Everest 3 Pass Trek

On the 2nd day of the Everest 3 Pass Trek, we will travel to the gateway to the Everest region, Lukla. This tourist hub is the starting point of the Everest 3 Pass Trek and every trekker that is on any of the Everest region trek visits this village. We will take a short 40-minute light to Lukla but you can also opt for a trek from Jiri to Lukla.

This alternative starting point of the Everest 3 Pass Trek is a beautiful start to a magnificent trek as you will have the trail to yourself. Most people choose to fly to Lukla as they do not want to spend an additional 2 to 3 days trekking to get to the starting point of the trek. Since the route from Jiri to Lukla is not frequently traveled by trekkers, you will rarely meet any fellow trekkers during your trek.

Passing through authentic and charming Sherpa villages, you will reach the village of Lukla. This alternate start will add 3 more days to your standard Everest 3 Pass Trek itinerary.

Note: Flights connecting Kathmandu and Lukla are often postponed or canceled because of the unpredictable weather conditions of the highland of Lukla. To avoid wasting your days in Kathmandu, waiting for the weather to clear, you can get on a shared helicopter ride which will cost you USD 450 per person.

The day gets off to a good start. After stopping at the checkpost to obtain the Sagarmatha National Park permits for everyone in the group, we can continue strolling along the river. This portion of the hike for today is really beautiful. A stunning scene featuring two hanging bridges is the highlight of the day. Ultimately, you’ll pass over the taller bridge. It’s all an ascending path from this viewpoint until we reach the charming Namche.

After climbing for around 45 minutes, we’ll reach a public restroom with a view of Mount Everest. Additionally, there is a tap here midway up the ascending portion where you may fill up your water bottles. We will ultimately reach another checkpoint as we keep going uphill. From there, Namche Bazaar is only 20 minutes away.

A great Everest 3 Pass Trek requires sufficient acclimatization, and since Namche Bazaar is 3440 meters above sea level, trekkers need to stay a second day there to become used to the elevation. In addition, it’s the last point of modernity with pubs, cafes, theaters, ATMs, etc. From this point forward, rates for every commodity and service increase with the increment in altitude, and the availability of types of services significantly decreases.

For our acclimatization hike, we will climb up to the Everest View Hotel. This is the most popular acclimatization hike for trekkers at Namche Bazaar. If the day is cloudy, it’s best not to do this hike, we will instead visit the different museums around the village and the Tenzing Norgay Statue.

This is our first proper experience of Nepal’s highland plains; we will only make a small elevation gain, ascending more than 1,000 meters and dropping more than 700 meters. It’s going to be a lovely day for taking a walk amid the oak and rhododendron forests, which are interspersed with steep slopes.

Crossing small monasteries and Chortens decorated with pictures of such notable Tibetan leaders as the Dalai Lama of Tibet gives us an impression that we are truly in Tibet.

About five centuries ago, the Sherpa ethnic group escaped oppression in Tibet arriving in Nepal’s Himalayas. They thrived well here since the living conditions resembled those back home. We will be walking along an ancient trade route, it is obvious that the locals are quite hospitable and friendly.

We go slowly and deliberately, walking at a speed that fits with the characteristics of the landscape. As we climb and descend, the pace changes, but it’s always beneficial to trek slow. The trek develops a quiet atmosphere as we regularly cross the Chortens to the left.

Buddhism always tells people to follow the clockwise motion when circling a religious site, which is why you should pass the stupas from the left even though you are not going to go around it. We reach Tengboche town and the monastery sharing the same name, the summit of the day. Following a fire accident in 1989, Edmund Hillary renovated the monastery, which is impressively preserved.

From Tengboche, we will walk for about an hour (6.5 kilometers) to reach Deboche.

Today’s day hike proceeds through lovely greenery, with frequent sights of Mount Everest serving as a constant reminder of our remote trekking aim. After lunchtime, it is a bit tough because we will have gained an appropriate attitude which hosts a bare landscape and the view is not exactly motivating. It can get a little cold during gloomy days.

If weather permits, in the early afternoon you can expect a glorious hike with marvelous views and visit the Pangboche Gompa which houses the region’s oldest monastery of about three hundred years old built up in there. In Nepal, this monastery happens to be the oldest one.

As we climb up Debuche, the trees abruptly stop accompanying the ridges and hills. Unlike previous days where there were long ascents and descents, this hike is just all uphill.

Sitting at an altitude of 4110 meters above sea level, the village of Dingboche is one of the most authentic, charming, and remote Sherpa villages of the Khumbu region. For your acclimatization day, you can choose to wake up early in the morning to enjoy the one-of-a-kind sunrise view from the top of a nearby hill.

A small stupa accompanies the lonely hilltop from where you will get to enjoy a scenic heaven as the first sunrays hit the white peaks in the distance, radiating the whole landscape in an instant.

If you are not a morning person, you can simply wake up around 7 or 8 in the morning and go for an acclimatization hike to Nagarjuna Peak. This 300-meter climb will take around 4 hours in total to ascend and descend.

We will begin our day trek with a leisurely and filling breakfast. We’re going to walk in the direction of Chukhung, a tiny settlement north of our current position. A glance at the elevation map alone may give the impression that the hike is simple, but the shortage of oxygen results in it becoming increasingly difficult.

As we go around the wide terrain, we can spot a few yaks munching as we take in the scenery. Yaks are amazing animals, however their enormous horns and lengthy hair can occasionally give them a threatening appearance. But there are no accounts of Yak attacking trekkers out of the blue or making a person injured in any circumstance.

We are going to see the Kong Ma La Pass today. We will set off at 8:00 AM after breakfast, full of energy to start the day’s trek and a little bit of concern regarding the environmental settings at 5,500 meters of altitude. Ama Dablam remains to be alluring even on rainy days although it appears less attractive sometimes.

It is imposing; the incline up is consistent and leisurely when walking along a path. Before proceeding up for some more distance we will take a pause opposite of an icefall for food and drinks. Re-energized, we carry our daypacks once more and go for the uphill stretch; the hardest part so far.

The steep section leads us to a plateau where solo trekkers often get lost or go around in circles. We will then traverse the Kong Ma Glacier and eventually reach the Kong Ma La Pass. As you reach the top of the pass, you will definitely feel a sense of accomplishment.

The snow can be quite slippery, so we recommend you put on your micro spikes during the descent. We will be able to see our destination from the pass and the massive Khumbu Glacier separates us from Lobuche.

Despite just being 12 kilometers long and up to one km broad in some areas, the Khumbu Glacier leaves a lasting impression on hikers. This stretch has a few credible trail markers, although in bad conditions they are difficult to find.

There are glacial lakes and shimmering white or blue glacier blocks sometimes visible through the huge and tiny stones covering this portion. Following an hour of trek, we will traverse the Khumbu by navigating around huge rocks and arrive at the tip of the glacier shortly before Lobuche.

Max Altitude

5500m. / 18,045ft

After having breakfast you will walk across Khumbu Glacier’s moraine. Other than the northern face of Everest, one can see Nuptse, Pumori, Khumbutse, Mahalangur and Lingtern just in front of your eyes. After a short climb to Thangma Riju, from where you may take in the broad scene of the landscape, you’ll hike up a difficult path to Changri Glacier to reach its summit.

Upon arriving at Gorak Shep, the nearby peaks will encircle you. Before moving on in the direction of EBC, we will stop and admire the scenery for a while. After arriving at the base of the highest peak on the planet, we will take some pictures, tour around the base camp, and then make our way to Gorak Shep. We will spend the night in Gorakshep.

From Groakshep, Kala Patthar is just 2 hours away but the trail can be quite tiring as it is an uphill section. The trail is only 2 kilometers long but since it’s an uphill ascend, it will take some time to reach the top. Moreover, it becomes even more tiresome because we are over five thousand meters high. When we go up the mountains less oxygen is found in the air which makes us tired fast since we have to breathe more times before getting enough oxygen in our bloodstream.

At about seven o’clock in the morning after having eaten enough and energizing breakfast, we shall start our day’s trek. When we get to the viewpoint there will be a complete panoramic view of all the Everest region and its great peaks around it.

After taking our sweet time to admire the scene, we will get back down to Gorakshep where we will have our breakfast, gather our belongings, and get on the way to Lobuche. From Gorakshep, Lobuche is only 4 kilometers away which will take around two hours to reach.

From Lobuche, we will go on with the traditional Everest Base Camp approach until it branches at the higher part of Thokla Pass. Taking a right turn, we will be walking along the southern slope of Awi Peak. The trail that is evidently marked goes around to the west and has a view of Taboche, Cholatse, and Arakam Tse.

Chola Tsho Lake lies below here whilst the path gets little up and down before descending very far towards Dzongla. The village of Dzongla can be a bit underwhelming as it is not as lively as the other villages.

We’re going to get up at 7:00 AM, get our things packed, and have breakfast by 7:30 AM. We will also be packing our lunch as there are no eateries on the way. After leaving Dzongla, the path travels northwest through a rather level terrain and arrives at a location where micro spikes are required. Even though the terrain is quite easy, some hikers may find it difficult owing to the altitude gain.

Having crossed a small river, the trail leads steeply up an incline dotted with boulders into the glacier under Cho La Pass. So far, this path has not varied much from what we met in our previous ten days’ journey. In about 3 hours’ time we will ascend through Cho La pass and enter Gokyo area.

Gokyo, one of the most aesthetic settlements in the Khumbu region, is located on the eastern shore of a stunning lake with a glowing bluish color. From a distance, the path leading to the summit of Gokyo Ri, which lies on the northern edge of Gokyo Lake, appears sharp and rigid. We will climb downward toward the Gokyo Ri after snapping a couple of shots over boulders with the fantastic scenery in the far distance.

The path zigzags up several alternative paths passing cairns before climbing sharply over dry soil and then a rough path. There’s a path that goes all the way to the peak of Gokyo Ri, where prayer flags sway in the gusts.

Scenes of Lhotse, Taboche, Cholatse, Everest, Makalu, and Cho Oyo, in addition to the holy lakes of Gokyo extending south of the summit, are apparent from the summit. The summit of the Gokyo Ri is the first viewpoint that lets you see the difference between the tallest peak, Mt. Everest, and the other peaks in the region.

The following day, we will traverse Renjo Pass after exploring the beautiful Gokyo Lakes and climbing Gokyo Ri. Known as the easiest Himalayan crossing with the most panoramic scenes of the peaks, this pass ranks as one of the most well-known passes in Nepal.

The entire trip from Gokyo village to Lungden is 11 km long, including a 650-meter climb to Renjo La and an almost 1100-meter descent to Lungden. Although there are some uphill parts, the path is generally easy. Compared to Gokyo Ri, the climb up is visually pleasing and easier, however it takes longer.

Following the Bhote Khosi downhill, we will begin our descent to Thame energized by our morning breakfast. We will cover a total distance of almost 10 kilometers from Lungden to Thame. If you are in the mood to visit the Thame Gompa, we can do a slight detour but most trekkers prefer to view it from a distance since they are tired from weeks of trekking in the Himalayas.

Thame is yet another quiet village where you are unlikely to see many trekkers staying. This makes it the perfect place for resting.

Since we are leaving for Namche Bazaar today, we will be really eager to get started. Having hiked across the remote Himalayas for two weeks, this small town feels like heaven. The journey to Namche is largely uphill and downhill sections, but since there’s more concentration of oxygen in the air at lower altitudes, it will not feel too taxing. But, relative to what you’re acclimated to, it feels very warm, so dress accordingly today.

From Namche, we will travel about 26 kilometers to reach Lukla. It’s the longest distance covered in this Everest 3 Pass Trek but since we are descending and our bodies have adjusted to the altitude, this should not be much of an issue. However, this does not mean that the downhill trek will be easy.

Since Lukla is the final stop of the Everest 3 Pass Trek, we will all be motivated to get there and eventually to Kathmandu.

The next day, we will get to the vibrant and bustling city of Kathmandu. Our flight to Kathmandu will leave early in the morning to avoid the afternoon winds and clouds. Once we reach Kathmandu, you will check in at a 3-star hotel to stay for the night. Based on your preferred timing, we will arrange a farewell dinner for the night. Tonight’s specialty will be traditional Nepalese and Newari dinners.

Day 20 of the Everest 3 Pass Trek ends the beautiful journey. We hope that you have made memories that will last a lifetime and we are also open to reviews, recommendations, and feedback.