Everest Three Passes Trek
high-altitude passes to Everest
high-altitude passes to Everest
One of the most challenging most treks in the Khumbu is
known as Everest Three passes trek. The Three high passes to Everest Base Camp
are Three High passes: Renjo La (5,360m), Cho La (5,420m) and Kongma La
(5,535m). This route takes in all the highlights—both in terms of mountain
views and local Sherpa culture. The three passes trek is a challenging
trek given the consistent high altitude passes with Kongma La being the most challenging.
It is harder than the straight Everest Base Camp trek and Gokyo Lakes, but not
quite as challenging as trekking peaks such as Island Peak and Mera Peak.
The route to the Three Passes Trek follows heads north from Lukla up the Khumbu
valley until Namche Bazaar. From here, hikers can choose to hike either
clockwise or counterclockwise. Counterclockwise is the more common route. The
other way is to go west from Namche to Thame and Lumde and cross Renjo La pass
to get into the Gokyo valley. The trail then goes over the Cho La pass into the
Dudh Kosi valley. From here it heads up to Everest base camp. Finally it heads
back down and crosses the Kongma La pass arriving in the Imja Khola valley. En
route you will summit three great peaks: Gokyo Ri, Kala Patar and Chukhung
Ri.
The views that you will take in from the top of Kongma La are truly some of the
best you will come across in the region. The terrain of the trail is also
not easy to navigate. While there are some flatter and more dirt like sections,
a lot of the trail is also done on more rocky and uneven terrain.
Day-1: Arrive Kathmandu
Day-2: Guided Sightseeing in Kathmandu
D?Day-3: Drive Kathmandu (1,310m) - Rammechap - Flight to -Lukla (2,840m). Trek to Phakding (2,610m)
Day-4: Trek Phakding to Namche (3,440m) (5-6 hrs).
Day-5:
Acclimatisation at Namche
Day-6 Namche (3,440m) Thame (3,800m). (4hours).
Day-7 Thame (3,800m)
Day 8: Trek from Thame to Lumde 4370m/4-5 hours
Day 9: Trek from Lumde to Gokyo 4790m/7-8 hours, via Renjo-La 5360m.
Day 10: Gokyo
Day 11: Trek from Gokyo to Gokyo-Ri 5360m to Thangnak
4700m/2-3 hours.
Day 12: Trek from Thangnak to Dzongla 4830m/6-7 hours, via
Cho-La Pass 5368m
Day 13: Trek from Dzongla to Lobuche 4910m/3-5 hours.
Day 14: Lobuche (4,930m) to Gorekshep (5,140m). (5 hours)
Day 15: Gorkshep (5,140m) to Kala Patthar (5,545m) to
Lobuche (4,930m).
Day 16: Trek from Lobuche to Chhukung 4730m/6-7 hours, via Khongma-La 5535m
Day 17: Trek from Chhukung to Pangboche 3930m/4-5 hours,
Day 18: Trek from Pangboche to Namche 3440m/5-6 hours.
Day 19: Trek from Namche to Lukla 2840m/6-7 hours,
Day 20: ?Flight: Lukla - Rammechap. Drive to Kathmandu (1,310m).
Day 21: Free day in Kathmandu.
Day 22: Final Departure.
Day-1: Arrive Kathmandu
Arrival and transfer to Hotel.
Day-2: Guided Sightseeing
Guided sightseeing around Kathmandu valley.
Day-3: Drive Kathmandu to Rammechap. Flight to Lukla). Trek to Phakding (2,610m).
We drive away from Kathmandu around 02h00 for Rammechap to catch the flight to Lukla.
Our early morning hike to Everest Base Camp begins with a flight into Lukla - is a lifetime experience, in itself. The airfield is on a slope and the difference between the two ends of the runway is about 460 meters! You will land on an airstrip built by Sir Edmund Hillary and the Sherpas in the mid-1960s. After meeting with guides and porters and a short break for tea we hike away from Lukla towards Everest base camp for a few hours along the Dudh Kosi River to the village of Phakding 2,610m. Once you have trekked through the small village of Ghat (2550m), Phakding is a short walk away.
Day-4: Phakding (2,610m) Namche Bazaar (3,440m).
After leaving the village of Phakding the path takes us through a magnificent forest of rhododendron, magnolia trees and giant fir trees alongside the Dhud-Kosi river through small villages like Bekar and Monju. You will crisscross over the river a few times on high suspension bridges until you eventually come to the Sagarmatha Check Point where your permits needs to be checked. The climb then starts with a downhill trek down to the river and then all the way back up again to Namche.
The trail heads up through blue pine forests and as you climb there are rhododendron trees which bloom in Spring time. The trail heads up through blue pine forests and as you climb there are rhododendron trees which bloom in Spring time. Namche is the largest Sherpa village and is the unofficial capital of the Khumbu, gateway to the high Himalayas. This relatively small town is a bustling tourist zone and trading hub literally is perched on a sloping hill. It is surrounded on all sides by mountains, from Thamserku to Kongde Ri. Trekkers heading to Mt. Everest, Gokyo, Island Peak and many other destinations for both trekking and expedition, have at least two nights stopover in Namche to acclimatise.
Day-5: Namche Bazaar (acclimatisation 3,440 m)
We will spend time here on short treks to acclimatise. Although it says acclimatisation, this means you need to walk for the principle of climb high and sleep low, meaning we gain altitude, then descend again to sleep low, enabling our bodies to better adjust to the altitude before we continue our ascent. A slow and steady pace with adequate time for acclimatisation is key to a successful trek. So hike up to Everest View hotel for just that, a view of Mt Everest, assuming the weather is clear.
Day-6 Namche (3,440m) Thame (3,800m). (4hours).
Our hike is moderately easy and very pretty, as we head to the Sherpa village of Thame 3800m.
Day 07: Acclimatisation day
On this day you will do an acclimatisation trek
Day 08: Trek from Thame to Lumde 4370m/4-5 hours
In the morning after breakfast, we climb over the moraine and gently climb to Lumde following a route used for centuries by the traders who ferried salt and grains across the Nangpa-La into Tibet until reaching Marulung which takes about 4 hours. Then trail then continues uphill to Lumde for another an hour. Stay overnight at Lodge.
Day 09: Trek from Lumde to Gokyo 4790m/7-8 hours, via Renjo-La 5360m.
A long day starts early in the morning. The trail ascends steeply until reaching Renjo-La which offers spectacular views. From here you can see the roof tops of Gokyo shining in the distance alongside the shore of the lake. The trek takes about 4 hours and we then trek all the way down to Gokyo, arriving after about another 3 hours. Stay overnight at Lodge.
Day 10: Gokyo
We will spend a day here looking around the area
Day 11: Trek from Gokyo to Gokyo-Ri 5360m to Thangnak 4700m/2-3 hours.
Early in the morning we hike to Gokyo-Ri to watch the sun rise over the snowy peaks. The trail is steep and rocky until reaching Gokyo-Ri after about 2 and half hours. We then continue on our trek passing the Ngozumpa Glacier until reaching Thangnak. We have lunch and stay overnight at Lodge.
Day 12: Trek from Thangnak to Dzongla 4830m/6-7 hours, via Cho-La Pass 5368m
Early in the morning, we start our trek. The gradually ascends through another steep rocky pass which is very hard going, to bring you to Cho-La after about 4 hours. Once at the top the trail descends until reaching Dzongla. It takes about 2 and half hour. We have lunch and stay overnight at Lodge.
Day 13: Trek from Dzongla to Lobuche 4910m/3-5 hours.
Today, we start our trek to Lobuche which will take about 3.5 hours. It is on today's trail that we will join up with the classic trek to Everest
Day 14: Lobuche (4,930m) to Gorekshep (5,140m). (5 hours)
The trail from Lobuche follows the muide, a geographer's name for the trough at the edge of the glaciers lateral moraine. A tributary glacier has piled another moraine across the trail which has to be crossed, giving a good view of Pumori. This section of the trek provides good views of the Everest group and Pumori from Gorek Shep and Kala Pattar
Day 15: Gorkshep (5,140m) to Kala Patthar (5,545m) to Lobuche (4,930m).
Hike up early in the morning to Kala Patthar to see the stunning views of Mount Everest. If you feel physically fit, optional hike to real Base Camp of Everest (5,200m) can be made. Get back to Gorakshep or Lobuche for the overnight stay.
Day 16: Trek from Lobuche to Chhukung 4730m/6-7 hours, via Khongma-La 5535
We start today by gaining altitude as we ascend up rocky terrain to the Khongma-La Pass which takes about 3 hours. You can actually see the ridge of the Kongma-La from Lobuche. Like the Cho La, it is very steep as you approach the top and also very rocky, so again, slippery at times. Once at the top of the pass, Lobuche will appear as a tiny pin prick in the middle of nowhere.
From there, we have a great view of Amadablam, Thamserku, Island peak, Lhotse and other peaks . We then start the steep descent. Along the way you will come across a beautiful glacial lake and ahead of you, the ever present,
Ama Dablan. The route will take you all the way down to the Imja Cola valley, with views across to Island Peak, all the way to Chukkung. You may overnight there or perhaps Dingboche if the group is okay for another 1.5 hour trek. Dingboche is much prettier.
Day 17: Trek from Chhukung to Pangboche 3930m/4-5 hours,
Early in the morning, we hike from Chukkung through Yak pastures and pretty landscape of the Imja valley until reaching Dingboche. Then the trail continues till Pangboche village which takes about 2 hours. Stay overnight at Lodge. Day 18: Trek from Pangboche to Namche 3440m/5-6 hours.
In the morning after breakfast, we continue our trek to Tengboche through the deep forests which takes about 2 hours. At Tengboche, they have a lovely monastery you may wish to visit as it also has an interesting history.
The trail then descends steeply towards Pungi Tanga where you can stop for a drink, and then you head on another steep climb to the ridge line above the river. The path here is wide and has been built by Ang Pasang Lamu Sherpa, an elderly man now in his late 80's . He relies solely on donations to employ locals to make the path safer. You will pass his donation box so please remember to pop something in it. You then continue al the way back to Namche Bazaar.
Day 19: Trek from Namche to Lukla 2840m/6-7 hours,
In the morning, we leave the Namche Bazaar and trail descents through pine trees and cross the high suspension bridge over the Dudh Kosi River. Then our trail continues River side and we arrive in Jorsale and it takes about 2 and half hours. We the
en continue our trek to reach Phakding crossing several bridges about 1 and half hours walk. We have our lunch there. After lunch our trail continues until Lukla with several descents and ascents for the next two hours.
We trek further to the mountain airstrip at Lukla where we will catch our return flight to Kathmandu the following day.
Day 20: Flight: Lukla - Rammechap. Drive to Kathmandu (1,310m).
Fly to Rammechap and drive to Kathmandu, with remainder of the day free. Hotel Overnight.
Day 21: Free day in Kathmandu.
Day 22: Final Departure.
Transfer to International terminal of Kathmandu Airport for the Final Departure
End of services
Most people think Everest Base Camp is higher than Kilimanjaro but surprise surprise, it is not. Base camp of Everest (or rather Kala Pathar – the little hill you climb up above base camp) is actually 5545m, whereas Kilimanjaro summit is 5895m.
People also think it is a tougher hike than Kilimanjaro, but Kilimanjaro is actually regarded as tougher by those who have done both.