Gokyo Renjo La Pass Trek

The Gokyo Renjo La Pass Trek is a fantastic 146-kilometer-long journey that stretches from Lukla to the enchanting Gokyo Valley. This trek offers a rich diversity of terrain of Sagarmatha Park that features dense jungles of pine, fir, and rhododendron, as well as the dramatic gorges carved by the Dudh Koshi and Bhote Koshi rivers.

There are beautiful long waterfalls while there are also expansive alpine meadows, tall brown shrubs, and huge rock boulders. As you approach the serene Gokyo Alpine Lake, the stunning glacial terrain will truly captivate your spirit.

Ranging between 4700 m to 5200 m, the five remarkable Gokyo Lakes will be the highlight of our adventure, while Gokyo Ri and Renjo La will be our peak altitudes. Our journey will become more enchanting when we sleep at the hotel of the charming Gokyo Valley- also the maximum altitude of our overnight stay.

The Gokyo Valley of Khumbu is significantly affected by the subtropical monsoon season. As a result, this area sees the heaviest rainfall during the monsoon time and the coldest temperatures in winter. The remainder time has a comfortable climate with a perfect balance – not too hot and not too cold.

Thus, when choosing the right time for the Gokyo Renjo La Pass Trek, we suggest you choose either the post-monsoon months of mid-September to early October. Or, the pre-monsoon time from early March to early June.

The consistent and dry climate, the cool gentle winds, and the colorful lively jungles create often the most incredible atmosphere for the long day journey.

And, the bonus point is you don’t have to stress about the crowd in these peak hiking times as this trek is a custom trek, unlike the EBC and ABC trek.

It’s best to avoid the summer months from mid-June to early September when the monsoon can lead to heavy rainfall, making trails challenging. Winters from mid-December to late February can cover the Gokyo Ri and Renjo La in 30 to 50 cm thick snow which can of course be complex to walk through.

The Gokyo Renjo La Pass trek route is certainly physically difficult and requires responsible preparation. Your daily hiking adventure will consist of a rhythmic walk that lasts 5 to 7 hours, with a break for lunch included. This trek will guide you to the peaks of Gokyo Ri and Renjo La which are not technically demanding and do not require any special expertise.

All they need is your willingness, perseverance, and proper acclimatization. One of the challenges you will encounter is the significant altitude change; you will rise from 1,400 meters to 2,800 meters in just 30 minutes, and then continue to ascend beyond 5,000 meters.

However, our trekking program is well-planned to ensure a gradual increase in elevation, which facilitates effective acclimatization and helps you feel relatively well. While some level of fatigue and headaches may be experienced, they are typically not severe.

The Gokyo Renjo La Pass Trek reaches an elevation as high as 5360 m at Gokyo Ri and Renjo La. The thin air here has reduced air pressure and low oxygen content which leads to altitude sickness.

Reactions to this condition vary widely among trekkers: some may suffer from headaches, others might experience dizziness, and many face sleepless nights, increased fatigue, and slight challenges in breathing.

With these factors in mind, we have arranged a rest day in Namche, allowing your body to adjust to an altitude of over 3000 meters. Additionally, you will also enjoy a spare day in Gokyo Valley, where you can trek to the fifth Gokyo Lake and soak in the peaceful atmosphere. This will ensure you are well-prepared for the upcoming challenge of crossing Renjo La.

Preventing altitude sickness requires effective acclimatization, a steady pace, adequate hydration, and the avoidance of alcohol. Plus, taking Diamox during your stay in Kathmandu can also enhance your ability to adapt to the higher altitude more quickly.

If you possess the willingness, perseverance, stamina, and a profound love for nature and trekking, then our Gokyo Renjo La Pass Trek trek is calling you.

Previous trekking experience is a plus, but it’s not mandatory. If you think you can handle the unpredictable weather and altitude, can manage long hiking days, and are comfortable with simple, rustic accommodations, you are more than welcome to join us- even if you are a female traveler, a newcomer to trekking, or an experienced hiker.

What truly matters is your strong motivation to reach Gokyo Ri and Renjo La and connect with the mountains, as you temporarily leave behind the comforts of home for an extraordinary experience.

Our Gokyo Renjo La Pass trek will take you to the most elevated system of freshwater lakes in the world. But if wish to explore deeper into the stunning landscapes of Gokyo, we provide a variety of trekking options to enhance your adventure.

• The Classic Gokyo Lake Trek

This classic trek is solely concentrated on the stunning Gokyo Valley, omitting the journey to Renjo La Pass. Beginning in Lukla, the trail traverses charming villages and deep forests eventually reaching the summit of Gokyo Ri. Thus, it is an ideal choice for those eager to immerse themselves in the calm beauty of the Gokyo Lakes area.

• Trek from Gokyo Lake to Everest Base Camp

This is the adventure with the fusion of the unforgettable beauty of Gokyo with the excitement of reaching the base of the planet’s tallest mountain. This is the best tour for those who wish to experience the best of the worlds.

The trekking route presents two variations: one option is to proceed directly to Everest Base Camp, traveling from Namche through Tengboche, Dingboche, and Lobuche.

The other option involves first visiting Gokyo Valley before joining onto the main path that leads to Everest Base Camp and Kala Patthar. This trek is more demanding and offers significant rewards, generally requiring 17 to 21 days, and is best suited for experienced hikers.

Undoubtedly the Gokyo Renjo La Pass Trek rewires your high adventure spirit but it also needs a considerable amount of endurance and thorough preparation. There are extensive walking and mind you some steep and vertical climbs and descents. Also, triumphing the over 5000 m altitude is also not an easy endeavor.

Therefore, we suggest that all our participants to invest their time in physical readiness. Allocate your time for the comprehensive exercise routine that incorporates strength training, cardiovascular exercise, and endurance workouts.

Activities like running, cycling, swimming, and hiking are particularly beneficial for older adults, as they can bring in remarkable improvement in their life quality.

Emphasize the leg and core muscles of the body with squats, pull-ups, and push-ups. Increase the strength of your upper body so your load-bearing ability can increase and can easily manage a backpack during the adventure.

In addition, you can also engage in different hikes across diverse terrains integrating mountaineering and climbing preferably with the loaded backpack. It will provide you with the essential experience and conditions of remote trekking.

The accommodation options during our Gokyo Renjo La Pass Trek range from a three-star hotel in Kathmandu to the rugged setting of the wilderness.

In Kathmandu, you will live in a cozy double room complete with a private bathroom. In our trekking adventure, the lodges or mountain huts will be your sleeping place.

From Lukla to Namche, these lodges are equipped with several amenities ensuring your comfort. As we climb to greater elevation, the lodges will be clean and comfortable, though some may feature shared bathroom facilities.

You can expect breakfast in Kathmandu while the trek offers a comprehensive meal plan that includes breakfast, lunch, and dinner. In the mountain lodges en route, dal vat, pasta, pancakes, pizza, and dumplings will be the common food items.

Tea, soft drinks, coffee, and juices, are commonly available and in some places, you can also get local alcoholic drinks.

When you reach Kathmandu for the Gokyo Renjo La Pass Trek, a private vehicle with our assigned staff will receive you and ride you to your hotel. Then domestic air travel to Lukla will also be arranged.

For your return trip, we will arrange the flight once more, and private transportation will be available to take you to Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA). If travel to Ramechhap is required, private transport will be once more provided for your journey.

Communication will be available through the local SIM cards from Ncell and NTC, which are less expensive than using roaming services on your home SIM.

Nearly all lodges provide Wi-Fi and electricity for charging devices, though a minor charge of USD 2 to USD 3 may be needed. The stability of Wi-Fi and mobile networks may be variable in the remote valley of Gokyo.

Before undertaking the Gokyo Renjo La Pass Trek, you need to make sure you have all the essential gear and personal items so you have a comfortable and safe journey. The items you may need:

• Backpack
• Water bottle
• Hiking shoes
• Trekking Poles
• Down jacket
• Windbreaker jacket
• Fleece jacket and pants
• Lightweight and warm hiking pants
• Long Sleeve and Half Sleeve Hiking Shirts
• Warm hats and sun hats
• Warm hiking socks (wool/synthetic)
• Gloves/mittens
• Flip-flops/Sandals
• Sleeping bag
• Towel
• Sunscreen
• Sunglasses
• Lip balm
• Toothbrush
• Toilet soap
• Sanitizer
• Prescription drugs
• Water Purification Tablets/Light Filter
• Toilet paper
• Mobile phone with emergency power bank and charger

For the Gokyo Renjo La Pass Trek, we will acquire an entry permit for the Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality and for Sagarmatha Park.

The local municipality permit is in place of a TIMS card and acquired in Lukla costing us 2000 Nepali rupees (around $18) for each person. The park entry permit grants us permission to walk in Sagarmatha Park costing 3000 Nepali rupees (around $23) for each person. It is available from the Lukla or NTB (Nepal Tourism Board) in Kathmandu.

For these permits, we need to specify the details of our travel program, your insurance policy number, your passport copy, and photos.

Please note that you cannot transfer these permits to others nor can you refund against them. Children under the age of 10 are not required to pay entrance fees. You must carry these permits with you during the trek, as they will need to be shown at multiple checkpoints.