Everest Three High Passes Trek — 21 Days

Today combines Kathmandu Valley sightseeing with trek preparations. Your visits focus on the city’s heritage sites, with the day’s route arranged around opening hours, available time and your departure preparations.

Possible visits include Swayambhunath, Boudhanath, Pashupatinath or Kathmandu Durbar Square. The final sightseeing route depends on timing and access. Later, return to the hotel for a gear check and briefing. Organise your trekking bags, keep your travel documents and personal medicines accessible, and prepare for tomorrow’s scheduled flight to Lukla and first walk to Phakding.

Your mountain journey begins with a flight to Lukla at 2,860 m. Depending on airline operations and the season, the flight may depart from Kathmandu or Manthali Airport in Ramechhap.

After landing, you meet your trekking team and begin walking towards Phakding. The trail passes village homes, prayer wheels and forested slopes, with downhill stretches and shorter climbs along the way. Sections follow the Dudh Koshi River, introducing you to the valley you will explore over the coming days. We spend the night in Phakding.

We follow the Dudh Koshi through villages and pine forests, passing Benkar and Monjo before entering Sagarmatha National Park. Your guide handles the permit checks along the route.

Suspension bridges connect the valley trails, followed by a sustained uphill walk towards Namche. This final climb is the most demanding part of the day, so we allow time for breaks. Namche’s shops, lodges and houses spread across the hillside, making it an important trading town and a useful place to spend the next two nights.

We stay another night in Namche and take a shorter hike above the town. A usual option is the trail towards Hotel Everest View, where clear weather offers views of Everest and nearby peaks.

Your guide chooses the walk according to conditions and how the group is feeling. Afterwards, we return to Namche for the night. The afternoon gives you time to rest, visit the shops or stop at a café before continuing towards Tengboche tomorrow.

Leaving Namche, we follow the hillside trail before descending towards Phunki Tenga. Mountain views accompany sections of the walk, while the river marks the low point before the climb to Tengboche.

The uphill trail passes through pine and rhododendron forest. Once we reach the village, you can settle into the teahouse and explore the surroundings. Tengboche’s Buddhist monastery stands against the mountain backdrop of Ama Dablam. If it is open to visitors, your guide explains the visiting customs before you enter.

We descend through forest towards Debuche, cross the Imja Khola and continue through Pangboche. As the route gains height, the trees become fewer and the valley opens into slopes with low vegetation and stone buildings.

The trail passes Somare before reaching Dingboche in the Imja Valley. Today brings a noticeable gain in sleeping altitude, so we keep a steady pace throughout the walk. After checking into your teahouse, the afternoon is available for rest before tomorrow’s walk towards Chhukung.

From Dingboche, follow the upper Imja Valley towards Chhukung. The route is shorter than recent stages, but you continue gaining height, crossing open ground with views towards Lhotse and Island Peak when the weather allows.

Stone-walled fields give way to open grazing land and rocky ground as we approach the village. After checking into your lodge, spend the afternoon resting and organising your equipment. Tomorrow’s Chhukung Ri hike returns here, giving you a second night before crossing Kongma La.

Spend a second day in Chhukung, taking a hike towards Chhukung Ri. The rocky climb leads towards a viewpoint at approximately 5,550 m, with the turnaround point based on conditions and how you are feeling.

The hike returns to Chhukung for another night at the same elevation. In clear weather, Lhotse, Ama Dablam and nearby peaks are visible above the valley. Keep the afternoon for rest and equipment preparation before tomorrow’s demanding Kongma La crossing.

Leave Chhukung early and climb towards Kongma La, the highest of the three passes at approximately 5,535 m. The route climbs across rocky ground and glacial moraine, with several steep sections that become harder under snow or ice.

After a short stop at the pass, descend carefully towards the Khumbu Glacier. The crossing involves uneven debris and a changing trail before the final approach to Lobuche. There are no teahouses on the crossing; carry lunch and sufficient water.

We start from Lobuche and follow the rocky trail towards Gorak Shep. After a break, we continue to Everest Base Camp, crossing uneven glacial ground along the Khumbu Glacier.

Reaching base camp brings you into the landscape used by Everest expedition teams. During the spring climbing season, tents and expedition activity may be visible. At other times, the glacier and surrounding mountains define the visit.

After spending time at base camp, we retrace the trail to Gorak Shep. Tonight’s stop puts us close to the starting point for tomorrow’s Kala Patthar hike.

We make an early start for Kala Patthar. The climb above Gorak Shep is steep in places, and the altitude makes it demanding. In clear weather, the viewpoint offers close views of Everest, Nuptse, Pumori and the surrounding Khumbu peaks.

After returning to Gorak Shep for breakfast, retrace the route towards Lobuche. We then leave the main Base Camp trail and follow the hillside towards Dzongla, below Cho La. The afternoon walk brings changing views of the valley before reaching your teahouse for tonight.

Leaving Dzongla early, climb through the valley towards Cho La. The upper approach includes steep rock and a glacier section, where snow or ice can make footing difficult. Your guide assesses the current route and equipment before continuing.

At approximately 5,420 m, Cho La links the Everest Base Camp side with the Gokyo Valley. Descend over rocky ground towards Thangnak, taking care on steep sections and loose stones. Settle into the teahouse and rest before tomorrow’s glacier crossing.

Today’s stage crosses the Ngozumpa Glacier towards Gokyo. Although the distance is limited, the route passes over uneven debris and moraine, where careful footing and attention to your guide remain important.

Glacier movement can change the walking line, so follow the current route rather than older tracks. Beyond the crossing, the trail leads towards the Gokyo Lakes and the village beside Dudh Pokhari. Settle into your teahouse and rest before tomorrow’s viewpoint hike, which returns to Gokyo for a second night.

Start early for the climb to Gokyo Ri, following a steep path above the village. The viewpoint reaches approximately 5,357 m, with the turnaround and timing guided by the weather and how you are feeling.

In clear conditions, the view includes Everest, Lhotse, Makalu and Cho Oyu, with the lakes and Ngozumpa Glacier below. Descend carefully to Gokyo and keep the remaining day for rest. Tomorrow’s route crosses Renjo La into the valley towards Lungdhen.

Leave Gokyo early and climb towards Renjo La, the final pass of the circuit. The trail gains height above the lake, reaching approximately 5,360 m before dropping into the Bhote Koshi valley towards Lungdhen and the Thame route.

The descent includes steep sections and stone steps that need care, especially when icy. After a short stop at the pass, continue down through the valley to Lungdhen. Settle into the lodge and rest after another full day at altitude.

Continue down the valley from Lungdhen towards Thame, passing Marlung and hillside grazing areas. The lower elevation brings a change from the rocky pass crossings and colder upper villages.

The route follows part of the valley used for trade between the Khumbu and Tibet. Expect sections of descent mixed with smaller climbs as you approach Thame. Once at the lodge, there is time to rest. Any walk towards the monastery depends on your energy, available time and local access.

Leave Thame and follow the valley trail towards Namche Bazaar. The route passes through smaller villages and wooded slopes, with river crossings and changes of gradient along the way.

As we approach Namche, the paths reconnect with the main Khumbu trekking route. Return to the teahouse and enjoy a less demanding afternoon after the longer high-altitude stages. Shops and cafés provide options for personal purchases, while the evening gives you time to organise your belongings for tomorrow’s final walk.

Our final trekking day follows the route down from Namche through Jorsalle, Monjo and Phakding. You cross familiar suspension bridges and return through the forested sections of the Dudh Koshi valley.

The approach to Lukla includes uphill stretches, so there is still some effort ahead after the main descent. On arrival, we check into the teahouse for the last night in the mountains. The evening gives you time to organise your belongings and spend time with your guide and porter team.

We prepare for the return flight from Lukla. Depending on the operating schedule, you may fly directly to Kathmandu or land at Manthali Airport and continue by road.

After reaching your hotel, spend the remaining time resting, shopping or exploring nearby areas. Lunch and dinner in Kathmandu are at your own expense. Your return may be delayed by poor visibility, mountain weather or changes to airline operations.

Your 21-day Everest Three High Passes Trek ends today. After breakfast, prepare for your onward journey. Depending on your departure time, there may be an opportunity for a final walk nearby before leaving the hotel.

Our representative accompanies you to Tribhuvan International Airport for your departure.