Everest Three High Pass Trek

Place: Thamel

On the first day, you will arrive at Tribhuvan International Airport. You will go through customs and then take a tourist bus to the hotel in Thamel, a busy area in Kathmandu. Once you reach the hotel, we will check in and drop off our bags. After that, you can explore the lively Kathmandu. You will return to the hotel, enjoy a delicious dinner, and rest.

Place: Phakding

Today, your adventure towards Everest 3 passes begins. You will have breakfast in Kathmandu and then quickly fly to Lukla. The flight lasts about 35 minutes and offers excellent bird-eye views of the Himalayas. As you arrive near Lukla, you will see views of the Khumbu mountains at 2860m. Lukla is also the starting point of the trek in the Everest region.

The trekkers also have the option to fly to Lukla from Ramechhap. This would require a 5-6 hour bus ride from Kathmandu to Ramechhap, followed by a 20-minute flight. Once you arrive at Lukla airport, the trek begins. You will start walking to your destination, Phakding. You will cross a few suspension bridges and pass through the village of Chheplung as you go downhill to reach Phakding, where you will stay overnight.

Place: Namche

On day 3 of the Three Everest High Pass trek itinerary, after enjoying breakfast in Phakding, you’ll continue your trek toward Namche Bazaar. Today’s walk in the Everest Three High trek route includes a mix of gentle uphill and downhill sections and crossing several suspension bridges. The highlight of the trek early on is the stunning view of Mt. Thamserku (6,608m) from the charming Bengkar village. As you pass through Monjo, you’ll enter the Sagarmatha National Park after checking your permits at the entrance gate.

The trail then takes you through dense pine forests and rugged terrain. If the weather is clear, you’ll catch your very first glimpse of Mount Everest from inside the forest. After walking past Jorsale village, you’ll cross the famous Hillary Suspension Bridge and begin a steady climb to Namche Bazaar. Namche Bazaar is the largest Sherpa village in the Khumbu Region and is the starting point for many expeditions and trekking groups. Overnight at Namche.

Place: Namche

Day four of the Everest Three High Passes Trek is a day for acclimatization spent in Namche Bazaar to help the body adjust to the increasing altitude. But instead of taking full rest day, you will engage in light hike. A common activity is a hike up to the Hotel Everest View, situated at a higher elevation, offering stunning panoramic views of the Himalayas, including Everest and the surrounding Himalayan peaks.

This uphill trek allows trekkers to experience a higher altitude before descending back to the relative safety of Namche for the night, a strategy known as “climb high, sleep low,” which is crucial for preventing altitude sickness.

Place: Tengboche

It’s the 5th day of trek through the route in the Everest region, and you will trek from Namche Bazaar to Tengboche today. The Everest Three High Pass trekking route offers some of the best mountain views so far, including Mount Everest, Ama Dablam, Lhotse, Nuptse, and Thamserku. As you follow a gently winding Everest Three High Pass trek trail, you’ll walk through pine forests and may spot wildlife like musk deer, Himalayan Thar, and colorful pheasants along the way (the sighlighting is rare).

You’ll then cross a prayer flag-draped bridge over the Dudh Koshi River before reaching Phungi Thanga. After a final climb, you will reach Tengboche, home to the region’s most important monastery. You can take time to visit the Tengboche Monastery. Overnight at Tingboche.

Place: Dingboche

The sixth day of the Everest 3 pass trek itinerary takes you from Tengboche to Dingboche. Today’s journey takes you down through a beautiful forest trail, across the peaceful Imja Khola, and into the traditional Sherpa village of Pangboche. You will be accompanied by the mesmerizing views of Mt. Ama Dablam, Lhotse, and other towering peaks throughout the trekking route.

As you continue, the Everest high passes trek trail opens up into vast pastures and rolling hills leading toward Dingboche, also known as the ‘summer valley’ for its sunny, open terrain. We aim to arrive in Dingboche in time for lunch. After lunch, you can relax with a book or enjoy the views of the surrounding mountains.

Place: Chhukung

The seventh day of the Everest Three Passes Trekking involves a relatively short trek from Dingboche (4,410m/14,470ft) to Chhukung (4,730m/15,518ft), typically taking around 3 hours. This day serves as continued acclimatization, allowing your body to adjust to the increasing altitude while enjoying the scenic views of the Imja Valley, Lhotse, Nuptse, and Ama Dablam.

Upon reaching Chhukung, you’ll have the afternoon free, with options for short hikes to viewpoints or preparing for potential ascents of Chhukung Ri before returning to sleep overnight.

Place: Lobuche

After staying overnight in Chhukung, it’s time to tackle the first Everest pass, Kongma La Pass (5,535m). Enjoy a hearty breakfast before departing on the steep trail to the northwest, where you’ll have views of the Nuptse Glacier and Island Peak Valley.

You will then ascend through the rugged Niyang Khola Valley, dotted with iced lakes, until you reach the challenging Kongma La Pass. You will take breaks as needed to enjoy the stunning views of the Everest region. After appreciating the scenery, you will descend carefully through rocky terrain toward Lobuche, where you can see the Khumbu Glacier. You’ll spend the night in a teahouse in Lobuche.

Place: Gorak Shep

Today is the most exciting and rewarding day of your 17 days itinerary of Everest Three High Pass, as you’ll finally reach Everest Base Camp, the base of the world’s highest peak, Mt Everest. Continuing on the trekking route in the Everest region, you will trek from Lobuche to Gorak Shep. Gorak Shep is the last teahouse before reaching the base camp, so you will return there after your visit to EBC.

The journey involves adventurous trails and a break at Gorak Shep before continuing for several hours to Everest Base Camp (5,364m). You’ll walk alongside the Khumbu glacier, and upon reaching the base camp, you’ll be surrounded by towering peaks like Lhotse, Makalu, Cho Oyu, Nuptse, and others. You won’t see Mount Everest from EBC. After appreciating the moment, you’ll head back to Gorak Shep for the night.

Place: Dzongla

On the tenth day of the Everest Three High Passes trekking, you’ll hike to Kala Pathar, a 2-3 hour trek from Gorak Shep. If you reach the summit early, you’ll witness a stunning sunrise over the world’s highest peaks, including Mt Everest and Mt Ama Dablam.

After enjoying the views and capturing amazing photos, you’ll trek to Dzongla. This involves retracing your steps to Lobuche, then navigating a rough riverbed trail. You’ll climb a ridge that offers beautiful mountain views, including the Cho La Pass (5,420m) and Cho La Lake, before descending through several villages to reach Dzongla for the night.

Place: Thagnak

You will start your climb from Dzongla (4,830m/15,850ft) to the challenging Cho La Pass (5,420m/17,782ft), the second pass of the trek. This part involves steep, rocky, and possibly icy trails that require physical strength and mental determination. Depending on the conditions, you may need trekking poles or microspikes.

After the tough climb to the pass, you will see prayer flags and stunning views. The descent to Thagnak (4,700m/15,420ft) can also be difficult, as it often includes crossing moraines and potentially icy ground. As you reach Thagnak, a quieter settlement, you will have dinner and sleep overnight.

Place: Gokyo Lake

Your trek from Thagnak to Gokyo is a relatively short and scenic walk of about 4 hours, gaining only a slight altitude to reach the village of Gokyo (4,750m). As you traverse its moraine, the trail offers stunning views of the Ngozumpa Glacier, Nepal’s longest glacier.

You’ll likely pass by the first of the Gokyo Lakes, Longpongo (4,690m), before arriving at the main Gokyo village on the eastern shore of the third Gokyo Lake, Dudh Pokhari (4,750m). After reaching Gokyo village, you will visit the local area and then your teahouse for an overnight stay.

Place: Gokyo Lake

Today, you will stay in Gokyo to rest and adjust to the altitude. In the morning, you will hike up to Gokyo Ri, which is a steep climb. The effort will be worth it because, from the top, you will see amazing views of Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, and Cho Oyu. These peaks will look majestic, standing tall above the clouds.

After enjoying the views, you will return to Gokyo for lunch. The rest of the day is free to relax or explore. You can spend time by the lake or meet other trekkers in the lodge. This day will help us prepare for the challenges ahead and give us a chance to fully enjoy Gokyo.

Place: Marulung

Today, you will begin your journey from Gokyo to Marulung at 5:00 a.m. First, you will climb uphill for 570 meters to reach Renjo La Pass, the third high pass of the trek. This climb requires time and effort, but once you reach the top, you can enjoy breathtaking views of Mount Everest, the Gokyo Lakes, and other towering peaks.

After taking in the stunning scenery, you will descend 1,150 meters toward Marulung. The total distance of the trek is about 12.5 kilometers, and it takes around 8 hours to complete. You will make stops for meals and rest along the way. Finally, you will arrive in Marulung and spend the night in a tea house or lodge, feeling tired but satisfied with your day’s adventure.

Place: Namche Bazaar

The fifteenth day of the Three Passes of the Everest trek journey continues by retracing your steps. Your journey begins with a descent from Marulung to Tarnga, passing through a rhododendron forest and alongside the Bhote Koshi River towards Namche Bazaar. After crossing the Langmuche Khola and visiting the Buddhist shrine Gompa, you’ll reach Sundar Peak.

A stop at the historic Thame monastery, a religious village, is included before retracing your steps through Samde, Thamo, and Phurte to the world’s highest power plant for views of Khari Gompa and Laudo Monastery. Finally, you’ll descend to Namche, a vibrant town filled with pine forests, gompas, prayer flags, and an interesting market, making for a delightful evening.

Place: Lukla

You will continue descending from Sherpa villages, reaching Lukla from Namche today after breakfast. After two regular trekking days, you have one last challenge on this trek. The hike from Namche to Lukla will take 6 to 7 hours. You will walk along greener trails and pass by rhododendron trees. Although the journey is long, the beautiful scenery will help you forget the distance and tiredness. Enjoy this last day of the Everest 3 Passes Trek.

Place: Thamel

On Day 17 of the trek, you will leave the Everest region. Start the day with an early morning flight back to Kathmandu from Lukla, if available during the off-peak season. If not, you will take a scenic flight from Lukla to Ramechhap Airport, which is more common during peak trekking seasons. Once you arrive in Ramechhap, you will drive for 4 to 5 hours to return to Kathmandu. Once in Kathmandu, you will arrive at your hotel to rest, and in the evening, meet your crew for a celebratory dinner.

Meals: Breakfast

We will arrange your transfer to the international airport based on your flight schedule on the final day of your journey. After a delicious breakfast, you will have time to pack your bags and complete any last-minute preparations. We will ensure your departure is smooth and memorable, just like the rest of your trek. Have a safe flight, namaste.