A long, demanding circuit of the Khumbu over the Kongma La, Cho La and Renjo La, all above 5,300 m, taking in Everest Base Camp, Kala Patthar, the Gokyo Lakes and the Thame valley.
- Days
- 19 days
- Maximum altitude
- 5,644 m
- Difficulty
- Challenging
Everest Region (Khumbu)लुङदेन
Lungden
A remote lodge stop in the upper Bhote Koshi valley, the western end of the Renjo La crossing.
- Altitude
- 4,380 m
- Best months
- Mar-May, Oct-Nov
- Type
- Trek stop
- District
- Solukhumbu, Koshi
- Permit
- Permit required
Higher seasonal exposure: altitude (All year), snow (Dec-Mar), cold (Nov-Mar), seasonal closure (Jun-Sep), snow (Nov-Apr).
Why go
Lungden is a small group of lodges at about 4,380 m in the upper Bhote Koshi valley, west of Gokyo. Within the Everest region it is the overnight stop after crossing the Renjo La from Gokyo, or before crossing it when coming up from Thame.
The valley is wide, quiet and treeless, with stone-walled yak pastures and views of the peaks along the Tibetan border. Below Lungden the trail follows the river south through Marlung and Taranga to Thame, an easy descent of 4-5 hours. Up the valley, the old trade route continued north towards the Nangpa La, a pass into Tibet that is not open to trekkers.
History and culture
The Bhote Koshi valley was the route of the trans-Himalayan trade between Khumbu and Tibet, and Sherpa herders used Lungden as summer pasture. Today the lodges serve trekkers on the Renjo La route and a few climbers and herders. The valley is inside Sagarmatha National Park.
Things to do in Lungden
Walk up the valley
A short walk north along the river gives views towards the Nangpa La area; trekkers may not cross into Tibet.
Rest after the pass
Most people arrive tired from the Renjo La; the lodge dining rooms are the warm place to recover.
Weather and the best time to visit Lungden
Weather in Lungden
Forecast for 4,380 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
LodgesTeahouses
A few basic lodges.
No partner stays are listed here yet. List a property.
Getting there
Lungden is reached on foot from Gokyo over the Renjo La or from Thame up the Bhote Koshi valley.
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.
- trekThame to Lungden, about 5-6 hours up the valley; Gokyo to Lungden over the Renjo La, about 7-9 hours.
Getting to Lungden, 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 Thameabout 5-6 h5-6 h from Thame up the Bhote Koshi valley; 7-9 h from Gokyo over the Renjo La
Either a valley day up from Thame, or arrival off the Renjo La after about 1,000 m of descent on the western side.
When to set off: teahouse stages start after breakfast, usually by 07:30, to arrive before the afternoon cloud and wind
Where people go next
- Thameon foot, about 4-5 hDown the valley to Thame.
- Renjo Laon foot, about 3-4 hEast up to the Renjo La for Gokyo.
- Gokyo Lakeson foot, about 7-9 hOver the Renjo La to Gokyo in one long day.
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.
- Previous stop:
- Gokyo via the Renjo La
- Next stop:
- Thame
- A typical day:
- Arrival after a 7-9 hour crossing of the Renjo La with about 1,000 m of descent on the western side.
Risks and conditions
Seasonal risks around Lungden
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
Lungden is at about 4,380 m in the upper Bhote Koshi valley. 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 yearDec-Mar
Deep winter snow can block the trails above Tengboche, and spring storms leave fresh snow on the higher stages; December to March is the usual snow window at this height.
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.
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 closuremoderate in a typical yearDec-Feb
Above Tengboche many teahouses do not stay open through the deep-winter months, so the high stages are seldom walked in December to February and food and beds are harder to find.
Floodingmoderate in a typical yearJun-Sep
This is glacial-lake country: a glacial lake outburst flood came down the Bhote Koshi valley on 16 August 2024 and inundated Thame downstream, destroying at least 15 structures. Such floods are most likely in the warm, wet months.
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.
- This is a remote valley with few trekkers; agree plans with your group and carry a way to call for help.
- There is no ATM; carry enough Nepali rupees from Kathmandu, Lukla or Namche.
- Charging, hot showers and Wi-Fi, where available, are paid extras and depend on solar or small hydro power.
Treks through Lungden
Questions about Lungden
How high is Lungden?
About 4,380 m.
How long from Lungden to Thame?
About 4-5 hours, mostly downhill along the Bhote Koshi.
Can trekkers go to the Nangpa La from Lungden?
No. The Nangpa La is on the border with Tibet and is not open to trekkers.
More in Everest Region (Khumbu)
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Nearby
Editorial draft: facts are being checked against the sources below. Last checked 2026-10-06. Sources: Lungden, OpenStreetMap, Thame, Wikipedia