Everest Base Camp Three High Passes Trek

Trip Overview

Everest Base Camp ThreeHigh Pass Trek

Everest Base Camp Three High Pass Trek is an exciting adventure in the Himalayas of Nepal that includes trekking on popular Everest trails while also discovering unique gems of the Everest region. On this exotic trekking, we cross three high passes in the Everest region - Kongma La Pass (5,535/18,159ft), Cho La Pass (5420m/17,782ft) and Renjo La Pass (5,340m/17,520ft) and trek Everest Base Camp, climb Kala Patthar and Gokyo Ri; and visit Gokyo Lake. This route also introduces trekkers to the remote and untouched Nangpa La Valley, the Sherpa village of Marlung and the monastery village of Thame.

Highlights

  • Cross three high passes in the Everest region
  • Kongma-La Pass (5,535/18,159ft),
  • Cho-La Pass (5420m/17,782ft) and
  • Renjo-La Pass (5,340m/17,520ft)
  • Everest Base Camp Trek,
  • Climb Kala Patthar-stunning view Everest
  • Climb Gokyo-Ri and visit Gokyo-Lake.
  • Remote and untouched Nangpa La Valley
  • The Sherpa village and Monasteries

Trip Map

Everest Base Camp Three High Passes Trek  Map

Short Itinerary 

Day 01: Drive to Ramechhap (Manthali) airport-5hours then Fly to Lukla, trek to Phakding (2,651m/8,700ft): 8km, 3 - 4 hours trek
Day 02: Phakding to Namche Bazaar (3,438m/11,280 ft): 11km, 5 - 6 hours
Day 03: Namche Bazaar: Rest and acclimatization
Day 04: Namche Bazaar to Tengboche (3860m/12,660 ft): 10km, 5 - 6 hours
Day 05: Tengboche to Dingboche (4,360 m/14,300 ft): 9km, 5 - 6 hours
Day 06: Dingboche: acclimatization and rest
Day 07: Dingboche to Chhukung (4750m/15,580 ft), climb Chhukung Ri (5,546m): 14km, 6 – 7 hours
Day 08: Cross to Kongma La pass (5535m/18,159ft), trek to Lobuche (4940m/16,210ft): 10km, 6 - 7 hours
Day 09: Lobuche to Gorak Shep (5170 m/16,961ft), visit Everest Base Camp (5364 m/17,594 ft): 13km, 6-7 hours
Day 10: Gorak Shep to Kala Patthar (5545 m/18,192 ft), then to Lobuche (4940 m/16,207 ft): 7km, 8 - 9 hours
Day 11: Lobuche to Dzongla (4830m/15,850 ft): 6km, 3 - 4 hours
Day 12: Trek to Gokyo (4800m/15,580 ft) via Cho La pass (5368m/17,611 ft): 6km, 7 - 8 hours
Day 13: Rest day in Gokyo: Climb Gokyo Ri (5357m/17,575 ft), tour 4th and 5th Gokyo lakes: 3 - 4 hours
Day 14: Gokyo to Marlung (4210m/13,810 ft) via Renjo La Pass (5360m/17585 ft): 11km, 7 - 8 hours
Day 15: Marlung to Namche Bazaar: 15km, 5 - 6 hours
Day 16: Namche Bazaar to Lukla: 19km, 6 - 7 hours
Day 17: Lukla to Ramechhap (Manthali) airport then drive to Kathmandu for 5 hours.

Detail Itinerary

Detailed Itinerary

Day 01: Drive to Ramechhap (Manthali) airport -5 hours then Fly to Lukla, trek to Phakding (2,651m/8,700ft): 20 minutes’ flight; 8km, 3 - 4 hours’ trek:
Drive to Ramechhap (Manthali) airport for 5 hours very early morning from Kathmandu as Lukla’s all flights are operating from Ramechhap due to avoid traffic congestion in Kathmandu Airport. We begin our short trek to Phakding immediately after landing. At one hour’s gradual descent, we will be at a Cheplung village from where we have a glimpse of Mt. Khumbila (18900ft), a sacred mountain which has never been climbed. From Cheplung, we continue descending to Phakding and spend the night.

Day 02: Phakding to Namche Bazaar (3,438m/11,280 ft.): 11km, 5 - 6 hours.
we start our trek on uphill and downhill trails with multiple crossings over Dudh Koshi River and a magnificent view of Mt. Thamserku (21,675ft) from the Benkar village. We cross more bridges and reach the check-post of Sagarmatha National Park at Monjo, where our trekking permits are checked. We walk furthermore and pass through Jorsale village before reaching Namche Bazaar. From here, we get beautiful views of the Himalayas including Everest, Lhotse, Tawache and others. Overnight in Namche Bazaar.

Day 03: Namche Bazaar: Rest and acclimatization.
This is the first of the three scheduled rest days which will help us acclimatize to the high altitude. Since experts believe that it is better to stay active even during rest days for better trekking experience we are going to spend the day enjoying small hikes in and around Namche Bazaar. We hike up to Everest View Hotel to enjoy splendid views of the Himalayan range. On our way back to Namche we also tour the Khumjung Monastery where we can see yeti scalp also and Hillary School. Which was founded by Sir. Edmund Hillary. Overnight in Namche Bazaar.

Day 04: Namche Bazaar to Tengboche (3860m/12,660 ft.): 10km, 5 - 6 hours.
We start today’s trek on an easy trail to Phunki Thanga. From here we hike up towards Tengboche village which is home to the largest and oldest monastery in the Everest region. The monastery is located on the hills that provides panoramic views of the highest mountains including Everest, Ama Dablam, Thamserku, Nuptse and Lhotse. We will visit the monastery for the religious Buddhist ceremony. Overnight in Tengboche.

Day 05: Tengboche to Dingboche (4,360 m/14,300 ft.): 9km, 5 - 6 hours.
We start today’s trek by walking downhill and pass through lush forests filled with birch, conifers and rhododendron trees. We will be seeing views of Mt. Everest, Lhotse and Ama Dablam along the way. The picturesque trail dips down to Debuche, crosses the Imja River and takes us to Pangboche. While walking the upper Pangboche trails, we get a more pristine view of the Himalayas and Pangboche Monastery. We move ahead towards the Imja Valley, Lobuche River and ultimately climb up to Dingboche. The village is a beautiful windy settlement overlooked by chortens and prayer flags. Overnight in Dingboche.

Day 06: Dingboche: acclimatization and rest.
Dingboche is a popular stop for trekkers and climbers heading to Mt. Everest, Ama Dablam or Imja Tse. The village is beautiful with an array of fields enclosed by stone walls to protect barley, buckwheat and potatoes from the cold wind and grazing animals. We spend a day at Dingboche for acclimatization. We take a day hike to Nagarjun Hill for great views of Makalu, Lhotse, Chalotse, Tawache, Ama Dablam and others.

Day 07: Dingboche to Chhukung (4750m/15,580 ft.), climb Chhukung Ri (5,546m): 14km, 6 – 7 hours.
Today’s trail passes through stone-walled fields and Imja Khola valley before entering glacier moraines amidst towering Himalayas. The trail continues to Bibre which is a yak herdsman place. From here, directly across the valley is the fantastic Ama Dablam and the Amphu Labsa mountains. The trail ahead is intersected by icy streams. We continue our walk for around half an hour and reach Chhukung. After lunch, we begin our trek towards Chhukung Ri. The climb to Chhukung Ri involves some easy scrambling near the summit. From the top, we can look directly across the valley for a fantastic view of Ama Dablam and Amphu Labcha peaks. We descend back to Chhukung to spend the night.

Day 08: Cross to Kingman La pass (5535m/18,159ft), trek to Lobuche (4940m/16,210ft): 10km, 6 - 7 hours.
We begin today’s trek very early in the morning to reach the highest part of the entire trip which is Kingman La pass. We can either take a trail over a hill which is to the northwest of Chhukung over the Nuptse Glacier moraines or we can walk back to Bibre and trek on the trail above the Niyang Khola. The top of the pass is marked by cairns and Buddhist prayer flags. The final descent from the pass is the most difficult part of today’s journey. After climbing the moraine on the far side, the trail turns north through Khumbu Glacier which takes us to Lobuche. Overnight at Lobuche.
Note: Trekking through Kingman La is optional. If we do not want to tackle the strenuous Kingman La pass today and want to go directly to Lobuche from Chhukung, we can do that too.

Day 09: Lobuche to Gorak Shep (5170 m/16,961ft), visit Everest Base Camp (5364 m/17,594 ft.): 13km, 6-7 hours.
Our trail moves along the sideways moraine of the Khumbu Glacier. Ahead on the trail we see the crest of the north ridge of Everest along with Pumori, Mahalangur, Lingtern, Khumbutse, Nuptse and other mountains. A small ascent takes us to Thangma Riju. From here we admire panoramic views of the Himalayan vista. We ascend on a steep trail up to the top of Changri Glacier. As we reach Gorak Shep, we are surrounded by the Himalayas. After resting for a short while, we continue to Everest Base Camp. We pass through rocky dunes, moraines and streams before reaching the base camp of the world’s tallest mountain, Everest. From here we admire Nuptse, Khumbuste and Pumori mountains. We trek back to Gorak Shep and spend the night.

Day 10: Gorak Shep to Kala Patthar (5545 m/18,192 ft.), then to Lobuche (4940 m/16,207 ft.): 7km, 8 - 9 hours.
We start our trek to Kala Patthar early in the morning in order to catch remarkable views of the first light of the sun shining on Mt. Everest. However, we need to be prepared for trekking in the dark and cold temperature (the temperature varies according to the season. As we continue our trek, familiar peaks such as Lingtren, Khumbutse, Changtse, Everest and Nuptse tower above us. After several hours of ascent, we will be on the top of Kala Patthar. The close-up view of Mt. Everest and other Himalayan peaks from Kalapathar is amazing. We enjoy the stunning Himalayan range and descend to Lobuche where we stay the night.

Day 11: Lobuche to Dzongla (4830m/15,850 ft.): 6km, 3 - 4 hours.
From Lobuche we trek downhill on a trail alongside the Khumbu Glacier. On the way we can better admire the view of the looming Awi Peak. After walking for a while we begin to ascend. During the ascent, we see Chola Tsho Lake nearby. We continue further and pass another lake which is lot smaller than the Chola Tsho Lake. We cross the Chola Khola on a bridge before reaching Dzongla. Overnight in Dzongla.

Day 12: Trek to Gokyo (4800m/15,580 ft.) via Cho La pass (5368m/17,611 ft.): 6km, 7 - 8 hours.
As we gain height, the Cho La Lake begins to appear and the Ama Dablam, over a range of mountains on the south and Cholatse soars on the west. Climbing steep up. The final climb to the Cho La can be a little tricky as the trail curves round a crevasse. The top of the pass is marked by prayer flags and cairns. Scenery of majestic peaks on all directions is breathtaking. Although long, the path leading down to Thangnak is not difficult. Our trail brings us to the edge of the Ngozumpa glacier, which is the longest glacier in Nepal. Reaching the other side of the glacier, we see the second Gokyo Lake on the series of six lakes. A short distance away is the third Gokyo Lake. On the edge of this lake stands the Gokyo Village where we spend the night.

Day 13: Rest day in Gokyo: Climb Gokyo Ri (5357m/17,575 ft.), tour 4th and 5th Gokyo lakes: 3 - 4 hours.
Today we climb to Gokyo Ri and enjoy views of the incredible mountain range. We can also tour the fourth Gokyo Lake which is only 3km north of the Gokyo Village. Next, continue trekking to the 5th lake. Cho-Oyu, Gyachung Kang, Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse, and Makulu mountains and the huge Ngozumba Glacier are ours to admire. We trek back to Gokyo and spend the night.

Day 14: Gokyo to Marlung (4210m/13,810 ft.) via Reno La Pass (5360m/17585 ft.): 11km, 7 - 8 hours.
We start the day early in the morning to complete the long day’s trek ahead. Our trail moves alongside Dudh Pokhari (lake) for a while. We walk for around two hours before descending towards the Reno La pass. On the way we are rewarded with extravagant views of the Himalayan and Rolwaling ranges and others. Views from the Reno La pass are much like that from Gokyo Ri with the third Gokyo Lake and Gokyo Village beneath the gray smear of the Ngozumpa Glacier. We also get outstanding views of Mt. Everest from the top of the pass. Continuing on from the pass, our trail winds down a stone staircase and then moves over a loose scree to reach the south bank of Angladumba Tsho Lake. The prescence of ice on the trail while descending down can make our descent a bit hazardous. Along the way we see Relama Tsho and Reno Lake. We walk down a narrow valley clogged with giant boulders to Lumde where there is a support lodge, but it is often closed. We walk almost for an hour from Lumde to get to Marlung on the east bank of the Bhote Koshi River. Overnight at Marlung.

Day 15: Marlung to Namche Bazaar: 15km, 5 - 6 hours.
The descent from Marulung to Thame follows a traditional route used for centuries by the Tibetan traders. We cross the Bhote Koshi River and descend to Taranga. The trail continues to descend and we cross two bridges before reaching Thame. Overlooking Thame is its famous Gompa situated on a hill to the west. From here, we descend gradually on a trail that passes through a few small villages before reaching Namche Bazaar which is probably the biggest town in the Everest region. Overnight in Namche Bazaar.

Day 16: Namche Bazaar to Lukla: 19km, 6 - 7 hours.
We decent same way back till Lukla. Now the trail has become more level and natural. On our trek we enjoy walking on open plains, through rhododendron and pine forests and enjoy distant views of the snow covered peaks. We walk through Sherpa villages noticing their impressive faith in Buddhism and the culture of prayer stones and prayer flags. After reaching Lukla, we stretch those sore legs and recall the experiences of the last couple of weeks. Our long trek to the mountain and its high passes ends today. Overnight in Lukla.

Day 17: Lukla to Ramechhap (Manthali) airport then drive back to Kathmandu.
The flights to Manthali Airport are usually scheduled for morning to skip unfavorable weather in Lukla. After reaching the Manthali airport, we drive back to Kathmandu which takes about 5 hours. Overnight in Kathmandu.

Includes/Excludes

Cost Includes:

  • Airport pickups and drops in a private vehicle
  • 1 night in 3-star hotel accommodation in Kathmandu with breakfast
  • Teahouse accommodation during the trek
  • All meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) during the trek
  • Ground transportation Kathmandu-Ramechhap-Kathmandu
  • Domestic flights (Ramechhap- Lukla -Ramechhap)
  • An experienced, English-speaking and government-licensed trek leader and assistant trek leader (4 trekkers: 1 assistant guide)
  • Porter service (2 trekkers: 1 porter)
  • Staff costs including their salary, insurance, equipment, domestic airfare, food and accommodation
  • Trekking map
  • All necessary paperwork and trekking permits (National Park Permit, TIMS)
  • Medical kit (carried by your trek leader)
  • All government and local taxes

Cost Exclude:

  • Nepalese visa fee 
  • Excess baggage charge(s)
  • Extra night accommodation in Kathmandu because of early arrival, late departure, early return from mountain (due to any reason) than the scheduled itinerary
  • Lunch and evening meals in Kathmandu
  • International flights
  • Travel and rescue insurance
  • Personal expenses (phone calls, laundry, bar bills, battery recharge, extra porters, bottle or boiled water, shower, etc.)
  • Tips for guide(s), porter(s) and driver(s)

Date & Price

Date and price

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Useful Info

Price from US$1825 per perosn
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Trip Facts

  • Grade: Strenuous (Challenging)
  • Best season: February, March, April, May, October, November
  • Per day walking: 6 hours in average
  • Type of trek: Hotel and Lodge
  • General Duration: 17 days
  • Maximum Altitude: 5,554m/18,192ft

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