Everest Three Passes Trek

Everest Three Passes Trek

The Everest Three Passes trek is a fantastic high-altitude trek taking you on a circuit through the beautiful Khumbu (Everest) region of Nepal and through the homelands of the Sherpas. As well as visiting and exploring iconic Everest Base Camp (5364m) at the foot of the world’s highest peak, you’ll also cross three beautiful high mountain passes – the Renjo La (5360m), the Cho La (5420m) and the Kongma La (5535m) – ‘La’ meaning pass.

This is a challenging grade trek and requires a good level of fitness and stamina to get the most enjoyment from it but it’s well worth the effort.  Your trek begins with the spectacular short flight to the mountain airstrip of Lukla, from where we start the trek. You’ll visit Sherpa towns and small villages including the vibrant Sherpa town of Namche Bazaar, always a great place to explore and a key hub for the trekking circuits in the Everest region. Trek through varied and stunning landscapes including forested and riverside areas, past glaciers and turquoise blue lakes. Enjoy wonderful peak views throughout including Island Peak (great for an introduction to climbing), the Khumbu Glacier, beautiful Gokyo Valley and it’s high altitude lakes. After your trek, explore some of the key cultural and spiritual sites in vibrant Kathmandu.

Itinerary

• Day 01

  Arrive Kathmandu (1300m) and transfer to hotel.

  Namaste! Welcome to Nepal. Once through immigration and baggage collection, head to the meeting area outside the airport where you'll be met by one of our local team for the transfer drive to your hotel. After time to rest and get refreshed, you'll have an informal briefing and overview about the local area and tomorrow's guided tour of Kathmandu plus a chance to ask any questions. This evening we invite you to enjoy a complimentary welcome dinner at an authentic Nepalese restaurant. Overnight Kathmandu.

• Day 02

  Final trek preparation and drive to Ramechhap.

  This morning is a chance to go over any final preparations and recheck your kit and to buy any last minute items you’ve forgotten or want to add before your trek starts tomorrow. Nearby Thamel is full of great trekking and equipment stores as well as lots of shops, cafes and restaurants and ideal to pick up any last-minute items. Your guide and our local team can also help and provide advice. Today we drive to Ramechhap, around four to five hours, where we’ll have dinner and stay overnight before an early flight to Lukla tomorrow and the start of your trek. After arrival the rest of your day is free to rest and relax, ready for your trek starting tomorrow. Overnight Ramechhap. Please note, after the heavy rains and floods at the end of September this year, flights to Lukla will either depart from Kathmandu or (as is usual during the trekking season) from Ramechhap. The road to Ramechhap was damaged during the floods although other options are available. We will update you of any changes when booking or making an enquiry.

• Day 03

  Fly to Lukla (2840m) and trek to Phakding (2610m) 04 hrs trek.

  This morning it's a short transfer drive to the domestic airport for your short flight (around 30 minutes) to Lukla, the spectacular mountain airstrip from where treks and expeditions to the Everest region begin. The flight itself is awe-inspiring, as you fly parallel to the Himalayan giants bordering Nepal and Tibet. On arrival to Lukla, there's some time to explore the village while your Sherpa crew sort and load the equipment. Lukla lies at an altitude of 2840m and means “Place of Sheep.” From Lukla, we descend northwest on a wide trail to the village of Choblung in the Dudh Koshi Valley. The valley is covered with beautiful pine and rhododendron forests. The walking is easy as we follow the river’s course, passing through the village of Ghat. Our destination for today is the small village of Phakding. Evening at leisure to rest and relax and explore the village. Overnight at a local teahouse lodge.

• Day 04

  Trek to Namche Bazaar (3440m) 06-07 hrs trek.

  Today you’ll have your first views of Everest! After crossing the suspension bridge over the Dudh Koshi, the walk is pleasant, with a few short ascents and descents, until we re-cross the Dudh Koshi river from the village of Benkar, taking in the magnificent views of Thermasarkhu peak (6608 m). We then cross the long suspension bridge over the Bhote Koshi river to reach Monjo village, situated below the spectacular peak of Thermasherkhu and a few minutes' walk from the entrance to Sagarmatha (Everest) National Park. At the entrance to Sagarmatha National Park, your trekking permit will be checked, as the National Park keeps a record of all trekkers in the area. From here, a short descent brings us to another suspension bridge over the Bhote Koshi river, after which we reach a bridge to Jorsalle village, the last village and the only place to shop until we reach Namche Bazaar, so a good place to get any additional snacks if needed. The walk from Jorsalle village is pleasant, following the river until coming to the last bridge over the Imjatse river. The walk to Namche Bazaar traces a winding, uphill path, with a magnificent view of Kwangde Peak and its other sister peaks towards the east and Kusum Kangru to our back. As we climb higher, we'll be able to see the Mount Everest- Nuptse wall, Lhotse, and Taweche Peak, all the way up to Thop Danda, where there is a stone wall for porters and trekkers to rest on. From here, another 1–2-hour trek takes us to famous Namche Bazaar, where the colourful houses are situated in an amphitheatre style. This was originally a trading town and today is a major hub in the Everest region with plenty to see and do, including visiting the monastery and museum, treating yourself at a local bakery or café, browsing the markets, stalls and Tibetan run shops and learning more about the Sherpa lifestyle. Evening at leisure to relax and explore locally. Overnight at a local teahouse lodge.

• Day 05

  Acclimatisation day at Namche Bazaar.

  This is a day to rest and acclimatise before we trek to higher altitudes tomorrow. Relax at the teahouse or explore the local area. Suggested activities include taking the short walk uphill to the Sagarmatha National Park Headquarters, a magnificent spot perched on top of Namche Bazaar, with breathtaking views of the surrounding snow-capped giants and the deep valleys below. There’s also an interesting museum telling of the history of the Himalayas, the geographic information of the area and local cultural practices, mountaineering history, and the flora and fauna of the region. Another option is to visit nearby Khunde village, home to the Hillary hospital and Khumjung, where you can see the Hillary school. Full day at leisure to explore locally and overnight at the teahouse lodge.

• Day 06

  Trek to Tengboche (3870m) 05 hrs trek.

  After breakfast, the trail leads down a good, winding path with spectacular views of Mount Everest, Lhotse and Nuptse to the north east, Ama Dablam to the east, Kangtenga and Thermasarkhu to the southeast and Kwangde to the south. After a few hours trek, the path descends towards Fungi Thenga, where we'll stop for lunch. After lunch, we ascend through a beautiful forest of pine and rhododendron trees before reaching Tengboche after around two hours. Here we'll take time to visit Tengboche Monastery with your guide. Thyangboche (also spelt Tengboche) is one of the most beautiful places in the Himalayas. The first thing we'll see is the monastery (also known as a gompa), then a large field with the campsites, teahouses, and lodges beneath the towering, majestic peak of Ama Dablam, with Everest looming above, the Nuptse wall to the north, and Mount Lhotse and Lhotse Shar to the northeast. Enjoy your evening at leisure, surrounded by amazing Himalayan peaks. Overnight at local teahouse lodge.

• Day 07

  Trek to Dingboche (4410m) 05 to 06 hrs.

  Leaving Tengboche, the trail descends through a forest of birch, fir, juniper, and rhododendron, before it finally reaches Debouche, a lovely spot situated at 3650m, with magnificent views of Ama Dablam, Everest, Nuptse and Lhotse. From Debouche, the trail meanders past a long prayer Mani wall. The path is gradual until we reach a small bridge over the narrow gorge of the Imja-Tse river. From here, it is a gradual ascent most of the way to Pangboche village. Lush vegetation vanishes as we gain altitude. After Pangboche, it is a short climb to Shomare where we stop for lunch. Shomare is a small settlement with a fantastic view of Ama-Dablam. From here, we can see the northern face of Kangtenga peak. After lunch our journey continues gradually towards the east. After around an hour's trek, just before a small wooden bridge, the road splits in two directions, going towards Pheriche or towards the east, where we'll head. From here, we'll be able to see a totally different view of Ama Dablam, its towering north face. From the bridge, the trail climbs slowly, winding above the Imjatse river, until we arrive at a big Mani stupa. From here onwards the route is fairly moderate as it enters the Imjatse Valley beneath the mighty peaks of Ama Dablam, Nuptse, and Lhotse with a view of the eastern snow-capped mountains, including Island peak or Imjatse (6189 m). Dingboche is situated amongst a beautiful patchwork of fields enclosed by stone walls, which protect the crops of barley, buckwheat, and potatoes from the cold winds and grazing animals. Dingboche has about ten teahouses and it is also the gateway to Chukung. Evening at leisure and overnight at a local teahouse lodge.

• Day 08

  Acclimatisation day at Dingboche (4410m).

  Today is a full day to rest, acclimatise and take time to explore this part of the Khumbu region. If you are feeling energetic, you can take an optional trek towards Chhukung and back, or simply hike to the top of the hill for the views of Makalu and other surrounding peaks. Explore the hidden Imjatse Valley with its awesome views. This afternoon we'll have a briefing from the Himalayan Rescue Association about high altitude sickness and what to look out for. Overnight at a local teahouse lodge.

• Day 09

  Trek Dingboche to Chhukung (4730m) 03 hrs trek.

  From Dingboche it’s a fairly easy short trek up towards Chhukung village from where we’ll cross the first of the three passes tomorrow. It’s around 3 hours trek although it can feel and take longer due to the high altitude - so we can have a leisurely breakfast before heading off or we can leave at the normal time and there’s the option when we get there to also head up to Chhukung Ri lookout point and enjoy the views from there. It’s around 4 hours round trip up to the lookout point with the trail starting from the town. It can be quite steep in places but is worth it for the views. This is something you can discuss with your guide and see how you feel today or whether you’d prefer a later start and to relax once you get to Chhukung. Rest overnight at a local teahouse lodge.

• Day 10

  Trek to Lobuche (4910m) via Kongma La pass (5535m) 06-07 hrs trek.

  Today we’ll cross the first of three high mountain passes - the Kongma La. We'll get an early start to give us plenty of time. There are a couple of options for the route and your guide will decide which is best depending on trail conditions. At the top of the pass there are cairns and prayer flags and it's a great place to rest and take in the surrounding views. Descending from the pass can feel more difficult and challenging than ascending as we climb a moraine area and then head north through the Khumbu Glacier and on towards Lobuche.

• Day 11

  Trek Lobuche to Gorakshep to Everest Base Camp (5364m) and back to Gorakshep (5164m) 06 -07 hrs.

  Today we’ll head to Everest Base Camp so hopefully everyone’s full of energy and excited! We’ll get an early start before the trek up the Khumbu Glacier towards Gorakshep. The trail here is mainly uphill and quite rocky. Reaching Gorakshep we’ll stop for lunch and to leave our main bags before heading to Everest Base Camp. The route ascends and descends on a fairly steep but good and easy trail along glacial paths that meander around huge rock boulders. Base Camp is on the Khumbu Glacier and reaching here we’ll see the infamous Khumbu Icefall as well as magnificent views of Mount Pumori, Khumbutse, Nuptse and the other surrounding peaks visible from iconic Everest Base Camp. You won’t see Mount Everest (we’re too close to it) but we’ll have great views tomorrow from a nearby viewpoint. If trekking during March and April, we’ll see all the colourful tents and set up of the expedition teams and world class mountaineers as this is the key season for summit attempts on Everest, the highest mountain in the world. After time to explore and take some photos at Base Camp we return back to Gorakshep where we rest for the night. Overnight at local teahouse lodge.

• Day 12

  Hike to Kalapatthar (5550m) and trek to Dzongla (4830m) 06 hrs trek.

  This morning it's an early start as we hike up to Kalapatthar viewpoint for magnificent views of Everest as well as breathtaking views of Ama Dablam and other surrounding peaks.  A fairly easy trail leads us to the top of Kalapatthar, which translates as 'Rocky Mountain' in Nepalese. Enjoy the close up views of the world’s tallest mountain along with the other mighty Himalayan peaks that surround Everest. After spending some time at the summit of Kalapatthar, we trek back to Gorakshep for breakfast before making our way towards Dzongla where we'll rest tonight. Overnight at a local teahouse lodge.

• Day 13

  Trek Dzongla to Thangnak (4700m) via Cho La pass (5420m) 05-06 hrs.

  Today we'll tackle the second of the high mountain passes - the Cho La. We'll start early again today it's better to cross the high altitude passes in the morning before the wind picks up later in the day and to avoid any issues with melting ice later in the day. It's around 5 hours as the trail climbs a rocky incline to the top of the pass. After a quick rest to enjoy the moment and the views we head down on a fairly sharp downhill trail to reach Thangnak where the rest of the day is free to rest and relax. Overnight at a local teahouse lodge.

• Day 14

  Trek Thangnak to Gokyo (4790m) and Gokyo Ri 03-04 hrs.

  This is a nice easy day and a short trek to Gokyo. Today we'll trek past the Ngozumpa glacier before entering the beautiful Gokyo Valley.  We'll have time to explore the Valley and see some of the spectacular lakes and alpine landscapes in the valley. This afternoon there's an option to visit nearby Gokyo Ri, a well known viewpoint from where you'll have fantastic views. Another option is to visit some of the beautiful Gokyo lakes and enjoy wonderful views of Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse, Makalu, Cho Oyu and other surrounding peaks. There's plenty to enjoy and explore. Rest and relax overnight at Gokyo at a local teahouse lodge.

• Day 15

  Trek to Marlung (4210m) via Renjo La pass (5360m) 08-09 hrs.

  Today is when we'll cross our third and final of the three high mountain passes - Renjo La. It's a long day and we'll get an early start. We head out of the beautiful Gokyo Valley and follow the trail up to Renjo La, through the beautiful alpine Himalayan landscape. From the pass we'll rest briefly to enjoy the beautiful surroundings before beginning our descent. We'll take our time descending the icy stone steps before heading towards Marlung. Rest and relax overnight at a local teahouse lodge.

• Day 16

  Trek Marlung to Namche Bazaar (3440m) 05-06 hrs.

  Today we'll head back to Namche Bazaar, always a great place to visit and explore. The trail that we follow down follows the route of an ancient Tibetan trade route. Today we'll cross a number of rivers and streams en route before reaching the small village of Thame where we'll have the option to visit the local monastery. We can also enjoy the views of snowcapped peaks including Thamserku. We'll continue on, across suspension bridges and through beautiful landscapes to reach Namche where we'll rest overnight. The rest of today is free to explore, to maybe head to the market or one of the local cafes and bakeries for a well deserved treat! Rest overnight at a local teahouse lodge.

• Day 17

  Trek Namche to Lukla (2860m) 07-08 hrs trek.

  This is our last day on trek and we'll make the most of the beautiful scenic views and surrounding landscape as we descend towards Lukla. Apart from a few short uphill sections, the only long climb today will be just before Lukla, when the trail climbs for around 45 minutes from a place called Choplung. Reaching Lukla, there's time to rest, relax and explore the local area before a final dinner with your Sherpa crew and porters. Overnight at a local teahouse lodge.

• Day 18

  Fly from Lukla to Ramechhap or Kathmandu.

  This morning it's time for the short and scenic flight, around 20 minutes, back to Ramechhap. Flights from Lukla are usually scheduled in the morning as in the afternoon the wind tends to pick up and can cause delays so it's better to fly in the morning. Enjoy the panoramic views of the snow-capped peaks during your flight. Arriving at Ramechhap, it's time for the scenic transfer drive of around 4-5 hours back to Kathmandu. After checking in to your hotel, the rest of your day and evening is at leisure to rest, relax, explore the local area and celebrate your achievement of reaching iconic Everest Base Camp! Overnight at your hotel.
  

• Day 19

  Full day sightseeing – Kathmandu and Valley.

  Today is a chance to explore some of the key cultural and heritage sites of Kathmandu. After your breakfast, you'll be met by your guide before heading to nearby Kathmandu Durbar Square, an impressive World Heritage Site and hugely important place in Nepalese history and culture. You'll be able to visit the ancient palace complex and the temple of the Living Goddess of Nepal , the Kumari. You'll also visit Hanuman Dhoka and Kasthamandap Temple. From here, we'll drive to Pashupatinath Temple, the holiest shrine for Hindus, situated on the banks of the holy Bagmati River and an important cremation site. We'll also visit Boudhnath Stupa, an important Tibetan Buddhist pilgrimage site and the centre of Tibetan pilgrimage in Nepal. The huge stupa is one of the largest dome stupas in the world and is surrounded by many small monasteries, shops and cafes. We'll also visit Patan, also known as the City of Fine Arts, just outside Kathmandu City where you'll be able to explore the spectacular Durbar Square and beautiful temples and palaces. After time to explore, we'll return to your hotel where the rest of your evening is at leisure to rest and relax, explore locally and do any last minute shopping before your departure tomorrow.
  

  
  

  There are also various options if you'd like to add a short one or several days extension to your trip - perhaps a few days wildlife safari in Chitwan National Park or try some activities such as white-water rafting, zip lining or paragliding. Speak to one of our team and we'll be happy to help. Overnight at your hotel in Kathmandu.

  
  

• Day 20

  Depart Kathmandu.

  This morning is free until time to check out and your transfer to the International Airport for your departure flight home or onward to your next destination. If you'd like to extend your trip there are plenty of options including wildlife safaris, white water rafting, mountain biking or perhaps a visit to the neighbouring regions of India, Bhutan or Tibet - ask us for details and we'll be happy to help.