The Everest Three High Passes Trek takes us to some of the highest mountain passes of the world and is considered by many to be the ultimate trekking tour of the Everest region. The route incorporates some of the most popular trails through the region as well as a number of the Khumbu/Everest region's hidden gems, not to mention the wonderful opportunity to become immersed in the area's famed Sherpa culture along the way.
The Everest Three High Passes Trekking is a challenging one that involves three of the Himalayas highest passes - Kongma La (5535m), Cho La (5420m) and Renjo La (5340m) - each of which would present a considerable challenge in its own right — this adventure presents trekkers with three to surmount in the space of seven days! Everest Three High Passes trek is thus the perfect choice for true adventurers with the fortitude, determination and general fitness to tackle the region's most demanding yet rewarding trek, surrounded by four of the highest mountains in the world and some of the best mountain panoramas in all of Nepal. At Nepal Trekking Experts we love to challenge ourselves, and the Everest Three High Passes Trekking is an incomparable and unforgettable journey that meets all of our expectations — and hopefully yours.
There are multiple options for departure points, but the one we recommend is to fly in to Lukla from Kathmandu, the flight in via a Twin Otter plane giving a glimpse of the towering mountains and passes waiting to be conquered.
From Lukla we follow in the footsteps of renowned mountaineers and explorers to cross the first high pass of Kongma La before moving on to the open air museum of climbing that Everest Base Camp (5364m) represents. Nearby Kala Patthar (5545m) provides glorious sunrise vistas of the mountains as well as breathtaking 360 panoramas of the entire region. Rather than retracing our steps in the traditional fashion the trek moves on towards the remaining pair of high passes, reinforcing the sense of trekking across the roof of the world. Cresting Cho La leads to Gokyo (4790 m), one of the highest human settlements and known for the picturesque string of turquoise-colored lakes dotting the surrounding vales. The rest day there provides the opportunity to hike up to Gokyo Ri (5360 m) for the stunning sunrise and arguably the clearest views of Everest (8848 m) and Makalu (8485 m) to the east and of Cho Oyu (8188 m) to the north. After crossing Renjo La the trail descends to the fabled Tibetan trading route running through Thame Valley, then concludes at the Sherpa capital of Namche Bazaar and the return leg to Lukla.
If you're in the market for a trip to Everest that ranks amongst the best treks in all of Nepal and think you can handle the challenge of one of the most consistently high altitude trails in the world, why not contact us and let Nepal Trekking Experts put you on the road to achieving your goal?
Additionally you might consider classic Everest Base Camp Trek, Gokyo valley via Everest Base Camp, Pikey Peak trek and many more beautiful packages.
Trekkers are required to obtain a TIMS card and the Sagarmatha National Park permit to trek Everest region. For further detail please feel free visit our blog Nepal trekking permits and fees or contact us.
Day 01: Welcome at airport then transfer to your Hotel.
Day 02: Free day for trekking preparation and sightseeing around the valley.
Day 03: Fly to Lukla and trek to Phakding (2610m, 4 hrs)
Day 04: Phakding to Namche Bazaar (3440m, 6 hrs)
Day 05: Acclimatize day and side trip around the Everest view hotel.
Day 06: Namche to Tengboche (3860m, 5 hrs)
Day 07: Tengboche to Dingboche (4410m, 5 hrs)
Day 08: Dingboche to Chhukung (4730m, 2/3 hrs)
Day 09: Another acclimatization day!
Day 10: Chhukung to Lobuche via Kongma La pass (4940m, 8 hrs)
Day 11: Lobuche to Gorak Shep (5140m, 7 hrs) Everest Base Camp (5364m) and back to Gorak Shep
Day 12: Hike to Kala Patthar (5550m), then descend to Dzongla (4830m, 5-6 hrs)
Day 13: Dzongla to Dragnag/Thangna (4700m, 7 hrs) via Cho La pass (5420m)
Day 14: Dragnag to Gokyo lakes (4790m, 3 hrs)
Day 15: Hike to Gokyo Ri (5483m) then back to Gokyo Lake
Day 16: Gokyo Ri to Lumde (4300m, 7 hrs) via crossing Renjo La (5340m)
Day 17: Lumde to Namche Bazaar (3440m, 5-6 hrs)
Day 18: Namche to Lukla (2840m, 7 hrs)
Day 19: Flight to Kathmandu
Day 20: Departure
Note:- Above itinerary is just a guideline. If you are not stisfied please feel free to customize your own and contact us.
Welcome at airport and transfer to your hotel. An introduction to your trekking program then the rest of the day at your leisure to enjoy the sights, sounds and culture of Kathmandu.
Free day for final trekking preparation and sightseeing
A magical scenic flight takes us to Lukla in the morning, and from there we begin our trek with a hike to the day's first destination, Phakding.
Our day starts by following the Dudh Koshi River and crossing over the Edmund Hillary suspension bridge, then heading towards Sagarmatha National Park and the checkpoint at Monjo. The path ascends markedly until it eventually leads us into Namche Bazaar, the regional capital for the Sherpa district.
A rest day to allow the body to acclimate to the high altitude conditions. Namche is perfect for the situation, as there's plenty to do in the scenic town including visiting Khunde Hospital, the local medical facility set up through Edmund Hillary's charitable work in the area, taking in the panoramas from Everest View Hotel, visiting the Sherpa Cultural Museum, or hiking up to Khumjung Valley and its monastery, complete with the display of its famous Yeti scalp.
The trail leads away from Namche Bazaar through a series of small villages and a suspension bridge en route to Phunki Tenga, then climbs through a series of switchbacks and dense rhododendron forests to Tengboche. The village is famous for its monastery, the largest in the Khumbu region, and justly renowned for its long association with mountaineering expeditions to the area.
The day begins by descending gradually through more woodland until we cross another suspension bridge and climb steadily towards Pangboche and Sumare, the formidable presence of Ama Dablam keeping us company all the way. Mani walls and a monastery greet our arrival in Dingboche, Lhotse, Island Peak and other mountains adding their own stunning profiles to the view.
This is short & suite day of the trek. We will have pleasant hike towards to Chhukung then take a lunch and relax.
Another mandatory rest day, with hikes to Chhukung Ri, Nangar Dzong, or Dolma Ri providing ample opportunities to bask in the glorious panoramas of each viewpoint.
After breakfast we will encounter the first challenging and highest pass named Kongma La. The trail will ascend gradually to Kongma La Pass 5555 m where you can have spectacular view of Himalaya surroundings & Khumbu glacier. Then descends all the way to Lobuche for overnight. (7/8 hrs we do not have tea house in between Dingboche to Lobuche)
Our trek reaches its climax today with the much-anticipated arrival at Everest Base Camp, truly one of the most memorable experiences in Nepal. The morning is spent traversing Khumbu Glacier and heading to Gorak Shep, where we typically pause for a well-deserved meal and the extraordinary views before heading out again for the journey's reward, our arrival at the historic base camp, temporary home through the decades to some of the most legendary figures in the annals of mountaineering. After pausing to drink in the astonishing spectacle, and perhaps view the latest expeditions mounting their challenge, we reluctantly turn around and make our way back to Gorak Shep for our night's rest.
Everest may not be in our reach but Kala Patthar is on hand to give added meaning to the visit via unmatched views of the entire Khumbu basin and a sense of accomplishment in scaling the peak. After returning for breakfast and to retrieve our trekking gear we hit the trail once more for the hike to Dzongla.
The occasionally icy stretch atop Cho La makes the ascent to the pass along a deep ravine a notable achievement, more difficult than Annapurna's famed Thorong La, which is about the same height. The striking views of Ama Dablam, Baruntse and Cholatse alone make the climb to the pass worthwhile. The descent can be a tricky one if icy, and if conditions merit it we will be carrying crampons and ice-axes to facilitate our passage over the pass and down to Dragnag.
The hike begins along a ridgeline with glorious panoramas of the Himalayas, then trails by Ngozumpa Glacier towards Gokyo and the magical view of Dudh Kunda's turquoise waters set amidst the stunning backdrop of the surrounding peaks. Truly one of nature's most spectacular scenes.
We rise early to make the climb up to Gokyo Ri, with even more astonishing panoramas of the surrounding Himalayan giants such as Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse, Makalu, Cho Oyu and many more snow capped peaks.
The adventure continues as we make our way up to the rarified air of Renjo La and its own superb views of the surrounding region - only our cameras can really do justice to supreme scenes that mere words can never truly describe. From Renjo La we descend along a tricky trail to the valley below where the infant Bhote Koshi River runs through Yak pasturelands and alpine scenery towards the settlement of Lumde and the rustic rock walls that guides weary travelers in.
The trail descends gradually through the valley past a number of outlying settlements until it reaches the Khumbu region's trekking hub of Namche Bazaar.
Our final day on the trail, easing back to Lukla along the Dudhi Koshi and its suspension bridges. Once at Lukla we can finally throw off our backpacks, take a relaxing shower, and sit back to savor the heady accomplishment of making it to the foot of Everest.
After breakfast we take a flight to Kathmandu where you'll have enough time to savor the city's treasure's one last time before getting together for a farewell dinner with friends before departure.
Farewell and drop-off at the airport, or the opportunity to join another of our programs.
Start Date | End Date | Cost | Status | Booking |
---|---|---|---|---|
01 September, 2022 | 20 September, 2022 | US $1545 | Guaranteed | |
15 September, 2022 | 04 October, 2022 | US $1545 | Guaranteed | |
15 September, 2022 | 04 October, 2022 | US $1545 | Guaranteed | |
01 October, 2022 | 20 October, 2022 | US $1545 | Guaranteed | |
15 October, 2022 | 03 November, 2022 | US $1545 | Guaranteed | |
01 November, 2022 | 20 November, 2022 | US $1545 | Guaranteed | |
15 November, 2022 | 04 December, 2022 | US $1545 | Guaranteed | |
25 November, 2022 | 14 December, 2022 | US $1545 | Guaranteed |
In September, I went to the Everest Three Passes Trek with Nepal Trekking Experts and my senior guide Bikram. To start with, from arriving at the airport in Kathmandu to dropping me off at the airport after the trek, I was delighted with Rajesh and his staff's superior service. Rajesh picked me up from the airport punctually and reliably. He welcomed me very warmly, so that I immediately felt comfortable. This feeling has continued over the next 2 days, when I was able to benefit from his real all-inclusive service. Everything necessary was perfectly organized in advance (pre-meeting, clearing up all questions, sleeping bag, duffel bag and including a sightseeing day in Kathmandu with a private driver and my guide because we could not fly to Lukla on the first scheduled day). To accompany me on my trek I got one of the most experienced guides of the agency, Bikram. Together with Sujit as a carrier we have formed a great trio. The trek itself was a unique experience and adventure. I highly recommend this route, which explores the entire Khumbu region. Passing the passes is challenging, but feasible for fit people. My guide Bikram has almost 20 years of trekking experience. He has a great knowledge of the country, people and culture and knows his way around the region perfectly. Together with my carrier, Bikram took perfect care of me, my well-being and also my health. Bikram picks out the best lodges and offers an all-round service for everything you need on the mountain. At any time I felt in good hands. In comparison to some other guides, I felt a clear class difference in terms of knowledge and experience, and I am glad that Rajesh has put one of his most experienced guides to my side. So I could not only enjoy the trek completely carefree, but also learned a lot about the country, people and culture. However, what I would like to add at this point: If you are looking for a pure entertainer as a guide, Bikram might not be the best choice, as he is a rather quiet, relaxing contemporary with a highly professional attitude towards all important things (in my opinion much more crucial and valuable). The weather in september was good, but not very good. The first week was much better than week two (though I would have expected this more otherwise). Good means, that in week one nice weather prevailed until about 11 o'clock, then many clouds drove into the valleys. In week one it rained only from the evening and at night, so this was no problem at all. In week 2, however, we had mostly only in the first two hours of the morning really good sky blue weather, then again and again it pulled very strong clouds and fog, so we were hiking the last 4 days in often miserable view for the majority of the day. For me this is an extremely crucial point as walking 2/3 of the day in fog isn’t what you are looking for when trekking in the Everest Region. Nevertheless, we had many magical and dreamlike moments and views of the 8,000m peaks around Everest, Lhotse and Manaslu. In addition, fantastic views of the beautiful mountains such as Ama Dablam, Pumori, Cholatse, Lobuche and many more. Going in pre-seasion has its advantages to really enjoy the nature and the area on many empty paths. For example, we were almost alone when we reached the EBC. Very beautiful! In my opinion trekking in the pre-season has its pros and cons and you have balance what is most important to you. Next time I'll take the hustle and bustle of the main season in order to have much better weather. Point # 2 (which I do really criticize, but I where I had more hopes): I first contacted Nepal Trekking Experts in December 2017. I, as a solo trekker, quickly chose the Everest Three Passes Trek as the route that suits me best. From the beginning I said that I would like to go with other trekkers in a small group for more fun, group interaction and many shared experiences. At the time Rajesh sounded that it will be very likely to find more trekkers, even though it's early in the season (same I heard from other trekkers who ended up going solo). Unfortunately up to my start no other trekker could be found. It is important to know that at the beginning of the season you have to be lucky enough to find like-minded trekkers, as there are not that many on the way. This is especially true for the Everest Three Passes, which is still very empty except for the EBC Trail section). Meaning, if going solo is no option for you, you have to either look for other travelers from the beginning or have some luck on the trek (which was the case for me for 2/3 of the time!). I just want to state that you cannot count on more trekkers joining your self-booked route. This is probably also due to the incredible number of available agencies which offer the same trekking routes. All in all, I can wholeheartedly recommend Nepal Trekking Experts and their offer 100%! Service, organization and the performance of all people involved, the value you get for your money is outstanding and is a clear USP in this highly competitive market. This also applies to Bikram as an incredibly experienced and professional guide! So if you are looking for a perfect well-rounded all-inclusive Trekking Agency, go with Nepal Trekking Experts! I am happy to have been traveling with them and look forward to next time!
I wholeheartedly recommend Nepal Trekking Experts. I completed a 15-day trek in mid-November 2017 with Nepal Trekking Experts and had an incredible and rewarding experience. When I originally searched for a trekking company, I emailed five different companies, only two of which responded. Rajesh was by far the most responsive and helpful of the two—the choice was obvious almost immediately. HIs support after my arrival in Kathmandu and at the end of the trek were fantastic (airport transportation, dinner at a local restaurant, walking tour of Thamel). My guide (Bikram) and porter (Rijan) were excellent as well. I am incredibly grateful for their support—they were excellent travel companions. Bikram kept me on track (starting with my arrival in Kathmandu), safe and informed, and he was always available when needed. Rijan was always where we needed him—he and Bikram were a great team. Also, Bikram's planning was outstanding. I can't say enough good things about the whole experience.
Organice el trek por Nepal totalmente por mi cuenta, buscando y preguntando en varias agencias a través de Internet. Finalmente, por cuestión de precios y recomendaciones de otros viajeros con los que coincidí en Groenlandia, me decidí por Rajesh... Y acerté. Planifique junto con Raj los sitios que quería ver de acuerdo a los días disponibles, aproximadamente el "Everest 3 passes trekking", pero aun así cuando quise adaptar algo sobre la marcha lo hicimos sin problemas. Hice el trek con Rabin, el hermano de Raj, y un porteador. Ambos buena gente. Todo fue rodado: los tea house donde dormíamos y cenábamos eran estupendos, cualquier problema se solucionaba de inmediato aunque realmente nada se pudo considerar un problema, había comunicación diaria entre Rabin y Raj, habilitaron las etapas para conseguir la mejor aclimatación posible... Técnicamente un trek perfecto, inolvidable. Pero ademas de las excelentes sensaciones del trek me quede con el trato con Rajesh. Llegar a su oficina y disfrutar de un café, de un par de cervezas o de algo de comida nepalí, picante como ella sola, mientras echas unas risas y charlas sobre el viaje, antes y después de hacerlo, es impagable. Como digo en el titulo de mi comentario: volveré a Nepal para subir el Mera Peak y lo haré con Raj.