Everest Three High Passes Trek

Adventure Mountain Explore Treks and Expedition welcomes you to Nepal. Outside the baggage hall of the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA), in Kathmandu, a company representative will be awaiting your arrival (carrying an A4-sized paper with your and the company’s name printed on it). This person will welcome you and transfer you from the airport to your hotel in Kathmandu (in a private car). Carry your luggage and follow this person to the vehicle. After reaching the hotel, rest for the day unless you want to walk around with your guide.  Stay in a  hotel in Kathmandu.

(Meals: No)

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel and get ready to meet your guide for checking your gear, we will have a meeting with other trekking members to discuss the trek. After this, you are free for the day to relax and get ready for the trek to Everest Base Camp.  An option is you can do Kathmandu valley cultural tour or a day hike near Kathmandu through the jungle as a trek preparation but you will have to pay extra for this. We would recommend the best thing to do by the time as per the weather condition. Stay in a  3 Star Boutique Hotel in Kathmandu. (Meals: Breakfast only)

Early in the morning, before breakfast, you will be driven to the domestic terminal of the Tribhuvan International Airport (in a private car), to fly to Lukla. From the airport in Kathmandu, you will board a flight and fly to Lukla. In about 30-35 minutes, your plane will land on the airstrip of the Tenzing-Hillary Airport, in Lukla. On bright and sunny days, you will get to enjoy the aerial view of the terrain, which is simply a feast to behold. The views of the mountains from Lukla are impeccable. In Lukla, you will be introduced to the porters and other team members, who will be joining you for the trek. Enjoy full breakfast, while the luggage is prepared for the porters. Once everything is ready, the ultimate Everest Three High Passes trek begins with a  hike up through the beautiful town of Lukla to the Pasang Lhamo Memorial Gate. From the gate, the trail leading you out of Lukla, drops down to the village of Phakding, traverse the community forest and small Sherpa villages like Thalsharoa, Chheplung, Thado Koshigaon and Chhuthawa. Your trail is well decorated with chortens, prayer rocks, prayer flags and prayer wheels. The view of Kusum Kangru and the Dudh Koshi River below make the trail more interesting. After about 4 hours of downhill walk, you will reach Phakding, where you will check in to the lodge. You can spend the remaining time either resting in the lodge or exploring the nearby monasteries with you guides. After exploring the monasteries, you will return to the lodge. Stay in a lodge in Phakding. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

You will have your breakfast in Phakding, before continuing your Everest three high passes trek. Crossing the bridge across the Dudh Koshi River, you will leave Phakding and continue north, through the forest of pine, up and down hill past a few suspension bridges and small settlement: Toktok, Bengkar, Chhamuwa to Monjo. At Monjo, your guide will take care of the necessary formalities, before entering the Sagarmatha National Park. From the entrance of the Sagarmatha National Park, you will continue on a trail that steeply drops down to the bridge across the Dudh Koshi River. Crossing the bridge, and now following the lower river bank trail you will climb into the forest over gravel and boulders and continue to Larja brige, past Larja Dobhan. You will cross the Larja Bridge, enjoy the first view of Mt. Everest and hike up the steep hill through the forest of pine on a zigzagging trail to Mislung. The forest ends and the trail levels out from Mislung. Following the level path, you will continue to your lodge in Namche. You will check into the lodge before dinner. The remaining time can either be spent resting in the lodge or exploring the town of Namche, enjoying the internet cafes and bakeries or other attractions. After exploring Namche, you will return to the lodge. Stay in a lodge in Namche. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

To prevent AMS, further up the trail, one day acclimatization day in Namche is necessary. Staying active boosts the process of acclimation, than simply resting. Therefore, you will go for an acclimatization hike – a full-day circuit through Shyangboche, Khunde, Khumjung and back to Namche, with your guide. This hike starts after breakfast in Namche. Picking up the trail above Namche monastery, you will climb the ridge to Zarok on a steep zigzagging trail and continue, past the trail to Thame, to the grass airstrip at Shyangboche. Pass by the runway and advance on a trail that rises up a sandy gully between juniper bushes to the top of the ridge and admiring the beautiful carved boulders, chortens, juniper and rhododendron hike down to Kani and a Boudhanath-style chorten, built around the end of Khunde. Enjoy the wonderful view of Khumbila, Ama Dablam and Thamseku peaks, before advancing to Khunde Tsamkhang- a buddhist temple, built above the village of Khunde. You guide will now guide you to Hillary Memorial Viewpoint to see the 360 degree views of Khunde, Namche, Ama Dablam and Pachermo Peak and to the ridge to see the memorial chortens to Edmund Hillary’s family (wife and daughter). After exploring Khunde, through the potato fields you will continue east to the largest village in the Khumbu region- Khumjung. You will explore around the village to see the Hillary School (a school established by Sir Edmund Hillary), the longest Mani wall in the Khumbu region, and the monastery to witness the treasured skull of a Yeti. You will now walk back to Namche. The remaining time can be spent either exploring the attractions and cafes, shops, bakeries and restaurants in Namche or simply resting in the lodge. Stay in a lodge in Namche. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Enjoy your breakfast in Namche, before heading for Thame. Thame is an old isolated Sherpa village located below the mountain wall of Kongde RI, west of Namche. Starting above Namche monastery, you will climb around the ridge through a quarry and continue until the trail forks: one leading to Shyangboche and the other to Thame. Enjoy the company of huge boulders carved with Buddhist mantra along the way, before entering the forest of pine and rhododendron around the ridge. You will now walk past the ancient mud plastered stupa at Phurte and advance around the ridge to the boulder painted with the image of Guru Rinpoche at Samshing. Walk past a large chorten and cross the stream at Tesho to climb up the ridge, through the forest of rhododendron to Thamo. A Kani and a trail junction awaits your arrival at the top end of Thamo. Leaving the trail that drops down to the river, go past the Khari Gompa and continue west to Somde. Enjoying beautifully built stone houses, mani walls and chortens in Somde climb up and then climb down to the bridge across the Bhote Koshi River by a cliff wall projecting  murals of Green Tara, Guru Rinpoche and Thangtong Gyalpo. Cross the bridge and ascend for about 20 minutes to reach Thame. In Thame, you will check into the lodge and spend the remaining hiking up to the Thame Gompa and exploring it’s attractions. After exploring the monastery you will return to the lodge. Stay in a lodge in Thame. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Enjoy your breakfast in Thame, before leaving for Lungde. From Lumde, descend over the moraine to the bottom of the village and gently hike up the valley past Thambutenga and Kyaro Gompa to the bridge over the Langmuche River. Crossing the bridge, continue to Tarang and descend to the bridge across the Chhudungbo River. Cross over to the opposite side of the river on a bridge and ascend for to Marlung, following the trail on the west bank of the Bhote Koshi River, which crosses to east bank before reaching Marlung. Lumde resides up hill from Marlung, which is about and hour climb along the east bank of the river. After reaching Lumde, you will check into the lodge. The remaining time can either be spend resting in the lodge or strolling around Lumde. Stay in a lodge in Lumde.  (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)   

Today, we will cross the first of the three high passes on this trek, the Renjo La Pass. So, after breakfast in Lumde, following the steeply ascending trail that goes up the eastern slope of the Thame Valley, you will continue to Renjo La. Following the narrow valley congested with giant boulders the well beaten path continues to the sandy valley of the Renjo River. The ascending wide and dusty trail further swings round into the valley, along the northern side of the valley continues to Angladumba Tso, after walking past the trail to Relama Tsho. The final ascent to Renjo La starts from the bank of the lake and steeply continues up the winding staircase of the huge stone slabs to the summit of Renjo La (5,360m), marked with prayer flapping prayer flags. From the summit, enjoying the imposing view of  Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse, Cholatse, Taboche, Makalu and the rooftop of Gokyo, Gokyo Lake and the Ngozumpa Galcier, you will continue your journey to your next destination, which consists of a quaint Gokyo Valley, Gokyo RI and Gokyo Lakes. From the pass, you will steeply descend to the foot of the ridge, where the trail forks and climbs into the mountain basin and continue further, until these two paths meet again. From the meeting point of these trails, a steep descend on a switchback will take you to the northern shore of the Gokyo Lake, from where, you will further continue to the village of Gokyo (beautifully situated beside Gokyo Tsho). After reaching the village you will check into the lodge. The remaining day can be spend hiking up to the ridge to enjoy the view of the Ngozumba Glacier. Stay in a lodge in Gokyo. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Enjoy your breakfast in Gokyo and you start you day’s walk by ascedig up the glacial moraine, behind the village of Gokyo. From the top of the moraine look back to enjoy the tiny village of Gokyo and the lake and then hike down the inner side of the moraine on rock and scree and continue to the opposite moraine of the Ngozumpa Glacier. This hike over the rocks, up and down the scree slopes is tiring. A beautiful frozen lake marks the arrival of the lateral moraine at the other end of the glacier. Continuing along the trail above the lake, you will climb up the scree slope of the moraine and continue on a flat land between the moraine and the mountain wall to Thaknak. After reaching Thaknak, you will check into the lodge, rest for some time and go for a short hike up the nearby hill for the purpose of acclimatization. Stay in a lodge in Thaknak.  (Melas: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Today, we will cross the second of the three high passes on this trek, the Cho La Pass. The day is both adventurous and challenging. You need to get to the top of the pass before noon; therefore, you will start your day earlier than usual. Enjoy your breakfast in Thaknak and carrying packed lunch, leave Thaknak for Dzongla via Cho La Pass. Starting Thaknak, the ascent for about two hours is gentle on a barren terrain to the top of the ridge that presents the first view of the Cho La Pass. From the ridge, you will descend into the valley of receded glacier, before hiking up to the base of the cliff, on a rocky trail. From the cliff, the final ascent to the Cho La Pass is on a zigzagging trail that passes through rocks and scree slopes. This acent is the most difficult  climb of the entire trek. Like Renjo La Pass, the summit of the Chola Pass also is marked by fluttering prayer flags. From the summit, enjoy the heavenly view of  Cholatse and Ama Dablam, Ngozumba Glacier, Pharilapche and Kyajo RI. You will spend some time enjoying and capturing the beautiful surrounding views and descend to the glacier on the rock slope (icy and slippery). From the glacier, following the slippery path along the glacier, you will continue to the terminal moraine of the glacier. From here, you will further continue on a rocky trail to the cliff and descend to the cliff and descend down the flat valley floor and continue to Dzongla. In Dzongla, you will check into the lodge and spend remaining time resting in the lodge. Stay in a lodge in Dzongla. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Enjoy your breakfast in Dzongla, before leaving Dzongla for Gorak Shep. From Dzongla, you will first continue downhill to cross the steam, before gaining further elevation. From the stream, you will gently ascend north enjoying the view of Chola Tso, Cholatse and Tabohce. Soon, the three passes trail mees the regular Everest Base Camp trail. From the junction, you will further continue north over a loose moraine to Lobuche and now, following the narrow trail between the mountain wall and the glacial moraine of the Khumbu Glacier progress towards the terminal moraine of the Changri Glacier, past a turn of to Italian Pyramid. You will walk across the moraine of the Changri Glacier, you will hike to Gorak Shep, located at the bottom of Kala Patthar. Enjoy the beautiful view of Pumori, Lingtren, Khumbutse and Changtse from Gorak Shep. In Gorak Shep, you will check into the lodge and spend the remaining time resting in the lodge. Stay in a lodge in Gorak Shep. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Today you will hike to the base camp of the world’s highest peak, Mt. Everet. The walk begins after breakfast in Gorak Shep. From Gorak Shep, you will first walk back to the Khumbu Glacier and  following the path along the morain of the Khumbu Glacier, struggling with boulders and rocky tracks and thinning mountain air, you will walk to the base camp of the Mt. Everest, that resides below the Khumbu Icefall. Fluttering prayer flag mark the base camp of Mt. Everest. You will spend some time enjoying and capturing the surrounding view and celebrating the achievement, before returning to Gorakshep. You will return to Gorak Shep, following the same path that you used to hike to the Everest Base Camp. The remaining time can be spent resting at the lodge in Gorak Shep. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

The major goal of this day is to watch the view of sunrise in the Himalayas. Hence, we start early (around 4am) in the morning. A couple of hours walk towards Kala Patthar will take you to the most popular viewing point of Kala Pattar (5,545m) that offers breathtaking views of Mt. Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse, Pumori and Ama Dablam. The mountain glows golden as soon as the very first ray of the sun strike the peaks. This view of the glowing mountains is nothing less than a feast to behold. The summit of Kala Patthar also presents a wonderful view  of the Everest Base Camp, Khumbu Glacier, Khumbu Icefall and the beautiful Gorak Shep.  We spend some time taking the picture of the magnificent views of the soaring mountain and the landscape  and hike down to Gorakshep. After a quick breakfast in Gorak Shep, you will retrace your path to Lobuche for dinner and overnight stay. Stay in a lodge in Lobuche. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)  

Today, we will cross the third, last and the highest of the three high passes on this trek, the Kongma La Pass. Enjoy your breakfast in Lobuche, carry a packed lunch and leave for Chhukung via Kongma La Pass. Following the trail that heads southeast, splitting from the main Everest Base Camp trail, you will gently hike to the lateral moraine of the the Khumbu glacier. From the moraine, following the stone cairns, you will walk across the Khumbu glacier to get to the opposite moraine. Do not miss the beautiful views of Pumori, Lingtren, Khumbutse, Cholatse and Taboche, while crossing the glacier. After getting to the other side of the glacier, you will hike up the scree and icy boulder trail to Kongma La Pass (5,535m). A cairn wrapped in prayer flag mark the pass. The view Lhotse, Lhotse Shar, Makalu, Baruntse and Ama Dablam is simply dazzling and the view of the icy lakes and frozen ridges look stunning. You will spend some time enjoying the view. From Kongma La a steep descend over loose scree on a switch back trail will bring you to the beautiful lake at the bottom of the pass. From here, the trail enters a wide basin, scattered with tiny frozen lakes. From the basin, you will steeply hike down the slope through the boulders. Now, ascending along the east side of the Niyang Khola Valley, you will continue to Langbo and over the outflow of Nuptse Glacier to Chhukung. Chukkung greets you with a mind blowing view of the Island Peak and Amphu Lapcha. In Chhukung, you will check into the lodge before nightfall. Stay in a lodge in Chhukung. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

After breakfast in Chhukung, the journey continues south-west, towards Chubejung Kharka, where the trail gets back to the Everest Three Passes trekking trail, past Bibre. You will now continue to Dingboche following the trail along the Imja River. From Dingboche, the trail drops down the valley to Orsho, past a turn off to Pheriche. From Orsho, following the west bank of the Imja Khola you will hike down to Somare. From Somare, about 20 minutes downhill walk will present you trail that leads you to the beautiful monastery of Pangboche. You will visit the monastery and hike downhill to Deboche past Pangboche. Now, through the forest, you will continue to Tengboche on a gently ascending trail. In Tengboche, you will check into the lodge and spend the remaining time exploring the very beautiful Tengboche Monastery Complex, enjoying the beautiful panorama of Tawache, Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse, Ama Dablam and Thamserku. After exploring the monastery you will also visit the Eco Center in Tengboche. You will return to the lodge before nightfall. Stay in a lodge in Tengboche. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Enjoy your breakfast in Tengboche, before setting off for Namche. From Tengboche, a steep descent through the forest of rhododendron will take you to the bridge across the Dudh Koshi River, in Phunki Tenga. From the bridge, you will now ascend on stone steps to Leushyasa. From, Leushyasa, a gradual hike will take you to Sanasa. From Sanasa, you will follow the trail along the ridge to Chhorkung and continue to your lodge in Namche. In Namche you can enjoy hot shower to loosen up your muscles. You can spend the remaining time exploring the attractions around Namche and enjoying the internt cafes, bakeries and restaurants in Namche. Stay in a lodge in Namche Bazaar. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

After the breakfast, we continue our walk downhill from Namche toward the bridge across the Dudh Koshi River near the meeting point of Bhote Koshi and Dudh Koshi rivers. Then we walk towards Monjo, where on fulfilling the formalities at the check post of the National Park, we will continue to Phakding. We stop at Phakding for lunch and soon after the lunch we continue the trail that leads us to Lukla. Along this flat trail you can enjoy prayer stones, rhododendron and pine forest, prayer flags, Sherpa village as well as open plains. This is the last day of the trek. On reaching Lukla you can either spend your time with the rest of the crew members celebrating you success or look for some alone time to summon up the wonderful memories made during the past few days. Stay in a lodge in Lukla. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Finally, it’s time to bid farewell to the Khumbu region of Nepal. The Sherpas will take your luggage to the airport and other airport formalities will be taken care of by the guides. Meanwhile, you can enjoy your last breakfast in the Khumbu Region of Nepal.  Once the aircraft arrives, you will directly board the plane and fly back to Kathmandu. From the airport in Kathmandu, you will be driven to your hotel (in a private car). You can utilize the remaining time by exploring the popular markets in Kathmandu. In the evening, we will meet for the farewell dinner (hosted by the company), in which we will also discuss the trip and the feedback. After the dinner, you will be guided back to your hotel. Stay in a tourist standard hotel in Kathmandu. (Meals: Breakfast and Dinner)

This is the last day of your trip. One of our company representatives will assist you to get to the airport as per your flight departure time, if you have already booked your return ticket. However, if you are looking to extend your trip, Adventure Mountain Explore Treks and Expedition can make the required arrangements. If your flight is scheduled late in the evening, then you can also go for shopping to collect few gifts for your friends and family. (Meals: Breakfast)

(Note: During the entire trek, we serve you a full board meal (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and tea & coffee). Our guides will come to wake you up around 7am (4-4:30am in special days to view the first ray of the sun). Breakfast will be served between 7 am to 8am. Ordered lunch from the teahouse menu will be served around 12 which can also be postponed if you plan to eat a little later than the scheduled hour. The dinner will be served in between 8pm to 9 pm. Tea/coffee will be provided twice a day. Accommodation will be arranged in local lodges. During the walk you can also ask your guide to stop in those areas where you wish to take pictures and enjoy the scenery. If you get tired, you can also request to slow down and rest for some time. After dinner and before going to bed your team leader will brief you regarding the following day’s itinerary.)