Popular Mountain Passes in Nepal

Nepal is a beautiful country with a variety of geographical landforms. Among the various landmarks, mountains are the most iconic and precious pride of Nepal.  Nepal is the home to the world’s highest mountain, Mt. Everest, and other high mountain ranges. Due to this unique landform, Nepal is a paradise for trekkers and peak climbers from all around the world.

While trekking, there is a high chance that trekkers come across challenging mountain passes in Nepal. Mountains are the big, formidable geographical landmarks that don’t allow easy access, so passes are used to navigate through the mountains. They have actually been used by villagers and travelers since time immemorial to cross valleys and mountains.

Most of the time, the passes are gaps or the lowest points between mountains; sometimes they are flat summits formed due to glacial or water erosion. Passes not only facilitate the trekkers to pass through the mountain range and add challenges and adventure, but also provide the best viewpoint to savor the phenomenal panorama of the mountains.

So, mountain passes in Nepal always conjure up the world’s fancy and anticipation in the minds of the travelers.

If you are thinking of experiencing such challenging mountain passes in Nepal, here are some of the best picks.

7 Best Mountain Passes in Nepal

In this section, we’ve covered some of the best mountain passes in Nepal; the list also includes one of the highest pass in Nepal, which you’ll find out by reading this blog till the end.

Everest Region Passes

The Everest region is the most iconic and famous region for trekking. There are many passes in the Khumbu region. And the most popular passes of this region are Renjo La pass, Cho La pass, and Kongma La pass. You can experience these passes during the Everest Three High Passes trek.

Renjo La pass

Renjo La pass is the westernmost pass among these three passes, located at an altitude of 5360m. It is the easiest among the three passes due to less snow and almost no glaciers while crossing this pass.

This pass connects Lumde village with Gokyo valley. And the top of the pass offers the panoramic view of Everest (8,848m), Lhotse (8,516m), Cho Oyu (8,201m), Makalu (8,481m), Rolwaling Himal (7,181m), and other neighboring peaks, as well as the five turquoise Gokyo lakes and the stunning Gokyo Ri.

The pass lies between Lobuche (6119m) and Cholatse (6440m), connecting Dzongla village in the east and Thagnak village in the west. It is the closest pass to Everest, so many trekkers cross this pass while trekking to Everest Base Camp. It is a technical pass with a rocky and snowy path, meaning you require gear like crampons to cross the pass.

The pass offers a fantastic view of the tallest mountains, including Everest (8,848m), Lhotse (8,516m), Cho Oyu (8,201m), Ama Dablam (6,812m), and Nirekha Peak (6,151m).

Kongma La pass

The highest pass among the three passes is the eastern pass, Kongma La pass, with an altitude of 5535m. Though it is not considered the most technical pass, it is the most strenuous because it’s slippery due to comparatively heavier snow and icier slopes than other passes.

This pass joins Lobuche village and Chhukung village, offering spectacular views of Everest (8,848m), Makalu (8,481m), Lhotse (8,516m), Nuptse (7,861m), AmaDablam (6,812m) and its ridges, Thamserku (6,623m), and many more.

Annapurna Region Passes

The Annapurna region is one of the most famous trekking regions of Nepal due to its geographical, cultural, and climatic diversity. The top-most popular mountain passes in this region are the Thorong La pass and the Kang La pass.

Thorong La Pass: Highest Pass in Nepal

Thorong La Pass

Situated at an altitude of 5416m, Thorong La Pass is considered the highest pass in Nepal and in the world. The pass is formed by two mountains, Khatung Kang (6,484m) and Yakawa Kang (6,482m), in the Damodar Himal mountain range connecting Manang and Muktinath.

It is the highest point in the Annapurna Circuit Trek, and it is a strenuous route that gives you a great sense of glorious success while reaching the top. From the pass, trekkers get to see stunning views of Annapurna (I-IV), Manaslu (8,156m), Gangapurna (7,455m), Dhaulagiri (8,167m), Machhapuchhre (6,993m), and even Langtang Lirung (7,234m).

Kang La Pass

The other pass in the Annapurna region is Kang La pass, at an elevation of 5306m. The pass connects Narphu Valley in the north to Manang in the Annapurna Circuit. Narphu is a restricted area that was only opened for trekking in 2003. If you want to experience this pass, you can join the Narphu Valley trek.

The pass joins Nar village and Ngwala village. A series of mountain ranges can be seen from the pass that includes Annapurna III (7,555m), Manaslu (8,156m), Gangapurna (7,455m), Tilicho (7,134m), and Himlung (7,126m), etc.

Popular Mountain Passes in Nepal

Manaslu Region Pass

Manaslu is the world’s 8th-highest mountain, and the Manaslu Circuit trek circles Manaslu while passing through the Larkya La pass. It is the highest point in the Manaslu Circuit trek.

Larkya La Pass

Larkya La pass is located in the Manaslu region at 5135m. It is one of the most beautiful mountains and the longest passes in the Nepali Himalayas. It is a challenging pass because of the rocky terrain and unpredictable weather. The pass connects Dharmashala in the east to the Bhimtang in the west.

Trekkers pass this mountain pass during the Manaslu Circuit trek. The pass allows you to enjoy the best view of Manaslu (8,156m), Ratna Chuli (7,128m), Larkya Peak (6,249m), and many other beautiful peaks.

Langtang Region Pass

Langtang, which is just fifty kilometers away, is the nearest trekking destination from Kathmandu. Langtang is the home to the Langtang ranges, the mountain lake Gosainkunda, and Langtang National Park. Lauribinayak La pass is one of the popular mountain passes in the Langtang region.

Lauribinayak La

Lauribinayak La Pass is one of the most famous landmarks in the Lantang region, situated at an elevation of 4610m. The pass joins Gosaikunda with Ghopte. The trekkers cross this pass on the Gosaikunda Lake trek, and it is also the highest point in the Gosaikunda Lake trek.

From the top of the Lauribinayak La Pass, a clear view of Langtang Lirung (7,234m), Manaslu (8,156m), Himalchuli (7,893m), Ganesh Himal (7,422m), Dorje Lakpa (6,966m), and Gosainkunda (4,360m) can be seen.

Mountain passes in Nepal are the most significant landmarks while trekking in Nepal. If you want to experience this challenging terrain, you can always contact Access Nepal Tour and Trekking.