One day in Gokyo - what to do?

[aubergine]

I was initially planning to do the EBC trek but I've decided to do Gokyo lakes instead to reduce the pressure on my time. However the way I have planned it, is to arrive back in Lukla on a Friday, hopefully fly back to KTM on Saturday and then my flight home is on Tuesday. This only gives me one day in Gokyo (not including the day I arrive in Gokyo). Is it possible to do both Gokyo Ri and visit the lakes in one day? I guess the best views from Gokyo Ri are early morning so I'd have to have an early start anyway, but is it too much to do both in the same day?
If not - which is the best option? Are the views as good from Scoundrel's Viewpoint as they are from Gokyo Ri?

Or could I stay another day in Gokyo, arriving in Lukla on Saturday, giving me Sunday and Monday to fly back to KTM? I'm going to be returning at the start of October so I suppose there might be a lot of people flying out to Lukla but not so many flying back to KTM from Lukla?

[Sujoy]

If you have one day I suggest that you climb Gokyo Ri. It is hard to do both in the same day

[Escher]

How many days are you taking to get back from Gokyo to Lukla? If you want to save time you could do it in two longish days. You'll be fit and acclimatised by then so it shouldn't be a problem. I would prefer to do that and have extra time in Gokyo, it really is well worth it. The stages up to Gokyo are short and so it is possible to reach Gokyo quite early in the afternoon. If you are feeling okay then you can climb Gokyo in the afternoon and evening. Even if it is cloudy it is worth doing. I have done so twice and the cloud inversion I was treated to was absolutely amazing. Not everyone will feel up to it though, you'll have to play it by ear. I would say the views from Gokyo Ri are better than Scoundrel's view as you are higher and can see a bit more. Scoundrel's view takes you up to the confluence of glaciers and is very impressive.

If it were me and I only had one and half days. I'd arrive in Gokyo and see how I feel and go for the top that evening if I was ok. If not I would chill out but go up the side of the glacier to have a look there. The view ten minutes up from Gokyo will nake your hair stand on end. It is absolutely sensational. Then I would go early up to Gokyo Ri come back for some early lunch and then head up the glacier for a few hours before heading down valley towards Gokyo. If you can slot in an extra day then you could go much further up the glacier, perhaps climb the Nameless Fangs. Both are very much worth doing. But I would try and save the day by descending quicker, not by getting to Lukla later. It will be very busy that time of year and would want a buffer to ensure I get my flight home.

I've arrived in Gokyo when it's been cloudy and trekkers were leaving saying that had seen nothing. That is such a shame as the views from there are really quite incredible and they would have seen them if only they'd stayed a little longer.

[GoNepal]

I was initially planning to do the EBC trek but I've decided to do Gokyo lakes instead to reduce the pressure on my time. .......


SUGGESTION: Follow the regular day to day itinerary on the way up (Lukla to Gokyo 7 days). Acclimatization is very important than your time. Total 12 days trek will give you flexcibility.

Gokyo Ri is better for view. Try other side trips the evening you reach Gokyo. After climbing Gokyo Ri, you can trek to Machhermo or further down. If you can make Monzo or Phakding next day, get up early morning and try afternoon flight back to Kathmandu. I have seen late afternoon flights to and from Lukla whenever weather is good.

[aubergine]

How many days are you taking to get back from Gokyo to Lukla? If you want to save time you could do it in two longish days. You'll be fit and acclimatised by then so it shouldn't be a problem. I would prefer to do that and have extra time in Gokyo, it really is well worth it. The stages up to Gokyo are short and so it is possible to reach Gokyo quite early in the afternoon. If you are feeling okay then you can climb Gokyo in the afternoon and evening. Even if it is cloudy it is worth doing. I have done so twice and the cloud inversion I was treated to was absolutely amazing. Not everyone will feel up to it though, you'll have to play it by ear. I would say the views from Gokyo Ri are better than Scoundrel's view as you are higher and can see a bit more. Scoundrel's view takes you up to the confluence of glaciers and is very impressive.

If it were me and I only had one and half days. I'd arrive in Gokyo and see how I feel and go for the top that evening if I was ok. If not I would chill out but go up the side of the glacier to have a look there. The view ten minutes up from Gokyo will nake your hair stand on end. It is absolutely sensational. Then I would go early up to Gokyo Ri come back for some early lunch and then head up the glacier for a few hours before heading down valley towards Gokyo. If you can slot in an extra day then you could go much further up the glacier, perhaps climb the Nameless Fangs. Both are very much worth doing. But I would try and save the day by descending quicker, not by getting to Lukla later. It will be very busy that time of year and would want a buffer to ensure I get my flight home.

I've arrived in Gokyo when it's been cloudy and trekkers were leaving saying that had seen nothing. That is such a shame as the views from there are really quite incredible and they would have seen them if only they'd stayed a little longer.

I'm doing the lonely planet guidebook route - so coming back from Gokyo to Phortse, then Phortse to Namche, then Namche to Lukla. If you were going to do it in two days where would you stay the night?

Thanks for the advice - I think I will try to fit in an extra day, or if I can't then climb Gokyo Ri in the morning and go up the valley like you suggested.

[yakshaver]

I'm doing the lonely planet guidebook route - so coming back from Gokyo to Phortse, then Phortse to Namche, then Namche to Lukla. If you were going to do it in two days where would you stay the night?

Thanks for the advice - I think I will try to fit in an extra day, or if I can't then climb Gokyo Ri in the morning and go up the valley like you suggested.


You can do Gokyo Ri very early in the morning, then go to the fifth lake. It would be a very tiring day.
Gokyo to Phortse has some dicy portions along the way, from what I read.

[Petrus]

I'm doing the lonely planet guidebook route - so coming back from Gokyo to Phortse, then Phortse to Namche, then Namche to Lukla. If you were going to do it in two days where would you stay the night?

Thanks for the advice - I think I will try to fit in an extra day, or if I can't then climb Gokyo Ri in the morning and go up the valley like you suggested.

If you want to get to Lukla fast, Phortse is a bit out of the way, as the normal trail follows the west side of the valley, Phortse is on the east side. Mong ridge is possibly the best overnighting place in the whole Khumbu what comes to views. I would say get at least to Mong, prefereably even closer to Namche somewhere to make the last day shorter. There are a lot of lodges, no need to make fixed desicions too early.

[Escher]

Aubergine's probably talking about Phortse Tenga rather Phortse. When I did Gokyo to Lukla in two days I stayed the night in Mong then went onto Lukla. Bit of a slog but worth it.

[yakshaver]

Aubergine's probably talking about Phortse Tenga rather Phortse. When I did Gokyo to Lukla in two days I stayed the night in Mong then went onto Lukla. Bit of a slog but worth it.


Wow, those must have been two long days...

Petrus might be right, I think we should be talking about Phortse Tenga...

In 2008 I did Gokyo to Phortse Tenga, and then Phortse Tenga to Jorsale.

[andyoxus]

I'd definitely try to squeeze another day in Gokyo - it's absolutely the highlight of any Khumbu trek. Getting to Lukla in two days is certainly doable; or you could shift your flights around (an easier option!).

If you really only have one full day, I'd be tempted to go to the 5th Lake the day after you arrive, then go up Gokyo Ri early the next morning before heading down in the afternoon. This would also give you more chance to acclimatize.

Another option for returning, by the way, is via the Renjo La and Thame - three days to Lukla wouldn't be too hard, and the views from the Renjo La are arguably as good as those from Gokyo:

http://www.stemhaus.com/firefox/foxclocks/news/wp-content/gallery/salpa-arun-to-gokyo-2009/P1000810.jpg

(The gallery is at http://www.stemhaus.com/firefox/foxclocks/news/2009/12/06/back-to-nepal-part-i-salpa-arun-to-gokyo-october-2009/ )

Andy

[GoNepal]

Gokyo to Phortse Village, trail is narrow but worth doing. Nice view. If you are alone, avoid this part. Think nobody is there if you need help. I met no single person when I did this part.

You must be young and strong trying something hard. You might be able to do Gokyo-Phortse village-Mong one day. But, between Mong Danda and Lukla you will be slowed down by big crowd of yaks and people.

" No passing lane was built when I was there, 1999 and ther was no plan or space to built one ".

If you really have to do it in two days, try Gokyo to Mong or Kenzoma or even Namche the first day. Start early morning to avaid crowd. Stop for breakfast when morning crowd get on the road. Late afternoon is again nice time to cover distance. Avoid walking at night too. Have a nice trip.

[yakshaver]

Another option for returning, by the way, is via the Renjo La and Thame - three days to Lukla wouldn't be too hard, and the views from the Renjo La are arguably as good as those from Gokyo:

http://www.stemhaus.com/firefox/foxclocks/news/wp-content/gallery/salpa-arun-to-gokyo-2009/P1000810.jpg

(The gallery is at http://www.stemhaus.com/firefox/foxclocks/news/2009/12/06/back-to-nepal-part-i-salpa-arun-to-gokyo-october-2009/ )

Andy

Love that pic from Renjo La!

[andyoxus]

Love that pic from Renjo La!

Thanks! I was completely disappointed in my photos when I came home (December), but when I look at them again now I'm quite pleased. Mind you, I have a damn good camera (Lumix LX3) and the weather was glorious. (Aside: the monsoon ran well into October 2009; even Gokyo was completely clouded in a few days before we arrived. Must have been a nightmare for people with limited time.)

[jonathanellis]

Hi

I did this trek last year.I would say you can do both in a day or go from Gokyo to Lukla in 2 days.

If you do both in the one day then you can go up Gokyo Ri early in the morning,come back down for Breakfast then go up to the lakes.Going all the way to the 6th lake and the base of Cho Oyu is a long day,7 -8 hours there and back it took me.The best thing you can do is go to the 4th lake then just walk up the side if the hill to the left of the glacier and you get great views of Everest and all the other mountains.

Getting from Gokyo to Lukla in 2 days is easily doable.Gokyo to Namche one one long day is not hard at all,it's a lot of downhill and by that point you will be so acclimatised and fit you will be basically be running down the trail.

[DonEsteban]

Hm, how is your flight arrangement in Lukla? When we were there last fall, we had to confirm in the evening (~3-4PM) the day before flying.

Which means you probably won't be flying Saturday, if you leave Gokyo Thursday morning - unless you get down all the way to Jorsale in one day (I did it when I was young and stupid) and start early next day.

This time we went from Gokyo to Mong La, second day had a nice stop with coffee and cakes in Namche, finished at a small place between Benkar and Phakding, on third day comfortably came to Lukla and confirmed the booking at the evening.

Have a great trip!

[andyoxus]

Good point about the flight reconfirmation. If I remember rightly you have until 4pm to get to the airline's Lukla office.

But I do think Namche to Lukla is not unreasonable for most trekkers (I've done it several times - actually Tengboche-Lukla once). Worst case, just start at 6:30am or so - it's (mostly) downhill. I've never hiked Gokyo-Namche so I don't know how tough that is.

[aubergine]

Thanks for reminding me about the flight reconfirmation - am I right in thinking that there might be some lodges in Namche who could call ahead and reconfirm for me?

I think I'm going to allow 2 days in Gokyo and then do Gokyo to Lukla in 2 days, especially seeing as I'll be there late September - if I plan only one day in Gokyo and it's cloudy, then that'll be annoying! (Of course I could well end up with two cloudy days, but never mind)

[marcy]

Dont forget, cloudy days can leave you stranded in Lukla til flights start up again... in 08, there were several times during the trekking season when flights weren't leaving Lukla for a few days. Though once the flights start up again, they do clear the backlog quickly.