Everest Three Pass Trek

Kathmandu, the vibrant capital of Nepal, welcomes you! On arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport (1,400 meters / 4,593 feet), you will be received by our representative and transferred to your hotel. Check into the hotel, and the entire day is at leisure. You could either roam around the places nearby or stick around the streets of Thamel. Otherwise, you can spend the day hanging out in the hotel and enjoying the environment.

Today, it is all about preparation for the journey ahead. After breakfast, you will get a detailed briefing regarding the trek. Make sure that you have everything required, and gear and equipment can be rented or bought from local shops as per your requirement. Explore more of Kathmandu if you like. Drive out to the Sacred Pashupatinath Temple or walk around the serene Boudhanath Stupa. This is the day for last-minute preparations, getting yourself physically and mentally ready. Have a good night's sleep tonight as tomorrow, we start our adventure into the Himalayas.

Fly to Lukla 2,860 meters / 9,383 feet in the early morning; this is wonderfully thrilling. The Himalayas views from our morning flight will set the tone of adventure for our journey ahead. At Lukla, start the descent to Phakding, 2,610 meters / 8,562 feet. The day begins along a well-marked, relatively easy trail, with the small villages and lovely landscapes along the Dudh Koshi River. By noon, we would have walked about four hours up the trail to camp or overnight. Soak up the serene atmosphere with good night rest in Phakding.

Today, we have a trek from Phakding to Namche Bazaar (3,440 meters / 11,286 feet); it is about a six-hour trek. On the way, the path crosses several suspension bridges and passes through beautiful pine forests. We will reach Sagarmatha National Park listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where we might get to see some wildlife.

The last uphill climb is quite steep, but the panoramic view of Everest and other peaks is worth it. Namche Bazaar is the main trading center of the Khumbu region. There are loads of shops, cafes, and lodges. Take the evening off to enjoy this beautiful town and acclimate yourself to the attitude.

Now, acclimatization is the secret to a successful trek. Today, at an altitude, we spend a day in Namche Bazaar acclimatizing. At this camp, we will hike to the Everest View Hotel for some beautiful views of Mt. Everest, Lhotse, Ama Dablam, and many other peaks at 3,880 meters / 12,729 feet.

You could visit the Sherpa Museum to learn more about the local culture and history of the region, or find the local market and have some traditional Sherpa food. This first day helps your body get used to the high altitudes; by doing so, it reduces the possible risk of sickness as we continue higher up the trek.

Next, we ascend about 6-7 hours to Tengboche (3,867 meters / 12,687 feet). On the way, we get various panoramic views of Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse, and Ama Dablam. We pass by the Dudh Koshi River by gentle descent, then steep up through beautiful rhododendron forests.

Upon arrival in Tyangboche, we will pay a visit to the famous Tyangboche Monastery. This is one of the most memorable viewpoints on our trek, owing to the spiritual atmosphere that emanates from the monastery and stunning mountain scenery.

The day's hike to Dingboche, at an altitude of 4,410 meters / 14,469 feet, will take about 5 to 6 hours. The trail drops down through the lush forests, crossing the Imja Khola, and then ascends consistently to Pangboche. It gets quite bleak and rugged as you go higher in altitude.

Dingboche, otherwise known as the Summer Valley, is covered with stone walls that safeguard the crops from cold winds. This beautiful village represents an overwhelming view and an appropriate place for acclimatization. Take some time off, enjoy the tranquility, and get some acclimatization for higher altitudes ahead.

This day, along with an early start, takes us to Lobuche at 4,940 m / 16,207 ft. via the challenging Kongma-La Pass at 5,535 m / 18,159 ft. This will be our first high pass. It is a very demanding yet picturesque 8-9 hours trek with steep ascents.

Views from Kongma-La Pass are brilliant of the Himalayas. Then, we drop down to the Khumbu Glacier and finally reach Lobuche. Today's condition coupled with the altitude of this terrain makes a very important milestone of our trek.

Today, we will finally reach the Everest Base Camp at an altitude of 5,364 meters/17,598 feet; it is the absolute highlight of our trek. From Lobuche, we get up early to hike to Gorakshep at 5,164 meters/16,942 feet (3-4 hours).

We rest for some time and then continue onto Everest Base Camp, another 3-4 hours via the Khumbu Glacier. Reaching Base Camp will be a big, wonderful moment; there will be some time to take pictures, soaking up the unreal surroundings. We then retrace back to Gorakshep camp for the night, reflecting on the accomplishments of the day.

Early in the morning, hike to Kala Patthar (5,545m/18,209ft) for sunrise views of Everest and other peaks surrounding it. That would be a strenuous climb to a very high altitude, but the views would pay off.

After breakfast, we start our trek from Gorakshep to Zhongla (4,830 meters / 15,850 feet); it is a 7- to 8-hour-long journey with ever-changing beautiful vistas and a sense of real adventure as we cross such rugged terrain and eventually arrive at Zhongla.

We begin this tough day by ascending to Thangna (4,700 meters / 15,420 feet) via the Chola Pass (5,420 meters / 17,782 feet). Steep ascents and icy paths will have to be faced with utmost care for about 8-9 hours of the journey. From the top of Chola Pass, one can view down a continuous range of towering peaks and glaciers. Having crossed the pass, we now gently descend down to Thangna, a small mountain-encircled settlement. But this physically hard day comes with the reward of stunning landscapes on the other side.

We trek to Gokyo Lake—4,750 meters / 15,584 feet—crossing the Ngozumpa Glacier, which is the longest glacier in the Himalayas. This 7-8 hour journey will take us to a very special and rough land.

When we reach Gokyo, there will be no words to describe the pristine turquoise-colored lakes surrounded by towering peaks. In the evening, hike up Gokyo Ri (5,357m / 17,575ft) for sunset with breathtaking views of Everest, Makalu, Cho Oyo, and the Gokyo Lakes. Next, we descend to Gokyo and spend the night there, followed by some calm, serene, beautiful moments in this place.

Today's trek reaches Lungden (4,350 meters / 14,272 feet) via the Renjo La Pass (5,360 meters / 17,585 feet). This journey is steep and strenuous, but with views of the Himalayas—Everest, Lhotse, and Makalu—it is unmatched. Then, we drop down to the very serene village of Lungden, with the opportunity for a rest and a reflective thought about how far we have come. These physical challenges are offset by the breathtaking view from the top and a sense of pride in having managed the climb.

Starting from the day, we drop 6-7 hours down to Namche Bazaar. The path moves through nice villages, breathtaking landscapes, and beautiful lush forests. You will feel the change in vegetation and climate while going downhill. As you arrive at Namche Bazaar, you have the best welcome atmosphere with busy markets, plush cafes, and comfortable lodges. Take some well-deserved rest and indulge in any last-minute shopping or trying out local delicacies if you like to.

We drop down to Lukla today. The trail is back the way we came in the Dudh Kosi Valley via Phakding and other familiar villages. Today is your last day of trekking—a time for reflection on your amazing journey, obstacles you've overcome, and beautiful landscapes that you saw. This evening in Lukla will be one to remember and celebrate well with your trekking team, and a comfortable sleep awaits, ready for tomorrow's flight back to Kathmandu.

Next, we board our early morning flight back to Kathmandu from Lukla, a flight of about 20 minutes. Say your last goodbyes to the majestic Himalayas from the air on your way back to the urban hustle. On arrival at Kathmandu, you will be transferred to your hotel. The rest of the day you are free for the city, doing some souvenir shopping, or just relaxing. In the evening, we will have a farewell dinner to mark the successful completion of our trek.

It's time to bid goodbye to Nepal. After breakfast, you will be transferred to Tribhuvan International Airport for your final departure. Reflect on the awesome experiences and memories created during the Everest Three Pass Trek. We hope you had a wonderful journey and look forward to welcoming you back for another adventure in the future. Safe travels!