Three High Passes Everest Trek – 22 Days 22 Days, Moderate to Strenuous

1400 m

Welcome to Nepal. Our representatives will welcome you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel. On the way, our representative will inform you about our trekking program. Overnight at a hotel.

Hotel

1400 m

After breakfast, you will embark on a sightseeing trip to the Kathmandu Valley. The trip offers you to savor the cultural richness of the Kathmandu Valley and its medieval art and architecture. Our experienced guides will conduct a tour of UNESCO World Heritage sites like Kathmandu Durbar Square, Swoyambhunath Temple, Pashupatinath Temple, and Bouddhanath Stupa, among others. Overnight at a hotel.

Hotel B

2652 m 5-6 hrs

Your trek begins today with a short flight to Lukla airstrip – the gateway to the Everest Region. Our representative will take you to the airport for the early morning flight. The flight itself can be a lifetime experience for many as the runway perched on the edge of a high cliff above the Dudh Koshi River is only 60 meters long. Pass through the small market area of Lukla toward Phakding through beautiful villages like Chaurikharka and Thadokoshi. The trail passes through juniper, oak and rhododendron forests. You can catch view of the beautiful Mt Kusum Kangru on the way. Phakding is a small settlement on the banks of the Dudh Koshi river, north of Lukla. Overnight at a guesthouse.

Guesthouse B+L+D

3440 m 5-6 hrs

You start the trek after having breakfast at your guesthouse. The trail moves northward along the Dudh Koshi River through pine and cedar forests. After crossing a confluence of two rivers on a suspension bridge, the trial is uphill until Namche Bazaar. Namche Bazaar is undoubtedly the most beautiful Sherpa village in the Everest region. In the past, it used to be a trading point between Nepal and Tibet. A weekly market, or haat, is organized here every Saturdays where you can buy anything from fresh vegetables to trekking gears. Overnight at a guesthouse.

Guesthouse B+L+D

3440 m

You need to stay two nights in Namche Bazaar to acclimatize in the high altitude. Spend the day visiting local market with your team. Our guide will take you to Syangboche and Everest View Hotel for the first view of Mt Everest and other neighboring peaks. On the way back, visit the Sherpa Museum and Everest Photo Gallery. You can also visit the office of Sagarmatha National Park to know about the conservation efforts. Overnight at guesthouse.

Guesthouse B+L+D

3860 m 5-6 hrs

After breakfast, an easy trail takes us toward Tengboche – a small Sherpa settlement which gets its name from the famous Tengboche Monastery. Follow the Mt Everest and other peaks in the northern horizon as you walk. The trail descends deep into the Dudh Koshi Valley and Pungi Thanka, and climbs up along the right banks of the Dudh Koshi River to Tengboche. The beautiful Amadablam, as well as Everest and other peaks, towering in the horizon are the major attraction of the trail. Visit the monastery in the evening. Overnight at a guesthouse.

Guesthouse B+L+D

4360 m 5-6 hrs

You are gradually climbing into the alpine area. After breakfast, descend to the Imja Khola through a beautiful forest. After crossing the river, trek to Pangboche (3900m). The trail provides breathtaking views of mountain peaks like Amadablam, Lhotse and several other peaks. Also, you don’t lose altitude like in the past days. A pleasing walk through beautiful pastureland will take you to our destination for the day — Dingboche which translates into summer valley. Overnight at a guesthouse.

Guesthouse B+L+D

4750 m 3-4 hrs

You start the trek toward Chhukung after having breakfast at your hotel. From Dingboche, the trail gradually ascends up to this small Sherpa settlement. On the way, you can see small huts which are used to keep livestock in the summer. Chhukung provides wonderful view of Island Peak and Mt Amadablam. Overnight at a guesthouse.

Guesthouse B+L+D

4750 m

Today is your acclimatization day. You spend the day hiking to Chhukung Ri (5540m/18171ft) which offers beautiful views of the Chhukung Valley as well as different snow-capped mountains. After you descend down, feel relaxed and take a short stroll. Tomorrow you will cross your first pass and reach Lobuche. Overnight at guesthouse.

Guesthouse B+L+D

5535 m 6-7 hrs

You start early today as you are conquering the highest of the three passes today. Carry plenty of water and some snacks. Our staff will serve you packed lunch at the top as there is no teashop on the way till Lobuche. You walk into the wilderness today as you will not come across any human settlements. The only people you will meet are fellow trekkers and trekking staff. There are two routes to the top. One is to climb a hill northwest of Chhukung over the moraine of the Nuptse glacier. The other is to walk down to the valley to Bibre and following a high trail above the Niyang Khola. After a few minutes of walk, you will be rewarded with magnificent view of the Island Peak Valley and the jagged ridge of the Ampu Lapcha. Climbing along the eastern side of Niyang Khola, the trail turns west and passes through inclined rocky path. The trail takes you to a wide basin with small frozen lakes. The trail then rises over loose rocks to finally reach Kongma La. At the top, you will see cairn wrapped with prayer flags. You will see the same sight at almost every passes. The view behind us is mesmerizing. You can see the landscape of icy lakes which is the famed Khumbu Glacier. Enjoy your success, but be careful as the descent is equally difficult. After climbing the moraine on the far side, the trail turns north through the Khumbu Glacier before reaching Lobuche. Overnight at guesthouse.

Guesthouse B+L+D

5364 m 8-9 hrs

You will begin the walk after having breakfast at your guesthouse. After a short climb through beautiful pastureland, you can see black peak of Kalapatthar ahead of us at the head of the Khumbu Glacier. Kalapatthar is arguably the best vantage point to view the entire south face of Mt Everest and other surrounding peaks. You will reach Gorakshep after a couple of hours, and continue toward the Everest Base Camp. There are lots of ups and downs in the trail, which makes the trek exhausting, though the altitude remains more or less the same. A walk of about three hours from Gorakshep will take you to the Everest Base Camp. It is from this very place that the Everest expeditions begin. Enjoy the view of Khumbu Glacier and Icefall and start your return leg of the trip to Gorakshep. Overnight at guesthouse.

Guesthouse B+L+D

5644 m 8-9 hrs

The day begins with a short hike to Kalapatthar (5644m/18519ft) — the best place to enjoy the view of Mt Everest and other spectacular Himalayan peaks. The hike takes around two hours. Enjoy the mountains to the fullest. Descend to the hotel, have breakfast and start your walk to Dzongla. Tomorrow, you are crossing the Cho La Pass. Overnight at guesthouse.

Guesthouse B+L+D

5420 m 7 hrs

As usual, you will stall walking after having breakfast at the guesthouse. Today is going to be one of the toughest days of the trek as we are crossing Cho La Pass – the highest of the three passes. After traversing a spur extending west from Dzongla, the path descends to a basin. In about an hour, you will reach the top of the basin. From here, we make the assault on the Cho La Pass. As we gain altitude, the view below gets increasingly captivating. You can see the Cho La Lake and the pyramidal summit of the Amadablam as well as Cholatse to the west. The path is steep and big boulders slow your pace. Be alert as the rock may be slippery due to snow. The final climb can be a bit tricky as the trail curves around a crevasse. The top rewards you with one of the most amazing views of the mountains all around you. You can see prayer flags flapping in the strong wind. After resting at the top for some time, you start the descent toward Thangnak. Though the downhill walk is easy, be cautious as rocks are slippery. Thangnak is a small settlement of few houses most of which are guesthouses. Overnight at guesthouse.

Guesthouse B+L+D

4790 m 2-3 hrs

After having breakfast, you will start walking toward the Gokyo Lake system crossing the Ngozumpa Glacier which spans 36 kilometers. There are six main lakes in the Gokyo Lake complex – Gokyo Cho, Thonak Cho, Thanjung Cho, Taujon, Longabanga and Ngozumpa Cho. The Gokyo village lies on the banks of the third lake with Mt Cho You in the backdrop. The village, lake and Mt Cho Oyu make a spectacular sight. After lunch, spend the day exploring the lakes. Overnight at guesthouse.

Guesthouse B+L+D

5843 m 3-4 hrs

Start early today to watch spectacular mountain views form Gokyo Ri. The path is steep, but the top rewards you with stunning views of the entire Khumbu Himalayas. You can see Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse, Makalu (8481m), Cho Oyu (8153m) and Gychung Kang (7922m), among other peaks. This hike also helps you to prepare for your final pass – Renjo La. Overnight at guesthouse.

Guesthouse B+L+D

5340 m 7 hrs

Today’s trek is exciting yet challenging as you will descend into the remote northern valley which borders Tibet. The landscape is akin to the Tibetan landscape. If you are lucky, you might meet Tibetan traders coming to the Khumbu region, crossing the Nangpa La Pass with caravan of yaks loaded with food and other stuffs. View from the top is similar to the one experienced from Gokyo Ri. You can see the third Gokyo Lake and Gokyo village beneath the Ngozumpa Glacier. From the pass, the trail winds down a stone staircase to reach the southern bank of Anlgadumba Lake. Be careful while descending as the path may be slippery due to snow. Along the way, we can also see Ralma and Renjo lakes. You will walk downhill through a narrow valley to Lunden for our night’s halt. Overnight at guesthouse.

Guesthouse B+L+D

3800 m 4 hrs

After breakfast, you will trek toward Thame. The trail is pleasing and offers views of snow-capped mountains throughout. Chances of seeing Tibetan traders camping along the trail are high. It offers you a rare opportunity to get an insight into lifestyle of these traders. Thame Monastery is a popular attraction of Thame. The picturesque monastery is perched on the side of a hill overlooking the valley. This is the site of the Mani Rimdu festival which is held in mid-May. You can also visit the home of legendary mountaineer Apa Sherpa – the first man to climb Everest 21 times – who hails from this village. Overnight at guesthouse.

Guesthouse B+L+D

3440 m 5 hrs

Thame offers you the opportunity to enjoy magnificent sunrise over the Thamserku Peak. If you want to catch the sunrise, wake up early, catch your camera and get out in the open. From Thame, the trail gradually descends toward Namche Bazaar where you spent two nights at the beginning of this trek. Overnight at guesthouse.

Guesthouse B+L+D

2860 m 7 hrs

After breakfast, you start downhill walk through the Jorsalle forest, cross the Dudh Koshi River on a suspension bridge and walk along the river toward Lukla. The walk to Lukla is easy yet pleasing. Recollect highs and lows of the trek as you head toward Lukla. Tomorrow you are flying back to Kathmandu. Overnight at a guesthouse

Guesthouse B+L+D

1400 m 30-minute

A 30-minute scenic fly will take you back to Kathmandu. Our representative will be at the airport to welcome you and escort you to your hotel. Take a much deserved rest at your hotel. You can also opt for a full body massage or enjoy spa to rejuvenate your mind and body. Or you can simply take a stroll in the streets of Kathmandu. Overnight at a hotel.

Hotel B

1400 m

Spend the day in Kathmandu. Take rest, explore the city, try out new dishes, do some last minute shopping or do whatever you like. In the evening, we will invite you for a farewell dinner at a typical Nepali restaurant. Savor authentic Nepali dishes, enjoying Nepali traditional songs and dance. A fitting end to your nearly three-week stay in Nepal!

Hotel B+D

Your last day in Nepal! Our representative will take you to the airport three hours before your flight so that you have ample time to complete customs and immigration formalities. Bon voyage!

B