Everest Three Passes Trek gives you an overall Everest Trekking experience. You get to cross three high passes – Kongma La, Cho La, and Renjo La; along with an opportunity to visit Everest Base Camp. Ascending towards Gokyo Ri and Kala Patthar gives us breathtaking panoramic views of Everest and other surrounding peaks. It is considered to be a challenging trek and is preferred by adventure lovers who want to have it all.
The Everest Three Pass trek adventure starts as we board a scenic mountain flight from Kathmandu to Lukla. And then we trek towards Namche Bazaar, the home of Sherpas. After acclimatizing at Namche for two nights, we follow the popular Everest trail. Through Tengboche, Dingboche, and rest for another day at Chukkung; before crossing the first high pass of Kongma La at an altitude of 5,535m. Then we will be visiting Everest Base Camp via Lobuche and Gorakshep following a hike up to Kalapathar for panoramic views of snow-capped mountains including Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse, Ama Dablam, and other neighboring peaks.
We continue our trek via Dzong La before crossing the next pass of Cho La; which finally takes us to the pristine glacial lakes of Gokyo. We then hike up to Gokyo Ri for great panoramic views. From there, we make our way towards the final pass of Renjo La. Spending a night at Marlung, we descend towards Namche Bazar, Lukla, and fly back to Kathmandu. The Everest Three Passes Trek is all about experiencing the Khumbu region’s best high passes.
The Everest Three Pass Trek is perfect for any adventure lover who possesses a good level of physical fitness and the ability to cross three high-altitude passes. In order to avoid rainfall and for clear views, the best periods to undertake this trek are:
Join our Everest Three Pass Trek in 2024 with Nepal Mountain Trekkers to create some memorable moments that you will cherish in years to come. Simply fill out the Booking form and let us know about your interest. Or you can contact us directly by sending us an email in order to get more information about this trek.
If this itinerary doesn’t suit your requirement or if you want to customize it, please feel free to contact us. This trek could be customized as per your required time frame and budget limits.
Day 1 : Arrival in Kathmandu (1,300 m/4,264 ft)::
Upon your arrival at Kathmandu, you will be met by a representative from Nepal Mountain Trekkers at Tribhuvan International Airport arrival terminals and he will transfer you to your respective hotel (Hotel Green Horizon or similar standard). After check-in at the hotel, you can enjoy your free time relaxing in the cozy room or stroll around the tourist hub Thamel area until the end of the day.
Day 2 : Kathmandu: Sightseeing and Trek Preparation::
We start our day with our early meal and visit the Nepal Mountain Trekkers office at Thamel. After being introduced to our team including the tour guide, trekking leader, and director of operations, we head for necessary trekking preparations, getting needed equipment with the initiation of Kathmandu sightseeing around world heritage sites. Kathmandu Durbar Square, Swayambhunath Stupa, Pashupatinath temple, and Boudhanath Stupa are UNESCO world heritage sites that we explore till sunset. Overnight stay at a hotel in Kathmandu.
Day 3 : Kathmandu – Lukla [2,840 m/9,320ft] – Phakding [2,652m/8,700ft]: 40 minutes flight, 3 – 4 hrs trek (Trekking times only)::
Our day begins with a healthy breakfast at the hotel in Kathmandu. Then you will be transferred to the airport to catch our short domestic flight from Kathmandu to Lukla, the gateway to Everest. In just 45 minutes of flight, we get a wonderful chance to view snow-capped mountains and will be landing between the hills at Tenjin-Hillary airstrip in no time. After arriving at Lukla, we get introduced to our trekking crew and start our trekking activity towards Phakding. It will be quite an exciting first day of trekking in the Everest region. Overnight stay at Phakding.
Day 4 : Phakding to Namche Bazaar [3,440 m/11,280 ft]: 7 – 8 hrs trek::
We have our early meal and start our journey with a few ascends and descends crossing the Dudhkoshi River through a suspension bridge. Gradually moving ahead entering Sagarmatha National Park located at Monjoo, proceed towards Jorasale, and continue the day’s walk until we arrive at the popular Sherpa village of Namche Bazar. Today, we have our quick stop at Chautara and the fabulous views of snow-capped peaks already start to appear. We stay overnight at Namche Bazar.
Day 5 : Namche Bazaar: Accilimatization Day::
Today we have our first acclimatization days. It is very important to have proper acclimatization to avoid possible risks of Acute mountain sickness (AMS) or altitude sickness. And during the acclimatization days, it is recommended to get involved in physical activities instead of just taking a rest. We will, therefore, go for a short hike around nearby Thame or simply take a look around Namche Bazaar. Here, we also get an exclusive chance to meet like-minded travelers and Everest summiteers. And have a close look at the lifestyle of local Sherpa inhabitants. We will stay overnight in Namche Bazar.
Day 6 : Namche Bazaar to Tengboche [3,860 m/12,660 ft]: 5 – 6 hrs::
We start our day after having our breakfast and continue our journey to Tengboche with awesome views of the Everest Himalayan ranges. We gradually make our way through beautiful Everest trekking trails, spot alpine flora, and fauna, have our lunch at Phuki Thega, and finally arrive at Tengboche at the end of the day. The major attractions here would visit the ancient Tengboche Buddhist monastery with rich in cultural/traditional insights and capture close views of Everest, Amadablam, and other neighboring peaks. Overnight stay in Tengboche.
Day 7 : Tengboche to Dingboche [4,360m/14,300 ft]: 6 – 7 hrs::
We wake up early in the morning to enjoy fabulous sunrise over snow-capped peaks of the Everest Himalayan range. Further, we push ourselves walking through Imja Khola, walk through beautiful rhododendron forests, and arrive at Deboche. As we gain altitude, the views get more and more dramatic and exceptionally amazing. Following the popular Everest trails, embracing the clear views of the Himalayas with fluttering prayer flags and crossing several Chortens along the way; we finally arrive at Dingboche for an overnight stay.
Day 8 : Dingboche to Chhukung [4,750m/15,580 ft]: 3 – 4 hrs::
Today would be a comparatively easy trekking day with three to four hours of gradual walking through valleys and glacier moraines. In a short while, a dramatic view of Island Peak is being offered. It just gives us the feeling that we are in a whole different world surrounded by snowy peaks from all directions. Soon after within an hour of walk from Bibrey, we arrive at Chhukung. Overnight stay at Chhukung.
Day 9 : Acclimatization Day in Chhukung::
Chhukung is the place where we will be spending two nights in order to get properly acclimatized to high altitudes. It is very essential to do some physical activities on our acclimatization day, so we make the most out of it by heading towards the top of Chukkung Ri offers never seen before the south face of Lhotse, AmuLapcha pass, and Amadablam surrounded by extraordinary fluted ice walls. At the end of the day, we return to Chhukung for an overnight stay.
Day 10 : Chhukung to Kongma La [5,535m/18,159ft] and then to Lobuche [4,940m/16,210ft]: 7 – 8 hrs::
We wake up early in the morning before dawn and as the sun rises, we start our day’s journey with packed lunch and drinking water as there are no tea houses further till Lobuche. Taking up the challenge put in front of us, after nearly five to six hours we gain a maximum altitude of 5,535m above sea level at Kongma La pass, enjoy the rawness of Mother Nature, capture scintillating views of snow-capped mountains, and glaciers around us, and finally arrive at Lobuche where we will be stopping for overnight stay.
Day 11 : Lobuche to Gorak Shep [5,170 m/16,961ft] then to Everest Base Camp [5,364 m/17,594 ft] and return Gorak Shep: 8 – 9 hrs::
Leaving behind Lobuche, we make our way through the moraines of Khumbu Glacier overlooking the north ridge of Mt. Everest, Mt. Nuptse, and other neighboring snow-capped Himalayas. After arriving at Gorakshep, we push ourselves forward towards the base camp on top of the world, Everest base camp at 5,364m. A constant feeling of accomplishment, satisfaction, and awesomeness strikes us upon arrival at Everest base camp, where we can see Everest summiteers camping and get ready for the ultra-Everest expedition. Further, we return to Gorakshep for an overnight stay.
Day 12 : Gorak Shep to Kala Patthar [5,545 m/18,192 ft] and then to Dzongla [4,830m/15,850 ft]: 6- 7 hrs::
We wake up early in the morning and start our day with a hike from Gorakshep to Kala Patthar encountering quite challenging weather conditions. Upon reaching the top of Kala Patthar viewpoint, we get ready for capturing awesome panoramic views of the Everest Himalayan range that seems like a magical experience when the sun slowly turns snow-capped peaks into golden color. We simply wander in the beauty for a few moments, capture plenty of pictures and return towards Gorakshep. Further, we leave behind Gorakshep and trek for three to four hours towards Dzongla.
Day 13 : Dzongla to Cho La [5,368m/17,611 ft] and then to Thangnak [4,680m/15,350 ft] : 8-9 hrs::
Our day starts as we get set and go from the tea house enjoying beautiful views of the nearby Himalayas. We will be experiencing quite a bit of challenge today while crossing high altitude Cho La Pass and heading towards Thagnak. But as we ascend further towards an alluring altitude above 5300m at Cho La Pass, dramatic views of snow-capped peaks start to appear which we have never seen before. Especially, up-close views of Cholatse and Amadablam are spectacular. While following these ascends and descends, we take proper care of ourselves to avoid any risks of being injured as there may be slippery ice glazed around the rocks. In this way, after a short while, we finally arrive at Thangnak where we will be staying overnight.
Day 14 : Thangnak to Gokyo [4,800m/15,580 ft]: 3-4 hrs::
We take a good rest at Thangnak and regain our energy to continue our Everest Three Pass adventure towards Gokyo passing through the longest Ngozumpa glacier. Walking further for a couple of hours, we enter beautiful Gokyo Valley and explore the amazing natural beauty of Gokyo lakes with spectacular alpine surroundings. We stay overnight at Gokyo.
Day 15 : Rest day in Gokyo and climb Gokyo Ri [5,357m/17,575 ft]: 4-5 hrs::
It will be our final acclimatization or rest day at Gokyo. And we climb Gokyo Ri today which is a well-known viewpoint for amazing views of the Everest Himalayan range. Exploring Gokyo is also taken as an opportunity to observe crystal clear turquoise Gokyo lakes located above five thousand meters. If you love to explore more then, there is also a possibility to go further at the edges of Lakes and capture excellent views of Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse, Makalu, Cho-Oyu, and other neighboring peaks. Upon time availability and your interest, there are many other exquisite places to visit around Gokyo. And finally, we return to our tea house at Gokyo.
Day 16 : Gokyo to Renjo La [5,360m/17,585 ft] and then to Marlung [4,210m/13,810 ft]: 8 – 9 hrs::
Among the three passes in our Everest Three Pass Trek, today we will be crossing the final pass of Renjo La and we start off the day early in the morning to achieve our goal. Leaving Gokyo Valley behind, we catch up the trail leading towards Renjo La Pass and after a couple of hours trekking through alpine surroundings, we arrive at Renjo La Pass, immerse ourselves in the immense Himalayan beauty that we observe and continue our trip descending through an icy stone staircase. We walk cautiously through and after an hour we arrive at Marlung for a night halt.
Day 17 : Marlung to Namche Bazar: 5 – 6 hrs::
The trail descending from Marlung is a well-known ancient trading route for Tibetan Traders. Following the same trail, we cross quite a few rivers, and streams and arrive at the culturally rich and beautiful small village of Thame. Here, at Thame, we get a chance to visit the popular monastery and enjoy festivities held during May along with beautiful views of snowcapped peaks like Kusum Kangaroo and Thamserku. In a similar way, crossing several suspension bridges, visiting picturesque monasteries, and capturing a true Himalayan essence, we finally reach Namche Bazar again. We take a rest at one of the tea houses and stay overnight at Namche.
Day 18 : Namche Bazzar to Lukla: 7 – 8 hrs::
Following the downhill trail, today we return towards Lukla from Namche Bazar. Walking cautiously through beautiful rhododendron forests, and rugged trails with a lovely heart full of amazing memories, we have a different view and perspective towards the surroundings. While descending down towards Lukla, we recall fantastic memories that we had for the last two weeks, and upon arrival at Lukla, we simply cherish those memories. Overnight stay at Lukla.
Day 19 : Fly Lukla to Kathmandu: 40 min flight::
Most often, Lukla to Kathmandu flights operates in the morning to avoid disturbances of afternoon wind. However, in the case of unfavorable weather conditions, flights also get delayed. After arriving in Kathmandu, we celebrate our trip’s success along with our complimentary spa treatment. At the end of the day, we also enjoy a farewell treat at once of the cultural Nepali restaurant. Overnight stay at a hotel in Kathmandu.
Day 20 : Departure Day::
Finally, your adventure trekking in Nepal comes to an end today. After your completion of packing, we transfer you to Tribhuwan International Airport to catch your scheduled flight towards your onward destination.
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