places. It is recommended that you carry: a power bank according to your needs, a Ncell sim card and an Everest link wifi prepaid card and enough recharge cards to suffice your needs. It is better to use the Ncell sim when the network is available, and only to use Everest Link wifi at places there is no coverage for Ncell. Areas at high altitudes heavily rely on solar power thus you will find electricity at some lodges but you will be charged by the hour for each item you charge. At low levels, electricity will be available and will not be a problem.

GROUP SIZE & CREW MEMBER ON GOKYO LAKE VALLEY TREK.

The ideal group size for trekking in this Gokyo Lakes Valley Trek is considered to be around 5-6 people. It is highly recommended that you hire a guide. You can also leave out that option but it is for your own safety and benefit. It is up to you to hire a porter. Since this region is a popular trekking destination, there is no doubt you will meet fellow travelers walking the same trails. You can also travel alone but it is not recommended to do so. When you travel in a group, if you have any problems during the trek, there will be enough people to help you.

MEDICAL FACILITY ON GOKYO LAKE VALLEY TREK.

You will find small pharmacies at villages around the trek. Some larger villages may also have hospitals that offer medical facilities up to an extent. This means you cannot expect high levels of medical services in this Gokyo Lakes Valley Trek. You will be able to get minor ailments and medicines at clinics and health posts in remote areas of the trip. For serious medical conditions, rescue is available via helicopter. It is best to have your travel insurance checked as medical services and rescue operations are very expensive. It is advised to carry proper first aid kit and vital medications in your backpack to avoid possible medical circumstances.

FLIGHT CANCELLATIONS & DELAY (INTERNAL) ON GOKYO LAKE VALLEY TREK.

While traveling in the Gokyo Lakes Valley Trek, Lukla Airport is one and only entry point by air, there are high chances of flight cancellations and delays. The main cause for this inconvenience is the unpredictable weather. In many cases, your flight will get delayed, but at difficult times your flights will be canceled. Since there are limited flights departing to domestic destinations, you might have to wait a day or two to catch another flight. The best alternative to this could be to go by road via Jiri/Salleri.

ALTITUDE SICKNESS ON GOKYO LAKE VALLEY TREK.

While traveling in the Gokyo Lakes Valley Trek, it is definite that you will be ascending altitude day by day. The most common problem that occurs during these treks is altitude sickness. The higher you go, the harder it is to breathe. The most common symptoms of altitude sickness are shortness of breath, fatigue, insomnia, headache, nausea etc. You will have to walk slow and steady to reduce excessive pressure exertion on your body. If you catch altitude sickness there is no solution to this except to descend from that altitude. However, when immediate descent is not possible, medications like Diamox and other altitude pills can come in handy to get you going for a while. In severe cases, helicopter rescue is also an option to transfer the victim for further medical attention.  It is highly recommended to consult a doctor before you go to such treks to find out about any complications in your body.

BEST SEASON TO TRAVEL ON GOKYO LAKE VALLEY TREK.

One of the key things you need to keep in mind before going on treks to the Gokyo Lakes Valley Trek is the season. There isn't necessarily the worst season to trek, however, there is a best one and autumn is considered as the ideal season. As the monsoon season ends around September, the weather clears up and you will get the best possible views. The trails will be dry and trekking will be a lot easier. The months, October and November are considered the best months to go on treks to Gokyo Lakes Valley Trek. But it does not imply that you cannot trek during other seasons. You can go on treks at any seasons but the difficulty and risk levels rise with the climate issues.

INSURANCE & RESCUE ON GOKYO LAKE VALLEY TREK.

Before going out on trekking at mountainous regions, you must check with your travel insurance providers if their policy covers mountainous areas. In many cases, travel insurance company's policies do not cover mountainous region traveling. You can find insurance providers who will cover your insurance depending on the altitude you're traveling. But you will have to pay close attention to enter correct altitude details. Rescue services are available but keep in mind they can be really expensive. A rescue helicopter alone can cost you around $5,000 or more. Therefore, it is strongly advised to have your insurance covered.

BOOKING & PAYMENTS ON GOKYO LAKE VALLEY TREK.

You can find various online sites from where you can book your preferred trek. You will not have a hard time finding travel agencies to help you get a travel plan for your trek to the Everest Base Camp Trek. You will have to comply with the terms and agreements set by the agencies before booking your trip. You are required to send all the necessary copies of documents such as passports. Some of these agencies will accept online payment while others demand the sum to be paid up front. Agencies will demand you to pay an initial advance payment.  Cancellation is also possible but cancellation charges will be applied.

ACCLIMATIZATION ON GOKYO LAKE VALLEY TREK.

The ascend in altitude will make it harder for you to go further. You may experience problems like altitude sickness. Since you will be spending a week or more for the trek, the best possible thing to do is acclimatize with the location by spending a night or two at every checkpoint. It is important to give your body enough time to adjust to the new atmosphere. In this process, your body can generate enough red blood cells to carry enough oxygen to get you going. This compensates for the low level of oxygen intake at high altitudes. Acclimatization lowers the risk of getting altitude sickness and any other problems you might face due to the altitude. It will allow you to maintain your body's performance across the change in environmental conditions.

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