Renjo La Pass Trek
The Renjo La Pass Trek is a remote and high mountain pass trek route located between the Thame and Gokyo lakes valley in the Everest region of Nepal. The Renjo La Pass connects Thame Valley to Gokyo Valley, and offers stunning views of the Himalayan mountain range, including Mount Everest, Lhotse, Cho Oyu and Makalu. The highlight of the Renjo La Pass trek is crossing the Renjo La Pass itself, which stands at an altitude of 5,360 meters. Trekking up to the Renjo La Pass is the perfect option for those who want to experience the natural beauty of the Himalayas and cross high mountain passes during their journey. The trek starts from Lukla and passes through several small Sherpa villages, including Namche Bazaar, Thame, Merlung, Lungden, and Gokyo. Along the way, trekkers will encounter glaciers, mountain lakes, and stunning alpine landscapes, making it an unforgettable experience for many trekkers.
The Renjo La Pass trek is considered a challenging trek due to its high altitude and steep terrain. Trekkers should be in good physical condition and have experience with high-altitude trekking. The best time to trek in the Renjo La Pass is during the spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) when the weather is clear and the skies are blue. However, it's important to be prepared for occasional rainfall or snowfall even during these seasons.
Most trekkers prefer to cross the Renjo La pass clockwise which runs through Thame (3800 m) but it is easier to proceed anti-clockwise through Gokyo Lake and valley. Thame is Sherpa village, about 2-4 hours northwest of Sagarmatha (Everest) National Park headquarters. There are about 50 houses in the settlement. The two settlements fall on the way to Renjo La Pass very popular visit among tourists.
A little off the main trekking trail, Thamo and Thame offer untouched Sherpa culture where people have maintained the traditional way of life. They also offer a taste of the local culture through home-stay accommodation. Cultural groups perform shows for tourists on request. In addition, the jungle near the settlement harbor endangered wildlife species, like musk deer and pheasants. The mainstay of local economy here is tourism.
The trek provides an opportunity to cross the Renjo La Pass and at the same time visiting the beautiful Gokyo Lake and Gokyo Ri Peak. After reaching Gokyo Lake and visiting the sound area and climbing Gokyo Ri (5,357 m), continue the trek to Lukla for a few days, to end your trek here, and fly to Kathmandu the next day.
If you are interested in expanding the Renjo La Pass trek itinerary and visiting difficult high-altitude locations, you can add Cho La Pass and Everest Base Camp to it. These are the most popular places for trekking in the region but require at least 4 additional days as compared to the Renjo La Pass trek itinerary.
Renjo La Pass Trek Itinerary
Day 01: Arrive Kathmandu
Day 02: Kathmandu Sightseeing and trek Preparation
Day 03: Flight to Lukla trek to Phakding (2610m)
Day 04: Trek to Namche Bazaar (3440m)
Day 05: Acclimatization day at Namche Bazaar (3440m)
Day 06: Trek to Thame [3800m]
Day 07: Trek to Lungden (4300m)
Day 08: Trek to Gokyo Lake over the Renjo La Pass (5360m)
Day 09: Day Hike to Gokyo Ri (5357m)
Day 10: Trek to Dole (4090m)
Day 11: Trek to Namche (3440m)
Day 12: Trek to Lukla (2840m)
Day 13: Flight to Kathmandu (1350m)
Day 14: Reserve Day in Kathmandu
Day 15: Depart Kathmandu