Everest Three High Passes Trek

Today marks the beginning of your true Himalayan adventure. Following an early morning drop-off at the Tribhuvan International Airport, you will board a flight to Lukla. It is a thrilling 35-minute flight to the Tenzing-Hillary Airport, popularly known as Lukla Airport. Lukla is renowned as the launch point for all Everest treks, including the Everest Three Pass trek.

The aerial view of terraced hills, river valleys, and Himalayan peaks, including a quick first peek of Everest, will enrich your flight experience. The view upon landing at the airport is no less mesmerising. First, the runway itself is a wonder for being a short and dramatic airstrip in the world. Add to that the dramatic setting of mountains.

After arriving in Lukla, you will enjoy a brief rest. You may also utilize this time to make final gear checks. Upon confirming that you are up-to-date with everything, you will begin your trek towards Phakding. It is a hike to the riverside village along the banks of the Dudh Koshi River.

You will experience a significant elevation gain by the time you reach Phakding. This is a gain if you regard Kathmandu (1,400m) as the starting point of your trek. Otherwise, you will experience elevation loss because the trek from Lukla to Phakding requires a descent.

You will walk down pine forests, suspension bridges, and Sherpa villages like Chheplung and Ghat before arriving in Phakding.

It is comparatively an easy day in the Everest Three High Passes Trek. Therefore, you will experience a pleasant trek on this day. At Phakding, you will check into teahouses and rest.

Unlike the first day, the second day is the day to ascend your trekking trail and enter the Sagarmatha National Park. The endeavor will begin with an early breakfast in Phakding. Then you will set off on the trail northward along the Dudh Koshi River. You will cross this river multiple times during the trek. And in most places, you will be using suspension bridges for this purpose. Even these bridges are a sight to look at because of the prayer flags draped around them.

Lush pine forests, rhododendron woods, and Sherpa villages will welcome you with their serenity and beauty as you pass through them. You will come across Bengkar, Toktok, Monjo, and Jorsalle villages, to name a few.

You will need to present your permits for trekking in Monjo. The authorities there will check whether you have obtained the permit to enter the Sagarmatha National Park or not.

Once cleared, you will head to Jorsalle, where you can take a break. The break is desired, anticipating the upcoming steep trek to Namche Bazaar. Among the many suspension bridges you will cross during the Everest Three Passes trek, the Hillary Suspension Bridge is the most notable.

The trail will require you to make many ascents and descents before walking on a continuous ascending route. Finally, you will arrive at the beautiful town of Namche Bazaar.

Along the route, you will get to see magnificent views of different peaks, including Mt. Thamserku. You might even see the first view of Mt. Everest today. As Namche is the destination for the day, you will settle into the lodge and rest.

Acclimatization is an important part of your Everest Three Passes trek. Therefore, our itinerary also includes this aspect. For this trek, the first acclimatization day is the third day. And you will rest and acclimatize at Namche as preparation for the upcoming adventure.

Amidst the cooler temperature of this Sherpa town, you will learn to adjust via short hikes and explorations of the area.

One of the best ways to address that is by participating in morning hikes. One can hike to places including Everest View Hotel, Sherpa Cultural Museum, and Khumjung Monastery, to name a few.

If you are trekking to the Everest View Hotel, you need to walk an uphill trail via rhododendron and juniper forests. The route will allow you views of the mountains like Thamserku, Ama Dablam, Kobgde Riu, and Kumbila. And from the hotel, you can enjoy an excellent view of Everest itself.

After that, descend to Namche, where you can enjoy your lunch and set off ot explore the area. You can even relax in one of the local cafes or bakeries as the area has plenty of such facilities.

Nonetheless, remember that it is a rest day, but not without activity. You will need to remain active at a relaxed pace to prepare your body for the challenging trek ahead.

You will also realise how your body responds to high altitude and changes in altitude. On this rest day, be sure to stay hydrated and refrain from drinking alcohol.

The trek on the fourth day is moderately challenging as you will need to climb a steep trail in certain sections. The steepness is evident in the initial ascent as you step out of Namche, as well as in the final climb.

But the path will not always be steep from here onwards, and it will flatten out in certain places. This will allow you stunning views of the Mahalangu Himalayan Range. The sights of Everest, Lhotse, and Ama Dablam are a feast for the eyes.

One of the first settlements you will reach along the route is Khyangjumpa or Kenjompa. It is a small Sherpa village that is about 5-7 km north of Namche Bazaar. Dense rhododendron forests surround it, and there are teahouse facilities to serve your needs. You can rest here for a while before descending to the Dudh Koshi River.

The descent is sharp, and you go down up to 3,250 m at Phunke Tenga. It is another Sherpa settlement located near the confluence of the Imja and Dudh Koshi rivers. Generally, you will take a brief pause here for lunch.

From Phunge Tenga, you will cross the suspension bridge and start a steady ascent. The trail will lead you through a forested hill. You might also spot wildlife, including Himalayan Thar, musk deer, and pheasant, along the route.

Then you will take the final ascent to Tengboche. And, you will need to walk cautiously to avoid any injury or fall as the ascent is steep.

Finally, you will be at Tengboche, which is home to Tengboche Monastery. It is known as the largest monastery in the Khumbu region. After the long trek along the windy trails, it will be time for you to unwind in the lap of the Himalayas during your Everest Three Pass trek.

Leaving Tengboche without visiting its iconic landmark, the Tengboche Monastery, is out of the question. So, early in the morning, you will visit the revered site, witness the rituals there, and take some photographs with spectacular mountains as the backdrop.

Then you will head to Deboche from there. It is a descent of about 40m as Deboche is located at an altitude of 3,820m. The downhill trek is gentle. It will require you to pass through a forest area.

Once again, you will cross a suspension bridge swaying over the Imja Khola and ascend to Pangboche at an altitude of 3,930m. The village is usually visited by those who trek and climb to the nearby Ama Dablam, as it serves as the mountain’s base camp.

You may also visit the Pangboche Monastery, the oldest in the region. It is also known for the legendary yeti relics (yeti scalp and hand) it once housed, the latter of which was reportedly stolen.

The climb will continue following this spiritual and cultural immersion. You will walk along the Valley with the views of Lhotse, Island Peak, and Ama Dablam.

You will be heading above 4,000m in this part of the Everest Three Passes trek. As such, the more you ascend, the more you will realise that vegetation gets sparse. You will be entering alpine terrain, leaving behind tree cover.

And the trek for the day will come to a final stop upon arrival at Dingboche. It is a wide and windswept village surrounded by fields with stone walls.

Here, you will spend the night at a lodge while enjoying the views of Imja Valley along with Mt. Makalu and Mt. Cholastse.

The trek from Dingboche to Chhukkung marks a divergence from the regular route to the Everest Base Camp trek.

Your journey will begin with a departure from Dingboche following the trail that goes northeast along the Imja Valley. One of the first settlements you will encounter is Bibre. It is a small yak herding settlement, often used for short breaks during the trek.

The ascent will take you through the trail's sparse vegetation. You will not find any trees in this area. The only vegetation seen is low-lying shrubs along the route.

Towering mountains border the vast landscape. You will see Ama Dablam to your right, and Island Peak, Lhotse, Nuptse, and Makalu can be seen ahead, in the distance.

The sixth day’s trek will be relaxing in the sense that the uphill climb is modest. The trail is well-maintained, too.

But keep in mind that you will be on a high-altitude trek as part of the Everest Three Passes trek. So, the trek can be difficult if you do not maintain a gradual pace and do not follow the principles of acclimatization. Nonetheless, the trek feels tiring due to the high altitude.

Experiencing the visual treat, comfortable paths, and tiring trek, you will finally arrive at Chukkung. It is a small cluster of teahouses where trekkers rest overnight before heading to the Kongma La Pass, the first of the Everest Three Passes.

Chukhung is also a base for acclimatization for trekkers who hike to Chukhung Ri or summit Chukhung Peak.

On the seventh day, you will reach one of the first destinations of the Everest Three High Passes trek. You will set off early in the morning to conquer the first pass of the journey, the Kongma La Pass. There are two trail options to access this pass, the highest of all three high passes in this trek.

One of the routes climbs over the hill to the northwest of Chhukung. The rocky hill is a part of the moraine field left by the Nuptse Glacier. As such, this section of the trek has loose rocks and glacial debris. Based on the season of your trip, you might pass through small glacial lakes. Experiencing a significant elevation gain of about 800m, you will reach Kongma La Pass.

The other route requires you to walk back to Bibre. You will need to climb the trail from there. The Niyang Khola lies beneath it. Then, you will take the southwest direction from Chukkung. It comprises a gradual incline. But the first route is steeper.

You will ultimately reach the Kongma La Pass, regardless of the route taken. Upon reaching this high-altitude mountain, you can see Lhotse, Makalu, Ama Dablam, and Island Peak, along with Khumbu Glacier and the Nuptse face.

The itinerary then requires you to descend to Lobuche. Walking down the rocky and loose terrain, you will first reach the Khumbu Glacier basin. Then you will need to cross the Khumbu Glacier. It is a challenging affair and requires brief ups and downs.

Now that you have dealt with the glacier, you will need to climb uphill. After a short yet tiring trek, you will reach Lobuche. Louche turns out to be a warm retreat after a long day's trek, during the Everest Three Pass trek, offering hot meals and a good night’s sleep.

Now that you have arrived in Lobuche, you will once again join the trekkers en route to the main Everest Base Camp trek. The itinerary of the Everest Three High Passes trek, prepared by Marvel Adventure, also includes an ascent to the Everest Base Camp.

You can break today’s trek into two parts. In the first leg, you will ascend to Gorakshep from Lobuche. The trail gradually ascends and becomes rockier as you enter the moraine zone of Khumbu Glacier. You will walk past loose stones and icy patches before reaching Gorakshep.

It is a small dry land with seasonal settlements and serves as your rest stop before you embark on the second leg of your trek to Everest Base Camp. Following a short rest, you will head to the base camp, one of the dream destinations of many trekkers joining the Everest Three Passes trek.

The path from Gorakshep to Everest Base Camp continues along the edge of Khumbu Glacier. You will need to walk along a rugged, winding trail with boulder fields and frozen ridges.

But the challenge is worth it, and you will realize that upon reaching Everest Base Camp. Prayer flags, stones, and colorful expedition tents mark the area. You will witness panoramic views of Himalayan peaks, including Nuptse, Lhotse, and Pumori. Mt. Everest is seen, but not the peak. The dramatic view of the Khumbu Icefall adds to the experience.

After you satiate your desire to stand on the foothills of Mount Everest, you can descend to Gorakshep. You will return via the same route. Following a comparatively easy descent, you will rest at the Gorakshep lodge overnight.

The view of the peak of Mt. Everest was missing on the eighth day of the trip to the base camp. And on the ninth day, the short trek to the Kalapatthar will allow you that opportunity. For this, you should begin early in the morning. The goal is to be able to see the sun rise over Everest and its surrounding peaks. It will be a great photography opportunity.

After sunrise, photography and some rest, you will head down to Dzongla. You will trek down nearly 715m during this journey. First, you will return to Gorakshep from Kalapatthar, grab a quick breakfast, and descend to Lobuche.

Leaving the classic Everest Base Camp trek trail at this point, you will head westward toward Dzongla. One of the rest stops in this section is the Dughla (Thukla) junction at an altitude of 4,620m, which rests just below the Thokla Pass.

The trail takes a northwest direction from here, offering you views of Cholatse among other peaks. You will need to tread along rocky and exposed trails as well as occasional icy sections.

And by afternoon, you will arrive at Dzongla, a small village located between Lobuche and Cho La Pass. It links the trail of the Everest Base Camp trek with Gokyo Valley and Chola La Pass, another major highlight of the Everest Three Passes.

The village of Dzongla not only offers an overnight rest and warm meal, but it is also a viewpoint offering a breathtaking view of mountain ranges, including Ama Dablam, Taboche, and Cholatse.

You will cross Cho La pass on the tenth day, the second destination of the Everest Three Passes trek. For this, an early departure from Dzongla is essential. That is because you will be heading to a high pass, and the afternoon winds will be very strong there.

The trek will start with a challenging ascent over loose glacial rocks. It will be a challenging ascent as you will need to traverse steep inclines and icy rocks. Meanwhile, the calm and beautiful Chola Lake and Ama Dablam will provide relief from the fatigue and frustration due to the difficult terrain.

Nonetheless, once you make it to the top — 5,420m — you will be welcomed with the dramatic landscapes all around it. You can also see the Ngozumpa Glacier, the longest glacier in Nepal. Gokyo Valley, Makalu, and Lhotse are also within the reach of your eyes. Prayer flags and cairns can also be seen atop the pass.

After spending some time here, the journey will require you to descend through a glacier section. You will need to navigate loose rocks and icy patches as you descend to Cho La Phedi and then to Dragnag.

You can rest for a while at Dragnag, a small settlement that you encounter along the route, and then continue a gentle walk along the edge of the Ngozumpa Glacier. After a short walk, you need to cross the glacier. From there, you will make a short climb to Gokyo village, your pause point for the day.

The village rests beside the Gokyo Lake, at the foot of Gokyo Ri. It is one of the highest settlements in the world and a seasonal settlement on the Everest Three Pass trek.

For several days, you will be trekking continuously from one destination to another, without a pause. You will get that real break on the eleventh day of the trek, as you will not head to the new destination. Rather, you will hike to Gokyo Ri and then explore other places.

Start your day with an early morning hike to Gokyo Ri, a 5,360m peak. The steep climb promises one of the finest mountain panoramas in the entire Everest Three Passes trek. Once again, you will be visually delighted to see Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, Cho Oyu, and the Ngozumpa Glacier.

A hike in the early hours will also allow you to witness the sun gradually rising over the Himalayas. These are bound to be some of the best moments to witness and capture through your cameras.

Then you will descend back to Gokyo village, where you will have breakfast and a rest. Next, you can spend some time discovering the Gokyo Lakes. Passing by the Fourth Lake, aka the Thinak Tsho, you will reach the Fifth Lake. It is known as Ngozumba Tso. These are less-visited lakes but offer serene and amazing views to spectators.

You will spend time to your heart’s content there and return to the village sometime in the late afternoon. Then you can have ample rest as you will head to the last pass of your destination the next day.

On the twelfth day, you will reach the final destination of the Everest Three Passes trek — the Renjo La Pass. From an altitude of 5,360m, it offers a marvelous view of the Everest mountain range. Along with Everest, the views of Lhotse, Makalu, Cho Oyu, and Ama Dablam greet you from here.

You can witness the Gokyo Lakes from this Pass. Snow leopards and red pandas inhabit this region. And you might see them.

For the unversed, the Renjo La Pass used to be a trade route to Tibet. It is said that the Sherpas would walk across Nangpa La to reach Tibet from here.

To cross the spectacular high pass of the Khumbu region, you will start an early morning trek from Gokyo. Passing through cairns and prayer flags, and traversing the rocky moraine terrain, you will reach the summit of Renjo La Pass.

Towards the end of reaching the summit, you will ascend a steep stretch, the most demanding section of the trail. You will pause at the Pass to take photos and immerse yourself in the breathtaking scenery before descending to Lungden.

You will typically arrive at Lungden village in the afternoon, where you will check into the lodge and rest.

It is all about descent on this day of the Everest Three Pass trek. The trek will begin with a walk from Lungden. After about an hour of walking, you will climb a small raised hilltop. From here, you will go down to cross the stream. And in the next 3-4 hours, you will arrive at Thame.

You will go through the villages of Maruling and Targna, to name a few, along the route. Thame is at an altitude of 3,820m and houses the renowned Thame Monastery. You will visit this historic monastery, have lunch or tea at the local tea house, and rest for a while.

Then you will continue your descent along the pleasant trail surrounded by pine and rhododendron forests. You will also pass through Samde and Thamo villages and cross suspension bridges as you trek down.

But you will arrive at Namche after making a moderate ascent towards the final section of the trek. That is because Namche Bazaar sits on a bowl-shaped slope. While this day’s trek is mainly about descending, you will experience short uphill stretches before reaching Namche.

Arriving here means you have made a full circuit of the Everest region. You will rest here today and spend the time exploring local shops and bakeries, and maybe even buying some souvenirs.

You will head down to Lukla after breakfast in Namche. The descent will begin from Namche’s upper ridge as you will retrace your steps of ascent.

You will be walking down the zigzag stone steps that are famous for making both the ascents and descents challenging. Nonetheless, without that, the descent and the ascent would be more difficult. So, you can trust that these steps are manageable. You will have realized that thing during the ascent, and the descent will also prove that to you.

As you step out of Namche, you will cross the famous Hillary Suspension Bridge over the Dudh Koshi River. The trail will then continue down through small settlements. Pine forests are also found along the route.

Monjo and Jorsalle are other villages you will encounter along the trek as you continue to descend. The next destination is Phakding, where you can stop for lunch.

Crossing more suspension bridges, you will start climbing from Chheplung up to Lukla. You will arrive at your destination following a long day of descents with a few uphill walks.

Check into your lodge, relax, and celebrate the completion of your Everest Three Passes trek.

On the last day, you will rise to savour your last breakfast in Lukla, and get ready to fly back to Kathmandu. You will board the plane at the Tenzing-Hillary Airport following check-in and security procedures.

Usually, the flights are early in the morning due to weather conditions. You will arrive in Kathmandu in a maximum of 45 minutes. During the flight, you will once again revisit the landmarks that you had tread before. Add to that the terraced field, farmlands, and green hillsides that will signal that you are heading to a lower altitude, away from the mountainous terrain.

As you will land at the domestic terminal of the Tribhuvan International Airport, you can go back to your hotel. You can choose between resting and exploring the city.