Gokyo Lake Trek with Return via Renjo La Pass - 13 Days

Trip Overview

The Gokyo Lake Trek with return via Renjo La Pass is completely a worth trek even without EBC in the Everst region. This 13-day trekking plan offers you a full day to explore the beauty of Gokyo lake and Gokyo valley from Gokyo-Ri. It is a high altitude trek in the Khumbu region of Nepal. It takes you from Lukla through Namche Bazaar to the turquoise Gokyo Lakes and the Gokyo Ri viewpoint. The route then crosses Renjo La Pass at 5,360 m before descending through Thame.

Unlike the standard Gokyo Lake Trek, this route returns via Renjo-La pass and passing through a quieter valley via Lungden and Thame instead of retracing the same path. You will stay at lodges in the Sherpa Villages and experience the Gokyo Lakes, Gokyo Ri, and Renjo La Pass with great mountain scenery within Sagarmatha National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Good fitness and some prior hiking experience are recommended before joining the trek.

Trip Detail

Itinerary Overview

This 13 day, 12 night trek follows a scenic route through the Gokyo Valley and the western part of the Khumbu region. You fly from Kathmandu to Lukla and trek through Phakding and Namche Bazaar before continuing toward Dole and Machhermo. The trail then reaches Gokyo at 4,790 m, where you spend an acclimatization day with an early morning hike to Gokyo Ri at 5,357 m. From Gokyo, the route continues toward Renjo La Pass at 5,360 m. After crossing the pass, you descend to Lungden and continue through Thame before returning to Namche Bazaar. The final trekking day takes you back to Lukla, followed by a flight to Kathmandu.

Here is a quick look at how your 13 day trek unfolds.

• Day 1: Arrive in Kathmandu at 1,400 m.

• Day 2: Fly from Kathmandu to Lukla at 2,840 m and trek to Phakding at 2,610 m.

• Day 3: Trek from Phakding to Namche Bazaar at 3,440 m.

• Day 4: Acclimatization day at Namche Bazaar.

• Day 5: Trek from Namche Bazaar to Dole at 4,110 m.

• Day 6: Trek from Dole to Machhermo at 4,470 m.

• Day 7: Trek from Machhermo to Gokyo at 4,790 m.

• Day 8: Acclimatization day at Gokyo with a sunrise hike to Gokyo Ri at 5,357 m.

• Day 9: Trek from Gokyo to Lungden at 4,380 m via Renjo La Pass at 5,360 m.

• Day 10: Trek from Lungden to Namche Bazaar at 3,440 m via Thame at 3,820 m.

• Day 11: Trek from Namche Bazaar to Lukla at 2,840 m.

• Day 12: Fly from Lukla to Kathmandu.

• Day 13: Final departure from Kathmandu.
   

Gokyo Lake Trek with Renjo La Pass Highlights

• Scenic Mountain Flight to Lukla: The trek begins with a short flight from Kathmandu to Lukla, landing at one of the most famous mountain airstrips in the world, with fine early views of the Himalayan foothills.

• Namche Bazaar, the Sherpa Capital: The trail climbs through Sagarmatha National Park to Namche Bazaar, a hillside town known for its markets, lodges, and views of Kongde Ri and Thamserku.

• Dole and Machhermo: Beyond Namche, the route follows a quieter trail through Dole and Machhermo, with clear views of Cho Oyu opening up along the way.

• Gokyo Village and Dudh Pokhari: The trail reaches Gokyo village on the shore of Dudh Pokhari, the largest of the Gokyo Lakes, with the Ngozumpa Glacier rising just beyond it.

• Sunrise at Gokyo Ri: An early morning climb to Gokyo Ri at 5,357 m offers one of the finest viewpoints in the Khumbu, with Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, and Cho Oyu visible in a single panorama.

• Renjo La Pass: The trek crosses Renjo La at 5,360 m, its highest point, with sweeping views back over the Gokyo valley before the descent toward Lungden.

• Thame, Home of Everest Climbers: The route continues through the Sherpa village of Thame, known for its historic monastery and as the birthplace of several celebrated Everest mountaineers.

• The Ngozumpa Glacier: Between Machhermo and Gokyo, the trail runs alongside Nepal's longest glacier, offering close and uncommon views of its icy terrain.

• A Complete Circuit of the Western Khumbu: The trek forms a full loop through Namche Bazaar, Gokyo, and Renjo La Pass, returning through Thame for a varied and rewarding journey through the region.
   

Altitude and Activities

The trek begins at Kathmandu at 1,400 m before flying to Lukla at 2,840 m and gradually ascending through Phakding and Namche Bazaar, with an acclimatization day at Namche Bazaar before the trail turns toward the Gokyo valley. From Namche Bazaar, the route climbs steadily through Dole and Machhermo to reach Gokyo at 4,790 m, where a second acclimatization day includes the hike to Gokyo Ri at 5,357 m, the best viewpoint on the trek. The route then crosses Renjo La Pass at 5,360 m, the highest point of the trek, before descending through Lungden and Thame back to Namche Bazaar and Lukla.

Accommodation and Meals

You will stay in a comfortable 3 star hotel in Kathmandu and mountain lodges or teahouses during the trekking portion of the journey. Full board meals consisting of breakfast, lunch, and dinner are provided in the trekking areas. In Kathmandu, breakfast is provided, with a welcome dinner on arrival and a farewell dinner after completing the trek.