Lake · 4,750 m
Gokyo Lakes
A chain of glacier-fed lakes beside the Ngozumpa glacier, with views of Everest and Cho Oyu from the hill of Gokyo Ri.
Everest Region (Khumbu)रेन्जो ला
Renjo La
A high pass west of Gokyo with a wide view back over the lakes to Everest, linking Gokyo with the Thame valley.
- Altitude
- 5,360 m*
- Best months
- Mar-May, Oct-Nov
- Type
- Mountain pass
- District
- Solukhumbu, Koshi
- Permit
- Permit required
Higher seasonal exposure: altitude (All year), snow (Nov-Apr), seasonal closure (Dec-Feb), cold (Nov-Mar), seasonal closure (Jun-Sep).
Why go
The Renjo La is a pass of about 5,360 m on the ridge west of the Gokyo Lakes. Within the Everest region it links Gokyo with Lungden and the Bhote Koshi valley towards Thame, and it is the western pass of the Three High Passes route.
From Gokyo the trail follows the shore of the third lake, then climbs steadily over rocky slopes and a long series of stone steps to the top. The view east from the pass is the reward: Gokyo village and its turquoise lake, the grey Ngozumpa Glacier and, behind them, Everest, Lhotse, Makalu and Cho Oyu. The western descent drops over snow and rock past a small lake into the open Lungden valley. The crossing usually takes 7-9 hours.
History and culture
The Bhote Koshi valley west of the pass was once part of the salt and wool trade route to Tibet over the Nangpa La, and Renjo La was used by local herders. Stone steps were built on the eastern side in the 2000s, which made the crossing more practical for trekkers.
Things to do in Renjo La
Cross from Gokyo to Lungden
Start early from Gokyo to reach the top before the cloud builds; allow 7-9 hours to Lungden.
Photograph the Gokyo view
The top looks east over Gokyo lake and the Ngozumpa Glacier to Everest; morning light is usually clearest.
Weather and the best time to visit Renjo La
Weather in Renjo La
Forecast for 5,360 m. Conditions change fast in the mountains.
Weather data: MET Norway, licensed CC BY 4.0. A forecast, not a guarantee.
Best time to visit
Mar-May, Oct-Nov
- Jan
- Feb
- Good month: Mar
- Good month: Apr
- Good month: May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Good month: Oct
- Good month: Nov
- Dec
- Autumn (Sep-Nov)
- October and November usually bring the clearest skies and stable weather, with cold nights well below freezing.
- Winter (Dec-Feb)
- December to February is very cold, with snow possible on the trail; some lodges close and the high passes can be impassable.
- Spring (Mar-May)
- March to May is warmer and busy, with more afternoon cloud; late spring brings expedition traffic towards base camp.
- Monsoon (Jun-Aug)
- June to August brings cloud and rain, poor mountain views and frequent delays on the Lukla flights; few lodges stay fully open.
Where to stay
No overnight stays
There is no accommodation on the pass; sleep at Gokyo before and Lungden after.
No partner stays are listed here yet. List a property.
Getting there
The Renjo La is crossed on foot between Gokyo (east) and Lungden (west).
Nearest hub: Lukla (Tenzing-Hillary Airport)
- flightKathmandu or Ramechhap (Manthali) to Lukla, roughly 25-40 minutes, weather permitting; in busy seasons many flights leave from Ramechhap.
- trekGokyo to the pass, about 3-4 hours; pass to Lungden, about 3-4 hours.
Getting to Renjo La, by mode
Nearest hub: Lukla. Times are typical ranges, not schedules, and vary with roadworks, weather and the season.
By airfrom Kathmanduabout 0.4-0.7 hLukla (Tenzing-Hillary)often delayed or cancelled by weather
A 25-40 minute mountain flight to Lukla, weather permitting, then the walk in. In the busy seasons most flights leave from Ramechhap (Manthali) instead of Kathmandu, a 3-4 hour drive east, which means a night-time road transfer. Cancellations for wind and visibility are routine, so spare days belong in the plan.
When to set off: Lukla flights are scheduled at first light, before the south-west wind builds from mid to late morning; Ramechhap departures leave Kathmandu by road around 03:00-04:00
On footfrom Gokyo Lakesabout 7-9 h7-9 h Gokyo to Lungden, roughly 600 m of ascent and 1,000 m of descent
Crossed in one push between the lodges at Gokyo and Lungden; the pass itself is 3-4 h from Gokyo.
When to set off: cross early: parties leave the lodges around 04:00-05:00 so the snow is still firm and the pass is behind them before the afternoon wind
Where people go next
- Lungdenon foot, about 3-4 hWest side, down to the lodges at Lungden.
- Gokyo Lakeson foot, about 3-4 hEast side, back down to Gokyo.
- Thameon foot, about 7-9 hLungden then on down the Bhote Koshi valley to Thame.
Permits and fees
Permit required
This stop is inside Sagarmatha National Park; the park entry permit and the Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality permit apply. Check whether a TIMS card is currently required.
- Sagarmatha National Park entry permit: Issued in Kathmandu or at the park entrance near Monjo; check the latest rules and fees.
- Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality entry permit: Local permit collected in the Lukla area.
- Licensed guide: Since April 2023 foreign trekkers in national parks and conservation areas are generally required to go with a licensed guide; the local municipality in Khumbu has disputed this, so check the current rule.
Verify before travel: permit rules and fees change. Checked 2026-10-06 against Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation.
On the trail
On the Three High Passes trek, Gokyo Lakes trek (Renjo La variant).
- Previous stop:
- Gokyo
- Next stop:
- Lungden
- A typical day:
- About 7-9 hours, roughly 600 m of ascent and 1,000 m of descent, with stone steps on the east side and snow possible on the west.
Risks and conditions
Seasonal risks around Renjo La
What this place is typically exposed to, and when. These are seasonal patterns, not a report on conditions now.
Altitudehigh in a typical yearAll year
The Renjo La is given as about 5,340-5,465 m, higher than any lodge on either side. Acute mountain sickness is common on fast ascents - it affects roughly 40 per cent of people who go up quickly to 3,000 m, and more above that. General information, not medical advice: gain height slowly, keep sleeping-height gains small (about 300 m a day once high), build in rest days, learn the symptoms - headache, nausea, breathlessness, broken sleep - and descend if they get worse. See a doctor before travelling and carry insurance that covers helicopter evacuation.
Snowhigh in a typical yearNov-Apr
The pass holds snow from late autumn into spring and can be impassable for days after a storm; parties set out before dawn to cross while the surface is still frozen, and turn back when the snow is deep.
Seasonal closurehigh in a typical yearDec-Feb
The high passes are rarely crossed in the deep-winter months, when snow blocks the trails above Tengboche and many of the teahouses on either side do not open.
Coldhigh in a typical yearNov-Mar
Nights are far below freezing from November to March at this height, with wind on the open moraine and unheated bedrooms in the teahouses; a winter-rated sleeping bag and down layer are the norm.
Seasonal closurehigh in a typical yearJun-Sep
Lukla flights are the weak link in the monsoon: poor visibility stops operations at the airstrip about half the time in that season and about half of flights are cancelled, and waits of several days happen. Any itinerary built on the flight needs spare days at both ends.
Othermoderate in a typical yearAll year
The east side is a staircase of stone steps and the west side drops about 1,000 m to Lungden, with snow lying longer on that western slope; the whole crossing is 7-9 h with no shelter.
Otherlow in a typical yearJun-Aug
The monsoon brings cloud and rain rather than views, and the stages are wet and misty underfoot, although the upper valleys get less rain than the forest below.
Check current conditions before you travel
Roads, trails, passes and flights change with the weather and with roadworks, and nothing on this page describes conditions today. Before you set off, check the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology for weather and flood warnings, the Nepal Disaster Risk Reduction Portal for incidents, and the local authority, police or your licensed operator for road, trail and flight status.
Practical tips
- This is high altitude: go up slowly, watch for headache, nausea and unusual tiredness, and descend if symptoms get worse. General information, not medical advice.
- Snow and ice often linger on the western side; carry microspikes in spring and after storms.
- There are no lodges between Gokyo and Lungden; carry water and food.
- Do not cross in poor visibility.
Questions about Renjo La
How high is the Renjo La?
About 5,360 m in most trekking sources; maps give figures from about 5,340 m to 5,465 m.
Is the Renjo La harder than the Cho La?
It is usually considered less technical, with no glacier, but it is long and high and the west side can hold snow.
What is the view from the Renjo La?
East over Gokyo lake and the Ngozumpa Glacier to Everest, Lhotse, Makalu and Cho Oyu.
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Nearby
Valley or region
Everest Region (Khumbu)
The Sherpa homeland below Everest, reached on foot from Lukla through stone villages, monasteries and glacial valleys.
Editorial draft: facts are being checked against the sources below. Last checked 2026-10-06. Sources: Gokyo Lakes, Wikipedia, Renjo La, OpenStreetMap