You might have heard about the Khumbu region's gorgeous Gokyo Lakes and Renjo Pass. This adventurous trek takes you to a high alpine lake around Gokyo Valley. This blog provides all the information about the Gokyo Lake and Renjo La Pass Trek. These tips help to make the venture even more fantastic.
At Nepal Gateway Trekking, we have taken a lot of travellers to the Gokyo Lakes and helped them cross the challenging Renjo La pass. Our team has outlined this blog, including our expertise and knowledge about the trek. You are learning from the experts and our experience. So, first, let's talk about the trip; Gokyo Lakes
Gokyo Lakes, located in the Everest region, is well-known for its sparkling blue and green water. At 5,000 meters above sea level, they are one of the world’s highest freshwater lakes. The Gokyo lakes form a chain of six turquoise glacial-fed lakes, which is a breathtaking view and makes it hard to take your eyes off them.
Gokyo Lake and Renjo La Pass Trek also known as Gokyo Renjo Pass Trek, is a thrilling and highly adventurous trek. The trek takes you up to 5,360 meters above sea level and offers views of lakes, rivers, and high mountains.
This trek offers snow-capped high mountains over 8,000 meters, including Mount Everest. In addition to Everest, you will see Mt. Lhoste (8,516 m), Mt. Makalu (8,463 m), Mt. Cho-Oyu (8,201 m), and many more.
Trekking this trail has much more to offer than just mountains. You get to see the largest glacier in the Himalayas—the Ngozumpa Glacier. You will explore remote villages and off-beat paths inhabited by the solitary Tibetian-Buddhist Sherpa civilization.
Gokyo Lake Renjo La Pass Trek is less crowded. It is extremely rewarding trip as it has a challenging and demanding route. You will explore the rich culture and lifestyle of Sherpas to running across beautiful waterfalls, green valleys, and pleasant glaciers. Trekkers can integrate this Gokyo Renjo La Pass Trekking with the EBC Cho La Pass Trek, which connects Everest Base Camp to Gokyo.
The Gokyo Lake Renjo La Pass Trek is a high-altitude trek. Given the length of the journey and its high elevation, it is moderate to strenuous. However, compared with other challenging trails like Everest's Three High Passes in the Khumbu region, it is not so tedious.
The trekkers enjoy subtle, offbeat, steep walking. However, this does not mean the Gokyo and Renjo la Pass trek is not physically demanding. The trek does require physical resilience.
The difficulty level also depends on other factors, such as weather and the region's isolation. The trek demands mental preparation. You can quickly transition from a sunny day to a cloudy one.
Unlike the EBC Trek, the Gokyo Lake and Renjo La pass trekking routes see comparatively fewer crowds. The trail follows a less happening course, so the limitations on modern comforts are more considerable.
The Gokyo Lake Renjo La Pass Trek includes the highest-altitude pass, Renjo Pass. Trekking uphill towards Renjo La Pass can steadily raise the risk of altitude sickness. The best way to avoid this minor altitude sickness is to ascend slowly.
Altitude symptoms can appear in the body after 3000 m. The symptoms are headache, shortness of breath, nausea, loss of appetite, and fatigue. These symptoms go away after more time to acclimatize and taking medicine.
The well-planned itinerary helps to reduce the AMS in the Everest Gokyo Lake Trek. We suggest having an acclimatization day in Namche Bazaar and Marchhermo to adjust your body to elevation. These two acclimatization days are crucial to completing your Everest Gokyo Renjo Pass Trek.
You need extraordinary physical endurance and stamina to participate in the Gokyo Lake Renjo La Pass Trekking. You can build it if you do not have good physical strength. You do not need to hire a trainer or something for that. All you need is strength and endurance training to prepare your muscles for the upcoming challenge.
You can walk along paths, jog, cycle, walk on a treadmill, or even hike in uneven areas. We suggest starting your preparations two weeks before your trek starts. It is better to start four weeks before. These preparations help you have a fantastic journey.
The best times to trek to Gokyo Lake and Renjo La Pass are autumn (October to November) and spring (March to April). These are peak trekking seasons in Nepal and extremely favourable times. These seasons offer stunning mountain views and the scenic beauty of lush vegetation and mountains. The moderate temperatures of these two seasons ensure a smooth and convenient journey.
On the other hand, a trek to Gokyo Lake and Renjo La Pass is not advisable during winter and monsoon/summer. However, it is not at all impossible to do the Gokyo Renjo Pass trek. In winter, it becomes extremely hard to go to a higher elevation as the trail is usually blocked by snow. December to February are less crowded, but trekking in cold weather is not accessible if you are new to this.
Similarly, trekking is possible during the monsoon season. However, it takes a lot of effort. Slippery and muddy trails, landslides, and floods can arrive anytime. If you plan the trek from mid-June or the last week of August, the Gokyo Lake and Renjo La Pass trek is possible.
You must first have a permit to start your journey to Gokyo Lak Renjo La Pass. You need trekking permits to travel in the Everest region. How do you get one?
You do not need to worry about your permits and all the hassle involved in getting one. Once you confirm your booking with us, we are responsible for arranging it for you.
Trekking to Gokyo Lakes without a guide is not impossible. You can indeed attempt it if you would like. However, we don't suggest hiking alone to a high pass as the weather in the Everest region is unpredictable. It doesn’t take long for it to turn from sunny to cloudy and then stormy, which can only make your trekking experience challenging and inconvenient.
Moreover, crossing a high Himalayan pass is more strenuous than you may think. It's challenging for experienced trekkers to navigate through the winding trails of the Himalayas on their own.
A guide has all the necessary knowledge for a safe and beautiful journey. They can assess the weather and analyse any possible risks or mishaps during the trip. Since they are well-trained for this, they can take safety measures on time and rescue you from any misfortunate situation. They know what is best for a trekker and care for you throughout the journey.
When you book with us, we ensure you a safe and beautiful journey by providing a friendly and well-trained guide. Booking a guide not only ensures a risk-free trek but is also helpful for booking accommodation during your trek. They can help you get good offers and discounts on booking. So, a guide needs to be multilingual, and our certified guides are capable of doing just that.
Another factor to consider while trekking is hiring a porter. They can help you carry your luggage. Two members can have one porter carrying around 20 - 22 kg. For your convenience, we advise that you hire a porter as well as a guide.
Kathmandu Lukla flights are known for their overwhelming experience and delays. This is one of the highest landing flights in the world. The flying route is entirely of giant mountains and rocky hills. Kathmandu Lukla flights are often delayed or cancelled because of unstable weather.
If you have to face a delay or cancellation, we'll reschedule the next flight. If you can afford it, you can switch your flight to a helicopter flight to Lukla from Kathmandu. You can share the helicopter with other trekkers to reduce the price. The helicopter ride offers a comfortable flight experience with jaw-dropping landscapes.
A trek to Everest Gokyo Renjo La Pass is challenging and thrilling but most rewarding, with stunning mountain views. During the Everest Gokyo Renjo La hike, you will explore many things. Visiting the Khumbu region, including Gokyo Valley and lakes, Sherpa settlements, and Buddhist cultures, is phenomenal.
Here are some reasons why you should trek to Gokyo Renjo Pass
It is an off-beat but exotic trekking trail. This trek to Gokyo Valley is less crowded because it is away from the mainstream of the EBC Trek route. The trail splits from Sanasa after Namche Bazaar. The Everest Base Camp Trek is very crowded in the peak season.
If you want a different experience, we suggest you go on a Gokyo Lake and Renjo La Pass trek. Trekking through Sagarmatha National Park, including Namche Bazaar, Gokyo Lakes, Renjo Pass, and Thame Village, is spectacular.
You will experience the warm hospitality of the Sherpas and explore centuries-old monasteries along the route. Visiting tortoise alpine lakes and witnessing the four peaks over 8,000 meters from Gokyo Ri and Renjo Pass top is incredible.
The trek lies in the Solukhumbu district of the Sagarmatha National Park region. The region is home to the Sherpa and Rai communities. Many passes in this region serve as a trade route between Tibet and Sherpas.
You trek to Phakding, from where you hike to a lively town called Namche Bazaar. To explore Gokyo village, you trek to Dole and then to Machhermo. Relish the serenity of the Gokyo lakes and catch gorgeous views from Gokyo Ri. After crossing over Renjo La pass, you descend to Thame to visit a monastery.
The trail goes through Dudh Koshi Valley to Gokyo Valley. You will see waterfalls, streams and rhododendron forest in Dhudh Koshi Valley. However, you will experience eye-catching turquoise lakes in Gokyo Valley.
It's a journey of admiring towering mountains that become your friends. The stunning Himalayan view with fresh air will sway your heart and keep you exhilarated as you trek.
You will see four magnificent 8,000-meter-above-ground mountain peaks, such as Cho Oyu, Everest, Lhotse, and Makalu. The Gokyo Renjo Pass Trek route offers stunning views of Ama Dablam, Khumbutse, Gyachung Kang, Thamserku, Chamlang, Nuptse, etc.
Gokyo Renjo La Pass Trek takes you 5,360 meters from sea level, allowing you to experience more than trekking. You will push yourself and test your endurance while crossing Renjo La pass and glaciers.
You will constantly challenge your strength as you traverse these rocky trails and lush Himalayan forests. The bare minimum services test your perseverance and ability to adjust to an unfamiliar environment.
Our Gokyo Lake and Renjo La Pass trek package costs USD 1270. It includes ground transportation, meals/accommodation during trekking, and permits. It also covers guides and porters and round flight tickets from Kathmandu to Lukla and back to Kathmandu. The package cost also covers government taxes and travel service charges.
This package will cover your basic needs, including a first aid kit and a Gokyo Renjo La Pass Trekking map. We also supply a duffel bag and a down jacket. In an emergency, we will use your travel insurance to provide you with immediate medical air evacuation.
This package does not include lunch and dinner in Kathmandu, travel insurance, or international flight tickets. You must cover your personal expenses, such as shopping, extra meals, beverages, tips, etc. We can customize the Gokyo Renjo La pass trek itinerary for you. Changes in the itinerary may also affect the cost.
Entry points: Your entry point in the country will be from Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu. When you enter the country, immigration officials put stamps on your passport and give you access. If you enter via land border, you'll do the same obligations at land entry points.
Visa: You can get your visa quickly at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu. A multiple-entry tourist visa for 30 days and 90 days can be obtained for US $50 and US $135, respectively. If you stay short, you can avail yourself of a 15-day tourist visa for US $25.
Airport pickup/drop: Upon your arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, our team members will pick you up. Once your trekking journey is over, we organize a departure transport.
Personal expenses: You have to take care of your expenses.
Travel Insurance: Travel insurance is compulsory for your journey to Gokyo Renjo Pass. It should cover your medical expenses, loss of luggage, and any helicopter evacuation you might need.
Everest Gokyo Renjo La Pass Trek has lodge/teahouse accommodation facilities on the trail. Generally, they offer twin-sharing rooms, but if you want a single room, you can ask directly at the teahouses. The teahouses and lodges along the Renjo La Pass trekking route are comfortable and clean. They are common rooms, which means sharing a bathroom.
Most of the teahouses also offer attached bathrooms during the trekking to Renjo Pass. The attached rooms are limited, so you need to book as soon as possible. They are quite expensive. Some of the teahouses also offer electric blankets and 24-hour running hot showers.
Eating healthy and hygienic meals on the journey should be a top priority. As this trekking will be physically challenging, you have to eat adequate carbohydrates and protein. You will get your meals at the teahouses along the route. You can choose whatever you like to eat from the menu.
You will get pancakes, toast, tea, coffee, juice, eggs, and much more for breakfast. For lunch and dinner, you will have dal bhat, pasta, momos, chow mein, soup, etc. The menu has a wide variety of Nepali and Tibetan dishes.
We highly advise you not to smoke and consume alcohol, which can wreck your health even slightly. Thus, choose what you consume wisely. Your meals should contain enough carbohydrates to give you the energy to walk for long hours.
When you go trekking, you sweat a lot. Due to the cold weather, you may not feel very thirsty. If you don't drink enough water, your body may become dehydrated.
So, we recommend drinking at least 3 litres of water per day. The drinking water supply is great in Everest Gokyo Renjo Pass Trek. You can get either a bottle of mineral water, boiled water, or running tap water. It is a little expensive to buy a bottle of mineral water.
We suggest you bring water-purifying tablets. These tablets can be used to make tap water safe to drink. You can also bring electrolyte powder or flavours to make drinking water easier.
Pre-preparation: Before booking the trek, you should choose the right season and train ahead of time.
Charging: Electricity and battery charge points will be available in most villages on your trekking journey. Still, it is highly advised to carry an extra battery for your gadgets.
Cash: Always carry extra money for your expenses. You will find the last ATM in Namche Bazaar, so if you run out of money, you can always withdraw it there.
Luggage: You can either lock your luggage in the hotel locker or carry it in a duffel bag that can hold 10 kg.
Travel Insurance: Take your travel insurance seriously and ensure it is done before your trek.
Trekking essentials: Carry toiletries such as hand wipes, hand sanitizer, soap, towels, moisturizers, sunscreens, and lip balms.
Gadget essentials: Carry extra batteries, solar power banks, a camera, and a torch light.
For safety: It is no harm to carry cold weather outfits, raincoats, shade hats, water bottles, lightweight thermal tops, trekking boots, passport and extra passport photocopies, and a duffel bag.
Get ready for an adventurous and exciting trekking journey to Gokyo and Renjo la Pass. Explore the beautiful Khumbu region, which leads to a beautiful and exotic Gokyo valley, which can mesmerize you with its sparkling glacial lakes and panoramic Himalayan views.
It is an off-beat trekking trail worth exploring for its rewarding and challenging aspects. Our certified guide can help your trekking experience go smoothly and be more memorable. When you are all set for the journey, let us know. We'll organize the best Gokyo Lake Renjo La pass trek for you.
