The Gokyo Renjo La Trek is a challenging adventures in the Everest Region. The off-the-beaten-path trail superb mountain views with a chance to immerse yourself in the Sherpa culture of Khumbu: meeting the locals, crossing and nights in the villages, visiting monasteries. The highlight of the trek, Renjo La, offers an almost 270 degree view of Himalayan giants, with the turquoise Dudh Pokhari and the Ngozumpa glacier at its foot.
Gokyo Renjo La trek offers more than the standard Everest Base Camp Trek. Along with the usual fares of Namche and Tengboche, you will stay at quaint little settlements of Dole, Machermo and Thame. Thame is a historic Sherpa village is part of the old trading route from Tibet. It is also the birthplace of Tenzig Norgay and Apa Sherpa who climbed Everest 21 times. You will also get to explore the 16th Century Thame Gompa, just an hour’s walk from the village. The trek is also excellent for birdwatchers and wildlife lovers. Especially, the sections from Phortse Thanga to Machermo and Lungden to Thame offer sighting of the Himalayan Musk deer, Himalayan Tahr, Himalayan Marmot, Danphe, Himalayan snowcock and maybe a chance encounter with the elusive Snow Leopard.
The Gokyo Renjo La pass trek requires a good practice of trekking and a very good physical aptitude. It isn’t recommended for novice hikers as the terrain and altitude can prove to be quite a challenge. You will have to walk across moraines, scree and vertical cliffs. Nevertheless, our 19-day itinerary has been designed to maximize the chance of your success. The days are short and throughout the trek, you will have ample acclimatization days to get used to the oxygen-deprived harsh atmosphere.
Keep Walking Nepal welcomes you to join in the Gokyo Renjo La Trek as part of my extended family. We have been running trips in Everest region since the last 15 years, and our guides, most of whom are born in the region, know the trails like the back of their hand.
Trip Grade - Moderate
Fixed Departures
Departure | Return | Price (Inc. Tax) | Dept Status | |
---|---|---|---|---|
21 Dec 2024 | 8 Jan 2025 | $2820 USD | Available | Book Now |
5 Mar 2025 | 23 Mar 2025 | $2820 USD | Available | Book Now |
25 Apr 2025 | 13 May 2025 | $2820 USD | Available | Book Now |
17 May 2025 | 4 Jun 2025 | $2820 USD | Available | Book Now |
7 Jun 2025 | 25 Jun 2025 | $2820 USD | Available | Book Now |
16 Aug 2025 | 3 Sep 2025 | $2820 USD | Available | Book Now |
6 Sep 2025 | 24 Sep 2025 | $2820 USD | Available | Book Now |
2 Oct 2025 | 20 Oct 2025 | $2820 USD | Available | Book Now |
6 Nov 2025 | 24 Nov 2025 | $2820 USD | Available | Book Now |
21 Dec 2025 | 8 Jan 2026 | $2820 USD | Available | Book Now |
Trip Summary
- Day 1 :Arrive at Kathmandu
- Day 2 :Guided Tours & Preparation
- Day 3 :Fly to Lukla (2,820 m; 30 min) and trek to Phakding (2,610 m; 3 hrs)
- Day 4 :Trek to Monjo (2,900m; 3 hrs)
- Day 5 :Trek to Namche (3,440m; 3 hrs)
- Day 6 :Acclimatization day (Optional hike to Everest view hotel)
- Day 7 :Trek to Phortse Thanga (3,680m; 5-6 hrs)
- Day 8 :Trek to Dole (4,110m; 2-3 hrs)
- Day 9 :Trek Machhermo (4,470 m; 3-4 hrs) and acclimatization hike to Kyajo Ri ridge
- Day 10 :Trek to Gokyo Lakes (4,790m; 4 hrs)
- Day 11 :Morning excursion to Gokyo Ri (5,357 m; 5 hrs)
- Day 12 :Trek to Lungden (4368m) via Renjo La pass (5360m); 9-10 hrs
- Day 13 :Trek to Thame (3820m; 4-5 hrs)
- Day 14 :Trek to Namche (3820m; 4-5 hrs)
- Day 15 :Phakding (2,610 m; 4-5 hrs)
- Day 16 :Trek to Lukla (2,840m; 3-4 hrs)
- Day 17 :Fly to Kathmandu (30 min) | Rest of day at leisure
- Day 18 :Full day at leisure (Contingency day)
- Day 19 :Trip concludes Kathmandu
Daily Movements
Day 1: Arrive at Kathmandu
Our representative will pick you up at Kathmandu International Airport and drive you to your hotel. Depending upon what time you arrive, you can enjoy a full day at leisure. In the evening, we will meet for a welcome dinner with Keep Walking Nepal family.
Look out for the KEEP WALKING NEPAL board behind the railing once you exit the airport terminal.
Overnight at Hotel Tibet (D)
Day 2: Guided Tours & Preparation
You will embark on a guided tour of two UNESCO world heritage sites; Pashupatinath Temple, the temple devoted to Lord Shiva – the god of creation and destruction, and Boudhanath Stupa – a Buddhist shrine worshipped by Hindus & Buddhists alike.
In the afternoon, your trek guide will brief you about the upcoming days and preparation requirements.
Overnight at Hotel Tibet (B)
Day 3: Fly to Lukla (2,820 m; 30 min) and trek to Phakding (2,610 m; 3 hrs)
You will drive to Kathmandu Domestic airport for an adventurous early morning 40m flight to Lukla’s Tenzing Hillary Airport (2,800m). The flight is an adventure in itself. In clear weather, one is rewarded with the first glimpse of Everest.
At Lukla, you meet the rest of your crew. The porters will take your duffel bag and will meet you at the lodge (this will continue throughout the trek).
Once out of Lukla, you will descend past small fields and cozy little wooden houses with vegetable gardens; all with a picturesque mountain backdrop. Along the way, you might encounter some pack animals as they are the only means of goods transportation up and down the mountain.
Along the way, in clear weather, one can catch views of the ice-covered 6000m high Kusum Kanguru. The trail is marked by impressive black mani stones painted with Tibetan inscriptions and a large stupa which indicates our destination for the day, Phakding, is nearby.
Overnight at guesthouse in Phakding (B, L, D)
Day 4: Trek to Monjo (2,900m; 3 hrs)
After breakfast, you will continue on the trail. It is a relatively short day as you cross suspension bridges over raging streams, past small hamlets and fields. Though the trail isn’t difficult, it is undulating – what we call the Nepali flat.
You will reach Monjo for lunch and the rest of the day is at leisure. You can visit the local school, visit the local snooker house for some beer or just call it a day.
Overnight at guesthouse in Monjo (B, L, D)
Day 5: Trek to Namche (3,440m; 3 hrs)
Shortly after Monjo, you will arrive at the entrance of Sagarmatha National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The hike is beautiful with beautiful pine forests, raging rivers, and mountains in the backdrop. Another hour and we cross the milky river (Dudh Koshi) – over an iconic suspension bridge hanging a 100m above the river bed.
Once across the bridge, you will definitely feel the mountain as you climb the steep uphill to Namche. The trail is frequented by porters carrying humongous loads and trains of pack animals. In clear weather, Everest is also visible.
After the 600m vertical ascent in about 4 – 5 hours, you will arrive at Namche, the Sherpa capital of Khumbu.
Overnight at guesthouse in Namche (B,L,D)
Day 6: Acclimatization day (Optional hike to Everest view hotel)
An important rule for a successful trek is successful acclimatization. Following the mantra, you will spend a second night in Namche but visit higher grounds to adapt our body.
We suggest an hike early morning hike to the Everest View Hotel (3,880m) and enjoy a breathtaking 360 panorama of Everest, Taboche, Thamserku, Kongde Ri and Ama Dablam.
Overnight at guesthouse in Namche (B,L,D)
Day 7: Trek to Phortse Thanga (3,680m; 5-6 hrs)
You will start on the frequented trail to EBC till the rest point at Kyangjuma. From Sansa, the trail branches off west hugging the mountains on your left. The tenacious climb to Mong la (3,990m) is rewarding with distant view of Ama Dablam to the east.
After lunch, you will descend down the valley in a series of steep switchbacks through a rhododendron and pine forest to cross a suspension bridge over the raging Dudh Koshi river. A short ahead lies the village of Phortse Thanga, your camp for the night.
Overnight at guesthouse in Phortse Thanga (B,L,D)
Day 8: Trek to Dole (4,110m; 2-3 hrs)
It’s a short day’s hike to Dole today. The trail through red birch, fir and dwarf rhododendron forest that surround yak pastures, and numerous cascading waterfalls that freeze during winter. Plus, you would also see the glacier flows from Taweche and Cholatse.
Above 4,000m the landscape and vegetation changes dramatically. Windswept valleys favor only a few species of ground-hugging rhododendrons and distinctive alpine flowers like edelweiss, gentians, anemones and stellera.
Overnight at guesthouse in Dole (B,L,D)
Day 9: Trek Machhermo (4,470 m; 3-4 hrs) and acclimatization hike to Kyajo Ri ridge
It’s about 6 km from Dole to Machhermo but it will take about 4 hours to climb the 270 meters vertical height. Machhermo valley lies in a windswept valley on the banks of Machhermo river, a drainage of the Ngozumpa glacier and the longest glacier in the Himalayas.
You will keep high above the Dudh Koshi river, going in and out of side valleys, along the settlements of Lhabarma and Luza. The trail can be quite steep at times but the views of Cholatse and Taboche will keep you company.
By lunchtime, you will be in one of the lodges in Machhermo, but don’t laze off. After lunch and some rest you will go on an acclimatization hike up the Kyajo Ri ridge (5000 m). In the evening, you will visit the village first-aid post for a brief understanding on mountain sickness.
Overnight at a guesthouse in Machhermo (B, L, D)
Day 10: Trek to Gokyo Lakes (4,790m; 4 hrs)
Leaving Machhermo, you will climb a ridge, from which the entire valley of Kangtega is clearly visible. From here, China is a stone’s throw away – right behind Cho-Oyu (8,261 m).
After lunch and some rest at the village of Pangka, which lies right behind the ridge, you will cross the river to arrive at the front of Ngozumpa Glacier’s moraine. The glacier feeds the famous Gokyo lakes.
One last spurt and you will arrive at the Gokyo valley, decorated with several lakes. There are 5 of them, and today you will pass the first three: Longpong (4650 m), Tauzhun (4710 m), Dudh Pokhari (4750 m).
You will stay the night in a lodge on the edge of the Dudh Pokhari lake.
Overnight at a guesthouse in Gokyo (B, L, D)
Day 11: Morning excursion to Gokyo Ri (5,357 m; 5 hrs)
In complete darkness, you will begin a radial ascent to the summit of Gokyo-Ri (53,57 m).
It will take about three hours to storm the summit, and somewhere in the middle of the road you will see how the dawn colors the white peaks of the Himalayas. The Himalayan giants reveal themselves – Everest, Makalu, Nuptse with Lhotse, and Cholatse with Taboche along with the Ngozumpa glacier.
After spending about 30-40 minutes on the top to take pictures and admire the view, you will descend about one and a half hours to our lodge for breakfast.The rest of the day is at leisure.
Overnight at a guesthouse in Gokyo. (B, L, D)
Day 12: Trek to Lungden (4368m) via Renjo La pass (5360m); 9-10 hrs
The final challenge of your trip, you will cross the 5360m high Renja Pass to Lungden in the Bhote Koshi river valley.
After the Chinese occupation of Tibet, the route was restricted for a period but now is allowed. The Bhote Koshi valley is closed on the northern side by the high mountain ridges that form the border with Tibet. Less than 20km away is the 5700m high Nangpa-La, the pass that was used by many Tibetan refugees to escape Chinese rule.
It’s a tough two-hour climb to the top of the pass but the views compensate for the effort. After the pass, you will descend almost 1500m down to the Bhote Koshi valley.
Overnight at guesthouse in Lungden (B,L,D)
Day 13: Trek to Thame (3820m; 4-5 hrs)
The walk to Thame through the spectacular valley, will now be a breeze. You have a contingency day at Thame, instead of hiking straight to Namche, in case the weather goes south. Along the way, you might even meet Tibetans with their yaks on their way to Namche to sell their wares.
Thame has a beautiful monastery perched on top of a hill against the backdrop of mountain peaks. We can either visit the monastery or rest.
Overnight at guesthouse in Thame (B,L,D)
Day 14: Trek to Namche (3820m; 4-5 hrs)
The hike to Namche is a short one; you’ll arrive just in time for lunch.
You will cross the Bhote Koshi and pass through the quaint little villages of Thamo, Samde and Phurte to Namche. Thamo is home to the legendary Ang Rita Sherpa, a.k.a. ‘Snow Leopard’, who still holds the record for most Everest summits without supplementary oxygen, but has since passed away in 2020.
The rest of the day is at leisure at Namche. You can explore the pubs, cafes and even souvenir shopping.
Overnight at guesthouse in Namche (B,L,D)
Day 15: Phakding (2,610 m; 4-5 hrs)
You will follow the Dudh Koshi and retrace your steps to the quaint little village of Phakding.
Overnight at guesthouse in Phakding (B,L,D)
Day 16: Trek to Lukla (2,840m; 3-4 hrs)
Backtracking to Lukla on the famous ‘Nepali Flats’, your journey in the homeland of the Sherpas will have come to an end. Alas, its your last day with your crew of Sherpas and porters, and rightfully calls for a celebration.
Overnight at Lukla (B,L,D)
Day 17: Fly to Kathmandu (30 min) | Rest of day at leisure
Bidding farewell to your crew, you will fly back to Kathmandu, where Keep Walking Nepal’s diligent staff will be waiting for you.
The rest of the day is at leisure. We recommend a quick shower and a visit to the laundromat.
Overnight at Kathmandu (B)
Day 18: Full day at leisure (Contingency day)
You have the whole day at leisure to explore Kathmandu valley. This extra day also ensures a contingency plan, in case flights out of Lukla are hampered due to inclement weather.
In the evening there will be a farewell dinner by Keep Walking Nepal to celebrate your achievements.
Overnight at Hotel (B, D)
Day 19: Trip concludes Kathmandu
A KWN representative will accompany you to the Tribhuwan International Airport for your flight back home.
(B)
Cost - US $ 2820 (joining Kathmandu)
(Single Supplement: additional US $ )
Cost Includes:
- All airport pick ups and drops
- Half day Kathmandu sightseeing with tour guide
- 4 night hotel in Tibet Kathmandu on BB
- All local transportation as per as itinerary
- Airfare: Kathmandu – Lukla – Kathmandu flights
- Food and accommodation during the trek
- All permits & entrance fees as per program (unless mentioned otherwise)
- Sleeping Bag, Down jacket and Kit bag
- Guide and porter
- Staff insurance
Cost Excludes:
- Lunch and dinner in Kathmandu and Pokhara (except when mentioned)
- Visa fee
- Travel insurance
- Any kind of alcoholic drinks, drinking water, cold drinks, laundry, phone call
- Tips for guide, porter and driver
TRIP FACTS
-
Duration
19 Days -
Best Season
March - May, October - November -
Max-Altitude
5,357m -
Difficulty Level
Moderate -
Group Size
12 persons