Gokyo Lake & Renjo La Pass Trek

A Firante staff will greet you at the airport and transport you to the hotel. The rest of the afternoon is yours to do as you please. There will be a pre-trek briefing where you will be given instructions on how to get your kit bag, sleeping bag and down/fiberfill jacket. Following the briefing, we will go out to dinner, which will be a great opportunity for you to get to know your other group members.

Today, we'll board a domestic flight to Lukla from Kathmandu. The flight is only 35 minutes long, yet it is packed with breathtaking mountain views. You'll meet up with your guide and porters when you arrive in Lukla, and then it's off to the trekking path! With the path to Phakding wide and clear, we'll start out gently with a 3- or 4-hour walk. We'll see charming teahouses, Buddhist gompas (monasteries), prayer wheels and massive stones with sacred mantras painted on them. We'll be in Phakding as soon as we cross the Dudh Koshi river.

We'll eat breakfast in Phakding before beginning the 5- to 6-hour walk to Namche Bazaar, the unofficial capital of Sherpa culture and Everest's gateway. Our trail leads us first through the Dudh Koshi River on a large suspension bridge, then through a lovely pine forest to Monjo, which is about two hours away. Two river bridges surround our way down the riverbank, one of which is the Hillary Suspension Bridge. It'll be a hard hike up the hill to our resting spot, but you'll be rewarded with your first look of Everest in all its grandeur in Namche Bazaar.

Because of the rising altitude, we'll need to stay an extra day in Namche to acclimate. You won't mind at all, though! You may either go for a 3-4 hour climb through the adjacent Sherpa settlements of Khumjung and Khunde to help us acclimate to the higher altitude, or you can sit back, relax, and enjoy the market.
 

Before hiking up a pleasant, simple track that overlooks the snow-capped peaks of Shanasa - the little village of Mong - we'll complete one final circle of Namche. On the left side of Mongla Hill, we'll ascend and then descend to Phortse Thanga, where we'll have lunch. We'll ascend the route through rhododendron-floral woodlands to a beautiful view of Cho Oyu. Dole, our halting spot, is a little village with a number of teahouses that used to be a yak pasture and it's a relatively easy afternoon walk to reach there.

Today's hike is short and nice, allowing us to enjoy and appreciate it. We're trying to take it easy with our acclimatization so we don't overwork ourselves at this point. The day begins with a scenic ridge climb over Dole. We'll arrive at Luza after passing through yak meadows and tiny stone hut communities. We'll follow our way along a valley high above the river, passing sandy spurs and pastures lined by a chorten and prayer flags, to arrive in Machhermo by lunchtime, with enough time to pay visit to Himalayan Rescue Association.

We will climb over the ridge, to begin our day with breathtaking views of the valley to Kangtega as well as Cho Oyu's northern reaches. It's another short day of climbing, with steep routes making up for the lack of hours. We'll descend to the riverbank and then begin the trek through an ablation valley caused by melting ice to the Ngozumpa glacier's terminal moraine. We'll take a break to take in the scenery before continuing on to Gokyo, a village on the shore of the third lake.

We will stay in Gokyo for two nights to help with altitude acclimatization. If the weather permits, we will ascend Gokyo Ri, a hill that rises above the northern edge of Lake Dudh Pokhari. Large cairns and prayer flags mark the top. Also visible from the top is Gokyo's turquoise lake, which is located far below. For passionate trespassers, a trip to the fourth and fifth lakes is also recommended.
 

Today, we will begin our walk at dawn, crossing the Renjo La Pass on our way to Maruleng. It's a long hike, but it's necessary because there are no other options along our route! We will descend Gokyo Valley, moving away from the main trail and heading towards the pass. In approximately three hours, we'll reach the summit of Renjo La, where we'll be rewarded for our perseverance with breathtaking views of Everest, Lhotse, Cholatse and Taboche. After that, we will follow the Bhote Koshi's east bank to Maruleng.
 

The trail from Maruleng to Thame follows a centuries-old trade route utilized by Tibetan traders. We'll descend to Taranga after crossing the Bhote Koshi from Maruleng. Our trail then continues along the Langmuche Khola River valley, eventually arriving in Thame. This sizable community is home to a well-known monastery as well as breathtaking views of various mountains.

Today, we'll pass through a checkpoint on our way to the world's highest hydroelectric power facility, which provides power to the majority of the upper Khumbu region. We'll pass via gompas, prayer flags, mani walls and chortens on our way to Namche Bazaar, where we'll rest for the night.

We travel to the Hillary Suspension Bridge after breakfast and then via numerous local settlements, one of which being Phakding. Our arrival in Lukla is followed by an evening in a good hotel and, as is customary, a celebration with your trekking companions: you've done it! You've done a physical achievement that only a few people can dream of thanks to superb collaboration and determination. It's your final night on the mountain.
 

You'll take a short flight from Lukla to Kathmandu in the morning, where your tour begins and ends. After your journey across the Himalayas, you'll be transferred to your accommodation for some much-needed individual relaxation and reflection. In the evening, we'll gather for a farewell dinner at one of the city's best Nepalese restaurants, where we'll be happy to hear your thoughts on the trip. 
 

It's the last day of your trip to Nepal! Grab a bite to eat before heading to Kathmandu for some last-minute shopping. We'll make sure you get to Kathmandu International Airport in plenty of time for your return trip. We'll say our goodbyes and bid you farewell at this time, leaving you with pleasant memories and beautiful images to show your loved ones.