Trip Introduction
Overview of Everest Three High Passes Trek
In the presence of nature, the Everest Three High Passes have the power to give you a sense of bliss that fills you with happiness. According to conventional knowledge, joy results from interest. We lead you to the full historical alternative route of the Everest Base Camp trek, called the Three High Passes Trek, based on your genuine interest in being in the Himalayas.
Our guidance toward the Everest Three High Passes Trek fully aims to assist you in your curiosity about recreation, joy, happiness, and ecstasy. The Everest Three High Passes Trek is perfect for those seeking adventure and those curious about exploring the way of life and observing its whole existence from a different perspective.
This kind of curiousness might have that kind of mindful intensity that could help you realize and change yourself towards joyful wholeness. Born into a Himalayan life and guided in core, central Himalayan life since 1990, it is experienced that a desire to be in the Himalayas often comes true and changes you towards wholeness. Everest Three High Passes trekking is a great way to learn about yourself and the places you visit.
Itinerary of Everest Three High Passes Trek
In the pre-trip meeting today, you will meet your trekking guide and other people attached to your trek. You will be provided with a short briefing about our conscious journey to the Everest Three High Passes Trek. You can ask if you have any extra questions about the trip.
We fly in a tiny plane for a brief but thrilling journey from Kathmandu to the Himalayan town of Lukla. The flight itself provides breathtaking mountain vistas. And landing at Tenzing Hillary Airport is not something you sleep through.
From Lukla, we go northwest to the beginning of the renowned EBC path. Today’s route is not very challenging or lengthy, as we travel through a Sherpa settlement on an established track.
You will then enter the lush and forested Dudh Kosi river valley and wind your way up the valley, with the river staying on your left.
There’s no road or more extensive route connecting the various towns and villages of the Sherpas. So expect to share the path with tourists and Sherpas alike, as well as yaks, horses, and mules.
We spent our first night on the trail in the pretty riverside village of Phakding. Phakding is at a lower elevation than Lukla, so your body won’t be challenged by the altitude.
Today is a day to cross multiple suspension bridges. The suspension bridges are draped in multicolored prayer flags and are often high above the river. Our walk continues up the Dudh Kosi Valley. After some moments of the hike, we enter Sagarmatha National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We pass the lovely Toktok near the national park entrance.
We cross the Edmund Hillary Bridge en route to Namche Bazaar. Then ascend a steep climb up to Namche Bazaar, which sits on a high outcrop at the confluence of the Dudh Khosi. Namche Bazaar is a regional hub and the largest Sherpa town, where we spend overnight.
Namche has so much to offer the curious trekker, so we have an acclimatization day to explore this fantastic village. It is also essential to give your body time to adjust to a higher altitude. This village has lots you can choose to do, like visit the Sherpa Museum or monastery or do a beautiful day hike to the Everest View Hotel for a drink and snack.
You can also find many shops in Namche Bazaar for snacks and any other trekking accessories you might need. You can have drinks and enjoy panoramic views of snowy peaks, including Mt. Everest.
Today we head in a northeasterly direction up the Pheriche Valley to reach the village of Tengboche. We walk a pretty smooth and flat trail for a long time. Eventually, the trail descends to the valley floor. And then, to reach Tengboche, sitting on a hill, there is a big climb.
The views on today’s walk feast you on Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse, Thamserku, and Ama Dablam, which are unforgettable!
Local Sherpas use the EBC trek route as their primary means of getting around the region.
Tengboche Monastery, also known as Dawa Choling Gompa, is a Tibetan Buddhist monastery. This is the largest in the whole Khumbu region and is worth a visit! It contains a 20-foot Buddha sculpture, detailed wall hangings, clothes, and musical instruments.
We climb up the Imja Khola valley, walking through the woods and enjoying increasingly spectacular views of the snow-capped peaks. Ama Dablam and Island Peak, in particular, are breathtaking.
Three kilometers out of Tengboche, we pass by Pangboche (3,985 m), the highest year-round settlement in the valley. Pangboche monastery is the oldest in the region and is famed for its supposed yeti scalp.
A little way before Dingboche, there’s a fork in the road; keep left and walk towards Pheriche village. After we cross a bridge and tackle a steep climb, here is Dingboche for you. If you don’t feel tired, we recommend climbing Nangkartshang Peak. This peak is a bit of a misnomer, as it’s more of a sub-peak of a higher ridge. Enjoy the incredible and rewarding views of the surrounding mountains, like Ama Dablam, Kangtega, Nuptse, Lhotse, Makalu, Cho Oyu, and Taboche.
Today we have a more leisurely trek, walking a relatively gentle incline up the Imja Khola valley to the village of Chhukung. This is a much quieter part of the National Park, and the trail won’t be as busy as it was until around Tengboche. Afterward, we pass by stone-walled fields, enter the moraine, and finally go to Chhukung.
We spent another night in Chhukung to help our bodies acclimate to the ever-increasing altitude. Then, if we choose the hike, we can climb Chhukung Ri or visit Island Peak Base Camp.
Chukkung Ri (5,550 m/18,208 ft) is about a four-hour hike. This hike helps your body acclimate. The view from the top of Chukkung Ri is simply incredible. You can see Island Peak, Ama Dablam, Makalu, and Nuptse, among other peaks.
Today we cross the first pass; Kongla La passes among the three passes. It is a challenging mountain pass higher in elevation than Everest Base Camp. This pass is also the easternmost and highest of the three passes.
With all that in mind, today we need to concentrate while in the trial. We also need crampons and trekking poles because of the rocky and uneven route. You can also find some beautifully smooth sections of trail on the ascent.
At the top, you are rewarded with breathtaking views to the east and west. The descent is trickier than the ascent, as the landscape is much steeper. So take it slowly and at your own pace, with no rush.
Near the bottom of the pass, we cross over Khumbu Glacier. We will then head to Lobuche for the night.
We head northeast after breakfast along a well-worn path to Everest Base Camp. One of the interesting facts is that you cannot see the peak of Everest from the base camp. So, we will visit Kalapatthar tomorrow to see an uninterrupted view of Everest.
Having visited EBC, we travel the short distance back to the settlement of Gorakshep, where we spend the night.
Early in the morning, we will hike to Kala Patthar for the sunrise. Kala Patthar means ‘black rock’ in Nepali, and you’ll find it similar to a black dune. After you reach the viewpoint, you will be rewarded with an unobstructed view of Mt. Everest, Lhotse, Cho Oyu, and many more.
After enjoying the view, we will head south along the classic Everest Base Camp trek route. We pass through Lobuche, and then later on, when the trail nears the head of the Imja Khola River. We change direction to the west, away from the main route, and head towards the village of Dzongla.
The path to Dzongla offers incredible views of the surrounding mountains, like Arakam Tse, Cholatse, and Taboche. After a few bits of up and down along the route, we will reach Dzongla.
Today you will be passing the second pass, called Cho La. This is a relatively tricky pass, as we cross glaciers on the ascent. The top of the pass rewards us with magnificent views of the Himalayas, and the descent is once again steeper than the ascent.
After conquering the pass, we trek through the small village of Thangnak (4,680 m/15,350 ft). We then strike out for our night-time trip to a small village called Gokyo. You find this village mesmerizing as it sits in the shadow of Cho Oyu (8,150 m / 26,739 ft), the world’s sixth-highest mountain. This village is also directly above Ngozumpa Glacier, the longest glacier in the Himalayas at 36 km (22 mi).
Today we are going for the hike to Gokyo Ri for the mesmerizing view of the Himalayas. We follow a roughly linear path to the peak and back for the walk.
Standing on Gokyo Ri, we can gaze down to the north at the Gokyo Lakes. To the southwest, we can see Renjo La. And to the north and east, we have an endless line of famous peaks, including four 8,000-meter peaks: Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, and Cho Oyu.
Finally, we will pass the third and last Himalayan pass, Renjo La. This pass is not as high as the other two passes. As we ascend higher, the view back to Gokyo and Ngozumpa Glacier is gorgeous.
The terrain of the pass is rocky and uneven. The views of both the east and the west upon summiting Renjo La are advantageous!
Descending the western side of the pass is much steeper than its ascent. We head to Marulung for the night. This is one of the few settlements in this neck of the woods.
Today we trek alongside the Bhote Kosi. We pass through the pretty village of Thame, which was once home to the famous mountaineer Tenzing Norgay. If you have time, also visit the Thame Monastery above the village.
We head back to Namche Bazaar, approaching it from the other direction we left it. The scenery is beautiful as we walk along the northern bank of the Bhote Khosi, a tributary of the Dudh Khosi.
We head back to Lukla, approaching it from the other direction we left.
This morning we take a short and exhilarating flight to Kathmandu in a small aircraft from the mountainside town of Lukla.
Please Note: Sometimes, due to last-minute changes in government rules, airline schedules, or in the case of natural calamities like floods, landslides, etc., a few changes in the itinerary may happen.
Includes/Excludes
What's Included?
- KTM-Lukla-KTM domestic flights
- Sagarmatha National Park Entry Permit and Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality Permit
- Experienced Himalayan trek guide for 16 days
- One porter for two for trekking for 15 days (prepare to give max. 15 kgs’ luggage from each of you so that it will not exceed 30 kg. for your porter)
- Basic yet comfortable accommodation for 15 nights on a twin-sharing basis during the trekking as per itinerary.
- Staff insurance
- 16 x set breakfast, 16 x set lunch and 15 x set dinner while on the trek
- Purified drinking water during the entire trekking as per itinerary
- General first-aid medicine kit
- Complimentary T-shirt
- Duffle bag during the trek
What's Excluded?
- Food and Accommodations in Kathmandu
- Personnel expenses of any kind
- Excess baggage costs during your Lukla flight
- Any Travel Insurance
- Any additional cost due to natural calamity and unforeseen circumstances
- Tips for any staff and guide
- Costs associated with evacuations due to illness, accidents, or other natural disasters like earthquakes, landslides, floods, etc.
- Anything that is not listed in the “PRICE INCLUDES” section above
Special Group Discount Price
| Group Size | Price |
|---|---|
| 1 Person | US$ 1947 Per Person |
| 2 People | US$ 1615 Per Person |
| 3 People | US$ 1529 Per Person |
| 4-6 People | US$ 1499 Per Person |
| 7-9 People | US$ 1471 Per Person |
| 10-12 People | US$ 1468 Per Person |
| Over 12 People | US$ 1459 Per Person |
Essential Information - Everest Three High Passes Trek
Everest Three High Passes Trek Route Map
If you are wondering about the Everest Three High Passes Route map, click the infographic below. You will see the whole route map, which takes 18 days to complete and begins with an exciting flight to Lukla. The EBC trek distance from Lukla is about 38.5 miles, i.e., 62 kilometers. Your trek starts from Phakding to Namche Bazar, Thame, Gokyo Lake and Valley, Dragnag Dzongla, Everest Base Camp, Kalapathar, Gorakshep, Lobuche, Chhukung, Tengboche, and Monjo. On the map, you will also see the extension route in the Everest region. You are using a different path to return to Lukla.
Everest Three High Passes Trek Difficulty
The Everest Three Passes Trek is much more tricky than other treks in the region, such as Everest Base Camp and many others. On its trekking or circuit route, the trek covers most of the Everest region. It implies that you will encounter both nature and numerous challenges and barriers during the trek.
Kongma La Pass (5535m), Renjo La Pass (5435m), and Chola Pass (5420m) are the three decisive passes above 5400m above sea level, along with the problematic trails over rocky mountains and terrifying glaciers. During the trek, you may experience altitude sickness.
Trekking the Everest Three High Passes Difficulty arises as trekkers must walk 6–8 hours daily. The trek continues on a flat, sloppy, snowy, rough, and rocky trail, adding to the difficulty of this trek. However, the reward for completing this entire journey is incredible. Stunning mountains, lovely valleys, and breathtaking lakes can be seen. You will have the opportunity to learn about Sherpa and Tibetan culture.
Everest Three High Passes Trek Permit
Everest’s three high passes trek includes two different permits, like almost all other treks on Everest. The permits have a Sagarmatha National Park Entry Permit and a Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality Permit.
The Sagarmatha National Park permit can be taken in Kathmandu, according to the Nepal Tourism Board. At the same time, you can obtain an entrance permit from Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality.
Every permit and charge you contribute to the government will help to preserve the Everest region and local development.
Note: When creating official permits, you will be requested to submit passport-size pictures frequently. So please carry at least 8–10 passport-size photos with you.
Lukla Flight and Weather for EBC Three High Passes Trekking
Lukla sits in the middle of the mountains as the doorway to the Everest region. The highlands have better clarity in the early mornings, and a wind gust gradually builds up through midday. As a result, for a Lukla flight to the Everest Three High Pass Trek, only morning flights are planned.
The flight from Kathmandu to Lukla takes about 30 to 45 minutes. You’ll see isolated mountain valleys while taking in the terraced scenery of Nepal’s interconnected mountain ranges.
Furthermore, seasonal patterns and visibility influence the weather in Lukla. While storm clouds are usual throughout the monsoon season, spring afternoon thunderstorms and winds are expected. Winters improve visibility in Lukla, but clouds in Kathmandu can occasionally cause flight delays. If the weather becomes severe, Lukla Airport can close in minutes or for a longer period, disrupting flights for many days.
Accommodation on Everest Three High Passes Trek
With the expansion of the trekking sector, many trekking routes in the Everest region now have a sufficient number of lodges. As the trekking industry has grown, prevalent trekking routes in the Everest region now have many lodges. The EBC Three High Pass trek trailside tea shops at most places offer good food and lodging. The tea shops along the Everest 3 high passes are decent and comfortable.
Most hotels along the Everest Three High Passes route are family-run businesses that started in the living room and grew as more trekkers arrived. Many lodges now offer visitors private rooms. Twin-sharing rooms with basic furnishings are standard.
The ‘living room is where you eat and rest. It is also heated at night with a pot-bellied burner. Many hikers bring books to read and cell phones to entertain themselves. However, you can interpret it as a friendly moment to connect with other trekkers.
Food on Everest Three High Passes Trek
You don’t have to make any food compromises at multiple spots during your trek. An extensive range of alternatives is available, featuring our traditional Nepali dal-Bhat (rice and lentil soup).
Ethnic cuisine prepared by experienced chefs is readily available on popular Everest routes. However, sticking to your diet plan is essential for maintaining your health during the trek.
Three altitude-friendly meals are served daily at the tea houses when climbing at higher altitudes. The meals consist of liquid foods and other energy-giving foods such as grains, cereals, lentil soup, hot tea, noodle soup, potatoes, and so on—more similar foods consumed by locals aid in resisting the Everest region’s climate.
Best season to trek Everest Three High Passes Trek
Nepal’s Everest Three High Passes Trek travel via dirt tracks, muddy hills, narrow trails, and high-altitude areas. Here, the weather is essential and plays a vital role. The best Everest Three High Passes Trek seasons are late September–November and February–May. The whole route’s temperatures and conditions are generally steady during these months.
If you want to discover the surroundings of Everest Base Camp with all the excitement of climbers who are there to ascend Mount Everest, one of the tours departing between March and May is ideal. Traveling during the post-monsoon season, from September to December, is also an excellent option. It is peaceful at this time, and you can appreciate the surrounding beauty without the hurry and noise of visitors and tents.
Altitude Sickness & Acclimatization of Everest Three High Passes Trek
To ensure safety, it is essential to understand the hazards associated with altitude sickness and how to recognize symptoms and react to them.
The Everest Three High Pass Trek has high-altitude sickness symptoms. Altitude sickness symptoms include a severe headache, a loss of appetite, shortness of breath, exhaustion, difficulty sleeping, nausea, a rapid heartbeat, and severe dehydration. If you experience these symptoms during your trip, seek medical attention immediately.
Some of the tips will assist you in avoiding altitude sickness during your trip. Acclimatization rest, slowly ascending, avoiding alcohol and cigarettes, staying hydrated, and eating plenty are the best ways to prevent high altitude sickness. Also, mentally prepare to reject negative thoughts and enjoy the beautiful surroundings.
Everest Three High Pass Trek Packing Suggestions
Please properly pack your luggage for the porter (each of you 15kg, for two of you, a porter is arranged). You will leave the rest of your luggage behind at your hotel until the end of this holiday. Below is a loosely advised trek packing list that might help you in your trek:
- Appropriate clothing (3 sets)
- Woolen sweater or jacket
- Thermal inner wear
- Wide-brimmed hat
- Woolen cap and scarf
- Thick woolen gloves
- Waterproof gloves
- Sport Sandals
- Woolen socks (2 pairs)
- Waterproof (not water-resistant) shoes with a good tread/grip
- Rain-proof pants and jacket with hood
- A lock for the duffle bag
- Backpack with waterproof cover
- Sleeping bag suitable for temperatures around 0°C (1 – optional)
- Down jacket with hood
- Camera (optional) (video camera is not permitted by authority)
Other essential items:
- Personal clothing
- Toiletries
- Small thermos for hot beverages
- Water bottle (1 liter)
- Sunscreen lotion (50 SPF or more)
- Castor oil (50 ml) to lubricate the nostrils at high altitude
- Ziplock bags for clothing
- Quick-dry Towel (not a regular one)
- Toilet paper
- Wet wipes
- Sunglasses
- Snacks – chocolates, biscuits, nuts, etc.
- Hand sanitizer
- Powerful flashlight or headlamp (with extra batteries)
Medical Kit for Everest Three Passes Trek
Though we provide important medics for the Everest Three High Passes Trek, they are prevalent and may not be sufficient depending on the situation. A personal medical kit containing electrolyte packs, pain relievers, muscle relaxant cream, band-aids, knee caps, medicines for fever, common cold, headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, indigestion, and other personal medication is required.
Communication in Everest Three High Passes Trek
The Everest Three High Passes trekking route takes you through various landscapes. Even in this day and age of cutting-edge information and communication technologies (ICT), approaching her development in remote Everest is difficult. One reason for this is that technologies in remote Everest are still not being developed properly. Because communication is essential in such an environment, a guide may have a mobile phone that can connect you with others. Though it is not as reliable as in urban areas, much ICT has been developed. On this route, Wi-Fi may be available in some locations.
Most asked questions
FAQs about Everest Three High Passes Trek
Kala Patthar (5,545 m/18,192 ft.) is the highest point on the Everest Three High Passes Trek. This viewpoint provides the best view of Everest, Nuptse, and other famous peaks. It is the unique viewpoint located on the south ridge of Pumori above Gorakshep.
The daily Everest Three High Passes Trek usually is between 6-8 hours with short breaks. However, the actual time depends entirely on your walking speed.
Yes, beginners can also go Everest Three High Passes Trek based on their health conditions. Our package includes simply walking on the rough trails; you don’t need extra climbing or other skills. So, if you are well prepared to overcome this fear, you will be ready for the trek.
Just prepare yourself physically and mentally with basic exercises, jogging, breathing exercises, or swimming before three months of the trek. Beginners might be afraid of spending the entire day on the rocky paths, but being fully physically and emotionally prepared will give you more confidence to take on the challenge.
An entry permit is compulsory if you travel for any reason in the Everest region. And, for the Everest Three High Passes Trek permit, you will need Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality, Sagarmatha National Park, and the Gauri Shankar Conservation Area (Optional).
A TIMS card was once required for the Everest trek as well. But with the new rule, now it is displaced with the permit system during the trek.
The permit is related to your safety while traveling into the conserved areas. It ensures your safety while trekking into those areas, and the fee you pay is also utilized for the betterment of the site to make it visitor friendly.
Yes, you can extend or minimize the Everest Three High Passes Trek itinerary with our assistance. Since we have already provided you with one of the ideal routes, we want to pre-inform you that reducing the trekking days might not sound right if you are unfamiliar with high altitudes.
But if you want to stay longer in the Himalayas, we are willing to adjust your itinerary to meet your needs. Reducing the itinerary may lead to a lack of time to adjust to changes in the environment, humidity, or pH, which may lead to high altitude sickness and other problems. To compensate for the lower oxygen saturation in blood at high altitudes, your body must have time to produce more red blood cells.
But suppose you are willing to spend more time in the Himalayas. In that case, we have the best other options to extend the itinerary days or even extend the trip with different packages and customize it per your demand. Feel free to contact us; our team shall provide you with your dream package under your priorities and guidance.
If you purchase the package from a trekking service, you must travel with an Everest Three High Passes guide. We care for your safety when you travel with a local agency like us. If you are with a guide, the team always provides a better option in selecting the accommodation, food, end language barrier, and even the itinerary selection. They will also help you with permits, domestic flights, and porters and assist you with your entire trek.
Additionally, if you encounter high altitude sickness, you will have knowledgeable staff by your side to monitor your symptoms from the very beginning. They will be familiar with such high altitudes and wildlife and will assist you in learning at every step. It is not compulsory to take a guide for this trek if you are an independent trekker, but your walk will be hassle-free if there is a guide with you.
The battery will quickly drain if it is in a cold environment. So you need to charge your device more frequently. You can recharge the battery in the lodge where you spend the night. They will charge you more because the lodge uses solar energy.
Make sure to take a spare battery or a portable power bank as a backup on the Everest Three High Passes Trek. It is best to carry extra batteries because there may occasionally be power outages or low voltage.
It is essential to check health and fitness when traveling through high-altitude regions. It helps to ensure a safe and comfortable experience for all the trekkers.
We are happy to welcome you to Everest Three High Passes Trek with your family and kids, as we believe nature help kids in different ways. With a professional guide, the trek can be done smoothly. But we will not advise bringing the children inappropriately low age (lower than five years) for high-altitude walking.
Prepare your kids with simple workouts and breathing exercises for at least one month to prepare for this trek. We also serve you kid carry service, so kindly let us know during the inquiry if you need one.
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