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Everest Three Passes Trek

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The Everest Three Passes Trek in Nepal is one of the most demanding yet exciting trek routes in the world of the Himalayas, much preferred by those who want to get a very close view of the tallest peaks in the world. And if this is not convincing enough, then one should not be disappointed in a breathtaking view of the blue-green lakes, enormous glaciers, and, of course, the scene of snowy mountains that are present throughout the trek. 

One will experience a crossing of three of the world’s highest mountain passes—Renjo La, Cho La, and Kongma La—situated respectively at an altitude of 5,345 meters, 5,420 meters, and 5,535 meters. From these difficult passes, one gets to see other 8000-meter peaks, including Mount Everest, Makalu, Cho Oyu, and Lhotse, in high definition. 

Some of the unique features of this trek include the diversion to standard Everest base camp treks. When hiking this magnificent trail, the travelers are not only indulged with striking views of the towering mountains at every turn; the views are constantly transforming. 

It starts with an exciting helicopter flight to Lukla, which though is an exciting arrival due to the small slope runway. The adrenaline continues to build as one head towards Namche Bazaar, known as a Sherpa town and then crosses the fabulous Gokyo Lake and the famous Tengboche Monastery amidst the rugged terrains. 

Something is known about the Everest Three Passes Trek as the so-called ‘tough mentality and physical undertaking’, but in return, it offers people unrepeatable experiences—getting to know the culture of the local Sherpa people and breathtaking views of the most extraordinary range of mountains in the world. 

Highlights

  • Traverse three high passes: Kongma La Pass (5,535 m), Cho La Pass (5,420 m), and Renjo La Pass (5,360 m).
  • Spectacular views of Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, and Cho Oyu
  • Explore diverse landscapes, from lush green forests to high-altitude terrain.
  • Pristine turquoise lakes with reflections of snow-capped peaks
  • Panoramic views of Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, Cho Oyu, and Ngozumpa Glacier
  • Witness the massive Khumbu Glacier, providing a sense of adventure.
  • Experience the unique culture and hospitality of the Sherpas.
  • Visit traditional villages like Namche Bazaar and Tengboche.
  • Diverse ecosystems, from rhododendron forests to alpine meadows
  • Opportunities to spot Himalayan wildlife, including tahr and pheasants
Itinerary
Trip PlanExpand all

The trip begins with the enchanting Everest Three Passes trek on Day 1, where you will be welcomed by a warm airport pickup and transfer to Thamel, a vibrant neighborhood of Kathmandu with numerous restaurants, shops for souvenirs and needlework, and shops that provide trekking gear. 

After arriving at the hotel and visiting Thamel’s charming alleys and paths, there will be an opportunity to meet with a professional guide ready to answer any queries about the Himalayan journey.

Instead of hiking, the day offers the arrangement of equipment and flights to the beginning point of the trek in case there are flights causing delays or cancellations. You can also take advantage of the time to relax and psychologically set up for the subsequent fun-filled adventure on the trails. 

The next day proposes an early departure from Kathmandu to beautiful Lukla for the beginning of the trek by Tartan Sherpa villages including Phakding and Tuplungding and finally entering Sagarmatha National Park at Monjo village. 

As the trail goes on towards the east up to Jorsalle village, the trekkers and adventurers are promised incredible views of mountains including Kusum Kanguru, Thamserku, Everest, and Nuptse. 

Namche Bazaar, a colorful mountain city, is the day’s destination where you can spend some time getting used to the dizzy spells of high-altitude treks while enjoying the cultural riches and stunning views of the giant mountains. 

On this day of the trek, after breakfast preparations and the setting of the camp, it will be one to challenge himself/herself for a rigorous walk throughout the day. The trail goes on through beautiful Sherpa towns and cultural interaction with the population of various regions along the length of the trail. 

As the land rises steeply up to the entrance to Sagarmatha National Park at Monjo, breathtaking views of wonderful mountains such as Thamserku, Everest, Lhotse, and Nuptse can be seen before coming to the beautiful mountain village of Namche Bazaar. 

Today’s trek is a planned break at Namche Bazaar, which is a lively and colorful village to give trekkers time to acclimatize to the high altitude and prepare for the upcoming days. 

Instead of hiking, it is possible to meet the exciting markets and streets of the village. Similarly, it is possible to go to the famous Everest View Hotel and get fantastic views or feel the presence of the great Himalayas from each side. 

It is during moments of leisure such as this in the middle of the mountain splendor that the travelers fatigue is rejuvenated in preparation for the next task. 

This day gives pleasant hiking, blessed with a spectacular view of the Himalayas. It would be ideal for photographers to take pictures of the prayer flags, the Buddhist shrines, and the mani stone walls standing by the side of the path. 

For even better views, just when the trail ascends through twisty ridges towards the famous Tengboche monastery, there are steep mountainside views. Some of them include Nuptse, Lhotse, and so on—amazing peaks that are really good for photographers. 

Attractive garden landscapes of alpine scrubs and bright yak fields beguile the morning for a lovely treat at the beginning of the day in Pheriche Valley. As the walk proceeds on, the view of the ever-standing majestic Ama Dablam and other giants like Tawoch and Cholatse is inspiring. 

A little farther on, it is possible to see Dingboche and growing barley, buckwheat, and potatoes protected by fences made of stones that allow people to cultivate plots of land on such heights. Dinner is in a teahouse, set against the backdrop of the high mountainous landscape of Dingboche in the evening.

As usual, there are ups and downs after breakfast in Dingboche. Chhukung is our destination for lunch and our night. 

You will gradually progress walking on trails going through stone walls marking age-old farms before going through the Imja Khol Valley and passing through Bibre-an area of yak herders. After about 4-5 hours of hiking, you will reach the village of Chhukung for a satisfying lunch break and a break in this friendly village. 

Located at an altitude of 4,700 meters in the background of an awe-inspiring Himalayan landscape, Chhukung is a tiny village widely used as an optimal place for acclimatization. Nevertheless, there is an opportunity to walk around rather quiet Chhukung. 

This is a moderately steep four-hour roundtrip from Chhukung to Chhukung Ri, which stands at an altitude of 5,540 m. Here, one gets to 360-degree views of familiar giants such as Lhotse, Nuptse, Ama Dablam, and Makalu, to name but a few, before receding back to Chhukung.

The next day begins rather early in the morning, crossing the frozen ground, then the stones on the trails in the veil of the Kongma-La Pass and Kongma Peak, locally known as Mehra Peak. 

As you move forward, you are destined to cross Kongma-La Pass (5,535 m) surrounded by giant mountains such as Nuptse Wall, Mihara, and Pokalde. Following such a demanding ascent and crossing of the pass, you then slowly and steadily move down along the side of the equally gigantic Khumbu Glacier’s boulder-lined moraine to the village of Lobuche. 

This involves a short trek through some alpine meadows with views of the Khumbu icefall before the target of the trip, Kalapatthar, is spotted. We will trek for a few hours and will pass through Gorekshepp; thereafter, we will trek until we get a breathtaking view of the Everest Base Camp. 

 

Even in terms of distances and elevations, the terrain is very dynamic, with numerous ups and downs throughout the trip. The hard tire excursion takes us approximately 3 hours to get to the base camp. One can have a splendid look at the existing Khumbu Icefall and the glacier too. The last day of the trek is when the trekkers reach the Gorak Shep for the night stay and start their journey back. 

The next early morning leads us to elevation 5,545 meters of Kalapatthar Everest. This enables you to face the uncomparable panorama of the show of the giants of Himalaya, including Mount Everest and many others. 

We then move down to Gorakshep and continue our trek up towards Dzongla, the base of Cho-La passes for the night. 

Getting up early, the trek proceeds along the trail to Thangnak with a breathtaking view of the 6,440-meter towering Cholatse. Another day will probably prove to be the most difficult one as we need to move forward towards conquering the Cho-La Pass that is 5,420 meters high. 

From the valley’s highest point, it is still a very challenging but spectacular walk over the Pass while enjoying the spectacular view of Cho La Lake and the incredible Himalayan peak of Ama Dablam. 

This is because the ground is rough, and on many occasions it is frozen; hence, climbing can be quite a challenge. But, once we finally reach Cho-La Pass, then we have a more easy route further down to Thangnak, where we can take some rest. 

The following day we head across the 36-kilometer-long Ngozumpa Glacier, the longest glacier in the Himalayas, in our contine toward Gokyo. This we do in the village of the third Gokyo Lake, where Cho-Oyu Mountain is clearly visible to give an awesome backdrop to this beautiful area. 

Later in the day, when one can afford to sit back and enjoy the scenery that the lunch hour is, there remains more to discover more of the area, such as the Dudh Pokhari Lake, which is a holy place for Hindus and Buddhists company.

Early in the morning there is a steep push to stand on the Gokyo Ri, which stands at 5,483 meters, but the reward for getting to the top is a good one. We are again blessed with breathtaking aerial shots of the whole of the super Gokyo Valley. 

It features the humongous Ngozumpa Glacier and an unusually offered 360-degree views of the whole Khumbu Himalaya range, including the Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse, Makalu, Cho Oyu, Gychung Kang, and many others.

It is also on Day 16 of the trek that trekkers will move from Gokyo Lake to Lunden by crossing the Renjo La pass situated at 5,340 m, taking about 7 hours. 

Crossing the technically difficult Renjo La Pass then leads to the otherwise inaccessible northern valleys, which normally cannot be entered by outsiders. It unveils the landscapes gradually recalling the mainland of Tibet further in the border. At Lunden, we continue overnighting at a teahouse.

After breakfast, we start our trek, most of which is a descent towards Thame village. On the waysides, one gets to see enchanting snowy mountains on the far-off horizon. On a hilltop above Thame, approximately 150 meters up, overlooking the valley is a spectacular Thame monastery. 

Three stories high, this monastery is headquarters for Thame’s springtime Mani Rimdu, occurring mid-May. Thame itself is an example of an untouched pre- and post-tourism era Sherpa village and birthplace and home to legendary Apa Sherpa, who summed up Mount Everest 21 times. 

On this day, the peaceful walk moves through a pine-wooded canyon and is half in and out of canyons, giving spectacular non-stop mountain views. Moving forward further along the descending trend from Thame today, we have an easy, short walk until we reach the familiar landmark of Namche Bazaar. 

On the last day of the trekking, we have to follow the same trail to Lukla, passing through steep downhill through the villages of Nepalese and the charming Hillary Suspension Bridge through the Dudh Koshi River Valley. While getting to Lukla, our enthralling journey in the magical world of Khumbu comes to an end. 

Today, we have to part ways with Lukla through another flight, which takes us to Kathmandu, the headquarters of the country. By the time you contemplate the unforgettable pictures of the stunning scenery you have watched, you will have a worthy memory of the ever-green experience from the ever-growing journey in the Everest region. Just as when flying back over mountains we have crossed and bringing with us the enchantment of the worlds of these heights.

This day is to make sure that you leave for your country at a good time. It becomes beneficial when an additional day is added to the plan because of some shift in the schedule. While the other choice is to take a walk through the lively streets of Kathmandu with the purchase of some souvenirs from the country of the Himalayas. 

On this final day of the tour, we have no option but to leave lively and colorful Kathmandu behind and move on with our Himalayan holidays. Three hours before the time of your flight, you will be transported to the airport by our team. 

You leave the Three Passes of the Everest trek and Nepal of its deeper cultural significance with your heart filled with the charm of the Great Himalayas. In last we have to conclude and say have a good journey.

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Cost Details
Includes
  • Airport pickups and drops in Kathmandu.
  • Three nights’ accommodation in Kathmandu (including breakfast).
  • Domestic flights (Kathmandu–Lukla–Kathmandu).
  • Trekking permits (Sagarmatha National Park Permit, TIMS card).
  • Experienced English-speaking guide and porters.
  • All meals during the trek (breakfast, lunch, dinner).
  • Lodge/teahouse accommodation during the trek.
  • First aid medical kit.
  • Down jacket and sleeping bag rental (if needed).
Excludes
  • International airfare.
  • Nepal visa fee.
  • Travel insurance (must cover high-altitude trekking).
  • Meals in Kathmandu (except breakfast).
  • Personal expenses (showers, Wi-Fi, snacks, drinks, etc.).
  • Tips for guides and porters.
  • Optional activities or city tours in Kathmandu.
Essential Information

Everest Three Passes Difficulty

Trekking consists of three passes, which are known as the Everest three passes trek difficulty. 

The Everest Three Passes Trek is one of the toughest treks in the Himalayas, according to most travel enthusiasts. For one to complete the adventure in the world’s tallest mountain range, great body fitness, mental ability, and determination are needed. 

The trek that takes approximately 3 weeks in Nepal’s Khumbu region is treacherous, as this trek involves entry into complicated topography with many steep ups and downs. It connects the wild high torrents of the Renjo La, Cho La, and Kongma La passes, all of which stretch over 5000 m high. 

Explorers have always found it necessary to carry their backpacks over much more technically demanding terrains that include near-vertical rock faces or ice fields with many crevasses. The entire route is 280 km long, and more than two-thirds runs through very high country over 5000 m. This increases the probabilities of such complications as the acute mountain sickness or getting exhausted in the thin air that requires great caution and sensible acclimatization. 

As you can judge from this description, the physical toughness and determination needed in this trek are beyond measure. But it can be an exciting challenge and a very fulfilling task for those who are ready for it. 

The successful hikers will be rewarded with great scenery of the Himalayas, which will stretch at such great heights of the planet. Also, one can challenge oneself and trek to the mysterious valleys like Gokyo Valley with its holy lakes like the Gokyo Lake and interact with the permanently living local Sherpa people. 

The trek completion brings a great deal of satisfaction while the individuals continue to go out of their way to obtain this chartered jewel of the trekking in the great Himalayas. However, it is clear that one can do the Everest Three Passes Trek with enough preparation and time in the right places. 

Best Time For Everest Three Passes Trek

When it comes to the best time to visit for this trek, that can be during the early spring and autumn, similar to the Everest Base Camp Trek. It is all good fun planning the trek during these seasons since one gets to have the best of the mountain ranges in terms of the weather and the skies. Before going for a hike, it is advisable to look into the weather channel or check the weather and plan for the hike accordingly. 

Trekking season in the Annapurna region is at its highest between March and May since it is the spring season. The daytime temperature ranges from 20 degrees Celsius, while the nighttime temperatures vary at around 5 degrees Celsius. The weather is relatively cooperative, and the sky is mostly clear, providing a direct and spectacular look at the incredible Himalayas. Spring is still another perfect time to trek the Everest Three Passes Trek with a fine climate to boot. 

The months September to November can be said to provide ideal conditions for trekking since it is the autumn season. Autumn is a lovely season of pleasant days that are sunny and visible. Said season is still ideal for hiking, as the temperatures will be gentle on the troops. Autumn has festive Nepali days such as Dashain and Tihar to enjoy in the teahouses that may be crowded on the route. 

However, it is not recommendable to trek during the summer monsoon season, which is during June, July, and August. The aspects of the outdoor trail are sharp and slippery when raining and may result in cases of flooding and landslides. The poor weather also very often leads to the cancellations of Lukla flights, hence making it a challenging place to travel to. 

Last, there is the winter, which starts in December and ends in February, and it offers very cold weather, strong winds, and unpredictable stormy weather. Although sometimes done by the more experienced hikers, winter undertaking involves preparation for the cold weather or even snow that might occur at the high altitude today. 

Flight Delays and Cancellations during the Everest Three Passes Trek 

Before starting the thrilling but challenging Everest Three Passes Trek, one has to leave for what is called the world’s most lethal airport, Lukla Airport. Lukla stands at a breathtaking 2,845 m  at the tip of cliffs, thus being a key doorway into the Khumbu area. However, the small airport is also unfortunately associated with flight problems that lead to inconvenience when trekking. 

Due to the geographic location of the Lukla Airport, which is at the edge of a steep mountain, flying conditions have to be favorable for takeoffs and landings. However, the changeable climate of the high-altitude region also plays a spoilsport, with cases when visibility is low, wind is extremely strong, or the sky is overcast, causing people to cancel reservations. Some airlines experience daily flight delays, including on sunny days, due to congestion that deals with large traffic during peak periods. 

Issues of flight can be paramount to trekkers undertaking the Everest Three Passes Treks with fixed scheduled trekking with less flexibility to change those schedules. However, instead of lowering the morale of the trekkers, little inconveniences are seen as an inevitable part of Himalayan trekking, and as such, they help to transform this trek into a magical and memorable one. Ideally, it’s better to have additional days attached to this in case. 

Regarding flight disruption, it is outside of a trekker’s control; however, it is possible to prevent many problems with some intelligent planning. Some of the ways to manage such eventualities are to book flights with the highest on-time performance rates, take along some additional medication, and ensure that one does not schedule important appointments right after the hike. Flexible schedule also lets for spending more days in Sherpa culture if additional days are to be spent in the region. 

Acclimatization and Altitude Sickness 

Because most of the trekking altitudes pass 5000 m, it is essential to make sure that trekkers will have enough time to acclimatize with the thin atmosphere in the mountains to avoid serious medical conditions like HAPE or HACE on the Everest Three Passes Trek. It is only right that it takes time for the body to acclimatize to breathing the thin air found at altitude before crossing the very high passes on the route. 

While planning the Three Passes trek, we will need to include buffer days and acclimatization schedules, especially at the areas such as Namche Bazaar at 3,440 meters and Chhukung at 5,540 meters. An additional night at a certain altitude increases time for recovery in respiration, heartbeat, and oxygen saturation before proceeding to the next level. This also enables tracking of any signs and symptoms of altitude sickness, which may include headaches, nausea, fatigue, or even reduced appetite. 

When the above signs develop, there is the need to seek medical help. If these signs are not taken seriously, they could turn out to be disastrous, especially when one is above 4,000 m. It is always advisable to inform the guide if one is feeling uncomfortable in case of any illness; one should not be shy or discouraged by the inconveniences the illness may bring. If such symptoms worsen, one should descend to a lower altitude as soon as possible. The guides are knowledgeable with severity, and oxygen, hydration, and medications will be administered as required, and then patients will be evacuated off the mountains. 

Prevention of AMS 

  • Keep speed extremely low and constant with delayed periods of rest in order to minimize stress on the heart. 
  • Take as much water by consuming 3-4 liters of fluids like such electrolyte solutions. 
  • Do not take alcoholic or sleep-inducing drugs that affect breathing. 
  • Take a lot of carbohydrates as an energy source and leave the proteins for some other day. 

There is, however, sometimes a reality of altitude sickness during the crossing of the high passes, even as there is a gradual climb up and additional days of accommodation that are incorporated into the trekking schedule. However, if the symptoms arise, the guides normally have some standard procedures for handling such trekkers sick with such diseases. With sense, realistic expectations, and responsible partners, the wonder of the Himalayas still remains to be discovered as you experience the exciting and challenging trip in the Three Passes trek to Everest. 

Everest Three Passes Trek FAQs

Yes, it is recommended before doing this demanding trek that one needs to have travel insurance that will cover comprehensive medical emergencies such as medevac, lost luggage, or even trip cancellation due to sickness or bereavement of a family member.

 

Indeed, all the genuine guide companies offer well-informed English-speaking guides to helm the experienced support teams of porters, cooks, and assistants through the entire trail. They arrange logistics and security to make the treks comfortable while adding an understanding of geography and culture to the trips.

 Seek a policy that is covered by emergency evacuation for medical complications and trip cancellation due to complications such as flight delay, delayed or even lost baggage, among other features.

Be very careful when taking pictures of people, religious icons, ceremonies, or houses because it could be considered taboo. Some do not want their photos to be taken, especially because of cultural beliefs; therefore, being keen when shooting pictures is important.

 Nevertheless, several conscious efforts that Trek can practice include buying artifacts from the village people, taking meals in a family-operated tea house, rewarding polite staff massively, avoiding wastage, and having proper conduct to have a perception of Sherpa’s life. May their generosity and perseverance in such a territory speak to you

It appears that all the necessary measures are taken to maintain responsible trekking, depending on the fragile environment of the Himalayas on the way. Do not throw trash, wash with biodegradable soap, bury human waste, or pollute or take too much water.

Tibetan and Sherpa meals are full of carbohydrates, and hence popular foods found include dal bhat (rice and lentils), Tibetan bread and noodles, potatoes, momos, which are steamed dumplings, and warm soups to sustain hikers during the strenuous climbs

 Many trekkers suggest that those who are less experienced should not attempt the trek if they are below 16 years of age since it involves very strenuous trekking. A sense of reasonable fitness levels, maturity, and mental endurance are expected; thus, such treks cannot be considered appropriate for young kids.

Yes, it’s recommended that you hire a porter to handle most of your equipment to reduce the load you will have to carry while doing the high-altitude trekking. Find out how much weight you would like to be transported and book for porter services in Lukla.

 

Some challenges include altitude sickness, especially where the company operates over 5,000 meters above sea level. As with all great altitudes, correct acclimatization by taking the stairs slowly and checking for signs is necessary. Going down immediately if these symptoms develop helps avoid severe illness.

There are no compulsory vaccinations that are required at the moment; it is advised to get booster doses of hepatitis A, typhoid, diphtheria, polio, and tetanus. Consult with the respective travel clinic and share the day-wise plan of the travel.

 

Although technical mountaineering experience is not required, every participant should have a good level of fitness and prior hiking experience in multi-day treks where you carry your own backpack. In particular, it is necessary to withstand physical activity that implies the hike of 5-7 hours per day in the altitude and across the backcountry trails, which are steep and rather irregular.

 

There are plenty of drinking water sources along the way, and most often they can be bought in lodged areas. To avoid waste, boiled or treated water, if available, should be put in the reusable bottle used in serving the same. A bottle of water purification drops or tablets should be carried out to purify the natural water sources.

 

Although some of the tea houses do possess facilities like solar panels and hydroelectric power to charge the devices, chances are still low but not unavailable. It is advisable to have a handy charger either in the form of additional batteries, especially if the gadget is to be used for an extended period.

 

Telecommunication services, particularly the internet and cell signals, are so scarce and weak that they can only be received in some of the teahouses at lower altitudes. You shall spend most of your time offline while on the trek, and this is due to being in the middle of the high Himalayan range.

 

Food and shelter are found in locally owned tea houses (lodges) along the longitude and latitude of the trail; the accommodation is simple with dormitory-like beds with a shared washroom. Despite the steep and difficult hiking trail, no luxurious amenities should be expected on this high-altitude adventure.

Good attitude, sturdy shoes, warm clothing, rain gear, sun gear, headlamp, water, trekking poles, food and water, a first-aid kit, sleeping bags and insulated pads, or winter-quality devices.

 

Ordinarily, the Everest Three Passes Trek lasts between 14 and 21 days with a provision for proper acclimatization. The length of the itinerary depends mainly on fitness and how quickly one adapts to the altitude.

Trekking on one’s own is always discouraged because it’s very inaccessible and there is always a high likelihood of either altitude sickness or an injury. Crossing by a guide and a porter or being in a group is safer since several sections traverse little traffic and steep terrains.

 

The ideal time of a year when there are no rainy or excessively hot days is when it is possible to visit the country during the spring and autumn seasons—March through May and September through November, respectively. Deep winter and summer seasons should not be targeted since it lead to very cold periods where there is ice or snow and also very hot periods where it rains heavily, making the road condition very dangerous

 

 The Everest Three Passes Trek comprises three passes of over 5,000 m elevation and seriously steep climbing and dropping; for this reason, the trekking tour is considered to be significantly more difficult as compared to the Everest Base Camp. Strength, energy, and determination are essential in this rather strenuous Himalayan trek.

 

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