Overview

The Everest High Pass trek is famously known for exploring the beautiful Everest region as it provides trekkers with a chance to cross three high passes in the Everest Region: Kongma La Pass, Cho La Pass and Renjo La Pass. Starting from Lukla, the trek encompasses lush landscapes and local communities, encountering Sherpa people, their hospitality and way of living. 

The three high mountain passes: Renjo La, Cho La, and Kongma La provide spectacular panoramic views of the towering Everest and neighbouring peaks. Some of the famous spots like Gokyo Lakes and Everest Base Camp can also be witnessed through this journey.

As this trek consists of steep ascents and descents, it is best suited for experienced trekkers to embark on this thrilling yet exciting journey. Along with conquering high-altitude passes, this trek will allow trekkers to immerse themselves in the heart of the Himalayas.

In a nutshell,The Three Passes Trek in Nepal is in the Everest Region (Sagarmatha National Park) and takes trekkers across three high passes, Kongma La (18,209 ft / 5,550 m), Cho La (17,782 ft / 5,420 m), and Renjo La (17,560 ft / 5,360 m) – hence, the Three Passes Trek.

Itinerary

• Day 01 - ARRIVE IN KATHMANDU

  All trekkers need to organise their own flights to Kathmandu International Airport (KTM). From the airport we will arrange a private transfer to your hotel. That night you will meet your local Kandoo representative and have a full pre-trek briefing

• Day 02 - FLIGHT TO LUKLA – TREK TO PHAKDING

  The flight from Kathmandu to Lukla takes 45 minutes and is an adventure in itself with great views of the Everest region and ending with a hair-raising landing on a steep mountain runway. After meeting our crew, we will start our trek by heading up the Dudh Koshi Valley on a well- marked trail to Phakding.

• Day 03 - TREK TO NAMCHE BAZAAR

  From Phakding, we cross and re-cross the river on high suspension bridges. Beyond Monjo is the entrance to the Sagarmatha National Park. We then ascend steeply to Namche and along the way, if the weather permits, catch the first glimpse of Mt Everest. Namche Bazaar is the main trading village in Khumbu and has a busy Saturday market. You can enjoy an Illy coffee and amazing brownies here!

• Day 04 - ACCLIMATISATION IN NAMCHE

  Namche is tucked away between two ridges and has lots of lodges, tea shops and souvenir shops. Today we will trek up to the Everest View Hotel at 3880m for our first view of Ama Dablam and Mount Everest. Following the ‘walk high, sleep low’ principle, this hike will really help with your acclimatisation.

• Day 05 - TREK TO THAME

  The trail now splits from the popular base camp route and heads north-west to the village of Thame where you will be staying the night. Take some time here to learn a bit about the local traditions and their intrinsic connection with the mountain on which you are standing.

• Day 06 - TREK TO LUNGDEN

  Today we will start to climb back up to higher altitude heading up the valley to Lungden. Make sure you have your camera at the ready as the higher you go the views across the snow-capped peaks in the region just get better and better.

• Day 07 - TREK TO GOKYO VIA RENJO LA PASS

  Today wewill encounter the first of the Three Passes – Renjo La. The route starts off gently but will soon turn into a hard day of hiking as we near the end of the ascent to Renjo La. Try to think of the magnificent views you will get at the top to motivate you! After the pass, we will descend to the third of the beautiful turquoise Gokyo Lakes and then trek onto the village of Gokyo for the night.

• Day 08 - ASCENT OF GOKYO RI

  Today you climb your first peak, Gokyo Ri, for fabulous views of Cho Oyu. We start the climb early and then have the rest of the day to rest to help our acclimatisation. If we still have energy, then later in the day we can hike up some of the surrounding moraine ridges and enjoy the views. As a treat for all our hard work we can then tuck into some delicious cake from the wonderful Gokyo bakery.

• Day 09 - TREK TO TRAGNAG

  We leave Gokyo to cross the Ngozumpa Glacier. We descend to the second lake and drop down onto the glacier. The route across the glacier is marked by cairns and is generally quite well defined. We climb off the glacier and follow a shallow valley to Tragnag.

• Day 10 - TREK TO DZONGLA VIA CHO LA PASS

  An early start is required today to cross the Cho La Pass and make the long descent to Dzongla. Continuing up the valley, we cross a ridge and an old lateral moraine, before beginning the rocky scramble to the pass. From the top there are excellent views, across to the Rolwaling Valley in the west and Ama Dablam to the south east. The descent from here involves crossing a small glacier which is fairly straightforward. There are more excellent views of Ama Dablam and Cholatse as we descend.

• Day 11 - TREK TO LOBUCHE

  The way to Lobuche contours the grassy slopes above a lake, the Tshola Tsho, to join up with the main Everest trail from Pheriche and Tengboche. The trail flattens out and follows the valley on the west side of the Khumbu Glacier to Lobuche.

• Day 12 - TREK TO GORAK SHEP – EVEREST BASE CAMP

  To reach Everest Base Camp, we follow the Khumbu Glacier. The trail offers superb views of the surrounding mountains, especially where the path is forced to rise to cross a tributary glacier. We stop at Gorak Shep before making our way to Base Camp itself. This takes several hours as the trail weaves its way through ice pinnacles and crevasses of the Khumbu Glacier.

• Day 13 - ASCENT OF KALA PATTAR - TREK TO LOBUCHE

  An early morning start is needed to summit the trekking peak of Kala Pattar – the iconic viewpoint of Everest. After snapping some pics, we head back to Gorak Shep for a quick meal before descending further to Lobuche for the night.

• Day 14 - TREK TO CHUKHUNG VIA KONGMA LA PASS

  We leave the classic base camp route today as we head east through the Khumbu Glacier to reach the third and final pass of the trip – Kongma La. At 5,535m the pass is the highest of the three. After a tiring ascent to the top, we descend into the Chukhung Valley and eventually to the village of Chukhung where we will stay in the lodge overnight.

• Day 15 - ASCENT OF CHUKHUNG RI - TREK TO DINGBOCHE

  Today we will climb Chukhung Ri - the hardest of the three peaks on this trek which involves some easy scrambling near the summit. The views from the top down the Khumbu Valley are superb. We descend to Dingboche.

• Day 16 - TREK TO KYANGJUMA

  We now descend back to the main Everest trail through Pangboche before climbing to the monastery at Tengboche. From Tengboche we make a steep descent before climbing back up to Kyangjuma where we will stay overnight in a lodge.

• Day 17 - TREK TO PHAKDING

  We continue through Namche Bazaar, descend Namche Hill and cross the Dudh Koshi. We will trek back along familiar paths to Phakding where we will stay the night.

• Day 18 - TREK TO LUKLA

  Our final day's trekking follows the Dudh Koshi back down to Lukla. This last evening in the mountains is the ideal opportunity for a farewell party with the Sherpa guides and porters, where you can look back on a memorable trekking experience.

• Day 19 - RETURN TO KATHMANDU

  After an early breakfast, we will begin our return journey to Kathmandu.

• Day 20 - FREE DAY IN KATHMANDU

  A free day in Kathmandu to explore the city at your leisure

• Day 21 - DEPART FROM KATHMANDU

  We will collect you from your hotel and transfer you to Kathmandu Airport for your departing flight.

Cost Includes

• Two nights accommodation with breakfast (room with attached bathroom) in kathmandu
• Accommodation during the trek.
• All meals during the trek ( breakfasts, lunches, and dinners)
• Government-licensed trek guide
• Porters for trekkers luggage (1 porter for every 2 trekkers).
• Guides and porters costs – meals, insurance, salary, lodging, transportation, and other necessary equipment
• Sagarmatha National fee charge Rs 3000
• khumbu municipality entry fee Rs 2000
• Trekkers Information Management System (TIMS) card fee Rs 2000
• All government and local taxes
• Rescue operation arrangements in case of complicated health conditions (funded by travel insurance)
• Farewell dinner in Kathmandu at the end of the trek
• Pure Sherpa Adventure duffle bags

Cost Excludes

• International flight costs
• On-arrival visa fees at Tribhuwan Internationa Airport- (15 days – $25-30,
• Travel insurance
• Extra night accommodation, meals in Kathmandu and Pokhara due to early arrival, or late departure or early return from the trek.
• Personal expenses such as shopping, snacks, alcoholic drinks, hot (tea/coffee) drinks, cold drinks, bottle or boiled water, shower, Wi-Fi, laundry, telephone call, battery re-charge fee, extra porters, etc
• Personal clothing and gear
• Tips for guide and porters
• Additional costs due to delays caused by circumstances beyond company control like landslides, bad weather conditions, itinerary modification for safety concerns, illness, change of government policy, political instability, etc