Overview
- Duration 13 days
- Max Altitude 5,360m / 17,586ft
- Group Size 02-10
- Best Season Mar-May, Sep-Nov
- Per Day Walk 06-07 hrs
- Accomodation Hotel / Teahouse
- Start/End KTM / KTM
- Difficulty Challenging
- Trip Type solo / grp /
- Location Khumbu Region
Trekking in Nepal is one of the most impressive international experiences available. The Gokyo Ri Lake and Renjo La Pass Trek have it all:
- The ultimate alpine views
- An unmissable glimpse of Everest
- Fascinating encounters with the Sherpa people and other trekkers from around the world
Trekking across the beautiful Everest region of Nepal, this 13-day adventure will take you through pristine alpine scenery. The stunning fresh air and Himalayan views keep you exhilarated as you trek through the Land of the Gods.
As you experience the varied and dramatic scenery of the Everest Region, the Gokyo Valley is one of the most picturesque valleys in this part of the Himalayas. It has many lakes; and is surrounded by five spectacular peaks: Ama Dablam (6812 m), Gyachung Kang (6350 m), Lhotse Middle Peak (6355 m), Lhotse Shar Glacier (6347 m), and Khumbutse (6612 m).
Start and End of Gokyo Valley and Renjo La Pass Trek
Numerous trekking itineraries and options are available in Nepal, but the best way to explore this wonderful country is by hiking and discovering its secrets in the Khumbu region.
You take the morning scenic flight to Lukla Airport at the start of your journey, witnessing the Himalayas, its gigantic massif that stretches across the horizon. The majestic peaks floating in an azure sky are enough to make anyone speechless.
However, the adventure begins immediately, and there is no turning back once you land at one of the most dangerous airports, i.e., Tenzing-Hillary airport.
As you land on the high meadows and mountain tops of Lukla, you experience breathtaking views and breathe fresh air. From there onwards, it’s all about walking through remote Sherpa villages built amidst soaring cliffs and crossing bridges over gorges high up above the valley below.
On reaching Namche Bazar, you can follow the most trekked trail to Gokyo village and Renjo La Pass. However, if you choose, you can first reach Renjo La Pass and then Gokyo, the opposite route.
However, we should remind that heading towards Renjo-La Pass, with an uphill climb, the altitude steadily rises. Therefore, it would be best to be careful about altitude sickness that might hit you.
Although Renjo La Pass is the lowest-altitude pass of the three passes (Kongma La and Cho La), the steady altitude rise might get on you. Also, the Renjo-La pass does not have any glacial crossing, unlike the Kongma La and Cho La Pass Trek in the Everest Three Passes Trek.
Nevertheless, if you hike first to Gokyo, you have acclimatization days during the slow increase in altitude.
Trekking in the Khumbu region is an enriching experience and a fantastic way to see the wonders of the Everest region.
The journey ends with an overnight stay at Namche Bazaar before flying back to Kathmandu.
What to expect during the Renjo La Trekking
Gokyo Renjo La Pass Trekking unfolds the raw and remote beauty of the region.
Trekking in the Himalayas is a challenging altitude trek. However, the rocky trails and routes are a test you can overcome with training and determination, provided you are physically fit.
Passing through the beautiful villages of Sherpa, alongside the rocky trails and lush Himalayan forests of juniper, rhododendron, fir, and pine engraves the memory of a lifetime.
Likewise, walking through the suspension bridges over the Dudh Koshi river and other crossings in between the hills excites the experience.
Notably, you can appreciate the magnificent views of Everest (8848m), Cho Oyu (8201m), Lhotse (8516m), Ama Dablam, and Makalu (8481m). In addition, you notice several snow-capped mountains and glacial lakes in the Khumbu region.
You encounter wild animals and birds as you trek through the Sagarmatha National park. Not to forget, you cross paths with yak caravans transporting materials in the region.
Although there are tea houses on the route, there are not abundant of them. Therefore, carrying a water bottle for drinking water is essential. In addition, you can use water purification tablets to purify water. Food is not a big problem as you can get a diverse menu at the tea houses or guest houses.
We suggest sticking to a vegetarian diet during the trek. Also, expect to be without internet and cellular connection for a few days. Likewise, if you have electric gears, it is wise to carry an extra power source.
Toilets in the region do not have western seats, but in newly built teahouses, you can expect them. But it is not sure that the one you stay at does have a western toilet.
Essential of all, it would be best if you had your trekking permits and passports handy.
Difficulty during the Gokyo Renjo La Trek
While the Renjo la Pass Trekking is a relatively high-altitude trek, it is not among the steeper and, therefore, not the more difficult ones in the region.
Nevertheless, the trek tests your physical fitness as well as mental fitness.
You should always be aware of the weather conditions when attempting a high altitude pass such as Renjo La. Weather can quickly change from sunny skies to cloud-covered, posing a risk of losing the trail.
Trekking in Nepal is best done from March to May and September to November when the weather is good.
Although you can avoid crowds while trekking between December and February, you should be ready for cold temperatures and frequent flight cancellations because of the weather.
Includes
- Airport Transfer
- Flight to Lukla from Kathmandu and back
- Accommodation of two nights of hotel in Kathmandu
- Accommodation on Tea houses during the trek.
- All meals during the trek ( Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner).
- Breakfast at your stay in Kathmandu
- Experienced License holder trekking guide.
- Porter service (in 2:1 ratio)
- Insurance for guide and Porter
- Trekking Permit
- Community fees
- All Tax and local government fee.
- Assistance in arranging rescue operation at your account
- Basic First Aid Kit
- Mountain Routes T-shirt
- Appreciation of certificate after the successful trek
- Farewell Dinner at the end of the trip
Excludes
- International flight to Kathmandu.
- Nepal entry visa fee and your travel Insurance.
- Meals ( Lunch & Dinner) in Kathmandu
- Extra night accommodation in Nepal.
- Personal Expenses ( Laundry, Telephone, Snacks, Bar Bills, etc )
- Bottle water and Hot Shower during the trek.
- Tips for guide and Porters.
- Additional cost caused due to natural phenomenon.
Gokyo and Renjo La Pass Trek Map
- Day 1 :
Arrival at Kathmandu (1,400m / 4,600 ft)
- Day 2 :
Lukla ( 2,840 m 9,318 feet) to Phakding (2,610 m / 8,563 feet)
Distance: 8.2 km / 5.1 miles
Duration: 30 min flight / 03-04 hrs walk - Day 3 :
Phakding to Namche Bazaar ( 3,440 m / 11,286 ft)
Distance: 10.9 km / 6.8 miles
Duration: 06-07 hrs walk - Day 4 :
Namche Bazaar Acclimatization walk to Everest view hotel ( 3,880 m / 12,730 ft)
Distance: 5.4 km / 3.4 miles
Duration: 03 hrs walk round trip - Day 5 :
Namche Bazaar to Dole (4,040 m / 13,255 ft)
Distance: 11.5 km / 7.15 miles
Duration: 06-07 hrs - Day 6 :
Dole to Machhermo Village (4,150 m / 13,616 ft)
Distance: 6 km / 3.7 miles
Duration: 04-05 hrs walk - Day 7 :
Machhermo to Gokyo (4,750 m / 15,584 ft)
Distance: 6.8 km / 4.2 miles
Duration: 05 hrs walk - Day 8 :
Gokyo Valley Side Hike to Gokyo Ri (5,357m / 17,575ft)
Distance: 3.8 km / 2.36 miles
Duration: 03-04 hrs walk - Day 9 :
Marlung to Namche Bazaar (3,440 m / 11,286 ft)
Distance: 15 km / 9.32 miles
Duration: 05-06 hrs walk - Day 10 :
Namche Bazaar to Lukla (2,840 m / 9,318 ft)
Distance: 19.1 km / 11.9 miles
Duration: 06-07 hrs walk - Day 11 :
Lukla to Kathmandu (1,400m / 4,600 ft)
Duration: 30 min flight - Day 12 :
Depart Kathmandu
Itineraries
Day 1 : Arriving at the Capital- Kathmandu
On the first day of your journey, and today, you arrive at the capital city of Nepal – Kathmandu. We have our representatives pick you up at the airport. They take you to your respective hotels and explain the schedules and routes of the trek. You can rest for a while in your hotel, then head out to explore the beautiful city of Kathmandu.
Day 2 : Fly to Lukla (2,840 m) and Trek to Phakding (2,610 m) Trip Duration: 03-04 hrs
Our second day begins with an early breakfast and then the flight to Lukla. It is a short flight and takes about 35 minutes. After landing at the Tenzing-Hillary airport in Lukla, we meet our team. Our team consisted of guides and porters helping us throughout the trek.
From Lukla, we hike to Phakding. The trail passes through Chheplung and Ghat village. Then, the trail to Phakding t follows a gentle climb up the mountainside of the Dudh Koshi river. It is a straightforward climb that takes about 3-4 hours. Finally, on reaching Phakding, we rest for the day.
Day 3 : Phakding to Namche Bazar (3,440m) Trip Duration: 06-07 hrs
On the third day of the trek, we start an early morning hike from Phakding to Namche Bazar.
The trail takes us through the confluence of 2 glacial rivers – Dudh Koshi and Bhote Koshi rivers. The trails provide a beautiful and up-close view of two snow-capped Kusum Kanguru (6369 m) and Thamserku (6623 m). The trek traverses through pine forests, suspension bridges, and Sherpa villages, and you enjoy it all along the way.
From the confluence of 2 rivers and continuing the hike further, we encounter the excellent View of Mt. Everest (8848 m) and Mt. Lhotse (8516 m), finally reaching Namche Bazar. Being surrounded by mountain ranges on three sides, Namche Bazar is the central hub for the food and essential goods like trekking gears in the region.
Day 4 : Acclimatization at Namche Bazaar
On the 4th day of our trek, we stay at Namche Bazar again. Again, we need to adapt and adjust to the region’s climatic conditions. While we stay at Namche Bazar, we can explore the town and visit nearby places. The town of Namche Bazar offers a few cyber cafes and restaurants. Also, the people over there and their culture and traditions give us enough options to enjoy the town.
Sherpa Culture museum, Sagarmatha National Park museum, Namche monastery, and Tenzing Norgay memorial museum are the nearby places you can visit. Another beautiful thing to observe during our stay is the sunrise view over the Himalayas, including Mt. Everest, Mt. Lhotse, Mt. Nuptse, Mt. Ama Dablam, Mt. Thamserku, Mt. Kongde, and so on. Overnight at guest house/lodge.
Day 5 : Trek to Dole village (4,040 m) Trip Duration: 06-07 hrs
Today, we head out to Dole village for our next stop. The trail passes from the Khumjung village. The climb is steep. From Kyangjuma village, we can enjoy the fantastic view of Mt. Thamserku and Mt. Ama Dablam.
We travel to another best vantage point of this Trek – Mong La. From the top of Mong La, you can enjoy fantastic views of the surrounding mountains and valleys from the point. We get a great view of animals and vegetation, including rhododendrons. From there, we steeply descend through Phortse Tenga. The trail follows until the Dole village, where we stay the night.
Day 6 : Dole to Machhermo village (4,150 m)
Our day six, we hike from Dole to Machhermo village. We slowly ascend. The trail traverses through many summer settlements. We enjoy stunning views of the mountains Cho Oyu, Kantega, and Thamserku.
A beautiful glacial stream flows in the middle of the Machhermo village. It runs down from Kyajo Ri and Phari Lapche mountains. We then spend the night at Machhermo village.
Day 7 : Machhermo to Gokyo (4,750 m) Trip Duration: 05 hrs
Today’s trek consists of hiking from Machhermo to Gokyo valley. The starting trail leads to Pangka. It descends slightly, following the river bank, then climbs up to the west side of the Ngozumpa glacier. Then following the trail, we reach the first of the holy lakes, Longpongo, at 4690 m.
We then continue our trekking, taking us across the glacier to Cho La pass. After walking further for some time, we pass through the third lake, Dudh Pokhari. And, towards its eastern shore, we can see the settlement of Gokyo. Walking down the bank of these lakes, we settle in Gokyo, where we spend the night.
Day 8 : Acclimatization at Gokyo valley
To better adapt to the climatic condition, we spend the night at Gokyo valley again. To properly utilize this day, we explore the remaining 4th and 5th lakes and hike to the Gokyo Ri peak for a stunning view.
To enjoy the stunning view from the top of Gokyo Ri peak, we hike to the top early in the morning. We have a panoramic view of the mountains from all sides from the top. We enjoy the astounding views of great peaks, including Mt. Everest, Mt. Cho-Oyu, Mt. Lhotse, Mt. Gyachung, Mt. Makalu, and Mt. Nuptse. After that, we climb down and have our lunch. We then explore the 4th lake – Thonak Tsho, and the 5th lake – Ngozuma Tsho. After that, we returned to our lodge and spent the night.
Day 9 : Trek from Gokyo to Marlung (4,210m) via Renjo La Pass (5,360 m) Trip Duration: 07-08 hrs
On the 9th day of the trek, we are heading from Gokyo to Marlung via Renjo la pass. The trail consists of walking alongside the Dudh Pokhari (lake). After walking for 2-2.5 hours, we reach the Renjo La pass. Amazing Views of the Himalayas and Rolwaling ranges accompany us.
The view from the Renjo La pass is a panoramic view of the majestic mountains, Everest, Lhotse, Cholatse, and Taboche. While descending, the trail is a bit risky because of the ice present on the way. Further walking down the trail, we cross the narrow valley clogged with giant boulders to Lungden. From Lungden, it is just an hour of walk to Marlung, our destination for the night.
Day 10 : Marlung to Namche Bazaar Trip Duration: 05-06 hrs
Today, we trek from Marlung to Namche Bazar through a traditional route used by Tibetan traders for centuries. After starting our trek, we come across the Bhote Koshi river, from where the direction changes to Taranga. The trail then further descends from Taranga to Thame village. There is a monastery in Thame village called Khari Gompa. From Thame, we follow the trail descending further and further, passing through many small villages, and finally reaching Namche Bazar. We then spend the night at Namche.
Day 11 : Namche Bazaar to Lukla (2,840) Trip Duration: 06-07 hrs
Our 11th day of the trek consists of trekking from Namche Bazar to Lukla. The entire trail is a gradual descent until Lukla. We cross many suspension bridges, pine and rhododendron forests, and small villages. Dudh Koshi River and its tributaries flow along with us throughout the trail. After walking for about 6-7 hours, we reach Lukla, where we are saying goodbye to our entire. We have a hot shower and a decent meal upon reaching Lukla, enjoying our last night in the Everest region.
Day 12 : Lukla to Kathmandu (1,400m) Trip Duration: 35 minutes flight
Today, we travel from Lukla to Kathmandu via a flight. We are received by representatives from Mountain Routes at the airport in Kathmandu. Then, we go to our respective hotels. We have our lunch there and rest for a while. We then explore more of the beautiful city of Kathmandu. We can also enjoy shopping during the day and enjoy the nightlife of Thamel at night. It is going to be your last night in Nepal.
Day 13 : Departure
Today, you go back to your home country. We have our representatives pick you up from your hotel and drop you at the airport. We share goodbyes today and part our ways. You then head to your home, with some part of you touched in the last two weeks.
Gokyo and Renjo La Pass Trek- Frequently Asked Questions
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Where is Gokyo located, and from where do we start our trek?
Gokyo Valley lies in the Khumbu Region, inside Sagarmatha National Park of Nepal. The coordinates for Gokyo lake are 27.9535° N, and 86.6945° E. Gokyo sits at an altitude of 4834 meters. Renjo La pass lies between Gokyo and Lumde at 5,360 meters.
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How challenging is Gokyo Via Renjo la Pass trek?
Gokyo and Renjo La pass trek is considered a challenging trek as the Trekker needs to hike the high altitude passes up to 5,360 meters in solid winds and rocky terrain. Still, the difficulty depends upon the individual Trekker. If the Trekker is used to altitudes and physically fit, they have no problem completing this trek. If not, the Trekker needs to commit some of their time to train before the trek.
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I am a beginner at trekking and don’t have much experience in high altitudes. Can I do this Trek?
Of course, you can. This trek is for all levels of trekkers. One thing you need to consider is your physical condition. You need to be physically and mentally fit for this Trekking, And commit some time for training before the trek. Our company ensures clients’ health and safety. We have several days for acclimatization, so there won’t be a problem with the high altitudes, and in case of some sickness, we always have a backup plan.
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What are the highlights of Gokyo Lake Trek?
Gokyo lake is a journey to heaven. This trek is filled with 360 panoramic views of the pristine mountains and colorful forests and is rich culturally and naturally. And the lake itself is Scared Lake and is considered Holy both by Hindus and Buddhists. Believe it or not, the pilgrims have faith that taking a dip in the lake, book a sit in heaven and wash away your sins. When the charming ducks effortlessly float around the lake, you feel more relaxed and lightweight.
Gokyo lake is also a Heaven for bird watchers. You can see birds like Pintail, Bareheaded goose, Common Pochard, Tufted poachard, etc. Moreover, the Trekkers have the closest view of the 8000-meter mountain Choyo. This trek fills you with unforgettable memories.
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What are the mountains that we may see on the trek?
This Trek offers you the pristine view of Mountains like
- Mt.thamserku
- Mt.kangtega
- Mt cho-yo
- Mt pumori
- Mt nuptse
- Mt Lhotse
- Mt. Gyachung
- Mt. Makalu
- Everest itself.
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Which is the Best Season to Trek to Gokyo and Renjo La pass trek ?
The best seasons for trekking in Renjo La pass are autumn and spring. (March, April, May, September, October, November), avoiding the monsoon and winter season. Trekking through the high passes in winter is very dangerous because of the heavy snowfall and high wind pressure, so we do not recommend trekking these places in Winter and Monsoon.
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Do We Need a guide to complete Gokyo and Renjo La pass trek?
You can trek to Gokyo lake without a guide, but trekking without a guide is a high risk for high altitude passes. In addition, the weather in the High passes is almost unpredictable, and sometimes the trails get hidden in the snow, making it challenging to stay on the right trail.
So a guide is an insurance for your Trip.
They take you through the right trail, analyze the weather, assess the risk, and take necessary measures to avoid accidents and mishaps. They are responsible for your safety and success of the Trip. A guide is not just someone who shows you the trail, but they are also your caretakers, They know what is best for the trekkers, and a guide does everything on his behalf to meet your expectations of the trek.
