Everest Three Passes Trek - 20 Days

This day is crucial as you will have a final check of your gear before heading out for a self-guided sightseeing tour. If you would like to have a guided tour of the Kathmandu Valley, simply let us know and we'll be happy to arrange it for you.

The day begins with an early morning breakfast followed by a 35-minute scenic flight to Lukla- the most dangerous airport in the world. However, during peak seasons, you will be flying to Manthali Airport at Ramechhap instead due to busy air traffic.

Lukla village at (2,800m/9,186ft) marks the starting point of the trek. From here, you will meet the porters and kick start our adventurous journey to Phakding, which lies at an altitude of 2610m (8,563 ft).

The downhill journey alongside the banks of Dudh Koshi feature different vegetation and dramatic landscapes. The total time required to reach Phakding is approximately 4 to 5 hours. You will be staying here at a hotel overnight.

Today, you will be entering Sagarmatha National Park as you exit Phakding and continue your trek upwards through charming and friendly villages, while also crossing several suspension bridges, along with the iconic Hillary Suspension Bridge.

A final steep ascent towards the end takes you to the bustling Sherpa capital, Namche Bazaar. This will be your resting spot for the day and also first of the many acclimatization spots on the trek. Overnight stay at Teahouse

This is a crucial acclimatization day. You will not be spending your whole day in the hotel or teahouse, instead, you will be going for an acclimatization hike to Hotel Everest View. While in Namche Bazaar, you will be getting the first glimpses of Mt. Everest as well as Ama Dablam. This bustling city also has most of the facilities including ATM, shops, bakeries, restaurants, etc.

You can also explore the local market to purchase any souvenirs and local handicrafts like Thangka Paintings. The days ends with an evening dinner accompanied by Sherpa stories, and a good night's sleep.

This day begins with a trek towards Tengboche as you start a gradual ascent with stunning views of Ama Dablam, Thamserku, Everest, Lhotse, and Nuptse. The trail descends to Phunki Tenga and then ascends again through rhododendron and pine forests to Tengboche which is home to the largest monastery in the Khumbu region- the Tengboche Monastery.

A trek of around 5 to 6 hours brings you to Tengboche, where you will be spending the rest of the night resting in a teahouse.

On this day, you will trek for 5 to 6 hours from Tengboche to Dingboche. The trail is particularly challenging with many ascents and descents. However, the stunning natural beauty of the area makes it worthwhile. The trail first descends through a forest to reach Deboche and crosses the Imja Khola. From here on, the vegetation thins out as you ascend to Pangboche, a traditional Sherpa village.

The trail then continues to Dingboche while you are accompanied by stunning views of the Himalayas. Dingboche is situated at an elevation of 4,410 meters above sea level and features stunning views of Ama Dablam.

Dingboche marks your second acclimatization stop on the trek. On this day, you will be going on a hike to Nangkartshang Peak (5,083m) for incredible panoramic views of Makalu, Lhotse, Cho Oyu, and Island Peak. This hike embraces the "climb high, sleep low" strategy and allows your body to adapt.

This is a relatively easy and short day as you head towards Chhukung, passing through a picturesque landscape of stone-walled fields, the Imja Khola valley, and glacial moraines.

The magnificent glimpses of Ama Dablam along the way further adds beauty to the trek. You will cross icy streams as you reach Chhukung where you will be spending your night. This town serves as the base for Island Peak climbers.

This is an important day on the trek as you will be crossing the first and most challenging one of the Everest Three Passes. You will start early to be able to easily cross the high mountain pass without much wind and bad weather.

The trail is steep and rocky, leading to the breathtaking Kongma La Pass at 5,540 meters. From the top, you'll have astounding views. Once you have taken in the views, a challenging descent takes you to the Khumbu Glacier moraine and then to Lobuche.

Brace yourselves because this is the day that you will be visiting the iconic Everest Base Camp. The trail begins as a relatively flat but challenging walk along the lateral moraine of the Khumbu Glacier.

As you reach Gorakshep, you stop for a quick lunch. Then a hike upwards takes you to the Everest Base Camp as you cross rocky dunes, moraines, and streams before reaching the base camp of the world’s tallest mountain.

Take a minute to bask in the glory of the view that lies in front of you as you get to admire Nuptse, Khumbuste and Pumori mountains. Then you descend back to Gorak Shep and spend the night here as this is the highest overnight stop around Everest Base Camp three passes trek.

On this day, you will reach the highest point of this trek and also an important vantage point- Kala Pathhar which boasts stunning sunrise views as the orange hues paint Mt. Everest.

Your day begins early with a hike to Kala Patthar just before sunrise. The view of Mt. Everest is the best from here along with other surrounding peaks like Pumori, Nuptse, Lhotse, Ama Dablam, and more. After the spectacular sunrise, descend back to Gorak Shep for breakfast. The descent continues as you later head down to Dzongla via a mostly downhill and flat trail.

Brace yourself for the second pass! From Dzongla, you need to ascend upwards and this can be very challenging. The trail is steep which is further worsened by boulders.

The journey also requires you to cross glaciers and icy crevasses where micro spikes might come in handy. The final climb to Cho La Pass rewards you with stunning views of Cholatse and Ama Dablam.

The top of the pass is dotted with fluttering prayer flags and rustling wind, and the view from here is absolutely breathtaking. A challenging descent follows to Thagnak, a small settlement where you will be staying for the night.

Another relatively easy day on the trek, today you will follow the Ngozumpa Glacier and go past several glacial lakes, including the picturesque Longpongo, before ascending a steep ridge to reach the Gokyo Valley. At the Gokyo Valley, you will take in the stunning views of the surrounding peaks, including Cho Oyu and Mount Everest.

On this day, you will explore the serene Gokyo Lakes and take in the majestic views that reflect in the clear water of these high altitude alpine lakes. You can start with the fourth Gokyo Lake which is only 3km north of the Gokyo Village.

From there, you can continue towards the 5th lake and further ahead to other lakes if you find it possible. You will get stunning views of Cho-Oyu, Gyachung Kang, Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse, and Makulu mountains, and the huge Ngozumpa Glacier. You descend back to Gokyo for overnight stay.

Today you conquer the final high pass of the three passes trek. The day begins early, and the trail moves alongside Dudh Pokhari for a while after which you will descend towards the Renjo La pass at 5,360 meters. From the pass, you will get views similar to the ones you got from Gokyo Ri which encompasses breathtaking views of the Gokyo Lakes below and a new perspective on Everest, Cho Oyu, and other Himalayan peaks.

As you descend from Renjo La, the trail is steep and rocky which then moves over loose scree to reach the south bank of Angladumba Tsho Lake. The presence of ice on the trail while descending can be challenging. You will walk down a narrow valley clogged with giant boulders to Lumde where there is a support lodge, but it is often closed. Then you will walk almost for an hour from Lumde to get to Marlung which will be your resting spot for the day.

The descent from Marulung to Thame follows a traditional route used for centuries by the Tibetan traders. We cross the Bhote Koshi River and descend to Taranga. The trail continues to descend and we cross two bridges before reaching Thame. Overlooking Thame is its famous Gompa, situated on a hill to the west.

After a night’s rest in Thame, continue descending through rhododendron and pine forests. You will cross many Sherpa villages like Thamo and Namche Bazaar too. You can stop for a while at Namche Bazaar. Followed by the break, continue your descent towards Monjo after you once again cross the Hillary suspension bridge. This peaceful Sherpa village will be your home for the night.

Take as much as mental photographs as you can as this will be your final day in the Khumbu region. After breakfast in Monjo, continue your gentle descent towards Lukla as you pass small chortens, monasteries, and colorful prayer flags.

Reaching Lukla marks the end of your incredible trekking journey of almost three weeks. Celebrate your achievement with your trekking crew.

On this day, you will enjoy your traditional breakfast at Lukla after which you will be transferred to Lukla airport. An early morning adventurous flight will take you back to Kathmandu, barring any delays.

Upon arrival in Kathmandu, you will be taken back to the hotel where you can rest. You can also explore the city and go souvenir shopping if you want.