Everest Gokyo Lakes Trek vs Everest High Passes Trek 2025,2026
Accessibility: Everest Gokyo Lakes Trek Vs. Three High Pass Trek
If you compare the Everest Gokyo Lakes Trek vs. the Everest High Passes Trek inaccessibility, both are best done during the autumn or spring. The Everest High Passes Trek is more challenging than the Everest Gokyo Lakes Trek. Making the Everest Gokyo Lakes Trek is more accessible than Everest High Passes Trek. Both trekking packages in Nepal cross into each other at some point. You could say that the Everest Gokyo Lakes Trek, a shorter version, is of the Everest High Passes Trek. But at the same time, it makes this trek more suitable for trekkers with less time or more looking for a more accessible tour with incredible views nonetheless! The accessibility of the Everest High Passes Trek can also differ whether you choose to do this trek clockwise or counterclockwise. That right! You can choose in which direction to start and end with the Everest High Passes Trek. Both trekking packages go past the fantastic lakes of Gokyo. The difference is that the Everest High Passes Trek goes over three Himalayan mountain passes. If you go in a clock wards direction, they are the Renjo La (5,360m), Cho La (5,420m), and the Kongma La (5,550m), making the passes go higher and higher if you are looking for a more accessible trekking route than is the Everest Gokyo Lakes trek perfect for you!
Both take place in the most famous region in the world. The Everest Gokyo Lakes Trek vs. the Everest High Passes Trek, which is better suited to you? It will all depend on what do you expect from an ultimate trekking adventure in Nepal? By comparing the Everest Gokyo Lakes Trek vs. the Everest High Passes Trek, you can decide which of the two amazing treks in the Everest region is better suited to you! Can’t decide? Do not worry! The Everest Gokyo Lakes Trek is shorter and more accessible than the challenging Everest High Passes Trek. But then again, the Everest High Passes Trek gives more views and visits more unique places and villages than the Everest Gokyo Lakes Trek. Look further and compare the Everest Gokyo Lakes Trek vs. the Everest High Passes Trek in Nepal.
Trip Duration: Everest Gokyo Lakes Trek Vs. Three High Pass Trek
When you consider the different trek durations, compare the Everest Gokyo Lakes Trek vs. the Everest High Passes Trek. Interestingly, both treks Everest Gokyo Lakes Trek and the Everest High Passes Trekking Nepal can be trek with or without Everest Base Camp and with or without crossing a high mountain pass or two. However, while the Everest High Passes Trek takes about 18 days with 15 days of trekking, the Everest Gokyo Lakes Trek without Everest Base Camp takes only 13 days with only ten days of trekking. So, if you’re up for a challenge and are looking to get some of the best views of the entire Everest region and beyond, then is the Everest High Passes Trek, with a trip duration of 18 days, the right pick for you! On the other hand, if you are shorter on time but still want to explore the Everest region, then the Everest Gokyo Lakes Trek might be just it. Read below the brief itinerary of both treks to get a better view.
Short itinerary of the Everest Gokyo Lakes Trek in Nepal:
Day 01: Arrival Kathmandu.
Day 02: Fly to Lukla and trek to Phakding (2,651m)
Day 03: Trek to Namche Bazaar (3,438m)
Day 04: Acclimatization at Namche Bazaar
Day 05: Trek to Dole (3,680m)
Day 06: Trek to Machhermo (4,470m)
Day 07: Trek to Gokyo (4,800m)
Day 08: Relax day and morning hike to Gokyo Ri (5,357m)
Day 09: Trek back to Dole
Day 10: Trek back to Namche Bazaar
Day 11: Trek back to Lukla
Day 12: Fly back to Kathmandu
Day 13: End of the trek
Short itinerary of the Everest High Passes trek in Nepal (counterclockwise-counter clockwise):
Day 01: Arrival in Kathmandu.
Day 02: Fly to Lukla and trek to Phakding (2,651m)
Day 03: Trek to Namche Bazaar (3,438m)
Day 04: Acclimatization at Namche Bazaar
Day 05: Trek to Tengboche (3,956m)
Day 06: Trek to Dingboche (4,380m)
Day 07: Acclimatization at Dingboche optional hike to Chukhung Ri (5,550m)
Day 08: Trek to via the Kongma La (5,550m) to Lobuche (4,938m)
Day 09: Trek to Gorakshep (5,164m) and visit Everest Base Camp (5,600m)
Day 10: Morning hike up to Kala Pathar and trek back to Lobuche (4,938m)
Day 11: Trek to Dzongla (4,830m)
Day 12: Trek via the Cho La (5,420m) to Gokyo (4,800m)
Day 13: Relax day and morning hike to Gokyo Ri (5,357m)
Day 14: Trek via the Renjo La (5,360m) to Marlung (4,210m)
Day 15: Trek back to Namche Bazaar
Day 16: Trek back to Lukla
Day 17: Fly back to Kathmandu
Day 18: End of the trek
The total trip duration always depends on your own pace and whether you want to add or remove a few days. Use these short itineraries to closely compare the Everest Gokyo Lakes Trek vs. the Everest High Passes Trek!
Trek Difficulty: Everest Gokyo Lakes Trek Vs. Three High Pass Trek
Both the Everest Gokyo Lakes Trek and the Everest High Passes Trek are not considered as easy treks. Due to their trek difficulty, there are less crowded trails and more chances to enjoy to peaceful sceneries of the Everest region. When you look at the trek difficulty of the Everest Gokyo Lakes Trek vs. the Everest High Passes Trek, there are some remarkable differences. For one, the trek duration is quite long in the Everest High Passes Trek. Secondly, during the Everest Gokyo Lakes Trek, there are less strenuous trails and easier terrain. The maximum elevation also plays a significant role in determining the trek difficulty. It’s easy to say that the more challenging trek the Everest High Passes Trek is. For both treks in Nepal, you’ll need to build up your stamina and physique to enjoy them fully. There is a chance to get Acute Mountain Sickness during both treks, so always make sure to go at your own pace and inform your trekking guide if you notice any symptoms. The official tour difficulty grades are; for the Everest Gokyo Lakes Trek moderate and the Everest High Passes Trek strenuous. Make your choice and go on an adventure at the lap of Mt Everest!
Weather: Everest Gokyo Lakes Trek Vs. Three High Pass Trek
There is not much difference between the weather if you look at the Everest Gokyo Lakes Trek vs. the Everest High Passes Trek. Both take place in the Everest Trekking Packages, and a part of the Everest High Passes Trek goes on the same trail as the Everest Gokyo Valley Trek. It can be said that the Everest High Passes Trek is colder and windier as the elevations are also higher. To get the best possible views with clear blue skies for the best time for both the Everest Gokyo Lakes Trek and the Everest High Passes Trek can be found in spring or autumn. Spring in Nepal starts in March and ends just before the rainy monsoon season at the end of June. Just before the cold winter, the autumn season begins around the end of September and lasts until the middle of December. Both seasons have the best weather making it easy for you to choose whether to trek in Nepal during the spring or autumn.
Costs of Services and Permits: Everest Gokyo Lakes Trek Vs. Three High Pass Trek
The cost of services and permits differs when comparing the Everest Gokyo Lakes Trek vs. the Everest High Passes Trek. While the permit cost is the same for both treks, the service difference takes longer than the other, and you are usually charged per day. As for permits, for both tours, you’ll need a TIMS-card and a Sagarmatha National Park permit where will be checked mainly in Monjo, the entry point for both treks into the Everest Trekking Packages. Trekking in Nepal like the Everest Gokyo Lakes Trek or the Everest High Passes Trek is best done via a reliable Local trekking agency in Nepal. That way, you can take trekking packages in Nepal, where all permits and service costs are included. Make sure to have your travel insurance as that usually is not included.
Mountains you can see: Everest Gokyo Lakes Trek Vs. Three High Pass Trek
While you trek through the Everest Trekking Packages in Nepal, there are, of course, a lot of famous and infamous mountains to see! Comparing the Everest Gokyo Lakes Trek vs. the Everest High Passes Trek, you’ll get to see more mountains during the Everest High Passes Trek, so this is the main reason you get to trek around the Everest region. The best viewpoints will be Renjo La, Kongma La, Cho La, Kala Pathar, and Gokyo Ri. During the Everest Gokyo Lakes Trek, the most considerable perspective is Gokyo Ri. The most famous mountains that you can see during both treks are;
- Mt Everest (8,848m)
- Mt Lhotse (8,516m)
- Mt Makalu (8,481m)
- Mt Cho Oyu (8,201m)
- Mt Nuptse (7,861m)
- Mt Pumori (7,161m)
- Mt Ama Dablam (6,812m)
- Mt Thamserku (6,623m)
Of course, there are many more mountains and Himalayan peaks to see during either the Everest Gokyo Lakes Trek or the Everest High Passes Trek, but these would be the most famous ones due to their height. So if you wonder where trek you can see the most mountains, comparing the Everest Gokyo Lakes Trek vs. the Everest High Passes Trek, the latter is the best option!
Differences between the two trekking packages: Everest Gokyo Lakes Trek Vs. Three High Pass Trek
Before choosing which trek is best for you, you might want to look at the differences and features of the two Trekking Packages in Nepal of the Everest Gokyo Lakes Trek vs. the Everest High Passes Trek. While both treks in Nepal take place in the Everest region, they may start the same. Still, the trails are different so, this is mainly because the Everest High Passes Trek goes all the way around the region, while the Gokyo Lakes Trek heads more to the west along the Dudh Koshi River and back. If you look at the Everest High Passes Trek, you quickly notice a difference in altitudes. Crossing three mountain passes over 5,000 meters is one of those differences. With the Everest Gokyo Lakes Trek, the highest point is Gokyo Ri, a hill located near the biggest lake of Gokyo; from Gokyo: an incredible 360-degree view can be witnessed of the Himalayas. Now during the Everest High Passes Trek, you’ll also get to hike up Gokyo Ri, making this not precisely a difference. Because the Everest High Passes Trek follows a longer trekking route, more villages will explore during the trek that you won’t get to visit while doing the Everest Gokyo Lakes Trek. Up until Namche Bazaar, the most significant settlement of the region, it remains the same. But after that, you either follow the Everest High Passes trail or head westwards towards the Lakes of Gokyo! Both treks start and end at Lukla airport.
Gokyo Lake Trek vs. Everest Three High Passes Trek suits best for what type of person you are?
Having read all this information about the Everest Gokyo Lakes Trek vs. the Everest High Passes Trek, you should be able to make up your mind on which trek suits best for what type of person you are. Read carefully the points on; accessibility, trip duration, trek difficulty, weather, costs of services and permits, mountains that you can see, and the difference between the two Nepal Trekking Packages. Remember that both treks can be made shorter or longer. So look at your stamina and prepare for the tour that suits you best! The Everest Gokyo Lakes Trek vs. the Everest High Passes Trek, which one gets your preference?