Chola Renjo la Pass Trek

Upon our arrival at the Tribhuvan International Airport we, the travelers will be welcomed by the representatives of the Mountain Ram Adventures who will be welcoming us and assisting us with our luggages. The representatives will be accompanying us to our accommodations which will be around the Thamel area after which we will freshen up and explore the local market or rest in our rooms after a long journey.

The Mountain Ram Adventures team will be arranging for a sightseeing tour on the second day of the ChoLa Renjo La Pass Trek during which we will be exploring four of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites within the Valley of Kathmandu accompanied by a English Speaking Cultural Guide in a comfortable vehicle. The tour will begin shortly after we have our breakfast and end at around 5 PM in the evening. We will be picked up from our hotel and will be dropped back in front of our Hotel after the completion of our Day Tour. After the trip we will be meeting the representatives of the team for a brief discussion of the Trek and other aspects of the tour. We will also be able to purchase good quality gears and other essentials for the trek from the Thamel Market at a very affordable rate.

Highlights of the Sightseeing Tour

Swayambhunath Temple: Swayambhunath Temple located on top of the Gosringha Hill has been serving as one of the sacred and religious sites for the Hindu and Buddhist community for more than 1500 years. The complex on top of the Gosringha Hill can only be accessed after climbing a flight of stairs. The Swayambhunath Stupa is constructed in a Dome Shape and surrounded by various shrines and temples. The name Swayambhunath Translates to "Self-created" as according to the Swayambhunath Puran, the valley of Kathmandu was once a big lake in which bloomed a Lotus flower from where a self existing fire emerged over which the Swayambhunath Stupa was constructed.

Pashupatinath Temple: Pashupatinath Temple is one of the major temple complexes of the Hindu community all around the world dedicated to the Lord of Destruction, Lord Shiva who is one of the three Supreme divinity in Hinduism(Trimurti). The temple is constructed beside the Holy Bagmati River in a Pagoda Architectural Style. The bank of the Bagmati river along the Pashupatinath temple is one of the biggest open cremation sites for the Hindu community as it is widely believed that the devotees who are cremated along the Bagmati River banks find their path to their next life without much problem. The Pashupatinath temple is surrounded by many smaller temples dedicated to various deities of Hinduism and within the main vicinity of the Pashupatinath Temple only the followers of Hinduism are permitted to enter.

Boudhanath Stupa: Boudhanath Stupa is located at the Northern part of the Valley near to the Pashupatinath Temple Complex. The Boudhanath Stupa is constructed in an traditional Ashokan Dome Style and stands tall at 36 M making it the biggest stupa of Nepal. The Stupa is located within one of the prime locations of the city; however the vicinity of the Stupa offers serene and tranquil space for the locals and tourists alike. The Stupa's History has not been well documented but it is believed to be constructed during the 13th Century AD beside the ancient trade route which connected Tibet and the Valley of Kathmandu. The Boudhanath Stupa is one of the most sacred sites in the country for the Buddhist community and is visited by thousands of travelers each year for religious purposes.

Patan Durbar Square: Patan Durbar Square is an ancient palace complex consisting of monuments constructed during the Malla Dynasty(1201 AD to 1779 AD) in Nepal. The Durbar Square used to be the royal residence of the Malla Kings and also the administrative head of the Kathmandu valley. The complex houses some of the iconic landmarks of the country including Shrines, Temples, Hitis, Courtyard constructed in the finest Nepalese architectural style.

We will be heading to TIA for our flight to Lukla which usually operates during the morning time as the weather conditions are stable. The flight to Lukla is filled with the beautiful views of the Himalayas including some of the tallest Mountains in the World including Mount Everest, Ama Dablam, Mount Lhotse, Mount Nuptse and other peaks. The flight will be around 25-30 Minutes long, taking us through lush green hills of eastern Nepal to one of the most dangerous airports in the World, the Tenzing-Hillary Airport in Lukla. After the scenic flight we will reach Lukla and begin our trek towards Phakding which will take us around 3-4 hours taking us through the beautiful downhill trek.

Note: During the peak season the flights from Kathmandu to Lukla are diverted to Ramechaap to Lukla by the concerned authority to maintain the air traffic in the capital. The Manthali Airport, Ramechhap is around 130 KM east from the capital which will take us around 5-6 hours in a vehicle. The flights to Lukla are conducted during the morning time as the weather is much more stable at dawn. The travelers will need to begin their journey from the capital as early as 2 AM to catch their flight from Ramechhap to Lukla. The team will arrange for the vehicle to Ramechhap on a sharing basis however, if the travelers want to travel in a private vehicle it is possible but will incur in some additional charges.

The trek from Phakding to Namche Bazaar is a gentle hike over the comfortable and well maintained trail. We will be having our breakfast in Phakding filled with the tranquil sound of the Dudh Koshi River. We make our way through the beautiful lush forest of the Lower Khumbu region along the Dush Koshi River which we will be crossing multiple times via suspension bridges. After a gentle trek over the flat trail we will reach Monjo, the entry point of the Sagarmatha National Park. After resting for a bit in Monjo we will make our way through the comfortable trail until we reach the Hillary Suspension Bridge from where the steep ascent to the Namche Bazaar begins. After trekking for around 6 hours in total we will reach Namche Bazaar from where we will be able to enjoy the views of some Khumbu Peaks including Mount Everest(8848.68 M), Lhotse(8516 M), Nuptse(7861 M), Ama Dablam(6812 M), Kusum Khangru(6367 M), Kongde Ri(6187 M) and many more. We will be staying in Namche Bazaar for the night in a Tea House.

On the fifth day of our tour we will be staying in Namche Bazaar for acclimatization and resting for our big journey ahead. We will be hiking up to the Everest View Hotel during the Dawn and Dusk to enjoy the beautiful views of the Himalayas during the Golden Hours. Namche Bazaar is one of the biggest settlements of the Sherpa People in the Everest Region and is filled with cafes, pubs, restaurants, bakeries where we can sit back and relax for the day soaking in the majestic views of the Himalayas. ATMs are also available in Namche Bazaar but they might not work which can become a huge problem so, we will be withdrawing the required funds for personal expenses and emergencies while in Kathmandu.

We make our way to Tengboche village on our 6th day of the trip which will take us around 5-6 Hours, during which we will be covering around 9.2 KM and gaining around 430 M in elevation. The trek to Tengboche begins with a gentle incline leading us towards the outskirts of Namche Bazaar from where we will be able to see the summit of Mount Everest and Lhotse which is simply mesmerizing. We make our way through a beautiful offbeat trail passing through beautiful Sherpa settlements: Sansa, Lawi Schyasa, Pungi Thenga where we will be crossing the Dudh Koshi River and heading uphill towards Tengboche. Tengboche is renowned for its Beautiful Monastery which is also the biggest monastery in Nepal. After a beautiful trek we will reach Tengboche where we will be spending our night in a cozy tea house.

After having our breaKfast and exploring the Tengboche Monastery we will be heading towards Dingboche at an elevation of 4450 M. The trek will take us around 6-7 hours during which we will be covering 11.5 KM and gaining around 550 M in elevation. The trek begins with a downhill descent towards the village of Deboche and Milingo. The trail passes through lush Rhododendron Forest where if lucky we will be able to spot some native wildlife including blue sheeps and beautiful birds. After the downhill descent we will be crossing the Imja Khola via a suspension bridge and making our way towards Dingboche. If the weather is clear we will be able to enjoy the picturesque views of the peaks including, TabochePeak(6495M), Mount Lhotse(8516M), AmaDablam(6812M),Thamserku(6608M), Cholatse(6501M) and Nupst(7861M).

We will be staying in Dingboche on our 8th day of the trip for acclimatization. We will be enjoying our breakfast and will be heading for an Acclimatization Hike on the Nagarjuna Hill which will take us around 5 Hours in total. We will be able to see the views of the Himalayas in a panoramic setting from the top of Nagarjuna Hill. Ama Dablam, Lobuche Peak, Lhotse, Nuptse, Kangtega, Cholatse are some of the peaks which can be seen during the hike. The Hike to Nagarjuna Hill is a challenging one as past trekkers have compared its difficulty with the Kalapathar Trek which is one of the popular destinations within the Everest Region. We will be trekking through steep ascends filled with rough trails. After around 2-3 hours Hike we will reach the top of the hill and return back to Dingboche after the acclimatization Hike. After the hike we will have free time during which we can rest and relax for the day.

The trek from Lobuche to Dingboche will be a beautiful hike which passes through the memorial site of Chukpi Lhara where there are stacked stones, chortens covered in prayer flags dedicated to the brave souls who have lost their life while summiting the peaks of the Khumbu Region. We will be trekking slowly at our own pace as we will be trekking above the 4500 M range from where the elevation can become a bit of a problem. We will be able to see the views of the Himalayas more dominantly as the vegetation in the upper region is limited to shrubs and bushes. Khumbutse(6639 M), Mount Lingtsew(6749 M), Pumori (7161 M) and Mount Everest (8848 M). We will be passing through the Glacier Moraine of the Khumbu Glacier which leads us to Lobuche at an elevation of 4900 M. we will be staying in Lobuche for the night in a Tea House.

We have a long yet memorable trek on the 10th day of the trip as we will be heading to Everest Base Camp at 5364 M via Gorak Shep. The trek in total will take us around 8-9 Hours during which we will be covering around 11 KM in total. We will be staying in Gorak Shep for the night, so we will be taking only the bare essentials for the hike up to EBC and leaving other essentials in Gorakshep. After trekking through the uneven moraine of the Khumbu Glacier we will reach the Everest Base Camp from where we will be able to enjoy the Himalayan Views in a 360 degrees setting however, we will not be able to see the summit of Mount Everest itself from the Basecamp. After enjoying the surreal views and clicking some pictures we will be making our way back towards Gorak Shep which is at an elevation of 5100 M where we will be staying for the night and which will also be the highest point where we will be spending our night for the entire Chola Renjo La Pass Trek.

The trek on our 11th day will begin early morning as we have a cup of tea and make our way to the summit of Kala Patthar which is at an elevation of 5545 M, from where we will be able to enjoy the unparalleled views of Mount Everest and other peaks of the Khumbu Himalayas if the weather conditions are favorable. We will be able to witness the golden sunrise on the peaks and as during the morning time the views are less interrupted by clouds we will be making our journey to Kalapathar early in the morning well before the sunrise. After soaking in the mesmerizing views we will be returning back to Gorak Shep and have our breakfast after which we will be making our way to Zongla which is around 10.6 KM from Gorakshep. The trek will mostly be downhill until we reach Chukpi Lharafrom where we will be making a right turn towards Zongla. We will be making our way through the beautiful trail filled with the views of the Chola Lake. The trail to Lobuche Base Camp also separates from the trail as we make our way forward towards Zongla. After trekking for around 7-8 Hours we will be reaching Zhola, a small settlement nestled between Cholatse and Lobuche Himal where we will be spending the 11th day of our tour in a Tea House.

We make our way from Zongla towards Cho La Pass early in the morning before dawn as we ascend through the uphill terrain. The trail is steep all the way to the Pass at an elevation of 5420 M. After a strenuous ascent we will reach the top of the pass marked by prayer flags. The views from the Past are simply surreal providing stunning views of the high Snow Capped peaks and the deep Himalayan valley. We make our way through the steep downhill trail which leads to the village of Thagnak after enjoying the views from the top. After trekking for around 7-8 hours and covering around 9 KM in total we will eventually reach our destination for the day, Thangnak.

The trek from Thagnak to Gokyo Valley is one of the most beautiful hike of the entire trek during which we will be passing through the longest glacier of Nepal, the Ngozumpa Glacier which is 36 KM long and flows down from the 6th highest mountain of the World, Mount Cho Oyu (8188 M). We make our way through the uneven moraines of the glacier to the Gokyo valley through the beautiful trail along the Gokyo Lake 1(Langponga Tsho) and Lake 2(Taujung Tsho) respectively which leads us to the village of Gokyo nestled on the shore of Gokyo Lake 3 (Dudh Pokhari). After reaching Gokyo village we will rest a bit in our tea house and head towards the top of Gokyo Ri at an elevation of 5350 M. The hike up to Gokyo Ri is steep and filled with challenging inclines but the views from the top will make us forget about the hardship as we will be greeted with the beautiful views of Mount Everest(8848 M), Mount Makalu(8485 M), Mount Lhotse(8516 M) and Cho Oyu(8188 M) and other peaks. After soaking in the majestic views we head back to the valley and rest for the day enjoying the tranquil views of the Dudh Pokhari.

We will be heading on a day hike to the Fifth Gokyo lake which is nestled at the base of Mount Cho Oyu (8188 M). We will be trekking for around 14 KM in total passing through offbeat trails filled with the beautiful views of the Himayas including Mount Cho Oyu which will be the most prominent one of them all. We make our way through the trail which passes beside the fourth lake (Thonak Tsho) and make our way towards the 5th lake (Ngozumpa Tsho). After reaching the 5th lake at an elevation of 5000 M we will be enjoying the majestic views of the pristine turquoise lake and the surrounding vista and returning back to Gokyo Village where we will be relaxing for the day and simply enjoying the views.

The trek to Lumde is difficult, challenging the trekkers through steep inclines and zigzag trails which leads us to the top of the Renjo La Pass. Even Though the trek is strenuous the views are absolutely stunning as we will be able to enjoy the magnificent views of Mount Everest, Mount Makalu and surrounding peaks in a panoramic setting compensated by the views of the Gokyo Lake 3 (Dudh Pokhari), making the views even more beautiful. After enjoying the views we will make our way through the steep descent enjoying the views of some stunning peaks from the Gaurishankar and Rolwaling Himalayan Range including Menlungste, Drangnag Ri, Dragkya Chhulung, Tengi Ragi Tau, Langmoche and many more. After trekking through the Yak Pasture lands and beautiful meadows we will eventually reach Lumde where we will be spending our night.

The Hike on our 16th day will be pleasant and short during which we will be trekking in a beautiful trail which passes through the Sherpa Settlements. The trek is filled with the mesmerizing views of the Rolwaling and Khumbu Himalayan range which includes intimidating peaks such as Kangtega (6783 M), Thamserku (6623 M), Kyashar(6796 M) and Kusum Kangguru (6367 M) and others. After trekking for around 4-5 hours we will reach Thame where there is a Chorten marking the entry to the village. Thame Gaun is a beautiful settlement which we will be exploring after checking into our rooms in the tea house. The village has many beautiful chorten and a Monastery which we will be exploring after freshening up and having our lunch.

We are heading back to Namche Bazaar on the 17th day of our journey during which we will be passing through Thamu which is a beautiful Sherpa Settlement. We will be resting there for a bit if required and enjoying the tranquil scenery. The trails to Namche Bazaar from Thamu are marked by beautiful prayer Wheels along the trail along with a big stone divider in the middle of the trail which is painted in red color over which “Om Mani Padme Hum” is written with gold color paint. After a comfortable downhill trek we will reach the Helipad in Syangboche village from where we will be able to see the Namche Bazaar, where we will be staying for the night. After checking into our guest house we will freshen up and during dusk we will head towards the Everest Hotel to soak in the views of Mount Everest for the final time during the golden hour.

The trail from Namche Bazaar to Lukla will take us around 7 hours to complete during which we will be dropping around 580 M in altitude. The trail begins with the steep descent towards the Hillary Suspension bridge after which the trail is flat and passes through the lush green Rhododendron forest which leads us towards Monjo and Phakding respectively. We will be having our lunch in Phakding after which the trail becomes a bit incline but is still comfortable to trek on. After trekking for around 7 hours we will reach Lukla which marks the end of our beautiful Chola Renjo La Pass Trek. We will be staying in the Namche Bazaar for the night.

On the day 19 of the tour we will be returning back to the capital city via a scenic flight from the Tenzing Hillary Airport. The flights are operated during the morning time and we will most probably reach the capital before 11 AM in the morning. After we arrive at the airport we will be transferred to our accommodation in the Thamel area after which we have free time to explore the local area. During the evening time we will be meeting up with the representatives of the Mountain Ram Adventures team for a complimentary farewell dinner where we will be provided with a certificate recognising the feet we achieved in the High Himalayas. We will need to provide our honest feedback to the team during the dinner. After the dinner we will be heading back to our accommodation or enjoy the night time in the Thamel area.

As the Chola Renjo La Pass Trek is completed successfully we will be transferred to the Tribhuvan International Airport for our flight back to our own country. The team representative will be arriving at our hotel in a private vehicle and will be assisting us to load our luggage into the vehicle in which we will be heading towards the airport. The representative will be bidding us farewell at the airport which marks the official end to the beautiful trek in the Himalayas.