Everest Three High Passes Trek
- Duration
- 20 days
- Max altitude
- 5,555 m
- Difficulty
-
Very strenuous
Difficulty scale
- Easy Short walking days on good trails below about 3,000 m. Suitable for anyone in ordinary health, including families.
- Moderate 5 to 6 hours a day with some steep sections, reaching up to about 4,000 m. A reasonable level of fitness and a few weeks of preparation walking recommended.
- Strenuous 6 to 8 hours a day, high passes or altitudes above 5,000 m, and remote stretches. Good fitness, prior trekking experience and proper acclimatisation days are essential.
- Very strenuous Long days, multiple high passes or technical sections, sustained time above 5,000 m. For experienced, well-conditioned trekkers only.
- Best season
- Autumn (Sep–Nov) · Spring (Mar–May)
- Group
- Private
- From
- $1,985.00
Overview
The hardest teahouse trek in the Khumbu. Kongma La, Cho La and Renjo La, all above 5,300 m, linked into one 20-day circuit that takes in Everest Base Camp, Kala Patthar, the Gokyo lakes and Gokyo Ri. It wants real hill fitness and some previous experience at altitude.
Every departure is private and led by a government-licensed Nepali guide, so the plan flexes to your party and to the mountain. Permits, park fees and local taxes are inside the price you see.
Read our full Three High Passes guide for what each pass actually demands and who this route genuinely suits.
Trip highlights
- Kongma La (5,535 m), Cho La (5,420 m) and Renjo La (5,360 m)
- Everest Base Camp, Kala Patthar and Gokyo Ri in one route
- Ten nights above 4,000 m, with two acclimatisation days
- For trekkers with previous high-altitude experience
Day by day
The itinerary
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Day 1: Arrive in Kathmandu (1,400 m) and transfer to your hotel 1,400 m Hotel
One of our team meets you at Tribhuvan International Airport and drives you to your hotel in a private vehicle. Later we hold the pre-trip meeting, where you meet your guide and go through the route, the passes and your kit.
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Day 2: Fly to Lukla (2,840 m), trek to Phakding (2,610 m) 2,840 m 3-4 hrs Teahouse B/L/D
In March to May and September to November the Lukla flight leaves from Ramechhap (Manthali), so we leave Kathmandu between 1 and 3 am for the four to five hour drive and a 20-minute flight. In the other months the flight usually goes direct from Kathmandu and takes about 35 minutes; the airline decides which airport operates. In Lukla, breakfast while the guide sorts the porters, one for every two trekkers, then three to four hours along the Dudh Koshi, past Chaurikharka and Ghat, to Phakding.
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Day 3: Trek to Namche Bazaar (3,440 m) 3,440 m 5-6 hrs Teahouse B/L/D
Up the Dudh Koshi over several suspension bridges, into Sagarmatha National Park at Monjo, lunch at Jorsalle, then across the high Hillary bridge and a long steep climb to Namche Bazaar, the main town of the Khumbu.
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Day 4: Acclimatisation day in Namche. Hike to Hotel Everest View (3,880 m) 3,880 m 4-5 hrs Teahouse B/L/D
A hike up past Syangboche airstrip to the Everest View Hotel for the first big view of Everest, Lhotse and Ama Dablam, then back down to sleep in Namche. Time in the afternoon for the Sherpa museum.
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Day 5: Trek to Tengboche (3,860 m) 3,860 m 5-6 hrs Teahouse B/L/D
A contouring trail with Ama Dablam ahead, down to Phunki Tenga for lunch by the river, then a steep climb of two to three hours through forest to Tengboche, the largest monastery in the Khumbu.
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Day 6: Trek to Dingboche (4,410 m) 4,410 m 5-6 hrs Teahouse B/L/D
Down through rhododendron forest to Debuche, across the Imja Khola, then a steady climb through Pangboche, past its old monastery, and up the Imja valley to Dingboche, a village of stone-walled fields below Ama Dablam.
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Day 7: Acclimatisation day in Dingboche. Hike to Nangkartshang (5,083 m) 5,083 m 4-5 hrs Teahouse B/L/D
Up the Nangkartshang ridge above the village for the altitude and the view of Makalu, Lhotse and Island Peak, then back down to sleep in Dingboche.
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Day 8: Trek to Chhukung (4,730 m) 4,730 m 3-4 hrs Teahouse B/L/D
A short day up the Imja valley past yak pastures at Bibre to Chhukung, the last settlement below Island Peak and Lhotse's south face. The short walk leaves the afternoon free to rest before the first pass.
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Day 9: Cross Kongma La (5,535 m) to Lobuche (4,910 m) 5,535 m 8-9 hrs Teahouse B/L/D
The highest of the three passes and a long day. An early start up moraine and rock to the prayer flags on Kongma La, then a steep descent and a crossing of the Khumbu Glacier to Lobuche. There are no lodges or shops between Chhukung and Lobuche, so we carry packed food and water.
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Day 10: Trek to Gorak Shep (5,164 m), then Everest Base Camp (5,364 m) 5,364 m 8-9 hrs Teahouse B/L/D
Two to three hours along the Khumbu Glacier moraine to Gorak Shep for lunch, then out to Everest Base Camp below the Khumbu Icefall and back to Gorak Shep for the night.
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Day 11: Kala Patthar (5,555 m) at sunrise, descend to Lobuche (4,910 m) 5,555 m 6-7 hrs Teahouse B/L/D
A pre-dawn climb to Kala Patthar, the highest point of the trek, for sunrise on Everest, Nuptse and Pumori. Back to Gorak Shep for breakfast, then down the moraine to Lobuche.
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Day 12: Trek to Dzongla (4,830 m) 4,830 m 3-4 hrs Teahouse B/L/D
A short day. The trail leaves the main Everest route below Lobuche, passes the memorial stupas and contours above Chola Tsho lake, then crosses the Chola Khola to the small settlement of Dzongla below the Cho La.
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Day 13: Cross Cho La (5,420 m) to Gokyo (4,790 m) 5,420 m 8-9 hrs Teahouse B/L/D
A 4 to 5 am start to cross the pass before the afternoon wind and cloud. The climb is steep on loose rock, often with snow or ice near the top, and the descent to Thagnak is steep too. From Thagnak the trail crosses the Ngozumpa Glacier, the longest in Nepal, to Gokyo village beside the third of the Gokyo lakes, with Cho Oyu at the head of the valley. Two nights here.
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Day 14: Climb Gokyo Ri (5,357 m) and back to Gokyo 5,357 m 3-4 hrs Teahouse B/L/D
An early climb up Gokyo Ri for one of the great views in the Himalaya: the Gokyo lakes and the Ngozumpa Glacier below, and Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, Cho Oyu and Gyachung Kang along the skyline. Back to Gokyo for the rest of the day.
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Day 15: Cross Renjo La (5,360 m) to Lungden (4,368 m) 5,360 m 7-8 hrs Teahouse B/L/D
A long day on a clearer trail than the Cho La. From the top of Renjo La the view looks back across the Gokyo lakes to Everest. Then a long descent into the quiet Bhote Koshi valley to Lungden.
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Day 16: Trek to Thame (3,800 m) 3,800 m 4-5 hrs Teahouse B/L/D
Mostly downhill through the Bhote Koshi valley, with snow peaks behind, to Thame. The monastery above the village hosts the Mani Rimdu festival each spring.
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Day 17: Trek to Namche Bazaar (3,440 m) 3,440 m 4-5 hrs Teahouse B/L/D
An easy walk in and out of forest along the side of the canyon from Thame, a traditional Sherpa village and home of Apa Sherpa, who summited Everest 21 times, back to Namche Bazaar.
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Day 18: Trek to Lukla (2,840 m) 2,840 m 6-7 hrs Teahouse B/L/D
The last walking day, down over the Hillary bridge and through Monjo and Phakding back to Lukla, where the trek began.
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Day 19: Fly back to Kathmandu (1,400 m) 1,400 m Hotel B
A morning flight, weather permitting: either 35 minutes direct to Kathmandu, or 20 minutes to Ramechhap and a four to five hour drive back to the city in a shared tourist vehicle. Lukla flights are weather-dependent, so keep a buffer day in Kathmandu before your international flight home.
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Day 20: Departure 1,400 m B
Our airport representative takes you to Tribhuvan International Airport for your flight home.
Altitude profile
The climb, day by day
Comfort tiers
Choose your level of comfort
| Amenity | Standardfrom $2,380.00 | Comfortfrom $2,808.40 | Luxuryfrom $3,451.00 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kathmandu hotel | 3★ | 4★ | 5★ |
| Trail accommodation | Standard teahouse | Best lodge in each village | Premium lodge where the route has one |
| Porter support | Shared porter | Private porter, lighter load | Extra porter, carry almost nothing |
| Transfers | Shared | Private | Private, throughout |
What's included
Included
- Included: In Kathmandu: two nights in a three-star hotel with twin-sharing rooms and breakfast, one before the trek and one after
- Included: Teahouse lodge accommodation throughout the trek
- Included: Full board on the trek: breakfast, lunch and dinner with a cup of tea or coffee
- Included: Fresh fruit after dinner on the trail
- Included: Airport pickup and drop-off by private vehicle
- Included: Round-trip flight between Kathmandu and Lukla with airport transfers (in peak season the flights operate from Ramechhap, four to five hours by road from Kathmandu, with the transfer included)
- Included: Sagarmatha National Park entry permit and Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality permit
- Included: An English-speaking, government-licensed guide, with salary, food, accommodation, transport and insurance
- Included: One porter for every two trekkers, with salary, food, accommodation, transport, equipment and insurance
- Included: First aid kit carried by the guide
- Included: Pulse oximeter checks twice a day to watch for altitude sickness
- Included: Help arranging emergency helicopter evacuation, paid by your travel insurance
- Included: T-shirt, cap and duffel bag
- Included: Government taxes, service charges and official expenses
Not included
- Not included: Lunch and dinner in Kathmandu
- Not included: Nepal entry visa (on arrival: USD 30 for 15 days, 50 for 30 days, 125 for 90 days)
- Not included: Travel medical insurance, which must cover helicopter evacuation
- Not included: International airfare
- Not included: Personal expenses
- Not included: Sleeping bag, down jacket and trekking poles if you do not have your own, available on loan for USD 10 each as a cleaning charge and returned after the trek
- Not included: Microspikes and gaiters, needed on the passes in every season, available to rent for USD 15
- Not included: Hot and cold drinks, alcoholic or not
- Not included: Desserts and snacks you buy along the way
- Not included: Hot showers and battery charging on the trek
- Not included: Tips for the guide, porter and driver
- Not included: Excess baggage over 15 kg on the Lukla flight
Your team
Led by a licensed guide
Every route is led by a government-licensed guide from our team. Licences are on record with us before departure, and you'll meet your guide once your trip is confirmed.
Guide language(s): English, Nepali
Group-size pricing
Walk together, pay less
Every trip is private, so the guide, permits and transfers cost the same however many walk. Sharing them is why the per-person price falls: arithmetic, not a sale.
| Group size | per person | You save each |
|---|---|---|
| 1 traveller | $2,380.00 | base rate |
| 2 to 3 travellers | $1,985.00 | $395.00 |
| 4 to 6 travellers | $1,865.00 | $515.00 |
| 7 or more | $1,745.00 | $635.00 |
Per person, including permits, park fees and taxes. Nothing is added at checkout.
Weather
What to expect, month by month
- Autumn (Sep–Nov)The most reliable trekking season: clear air, stable weather and cold nights, right after the monsoon clears.
- Spring (Mar–May)Warmer than autumn, with rhododendron forests in flower and slightly hazier mountain views as the season goes on.
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