Trip Overview

The Everest Three High Passes trek crosses Kongma La (5,535 m), Cho La (5,420 m), and Renjo La (5,360 m) in one 22-day loop through the Khumbu. Along the way you reach Everest Base Camp, climb Kala Patthar, and spend two nights at the Gokyo Lakes. The whole route is inside Sagarmatha National Park. It is one of the toughest treks in the Everest region, and it suits trekkers with good fitness and some multi-day, high-altitude experience.

We drive to Manthali on Day 3, fly to Lukla the next morning, and walk from there through Namche Bazaar, Tengboche, and Dingboche. From Dingboche we go up the Imja Valley to Chhukung and climb Chhukung Ri (5,550 m), which looks straight at the south face of Lhotse. The first pass, Kongma La, takes us across to Lobuche and the Khumbu Glacier. Then we go on to Gorak Shep, Everest Base Camp (5,364 m), and Kala Patthar (5,545 m) for sunrise.

From Dzongla we cross Cho La into the Gokyo Valley, walk over the Ngozumpa Glacier, and stay two nights at the lakes. On the rest day we climb Gokyo Ri (5,357 m), where Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, and Cho Oyu all appear in one view. The third pass, Renjo La, takes us west to Lumde, and we return to Lukla through Thame and Namche. The Thame side is far quieter than the main Base Camp trail.

This is a long trek. Most days are 5 to 7 hours of walking, the pass days are 7 to 8, and you spend ten nights above 4,000 m. The passes can have snow and ice. We build in acclimatization days at Namche Bazaar and Chhukung, plus a rest day at Gokyo before the last pass. Our guides set the pace each day and watch for signs of altitude sickness.