Nepal: 21d Rinjo La, Cho La pass & Kalapattar Trekking

  • Sophisticated
  • 5,550 M
  • 13 Days Tea House
  • 7 Days Hotel Days

Rinjo La Pass, Cho La Pass, and Kalapattar trek is one of the most challenging routes in the Khumbu region. These three passes are one of the high passes in the Khumbu region. The trek continues from Namche Bazaar via Thame and then goes over Rinjo La Pass to reach Gokyo and Gokyo Ri. From Gokyo, you cross Nagozumda Glacier to Chola pass. And then we follow the way to Everest Base Camp to Kala Patthar to see the best view of Mt. Everest and return to Lobuche crossing the Phokolde Pass to the Chukung valley.

During the trip, you can enjoy the outstanding view of white snow-capped mountains with one of the beautiful freshwater lakes called Gokyo lake. This Lake is designated as a world heritage site on 13-September-2007. Great panoramic mountain views including Everest, picturesque Sherpa settlements, Crossing through great Renjo La pass, Cho La pass, Gokyo peak & Gokyo lake View of Khumbu Glacier, friendly Sherpa people. From Renjo La Pass, we get outstanding views of the surrounding. The Everest itself, Lhotse, Cholatse, and Taboche can be seen shining in the sun. 

 

  • Area: Everest Region
  • Difficulty:D (Challenging)
  • Duration: 21 days
  • Starting point: Lukla
  • Ending point: Lukla
  • Best season: : Sep-Dec, Feb – May
  • Max. Group size: 30 pax
  • Min. Group size: 01 pax
  • Culture: Renowned Sherpa Culture.
  • Himalayan sights: The Himalayan range including the world’s highest Mt. Everest (8850m).

Note: B=Breakfast, L= Lunch, D=Dinner

Day to day schedule to Nepal: 21d Rinjo La, Cho La pass & Kalapattar Trekking

  • Day 01: Arrival in Kathmandu, o/n in a hotel +D

    Arrival and transfer to hotel, after some refreshment, welcome dinner.

  • Day 02: Sightseeing around in Kathmandu valley, o/n in a hotel +O

    After breakfast, we get acquainted with the bikes and start our adventure with a half-day sightseeing tour of three of the most famous sightseeing spots: first we visit Soyambhunath, which is a beautiful Buddhist monastery perched at the top of a hill that offers also a splendid view on Kathmandu city. Next we cycle to Pashupatinath Temple (the most important National Hindu temple) and will also visit and see Boudha Natha (the world famous Buddhist monastery). These places are of interest because they were built up from the 5th century, rich in their architecture and religious meanings. After visiting all these historical heritages of great influence, we leave the rest of the day at your leisure. At your interest, you can wander around the streets and shop along full with hundreds of colorful shops.

  • Day 03: Fly to Lukla and trek to Phakding (2,652m, 3/4hrs) o/n in lodge +O+L+D.

    After breakfast, we get transferred to the domestic terminal of Kathmandu airport for an early morning flight to Lukla (2,800m), a gateway destination from where our trek starts. After an adventurous 40 minute flight above breathtaking green and white mountains, we reach the Tenzing-Hillary Airport at Lukla. This is one of the most beautiful air routes in the world culminating in a dramatic landing on a hillside surrounded by high mountains peaks. Here we meet our other crew members and after some packing and arrangements, we start our trek through the prosperous village of Lukla until we reach Phakding. To assist in acclimatization, we only have a short hike today. However, if interested in additional activities we can take a side trip to a nearby monastery.

  • Day 04: Trek to Namche Bazaar (3440m, 5/6hrs), o/n in hotel +O+L+D

    Walking through a beautiful pine forest, the track leads us along the Dudh Koshi River through many suspension bridges, one of which is the famous Hillary Suspension Bridge. First, we catch wonderful prospect of the glistening Mt. Thamserku (6618 m). Through the settlement of Benkar, Chumoa, Monjo, we come to the check post and entrance to Sagarmatha National Park. We pass through the last village of Jorsale before reaching Namche Bazaar. The trail climbs through the forests and bridges until we reach the confluence of the Dudh Koshi and Bhote Koshi rivers. After a final steep ascent of about two hours we get first sight of Mt. Everest peering over the Lhotse-Nuptse ridge. We stop at Chautara to admire the view. We still need to hike about 1.5 hours to reach Namche Bazaar, a gateway to Mt. Everest and main trading centre of this region.

  • Day 05: Rest day in Namche Bazaar, o/n in a hotel +O+L+D

    This is the scheduled ‘acclimatization’ day for this trek. Health experts always recommend us to stay active and moving during the rest day too instead of being idle. We either spend the day taking a day hike to Thame or visiting Khunde or relaxing and exploring Namche Bazaar itself. Namche Bazzar is the main centre of the Everest (Khumbu) region and has government offices, ATMs, Internet cafes, shops, restaurants, a bakery and a colorful market each Friday evening and Saturday. If we trek a few hundred vertical feet during the day, it will help us to properly acclimatize. Our guides will take us to the Tourist Visitor Center near the headquarter of the Sagarmatha National Park where we can observe an assortment of things related to the first Everest ascenders, Sherpa culture and learn about the various plant and animal life of the Everest region. We also take an interesting side trip up to Khumjung. We climb up to the famous airstrip at Syangboche. Just above the airstrip is the Everest View Hotel, a Japanese scheme to build a deluxe hotel with great views of the highest mountains on Earth. The Khumjung valley is surrounded by the snowy peaks of Kongde and Thamserku and the sacred peak Khumbila, hosts a well known monastery that houses a yeti scalp. We also visit Hillary School which is at the same site. After having lunch and spending some time in Khumjung, we walk back down to Namche Bazza.

  • Day 06: Trek to Tengboche (3,860m, 5/6hrs), o/n in lodge +O+L+D

    After breakfast in Namche, we start our trek towards Tengboche enjoying superb view of Mt. Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse, Ama Dablam and close up view of Thamserku. Our trek follows on the gradual trail with few ups and downs overlooking magnificent view of the great Himalaya. Along the way we can spot wild lives like pheasant, musk deer, or a herd of Himalayan Thar. The trail goes gradually down up to Kayangjuma. The path eventually reaches Sansa which is the major trail junction to Gokyo valley and Everest Base Camp. The track then follows through the pine forests and after we cross the prayer flags festooned bridge over Dudh Koshi River, we reach Phunki Thenga, a small settlement with a couple of teahouses and a small army post amidst the alpine woods. After having a relaxed lunch at Phunki Thenga we then have a little tough climb steep up through the pine forests while before we reach Tengboche. Tengboche is a great place for close up views of Ama-Dablam, Nuptse, and Everest and it has a biggest Buddhist Monastery all over in Khumbu region. We visit the monastery the same day at around 3 p.m. to witness the ceremony in the principal and popular monastery of Everest region.

  • Day 07: Trek to Dingboche (4,360 m, 5/6hrs) o/n in lodge +O+L+D

    Mountains as a backdrop, the monastery in Tengboche looks spectacular more in the morning. We snap pictures of the monastery and the sceneries around and as usual start the day journey. We choose the upper trail for better views to visit Pangboche village and its ancient Monastery. We pass through several Chortens and Mani walls and small villages. We enjoy lunch with fantastic close-up views of Ama-Dablam. In the afternoon, go north to Pheriche or take the eastward trail beneath the towering north face of Ama Dablam. From here onwards the walk is fairly moderate as we enter the Imja Valley. The valley ahead will begin to open up as we approach the confluence of the Lobuche River, we descend into the river and begin the last and steepest climb of the day up to Dingboche On arrival in Dingboche, we enjoy the beautiful array of fields enclosed by stone walls to protect the barley, buckwheat and potatoes from the cold winds and grazing animals.

  • Day 08: Rest and hiking around in Dinboche, o/n in lodge +O+L+D

  • Day 09: Trek to Lobuche (4940 m, 3/4hrs) o/n in lodge +O+L+D

    Beyond Duglha we trek up the steep terminal moraine of the Khumbu Glacier. We find our way through the boulder-strewn slope as we ascend Chupki Lhara, an eerie ridge top with dramatic mountains views. At the top of the ridge we will find an array of stones with prayer flags used as memorials to Scott Fischer (American mountaineer) and 10 times Everest submitter Babu Chiri Sherpa (mountain guide from Nepal) who perished on a mission to climb Everest. As the trail drops to the Khumbu Glacier moraine, we find ourselves right “in front of” several great peaks – Khumbutse, Lingtren, Pumori and Mahalangur Himal. We are now in the vicinity of Everest but the great mountain still remains hidden. Nuptse towers to the right as the trail crosses the Khumbu Glacier. As we trek along a murmuring stream we do not see the Khumbu glacier because of its lateral moraine wall and we now begin to feel a little out of breath due to high altitude.

  • Day 10: Trek to Gorak Shep (5170 m) - Everest Base Camp (5364m)/ Gorak Shep: (8/9 hrs) o/n in lodge +O+L+D

    The trail to Gorak Shep goes ahead through the lateral moraine of the Khumbu Glacier. We pass though the pyramid sign post. Ahead on the trail we see crest of north ridge of Everest along with Mt. Pumori, Mahalangur, Lingtern, Khumbutse, Nuptse, etc. A small ascent would take us to Thangma Riju. As we reach Gorak Shep, we will be surrounded by snow-capped mountains looming all around us including the top of the world – Mount Everest. After a brief lunch and rest, we take the trail to Everest Base Camp through the once vast Gorak Shep.
    Lake and return back to Gorak Shep

  • Day 11: Morning to Kalapather and trek to Dzongla (3900 m, 6/7hrs) o/n in lodge +O+L+D

    Today is the climax of our trip. We start early in the morning to catch the dramatic views from Kala Patthar witnessing the first light of day shining on Mount Everest. However, we need to get prepared for an early morning; there is always the potential for chilly winds which are quite common. Familiar peaks such as Lingtren, Khumbutse, Changtse tower to the east even as Everest begins to reveal itself emerging between the west shoulder crest and Nuptse. During the ascent to Kala Patthar we can pause to catch our breath at several outstanding view points to snap pictures. After several hours of an ascent, we reach Kala Patthar. From here we scramble to climb the rocky outcrop near to the summit marked by cairns and prayer flags. As we reach the top, we sit on the Kala Patthar rocks our eyes taking in the unbelievable Himalayan Panorama, wandering from one mighty massif to another. We take as many pictures as we can with our camera and take the in view with our mind’s eye to last lifetime. On being back to Gorak Shep, we have breakfast and continue trek back to Dzongla.

  • Day 12: Trek to gokyo (4800m, 7hrs) o/n in lodge +O+L+D

    After early breakfast, our walk begins as we transverse through a spur extending westward from Dzongla. The path descends to a basin across which meanders a murmuring stream crusted with ice at places. In about an hour, we reach the top of the basin readying for the triumph on ChoLa pass 5430m. As we gain height, the view back gets increasingly more captivating; the Chola Lake begins to appear and the Ama Dablam in its pyramidal incarnation presides over a range of mountains on the south as Cholatse soars on the west.

  • Day 13: Rest and hiking around in Gokyo ri and back to Gokyo, o/n in lodge +O+L+D

  • Day 14: Trek to Marulung via Renjo pass (4200m, 7hrs) o/n in lodge +O+L+D

    An early breakfast, start trek dawn today as we have to trace our trail up to Marlung today after conquest of Renjo La 5345m. As there is no alternative to Marlung for overnight, we need to start early. Down from the Gokyo Valley, we leave the main trail and turn to Renjo La trail by Dudh Pokhari. After about 3 hours, we gain the Renjo La where a dazzling vista awaits. The Everest itself, Lhotse, Cholatse and Taboche can be seen shining in the sun. Views from Renjo La are much like that from Gokyo Ri with third Gokyo Lake and Gokyo Village beneath the gray smear of Ngozumpa Glacier.

  • Day 15: Trek to Namche Bazzar (3,440 m, 5/6 hrs) o/n in lodge +O+L+D

    The descent from Marulung to Thame follows a traditional route used for centuries by the Tibetan traders. Down from the Marulung we cross the Bhote Kosi and descend to Taranga. The trail then goes through the valley of Langmuche Khola. This stream drains down from Dig Tsho, the glacial lake that burst its banks in 1985, causing devastating floods along the Dudh Kosi Valley to moraine to Thame. Thame has a sprawling village with a few lodges and stunning mountains like Thamserku, Katenga, Kusum Kangguru, etc. Overlooking Thame is its famous Gompa situated some the fields, on a hill to the west. Established some 325 years ago, the Gompa has three big images of Chenresig (Avalokiteswara), Guru Rimpoche, Buddha Sakyamuni. Colorful Mani Rimdu festival featuring colorful mask dances is held in this Gompa in May. We climb down after crossing a bridge after then eventually reach Samde and continue to Namche bazaar.

  • Day 16: Trek to Phagding (2600, 5hrs) o/n in lodge +O+L+D

    The trail descends steeply downward so we need to walk slowly and under control as our shaky legs continuously battle the rocky terrain. After crossing the suspension bridges over the fast flowing Dudh Koshi and its tributaries the trail becomes more level and natural. By today we start to get warmed up by the light breeze. Any remaining sore throats and colds will be gone by today as we pass through this charming mountain air to Phagding.

  • Day 17: Trek to Lukla ( 2850m,3/4hrs) o/n in lodge +O+L+D

    After breakfast ,we start trek same route down, we feel completely different views, we snap a mixture of open plains, rhododendron and pine forests, and in the distance snow covered peaks. We walk through the Sherpa villages’ noticing impressive faith in Buddhism and culture of prayer stones and prayers flag while we walk through the villages. On arrival in Lukla, we stretch those sore legs and recall the experiences of the last couple of weeks. We experience the culmination of a fantastic trek on a happy note with everyone back safe and sound with smile on their faces.

  • Day 18: Flight to Kathmandu and transfer to hotel o/n in a hotel +O

  • Day 19: Sightseeing of Kathmandu Valley/n in a hotel.(B)

  • Day 20: Free day for shopping or sightseeing of Patan and Bhaktpur, o/n in a hotel.(B)

  • Day 21: Transfer to international airport.(B)

What is included?

  • Arrival and transfer transport from to international and domestic airport in Kathmandu
  • Sightseeing with cultural guide as per mention in the program
  • Monument entrance fees during sightseeing
  • Government licensed trekking guide and porters during trekking
  • 3 meals a day during trekking (B, L, D)
  • Domestic flight ticket KTM- LUK-KTM
  • Domestic airport tax
  • Accommodation in lodge during trek

What is excluded?

  • Personal expenses and tips for staff
  • Lunch and dinner in Kathmandu
  • International flight ticket
  • Personal insurance for helicopter rescue in case of emergency

Best Seasons Listing

Best Season
Sep - Dec, Feb - May

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Nepal Trekking

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