Everest Three Passes Trek - 19 Days

After arriving in Kathmandu, a representative will greet you and take you to your hotel in a private vehicle. Later, we will have a short meeting at the hotel to go over the trek arrangements and the plan for the next day.

Afterward, you’ll have time to rest and relax before we gather in the evening for a special welcome dinner. This dinner will be at a traditional Nepali restaurant and will include cultural performances.

Included: Accommodation at a hotel in Kathmandu.

After breakfast, we start on a tour of four of Kathmandu’s seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Each of these places shows the city’s rich cultural and religious diversity.

We start at Pashupatinath, a sacred Hindu temple complex dedicated to Pashupatinath, the lord of all beings. Here, you’ll see the Bagmati River and Aryaghat, a significant cremation site. This spot offers a profound glimpse into the cycle of life and death.

Next, we visit Boudhanath, famous for its massive white stupa with a golden pyramid top and painted eyes. Surrounded by prayer wheels, saffron-clad monks, and bustling souvenir shops, the atmosphere is both peaceful and vibrant.

Our journey continues to Kathmandu Durbar Square, famed for its intricate wooden and stone architecture. This historical site features pagoda-style temples dedicated to Hindu deities and is home to Kumari, the living goddess.

We also explore Swoyambhunath, a Buddhist stupa perched on a hilltop. Here you will get to see the panoramic views of the city. You can also experience Tibetan Buddhism and visit various temples and monuments.

Included: Breakfast and accommodation in a Kathmandu hotel.

During busy trekking seasons like March, April, May, October, and November, flights to Lukla don’t leave directly from Kathmandu. Instead, you’ll leave very early in the morning, around 1:30 to 2:30 am, and take a shared vehicle for a 5 to 6-hour drive to Manthali Airport. From there, you’ll catch a short 20-minute flight to Lukla. (If you have an extra day, it’s better to go to Manthali the day before to avoid the early start.)

Option 2: Kathmandu to Lukla Flight (January, February, June, July, August, September, and December)
In less busy seasons like January, February, June, July, August, September, and December, flights to Lukla usually leave from Kathmandu. You’ll wake up around 5 to 6 am and have breakfast at your hotel before heading to the airport for a 35-minute flight to Lukla.

Arrival in Lukla and Trek to Phakding

When you arrive in Lukla, you’ll meet your porters who will help with your bags. After a short break, we’ll start our trek to Phakding. The trail goes uphill along the mountainside and follows the Dudh Koshi River. We’ll walk through a peaceful pine forest and pass by the small village of Ghat. The path to Phakding has some easy ups and downs, with stone steps in some places. The trek is not too difficult, giving you time to get used to the altitude and enjoy the views.

When we reach Phakding, you’ll stay in a comfortable lodge with a cozy room, an attached bathroom with a hot shower, a heated bed with electric blankets, and charging points.
Included: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Notes:
Flight Delays and Cancellations: Because of the weather and other factors, flights to Lukla can be delayed or canceled. You can also book a helicopter flight for an additional cost.

From Phakding we will trek to Namche, which will be our final stop for the day. We start by ascending gradually through the Dudhkoshi Valley. We will also cross several suspension bridges. After a two-hour walk, we reach the Sagarmatha National Park check-post in Jorsale, just past Monjo.

After lunch at Jorsale, we follow the trail to the longest bridge in the valley, and then a short walk brings us to the Hillary Bridge, which hangs high over the confluence of the Larja River. Next, we face a three-hour steep uphill climb through a dense pine forest until we reach Namche.

Along the way, we will get our first view of Everest. Once we arrive in Namche, we’ll check into our lodge, where we can enjoy refreshments, a hot shower, and dinner. We’ll have a short briefing for the next day before getting some much-needed rest.

Included: Accommodation with full board meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner).

Today is our acclimatization day at Namche Bazaar. At an altitude of 3,440m, it’s important to adjust to the high elevation. We’ll start with a short hike to the Everest Viewpoint, where we can enjoy panoramic views of Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse, Ama Dablam, Taboche, and other peaks.

After the hike, we’ll return to Namche for lunch and some rest. In the afternoon, you can explore the town of Namche, known for stone houses. There are many activities and sights to enjoy in this last town before we continue our trek. We’ll spend the night at Namche.

Included: Accommodation with full board meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner).

From Namche, we will trek to Tengboche. After breakfast, we start our trek on an easy trail with views of mountains like Kusum Kanguru, Thamserku, Ama Dablam, and others to the northeast.

After about an hour, we reach Kenjoma for a tea break. We then continue to Phunke Tenga, where we can see a water-powered prayer wheel. From there, we climb through forested hills to Tengboche.

Tengboche is home to the largest monastery in the Khumbu region. We can join the daily prayers in the afternoon. The view of Ama Dablam rising dramatically behind Tengboche is truly spectacular.
Dinner and overnight stay will be at Tengboche.

Included: Accommodation with full board meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner).

After breakfast, we start with a short trek. As we leave the Rhododendron forest, we reach Pangboche and cross the Imja River. We pass through a local entrance gate (‘Kani’), and the trail becomes rockier with less vegetation. We gradually gain altitude past Shomare and cross the Imja River at the junction. The trail then has gentle climbs before flattening out at Dingboche, where we’ll stay overnight.

Included: Accommodation with full board meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner).

Today we will acclimatize in Dingboche. It is a beautiful village with gentle breezes and stunning views of Imja Tse, Peak 38, and Lhotse. We can also visit the Nangkartshang Memorial, surrounded by prayer flags and mini stupas.

For our hike, we’ll go up to a viewpoint at 5,070m (16,634ft), which takes about four hours. On the way, we pass Nangkar Thang. From the viewpoint, the views are breathtaking as you can see Lhotse, Island Peak, Chola Tse, Thamserku, Ama Dablam, and Makalu (the fifth-highest mountain in the world). After enjoying the views, we hike back to our lodge to rest and relax.

Included: Accommodation with full board meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner).

Today, we head to Chukhung. The trail, covered with boulders and sand, gradually ascends through Bibre. Along the way, you’ll see clusters of summer huts used for keeping livestock during the summer months.

We’ll also enjoy beautiful views of Ama Dablam, Taboche, and Cholatse as we make our way to Chukhung. Overnight stay at Chukhung.

Included: Accommodation with full board meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner).

Today is the highlight of our trek as we cross Kongma La Pass, the highest of the three passes. We pack enough food and water since the trail is mostly uninhabited. After breakfast, we start our trek early, hiking west over Bibre and then turning north along the Niyang River Valley.

The trail is icy and slippery, so we walk slowly and carefully. Along the way, we pass a few lakes before climbing steeply to the Kongma La Pass. From the top, we look back to see amazing views of mountain ridges and peaks, including the north face of Ama Dablam and Makalu. To the northwest, we can spot the Khumbu Glacier and Lobuche, our destination.

After crossing the pass, we descend carefully on the icy trail and over the Khumbu Glacier. Once we reach Lobuche, we’ll get to see the eye-stunning views of Pumori and Nuptse.
We end this exciting day with dinner and rest at Lobuche.

Included: accommodation with full board meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner).

Today is the major day of our trek as we try to reach Everest Base Camp. After breakfast, we take a slow walk along the rocky path beside the Khumbu Glacier all the way to Gorakshep. Once we reach Gorakshep, we’ll have lunch and rest for a bit.

In the afternoon, we start our climb to Everest Base Camp. The trail is rocky and uneven as we pass by Mt. Pumori and the Khumbu Glacier. As we get closer to base camp, the mountains around us become more distinct, though Everest hides behind Nuptse. The sight of the Khumbu Icefall is incredible, along with other mountains like Lhotse, Nuptse, and Pumori.

After taking in the views at Everest Base Camp, we return to Gorakshep for dinner and a good rest.

Included: Accommodation with full board meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner).

We start early today to climb Kala Patthar, the black rock peak that we’ve been seeing since we arrived at Gorakshep. After breakfast, we begin with a steep climb, followed by a gradual ascent. As we get closer to the top at 5,550 meters, the views and the altitude take our breath away.

After about two hours, we reached the summit, which is one of the most amazing viewpoints in the Himalayas. The 360-degree panoramic view is truly overwhelming as we see Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse, Pumori, Amadablam, and many other beautiful peaks.

After enjoying the view, we head back to Gorakshep and then continue down to Lobuche. We cross the Khumbu River and make our way to Dzongla, taking a trail that leads away from the Everest Base Camp route.
We settle in for the night at Dzongla.

Included: Accommodation with full board meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner).

After breakfast, we begin our trek toward Cho La Pass, the second of the three high passes. The trail starts relatively flat, with a few small streams to cross. As we continue, the path becomes steeper, and we climb through rocky hills and loose stones. It can get quite windy here, so we have to take extra precautions.

Before reaching the pass, we cross some icy sections, and using crampons is a good idea for safety. As we get closer, we see prayer flags marking the top of the Cho La Pass. From here, we enjoy breathtaking views of Cholatse and Amadablam.

On the other side, the trail descends steeply over loose rocks, and we carefully make our way down to Thangnak, a small Sherpa village near the Ngozumpa Glacier.
We spend the night in Thangnak.

Included: Accommodation with full board meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner).

Today, we head towards the beautiful village of Gokyo, starting with a climb across the Ngozumba Glacier The trail ascends moderately before descending to the lakeside village of Gokyo. It is famous for its spectacular scenery.

In the afternoon, if the weather is good and we’re feeling up for it, we might climb Gokyo Ri for an incredible sunset view. However, since Renjo La Pass also offers amazing views, we may instead choose to explore the area around the fifth lake (Ngozuma Tsho) or climb the moraines along the glacier. From here, we’ll see the sights of Cho-Oyu, Gyachung Kang, Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse, and Makalu.

After a day of exploration, we return to our lodge in Gokyo for some much-needed rest before the next big climb.

Included: Accommodation with full board meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner).

We start the day with a breathtaking view of Gokyo. After breakfast, we trek west, leaving behind the shimmering Gokyo Tsho Lake, and gradually make our way toward the last of the three high passes: Renjo La. The trail is a gradual uphill climb, lasting about three hours, followed by a short, steep ascent to the top of Renjo La.

At the pass, the sight of Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse, Cholatse, Taboche, and other peaks towering over the turquoise Gokyo lakes below is mesmerizing. The sheer scale of Everest becomes truly evident from this vantage point. The pass is decorated with strings of prayer flags fluttering in the wind.
From Renjo La, we descend for about three hours towards Marlung, a peaceful village. Along the way, we pass Reklama Tshoan and Renjo Lake, following a narrow trail and crossing the Renjo River.

Included: Accommodation with full board meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner).

After breakfast at Marlung, we begin our trek towards Namche Bazaar. The trail descends gradually as we cross the Bhotekoshi River and continue downward into the lush, green Langmuche Khola valley. The path straightens out for a while before we make a short climb up to Thame, one of the oldest Sherpa villages in the Khumbu region.

In Thame, we can visit the Thame Monastery, one of the most ancient and respected in the area. From Thame, the trek becomes easier as we take a three-hour stroll through villages like Syangboche. As we approach Namche, we descend a set of stone steps, finally arriving back at the bustling Namche Bazaar.
We celebrate the end of a successful trek with dinner and well-deserved rest at Namche.

Included: Accommodation with full board meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner).

Today, we retrace our steps back to Lukla. After breakfast in Namche Bazaar, we begin the steep descent through the beautiful pine forests, enjoying the surroundings. Our first landmark is the Hillary Bridge, suspended high above the Dudhkoshi River.

We continue down to Jorsale for a quick check-in at the Sagarmatha National Park post and pass through the Sherpa village of Monjo. Following the trail, we reach Phakding where we stop for lunch. Afterward, the trail leads us to the villages of Thado Koshi and Thalsharoa.

Finally, we ascend the last stretch to arrive at the Lukla gate, marking the end of our trek. Here, we relax, reflect on our journey, and prepare for the flight back to Kathmandu.

Included: Accommodation with full board meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner).

Your memorable adventure concludes today. After breakfast, we check out of our lodge and head to Lukla airport. We board the flight back to Kathmandu.

Upon arrival in Kathmandu, you’ll be transferred to your hotel. In the evening we will have a farewell dinner at a fine restaurant in Kathmandu. After dinner, we will have a restful overnight stay and prepare for departure. If you want to stay a few more days in Kathmandu or add more activities, just let us know. We can help arrange extra days and trips to fit your plans.

Included: Farewell dinner and accommodation at a hotel in Kathmandu.

You have free time to shop for souvenirs or explore Kathmandu until your departure. When it’s time, our team will drive you to the airport, ensuring you board your flight safely and head back to your hometown.

Included: Breakfast and airport drop-off.