Everest Three High Passes Trek

Everest Three High Passes Trekking—An Ultimate Everest Trek 

Trip Overview

This ultimate Everest Three High Passes Trek is for those who seek a more wild and challenging holiday experience, as it is more demanding and the longer route crosses through three high passes that are not on the regular Everest trail. These are the Kongma La (5,535m), the Cho La (5,420m) and the Renjo La (5,417m). You will also climb three hiking peaks; Gokyo Ri (5,360m) and Kala Pattar (5,545 m) offer superb views of Everest, whilst Chukkung Ri (5,550m) is a lesser-known summit, tucked under the imposing Lhotse-Nuptse wall. This westerly approach to Everest provides amazing vistas of the world's highest mountain and should be considered in particular by the keen photographer or by those who want a tougher trek. 

Our adventurous Everest Three High Passes Trek starts with an exciting mountain flight to the Tenzing Hillary Airport at Lukla—a beautiful mountain town. We begin our hiking from here to Phakding on the first day, and on the second day, we trek to Namche Bazaar, the Sherpa capital. We have a rest and acclimation day at Namche, as it is vital to get acclimatized to adapt to the high altitude. On the rest day we have option to hike to Khunde and Khumjung – a charming twin Sherpa Villages nestled below the Khumbila Rock and visit Everest View Hotel, the Five Star Hotel in the world's highest place, offering stunning views of Mt. Everest, Lhotse, Amadablam, Thamserku, Khangtega, Taboche Peak etc.

Our rest and exploration day at Namche is followed by the regular Everest Base Camp Trek route walking through the places of Tengboche; where we will visit region´s most active monastery and enjoy colorful landscapes, other Buddhist monasteries, prayer walls, manis and Dingboche in the land enclosed by the soaring peaks. At Dingboche, the trail breaks off from main trail and we head up to Chhukung – a beautiful hamlet of Sherpa Village, we will climb Chhukung Ri on the acclimation day at Chhukung and overnight in Chhukung. Also, it is always recommended that "hiking higher and sleeping lower" helps you acclimatize. Then our first three passes, the Kongma La, are probably the toughest days, but your reward is stunning views of Makalu (8,485, the world's fifth-highest mountain) to the east. It is a leisurely descent to Labuche, where we rejoin the classic Everest Base Camp Route, before climbing the famous viewpoint of Kala Patthar, the second of our three peaks.

Our trek to the viewpoint of Kala Pathar is followed by the tough climb through Cho La pass that takes us to the cobalt-blue lakes at Gokyo. Here we trek our third peak, Gokyo Ri (5,360m). This is a lovely peak above the Gokyo Valley, with fabulous views of Mt. Everest, Cho Oyu, Makalu, Ama Dablam, Nuptse, Cholatse and many smaller snow-capped mountains. After enjoying awe-inspiring views from Gokyo Ri and exploring Gokyo lakes, we make our way to the next great pass, the Renjo La. Making a night in Lungde or Marlung, we follow a little of the route used for centuries by the Tibetan Traders via Nangpa La to get to Thame. Following the classical route, we drop down to Lukla and fly back to Kathmandu, leaving behind our footprints in the shadow of Everest.

If you are a real adventurer seeking more of a challenging trek crossing some of the most famous high passes in the world, you really need to consider Wilderness Excursion's Everest High Passes Trek. If you are looking a slightly less adventurous than this that involves suburb views of Gokyo Lakes along with Everest Base Camp and Kala Patthar, "Everest Base Camp Trek via Gokyo Lakes - 17 Days" would be ideal for us! Wilderness Excursion's "Everest Base Camp—16 Days" itinerary would be perfect for you if you are young, energetic, physically fit, and yearn to hike up to Everest Base Camp and Kala Patthar but will have a limited amount of time to trek. If you are a novice trekker and want an easier itinerary but want to visit the Everest Base Camp, Wilderness Excursion recommends the 17-day Everest Base Camp itinerary as the best option.