Everest Three Passes Trek

Your adventure begins with an early flight from Kathmandu to Lukla, offering dramatic Himalayan views. After landing at 2,860 meters, meet your guide and set off through pine and rhododendron forest along the Dudh Koshi River.

The three-to-four-hour walk to Phakding winds past tea houses, villages, and prayer-flag bridges. At 2,610 meters, this riverside settlement provides a comfortable first night, letting you settle into the trekking rhythm.

Day begins with a gentle walk through pine and rhododendron forests along the Dudh Koshi River. The trail crosses suspension bridges strung with prayer flags, including the famous Hillary Bridge, before steepening into a sustained climb. Walking time is six to seven hours, covering 11 kilometers with an elevation gain of 800 meters.

The final push into Namche Bazaar is a series of switchbacks. Namche sits at 3,440 meters in a horseshoe-shaped bowl, a bustling Sherpa town with lodges, bakeries, and gear shops. Your guide leads you to your tea house for rest and a warm meal. The afternoon is free for acclimatization or exploring this vibrant trading hub with views of Thamserku and Kongde Ri.

Today is a critical acclimatization day in Namche Bazaar. Take a rewarding hike past the Everest View Hotel for stunning vistas of Everest, Lhotse, and Ama Dablam, setting the tone for the journey.

Continue to the peaceful village of Khumjung, home to a traditional Sherpa monastery and Hillary’s school. This 3-4 hour walk leaves the afternoon free to explore Namche’s markets. You will gain 400 meters before descending to sleep, practicing the "climb high, sleep low" technique to reduce altitude risk while deepening your connection to Sherpa culture.

Today you walk from Namche Bazaar to Tengboche, one of the most scenic days on the circuit. Leave the Sherpa capital climbing onto a ridge with unobstructed views of Everest, Lhotse, and Ama Dablam. The trail contours high above the Dudh Koshi River through rhododendron and juniper forest, then descends to a suspension bridge at Phunki Tenga for a brief rest.

The second half is a steady two-hour climb to Tengboche. Your reward is the largest gompa in the Khumbu, framed by Ama Dablam, Everest, and Kangtega. You may attend the monks' evening puja, and your tea house sits just below with front-row seats to one of the Himalayas' most famous sunset panoramas. Walking time is five to six hours, covering 10 kilometers with an 800-meter ascent from 3,440 meters to 3,860 meters.

Today’s walk from Tengboche to Dingboche is a gradual acclimatization day with about five to six hours on the trail. You descend through birch and rhododendron forests, cross the Imja Khola on a suspension bridge, then climb into the high alpine zone where juniper and shrubs replace the trees.

As the valley opens, Ama Dablam’s soaring south face dominates the left, while Lhotse and Nuptse rise to the east. Dingboche’s stone houses and tea houses sit at 4,410 meters in a broad, wind-swept valley, with afternoon time for rest or exploration. The thin, crisp air hints at the challenges ahead.

Your acclimatization day in Dingboche at 4,410 meters allows your body to adjust before tackling Kongma La. Enjoy a leisurely breakfast as the sun lights up Lhotse and Ama Dablam.

In the late morning, take an optional hike to the ridge at 4,600 meters. The three-to-four-hour round trip reveals the Imja Valley, Island Peak, and Makalu—gain altitude, then descend to sleep lower for safe acclimatization.

The afternoon is yours to rest, explore the village, or relax with ginger tea. This measured day prepares you for the high passes ahead.

After a restful night in Dingboche, a three-to-four-hour walk east brings you to Chhukung. The trail climbs through yak pastures with Lhotse's vast south face dominating the skyline, allowing time to adjust to the thinning air.

Chhukung is a windswept cluster of tea houses at 4,730 meters, the last outpost before Kongma La. Settle in, then take an acclimatization hike to Chhukung Ri. The afternoon is deliberately unhurried—hydrate, rest, and prepare for tomorrow's rigorous pass crossing amid views of Island Peak.

Today you tackle Kongma La at 5,535 meters, the trek's highest pass. Leaving Chhukung early, climb three to four hours over rocky terrain to the windswept crest for extraordinary views of Ama Dablam, Lhotse, and Makalu.

Descend steeply over loose scree into the Khumbu Glacier valley, then join the main Everest Base Camp route for a gentler walk across the moraine to Lobuche at 4,930 meters. Covering 8 to 10 kilometers in 7 to 9 hours, this demanding day rewards you with an unforgettable sense of achievement.

Today you reach Everest Base Camp. Start with a three-to-four-hour trek from Lobuche to Gorak Shep across the Khumbu Glacier's moonscape of moraine and ice, with Everest's south face ahead. After lunch, hike two to three hours each way to Base Camp at 5,364 meters, crossing the glacial expanse past towering seracs and crevasses of the Khumbu Icefall.

Stand in the rocky amphitheater where expeditions prepare for summit bids, surrounded by prayer flags and memorial cairns. With six to seven hours of total hiking, this demanding day ends with a warm tea house and shared excitement as dusk settles over the Khumbu.

Your pre-dawn alarm calls you to the trail. By 4:30 AM, headlamp cutting through star-filled darkness, you ascend Kala Patthar at 5,545 meters. First light brushes Everest, the sky igniting in amber and rose—a moment that makes every step worthwhile.

After sunrise views of Nuptse, Lhotse, and the Tibetan plateau, you descend for breakfast. The trail shifts southwest toward Dzongla, a four-to-five-hour walk through a glacial valley dotted with boulders and juniper, crossing streams and climbing a gentle ridge.

Dzongla perches at 4,830 meters, a stone-lodge staging post for tomorrow’s Kongma La crossing. Afternoon sun warms the valley as Ama Dablam casts long shadows. You settle in with ginger tea, review the route with your guide, and rest in thin, clear air—anticipation for the first high pass building gently.

Early start from Dzongla. Steep climb over rocky moraine and glacier to Cho La at 5,420m. Careful footing on ice and snow. Rewarding views of Cholatse, Ama Dablam, and Ngozumpa Glacier.

Descent crosses the glacier edge into a windswept valley to Thagnak, 7 to 8 hours over 8km of challenging terrain from ice to barren lunar landscape.

Arrive at Thagnak (4,700m) among stone lodges with Ngozumpa Glacier views, previewing the Gokyo Lakes ahead. Satisfying end to conquering a major pass.

From Thagnak, the trail climbs beside the Ngozumpa Glacier, the Himalayas' largest. After two to three hours, you crest a ridge to your first view of the turquoise Gokyo Lakes, a stunning contrast against Cho Oyu's backdrop.

You descend to Gokyo at 4,750 meters. The afternoon is free to explore Dudh Pokhari, enjoy the serenity, and acclimatize for tomorrow's early ascent to Gokyo Ri and its ultimate panorama.

This is a pivotal acclimatization rest day. Rise before dawn and climb Gokyo Ri; the switchback trail rewards you with a stunning sunrise over Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, and Cho Oyu, with the turquoise Gokyo Lakes and Ngozumpa Glacier far below.

After descending, the rest of the day is yours to explore the lake shores, watch the glacier, or relax at the tea house. This quiet recovery is essential preparation for tomorrow’s challenging Cho La crossing.

The crossing of Renjo La is the final high pass, offering a breathtaking panorama of Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, and Cho Oyu. You climb steadily from Gokyo above the turquoise lakes, reaching the 5,360-meter summit where the immense Himalayas feel intimate.

From the pass, the trail descends steeply into a remote valley. The rocky path requires careful footing, but the solitude is profound. After three to four hours, passing a pristine lake and yak pastures, you reach the quiet settlement of Lungden—a peaceful end to a day of high-altitude triumph.

From Lungden, the trail descends into the broad Bhote Koshi valley, a stark, windswept landscape with the river's constant murmur. After five to six hours walking, you cross a small bridge, pass scattered settlements, and enjoy distant views of the Tibetan plateau.

Thame is a charming Sherpa village with a historic monastery and ties to mountaineering legend Tenzing Norgay. Its lower elevation offers a perfect rest stop after the high passes, with time to explore quiet lanes or take a short acclimatization walk.

From Thame, descend gently along the Bhote Koshi River for four to five hours, passing juniper groves and scattered settlements. Watch for Himalayan tahr on rocky slopes before the trail meets the main Everest route near Phunki Tenga, then climbs through pine and rhododendron forest toward Namche Bazaar.

As altitude increases, snow-capped peaks reappear among prayer wheels and yak bells. Namche Bazaar, a mountain capital of terraced streets with bakeries and gear shops, offers a well-earned cappuccino or a chance to explore the local market while reflecting on the remote valleys left behind.

Your day begins early in Namche Bazaar, descending through pine and rhododendron forests with glimpses of Everest and Ama Dablam. Crossing suspension bridges over the Dudh Koshi, the downhill gradient is a welcome relief.

The trail passes Monjo and Phakding before softening into lush hillsides, with your guide pointing out last yak caravans as you approach Lukla. The walk takes six to seven hours, covering 18 kilometers.

You arrive in Lukla in the late afternoon, celebrating among fellow trekkers. Over dinner, you reflect on the three passes conquered, the turquoise lakes admired, and the peaks that will stay etched in your memory.