Your Gokyo Lakes adventure begins at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, the ancient city nestled at 1,400 metres in the bowl-shaped Kathmandu Valley. A company representative will greet you at the arrivals hall and transfer you by private vehicle to your hotel in the Thamel district, a lively neighbourhood of trekking shops, rooftop cafes, and centuries-old temples that serves as the launchpad for most Himalayan expeditions. The transfer takes approximately 30 minutes depending on Kathmandu's characteristically chaotic traffic.
After settling into your room, join your trek leader for an evening briefing where the 13-day itinerary will be reviewed in detail. Your guide will check your gear, verify permits, and discuss the acclimatisation plan. This is the time to raise any concerns about fitness, health conditions, or equipment gaps — teahouses beyond Namche have limited retail options.
Kathmandu rewards early arrivals with its extraordinary density of cultural landmarks. The golden stupa of Boudhanath rises just 20 minutes from Thamel, encircled by the slow clockwise procession of pilgrims spinning prayer wheels. Pashupatinath temple, the most sacred Hindu site in Nepal, sits beside the cremation ghats of the Bagmati River. The evening dinner at a Thamel restaurant — try a traditional thali with dal, rice, and seasonal vegetables — is a gentle introduction to the Nepali cuisine that will fuel your trek. Rest well; tomorrow you fly into the mountains.
