Everest Three High Passes Trek

This trek is jam-packed with places to see in the Sagarmatha National Park, Everest region of Nepal. It is a physically challenging 19-day trek that includes every major attraction you could hope to see in the Everest region; crossing three high altitude passes - Renjo La Pass (5388 m), Cho La Pass (5380 m) and Kongma La Pass (5535 m); trekking through picturesque valleys - Khumbu, Bhotekoshi, Gokyo, and Imja Tse; and unbelievable views and climbs of  Mt. Gokyo Ri (5483m), Kala Pathar (5545m) and Chukung (5550m) before you reach the legendary Everest Base Camp – the gateway to Mt Everest (8848m), the world’s highest peak.

The list of places to see includes the stunning turquoise blue Gokyo Lakes (4,700–5,000m); Mt. Gokyo Ri (5357m); a visit to the rarely visited and remote trading route between Nepal and Tibet - Nangpa La Pass; a visit to the large Sherpa village of Marlung (4260m) and the Thame Tibetan Buddhist Monastery – the oldest in the Khumbu region and thought to have its origins in the 17th century. The monastery sits 200 meters above Thame on the side of Sumdur Mountain and offers some amazing views of the Himalayan Mountains. Imagine yourself surrounded by snow-capped mountains, alpine glaciers & a chance to see the elusive snow leopard, musk deer & red panda.

Lukla is the usual starting point, but if you have more time then you can start from Jiri, Lukla, Phaplu or Salleri. Sherpa Expedition and Trekking is happy to customize this trek to suit your time schedule. It is a challenging ascent to Dingboche (4410m), Kongma-La Pass (5535m) via Tengboche (3860 m) and Kongma La Pass (5550m). The views from these places are mind-blowing. Kongma-La Pass is the highest pass of these three passes. From Dingboche we ascend to higher elevations and after crossing Khongma-la via High Camp we reach Lobuche (4910 m) and then head to Gorekshep (5180m). Gorekshep is the cross-road where the trail leads to Kalapathar and Everest Base camp. For some of the best views of Mt. Everest we trek to the famous vantage point at Kala Pathar (5644m) -  also referred to as ‘black rock”. It is a continual descent from here as we trek back to Gorekshep and on to Everest Base Camp (5364m) via Gorak Shep (51180m) At EBC we can look out at the Khumbu Glacier, the world’s highest and one that climbers have to pass through on their way to Mt. Everest.

From EBC we descend to Lobuche and then to Cho-La Pass (5420m), the trickiest of the three passes - starting near Lobuche Kharka and going through to Thangnak. On the trek to Thangnak Kharka via Dzongla (4830m) we view Awi Peak (5245m), Lobuche Peak, Nirekha Peak and others. We then head to Gokyo via the Gokyo Valley with its many lakes, after which we then ascend to Gokyo Ri (5420m) said to be the best viewpoint in the entire Himalayas in the Everest region. After leaving Gokyo Ri we head to High Camp via the Renjo-La Pass 5360m. As with Gokyo Ri, the Renjo-La Pass also provides fantastic views of the Himalayan Ranges. After leaving High Camp we head back down to Thame via Lungden (4380m) and Marlung (4210 m). As we descend more we come to Lukla, via Namche Bazaar, having completed the round-trip through the three high passes. 

There is no better and more all-inclusive trek available in the Everest region. This trek is ideally suited to the more physically fit who are prepared to push themselves and venture to far-flung places and be physically challenged by the high altitude 3 passes. The best time of year to do this trek is in autumn (Sept to November) and spring (March to May) when there is less likelihood of being snowed-in and unable to finish the trek.

Sherpa Expedition & Trekking have more than 40 years in this business and will take care of every detail, such as permits, food and accommodation along the trail. All you have to do is have your camera at the ready!