Everest Three High Passes Trek 19 Days

Best Time

Similar to other trekking seasons in Everest, you should start your Everest Three High Passes Trek in the Fall (September to November) and Spring (March to May). The post-monsoon period of Fall and pre-monsoon period of spring leave clear skies with little or no rain.

During the monsoon months (June to August), the drizzle makes visibility limited and the road becomes muddier. Meanwhile, the winter months of the year (December to February) will make the weather colder and harsher than ever.

But if you are a winter lover and can endure the cold of the Everest region, this is also a great time for you to experience fresh air and admire the snowy mountains. But keep in mind traveling in winter, you risk early snowfall and the closure of some passes, in addition to having shorter days.

What to expect?

In the classic trek route to Everest, you either visit the base camp, visit the Gokyo Lake, or climb Kalapatthar. But the Everest Three High Passes Trek can enable you to reach these places all at once. Additionally, you will also climb the three High Passes of Everest—the most impressive viewpoints of the Sagarmatha region.

The serenity of Gokyo, the peace of Everest, and other Himalayan giants, and the modest lifestyle of Sherpas will make you want to stay here for endless days. It is a place where everything in the world is sparse and completely lonely.

If you meet yourself here and then turn your eyes to look at the highest peak of Everest, you will feel like you can answer your long-standing concerns and questions. Just feel and capture the grandeur and beauty of the beginning with your body and mind, not with words.

Through this trek, you will pay the most sincere homage to the infinite and beautiful nature you encounter for the first time in your lives.

Elevation and distance

The 166-kilometer-long Everest Three High Passes Trek is one of the longest trekking routes in Nepal that takes you through some of the lonely sites of the Everest region. Approximately three weeks are needed to complete this trek with proper acclimatizing days.

From Namche, we will take the anticlockwise direction to approach Kongma La Pass at 5535 m first. This is the most difficult pass to cross. Then we will tackle the medium Cho La Pass at 5420 m. we will save the easiest Renjo la Pass at 5360 m for the last. We will also explore the base camp of Everest at 5364 m and Kalapatthar at 5545 m.

We have designed the travel program with gradual ascend and descend. The daily tour distance on average is 11 to 12 km with a walk of 6 to 8 hours per day. In addition to walking, we have enough time for sightseeing and rest.

Maximum/Minimum walk per day

We will walk for 16 days exactly during our 19-day Everest Three High Passes Trek. The hiking nature of each day varies with the changing landscape. During the initial phase when traversing from forest and thickets, the trail will be quite easier. But as the journey progresses, the landscape becomes more and more alpine and deserted.

Our easiest and simplest trek will be on the third day as we commence our hike from Lukla to Phakding, walking only for 3 hours. But when tackling the toughest Kongma La Pass on the tenth day, our walk will be challenging and longest, requiring almost 9 hours of hike.

Difficulty and Acclimatization

The Everest Three High Passes Trek is the most difficult peak trekking journey among the treks around the Everest Base Camp area. But worry not as our expert team has designed this program to help you adapt well to the altitude and clearly feel the beauty of the legendary mountain range.

In order to get you acquainted with the Nepal atmosphere, we will not start the trek immediately. We will spend a day as rest after your arrival in Nepal. Then the second rest day will be at Chhukung to acclimatize well before departing to climb the Kongma La Pass.

In addition, the trail to the High Passes is very clearly defined. There are numerous tea houses scattered around where you can stay overnight and dine. You will constantly meet friendly Khumbu locals and fellow trekkers, making your trip easier.

Can a beginner join this trek?

Generally, we recommend experienced and seasoned trekkers undertake this trek. You will have to ascend and descend the three High Passes at an altitude of more than 5000 m. You will spend most of the time in high altitude, going up and down slopes or crossing valleys, and completing the set destination at the end of the day. Unlike other trekking routes, there are small branches that make it difficult for you to determine the right direction.

Therefore, if you are new to trekking or new to Nepal, we advise you not to jump in high altitude trekking. Instead, take on the Annapurna or Everest Base Camp trek first, gain experience, and then participate in this trek.

Preparation and training

Everest Three High Passes Trek is one of the most challenging and demanding treks that require above-average physical and mental fitness. Unlike other treks in Nepal, only an active lifestyle is not sufficient for this trek.

We therefore suggest every traveler to practice sports or other training programs so they can deal with high altitude, and prevent altitude sickness as much as possible. Please prepare physical fitness by normal hiking, running, walking, or cycling a month before this trip. Or, go for a high- or medium-altitude hiking journey in your hometown.

Alternate Route

The clockwise approach which takes you through some more high-altitude adventures, and some difficult terrain will be an alternate route for those who love to dare themselves. On this route, you will cross the easiest Pass Renjo La first. Then you head on to Gokyo village and cross the Cho La saving Kongma La- the toughest Pass for the last.

You will hike towards Everest Base Camp and Kalapatthar first before moving forward to cross the Kongma La Pass.

Altitude Sickness

Trekking to Everest means a high-altitude trek that takes you to 5000 m or more altitude in the Khumbu region. The high altitude often causes persistent dry coughing, especially at night, which is common and named Khumbu Cough.

Along with cough, you may also feel headache, loss of sleep, appetite, fatigue, and dizziness, which are the signs of you suffering from altitude sickness.

Therefore, it is important to drink a lot, a lot of continuous liquid. It is ideal not to exceed 300-500 meters of elevation difference between one night and the next. It is not important to climb a lot as long as you lower the altitude afterward (in fact, it is ideal; try to do alternatives during the day that reach high and thus stimulate acclimatization).

Transportation, Meals and Drink

We offer all land transportation via private car, van, or bus when picking up and dropping you off at the Kathmandu airport. We have also included Kathmandu to Lukla and Lukla to Kathmandu flights in our package.

We offer breakfast in Kathmandu and breakfast, lunch, and dinner during the Everest Three High Passes Trek. Meals at lodges are much richer than you think. You will have more options for your meals, including traditional meals Dal Bhat, momo, pizza, cake, pie, noodles, egg dishes, etc.

Communication, Gadgets charging, and Internet/wifi

With the development of tourism, you can easily find WIFI when trekking in the Everest region. To be able to connect to social networking sites, you will have to buy a prepaid WiFi card from teahouses with a password to access the Everest Link wireless network. T

However, all local lodges do not always have these prepaid cards available. So you can also buy a DATA SIM card – NCell or NTC – from Kathmandu so you can get a mobile signal in many places.

Electricity is available to recharge your devices in high altitudes but the payment for the service can be higher with the increase in altitude.

Please keep in mind you may have to pay an additional USD 5 to USD 10 for these services which is not included in our service cost.

Permits

Only after obtaining the Sagarmatha National Park permit and Khumbu –Pasang Lamu village municipality permit, we will be able to undertake this trek. These permits are issued both in Kathmandu and in Lukla. But we will process these permits on the second day of your arrival in Kathmandu. The permit cost is included in our service cost.

Please keep this permit in your purse or shirt pocket, as they will be frequently checked at different checkpoints in the Khumbu region.