Everest Three Passes Trek – 16 Days

Cho La Pass

Cho La is the middle or second Pass among the Everest Three Passes. Located at 5,420 m (17,782 ft), the Pass lies in the northeast part of Nepal and connects the village of Dzongla to the east with the town of Thagnak to the west. Also, the Pass connects Everest Base Camp to Gokyo. From the Pass, trekkers can appeal to their eyes with views of Ama Dablam, Cholatse, and Makalu. However, the cross to Cho La involves walking through icy, rocky, and glacier sections, adding to the thrill of the journey.

Kongma La Pass

Kongma La is the most challenging Pass of the Everest Three Passes. At an elevation of 5,535 m (18,159 ft), the Pass is the highest among the three passes. It connects Chukhung village with Lobuche. The Pass lies between Imja Valley and Khumbu Glacier and is difficult to navigate. Even though crossing Kongma La is challenging, it is equally rewarding as it offers a 360-degree view of glacial lakes, rugged terrain, and mountain peaks. The vista of Mount Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse, and Ama Dablam is impressive from the top of the Pass.

Renjo La Pass

Located at an elevation of 5,360 m (17,585 ft), Renjo La Pass is one of the easiest passes on the Everest Three Pass trek. The Pass connects the Gokyo Valley with Thame village and provides views of turquoise Gokyo lakes, Mount Everest, Lhotse, Cho Oyu, and Makalu. Crossing Renjo La Pass involves steep ascents and descents, as well as rocky paths, and requires a good fitness level.

Sagarmatha National Park

Sagarmatha National Park, established in 1976, is a protected area in Nepal’s Everest region. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site with an impressive landscape and diverse ecosystem. The journey of the Everest Three Pass takes place within the national park and offers a glimpse of diverse flora and fauna.

Scenic Landscapes

The Journey to Everest Three Passes offers a diverse landscape of the Sagarmatha area. From lush valleys to rugged terrain and towering peaks, the trek takes trekkers through some of the world’s most visually appealing scenery. The view of some of the highest peaks in the world, turquoise lakes, glaciers, and moraines, and lush valleys will create long-lasting memories among trekkers on the high pass trek.

Tea houses are the common accommodation facilities on the Everest Three Passes trek. The local Sherpas of the Everest region run tea houses, which offer a comfortable lodging option. The accommodation point is budget-friendly, with basic amenities like single rooms with twin-sharing beds and shared bathrooms. The bed in the room has a basic mattress, blanket, and pillows.

The luxurious option is minimal on the route to the Everest Three Passes. Yet, Lower areas, including Lukla, Phakding, and Namche Bazaar, offer luxury hotels with private rooms with attached bathrooms, hot showers, and electricity.

As you move higher, the tea houses are the only option offering simple rooms and amenities. It provides mobile charging and hot water facilities, but at an extra cost. Moreover, at lower elevations, the price per night ranges from USD 10 to 15 for a basic one, whereas a luxury one costs USD 50 or more. Similarly, it costs USD 15-20 at higher elevations per night. The Everest Three Passes Cost Guide will help you break down the budgets required for this adventure.

Teahouses provide food along with accommodation on the Everest Three Pass trek route. It offers a mix of local Nepali dishes and Western-style meals to suit different tastes. However, the availability and variety of food depend on altitudes and locations. Dal Bhat, Tibetan bread, and Thukpa are common local Nepalese foods that the tea houses of Everest region serve. Likewise, pasta, porridge, and pancakes are some Western-style foods. Oatmeal, eggs, toast, Muesli, cornflakes, Porridge, and tea/coffee are options for Breakfast. Similarly, common options for lunch and dinner on the trail to the Everest Three Pass trek include Dal Bhat, noodles, pizza, pasta, sandwiches, dumplings, and soup.

The food is freshly cooked with simpler yet healthy ingredients. Choices for food at lower elevations are vast, whereas options at higher elevations are limited due to no access to roads and transportation; thus, consider bringing some light snacks or energy bars. For drinking water, consider carrying a refillable water bottle, as numerous streams and taps are available throughout the trail. However, don’t consume the Water directly; instead, have it only after purifying it with a water purification tablet. Yet, mineral water is also available, but it becomes more expensive as you ascend higher, costing USD 1 to 4 per bottle.

The journey to Everest Three Pass is circular, clockwise, followed by Renjo La, Cho La, and Kongma La. The distance from Everest Base Camp to Three Passes is approximately 49.5 km, which takes trekkers from the highest passes of the region to the most iconic destination, the base of the world’s highest peak, Everest Base Camp. The journey spans a range of elevations, from 2,860 m to 5,644 m, featuring well-marked sections and more challenging, rocky, and steep terrain.

Here is the table that showcases the distance from Everest Base Camp to Three Passes, along with elevation, distance, and highlights between the points:

The required permits for Everest Three Passes Trek are:

• Sagarmatha National Park permit
• Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality Entry permit

The permit for Sagarmatha National Park is crucial as the trek takes place within the protected area. The Sagarmatha National Park permit costs NPR 3,000 for foreigners and NPR 1,500 for SAARC nationals. You can get the Sagarmatha National Park permit at the Nepal Tourism Board, Kathmandu. Additionally, it requires documents, including a copy of a valid passport and passport-sized photos.

Similarly, a Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality permit is required to access the municipality’s local area, ensuring funds are used for the area’s development. The permit costs NPR 3,000 per person. You can obtain the permit at the Lukla municipality checkpoint, which requires a copy of a valid passport.

As Everest Three Pass is in a remote location, communication and internet facilities are limited. Choose Ncell and NTC for reliable communication, which provide 4G and 3G mobile network coverage in the lower to mid-altitude sections. NTC generally has wider coverage and remains the preferred choice among trekkers heading higher into the Everest Three Pass route.

Additionally, internet connectivity along the route varies by location and altitude. At lower elevations like Lukla and Namche Bazaar, mobile networks and Wi-Fi are fast and stable. At mid-to-high altitudes, internet speeds drop significantly and are suitable only for text messages and light browsing. However, in the high passes, including Kongma La, Cho La, and Renjo La, mobile internet does not exist, and communication relies heavily on satellite phones. Most tea houses along the trek offer Wi-Fi (often via prepaid networks like Everest Link), but the cost increases with the altitude.

Travel insurance is most important when trekking on challenging routes like the Everest Three Passes. It is necessary for emergency evacuation and medical coverage in case of injury or fall. The trek is demanding, taking you through a remote location with various risks. Thus, investing in a small amount for insurance is better than facing huge costs if something goes wrong.

One thing to keep in mind is that you must purchase insurance in your home country, as no company in Nepal offers travel insurance to foreigners. Also, before purchasing, ensure that the insurance covers trekking at altitudes up to 6,000 m, includes helicopter rescue, and covers delays, medical expenses, and trip cancellation.

Ever wondered about the Everest Three Passes Trek difficulty? The trek to the three high passes of Everest is physically challenging and requires proper preparation for several months to complete it safely and successfully.

Physical preparation

Trekking in Everest High Passes requires a high level of physical preparation due to long walking days and steep climbs. Focusing on exercises that strengthen the core and leg muscles is crucial. While preparing yourself physically, focus on:

1. Cardiovascular exercise: Involve running, cycling, swimming, jumping, and stair climbing to build stamina.
2. Leg Strength Training: Practice hiking while carrying a backpack to strengthen your legs. Also, practice exercises like squats, lunges, and step-ups.

Mental Preparation

Besides physical demands, the trek to Everest Three Pass is mentally challenging. Remind yourself that you’re trekking in one of the most challenging adventures, and while it will definitely bring toughness, it is worth it. Be ready to face unpredictable weather, altitude discomfort, and prolonged walking days. Make yourself prepared by practicing meditation and breathing exercises to stay calm and focused during challenging moments.

Proper acclimatization

Due to the rapid elevation gain, acclimatization is crucial during the trek to the Everest Three Pass. As rapid altitude gain can lead to altitude sickness, it should be managed properly. One effective way to manage altitude-related risk is through acclimatization. That’s why the Everest Three High Pass Trek itinerary includes a separate day for acclimatization so that your body can adjust to the changed temperature and environment.

The trek involves crossing three high-altitude passes, including Kongma La (5,535 m/18,159 ft), Cho La (5,420 m/17,782 ft), and Renjo La (5,360 m/17,585 ft). Along with the passes, the trek takes you to Everest Base Camp (5,364 m/17,598 ft) and Kala Patthar (5,555 m/18,225 ft). Starting above 2,500 m and back-to-back high passes make the trek to the Everest Three Passes tough. Therefore, don’t skip the acclimatization day as it is the only hope that makes your adventure successful.

Namche Bazaar is the first acclimatization stop on every Everest adventure, including the Everest Three Pass trek. Trekkers spend two nights in the village, with a day hike to higher elevations like the Everest View Hotel or Khumjung village, followed by a return to Namche for a night’s stay. Additionally, on this adventure, you’ll spend an extra day exploring at Everest Base Camp and staying two nights in Ghorakshep, which also serves as acclimatization. On the day, you’ll hike to EBC, stroll around the base camp area, and return to Gorakshep in the evening.

Choose professional guides

Choosing a professional guide for the Everest Three Passes Trek is essential for your safety and overall experience. Trek is more difficult than the standard Everest Base Camp route due to three high passes, so hire a guide for a safe and successful journey. Although some experienced trekkers attempt a solo high pass trek, the high-altitude and crevasse risk makes hiring a guide the best option.

A professional guide for the trek to Three Passes should have special skills for the journey. Your chosen guide should know about high-altitude sickness. They should be trained to recognize early signs and know when to stop, retreat, and call for help. Similarly, they should know the trekking routes without a map or GPS. Similarly, choose a guide who knows how to handle emergencies. Since the trek is challenging, your guide must be trained in first aid and have a plan for injuries, sickness, or bad weather.

The Everest Three Pass Trek costs USD 1,500 per person in 2026/27. However, the cost of the trip depends on the trekking company, the services included, whether you choose a budget, standard, or premium package, and, especially, your group size. Nepal Alternative Trek provides an exclusive group discount. However, group discounts apply exclusively to your own group, as we generally don’t merge groups with others.

Everest Three Passes trek cost for different groups and discount rates:

Furthermore, the trek package covers most of your trekking expenses for the Everest Three Passes adventure. The package covers accommodation and meals during the trek, the guide and porter, their personal expenses, permit fees, and domestic flight tickets.

The Everest region offers several trekking options, but the Everest Base Camp Trek, Everest Three Passes Clockwise and Anti-Clockwise Route are among the most popular choices for adventure enthusiasts. Each trip takes you through the beauty of the Khumbu region, but they differ in terms of difficulty, duration, route, and overall trekking experience. So, trekkers must choose the destination that suits their fitness level, previous high-altitude trekking experience, and the type of adventure they seek.

The Everest Three High Passes trek requires a careful packing list that suits each weather. Here is a detailed packing checklist required for the trek:

Upper Body Clothing

• Moisture-wicking short-sleeved t-shirts
• Thermal base layer
• Lightweight puffy jacket
• Fleece and down jacket
• Waterproof and windproof jacket
• Raincoat

Headwear

• Fleece or wool hat
• Sun hat or cap
• Neck gaiter or Buff
• Headlamp
• UV protection sunglasses

Hand

• Waterproof gloves
• Inner gloves

Footwear

• Trekking boots
• Trekking socks
• Gaiters (optional)

Lower Body

• Pants
• Thermal leggings
• Trousers

Gear and Equipment

• Backpack (duffle and day backpack)
• Trekking Poles
• Sleeping bag
• Water bottle

Toiletries and First Aid

• Medium size Towel
• Biodegradable soap
• Toothbrush and toothpaste
• Lip balm
• First aid kit
• Wet wipes and tissues

Extra Items

• Trekking maps
• Camera
• Binocular
• Two-pin charging plug
• Power bank
• Personal medications

Have questions regarding Everest Three Pass adventure? Contact us directly at info@nepalalternativetreks.com! We are here for your 24/7 service to guide you through epic Everest adventure.