Everest Three Passes Trek – 16 Days

Cho La Pass

Cho La is the middle or second Pass among the Everest Three Passes. Located at 5,420m (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 eye with snow-capped peaks, including Ama Dablam, Cholatse, and Makalu. However, the cross to Cho La involves walking through icy, rocky, and glacier sections, adding the thrill of the journey.

Kongma La Pass

Kongma La is the easternmost and most challenging Pass of the Everest Three Passes. At an elevation of 5,535m (18,159ft), 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 are awe-inspiring from the top of the Pass.

Renjo La Pass

Located at an elevation of 5,360m (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 spectacular views of turquoise Gokyo lakes, Mount Everest, Lhotse, Cho Oyu, and Makalu. Crossing Renjo La Pass includes steep ascents, descents, and rocky paths, requiring a good fitness level.

Sagarmatha National Park

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

Scenic Landscapes

The Journey to Everest Three Passes offers the stunning and 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 eye-appealing scenery. The panorama 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 bare mattress, blanket, and pillows.

The luxurious option is minimal on the trail to 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 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.

We only provide meals and accommodation during your trek.

Teahouses along the way provide food for the Everest Three Pass trail. 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 different altitudes and locations. Dal Bhat, Tibetan bread, and Thukpa are common local Nepalese foods that the tea houses serve, and pasta, porridge, and pancakes are some Western-style foods. Oatmeal, eggs, toast, Muesli, cornflakes, Porridge, and tea/coffee are options for Breakfast. Dal Bhat, noodles, pizza, pasta, sandwiches, dumplings, and soup are standard options for lunch and dinner on the trail to the Everest Three Pass trek.

The food is freshly cooked with more straightforward yet healthy ingredients. Choices for food at lower elevations are vast, whereas options at higher elevations are limited due to no access to road 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. Mineral water is also available but becomes expensive as you ascend higher, costing $1 to $4 per bottle.

However, we don’t provide soft, hard drinks, beers, and other alcoholic products. Because we understand that these things can hamper your tour. Instead, we provide you with healthy local and Western food that can benefit you during your trek.

Pre-Monsoon

March to May is a pre-monsoon and Spring season in Nepal, one of the best times for the Everest Three Passes Trek. The season comes after a harsh Winter season and has mild temperatures, ranging from 10°C (50°F) to -5°C (23°F), depending on the elevation. Rhododendron flowers cover the trail to three passes during the time, making the trek joyful. Yet, due to being one of the peak seasons, there will be a crowd on the way.

Post Monsoon

Post-monsoon is an Autumn season that starts in September and ends in November. It is another best time for the Everest Three Pass Trek, which comes with stable weather, clear skies, and a crystal-clear mountain view. As the season comes after the monsoon, the rainfall generally swipes up all the dust, making the trail fresh and green and the sky clear. Temperatures during this time are comfortable, ranging from -3°C to 20°C. Moreover, the trail during the post-monsoon is also busiest, making it crowded.

As Everest Three Pass is in a remote location, communication and internet facilities are limited. Choose Ncell and NTC for reliable communication, which provides 2G and 3G mobile network loads. Yet, NTC has better coverage and is the preferred choice among trekkers undertaking the trek to Everest Three Pass.

Internet connection on the trail varies on location and altitude. Most tea houses along the trek provide a WIFI facility, but it becomes expensive as the altitude increases. At lower elevations, mobile networks and Wi-Fi are fast. At mid-high altitudes, internet speed falls and is suitable only for messages and light browsing. However, in the past, including Kongma La, Cho La, and Renjo La, the internet didn’t exist, and communication relied on satellite phones.

Two permits are mandatory to complete the trek to Everest Three Passes. The required permit for the trek includes a Sagarmatha National Park permit and a Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality Entry permit. The permit of Sagarmatha National Park is crucial as the trek takes place within the protected area. The Sagarmatha National Park permit costs NPR—3000 for foreigners and NPR 1500 for SAARC nationality. Similarly, a Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality permit is necessary to access the local area managed by the municipality, ensuring the funds are used for the area’s development. The permit costs NPR 2000 per person.

You can get the permit for Sagarmatha National Park at the Nepal Tourism Board, Kathmandu. However, it requires documents, including a copy of a valid passport and passport-sized photos. Likewise, you can obtain the permit at the municipality checkpoint of Lukla, which requires a copy of a valid passport. However, with no worries, Nepal Alternative Treks provides you with all the necessary documents and paperwork.

• Sagarmatha National Park Fee: NPR. 3000 for foreigners and NPR 1500 for SAARC.
• Pasang Lhamu Rural Municapility Entry Fee : NPR 2000
• Note: Children below 10 years are free

The Everest Three Passes trek is one of the most challenging treks in Nepal, and it has a high-altitude adventure, steep ascents, and rugged terrain. So, what makes the trek challenging? Here is a brief breakdown of the factors that make the trek difficult:

Long Distance/Trekking hours daily

The Everest 3 high pass trek takes 16 to 18 days to complete, and each day involves walking for 6-7 hours, making the trek physically and mentally challenging. The lengthy duration and long trekking hours result in the trek’s difficulty.

Remote Location

The trek passes through a remote location, far from modern facilities and immediate assistance, adding difficulty to the adventure. Trekkers should stay in a remote area with limited amenities for several days, causing little discomfort to trekkers who are living a high-quality life.

Risk of High altitude sickness

Altitude sickness is a significant concern for any high-altitude trek. The issue started to be seen as trekkers got above 2,500m, and the trek to Everest Three pass takes 5555m at the Kalapathar, which is the highest point of the trek; getting to such a high-altitude means having a risk of altitude-related issue. Thus, knowing about its symptoms and how to prevent it is crucial. Here is the way how one can prevent the risk of high altitude sickness:

• Avoid trekking to a high elevation all at once. Instead, spend a day before hiking at the higher elevation to let the body acclimatize.
• While trekking higher, take a break from time to time to adjust your body to the changed temperature.
• Drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration, as it leads to altitude sickness.
  Avoid alcohol and smoking as they obstruct your lungs from sending oxygen to your body.

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 49.5km, 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 covers varied elevations ranging from 2,860m to 5,555m and easy, well-marked trail to challenging, rocky, steep sections.  Here is the table that showcases the distance from Everest Base Camp to Three Passes along with elevation, distance, and highlight between the points:

Travel insurance is most important when trekking on challenging routes like Everest Three Passes. It is necessary for emergency evacuation and medical coverage if you get injured or fall. Of course, it is mandatory for high-altitude treks like Three Passes. The trek is demanding, taking you through a remote location and offering a rewarding experience, but the risk of the trek also can’t be taken lightly. Thus, investing in a small amount for insurance is better than facing huge costs if something goes wrong.

One thing you must keep in mind is that you must buy insurance from your own country, as there isn’t any company in Nepal that provides travel insurance to foreigners. However, before purchasing, ensure that the insurance covers trekking at altitudes up to 6,000m, includes helicopter rescue, and covers delays, medical expenses, and trip cancellation.

The trek to the three high passes of Everest is physically challenging and requires proper preparation. Proper preparation before a couple of months is crucial to completing the trek successfully and safely.

Physical preparation

The trek requires a high physical preparation due to long walking days and steep climbs. Focusing on exercise that helps core body strength and leg muscles is crucial. While preparing yourself physically, focus on:

1. Cardiovascular exercise: Involve in running, cycling, swimming, jumping, and stair climbing to build stamina.
2. Leg Strength Training: Practice hiking with carrying a backpack to strengthen your leg. 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

Proper acclimatization is critical to avoiding altitude-related issues. To do this, spend a day at a higher elevation to let your body adjust to the changed temperature. Ascend gradually and take breaks from time to time. Likewise, stay hydrated throughout the journey and listen to your body.

Choose professional guides

Without proper guidance, completing the trek is quite impossible, so choose a professional guide for your trek. A professional knows the trail and weather and can assist in emergencies, serving as your back support.

The Everest three-pass is one of the hardest trekking routes in Nepal. Even some of the most experienced trekkers find it hard sometimes to travel through these treks. So, you have to be very experienced for this trek. Similarly, you have to be physically fit for this trek. If you have some health issues, then it will be next to impossible for you to travel or complete this trek. Likewise, make sure that you do a full body checkup before heading toward the trek. This will be beneficial for you.

The safety and Security of our people are important factors for our company during the trek. Similarly, we take full care of our consumer and their property. Similarly, our trip constantly operates monitoring every area of our travel. So, don’t worry about a single thing and enjoy your time with us.

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 and sleeves 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

Gears required for the trek vary upon destination and season. A comprehensive list of gear for all activities is listed on our dedicated page of Trekking Gear List