Gokyo Lakes
A string of six turquoise glacial lakes near 4,700–5,000m in the Everest region — a Ramsar wetland and a quieter alternative to Everest Base Camp.
- Altitude
- 4,750 m
- Coordinates
- 27.957°, 86.693°
Current Weather
The Gokyo Lakes are a chain of six oligotrophic glacial lakes set between roughly 4,700 and 5,000 metres in Sagarmatha National Park, alongside the Ngozumpa Glacier — the longest glacier in the Nepal Himalaya. The largest, Thonak Tsho, and the village lake, Dudh Pokhari, sit beneath the dark cone of Gokyo Ri.
Designated a Ramsar site in 2007, the Gokyo wetlands cover nearly 7,800 hectares and form the highest freshwater lake system on earth of their kind. Their colour — an intense glacial turquoise — is startling against the surrounding rock and ice.
The Gokyo valley is the classic quieter alternative to the main Everest Base Camp trail. A 10–12 day trek from Lukla climbs through Namche Bazaar and Dole to the lakeside village of Gokyo; the dawn ascent of Gokyo Ri (5,357m) delivers one of the finest viewpoints in the Khumbu, taking in Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, and Cho Oyu in a single sweep. Strong trekkers link Gokyo to Everest Base Camp over the high Cho La pass.
The lakes are sacred to both Hindus and Buddhists, with a small shrine at Dudh Pokhari. Lodges in Gokyo village are comfortable for the altitude, but acclimatisation is critical and the lakes freeze in winter.
Location
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