Gokyo Ri Trek Cost

Gokyo Ri at an elevation of 5,357 meters, is one of the most popular trekking peaks in the Everest Region.

With spectacular views of the sunrise over the Himalayas along with stunning mountain views, it makes for a great trek.

Like most treks in Nepal, the Gokyo Ri trek is an affordable trek. Depending on different factors, the total cost for a Gokyo Ri trek can differ.

Given below are some of the important factors that help you determine the cost of a Gokyo Ri Trek along with the estimated costs.

How Much Does a Gokyo Ri Trek Cost?

Gokyo Ri is a beautiful trekking peak in the Everest Region. To figure out the total budget and cost of this trek, you need to know the determining factors.

Itinerary

Gokyo Ri is a popular trekking destination in the Everest Region, and there is more than one way to reach this destination.

The number of days is a major determining factor for your Gokyo Ri Trek expense.

The longer your trek, the more expensive it gets. Each extra day includes the cost of accommodation, meals and drinks, and other expenses.

Gokyo Valley Trek can last somewhere between 10-15 days. The shortest itinerary can be for 8 days that includes a Helicopter ride. This is ideal for those who want to visit the valley yet do not wish to trek too hard or long.

Cost of Transportation

Regardless of the route you take, you need to travel to and from the start and end points of your trek.

Most trek operators include transportation in their trek package cost. Yet, the mode of transportation can vary which also affects the total cost of your Gokyo Ri Trek cost.

You can reach the start point of the trek in 3 ways. These are the points from where you begin your journey on foot.

For Gokyo Ri Trek, this point is usually Lukla. You can reach Lukla by any of the following ways:

Flights

Taking a flight is a good option. The flight to and from Lukla offers an aerial view of the Himalayas of the Everest Region. You can also see the beautiful landscape including the rivers, hills, and settlements.

The flight duration is only 30 minutes. It can shorten the trek duration as well. The flight will cost around US$ 150-180 for one way per person.

Road

You can also reach the start and end points of your Gokyo Ri trek by road. The road transportation also gives you beautiful views of the surrounding landscapes.

• Jeep

This includes hiring a jeep for US$ 150-300. You can divide the cost among your group members or other fellow trekkers. Most jeeps fit around 6-7 people comfortably.

• Local Bus

You can take the local bus- the cheapest mode of transportation. This costs only US$10-12 for one-way. You may need to change vehicles at some point.

It takes around 6-9 hours to reach Lukla from Kathmandu by road.

Helicopter Ride

This is one of the most expensive modes of transportation. This is the perfect option if you do not have any budget constraints. It is also the ideal way to shorten your trek without risks.

The cost of a Helicopter ride from Gokyo to Lukla is US$ 500-600 per person for one way.

Cost of Accommodation

The cost of accommodation of your Gokyo Ri trek will vary on the choices you make.

Till you reach Namche Bazaar, you have a lot of choices for accommodation. These range from basic lodges with basic rooms and facilities to luxury hotels and resorts.

For treks in the Everest Region and Annapurna Region, there are luxury packages available in Nepal.

Therefore, the cost can vary based on your decision.

For the basic tea houses, the cost for one night stay can be around US$ 3 to 5.

The rooms provided in these are basic with a bed, mattress, sheet, pillow, and a blanket. You get these rooms on a twin-sharing basis. If you rent the room on your own without sharing, the price will be double.

These rooms will have wall hooks to hang your clothes and in some cases, a small nightstand will be there too.

In these tea houses, the bathrooms and toilets are usually outside and on a communal sharing basis. Most of the toilets are squat toilets. Make sure you bring your own toiletries including toilet paper. These tea houses do not provide these without extra charge.

In the luxury options, the rooms are more comfortable. These have hot and cold shower options along with different facilities. The cost for stays in these for one night can vary be around US$20-150 per night.

Cost of Meals and Drinks

The cost of meals and drinks increase as you climb to the higher elevations.

Due to the popularity of the trails, the menus are quite extensive as far as Namche Bazaar. Most of the food options are carb-heavy which you need for your journey in the high altitude.

The most expensive item on most menus is the Dal-Bhat (the staple option).

Some other choices of meals in the basic tea houses are momos (dumplings), potatoes, local bread, curry, and soups. Some places may also have options for pasta, sandwiches, freshly brewed coffee and bakery items.

Some of the fine dinings may have all these and more like spaghetti, pizza, fries, and more.

• The price of a meal can start at US$ 2-3 in the lower parts of the trek. The average price of the meal can increase to about US$ 20-30 in the highest parts of the trek.

You will find a large variety of foods to choose from in the restaurants, from vegetarian to non-vegetarian options.

The meal cost in the upscale restaurants can start at US$25 and increase to US$ 50 in Namche Bazaar.

The variety in the menu also decreases with the increase in altitude. You can find the local staple throughout the trail of the Gokyo Ri trek. Other staple foods are momo, fried rice, tea, coffee, and soft drinks.

• The cost of water begins in Kathmandu at US$ 0.25 to 2. On the trail, the same bottle can cost up to around US$ 2 to 3.

Cost of Snacks

The available snacks on the trails include chocolate bars, bakery products, and coffee. These can cost around US$ 3 for a slice of cake and the same for coffee. The chocolate bars that cost US$1 in Kathmandu can cost you US$ 5-8 on the hiking trails.

Cost of Permit

For going on any treks in Nepal, foreign visitors and trekkers must get the permits. For the Gokyo Ri Trek, you will need 2 different permits. These are:

• Local Area Permit: US$ 20 per person
• Sagarmatha National Park entry permit: US$ 30 including VAT

You can get both of these permits at Lukla, at the entry point of Sagarmatha National Park, Monjo, or in Kathmandu.

Note: Students with proper school ID\’s can get discounts on these.

Cost of Guide or Porter

Hiring a guide or porter is always recommended for Gokyo Ri trek. They can help you with navigation, spotting and naming the landmarks. They can help you identify the hills, mountain and trekking peaks, monasteries, villages that you pass through. They are also recommended for safety and security reasons.

The average cost of hiring a guide is US$ 20 to 25 per day. The average rate of hiring a porter is US$ 15 to 20 per day.

If trekking in groups, you can divide the cost of the guide and porter within the group members.

You also have the option of hiring a porter-guide.

A porter-guide is someone who does the work of both a guide and a porter. The average cost of hiring a guide-porter is US$ 20 to 25 per day.

Make sure you hire a licensed and professional guide. Check for credentials when you hire them to ensure a safe trek.

Cost of Travel Insurance

Most trek and tour packages in Nepal do not cover travel insurance. So it is best to get reliable travel insurance from your home country.

Make sure that the insurance covers treks to altitudes of above 5,000m in Nepal. Also, ensure that it covers helicopter rescue and emergency evacuation.

To remain on the safe side, make sure it also has baggage coverage and trip cancellation insurance. General travel insurance can cost you around US$100-200 per person.

Cost of Equipment, Supplies, and Clothing

For any high altitude trek, you need to pack all your trekking essentials. You also need to make changes depending on the season you trek in.

Depending on what you already have, the cost of equipment, supplies, and clothing can vary for your Gokyo Ri Trek.

If you only plan on trekking once, then you can rent these things.

There are many good rental shops in Nepal that offer good quality trekking gear. These include all the trekking essentials. Some examples include trekking clothes, trekking poles, sleeping bags, and backpacks.

The price to hire these can range from US$ 1 to 10 per day. This varies on the equipment and the quality of the product you choose.

Miscellaneous Costs

During your trek, you may also have to spend money on some miscellaneous things like:

Tips

You may wish to tip your guide, porter, and other service providers for a job well done. Generally, it is 15-25% of the actual cost.

Wifi

On a luxury trek, you may get free wifi in the places you stay and eat at. For budget treks, this may not be the case. You may need to pay extra to use the wifi services. These can cost around US$ 2 per hour.

Hot Water

This can either be for drinking or for hot showers. Once on the trails, these are generally not free or complimentary.

For a small flask of boiled water (for drinking purposes), you may have to pay around US$1.5-3.

For a bucket of warm water (for shower), you may have to pay around US$ 2 to 3.

Charging

You may be carrying some electronic devices with you. These can be your cameras, phones, rechargeable lights among others.

For charging these, you will have to pay around US$ 2-5 per hour.

Souvenirs

Along with the high mountains and natural scenery, Nepal is also known for its beautiful handmade objects. These can be perfect souvenirs to take back home as memorabilia or a perfect gift for your loved ones.

Depending on the quantity and quality of the product you buy, the cost of souvenirs will vary.

A rough estimate for this can be around US$ 0.5-500.

Ways to Reduce Gokyo Ri Trek Cost

There are some ways to further reduce the already affordable Gokyo Ri Trek cost. Some of the easiest ways to do so are:

Bargain

You can bargain for almost any goods and services in Nepal. You can bargain to get good rates on accommodation, guide, porters, and trekking packages.

Power Bank

Bring a long-lasting battery pack so you don\’t need to pay to charge your electronics.

Stick to Local Transportation

Local transportation is the cheapest means of transport in Nepal. It is also a great way to interact with and witness the lifestyle of the locals.

Season

There are 2 seasons for trekking- off seasons (local winter and summer months) and peak season (local autumn and spring months).

The cost of almost every product and service is more (slightly) during the peak season than in the off season.

If you have no issues regarding the risks and weather conditions you face during your trek, trekking during the non-peak season can be ideal. It doesn’t only cost less, you can also enjoy the peace and tranquility of the trails during the off-season.

Buy Snacks, Toilet Paper & Medication before your trek

The cost of almost everything is cheaper in the cities and the lower regions. If you need them (snacks, toiletries, medicines), get them before you start your trek.

Meals and Drinks

Go vegetarian for your Gokyo Ri trek and save money. The vegetarian meals on the menu are generally cheaper than their meat counterparts.

Carry your own reusable water bottle with water purification tablets or gels. This saves money on bottled water. It is also better for the environment.

Avoid Solo Treks

Trek in groups of 2 or more. This way, you can avoid spending extra on single rooms. You can also share the cost of hiring guides, porter, and transportation (hiring a jeep, car, etc).

You can also bargain for group discounts on your trekking package.

Avoid Camping

Although a more wild and intimate experience with nature, camping can cost a lot more than regular tea house trekking in Nepal.

During camp treks, you need extra gear and trekking staff. Tea House treks are also a safer and more comfortable way of trekking.

Total Average Cost of a Gokyo Ri Trek

The average cost for a Gokyo Ri Trek can be anywhere between US$ 800-2000. The wide variation in the cost is due to the many factors that help determine it.

It can also be due to the inclusion and exclusion of the following factors as well:

• Airport Drop and Pick Up
• Sightseeing Tour in Kathmandu (with guide)
• Trek Doctor
• Comprehensive medical supplies (first aid kit).
• Oximeter to check your pulse and oxygen saturation and heart rate twice daily
• Nepal entry visa fee (you can get this visa on arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport – Kathmandu). It costs US$25 for the first 15 days of your visit to Nepal. For a longer duration, you need to pay more.

Hence, Once you find out the cost for your Gokyo Ri Trek, make sure to check out the included factors.

Final Say

Gokyo Ri trek offers a magnificent trekking experience in some of the highest regions of the world.  This is a well-known and adventurous trek in Nepal. It is one of the most versatile trekking regions as well.

Depending on the factors mentioned, and how comfortable you wish to be during your trek, the Gokyo Ri cost may get affected.

It is always better to prepare yourself for the trek including the budget for a more comfortable and enjoyable experience.

For any further queries or questions related to the cost of this trek or any other factors, feel free to contact us.

You can also contact us for any other treks and tours along with custom itineraries to travel to Nepal.