Three Pass Trek In Everest is one of the most adventurous and extremely popular trekking trips in the Everest (Khumbu) region of Sagarmatha National Park which includes 3 high passes; Renjo La Pass (5,360m), Cho La Pass (5,420m) and Kongma La Pass (5,535m). Along with these other highlights of this trek are Gokyo Valley, Khumbu glaciers, Gokyo Lake, Kalapatthar, Monasteries, Sherpa villages- Marlung and Thame where you can explore the hidden natural and cultural beauty of the Everest region, and Everest Base Camp. This Trek quenches the desire of adventure trekkers who want the most challenging and adventurous trekking once in their life. During this trek, you can have a breathtaking view of the world’s highest mountains- World’s highest mountain “Mount Everest” (8,848m), Makalu (8,463m), Lhotse (8516m), and Cho Oyu (8201m).
Three Pass Trek In Everest is an ultimate trekking experience in Khumbu Valley with great fusion of the high passes in the region; offering incredible scenery, challenging high-altitude trekking, and coming into contact with the Sherpa people and their unique culture. This trek begins after your 30-35 minutes long scenic and thrilling flight through the Himalaya from Kathmandu to Lukla, 3860.
From Lukla, Three Pass Trek In Everest follows the classic trail to Namche Bazaar and from Lungden we cross the Renjo La pass where we can enjoy stunning views of the majestic views of high peaks like Mt. Everest, Mt. Lhotse, Mt. Makalu, and Mt. Cho Oyu. Also, admire the third major Gokyo Lake (among five) - Dudh Pokhari, and the Gokyo village. From Thagnak, we trek towards Dzongla via Cho La Pass enjoying the views of the mountains of Ama Dablam, Cholatse, Lobuche East, and Baruntse including other white peaks from the passes.
Finally, we cross the highest of this trek-Kongma La Pass and descend to Chhukung Village one of the most beautiful villages in the rout and you encounter many adventure trekkers or mountaineers who are mostly talking about Island Peak climbing. From the top, witness the magnificent views of Lhotse, Lhotse Shar, Makalu, Baruntse, and Ama Dablam. Then, return to Lukla airport to fly back to Kathmandu. Hence, crossing three spectacular high passes between the altitude of 5,330 meters and 5,535 meters with the view of breathtaking high mountain scenery makes this trek challenging and rewarding that surely leaves you with memories to cherish all lifelong.
Day 01: Arrival in Kathmandu, transfer to hotel.
Day 02: Flight from Kathmandu to Lukla (2866 m) and trek to Phakding (2638m)
Day 03: Phakding to Namche Bazaar (3440 m)
Day 04: Acclimatization day
Day 05: Namche Bazaar to Thame (3800m) (4 – 5 hrs.)
Day 06: Thame to Lungden, (4380m) (7– 8 hrs.)
Day 07: Lungden via Renjo La pass (5360m) to Gokyo (4800 m) (8 – 9 hrs.)
Day 08: Gokyo – Ascent Gokyo Ri, (5357 m)
Day 09: Gokyo to Thagnak (4750 m) (5 – 6 hrs.)
Day 10: Thagnak via Cho La Pass (5420m) to Dzongla (4830m) (7 – 8 hrs.)
Day 11: Dzongla to Lobuche (4940 m) (4 – 5 hrs.)
Day 12: Lobuche to Gorakshep (5170 m) to Everest Base Camp (5364 m) (8 – 9 hrs.)
Day 13: Gorakshep – Kalapatthar (5,644 m), back to Lobuche (4940 m) (7 – 8hrs.)
Day 14: Lobuche via Kongma La Pass (5535m) to Chhukung (4730m) (6 – 7 hrs.).
Day 15: Chhukung to Namche Bazaar (6 – 7 hrs.)
Day 16: Namche Bazaar to Lukla (6 – 7 hrs).
Day 17: Fly to Kathmandu, hotel
Upon your arrival at the Tribhuvan International airport, the representative of Destination Himalaya treks gives you warm welcome in the adventurous Himalayan country Nepal. Overnight in a hotel.
Around 45 minutes flight, early in the morning we take a scenic flight to Tenzing-Hillary Airport, Lukla. Then, we start our trek and head to Phakding. We cross the Chauri kharka village and climb down to Dudh Koshi River and follow the bank of the river in the valley. Unnamed vegetation and seasonal flowers, pine forests, and wild animals with domestic animals are the major attraction of the trekking trail of Phakding. We finally ascend to Phakding. There we also visit the Monastery. The centuries-old monasteries around Phakding add to the beauty of the village. Overnight in Phakding.
Crossing the suspension bridge and walking on the bank of Dudh Koshi is the usual activity of your trekking. Moreover, your entry to the Benkar village with the superb views of Mr. Thamserku is really spectacular. The Monjo is the entrance of the world’s highest national park, “The Sagarmatha national park”. In the national park, we can see various flora and fauna. If lucky, we can also see various rare wild animals and birds like Red pandas, snow leopards, wild boars, etc. From there, continue to Namche. Overnight in Namche.
Namche is the first acclimatization place of our trekking. Namche bazaar is famous for many things. Most of the government offices lie in Namche. Furthermore, it is the doorway to the total Everest region. Namche bazaar is surrounded by snowy peaks and mountains, which can be seen from the various hotels stated in Namche. Tourist visitor centers, and long old monasteries, are the attraction of Namche. Email-internet, ATMs, glossary shops, bakeries, and restaurants, are easily available in Namche bazaar. We take a rest at Namche bazaar visiting the surrounding places. Namche is the Sherpa village where we can interact with them and get knowledge of their culture and lifestyle. On this day, we also visit another Sherpa village Khumjung near Namche. There we also visit the Buddhist monastery. Overnight in Namche.
Thame lies at the end of Khumbu valley. Traverse Bhote Koshi river and pass the forested trail of pine and rhododendron. Pass the Thamo Gomba and walk on a steep trail to reach Thame. Overnight stay.
Admire the lovely landscape, vegetation, and mountain vistas en route to Lungden. Traverse through Taranga, and Marlung to arrive at Lungden. Explore the beautiful Nakpa valley or hike to nearby Cho Relmo Lake at Lungden. Overnight stay.
The exciting trek to Gokyo via Renjo La Pass is the first pass of the trek. Walk slowly and reach the summit of Renjo La. From there, enjoy the stunning views of majestic views of high peaks like Mt. Everest, Mt. Lhotse, Mt. Makalu, and Mt. Cho Oyu. Also, admire the third major Gokyo Lake (among five) - Dudh Pokhari, and the Gokyo village. Then, slowly descend and enter the Gokyo. Overnight stay.
Today we explore the beautiful Gokyo. We view the largest Ngozumpa Glacier and the glacial moraine formed due to the Ngozumpa glacier. Exploring the other locations in the surroundings such as the third, fourth, and fifth Gokyo Lakes. Then, ascent Gokyo Ri. From the top, the views of Gokyo valley and Gokyo Lakes are phenomenal. Also, the breathtaking views of Everest, Cho Oyu, Lhotse, Nuptse, and Makalu are exceptional. Descend after witnessing the spectacular views. Overnight stay.
We leave the beautiful Gokyo to move ahead in our trek. We have a short yet bit challenging side trip to the other side of the mighty Ngozumpa glacier. Past the first and the second lakes, the trail takes us to the east, the other side of the glacier through the steep pass. We then arrive at our destination Thagnak. Overnight stay.
Thagnak is a small and lovely village with few houses. The trek starts with a gentle long uphill that becomes stiff before the ascent to the challenging Cho La Pass (5,420m). The pass connects the villages of Thagnak and Dzong La. The trail moves past the frozen lake to the Pass decorated with prayer flags. The marvelous view of the mountains of Ama Dablam, Cholatse, Lobuche East, and Baruntse including the others from the top of the pass is an amazing treat to the trekkers. The ice-greased trail may make the descent down to Dzong La a challenging one. The use of crampons for crossing Cho La Pass may be necessary depending on the weather condition. Overnight stay.
Today’s section also serves as the preparation for stepping into the vicinity of the Everest Base Camp the following day. Through the ridges, on the edge of Awi Peak, we pass through the Cholatse Lake perched above the Cholatse Glacier. We join the busy trail from Tengboche to Lobuche as we turn left towards the Lobuche. As we continue our uphill climb, we have spectacular scenery in front of us wherein the majestic Nuptse seems to be rising above the Khumbu glacier. Overnight stay.
This day we achieve our goal of putting our foot on the Everest base camp. From Lobuche, we walk up a rocky moraine path with a view of the Khumbu glacier. Then, we descend to Gorakshep where we take lunch. Then we head to Everest base camp. At Everest base camp, we stay for some time and observe the view of the surrounding mountains including Pumori, Ama Dablam, Nuptse, Lhotse, etc. Then, we return to Gorakshep where we stay overnight.
This day in the morning we hike to Kalapatthar to view the panorama of Mt. Everest. Kalapatthar is the perfect vantage point of the Everest region for Mountain View. From there, we observe the panoramic view of Mt. Everest and other mountains of the Everest region like Mt. Lhotse, Mt. Pumori, Mt. Ama Dablam, Mt. Khumbutse, Mt. Nuptse, Mt. Thamserku, etc. Then, we return to Gorakshep. There we take lunch and then back to Lobuche for an overnight stay.
We head towards Chhukung via Kongma La Pass. The last among the three passes is at an elevation of 5535m. One of the most difficult passes to trek but with proper planning and walking carefully we can achieve it. Climb Kongma La and from the top witness the magnificent views of Lhotse, Lhotse Shar, Makalu, Baruntse, and Ama Dablam. Descend to the eastern side and enter the lovely Chhukung village. Nowadays, this village is a popular acclimatization destination as an entry point for Peak climbing. Overnight stay.
An easy trek as we descend through Imja Khola valley traversing several villages such as Dingboche, and Pangboche, to enter the village of Tengboche. Witness amazing vistas such as Ama Dablam, Everest, Nuptse, and Lhotse. We can’t miss visiting the largest vintage Tengboche Monastery. We head towards Namche following the forested trail. Then, a steep climb takes us to a place with chortens and prayer flags. Adoring the natural scenery, arrive at Namche Bazaar. After long days of trekking, you can enjoy continental cuisine and hot coffee or bakery items at Namche.
We descend the trail slowly and cautiously due to the steep path and the shaky leg owing to the long trekking we earlier had. The magic of nature unfolds through the colorful rhododendron and pine forests, plains, and the amazing view of the snow-capped mountains that seem to be overlooking the trekking route. Sherpa villages, Buddhist culture reflected through the prayer flags, prayer stones, and Gompas, and lush vegetation make the trekking an enriching one. We stretch ourselves in this Sherpa town and recall the experiences gained during the strenuous yet amazing trekking. Overnight stay.
Our trekking comes to an end today. We fly back to Kathmandu and you are transferred to the hotel of your stay before you depart to your respective destinations. Overnight in a hotel.
Accommodation
Accommodation in the Himalayas is mostly teahouses or lodges operated by locals. They are comfortable and simple with basic facilities. Extra facilities like hot showers, Wi-Fi, charging of electronic devices, and laundries are available by paying additional charges. Room sharing is common during the peak seasons and at high altitudes. So, prepared for it. Washrooms are mostly outside the teahouse or lodge.
Meals
We provide only breakfast in Kathmandu and 3 meals (breakfast, lunch. dinner) a day are provided during the entire trek. Meals are provided from the teahouses or lodges which is simple but organic and healthy. Nepali Dal Bhat is a chief dish with fresh green vegetable curry. Besides, noodles, soup, bread, roti, Sherpa stew, and hot drinks are also available. You can try continental cuisine at Namche at your own expense.
Drinking Water
Drinking water in the Himalayas is pure and fresh. One can directly drink the natural freshwater stream from the Himalayas. Or fill up the boiled water in a water bottle in the teahouses paying an extra charge. Always carry water purifying solutions for proper water treatment and to be safe. Drink plenty of water and keep yourself hydrated to prevent altitude sickness.
Internet connectivity & Mobile Network
Everest Link’s Wi-Fi card provides internet all over the Everest region. So, internet connectivity is easily available and stable in the lower regions. Mobile Network is also stable in the lower regions. You can also purchase a Sim and use mobile data from it. In higher altitudes, internet connectivity and mobile network are difficult to find.
Starting and Ending Point
Lukla is the starting and ending point for most trekking or climbing in the Everest region.
"Lukla-Phakding-Namche-Thame-Lungden-Gokyo Valley-Thagnak-Dzongla-Lobuche-Gorakshep-EBC-Gorakshep-Kalapatthar-Lobuche-Chhukung-Tengboche-Namche-Lukla"
Required Permits
Permits are mandatory in the Himalayas of Nepal. Our required permits are Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Entrance
Permit, and Sagarmatha National Park Permit (SNP).
Click here to learn more about Trekking Permits.
"DH Treks issues all the required permits for it's clients."
Travel Insurance
Travel Insurance is quintessential in the Himalayas. It must cover all emergency evacuation, medical extremities, luggage loss/theft, flight cancellations, altitude above 4000m, etc. Since this three passes trek is one of the challenging treks, travel insurance is compulsory. Thus, arrange travel insurance from a reputed agency as it is compulsory.
Safety and our guides
We assure you 100% when it comes to safety. Our client’s safety is our main concern. Our guides are certified and well-trained with years of expertise in this field. They are technically competent and have excelled in safety performance. They always carry essential safety equipment, gear, and first-aid kits. For the safety of our trekkers, the itinerary is properly scheduled and acclimatization rest days are properly set up to adjust to the high altitude and prevent altitude sickness. If any queries concerning safety, feel free to share them with our guides. We are always there for your services.
Best time for Everest Three Passes Trek
The best time to trek is the peak season for safety and to enjoy the spectacular and clear views. Spring and Autumn seasons are the best time. Winter and rainy seasons are riskier. The trail becomes muddy, snowy, and slippery. Also, the chance of flight cancelation and not getting rooms is very high. Only a few adventurous trekkers dare to trek. If one wishes to, we recommend you plan carefully to trek during the off-season.
Everest Three Passes Trek Difficulty
Everest Three Passes Trek is challenging due to the long trek route, high elevations, and challenging three passes at high altitudes, but still, it is adventurous. With the proper assistance and guidance of experts, it can be completed. When it comes to Everest Three Passes Trek, experience in trekking at high altitudes is a bonus. Besides this, trekkers must be in good health, and physically, & mentally fit as it is physically demanding. So, we recommend you participate in exercises, day hikes, and physical training months before starting the trek. Also, take necessary health tests before trekking to high altitudes. You can completely trust our assistance and guidelines throughout the trekking journey.
Altitude Sickness & Acclimatization
Altitude sickness is common in mountains above the altitude of 3000m. The trek starts from Lukla (2866m) and the altitude rises to Kalapatthar (5,644 m) during the trek. Besides this, the three passes Renjo La Pass (5,360m), Cho La Pass (5,420m), and Kongma La Pass (5,535m) are other challenges and high elevations.
Namche and Gokyo are the acclimatization resting places to adjust to the altitude and prevent altitude sickness.
Symptoms of Altitude Sickness
Primary: Headache, nausea, gasping, appetite & sleep loss, dizziness, fatigue, vomiting
Extreme: primary symptoms and hallucinations & unconsciousness
Preventive Guidelines
Shoes: Trekking shoes, base camp shoes, Rubber sandals
Clothes: Windcheater jacket, Thermals, Down Jacket, Base Layers, Fleece, Long sleeve shirts, Gloves, Towels, Inner garments, Trekking pants, Trousers, Shorts, Socks
Accessories: Sunglasses, Ski Goggles, Hats/Caps, Beanie, Sunscreen, Lip Balm, Head Lamp, Trekking Pole, Pocket Knife, Personal Hygiene &Toiletries
Sleeping: Mattress, Warm Sleeping bags
Travel Bag: Duffel bag, a day pack, pack cover
Medicine Kit: Wash Kit, First-Aid Kit, Blister Repair Kit, Medicines for preventing Altitude sickness, Prescribed Medicines (Personal use)
Extras: Heat/Leak proof water bottles, Water Purifying solution (Iodine based), Water filters, Insulated cup/flask, Map, Binoculars, Travel Documents, Sewing kit, Cash, Extra batteries, Power bank, Pen, Diary, Book, Reusable (spoon, cup, plate), Reusable bags, Large Waterproof Disposable Bags, Snacks (Choco-bars, Mints, Nuts, Granola Bars)
Note: Customize and rent the above list as a necessity.