Everest Three Pass Trekking - 23 Days

Quick Facts:

Detailed Itinerary:

Day 1 Arrive in Kathmandu (4,400ft)

Meet, be welcomed and transfer to hotel. If you arrive during the day, remainder of the day is free to relax to get over your jetlag. Overnight at hotel / 2 nights.

Day 2 Kathmandu World Heritage Site Tour

Breakfast will be served at hotel and then depart to visit various Cultural World Heritage Sites to see ancient Nepalese arts and architects of Kathmandu Valley. This is an easy day which allows you to overcome jetlag after a long flight. Lunch served at local restaurant. Afternoon return to hotel and remainder of the day free. Evening, we will do trip briefing with welcome dinner. 

Day 3 Flight to Lukla (9,315ft) and trek to Monjo (9,299ft)

We will take a 35 minutes scenic flight to Lukla Airport (9,315ft) in early morning.

Meet our trekking crew as we arrive, and then trek to Monjo through the scenic trail along the Dudh Koshi River. We will hike through mix of downhill, straight and uphill trails rest of the day. Along the way, we will see scenic view of mountains and forests, village settlements and farmlands.

We will also meet local people carrying out their daily chores.

Lunch will be served around mid-day along the trail at a local inn cafe. Dinner and breakfast served at the lodge we spend overnight. Mount Kailash Lodge or similar will be provided.

Day 4 Trek to Namche (11,283ft)
Breakfast and trek to Namche. Today, we will enter the Sagarmatha National Park area, which is also Nature World Heritage Site declared by UNESCO. We will hike through mixed deciduous forest and alpine scrub. In the morning, it is an easy to moderate trail and then uphill until we reach our evening stop. Overnight in lodge / 2 nights. Khumbu Lodge standard rooms or similar.

Day 5 Rest Day for Acclimatization

We’ll have breakfast at lodge and do an easy walking to visit the local monastery and museum while enjoying scenic views. This easy day allows us to get acclimatized to the altitude. Lunch and dinner are served at our lodge. 

Day 6 Trek to Tengboche (12,661ft)

Breakfast and trek to Tengboche. Along the route, we may see Himalayan Tahr grazing on the slope. Also, we will see spectacular view of Mount Tawoche, Nuptse, Everest, Lhotse Shar, Ama Dablam, Kangtega, Thamserku, and Kwangde. 

It is easy to moderate hike until lunch stop and then uphill in the afternoon to Tengboche. We will hike on a reasonably maintained trail. 

Day 7 Trek to Dingbuche (14,465ft)

We will enjoy spectacular mountain views from Tengboche, visit the monastery and then hike through the alpine Rhododendron and Juniper forest, Deuche Nunnery, Pangboche village, farmlands and open pastures. It is a gradual uphill hike rest of the day though not difficult. The trail scenery and mountain views are excellent. While hiking the forested part of the trail, we may see Musk Deer and Blood Pheasants. Overnight at Tashi Delek Lodge, Tengboche.

Day 8 Trek to Chhukung (15,514ft)

We’ll hike along the Imjatse Khola (River) to Chhukung enjoying beautiful scenery and mountain views. It is a gradual uphill trek until we get to our evening stop.

Overnight best available lodge or two-person tent.

Day 9 Trek to Chhukung Ri (17,725ft)
Today, we will either relax to acclimatize if we feel the need or hike to Chhukung Ri. This is also a very attractive trek that you can see the whole Chhukung Valley which is directly below Mount Nuptse wall and Lhotse. From atop Chhukung Ri, you can see Nuptse, Lhotse Shar, Baruntse, Island peak, Ama Lapchha Pass area, Ama Dablam, Tawoche to Cholatse peak, Thamserku, Kangtega and numerous other peaks in the region.

Early breakfast and hike to Chhukung Ri with pack lunch. It is mostly uphill hike to the viewpoint and then downhill hike back to Chhukung campsite.

Day 10 Trek to Lobuche (16,105ft) via Kongmala Pass (5,535m/18,155ft)

We will start early to Lobuche via Kongmala and then through the Khumbu Glacier moraine.

We are hiking through a trail that is less travelled and unmaintained. In the late afternoon, we will connect with famous Everest trail in Lobuche. Overnight at Himalayan Chain Resort of similar. 

Day 11 Trek to Gorak Shep (16,859ft) and Everest Base Camp (17,594ft)

We will hike along the famous Everest trail to Gorakh Shep, where will spend the night. Normally it is a lunch distance between Lobuche and Gorakh Shep, and Everest Base Camp is visited the same day. Visit to Everest Base Camp (EBC) is an optional item as we will see the EBC area from atop Kala Pathar the following day. Overnight at Himalayan Lodge or similar.

Himalayan Lodge or similar other lodges in Gorak Shep will meet the needs of lodging at this very high altitude. In Gorak Shep, if one can book and get basic comfort bedroom is a comfort by itself as there are limited space and availability of lodges here. Advance booking is required.

Day 12 Trek to Kala Pathar (18,204ft) and back to Lobuche

Early morning hike up to Kalapathar to see a mirror view of Mount Everest (Chomolungma in Sherpa and Sagarmatha in Nepali) and other great peaks in the region. Kala Pathar situated at the lap of mount Pumori, is our ultimate viewpoint so close to Everest. From here, we will admire the stunning view of Pumori, Khumbutse, Changtse in Tibet, Everest, Nuptse, Khumbu Icefall and glacier along with Everest Base Camp area, Ama Dablam, Kangtega, Thamserku, Tawoche, Cholatse, Lobuche Peaks, Gyajungkang and the valley landscape.

Day 13 Trek to Dzongla (15,514ft)

Today is an easy downhill hike to Dzongla, a summer Yak and Nak pasture area with potato fields surrounded by great views. Overnight at best available lodge.

Day 14 trek to Taknak (16,482ft) via Chola pass (17,607ft)

We will start early hike to Chola La to avoid any unwanted late afternoon weather at the pass. Today, we’ll hike through unmaintained trails and less travelled area. Trail passes through boulders, moraine glacier with and without ice. It is a steep uphill to the pass and then steep downhill until we reach the Westside of Chola Peak. Clear day will give us stunningly beautiful views of Gokyo Valley and peaks including Cho Oyu. 

Overnight best available lodge.

Day 15 Trek to Gokyo Lake (15,580ft)

We will hike across the Ngozumpa Glacier to Gokyo Lake on the Westside and rest remainder of the day. Overnight at Himalayan Chain Resort / 2 nights.

Day 16 Gokyo Ri Viewpoint (17,984ft)

Early morning-we’ll trek to Gokyo Ri for a stunningly beautiful panoramic view of the entire Khumbu Himalaya including Mount Everest, Lhotse Shar, Nuptse, Makalu, Cho-Oyu, Gyachung Kang, Gokyo valley and the massive Ngozumpa Glacier and beyond as far as your eyes can see. Remainder of the day is free to relax to recharge our energy.

Day 17 trek to Lumden (14,432ft) via Renjo La (pass 17,515ft)

We will trek uphill to Renjo La and then downhill to our evening stop. The trail goes through rocky ancient glacier and summer pasture area. Best available lodge.

Day 18 Trek to Thame (12,530ft)

We will hike downhill to Thame through the scenic trail with spectacular mountain views.

Thame, the last major village before going over the Tashi Lapchala/pass and the famous Nangpala/pass (ancient trade route between Nepal and Tibet). Thame monastery is one of the oldest Buddhist temples in the region that we will visit.

Thame is also home of Tenzing, Apa and Ang Rita Sherpa, some of the renowned mountaineers of Nepal. Comfortable lodge.

Day 19-20 trek to Monjo and Lukla
The scenic trail down the valley leads us to Namche and then to Lukla the same trail we hiked up. Mount Kailash Lodge or similar, Monjo, and Himalayan Lodge, Lukla.

Day 21 flight to Kathmandu

Morning flight to Kathmandu and remainder of the day at leisure.

Overnight at hotel/1 night.

Day 22 Kathmandu at leisure
Breakfast served at hotel and day at leisure.
Options of activities on your free day in Kathmandu would be shopping souvenirs, visiting sites you have not yet seen or treat yourself to a nice spa. Lunch is on your own. Farewell dinner will be served at local Nepalese restaurant. 

Note: This leisure day is also your cushion day should there be a flight delay from Lukla to Kathmandu due to bad weather. All trekkers to the Everest region should have flexible return flight home as there is possibility that there might be a flight delay with the unpredictable mountain weather.

Day 23 Departure from Nepal

Breakfast served at hotel and then our complimentary transfer will take you to Kathmandu Airport for your connecting flight. Our service ends after we transfer to the airport.