May 2 - May 6, 2024 | Change

via Cho La via Renjo La side trek (5 days)
Everest Region, Nepal

View full itinerary: Everest Base Camp
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Highlights: Cho La Pass, Gokyo, and Renjo La Pass

Difficulty: strenuous
via Cho La

The most popular of the three passes in the Khumbu region, the trail via Cho La (5420 m) provides stunning vistas along the high route between Everest Basecamp and the Gokyo Valley. With its series of lakes, the Gokyo Valley is probably one of the most beautiful valleys in the Khumbu Region, while the view from Gokyo Re rivals any of the trekking viewpoints in the Khumbu, including a more complete – if a bit further away – view of Mt Everest.

Side trip via Renjo La: The path via the Renjo La (5340 m) provides a more strenuous route from Gokyo back to Namche Bazaar via the barren and beautiful Bhote Valley, and the Sherpa Village of Thame. Ascending from Gokyo to the Renjo La provides jaw dropping views of Mt. Everest with Gokyo Lake below.

Weather Conditions in May

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May is the end of the ‘Spring Season’ when temperatures are more moderate and the pre-monsoon moisture increases the chance of precipitation as the month progresses. It can be hot and humid in the valleys at low elevations, so make sure you carry enough water. Like the rest of the spring, clear mornings typically give way to cloudy afternoons. At high altitudes, the precipitation can turn to snow, although at trekking elevations the accumulation does not usually get too deep. May is also the season when many 8000 m peaks are climbed so base camps of these mountains will be busy with activity.

At a glance
On average there are 12 days with precipitation in May. The highest point on the trek is Cho La Pass at 5420 m. During May, expect high temperatures of around 4.9°C (41°F) and lows down to -8.1°C (17°F) at Cho La Pass.

via Cho La via Renjo La Side trek
(Elevation Profile)

Extra rest days and overnights can be added once the itinerary is created. However any side trips must be added in this step before the itinerary is created.

Thu May 2 (day 1)

Lobuche (4940 m)

Expect typical high termperatures of about 7.8°C (46°F) and lows of about -5.2°C (23°F) in May.

Dzongla (4800 m)

About 5-6 hours from Gorak Shep
Expect typical high termperatures of about 8.6°C (47°F) and lows of about -4.4°C (24°F) in May.

Dzongla
Fri May 3 (day 2)

Cho La Pass (5420 m)

Expect typical high termperatures of about 4.9°C (41°F) and lows of about -8.1°C (17°F) in May.

Cho La Pass

Dragnag (4800 m)

About 5-6 hours from Dzongla via the Cho La
Expect typical high termperatures of about 8.6°C (47°F) and lows of about -4.4°C (24°F) in May.

Dragnag

Gokyo (4750 m)

Expect typical high termperatures of about 8.9°C (48°F) and lows of about -4.1°C (25°F) in May.

Gokyo
Sat May 4 (day 3)

Renjo La Pass (5340 m)

Expect typical high termperatures of about 5.4°C (42°F) and lows of about -7.6°C (18°F) in May.

Renjo La Pass

Lungden (4380 m)

About 6-8 hours from Gokyo
Expect typical high termperatures of about 11.1°C (52°F) and lows of about -1.9°C (29°F) in May.

Lungden
Sun May 5 (day 4)

Thame (3820 m)

About 3 hours from Lungdhen
Expect typical high termperatures of about 14.5°C (58°F) and lows of about 1.5°C (35°F) in May.

Thame

Namche Bazaar (3440 m)

About 2-3 hours from Thame
Expect typical high termperatures of about 16.8°C (62°F) and lows of about 3.8°C (39°F) in May.

Namche Bazaar
Mon May 6 (day 5)

by Robert (Canada) on Nov 25, 2019

Everest Base Camp via Cho La, via Renjo La, and Fifth Lake & Ngozumpa Tse led by Pemba Chiri Sherpa

by Ashleigh (Australia) on Apr 22, 2019

Everest Base Camp via Cho La led by Lhakpa Sherpa

This side trek was amazing! Lots of snow and a difficult trek, but the views are stunning and less people makes it a very special experience.

by Matthew (Australia) on Jun 25, 2018

Everest Base Camp via Cho La led by Ang Tsering Sherpa

by Susan (usa) on Jun 5, 2018

Everest Base Camp via Cho La, via Kongma La, and via Renjo La led by Nima T Sherpa

Excellent weather and conditions, though there were some tricky snow traverses. Nima and the team helped us across the snow and ice. Nima was very attentive to our stamina and well being, and was an enthusiastic guide!

by Rhett (Canada) on May 16, 2018

Everest Base Camp via Cho La and via Renjo La led by Pasang Dawa Sherpa

by Paul (Australia) on May 16, 2018

Everest Base Camp via Cho La led by Pemba Sherpa

by Lucy (New Zealand) on Feb 25, 2018

Everest Base Camp via Cho La led by Pema Futi Sherpa

Having come without crampons (not our best idea), we almost had to use a pair of socks at the suggestion of another groups guide, which he proceeded to do! Luckily another group passing in the opposite direction generously gave us theirs and we were able to cross the glacier easily.

by Robert (Canada) on Nov 25, 2019

Everest Base Camp via Cho La, via Renjo La, and Fifth Lake & Ngozumpa Tse led by Pemba Chiri Sherpa

by David (United Kingdom) on Apr 14, 2019

Gokyo Valley Fifth Lake & Ngozumpa Tse led by Pema Futi Sherpa

Not many people seemed to have done this. It was a long twelve hour day with lots of soft snow / breaking through the crust on the way back in the afternoon which was slow and tiring. The views from the top were fantastic

by Robert (Canada) on Nov 25, 2019

Everest Base Camp via Cho La, via Renjo La, and Fifth Lake & Ngozumpa Tse led by Pemba Chiri Sherpa

by Rhett (Canada) on May 16, 2018

Everest Base Camp via Cho La and via Renjo La led by Pasang Dawa Sherpa