Everest Three Passes Trek 18 DAYS

Upon your arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, you’ll be warmly welcomed by our representative. You will then be transferred to your hotel in a comfortable private vehicle, where you can relax and settle in.
In the evening, you’ll attend a pre-trip briefing. This meeting will introduce you to your trekking guide and provide an opportunity to address any questions or concerns you may have about the upcoming trek. It’s an ideal time to review the details of your adventure and ensure you’re fully prepared for the journey ahead.

Start your Everest Base Camp adventure with an exhilarating flight to Tenzing-Hillary Airport in Lukla. Ensure your gear is prepped the night before for a smooth start. Upon landing, enjoy a hearty breakfast in Lukla. Local porters will assist with your luggage, with one porter assigned per two trekkers.
The trek to Phakding begins with a gentle descent alongside the Dudh Koshi River. The trail takes you through Chheplung Village, Chaurikharka, and Ghat before reaching Phakding, your destination for the day.

After breakfast, embark on the trek from Phakding to Namche Bazaar. Follow the Dudh Koshi River through lush pine and cedar forests, crossing suspension bridges adorned with prayer flags. The trail ascends to Monjo Village, where you’ll register your permits and enter Sagarmatha National Park. Continue past Jorsalle, navigating a series of steep climbs that offer stunning views and glimpses of local wildlife.
Arriving in Namche Bazaar, a bustling town known for its mix of traditional charm and modern amenities, you’ll find internet cafes, local shops, cozy restaurants, and essential trekking supplies. Enjoy the vibrant atmosphere and prepare for the next leg of your trek.

Today is crucial for acclimatization to prevent altitude sickness and ensure a healthy trek. You’ll start by exploring the vibrant town of Namche Bazaar, which offers a range of services including trekking gear, local handicrafts, and comfortable accommodations. The day begins with a visit to the Sherpa Cultural Museum, where you’ll learn about Sherpa history and culture. Next, hike to Syangboche Airport, the highest airport in Nepal, for panoramic views. You’ll also hike to visit Khumjung Monastery, famous for its legendary yeti scalp. If you have extra energy, consider extending your hike to Khunde and explore a local yak farm. For the best views, trek to the Everest View Hotel, the highest-altitude hotel in the world, which offers unparalleled panoramic vistas of Everest, Ama Dablam, Lhotse, and Nuptse.

Today, we depart from Namche Bazaar and trek to Tengboche. The trail features a mix of ascents and descents through beautiful forests, making for a challenging yet rewarding hike with opportunities to spot wildlife such as musk deer, pheasants, and Himalayan tahr. We’ll first descend to the village of Phunki Thenga before making a steady climb to Tengboche. Upon arrival, you’ll be greeted with breathtaking views of Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse, and Ama Dablam. Additionally, you’ll visit Tengboche Monastery, the largest Buddhist monastery in the Khumbu region, where you can witness a prayer ceremony performed by Lamas either in the morning or evening.

After a comfortable night in Tengboche, we start our trek to Dingboche. Our journey takes us through lush alpine forests to Deboche, followed by a descent into the scenic Imja Valley. We cross the Imja Khola suspension bridge and climb up to Pangboche, where you’ll enjoy majestic views of Ama Dablam. Continuing through small villages like Shomare and Worshyo, we follow the Imja River, passing fields surrounded by stone walls, and farms growing buckwheat, barley, and potatoes. Finally, we ascend to Dingboche, our destination for the night, offering a charming and culturally rich hiking experience.

Todays trek from Dingboche to Chhukung start following the Imja Khola Valley through dramatic glacial moraines surrounded by towering peaks. The trek takes about 3 to 4 hours, with stunning views of Lhotse and Ama Dablam flanking your path. You’ll pass the herdsman’s settlement at Yak Bibre, where the rugged and frosty Imja Tse (also called as Island peak) summit comes into view at the lateral moraine.

From Bibre, a short 30-minute hike leads you to Chhukung, where you’ll be greeted by breathtaking glaciers and snow-capped mountains. Once in Chhukung, you can unwind or take a side trek to Chhukung Ri for even more panoramic mountain views. This acclimatization hike will help you prepare for the challenging Kongma La Pass trek scheduled for the following day.

On this day, you’ll trek into the remote alpine regions where no lodges on the way, so be sure to carry plenty of water, snacks, and packed lunch. From Chhukung, you have two route options: ascend northwest to explore the Nuptse glacier or descend to the Bibre Valley and hike the high trail above Niyang Khola. Both routes offer breathtaking views, including the Island Peak Valley and the rugged Amphu Lapcha’s Stony Peak.

The trek to Lobuche via Kongma La Pass is the highlight of the day. Kongma La, the highest of Everest’s three high passes at 5,535 meters, presents a challenging ascent. The pass is marked by flapping prayer flags, visible only from the summit. After reaching the top, you’ll face a demanding descent over rocky terrain and moraine, navigating the Khumbu glacier route until you arrive in Lobuche. This remote village is your final destination for the day, setting the stage for the next phase of your Everest adventure.

Today is the highlight of your trek as you reach Everest Base Camp (EBC). After breakfast in Lobuche, begin a gradual ascent through the Khumbu Glacier’s lateral moraine, heading towards the picturesque village of Gorak Shep. After lunch and settling in, set out on the final stretch to EBC. The rugged trail offers stunning views of the Khumbu Glacier, Icefall, and nearby peaks like Everest, Pumori, Nuptse, and Khumbutse. You may also see climbers and expedition teams along the way. Enjoy the breathtaking vistas and the sense of accomplishment before returning to Gorak Shep for the night.

(Walking Distance: Lobuche to Gorakshep : 2-3 Hr , Gorakshep to EBC: 2-3 Hr, EBC to Gorakshep: 2-3 Hr)

Begin your day with an early morning hike to Kala Patthar, the highest accessible viewpoint on the Everest Base Camp trek. Known for offering the most spectacular panoramic views of Mount Everest and its neighboring peaks, Kala Patthar is the ultimate vantage point.

Starting before dawn, you’ll hike in the crisp Himalayan air, arriving at the summit to witness a breathtaking sunrise. The golden light enhances the majestic views of Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse, and Pumori, creating an unforgettable spectacle.

After soaking in the serene beauty and capturing stunning photos, descend back to Gorak Shep for breakfast. Following your rest, continue your trek by descending to Chola Lake and then climbing slightly towards Dzongla, bypassing the Lobuche Base Camp. This route provides a scenic and rewarding end to your trek for the day.

Today’s adventure takes you from Dzongla to Dragnag, navigating the challenging Cho La Pass, one of the highlights of the renowned “Everest Three Passes” trek. To beat the unpredictable Himalayan weather and witness the breathtaking views of Cholatse and the Cho La Glacier Lake, an early start is essential.

The trek begins with a relatively easy path that soon transitions into a steady climb. The trail’s loose, rocky terrain can slow progress until you reach the glacier’s edge. Here, crampons(shoes for ice and snow climbing) are crucial (consult with guide in Kathmandu before trip). The reward for your effort is unparalleled scenery, including spectacular vistas of Ama Dablam, rivers, peaks and glaciers.

Continuing along the trail on the left side, high above the Cho La Glacier, you’ll reach the summit where fluttering prayer flags welcome you. Take some time to rest, capture stunning photographs, and then descend toward Dragnag (also known as Thangnak or Thangnag), a charming and scenic village. If the rocks are not covered in ice, making the path hazardous, the descent to Thangnak is fairly straightforward and easy. You’ll spend the night in this picturesque village ThangNak, soaking in the serene surroundings.

After enjoying breakfast in the small village of Thangnak, we set out on our trek for the day with stunning mountain views ahead. Today’s hike was shorter (appx. 3 hrs) than previous days, which allowed us to take our time and fully appreciate the breathtaking scenery.

The trek began with an uphill climb towards the Ngozumpa Glacier, one of Nepal’s largest and longest glaciers, stretching 36 kilometers (22 miles). This glacier originates from Cho Oyu, the world’s sixth-highest mountain at 8,188 meters (26,863 feet). As we crossed the glacier, we caught glimpses of Gokyo Lake II, one of a series of six beautiful lakes in the area. After reaching the  Gokyo Village, we took some time to rest and explore the glacier, soaking in the spectacular views.

On acclimatization day, take advantage of the opportunity to hike up Gokyo Ri, one of the best viewpoints for overlooking the Everest region. We can explore the stunning series of six glacial lakes: Gokyo Cho (III), Thonak Cho (IV), Tanjung Cho (II), Gyazumpa Cho, Ngojumba Cho (V), and Kyajumba Cho (VI).

These lakes form the world’s highest freshwater lake system, with Thonak Cho being the largest and most famous for its dazzling azure blue color. Gokyo Cho, also known as Dudh Pokhare or Gokyo Cho III, is the most visited lake, and the village of Gokyo is situated along its eastern shore. About 3 kilometers north of Gokyo lies Thonak Cho.

The fifth and sixth lakes are located further in the upper Gokyo region and require an additional day to visit. From Gokyo Ri, you’ll have breathtaking views of Cho Oyu, Gyachung, Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse, and Makalu, making this a memorable day of exploration and acclimatization.

We start our day early, trekking alongside Gokyo Lake /Dudh Pokhari for about two hours before ascending toward the Renjo La Pass. The views from Renjo La offer a fresh perspective similar to those from Gokyo Ri but from a different angle. From here, you can see Gokyo village, the Ngozumpa Glacier, and the vibrant green lakes, along with spectacular views of Mt. Everest.

As we descend from the pass, the path winds down a stone staircase and traverses some loose rocks to reach the south bank of Angladumba Tsho Lake. It’s important to be careful as you navigate this occasionally slippery, icy terrain. Along the way, you’ll also pass Relama Tsho and Renjo Lake before entering a small valley filled with large stones on your journey to Lumde.

After about an hour of trekking, crossing the  Bhote Koshi via suspension bridge, you’ll arrive in Marlung village, where you’ll spend the night.

We’ll begin our descent from Marlung to Thame, which lies in the Nakpa Valley, an ancient trade route to Tibet. As you pass through Bhote Koshi and continue down to Taranga, you’ll arrive at Langmuche Khola. In Thame, you’ll stay near a famous Buddhist shrine (Gompa) and enjoy breathtaking views of mountains like Thamserku, Katenga, and Kusum Kangguru. Thame is also known as the birthplace of several renowned climbers.

Next, cross the bridge to reach Samde, which offers stunning mountain vistas. From there, follow a steep path to the village of Thamo, where you’ll find the Khari Goma monastery, which also functions as a nunnery. Continue your trek to see the world’s highest power plant, built with Australian support, and pass through the small village of Phurte, home to the Laudo Monastery.

Finally, you’ll reach Namche, passing various gompas, prayer flags, chortens, and mani stones along the way.

Today marks our final day of trekking in the Everest region. After breakfast in the lively Namche Bazaar, we’ll start our trek with a scenic descent to Monjo and then continue to Phakding, following the tranquil banks of the Dudh Koshi River. The route features a gentle uphill climb as we make our way to Lukla.

Upon reaching Lukla, you can rest in your hotel or explore the surrounding Lukla Bazaar. Spend your remaining time taking in the sights or preparing for your departure from Lukla Airport.

For your return journey, we’ll follow a similar procedure as before, flying from Lukla to Kathmandu. Depending on flight availability, you may fly directly back to Kathmandu or take a flight to Manthali and then continue by jeep or bus to the capital.

Once you arrive back in Kathmandu, enjoy a well-deserved rest day. Take the opportunity to explore the vibrant Thamel area, known for its excellent shopping, dining, and nightlife. Pick up some last-minute souvenirs, enjoy a delicious farewell dinner at a fine restaurant, and relax at a lively club or bar.

Today marks the end of our unforgettable Everest Three Passes Trek. After 18 incredible days of exploration and adventure, one of our representatives will accompany you to the International Airport for your departure flight. As we say goodbye, we hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you back to Nepal in the future. Safe travels, and until we meet again!