Everest Three Passes Trek

If you like chasing the Himalayan giants then the Everest Three Passes Trek via the Everest Base Camp is the one trek in Nepal for you.

This route takes you to the base camp of the world’s tallest mountain, and into the Gokyo Valley through three high passes—Kongma La (5,535 m), Chola (5420 m), and Rinzula (5,360 m)—each more scenic than the last and feeling almost unchanged by time.

Instead of a singular route to Everest Base Camp (EBC) and returning the same route, this route detours through the Gokyo Valley, plunging you into the heart of the Everest and the Gokyo regions.

For those planning a once-in-a-lifetime trek in Nepal, the Everest Three Passes Trek via the Everest Base Camp is an ideal choice. It’s a challenging 141 km, and 18 Day trek that covers all the highest points in the Everest region providing splendid views of the world’s tallest mountains.

Starting and ending points of the trek

Lukla is the typical starting and ending points, and it is 30-minute flight from Kathmandu or Ramechap.

If the Lukla flight scares you, you can drive (8 hours) from Kathmandu to Phaplu or further up to Salleri and start the trek from here. But starting and ending the trek here will add an extra 4-5 days to the itinerary, but on the other hand save you from buying plane tickets to and from Lukla.

Crossing the Three high Mountain Passes

Trekking through the three high passes- the Kongma La, Cho La, and Renjo La passes- each over 5,300 meters (17,500 feet) in elevation, is what gives this trek its name: the three passes trek.

Kongma La Pass (5,535 m): The Kongmo la pass connecting the Chukung Valley to Lobuche is the highest and also the most challenging of the three. But at the same time offers spectacular close up panoramic views of the Everest range, with Kongma Lake in the foreground.

Renjo La Pass (5,360 m): This pass is less crowded than the other two, and it looks back over the stunning turquoise Gokyo Lakes, with Everest, Cho Oyu, and the distant Tibetan Plateau framing the horizon; it’s also the easiest of the three passes.

Cho La Pass (5420 m): The Cho La Pass connects the Khumbu region with the Gokyo Valley. It also involves navigating a 1 km snowfield and the Nzogumba glacier between Dzongla and Thangnak.

Everest Base Camp

From Gorakshep take a hike along the Khumbu Glacier to Everest Base Camp (5364m), and stand at the edge of the Khumbu Icefall, a truly remarkable experience.

For a regular hiker, trekking to EBC is a dream come true, and is also the best part of the three-passes trek.

From Lobuche, the first village after crossing Kongma La, you can comfortably reach Everest Base Camp and return to Gorak Shep for the night.

Gokyo Valley

Located away from the crowded EBC trail, the Gokyo Valley section of the route adds a completely different experience to the three passes trek. It offers peaceful environment, and incredible mountain views.

But the main highlight of this part of the trek is the climb to Gokyo Ri (5,357 m), the best viewpoint in the entire Everest region. From Gokyo Ri, trekkers can enjoy breathtaking 360-degree panoramic view of the Everest Range, the entire Gokyo Valley with the two Gokyo Lakes, and the Ngozumba Glacier in the background.

The combination of Everest Base Camp with that of the Gokyo Valley makes this one of the most complete Himalayan treks in Nepal.

Breathtaking Himalayan Views

One of the biggest reasons trekkers choose the Three Passes Trek in Nepal is the incredible mountain scenery. The route provides some of the finest viewpoints in the Everest region.

Kala Patthar:

It is best known for offering the closest view of Mount Everest, an aerial view of the EBC and the Khumbu Icefall. The sunrise view from Kala Patthar is considered one of the highlights of the Three Passes Trek.

Gokyo Ri (5357 m):

The view from Gokyo Ri is magical; you get a 360-degree view of the entire Everest range, the Gokyo village and the three shining Gokyo lakes, along with the Ngozumpa Glacier in the back ground.

Nangkar Tshang (5616 m):

On a rest day in Dingboche, climb to the top of Nangkar Tshang (5616 m), it offers breathtaking views of Nuptse, Lhotse, Taboche, Amadablam, Makalu, and many other majestic peaks. But, Everest is not visible from this viewpoint.

High Mountain Passes

Each pass offers dramatic landscapes featuring glaciers, snow-covered peaks, and remote Himalayan valleys.

Food

Lodges and tea houses offer a variety of dishes, or you can stick to favourites like Dal Bhat, pizza, and momos.

Dal Bhat

The most common and reasonably priced dish along the three passes trek route is Dal and Bhat. This traditional meal includes rice, lentil soup (dal), and vegetables.

Not only is dal bhat typically one of the cheaper choices on this trek route, but it also comes with free refills—to perk you up. It’s easy to understand why guides and porters favor this dish: “Dal Bhat power for twenty-four hours.”

Meat
Avoid consuming meat in the Himalayas, because you do not know how long they’ve been exposed during transport via porter backs under unpredictable weather conditions, and also because meat dishes are expensive—the risk doesn’t seem worthwhile either.

Most Lodges offer Chicken meat while some even Yak meat.

Water

Water is not a scarcity on the trek route, and you can use tap water or purchase bottled mineral water from the tea houses and lodges. But remember it gets pricier as you climb higher.

But if you are thinking of drinking water from the tap, then bring water purifying tablets or portable water filters, which are readily available in the market.

Language

From the tea house, lodges and anyone you meet on the Three Passes Trek will have some English language abilities. Don’t worry if your Nepalese is a bit rusty; even kids are very interested in speaking with you.

The two essential words you’ll need are namaste (hello) and dhanyabad (thank you). The most common dialect spoken is Nepali, though the sherpa language is also spoken by some.

Accommodations on the Trek

There are private lodges at an hours interval on the three passes trek route, therefore, accommodation is not a problem. Though during the peak season- April-May and October-November these lodges can get packed.

Every village has ample lodges run by local families. These lodges have twin-share rooms with a common restroom and washroom. At an extra cost, hot water will also be available for a shower.

However, in most places lately, newly upgraded lodges have rooms with attached toilets and restrooms, but this will cost extra. Some lodges now offer even better rooms, but they can cost even more.

The Trek Route

The trekking route from Lukla or from Phaplu or Salleri till Namche Bazaar is a single track. After Namche Bazaar there are two routes, clockwise through Thame, or anti-clockwise through Tengboche.

Hikers can either choose to trek via Thame and Lumdeng and cross into Gokyo Valley via the Rinzula Pass, or take the Tengboche, Dingboche and Chukung route climb the Kongmo La Pass and descend to Lobuche, Gorakshep to Everest Base Camp.

We highly recommned the Tengboche, Dingboche Chukung Route as this route lets your body gradually acclimate to the increasing elevation, reducing the risk of altitude sickness.

The ascent is also more gradual and offers stunning views of the Himalayan peaks unfolding before you at every turn.

Additionally, it’s less crowded and offers a more peaceful experience with fewer fellow hikers around—perfect for fully immersing yourself in nature’s serenity.

When to Go

The peak seasons for the Three Passes Trek are the fall season ( September to November), and the spring season (March to May).

Summer brings monsoon rains to Nepal, so it’s best avoided—though there will be fewer crowds.

Winter offers minimal crowds and generally good weather but comes with colder temperatures.

Wifi Access Above Namche Bazaar

Generally, wifi is available throughout the route in lodges. But it is not free. To access the network, you will need to pay the lodges; access is valid for 24 hours.

Therefore, if you are hungering for a wifi connection, then you will need to buy cards at every night halt, and it will cost you anywhere between Nepali Rupees 300-600 for 24 hours of use.

If you have a SIM card from Kathmandu (Ncell or NTC), you will likely get a cell signal in many places, except in Lobuche, Dingboche, Gokyo Valley, Lumdeng and Thame.

But while in Thame, climb up to the monastery, and there you can access the internet on your SIM card.

ATMs

Lukla and Namche Bazaar have a couple of ATMs, but they are unreliable. Therefore, carry enough cash to last the entire duration from Kathmandu to avoid inconvenience, as most the lodges, hotels and shops do not accept credit cards.

Some shops and hotels in Lukla and Namche Bazaar may offer cash advances using a credit card. While a few places in Namche Bazaar may accept cards, beyond Namche hotels and lodges deal only in cash.

Preparing for the Trek

1. Because the three passes trek route stays at high altitudes for 18-days and crosses three 5,000-meter high passes hikers must remember to have dedicated rest days and follow the “climb high, sleep low” rule.
2. Physical preparation is important as hikers will be doing 6 to 9 hours of daily walking over uneven moraines, ice, snowfields, and steep stone staircases. Cardiovascular endurance and leg strength training months in advance are non-negotiable.
3. Permits: Trekkers require the Sagarmatha National Park Entry Permit and the Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality Permit.

Tips for the Everest Three Passes Trek

Here are some tips for the Everest Three Passes Trek:

1. Train beforehand: Train and improve your stamina and fitness before embarking on this 18-day trek. Long walks, running, cycling, or any physical activity will help prepare you.

2. Acclimatize properly: To prevent altitude sickness, take regular breaks and spend extra nights at higher altitudes to allow your body to adjust.

3. Pack your bag accordingly: Use a 50-55-liter haversack to pack your clothes and essential items. Bring warm clothes, thermal innerwear, woolen caps, gloves, light trekking pants, quick-dry t-shirts, a sun hat, waterproof gear, comfortable trekking shoes, and other necessary items. Don’t forget a first aid kit, water bottle, water purifying tablets, sunscreen lotion, head torch, Vaseline, sunglasses, and snow spikes. Keep in mind to carry only essential items, as one porter will carry the baggage of two hikers (recommended weight is 12 kg per person).

4. Carry a day pack: Use a 30-liter day pack to carry personal items like your passport, money, mobile phone, camera, personal medical kit, dried fruits, energy bars, and a waterproof and fleece jacket.

5. Respect the local culture: The Everest Three Passes Trek is home to the Sherpa people, who have their own unique culture and traditions. Respect their beliefs and culture, and be mindful of the impact you have on their environment.

6. Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of water at higher altitudes to avoid altitude sickness. Avoid alcohol and caffeine.

7. Take your time: Enjoy the scenery and don’t rush through the trek. It’s not a race, so pace yourself accordingly.

8. Prepare for the weather: Be prepared for unpredictable weather conditions like rain, snow, and cold temperatures.

9. Be flexible: Weather and other conditions can change quickly, so be flexible with your plans and adjust your itinerary accordingly.

Travel Insurance:

Travel insurance is strongly recommended for the Three Passes Trek in Nepal, as it is a high-altitude trek. Your travel insurance plan should cover all medical and travel issues.

Accidents may occur on the three passes trekking trail. In such cases, you may take advantage of the facilities of air ambulance, evacuation by helicopter, helicopter rescue, clinical attention, etc. In short, every hiker will need travel insurance for adventure travel or hiking in Nepal.

You will need to ask your insurance company for a policy that will cover high-altitude sickness, accidents, and sickness on the three passes trek in Nepal. The insurance policy should cover the evacuation by helicopter in case of an emergency.

Your insurance policy should also cover general issues like delays or even cancellations of all flights (mainly the Lukla Flight) due to bad weather conditions or natural disasters.

In such cases, sometimes you will need to take a chartered helicopter flight out of Lukla, and these charter flights are not cheap. Therefore, your insurance policy should cover all these aspects.

The Best Insurance Company for Foreign Nationals in Nepal:

• Alpha Global Solutions

For Indian Nationals:

Given below are the recommended insurance companies from India that have a good record for policy claims in Nepal:

• Bharati Axa Travel Insurance
• ICICI Lombard
• HDFC Ergo Travel Insurance
• Reliance Travel Insurance
• Bajaj Allianz Travel Insurance

PLEASE NOTE: There are limited flights between Kathmandu and Lukla and vice versa. The majority of the flights to Lukla are directed from Ramechap, which is five hours drive from the capital Kathmandu. This is done to reduce the load at Kathmandu Airport. Ramechap is 135 km from Kathmandu and takes 5 hours to drive in a private car.

Trek Facts:

• The trek starts in Lukla.
• Ending Point: Lukla.
• Trek duration: 18 days.
• Trek Grade: Moderate to strenuous.
• Maximum altitude: Kalapatthar (5550 m).
• Maximum Sleeping Altitude: Gorakshep (5164 m).
• Minimum group size: 2 persons.
• Trek style: Tea House/Lodge Trek.

Everest Three Passes Trek Itinerary

Highlights of the Trek

• Three Passes: 1). Chola Pass (5430 m). (2). Kongma La (5535 m) (3). Renjola Pass (5345 m).
• Everest Base Camp 5364 m; Kalapatthar 5545 m; Gokyo Ri 5480 m; Nangkar Tshang-5616 m

Day 01: Fly Kathmandu to Lukla (2800 m).

30 minute flight to Lukla from Kathmandu. Everest Three Passes Trek Starts. Trek to Phakding(2610 m). Overnight Lodge.

• Distance: 7.5 km
• Trekking Time: 4 hours
• Lukla-2800 m
• Phakding-2610 m
• Elevation Loss: 190 m

Day 02: Trek to Namche Bazaar (3440 m). Overnight Lodge.

• Distance: 7.4 km
• Trekking Time: 4 hours
• Namche Bazaar-3440 m
• Elevation Gain: 830 m

Day 03: Rest Day at Namche Bazaar for Acclimatization. Side Trek to Khumjung (3780 m). Overnight Lodge.

Trek up to the Everest View Hotel for views of the Everest Range, and also take a loop trek to Khumjung and return back to Namche via Syangboche airfield (Round Trip 7 km/4 hours). Visit the Monastery at Khumjung and take a look at the Yeti’s skull placed in a glass box inside the monastery by paying a fee of Nepali Rupees 300 per person.

Day 04: Trek to Thyangboche Monastery (3860 m). Overnight Lodge.

• Distance: 12.12 km
• Trekking Time: 6-7 Hours.
• Thynagboche Monastery: 3860 m.
• Elevation Gain: 420 m.

Day 05: Trek to Dingboche (4410 m/9.1 km/5 hours). Overnight Lodge.

• Distance: 9.96 km
• Trekking Time: 5-6 Hours
• Dingboche: 4410 m
• Elevation Gain: 550 m

Day 06: Rest and acclimatization day at Dingboche (4410 m).

Optional hike around Dingboche. Hike up to the view point at Nangkar Tshang (5616 m) a splendid view point that offers close-up views of Amadablam, Lhotse, Nuptse, Makalu, and a host of other peaks other than Everest, which is not visible from here. Overnight Lodge.

Day 07: Trek to Chukung (4730 m). After reaching Chukung you have two choices either trek up to Chukung-Ri for views of Everest and other peaks or trek to Island Peak Base Camp. Return to Chukung. Overnight Lodge.

• Distance: 5.03 km
• Trekking Time: 3 Hours
• Chukung: 4730 m
• Elevation Gain: 320 m

Day 08: Chukung to Kongma-La-Pass (5535 m) to Lobuche (4910 m/9 km/6 hours). Overnight Lodge.

• Distance: 10.61 km
• Trekking Time: 7-8 Hours
• Kongmo La Pass: 5535 m
• Lobuche: 4910 m
• Elevation Gain: 180 m

Day 09: Lobuche to Gorakshep (5140 m/Km-2 Hours). Afternoon trek up the Khumbu Glacier to Everest Base Camp (5364 m/3.5 km). Return to Gorakshep (5140 m). Overnight Lodge. Total time: 7-8 hours.

• Distance: Lobuche to Gorakshep-4 km/2 hours.
• Gorakshep to Everest Base Camp: 3.5 km (one way).
• Total Trekking Time: 8 Hours.
• Goprakshep: 5140 m
• Everest Base Camp: 5364 m
• Maximum Altitude Gain: 454 m
• Minimum Elevation Gain: 230 m

The 3.5-kilometer trek from Gorakshep to Everest base camp is perhaps the most difficult part of the Everest Three Passes Trek because of the high altitude, rocky path, and rough terrain.

Day 10: Trek Gorakshep to Dzongla (4830 m). Overnight Lodge.

Early morning trek up to Kalapathar (5550m/3 Km/4 hours round trip) for panoramic views of Everest, Khumbu Glacier, and many other peaks. Return to Gorakshep. After breakfast, trek to Dzongla (4830).

• Distance: 10.1 km
• Trekking Time: 5-6 hours
• Dzongla: 4830 m
• Elevation Loss: 310 m

Day 11: Trek Dzongla-Chola Pass (5330 m) to Dragnag (4790 m/9.5 km/6-7 hours). Overnight Lodge.

• Distance: 9.38 km
• Trekking Time: 6-7 hours
• Dragnag: 4790 m
• Elevation Loss: 40 m
• Max Elevation: 5330 m (Chola Pass)

Day 12: Trek Dragnag to Gokyo (4790 m). Overnight Lodge.

• Distance: 3.08 km
• Trekking Time: 3 Hours
• Elevation Gain: nil

Day 13: Morning climb Gokyo-Ri (5360 m/6 Km-3 Hrs. round trip). Return to Gokyo. Visit 5th.Lake. Overnight Lodge.

Day 14: Trek Gokyo-Renjo-la Pass (5345 m) to Lumdeng (4380 m/13 km/6-7 hours). Overnight Lodge.

• Distance: 13 km
• Trekking Time: 6-7 Hours
• Lumdeng: 4380 m.
• Elevation Loss: 410 m
• Max Elevation: 5345 m ( Rizula Pass)
• Max Elevation Gain: 965 m

Day 15: Trek Lumdeng to Thame (3820 m). Overnight Lodge.

• Distance: 8.01 km
• Trekking Time: 3-4 hours
• Thame: 3820 m
• Elevation Loss: 560 m

Day 16: Trek Thame to Phakding (7 hours). Overnight Lodge.

• Distance: Thame to Namchee Bazaar-6.8 km
• Namchee Bazaar to Phakding: 7.4 km
• Total Trekking Time: 7 Hours
• Elevation Loss: 399 m

Day 17: Trek Phakding to Lukla (4 hours). Overnight Lodge.

• Distance: 7.6 km
• Trekking Time: 3-4 Hours
• Elevation Gain: 190 m

Day 18: Fly back to Kathmandu. End of the Everest Three Passes Trek.

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Recommendation: This is a strenuous trek and demands top physical form. A physical fitness check-up is a must. Even the experienced trekker should prepare for 2-3 months prior to the trek.

Note: The above-given itinerary is a sample, intended to give you a general idea of the likely trip schedule. Numerous factors, such as weather, road conditions, the physical abilities of the participants, etc., may dictate itinerary changes either before departure or while on the trail. We reserve the right to change this schedule in the interest of the trip participant’s safety, comfort, and general well-being.

(All relevant Terms and Conditions apply.)