Gokyo Lakes and Renjo La Pass Trek

After an early transfer for your thrilling mountain flight to Lukla (2,860 m—operated from Kathmandu or Ramechhap depending on the season), you’ll meet our local porter team and hit the trail. Today’s walk is a gentle, introductory descent alongside hand-carved mani stones and fluttering prayer flags, bringing you easily to the riverside village of Phakding (2,610 m).

Today we enter the Sagarmatha National Park at Monjo for lunch before tackling the famous, pine-scented Namche hill. Walking alongside the turquoise Dudh Koshi River and crossing high, swaying suspension bridges, a steady and slow pace (bistari, bistari) will reward you with your first glimpse of Everest before we arrive at the bustling Sherpa capital of Namche Bazaar (3,440 m).

Staying active is the golden rule for safe altitude adaptation, so we're avoiding sleeping in today. Instead, we will take a classic acclimatization hike up the steep ridge toward the old Syangboche landing strip and stop at the famous Hotel Everest View (3,880 m). Here, you can sip hot lemon tea while looking directly at Mt. Everest, Lhotse, and the sharp peak of Ama Dablam. Afterward, descend back down to explore the fascinating Sherpa Culture Museum or grab a fresh pastry in a cozy local bakery. 

We leave the main Everest Base Camp trail at Sanasa, climbing a quieter, scenic path up to Mongla Hill's spectacular ridge. From there, we descend to Phortse Tenga before climbing steadily through quiet, moss-draped rhododendron and birch forests to the peaceful mountain hamlet of Dole (4,038 m).

Compared to yesterday's grueling up-and-down trail, today’s hike leaves the forests behind for rugged alpine scrubland, passing high summer pastures and stone yak walls at Lhafarma and Luza as the massive wall of Mt. Cho Oyu grows larger on the horizon. Arriving in Machhermo in time for a hot lunch gives your body a much-needed afternoon to rest and adjust, though we highly recommend attending the daily altitude safety briefing held by volunteer doctors at the local rescue clinic to learn the science of high-altitude adaptation.

Today you will climb a scenic ridgeline out of Machhermo before descending slightly to ascend the massive lateral moraine of the Ngozumpa Glacier, the longest glacier in the entire Himalayan chain. Once you conquer the steep, rocky edge of the moraine, the trail flattens out into pure magic as we pass the quiet waters of Longponga (the first lake), the brilliant blue Taujung Tsho (the second lake), and finally arrive at Dudh Pokhari (the third lake) where the vibrant stone teahouses of Gokyo Village (4,790 m) sit right on the water's edge.

We will start with a cold, pre-dawn departure to conquer the steep, loose scree switchbacks of Gokyo Ri (5,357 m ), where the reward is a panoramic summit skyline featuring four 8,000-meter giants at once: Mt. Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, and Cho Oyu. After descending to the village for a warm lunch, we’ll head north into the quiet upper valley past the fourth lake (Thonak Tsho) to reach the spectacular fifth lake (Ngozumpa Tsho), which gives you a wild, crowd-free view of Everest’s massive northern face and the raw ice fall of the glacier.

This is the big challenge of the trek: we will pack up early, skirt the sandy shores of the third lake, and tackle a long, steep climb up stone staircases and loose rock sections toward the 5,435-meter summit of Renjo La Pass. Standing among fluttering prayer flags at the top offers a jaw-dropping view back over the turquoise lakes and the sprawling glacier before we begin a long descent down stone steps into a quiet, traditional alpine valley to sleep in the ancient village of Lungden (4,380 m), an old trading route for Tibetan salt caravans that feels completely untouched by modern tourism.

Breathing feels incredibly easy as we drop into thicker air, following the historic Bhote Koshi River valley down through the old stone houses of Marulung and into Thame. This is a beautiful village where Everest legends like Tenzing Norgay spent their childhoods and where a stunning 350-year-old cliffside monastery stands. After lunch, an easy, rolling walk through forests of rhododendrons, juniper, and pine wraps back around the mountain shelves and marches you back into Namche Bazaar. Here, you can celebrate returning to civilization with a hot shower, a fresh espresso, or a slice of apple pie.

Today is your final day of foot travel on the mountain trails as we drop down the steep pine forest hill out of Namche Bazaar, crossing under the high suspension bridges one last time and following the valley floor back through Jorsalle, Monjo, and Phakding. While your legs might feel tired on the final uphill stretch leading back into Lukla, checking into our lodge right next to the airstrip sets the stage for a celebratory final dinner where you can toast your guides and porters before flying back to the city tomorrow.

We’ll catch an early morning flight out of Lukla, letting you enjoy one last look at the massive mountain peaks from the air before landing in Kathmandu, where our private vehicle will drive you back to your hotel in Thamel. You have the entire afternoon free to relax, book a massage at a local spa to soothe your tired muscles, or hunt for unique souvenirs like authentic singing bowls before the entire Sublime Trails crew gathers to host a special farewell dinner at a traditional Nepalese restaurant.

Enjoy your final breakfast in Kathmandu and take some time for last-minute packing or a morning stroll through Thamel's alleys. Three hours before your international flight home, our team will pick you up from the hotel lobby and drive you to Tribhuvan International Airport, where we will say our final goodbyes and send you off with incredible stories and memories from the high passes of the Himalayas.