Overview
- Duration 19 days
- Max Altitude 5,540m /18,176 ft
- Group Size 02-10
- Best Season Mar-May, Sep-Nov
- Per Day Walk 07-08 hrs
- Accomodation Hotel / Teahouse
- Start/End KTM / KTM
- Difficulty Challenging
Everest Three High Passes trek is a great experience for those who want to explore the Everest region of Nepal. Trekking in this region is one of the strenuous trekking but ultimately rewarding. This adventurous trek route offers you a chance to see the beautiful Himalayan landscapes, the high mountains, the world-famous monasteries, and the villages of the Sherpa people.
Besides reaching the Everest Base Camp by helicopter, trekking is the only way to get a close-up view of the world’s highest peak. The Everest Base Camp is at a height of 5,364 m.
After taking an early morning flight from Kathmandu, the trip starts right from the Lukla Airport. It is the starting point for your Everest Three High Passes Trek, which takes you through beautiful landscapes and villages.
During these 16 days, you cross through the Dudh Koshi river, forests, glaciers, and ever-changing landscapes. You pass through various villages and monasteries, collecting beautiful cultural insights of the Sherpas – native people of the region.
Start and End of Everest Three Pass Trek
Everest Three Passes trek starts on foot, from Lukla, and ends simultaneously.
On the second day, you fly to Tenzing-Hillary Airport at Lukla from Kathmandu Airport for about an hour. Lukla airport is one of the most dangerous airports globally, situated at 2,845m. It is the gateway to the high-altitude region of Everest.
Throughout the journey, the trekking trail passes through the Kongma La pass, Cho-La pass, Renjo-La pass, and several glaciers like the Khumbu glacier and Nagzompa glacier.
During the trek, you can enjoy the beauty of the snow-capped mountains, the glaciers, the valleys, and the forests. You can also get a chance to witness the beautiful Himalayan vistas and the panoramic views of Mt. Everest and other snow-capped peaks nearby.
The views are truly mesmerizing.
Best Time to Trek Everest three High Passes
The best time to trek in the Everest region is during the Spring (February to June) and Autumn (September and November). Hiking is possible during the winter and monsoon season. Still, the weather might not be favorable for everyone due to the foggy and cloudy weather.
Trekking in Everest Region is challenging because of its altitude and high pass crossings in the Khumbu valley. The average elevation of the Everest Region is more than 6000 meters. At this height, the air is thinner, and the climate is much harsher than in lower regions of Nepal.
The Khumbu region trek demands a daily walk of 6-7 hours, and you must prepare physically and mentally. Therefore, it would be best to acclimate between the trekking trails before starting.
As you gain altitude during the journey, the air gets thinner. Therefore, high Altitude sickness can be one of the problems during the trek. In addition, you suffer from acute mountain sickness when the body cannot absorb oxygen at a high altitude. Thus, it would help if you acclimatized before starting another day of trekking.
The entire trek is approximately 111.9 miles(180km), where there are teahouses for food and accommodation. You can get regular Nepali food and some continental food items. To walk through the passes, you wake up before the sunrise. During the hike, you can see the sun rays kissing the mountain tops changing the entire top of the Himalayas golden.
Things to carry on Everest Three high Passes trekking
Not to miss the magical moment of golden peaks at sunrise and sunset, a camera is required to capture the moments. Similarly, with a small handheld camera, you can document and share the experience of the entire journey.
Nevertheless, don’t forget to carry your national park permit and TIMS card as you walk past the Sagarmatha National park. Getting travel Insurance puts you at ease in case of any emergencies.
We suggest carrying trekking poles to make your journey comfortable for the ultimate trek through the Khumbu glacier and the fantastic Khumbu valley. The trekking poles help while ascending and make your descent easier and less painful on your knees.
Since this high-altitude trekking route is challenging, carrying a heavy backpack can be troublesome. Therefore, we suggest you prepare physically and mentally for the adventurous trek of Everest 3 passes.
Includes
- Airport Pickup and Drop off
- 3-star and similar type of hotel in Kathmandu
- Domestic Flights (Kathmandu – Lukla – Kathmandu)
- Teahouse accommodation during trekking
- All Meals (B,L,D) during the trek.
- Government License holder English Speaking guide)
- Porter to help with luggage. (2:1)
- Sagarmatha National Park entry permit fee
- Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural community fees.
- All government taxes
- Assistance in arranging rescue operation in case of emergency
- Mountain Routes T-Shirt
- Farewell Dinner
Excludes
- Flight to Nepal
- Visa fee
- Travel Insurance ( High altitude rescue and evacuation)
- Meals in Kathmandu
- Extra night accommodation in case of arriving early or late departure and also return early from trekking.
- Personal expense (snacks, boil bottle water, hot and cold drinks, hot shower, Alcohol, Wi-Fi, telephone call, battery re-charge )
- Personal clothing and gear
- Tips for guide and porters
- Additional costs due to natural calamities
Everest Three High Pass Trek Map
- Day 1 :
Arrival at Kathmandu (1,400m / 4,600 ft)
- Day 2 :
Lukla ( 2,840 m 9,318 feet) to Phakding (2,610 m / 8,563 feet)
Distance: 8.2 km / 5.1 miles
Duration: 30 min flight / 03-04 hrs walk - Day 3 :
Phakding to Namche Bazaar ( 3,440 m / 11,286 ft)
Distance: 10.9 km / 6.8 miles
Duration: 06-07 hrs walk - Day 4 :
Namche Bazaar Acclimatization walk to Everest view hotel ( 3,880 m / 12,730 ft)
Distance: 5.4 km / 3.4 miles
Duration: 03 hrs walk round trip - Day 5 :
Namche Bazaar to Phortse (3680 m / 12,074 ft)
Distance: 5.7 km / 3.5 miles
Duration: 05-06 hrs - Day 6 :
Phortse to Dingboche (4,410 m / 14, 469 ft)
Distance: 9.5 km / 6 miles
Duration: 06-07 hrs walk - Day 7 :
Dingboche Acclimatization walk to Nangkartshang Peak (5,083m / 16,667 ft)
Distance: 5.1 km / 3.2 miles ( round trip)
Duration: 04-05 hrs walk - Day 8 :
Dingboche to Chukkung (4730m / 15,518ft)
Distance: 4.5 km / 2.8 miles
Duration: 04-05 hrs walk - Day 9 :
Chukkung to Lobuche (4,910m 16,109 ft) via Kongma La Pass (5,535m / 18,159ft)
Distance: 11km / 6.84 miles
Duration: 08-09 hrs walk - Day 10 :
Lobuche to Gorak Shep (5,125 m / 16,814 ft) and EBC 5,364 m/ 17,598 ft)
Distance: 4.5 km / 2.8 miles and 7.2 km / 4.5 miles
Duration: 03 hrs walk and 04 hrs walk round trip - Day 11 :
Gorakh Shep to Kalapathar ( 5,540m / 18,176 ft) and Gorakh Shep to Dzongla (4830m / 15,846 ft)
Distance: 3.7 km / 2.3 miles ( round trip) and 10 km / 6.21 miles
Duration: 03 hrs walk ( round trip) and 04 hrs walk - Day 12 :
Dzongla to Thaknak (4700m / 15,420ft) via Cho La pass (5,420m / 17,782 ft)
Distance: 8 km / 5 miles
Duration: 07-08 hrs - Day 13 :
Thanknak to Gokyo (4750 m / 15,584 ft)
Distance: 4 km / 2.48 miles
Duration: 03-04 hrs walk - Day 14 :
Gokyo Valley Side Hike to Gokyo Ri (5,357m / 17,575ft)
Distance: 3.8 km / 2.36 miles
Duration: 03-04 hrs walk - Day 15 :
Gokyo to Marlung 4210m / Via Renjo La pass ( 5,360m / 17,586ft)
Distance: 11 km / 6.84 miles
Duration: 07-08 hrs - Day 16 :
Marlung to Namche Bazaar (3,440 m / 11,286 ft)
Distance: 15 km / 9.32 miles
Duration: 05-06 hrs walk - Day 17 :
Namche Bazaar to Lukla (2,840 m / 9,318 ft)
Distance: 19.1 km / 11.9 miles
Duration: 06-07 hrs walk - Day 18 :
Lukla to Kathmandu (1,400m / 4,600 ft)
Duration: 30 min flight - Day 19 :
Depart Kathmandu
Everest Three High Pass Trek itinerary
Day 1 : Arriving at the Capital- Kathmandu (1400m)
On the first journey, you arrive at Nepal’s capital – Kathmandu. Our representatives from Mountain Routes will pick you up from the airport and take you to your hotel. They hold a trek briefing explaining the routes and schedules of the whole trek. After reaching your hotel, you can rest for a while and explore the beautiful Kathmandu city.
Day 2 : Fly to Lukla and Trek to Phakding (2,610m) Trip Duration: 35 min flight and 03-04 hrs walk
Our second day of the Everest trekking begins with an early breakfast, followed by a flight to Tenzing-Hillary Airport in Lukla. After reaching Lukla, we get introduced to our whole team. They include our guides and porters, who help us throughout our journey.
From Lukla, we start our trek to Phakding. First, the trek traverses through Chheplung village and Ghat village. Then, it follows a gentle climb up the mountainside of the Dudh Koshi river. The total time duration for our hike takes us about 3 hours and is an easy one. On reaching Phakding, we explore the surroundings and then rest for the day there.
Day 3 : Phakding to Namche Bazar (3,440m) Trip Duration: 06-07 hrs
Today’s journey consists of trekking from Phakding to Namche Bazaar. The trek takes about 6-7 hours. With an early breakfast, we start our trek and head out. Shortly along the way, we reach the confluence of two glacial rivers – Dudh Koshi River and Bhote Koshi river. Continuing our trek further, we get an excellent view of Mt. Everest (8848 m) and Mt. Lhotse (8516 m), finally reaching Namche Bazaar.
The trek passes through beautiful pine forests, many suspension bridges, and Sherpa villages.
Being surrounded on three sides by mountains, Namche Bazar is the central hub of the Everest Region. For food, trekking items, and other essential items for people in the region and tourists.
Day 4 : Acclimatization at Namche Bazar
Today, we rest and adapt to the region’s climatic conditions to prevent us from getting sick. So, to utilize this day, we explore the town of Namche Bazaar and visit nearby places. We can also get insight into the culture and tradition of the native Sherpas.
Nearby places include the Sherpa Culture museum, Sagarmatha National Park, Namche monastery, and Tenzing Norgay memorial museum. These museums and monasteries help us learn more about the culture and traditions of the people there. Also, we can get valuable and exciting insights into the wildlife in the region. Another major thing to enjoy this day is the astounding sunrise view over the Himalayas, including Mt. Everest, Mt. Lhotse, Mt. Nuptse, Mt. AmaDablam, Mt. Thamserku, Mt. Kongde, and so on. Afterward, we return to our hotels and enjoy a good night’s sleep.
Day 5 : Namche Bazar to Phortse (3,680m) Trip Duration: 05-06 hrs
On day 5 of our trek, we start hiking from Namche Bazaar to Phortse. First, the trek traverses through Mong La. From there, the trek foes downhill to Phortse Tenga. After crossing the Dudh Koshi River is a steep uphill climb to the Phortse village, an alternative path to the Everest Base Camp. Magnificent views of the Himalayas – Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse, Ama Dablam, Thamserku, and Kwangde, mesmerizes us along the way. Finally, we will spend a night at Phortse, also known as the most beautiful place in the Everest region trek.
Day 6 : Phortse to Dingboche (4,410m) Trip Duration: 06-07 hrs
On the 6th day of our Everest region trekking, we continue hiking from Phortse village to Dingboche. There is a small tea-house settlement at Dingboche. And the trail from Phortse to Dingboche leads parallelly with the Imja Khola river. It will then follow a gradual climb up to the village of Tengboche. Then, leading to the Tengboche monastery, one of the oldest in the region. We will then explore the area for some time. In the afternoon, the trail is going to be a difficult one. Finally, following the trail, we reach Dingboche.
Day 7 : Acclimatization at Dingboche
We rest and adjust on the 7th day of our trek at Dingboche. We utilize this day by hiking the stunning Nangartshang hill. It is recommended that you spend at least six days acclimatizing to the high altitude of Nangartshang hill before climbing it.
The on-top view from the Nangartshang hill is sure to leave us enchanted. It offers a magnificent view of Mt. Makalu (8463 m) and Mt. Ama Dablam. We enjoy the incredible sunset from the hilltop and then return to the village to spend the night.
Day 8 : Trek from Dingboche to Chhukung (4,730m) Trip Duration: 04-05 hrs
Today, our hike consists of a slow walk while enjoying the region’s scenic beauty. It takes about 3-4 hours of hiking to reach Chhukung village. The trail takes us through Imja Khola valley, sublime alpine landscapes, and some stone-walled fields. The fantastic view of Mt. Lhotse, Mt. Ama Dablam, and Island Peak amazes us all along the way. We then reach Chhukung village in no time and explore the great glacier and snow-laden mountains all around the place. Finally, we will spend a night there in Chhukung.
Day 9 : Trek to Lobuche (4,910m) via Kongma La Pass (5535) Trip Duration: 08-09 hrs
The 9th day of our trek consists of trekking from Chhukung to Lobuche crossing the Kongma La pass. Today is a stretching day, as we hike for about 6-7 hours. We start early today and carry plenty of water, our snacks for the day, and some packed lunch, as there are no tea shops along the way. There are two ways to reach Lobuche from Chhukung.
We either climb over the northwest hill of Chhukung over the moraine of Nuptse glacier or walk back down the valley of Bible and follow a high trail above the Niyang Khola. Cairns and Buddhist prayer flags mark the top of the pass. The final descent of the pass is a difficult one. After climbing the moraine on the far side, the trail turns north through Khumbu Glacier, which takes us to Lobuche.
Day 10 : Lobuche to Gorak Shep (5,125m) – Everest Base Camp (5,365m) Trip Duration: 07 hrs
On the 10th day of our trek, we reach the Everest Base Camp(EBC). After that, we head out, finishing an early breakfast at Lobuche. Then after, we first trek to Gorakshep and then to EBC. It is one of the most exciting parts of our whole journey.
At Gorakshep, there is a small settlement where we will have our lunch and rest for a bit. It is the last tea-house settlement on this trekking trail. After that, we will head out to Everest Base Camp. The whole trek will be a bit stretchy as we will have to pass through the moraine of the Khumbu glacier.
From Khumbu Glacier, trekkers can enjoy magnificent views of Mt. Everest, Mt. Mahalangur, Mt. Lingtern, Mt. Khumbutse, Mt. Nuptse, and others. We will enjoy the view from EBC and then trek back to Gorakshep, staying the night at Gorakshep.
Day 11 : Trek from Gorak Shep to Kala Patthar (5,540m) to Dzongla (4,830m) Trip Duration: 07 hrs
After staying a night at Gorakshep, we will be heading to Dzongla after viewing the sunrise from Kala Patthar. Kala Patthar is the best point for viewing the stunning sunrise and sunset as the sun rays kiss the top of the mountain. The hike is about 3 hours.
We can enjoy the best view of Mt. Everest, Mt. Pumori, Mt. Lingtren, Mt. Khumbetse, Mt. Nuptse, Mt. Lhotse, Mt. Ama Dablam, and Mt. Thamserku. This view is sure to leave many dumbfounded.
After the epic sunrise from Kala Patthar, we will go back to Gorakshep to have lunch. Then, we will set out to reach Dzongla.
We will reach Lobuche, from where the path to Pheriche and Dzongla separates. We will take the latter, an uphill climb that takes around 2 hours to reach Dzongla.
We will be spending the night in Dzongla.
Day 12 : Dzongla to Thagnak (4,700m) Via Chola Pass (5,420m) Trip Duration: 07-08 hrs
We start our trek to Thagna with an early breakfast through Cho La pass (5,420 m). It is the second among the three passes we will cross in this journey. We need to head out early today because there is a long trek ahead of us and the afternoon weather is unpredictable.
Having trekked to the Everest Base Camp, today’s long trek will not be that difficult. However, crossing the pass can be difficult, especially if the weather is not on our side. The climb will be challenging, but the beautiful view from there compensates for all struggle. We then reach Thagna, where we will be spending the night.
Day 13 : Trek from Thagnak to Gokyo (4,750m) Trip Duration: 03-04 hrs
Today, we head to Gokyo village, which lies on the edge of Gokyo Lakes. To reach the Gokyo valley, we cross the Ngozumpa glacier. The Gokyo lakes trek takes us to the magnificent Gokyo Lakes, sure to leave many of us speechless. After passing through the first Gokyo Lake, we pass through the second one, which is just as beautiful. And, just a little distance from the third Gokyo Lake lies the small settlement of Gokyo village, where we will be spending the night.
Day 14 : Acclimatization at Gokyo Valley
To properly adjust to the region’s climatic conditions, we are resting today at Gokyo Valley. And we will spend this day exploring the remaining lakes and hiking the magnificent Gokyo Ri peak. The sunrise and sunset view from Gokyo Ri is epic.
To enjoy the sunrise from Gokyo Ri, we will start climbing the peak early in the morning. This peak provides a panoramic view of the mountains from all sides. The sunrays, kissing the top of mountains, including Mt. Everest, Mt. Cho-Oyu, Mt. Lhotse, Mt. Gyachung, Mt. Makalu, and Mt. Nuptse, is a stunning view to enjoy. We will then climb down, have our lunch at Gokyo, then explore the remaining 4th lake – Thonak Tsho and the 5th lake – Ngozuma Tsho – equally beautiful. Finally, we will return to our lodge and spend the second night there.
Day 15 : Trek from Gokyo to Marlung (4,210m) via Renjo La Pass (5,360m) Trip Duration: 07-08 hrs
As this will be a long day trek, we will be heading out early today. We will move alongside the Dudh Pokhari (lake) for a while. After 2-2.5 hours, we will reach the Renjo La pass. We hike, capturing the magical moments along the way with a fantastic view of the Himalayan and Rolwaling ranges.
The view from the Renjo La pass is a panoramic view of the majestic mountains, Everest, Lhotse, Cholatse, and Taboche. Unfortunately, the trail can be risky due to ice while descending from the Renjo La pass. We then continued our walk through the narrow valley clogged with giant boulders to Lungden. There is a support lodge in Lungden, but it is often closed. Finally, it is almost an hour of walk to get to Marlung, where we will be staying the night.
Day 16 : Marlung to Namche Bazar (3,440m) Trip Duration: 05-06 hrs
The trail from Marlung to Namche Bazaar is a traditional route used by Tibetan traders for centuries. Trekking from Marlung, we will come across the Bhote Koshi river. Then, the direction again changes to Taranga. The trail continues to descend, and after traveling for a while from Taranga, we will reach the Thame village. Thame village has a monastery called Khari Gompa. The trail continues to descend, passing through many small villages before reaching the central hub – Namche Bazar. We will then stay the night at Namche.
Day 17 : Namche Bazar to Lukla Trip Duration: 06-07 hrs
On the 17th day of our trek, we will reach Lukla from Namche Bazar. The trail follows a gradual descent throughout. We will cross many suspension bridges over the fast-flowing Dudh Koshi river along the way.
The trek is straightforward today, as it becomes more level.
We enjoy walking on the open plains, through rhododendron and pine forests. We will also cross many Sherpa villages on our way.
We will then reach Lukla, where we will be saying goodbye to our team. We will have a hot shower and a decent meal, staying in the Everest region for the last night.
Day 18 : Lukal to Kathmandu Trip Duration: 35min Flight
Today, we will be traveling back to Kathmandu via flight. It will take about 35 minutes to reach Tribhuwan International Airport in Kathmandu. We will be greeted and received by our team at Mountain Routes at the airport. We are then taken to our respective hotels to have lunch and rest for a while. After that, we will explore more of the beautiful city of Kathmandu. We will also enjoy shopping today, as this will be the last day in Nepal. At night, we will explore the nightlife of Thamel. A good night’s sleep is now all left for the day.
Day 19 : Departure
Today, you will return to your home country with all the unique experiences and beautiful memories you have gained in the last 19 days. We will have our representatives pick you up from your hotel and drop you at the airport. We will then share our goodbyes and part our ways. You will then head back to your home with some part of you touched and a story to pass down through generations.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What are the Everest Three High passes trek?
The three passes in the Everest Region are namely Kongma La (18,209 ft / 5,550 m), Cho La (17,782 ft / 5,420 m), and Renjo La (17,560 ft / 5,360 m). Trekkers hike through the circuit of these three passes called the Everest 3 passes.
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How difficult is Everest Three high passes trek?
As best to its name, The three high pass trek is committed to crossing High mountain passes over 5300 m thrice following eight consecutive overnight accommodation at 4500 m. Everest 3 passes trek is an ultimate challenge even for those with good stamina to hike and trek.
So, one must have the best trekking experience above 4500m altitude. Besides endurance capacity, fitness, and sound health, one should be intuitively motivated to overtake vigorous walks on mountain trails.
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What are the trekking routes for the Three high pass trek like?
Initiating from Kongma La and ending at Renjo La, the Everest Three High Pass trek gradually takes you along Everest Base Camp.
Kalapatthar, Cho La pass, Gokyo lakes, Gokyo Ri, and Renjo La pass, respectively, are the most practiced route according to the acclimatized level and comfortable route to the passes.
As for acclimatization, a Rest day in Dingboche (4410m) and heading to Kongma La (5480m) through Chhakung (4600m) can be considered an out-and-out route.
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What are the major attractions of Everest three high pass trek?
The major attractions are :
Namche Bazar, situated at the height of 3500m, is a staging point for expeditions to Mt. Everest. As a result, it has turned into a beautiful market town.
Thyangboche is a small village in the Khumbu region at 12,687 ft., between the confluence of two rivers, Imja Khola and Dudh pokhari.
Other attractions along the route include Tyangboche Monastery, Kongma La pass, Everest base camp, Chola pass, Ngozumpa Glacier, Gokyo lake, Gokyo Ri, Renjo Pass, and Thame village.
