Gokyo Ri Trek from Gokyo Lakes, Everest Region

Perched high above Gokyo Lakes in Sagarmatha National Park, Gokyo Ri (5,360 m) offers one of the most stunning views of the Everest Ranges.

Gokyo Lakes is one of the best viewpoint “peaks” accessible without any climbing in the Khumbu. From the top, trekkers will have expansive views of the world’s tallest mountains, including Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, the Gokyo Valley, and lakes, as well as the largest Himalayan glacier, The Ngzumpa Glacier.

The hike up to Gokyo Ri is completed as a day trip from Gokyo Village and is the highlight of the popular Everest Base Camp Trek alternative, the Gokyo Lakes Trek.

Gokyo Ri Key Points

• Location: Located in the Khumbu Region of Nepal, adjacent to the town of Gokyo and west of the Ngozumpa Glacier.
• Route: Hike up to Gokyo Ri from Gokyo Lake and back down.
• Hike Distance: 4 km (2.4 mi)
• Elevation: Gokyo Ri (5,360 meters) meters above sea level. Total ascent from Gokyo Lake (4,790 meters) is 570 meters.
• Trek Difficulty: Considered a moderate trek by Himalayan standards. No technical climbing skills are required, but good physical fitness and proper acclimatization are essential.
• Duration to Summit: Approximately 3 hours from Gokyo village to the summit; about 2 hours for the descent.
• Popularity: Gokyo Ri offers a quieter, yet equally stunning alternative to the EBC. Yet the Gokyo Lakes trek has gained popularity in recent years for those seeking quieter trails.
• Best Season: Optimal months are February to May, September to December due to clearer skies and moderate weather.
• Access: Accessible via a flight to Lukla followed by at least 5-7 days via Namche Bazaar. Since this is within Sagarmatha National Parks, you need to pay the appropriate fees.

How Difficult is the Trek?

In terms of the Gokyo Ri trek difficulty, it's considered a fairly easy viewpoint by Himalayan standards. In saying that, you're still going to be walking at high altitude and you will need to be properly acclimatized.

Trekking to the top of Gokyo Ri doesn't require any technical training or equipment. The trail is not extremely steep but has a consistent incline for the entire duration, so general fitness is required.

Still, if you've already walked yourself all the way to Gokyo, you're going to have no problem getting to the top of Gokyo Ri, assuming you've followed proper acclimatization strategies.

My Experience Hiking To Gokyo Ri from Gokyo Lakes

Below I'll give you all the information that you'll need to tackle the Gokyo Ri viewpoint trek. Remember, my guide begins at Gokyo. If you're looking for a complete Gokyo Lakes trekking guide from Lukla, then you'd do your best by buying the Lonely Planet Guide or researching more online.

Picking Up the Trail from Gokyo

It's really impossible to miss the Gokyo Ri trail from Gokyo village. You'll see the towering hill just beside the main lake. We left our packs at our Gokyo lodge and began the trek by crossing a slight, trickling river, and carefully hopping across the stones.

There are signs just after the river pointing the way to the back Lakes and the Renjo La Pass, which we would cross the following morning.

The trail begins to climb almost immediately, and we began winding our way up to the top at roughly the same gradient the entire time. At many times during the trek, we turned around to get incredible views of Gokyo Village and Gokyo Lake (photos below).

Along the way, we also spotted dozens of Himalayan Snowcock Birds wobbling about on the trail.

Reaching the Top of Gokyo Ri

As we approached the top, we got our first view of the worn, but glimmering prayer flags wrapped at the summit.

This final section is often covered in snow but it had mostly melted on our ascent. If it's frozen, you'll see a deep trail carved into the snow from the hundreds of trekkers that trek to Gokyo Ri every season.

We pushed forward, taking our time to adjust to the rapid increase in altitude. After roughly 3 hours of walking, we reached the top of Gokyo Ri, where we saw huge black boulders resting on glimmering snow and wrapped in prayer flags as far as the eye could see.

Views from the Summit of Gokyo Ri

Gokyo Ri is considered one of the best views in the Khumbu, and therefore probably in the world. It's also one of the best places to catch a glimpse of the world's tallest mountain: Mount Everest.

Besides Everest, you can also see Lhotse (8,516 meters), Cho Oyu (8,188 meters) Makalu (8,485 meters), and several other distant Tibetan peaks.

Just to the East, you'll have incredible views of the Ngozumpa Glacier as it grinds its way down the Gokyo Valley. Looking down, Gokyo Village and lakes are now not much more than a speckle in the grandiose panorama.

Things to Know Before Your Trek

While the high altitude would constitute a large peak anywhere else, you have to remember that you're in the Himalayas. In comparison to the surrounding Himalayan giants, Gokyo Ri is actually considered a hill rather than a trekking peak.

During my time trekking in the Nepal Himalayas, Gokyo Ri was my favorite viewpoint. Many trekkers actually use Gokyo Ri as a target point for their Khumbu treks. In fact, the Gokyo Lakes trek is quickly becoming the most popular EBC alternative.

Note that Gokyo is within the Sagarmatha National Park and therefore you must pay the 1,500 Nepali rupee fee per person per entry at the gates in Monjo village.

Trekking Tips For Gokyo

• Start early to beat the clouds if you can help it.
• Take water and some food with you.
• Bring a shell and down with you. It can get very windy and chilly at the top.
• Bring a camera - Gokyo Ri views are some of the best in the entire world.
• Take your time, and watch for signs of AMS. Make sure that you are following the acclimatization protocol as directed by professionals.
• Make sure that you take all your rubbish with you back to your lodge, or even better - back to Lukla.

Gokyo Ri on the Three Passes Trek or Gokyo Lake Trek

Walking to the top of Gokyo Ri is one of the best side trips available on the Three High Passes Trek before commencing the final pass at Renjo La. I wouldn't really consider it an acclimatization hike if you're trekking anti-clockwise, because by now you'll be well acclimated to altitudes above 5,000 meters.

However, if you're attempting the Three Passes in the clockwise direction, it would be a good warm-up before Cho La. However, you'll need to make sure you are physically ready for the high altitude.

FAQs About Hiking Gokyo Ri

I hope that you've enjoyed this guide to hiking Gokyo Ri, and that it serves you well on your Three Passes or Gokyo Lakes trek in Nepal.

While you're here on my blog, make sure to check out some of my other Himalayan trekking blogs to help inspire your trip.

• Best Places to Visit in Kathmandu - discover 21+ unmissable highlights in Nepal's capital.
• Kathmandu Itinerary - how to spend 3 days in Nepal's capital.
• Everest Three Passes Trek - my guide to the ultimate Everest trekking experience!
• Manaslu Circuit Trek - get off the beaten path and discover the Himalayan region of Manaslu.
• Climbing Island Peak - guide to my favorite 6,000 m+ trekking peak in Nepal.
• Climbing Mera Peak - my experience climbing Mera Peak (6,476 m).
• Hotels in Kathmandu - read my helpful guide to where to stay in Kathmandu city.