Upon arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport, a representative from Summit Nepal Adventure will greet you and escort you to your hotel in Kathmandu. The rest of the day is free to relax or explore the city. You may want to stroll around Thamel or visit nearby temples before your evening briefing about the trek.
Today’s trek starts with a series of river crossings, followed by a steep climb up to Namche Bazaar, the bustling heart of the Khumbu region. As you ascend, you’ll have your first views of Everest in the distance. The last leg of the trek is a challenging uphill stretch, but the vibrant market town of Namche will be a welcoming sight. Here, you’ll find shops, restaurants, and a lively atmosphere, perfect for acclimatization.
To allow your body to acclimatize to the increasing altitude, you’ll spend the day in Namche. A short hike to the Everest View Hotel, one of the highest-placed hotels in the world, offers panoramic views of Everest, Lhotse, Ama Dablam, and other surrounding peaks. Alternatively, you can hike to the nearby village of Khumjung, known for its monastery and incredible views of the Himalayas.
Today, the trail gradually ascends as you leave Namche behind, passing through forests of pine and rhododendron. As you climb, you’ll notice the landscape becoming more alpine, with magnificent views of Thamserku and Kangtega. After about 5-6 hours of trekking, you’ll reach Dole, a small village perched high above the valley, with a few teahouses offering a peaceful place to rest.
Today's trek takes you higher into the heart of the Gokyo Valley. The trail leads past yak pastures and offers spectacular views of Cho Oyu, one of the world’s highest peaks. After a steady climb, you’ll reach Machhermo, a small but scenic settlement known for its views of the surrounding peaks and its important altitude awareness post.
Today, the path takes you across the Ngozumpa Glacier, one of the longest glaciers in the Himalayas. As you walk along its moraine, you’ll be greeted by the first of the turquoise Gokyo Lakes. The striking blue color of the lakes is simply breathtaking. Gokyo, located by the third lake, offers stunning views of the surrounding peaks, including Cho Oyu, and is an ideal place to spend the night.
A highlight of the trek, today you’ll hike to the summit of Gokyo Ri. The climb is steep but offers one of the best panoramic views in the entire Everest region. From the summit, you can see Everest, Cho Oyu, Makalu, and a sweeping view of the Gokyo lakes below. After soaking in the views, return to Gokyo for a well-deserved rest and the opportunity to explore the village.
Today is one of the most challenging days of the trek, as you will cross the Cho La Pass. This high-altitude pass requires careful navigation through ice and snow, with stunning views along the way. After reaching the top of Cho La, you’ll descend into the beautiful valley and arrive at Dzongla, a small but charming settlement surrounded by high peaks.
From Dzongla, you’ll trek through the scenic valley, passing through alpine meadows and along the Khumbu Glacier. After a steady climb, you’ll arrive in Lobuche, a village nestled on the glacier’s edge. This is the final stop before reaching Everest Base Camp, and from here, the trail takes you closer to the mighty Everest itself.
Today, you'll trek to Gorak Shep, where you’ll drop off your main gear before heading to Everest Base Camp. The path is rocky, crossing the Khumbu Glacier's ice fields, and the excitement builds as you approach the base camp, the starting point for climbers attempting to summit Everest. After spending some time at base camp, you’ll return to Gorak Shep for the night.
This morning, you’ll rise early to trek up Kala Patthar, the famous viewpoint that offers the best panoramic view of Everest and the surrounding peaks. After enjoying the sunrise and stunning views, you’ll descend back to Gorak Shep and then continue down the valley to Pheriche, a quieter village with beautiful mountain views. The descent is a welcome change after the previous days of high-altitude trekking.
Today's trek is a challenging but rewarding journey across the Renjo La Pass. The views from the pass are spectacular, and you’ll get a unique perspective of the Everest region, including an impressive view of Everest, Lhotse, and Makalu. After crossing the pass, you’ll descend into the village of Thame, a peaceful Sherpa settlement surrounded by towering peaks.
From Thame, you’ll trek back to Namche Bazaar, passing through beautiful forests and traditional Sherpa villages. As you approach Namche, you’ll be rewarded with stunning views of Everest and other surrounding peaks. In Namche, you can relax, explore the town, or shop for souvenirs as you reminisce about your trek through the Everest region.
The final leg of your trek takes you back to Lukla, retracing your steps along the Dudh Koshi River. This is a beautiful journey through lush forests, past Sherpa villages, and across suspension bridges. Once you reach Lukla, enjoy a final celebratory dinner with your guide and porters.
After a morning flight from Lukla, you’ll return to Kathmandu. You’ll be transferred to your hotel, where you can relax and reflect on the incredible adventure you’ve just completed. You’ll have free time to explore the city, enjoy some shopping, or visit more cultural sites.
The Gokyo Valley Trek with Cho La and Renjo La Passes is an exhilarating and adventurous extension of the traditional Gokyo Valley Trek. This trek takes you to the stunning Gokyo Lakes, but it also includes crossing two challenging high-altitude passes—Cho La Pass (5,420m) and Renjo La Pass (5,360m). The added passes make this trek more physically demanding, but also more rewarding, as it provides dramatic views of the Everest range, Makalu, and Cho Oyu. This trek offers a more remote and quieter route, avoiding the busier areas like Everest Base Camp while offering a challenging and scenic experience with a deep sense of accomplishment.
The Gokyo Valley Trek with Cho La and Renjo La Passes typically takes 16 to 20 days, depending on your pace and acclimatization days. The trek begins with a flight from Kathmandu to Lukla, followed by a trek through Phakding, Namche Bazaar, and Dole, before reaching Gokyo. From there, trekkers cross the Cho La Pass to reach Zongla, continue to Lobuche, and then descend towards Thame via the Renjo La Pass. The trek ends in Namche Bazaar before returning to Lukla for your flight back to Kathmandu. The trek is designed to allow ample acclimatization and includes rest days to ensure you are well-prepared for the high-altitude passes.
The Gokyo Valley Trek with Cho La and Renjo La Passes is a challenging trek due to the high-altitude passes and rugged terrain. While it doesn’t involve technical climbing, crossing Cho La and Renjo La requires stamina, strength, and careful navigation, particularly in icy or snowy conditions. The trek is physically demanding, and trekkers should be prepared for long days of hiking (6-8 hours), steep ascents, and some scrambling over rocky and glacier-covered paths. Proper fitness, altitude acclimatization, and prior trekking experience are highly recommended to tackle this trek successfully.
The best times for this trek are during spring (March to May) and autumn (late September to early December). These seasons offer clear skies, stable weather, and optimal trekking conditions in the Everest region. The spring season is marked by the blooming of rhododendrons, making the landscapes even more colorful, while the autumn season brings crisp mountain views and is generally the most popular time for trekking. Winter can bring extreme cold and snow, which can make the high passes dangerous, and summer is the monsoon season, which can bring rain and landslides, so these are not ideal times for this trek.
As the Gokyo Valley Trek with Cho La and Renjo La Passes reaches high altitudes, with Renjo La and Cho La Passes crossing above 5,000 meters, altitude sickness is a potential concern. Summit Nepal Adventure prioritizes safe acclimatization, with rest days in key locations like Namche Bazaar and Dole. The itinerary allows for gradual ascent, and our expert guides are trained to recognize and manage symptoms of Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS). We also emphasize staying hydrated, following a slow pace, and providing oxygen support if necessary. In case of severe altitude sickness, evacuation options are available.
Accommodation along the trek is provided in teahouses or local lodges, which offer basic but comfortable rooms with shared facilities. Higher up, the teahouses may be simpler, but they are still clean and warm, with the option to use wood stoves for heating. Meals typically consist of hearty Nepali, Tibetan, and international cuisine to support the physical demands of the trek. Expect dishes like dal bhat (lentil soup with rice), momos (dumplings), noodles, and fried rice. Vegetarian and vegan options are available, and we ensure the food is prepared hygienically and tailored to high-altitude trekking.
While previous trekking experience is not a strict requirement, the Gokyo Valley Trek with Cho La and Renjo La Passes is demanding, so physical preparation is essential. Trekkers should be in good physical condition, able to walk 6-8 hours a day on challenging, uneven terrain, and be comfortable with high-altitude trekking. We recommend cardio training, strength training, and some long hikes before your journey. Familiarity with altitude trekking or experience on other high-altitude treks will be beneficial.
To trek in the Everest region, you’ll need a Sagarmatha National Park Permit and a Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality Permit. Summit Nepal Adventure takes care of all the paperwork and permits, so you won’t have to worry about the logistics. Simply provide a valid passport and a couple of passport-sized photos, and we’ll handle the rest.
Packing for the Gokyo Valley Trek with Cho La and Renjo La Passes requires thoughtful preparation due to the rugged terrain and varying weather conditions. Essential items include trekking boots, warm layered clothing, a down jacket, waterproof gear, a hat, gloves, sunglasses, sunscreen, and a sleeping bag rated for sub-zero temperatures. Trekking poles, a first-aid kit, water purification tablets, and a headlamp are also recommended. Summit Nepal Adventure provides a detailed packing list upon booking, and we offer porter services to carry your heavy gear.
Booking your trek with Summit Nepal Adventure is simple. You can contact us via email or phone to inquire about availability. After you confirm your trek dates, we require a small deposit to secure your spot. Our team will guide you through the preparation process, providing a detailed itinerary, gear recommendations, and travel advice. We’ll ensure you have everything you need for an unforgettable and safe adventure in the Everest region.
