Everest Three High Passes Trek-18 days

You will begin after dawn to catch an early flight to Lukla. The flight is scenic and thrilling, as you traverse above towering peaks. After about 30 minutes, you will land at the narrow airstrip of the mountainous airport, renowned for its challenging descent. At Lukla you will meet your guides and porters, have breakfast in the presence of mighty mountains, and finally begin the long-awaited trek! As you cross Dudhkoshi river, the trail gets lined by lush and beautiful forests. You will walk for around four hours crossing suspension bridges and passing through Sherpa villages before stopping for the night in a lodge in Phakding. The beautiful trail and scenic mountains will contribute to your excitement on the first night as you prepare for the epic trek to Everest Base Camp.

As you begin the trek from Phakding, you will be facing a long day of trek to Namche Bazaar, the destination for today. The actual trekking duration is about seven hours with ample amount of stopovers. The trail is scenic, and at this altitude you will even pass through lush rhododendron forests. The excitement will push you further today where you’ll cross high-altitude suspension bridges, including the famous Hillary Bridge. After crossing Monjo, your trail enters Sagarmatha National Park with breathtaking views of valleys and mountains. After a quick permits-check, you will begin today’s final stretch to Namche located at 3,440 metres. The climb is steep, but every inch of the ascent to Namche Bazaar is worth it. 

As you reach Namche, you will be filled with amazement to have reached this close to the gigantic mountains. You will immediately feel at home in this vibrant old town filled with markets, cafes, lodges, and shops bustling with tourists and locals alike. This is where you will rest for the day soaking in hot water and enjoy high-speed Internet connection. Nearby, you can explore monasteries and stupas if you feel energetic and not worn out by the day’s trek. And if the day is clear, you may even catch your first glimpse of some iconic peaks of Everest.

Sleeping this close to mountains has its own benefits — like having a breakfast with sumptuous views of the giant peaks. As your excitement builds up for the day, you will realise that it’s not more walking for the day. All you have to do is relax and enjoy the day in this mountain village with very short hikes for some acclimatisation. Today is also your chance to catch some breath and let your body adjust to the thinner air at this altitude. During the day you can hike up to Hotel Everest View, for jaw-dropping glimpses of Mt. Everest itself. And if time provides you can wander around the shops, check into a bakery or a café, and indulge in a treat. Just make sure you do not miss the golden sun setting against the peaks – bringing you a feeling of inspiration and awe! You will suddenly realize that you are in the heart of the Everest region – and your adventure is just getting started.

As you begin your ascent towards the famous Tengboche village, the anticipation keeps building further. While the air gets thinner and the winding trails might appear less inviting, you should keep your head up and look towards the sky to witness majestic towering peaks. You will see the beautiful Ama Dablam, Everest, Thamsherku, and other mountains — each one with a grandeur of its own.

Approaching closer to Tengboche, you will feel the air swirling with energy. And the views – your heart will be racing, eyes will be gazing, and the regal icy peaks looming right above you! This a once-in-a-lifetime moment will be more satisfying with forests of pine and rhododendron gracefully stretching as far as the eyes can see! And at dusk when you step into Tengboche at 3,860 metres, you’ll feel the ancient walls, witness monks wearing maroon robes, and feel in their echoing chants. Colourful prayer flags will appear fluttering in the breeze as night falls in this isolated village with mighty mountains in its backyard.

The trail to Dingboche is a mix of difficult trekking and breathtaking vistas. Although not overly strenuous, each step appears heavier as the thin air becomes thinner. Sheer willpower will keep your spirits soaring but stopovers will help you catch a breath before you move on. The trek to Dingboche reveals more than rocks and barren trails; it reveals your inner resilience. Respite comes in the views of rhododendron and nival forests, in the shadow of white mountains looming over with their icy crests. This could easily become the hardest walk of your life, or the best one.

Arriving at the tranquil Dingboche you will see that it is nestled at the vicinity of several Himalayan peaks – Ama Dablam, Everest, Lhotse, and Thamsherku among others. The humbling majesty of these peaks cannot be felt immediately but only much later as the night grows darker and your muscles begin to gather rest. In the silence of the night you will understand the isolation of the Himalayas — and you will be left to wonder about the amazing people who call this region their home.

This is a day to capture the awe and wonder of the Himalayas from inside the heart of Khumbu region. As you begin the day in anticipation, it will be comforting to know that today is the day of acclimatisation with very short treks around but not a long trek ahead. You will acclimatise your body today to adapt to thinner air, preparing your body for the journey tomorrow.

You will begin with a light breakfast and mentally prepare for the push to Lobuche, your next stop en route to Everest Base Camp. Today you’ll be traversing easy slopes lined with prayer flags and scattered houses. As you trudge along in the breeze, you will see the majestic peaks looking down to you from the heavens. Newer mountains will become visible today as you rest and rejuvenate — preparing for tomorrow with expectations of more beautiful sceneries and stepping one step closer to your destination of Everest Base Camp.

The journey today is less than four hours before reaching Chukung for the night. Starting from Dingboche you will go through fields and stone walls beside the valley of Imja Khola. Further down the track as tiredness begins to creep in, you will be forced to the views of crevices and moraines adding to the tiredness; but the views of towering peaks will keep you pushing further on the track. Far on the horizon you will see Ama Dablam looming with its beauty, and your excitement renews once again. The trail lined with icy rivers will add some amazement to the journey at the opportune moment.

In due time you will reach the village of Chukung where you can drop your bags, have lunch, and take a break. If you feel like it, you can climb the nearby Chhukung Peak, which offers stunning views of Ama Dablam and other lesser known peaks. Spend the rest of the day in the teahouse where you’ll also stay for the night.

Today, we will be crossing Kongma-La, the first of the three high passes. With a heart full of eagerness and anticipation, you leave Chukung behind and walk along the rugged trail marked with glaciers. Along the way, fluttering prayer flags will guide you while beautiful vistas will keep you motivated along the way. Each step becomes heavy but will be filled with a reward of conquest. Finally you will reach the pass, cross it, and before long you will be on your way down to Lobuche. 

The descent is challenging but take it one step at a time. Solace is found in togetherness and before you know it, you will reach Lobuche where you’ll rest for the night. Reflecting on the events of the day, your heart will fill with pride and courage — for you just undertook the daunting task achieved by only a few trekkers to Everest.

Today is yet another important day — the day of a life-time experience as you reach Everest Base Camp. You begin immediately after breakfast, going through rugged and rocky trails. As you trek uphill along the Khumbu Glacier, you head towards Gorakshep, a hamlet near Everest Base Camp. Sometime late in the morning you will reach Gorakshep, and after a brief rest here, you will hike to Base Camp. This leg of the journey is filled with excitement and too much anticipation because you will certainly be reaching the base of the planet’s tallest peak. This is THE iconic peak not just geographically, but in every sense of the world.

When you are at the Base Camp, take some photos and videos in the shadow of the world’s tallest peak, and live the moment while you are here. Share the camp with hundreds of other nationalities who have come for the same dream — to make it to Everest!

 And as you leave behind the overwhelming awe of the journey, you will forget the hardships of the way. With a newly recharged self, you will descend towards Gorakshep as the sun sets, taking in the breathtaking views of the surreal landscape — filled with wonder.

Kalapatthar is a vantage point with panoramic views of Everest, Lhotse, and Nuptse. With this in mind trekkers begin at dawn to catch the first rays falling on the mountain peaks. As you gain altitude through this steep climb, you will have surreal views of landscapes nearby, especially the larger-than-life glaciers. After a challenging climb, you’ll reach the top where you can have breathtaking views of mountains, glaciers, and beautiful skies. It’s a magical and enriching scene in itself!

Later as you descend to Gorakshep for breakfast, you’ll feel your heart soaring with the beauty you witnessed. Views of great mountains still visible around you, you descend through rocky valleys. With brief stopovers along the way you’ll finally reach Dzonglha as late afternoon slowly turns to dusk, you’ll prepare for the night’s stay at this wind-swept village lying within the soaring peaks. Embrace the tranquillity, have a meal, and quickly go to bed under the stars.

Today we will cross Cho-La, the second of the high-altitude passes. We begin early hoping for more scenic views along the way. Completely surrounded by mountains on nearly all sides, we move through the challenging trail ahead. As the rocky trail unfolds, we are more determined by the thought of crossing Cho-La, hence we keep moving, overcoming the tiredness at each step. At times we are treated with scenic vistas of the white peaks, a grand reminder of nature’s geographical beauty.

Our trail ascends gradually taking us towards the pass. The road is difficult being lined with rocks and as we reach Cho-La pass itself lined with prayer flags, we are instantly rewarded with a view of panoramic peaks and ancient glaciers from the top. With a sense of triumph, we move ahead and begin the descent. With each step we take, we know we are moving towards the pristine Lake Gokyo, as seen in countless movies & documentaries, and today we’re arriving at the lake in person. 

With anticipation of more adventure, inspiringly beautiful landscape, and newer routes, we unwind for the night in a cabin beside the turquoise lake of Gokyo.

On this day of acclimatisation, we embark at dawn for the ascent of Gokyo-Ri (peak) at 5,357 metres. The vistas are comparable to those at Kalapatthar, letting you view peaks such as Cho You, Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, and others. We capture the moments, and after watching a spectacular sunrise, we return for breakfast. Exploring Gokyo Valley later on is a scenic venture as the large lake seems to be present everywhere. We will even see Ngozumpa Glacier, the longest glacier in the Himalayas.

As we acclimate ourselves to the thin air, we savour each moment  as it’s a valuable experience that’ll fuel us for a long time to come. The majestic landscapes of the Himalayas will remain with us forever, and with this beautiful thought, we take rest in Gokyo village, nestled in breathtaking beauty.

Today you will trek to Marlung crossing the third of the three high-altitude passes on this trip. It’s the Renjo-La pass at an altitude of 5,345 metres. You will begin early and trek along a white lake with views of Rolwaling mountain range for some time. The trial turns upwards with scenic views of several peaks including Mount Everest. Once you arrive at the top of Renjo-La, you will have an unparalleled feeling of conquest, having successfully crossed the three passes of Everest region. Enjoy the view and rest for a while before descending from the pass along steep paths. 

En route to Marlung today you will trek through several small lakes and a range of peaks, each a beauty on its own. Once you arrive, you’ll see that Marlung is a quaint hamlet amid towering peaks lying on the banks of the Bhotekoshi river. As you unwind for the night in the quiet solitude far from civilization, you’ll feel an unparalleled level of joy and rare achievement on having crossed the three high passes on a single trip.

As you leave Marlung early with a newly discovered inspiration, you’ll quickly be coming towards the end of this trip.  Trekking down through the rugged paths, you begin to long for the comforts of Namche Bazaar, where you can once again take a hot shower, have a selection of food, and a good sleep. This anticipation will keep you on the trail filled with lush valleys and picturesque villages, not missing the scenes of Thame, an old trading outpost en route to Tibet. Along the way you will even cross some suspension bridges high above gushing rivers.

As you keep trekking down, you will enter rhododendron forests and later in the day you will rejoice at the sight of Namche — civilization at last! A sense of relief overpowers you in the evening as you soak your feet in hot water — and you will begin to reflect on the arduous but once-in-a-lifetime journey you just undertook.

Today is the day you bid farewell to Namche. Lacing up your boots with a mixed feeling of joy and humility, you will take the first step towards ending your epic journey. The scenic descent towards Lukla is at times made more beautiful with the presence of the raging Dudhkoshi River. The trail winds down further with steep slopes through forests and valleys before reaching Phakding — where you’ll have one more lunch at the foothills of the mighty Himalayas.

Trekking on from Phakding, you will finally arrive at Lukla after a leisurely trek of some hours. Here at Lukla, you’ll see the settlements, the shops, the cafes, the little lanes and the narrow airstrip. The people moving here and there going about their own business will make for a happy sight as you eagerly look forward to your flight back to Kathmandu.

The flight from Lukla is a scenic one, with views of the peaks you just went to, and some more. A stream of memories will fill you as you land in Kathmandu. The bustling city will be quite a sight in itself as you drive in the traffic jam towards your hotel. In the afternoon you can take a soothing massage or simply wander the market hunting for souvenirs and those “hashish-rickshaw” t-shirts that everyone returning from Nepal buys. And in the evening, you will join in a farewell dinner, sharing stories and once again, being grateful for the soul-enriching journey you just took in Everest Region especially the three high-altitude passes.

After breakfast or depending upon your flight schedule we will transfer you to the airport. As your plane takes off from the runway in Kathmandu, your journey to Nepal comes to an end for this time — until you decide to visit again for some memorable and soul-searching trip in the Himalayas.