Gokyo Renjo La Pass Trek - 13 days

Clothing: –

• Short-sleeved T-Shirt (merino wool)
• Long-sleeved T-shirt (merino wool)
• Trekking Trousers (preferably with zip-off shorts)
• Belt
• Underwear (merino wool) x 3
• Sports Bra (merino wool) x 2
• Trekking Socks (merino wool) x 3
• Liner Socks (optional) x 3
• Fleece Down Jacket
• Waterproof Jacket
• Waterproof Trousers
• Silk Leggings (for winter/high altitude)
• Hiking Boots/Shoes (+ insoles)
• Gloves x 2 (thin + thick)
• Hat x 2 (sun hat + warm hat)
• Buff Sunglasses (+ spare pair)
• Trousers (for the evening)
• Thermal Tank Top (for winter/high altitude)
• Long-sleeved Thermal Top (for evening/sleeping)
• Thermal Leggings (for evening/sleeping)
• Socks (for the evening)
• Sandals (for the evening)

Trekking Gear:-

• Backpack + Waterproof Cover
• Duffel Bag (if trekking with porter)
• Waterproof Backpack Liner
• Trekking Poles
• Water Bottle(s) / Bladder
• Headtorch (+ batteries/charging cable)
• Microspikes (if trekking in snowy/icy areas)
• Gaiters

Tea House Gear:-

• Sleeping Bag
• Silk Liner Eye Mask & Ear Plugs
• Travel Towel Scrubba & Suds (for laundry, optional)
• Washing Line (optional)
• Packable Bag (optional)
• Penknife + Repair Kit/Tape

Electronics:-

• Travel Adapter
• Power Bank + Charging
• Cable Portable Solar Panel (optional)
• Camera + SD Card + Batteries +
• Charging Unit + Charging Cable
• Phone + Charging Cable

Hygiene and First Aid:-

• Steripen + Filter (or similar) / Water Purification Tablets
• Insect Repellent
• Sunscreen (face + body + lips)
• Hand Sanitiser
• Wet Wipes
• Toilet Paper
• Toothbrush + Toothpaste
• Soap
• Shampoo
• Moisturiser
• Deodorant
• Nail Clippers (for longer treks)
• Tampons/Pads/Cup
• First Aid Kit
• Paracetamol
• Ibuprofen
• Diamox (optional)
• Antihistamines
• Strepsils (or similar)
• Diarrhoea Relief + Rehydration Sachets
• Electrolyte Tablets
• Compeed (or similar)
• Decongestant
• Eye Drops
• Any Other Personal Medication

Essentials:-

• Passport + Copy
• Travel Insurance Details
• Cash (enough for trek duration)
• Trekking Permits (if applicable)
• Waterproof Document Wallet

Miscellaneous:-

• Book / E-Reader (+ charging cable)
• Playing Cards / Games
• Pen + Journal
• Snacks + Specialist Food

Note: The above list can be customized as per the seasons and necessity of the trekkers.

Trails in the Everest Region are mostly associated with teahouses and the Gokyo Valley trail is not much different. You can expect to stay in fairly developed and relatively comfortable teahouses during the trek. The Lower Khumbu area specially provides all the additional facilities like Wi-Fi & Laundry with your rooms too. You’ll be provided with the basic amenities and services even as you gain more elevation and start staying at teahouses at high-altitude places here.

Most of the teahouses are family-run and operated so you can talk with the friendly owners and share some stories. Make sure you ask for the availability of working electrical outlets and Wi-Fi before taking a room on the Gokyo Lakes trail. Be humble and respect the local norms while staying in these places.

Meals during the trek are healthy and fit ideally for trekkers. Teahouses provide you with food as well as rooms in the Everest region. Most of the ingredients are locally produced or carried from the lower regions to your teahouses. The most common dish is the Nepali Dal Bhat alongside curry, which will provide enough fuel for you to keep walking throughout the day. You can find small shops and cafes every now and then where you can stop for a quick bite or buy snacks. Don’t forget to try some local foods and Tibetan tea when you are trekking in the Everest region as well.

There are multiple drinking water taps available at different sections of your trail. You can ask the teahouse owners to boil water for you and refill there as well. Similarly, freshwater streams straight from the Himalayas are also not hard to find while trekking. However, we suggest you carry some chlorine tablets or water purification agents in your bag just to be safe. Remember, it is very important to drink plenty of water while trekking in the Himalayas. Always carry at least a liter of drinkable water with you.

EBC trail has a stable internet connection for most parts thanks to the Everest Link’s Wi-Fi cards. These cards can be purchased at different stops during the trek. Trekkers can expect a fairly smooth connection for most parts of the Gokyo Lake trail as well. The Wi-Fi cards are available at a reasonable cost and you can find services from Lukla teahouses before Gokyo with the help of 36 solar-operated towers in this region. Similarly, mobile network coverage is also available in the lower regions of the trek.

With the itinerary created by the expert guides and trekking operators of Hillary Step Treks, your starting point for Gokyo will be at Lukla. However, we provide customization options if necessary as well. Another alternative for Lukla is to start from Jiri, following the classic trail exactly traveled by Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay Sherpa. Similarly, your other alternative is to drive to Salleri and lower Khumbu rather than flying directly. We’ve chosen Lukla because it is the most straightforward option saving you time, cost, and effort. Both Jiri and Salleri will make you add about 3-4 extra days for the same trek.

*Lukla Flight

As we’ve discussed before Lukla is the optimal starting point of the Gokyo Lake trek, let’s shine some light on the flight itself. Your domestic flight to Lukla will most likely be in the morning time from Kathmandu. It will be a short 45 min flight. Leaving the valley you can enjoy a fantastic view of diverse Nepalese geography topped by an amazing view of the Himalayas. The landing at Tenzing Hillary Airport in Lukla is Infamous for its short runway and extreme geographic location. You will have a nerve-racking experience while landing here. You’ll have a proper introduction to the remote Himalayas from this flight.

You must have 2 permits to do the trek alongside a TIMS card. The first permit is to enter the Sagarmatha National Park (SNPP). It will cost you around 30 USD per person and will be valid for the duration of the trek. Similarly, the next permit will be for the Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality Entrance Permit available at Lukla. It will cost you about 20 USD per person. Trekkers Information Management System Card(TIMS) is necessary for all trekkers in Nepal. You can get the card alongside the SNP permit at the NTB office in Kathmandu.

Gokyo Renjo La Pass Trek is moderately difficult for trekkers. If you’ve trekked before in the Himalayas, it is easier. We suggest you try short hikes before if this trek is your first one in the high elevation trails of the Himalayas. However, with proper guides and planning, anyone can complete the trek without any hassle. Be sure to attempt the trek during the season if you are not sure. The weather s nicer and you can find plenty of other trekkers to assist you throughout the journey.

Altitude sickness is common for trekkers heading over the 3000 meters (10000 ft) mark in the Himalayas. You will be doing plenty of high-elevation trekking during the Gokyo Renjo La Pass Trek too. We have carefully planned acclimatization days to make sure your body is adapting to the altitude. These stops at Namche and Gokyo are vital. However, only a small percentage of trekkers will be severely ill and caution can let you be safe here. Primary symptoms of altitude sickness include headache, nausea, breathlessness, vomiting, and in extreme cases hallucinations and unconsciousness. Make sure you let your guides know if you have any of these symptoms while trekking the Gokyo Lake trail. Here are some tips to prevent altitude sickness:

– Drink plenty of water. Keep rehydrating at regular intervals. It is best to drink a liter every hour you’ve walked here.

– Get plenty of rest & sleep. Don’t push yourself too much while walking. The key is to ascend slowly and gradually.

– Do warm-up hikes and stretching before starting the trek for the day.

– Try eating a balanced diet. Avoid too-much salty food and alcohol throughout the trek.

– If necessary take the pills for Altitude sickness by consulting with your guide. If you feel too uncomfortable descend immediately.

Post monsoon and early spring periods are the best time to visit Gokyo Lakes in Nepal. These include the months of March, April, May, October, and November. You can expect clear weather, fully-functional teahouses, plenty of daylight, and ideal trekking condition to do the trek in these months. However, off-season trekking is also an option if you are experienced enough. We suggest you do thorough planning and preparation while attempting to complete the Gokyo Lakes trek during any time of the year.

Here are some obvious reasons to choose Hillary Step Treks (HST) for the Gokyo Renjo La Pass Trek in Nepal:

• We are experienced. Our team has managed treks in Gokyo for well over two decades.
• Our guides are fluent in English, Nepali, and Local Sherpa dialects. They know the terrain, culture, people, and the Everest region through & through.
• HST will provide you best value services for your money. No hidden cost, every step with HST is transparent and clear. We value our clients over profit any day.
• Your safety is the top priority while trekking with the HST team.
• We go the extra mile to assure you of a complete trekking experience in Nepal. HST is your ideal choice for trekking in Nepal.