Renjo La Pass Trek - 13 Days

Welcome to Kathmandu, a city brimming with vibrant markets, bustling streets, colorful temples, and grand pagodas. Upon your arrival, our guide will greet you at the airport and escort you to the hotel. After settling in, you'll have the opportunity to explore the nearby shopping areas and pick up any necessary equipment. In the evening, our tour guide will provide a brief introduction and share valuable information about the upcoming trek overnight in Kathmandu

We will have an early, packed breakfast at the hotel, and then, based on our morning flight schedule, we will be escorted to the domestic terminal of Kathmandu airport for our flight to Lukla. This is the starting point for our trek.

After a breathtaking 35-minute flight over the stunning green and white mountains, we will arrive at Tenzing-Hillary Airport in Lukla. This flight is considered one of the most beautiful air routes in the world, ending with a dramatic landing on a hillside surrounded by towering peaks.

Upon our arrival in Lukla, we'll meet our crew members. After some packing and final arrangements, we will begin our trek through the vibrant village of Lukla, eventually making our way to Phakding. To help with acclimatization, today's hike will be relatively short. However, if you're interested in additional activities, we can opt for a side trip to a nearby monastery, where we can spend the night in Phakding.

Today’s trek begins in the morning after breakfast. The walk is pleasant, featuring a few short uphill and downhill sections, along with multiple crossings over the Dudh Kosi River. We will be treated to a magnificent view of Mt. Thamserku, which stands at 6,608 meters (21,680 feet).

As we trek, we will pass through forests of rhododendron, magnolia, and giant firs. During early autumn and late spring, the flowers along this portion of the trek create a truly beautiful experience that we won’t soon forget.

Continuing, we will cross more bridges until we reach the entrance of Sagarmatha National Park at Monjo, where our trekking permits will be checked. This is important for keeping track of trekkers and local trekking staff.

A descent followed by a gradual walk will lead us to Jorsale, the last village before Namche Bazaar. We will enjoy our walk through the riverbed and finally reach the Hillary Suspension Bridge. From here, we will climb uphill towards Namche Bazaar, enjoying closer views of Kwangde Peak and its sister peaks, including Kusum Kangaru, Mt. Everest, Lhotse, Tawache, and many other magnificent mountains.

We will make a stop at Chautra to take in the stunning scenery. Ultimately, we will reach the vibrant village of Namche Bazaar, the main gateway to the Khumbu region, where we will spend the night in a guesthouse.

This is the first of the three scheduled acclimatization days. Health experts always recommend staying active on rest days instead of being idle. We can either take a day hike to Khunde or relax and explore Namche Bazaar itself.

Namche Bazaar is the main hub of the Everest (Khumbu) region and features government offices, an ATM, internet cafes, shops, restaurants, a bakery, and a colorful market that takes place every Friday evening and Saturday. By trekking a few hundred vertical feet during the day, we can help our bodies acclimate properly.

Our Sherpa guide will take us to Syangboche for a stunning 360-degree panoramic view of Mount Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse, Tawache, Khumbila, Thamserku, Amadablam, and many other mountains. Additionally, we can visit the Tourist Visitor Center near the headquarters of Sagarmatha National Park, where we can learn about the first ascenders of Everest, explore Sherpa culture, and discover the various plant and animal life of the Everest region. We will be spending the night in Namche Bazaar.

Today, your trek begins with a steep ascent to Lambara at 4,220 meters and then to Luza at 4,360 meters. The trail is steep in many areas as it winds through brush and junipers. Kharkas can be found whenever there is a flat spot and the slightest hint of water. The path continues to climb along the valley's side, high above the river, crossing sandy spurs to Machhermo at 4,410 meters. It was in Machhermo in 1974 that a Yeti reportedly killed three yaks and attacked a Sherpa woman. This incident is considered the most credible Yeti sighting ever reported. You will spend the night in a lodge here.

We ascend a ridge that offers an excellent view of both the valley leading to Kantega and the majestic Cho-Oyu, which stands at 8,201 meters. Beyond the ridge, the valley widens as the trail passes through Pangka at 4,390 meters, then descends to the riverbank before we begin our climb onto the terminal moraine of the Ngozumpa Glacier.

The climb up the moraine is steep, featuring switchbacks that run alongside a stream until we reach the first small lake at 4,650 meters, which is home to a family of green-brained ducks.

As we continue, the trail becomes almost level at 4,690 meters, following the valley past a second lake known as Tajun. Eventually, we walk up the path to Gokyo Valley, which consists of a collection of stone houses and walled pastures on the shores of a large lake called Dudh Pokhari, where we will spend the night in a lodge.

A rest day in Gokyo Valley presents an outstanding opportunity for acclimatization. On this day, we have the chance to climb Gokyo Ri (5,360 m) during the sunset hours to take in the magnificent views of the Everest Region. Gokyo is not only famous for the breathtaking panorama from Gokyo Peak, but also for its six stunning lakes. We will seize the opportunity to visit the fourth lake, Thonak Tsho, and the fifth lake, Ngozumpa Tsho.

Located about 3 km north of Gokyo, the fourth lake is surrounded by high cliffs and peaks towering above it. The trail continues to the fifth lake, where we will be mesmerized by its shimmering turquoise blue waters. For those interested, we can climb a hill at the edge of the lake to enjoy spectacular views of Cho Oyu, Gyachung Kang, Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse, and Makalu. This spot is known as Scoundrel's Viewpoint.

Beyond the fifth lake lies Cho Oyu Base Camp, where the scenery is breathtaking, with Cho Oyu and Gyachung Kang appearing just a stone's throw away. The northern part of the fifth lake offers fabulous views of Cho Oyu Base Camp and the Ngazumpa Glacier, the largest glacier in the world. Enchanted by the beauty, we might even consider trekking to the sixth lake, depending on our interest and available time. We will return to Gokyo village for an overnight stay in a lodge.

Crossing the Renjo La Pass will be both exciting and challenging as we descend into a remote northern valley with restricted access. The landscape here increasingly resembles that of the Tibetan valleys beyond the border. The views from Renjo La are similar to those from Gokyo Ri, offering stunning sights of the third Gokyo Lake and Gokyo Village beneath the gray expanse of the Ngozumpa Glacier. The main highlight of the trek, from Renjo La top, you can see the best view of Mount Everest (8,848 m) and other remarkable Himalayan ranges.

Continuing our journey, the trail winds down a stone staircase and navigates loose scree to reach the south bank of a small lake called Angladumba Tsho. The presence of ice on the trail during our descent can make the path hazardous. Along the way, we'll pass by Relama Tsho and Renjo Lake.

Today presents a unique opportunity to encounter Tibetan traders descending from the Nangpa La Pass, which links Tibet to the Himalayas. These traders travel with their caravans of woolly yaks loaded with goods. We'll be walking downhill through a narrow valley filled with large rocks until we reach Lunde, where we will spend the night in a lodge.

After having breakfast, we will trek down to Thame, where we can enjoy views of more amazing snow peaks. Along the way, we might encounter Tibetan trader encampments, providing a glimpse into a rare lifestyle worth capturing in photographs.

Located about 150 meters above Thame is the Thame Monastery, which was established approximately 325 years ago. The gompa features three large images of Chenrezig (Avalokiteshvara) and Guru Rimpoche, and is beautifully situated among the homes of monks and laypeople. It is perched on the side of a hill, overlooking the valley. This monastery serves as the venue for the spring celebration of the Mani Rimdu festival, which takes place around the middle of May each year. We will spend the night at a lodge nearby.

Today, we enjoy an easy and pleasant walk downhill after crossing a bridge until we eventually reach Samde, a place that offers breathtaking views. The path steeply descends to Thamo village, which is home to the Khari Goma monastery, a nunnery that houses both nuns and monks. After passing through a checkpoint, we arrive at the world’s highest hydroelectric power station, built with Austrian assistance.

Next, we reach the small village of Phurte, where the Laudo monastery is located. This monastery is operated by the Kopan monastery of Bouddhanath in Kathmandu and is popular among Westerners for Buddhist study and meditation. Finally, we make our way back to Namche, passing through several Gompas, colorful prayer flags, Mani stones, and Chortens, where we will spend the night in a guest house.

After breakfast, take a morning flight from Lukla to Kathmandu (or Ramechhap, depending on the season). Enjoy one last view of the mountains before landing. Upon arrival at Kathmandu Airport, you will be driven from Tribhuvan International Airport to your hotel.

At the end of your trek, we will provide you with a Trip Completion Certificate, which highlights your achievement and indicates the highest elevation reached (5,360 meters) during the Gokyo Lake trek via Renjo La Pass in Nepal.