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Three Passes Trek

Country
Nepal

Duration
19 Days

Maximum altitude
5550 m

Activity
Trekking

Difficulty
Moderate / Strenuous

Best Season
September, October, November, December, February to April

Accomodation
Included

Meals
Included

Start/End Point
Lukla

Trek Overview

Trek Overview

The Everest Three Passes trek remains one of the toughest yet most rewarding high-altitude trekking journeys in Nepal, which encompasses three high passes and the most spectacular viewpoints of the ‘Top of the World’ mountains. Unlike other trekking routes to the Everest Base Camp, the three high passes trek route takes the adventure-seeker through the Kongma La Pass (5,535m), Cho La Pass (5,420m), and the Renjo La Pass (5,360m).
The Everest Three Pass trek is for experienced trekking enthusiasts only; nothing compares to the adventure and thrill of the Himalayas for an expert trekker. In contrast to other trekking routes, the trek offers a ‘360-degree view’ of the four ‘Eight Thousanders’ of Mt. Everest, Mt. Lhotse, Mt. Makalu, and Mt. Cho Oyu, among the eight tallest mountains on earth.
Such high-altitude adventure journeys usually last for a period of 18 to 21 days and are about 160 km long. Adventurers should be well-prepared for such an adventure, as they would have to contend with acute climbs, glacier crossing, and high exposure to levels above 5,000m, where the risk of altitude sickness should not be underestimated at all.
The trek features popular destinations such as the Everest Base Camp, the beautiful Gokyo Lakes, and the monastery town of Namche Bazaar. Adventurers also get to experience the pristine culture of the Sherpa people in distant villages such as Dingboche and Thame, where traditional Buddhist culture is still an integral part of their lifestyle. Every time the team crosses a Himalayan pass, they are greeted by entirely new vistas of the Himalayan mountains.
The pre-monsoon season, which usually runs from March to May, and the post-monsoon season, from October to November, are the best times for the Everest Three Passes trek, as the weather will be conducive and the mountains will be clear for viewing. Full preparation for the trek should comprise training for the heart and building strength, altitude training if possible, as well as the right trekking gear such as four-season sleeping bags, crampons, and technical In the Everest three pass trek, there is an acclimatization day and rest day, which benefits the trekker by reducing altitude problems by as much as 70%. Therefore, rest days and acclimatization are non-negotiables in the trekking schedule for an adventure trip such as the Everest Three Passes trek.

 

Trek Highlights

Trek Highlights

Three High Himalaya Passes: Cross three stunning passes in the Himalaya: Renjo La (5,435m), Cho La (5,420m), and Kongma La (5,535m). Each crossing exposes us to stunning 360-degree views of towering snow capped peaks and an experiential high altitude adventures.

Everest Base Camp: Arrive at the legendary base camp located at 5,364m. This is where expeditions to the summit of Everest begin and experience being beneath the tallest peak in the world. Being surrounded by massive glaciers and enormous icefall adds to the experience in this legendary location.

Kala Patthar Viewpoint: Summit Kala Patthar located at 5545m for the best close-up views of Mt. Everest. This experience is awe-inspiring in that you can watch the sun illuminate the world highest peaks (Nuptse, Changtse, and Pumori) with joyous golden light.

Gokyo Lakes and Gokyo Ri: Experience the beauty of glacial lakes of bright turquoise colors hidden high up in the Himalayas. After trekking to the summit of Gokyo Ri (5,375m) you will witness the stunning views of four 8,000m peaks; Everest, Lhotse, Makalu and Cho Oyu as the sun rises.

Khumbu Icefall and Glaciers: On your trek you will walk beside the massive Khumbu Icefall with its massive ice structures and also cross the Ngozumpa Glacier, the longest glacier in Nepal. The ice formations are dramatic; deep crevasses and shifting towers of ice cannot be ignored in this frozen wonderland.

Tengboche Monastery: The Tengboche Monastery is the most important Buddhist Monastery in the Khumbu located at 3,867m. Here you will see ceremonies that can go on for hours, prayer flags dancing in the mountain airs and the monks chanting in front of the magnificent Everest, Ama Dablam and the surrounding peaks.

Sherpa Culture and life in the mountains: You will experience the true Sherpa hospitality that comes from visiting villages rather than tea houses and see how people live at extreme altitudes. You will witness the Sherpas going about their daily life, learn what its all about to be a mountain climber, learn how to eat local food and observe how communities flourish and thrive in challenging and difficult conditions in the Himalaya.

Sagarmatha National Park: Set out into one of the world's unique UNESCO World Heritage Sites, preserving pristine, rare Himalayan ecosystems. Begin trekking through the lush, multi-hued colors of rhododendron and pine forests. Then move into alpine meadows, and finally to high, barren landscapes, all the while enjoying the significant ecological change each location marks.

Himalayan Wild Animals: Get a chance to observe unique species at extremely high altitudes, including the Himalayan tahr with its enormous horns, the elusive and selective musk deer, Nepal's national bird the Danphe (a colorful pheasant), and possibly an extremely rare snow leopard.

Exhilarating Mountain Flight: Experience the thrill of exhilarating Kathmandu-Lukla mountain flights over one of the most challenging runways. Throughout your flight, gaze down at, and soar past, Himalayan giants, knowing you have an aircraft viewpoint of Everest and its surrounding peaks.

Outline Itinerary

Outline Itinerary

Price Table

Travelers Silver Gold
1 USD 1870 USD 2430
2 USD 1290 USD 1850
3 USD 1285 USD 1845
4 USD 1110 USD 1670
5 USD 1105 USD 1665
6 USD 1090 USD 1650
7 - -
8 USD 1080 USD 1640

Package Price

Package Price

    • Airport to hotel pick up and drop by private vehicle
    • Two-night hotel in Kathmandu at three-star categories in BB plan
    • One highly experienced mountain Guide and  Porter
    • One dinner with a typical Nepali culture show in Kathmandu
    • Accommodation food, drinks, salary, insurance, transportation of both trek guide and porter
    • Down jacket, four seasonal sleeping bags, duffel bag, and trekking map (down jacket and sleeping bag are to be returned after trip completion)
    • Group medical supplies (first aid kit)
    • All necessary papers work and Sagarmatha National Park entry permit
    • TIMS Card (Trekker’s Information Management System card)
    • Khumbu Village community entry fees
    • All additional government tax
    • All ground transportation is by private vehicle.
    • Kathmandu/ Lukla / Kathmandu airfare.(Ramechap - Lukla / Lukla-Ramechap)
    • Trek Guide airfare.

    • Other ground transportation
    • Nepal entry visa fee (USD 30 for 15 days/ USD 50 for 30 days from the date of issue) (You may easily get a Nepal visa upon your arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu)
    • Accommodation in Mountain Lodge run by local people during a trek
    • All meals during trekking
    • International airfare
    • Travelers Insurance
    • Cold and hot drinks (Alcohol  and cold drinks)
    • Boiled water, Hot shower, Mineral water, Batteries charge, and hot drinks (in a pot)
    • Lunch and dinner in Kathmandu
    • Bar bills, telephone bills, and other personal expenses (shopping/ laundry)
    • Tips to guide and porter
    • All expenses due to unavoidable events e.g. Personal illness strike etc.
    • Helicopter evacuation charge in case of emergency whilst trekking
    • We don't include drinking water on the trek which you can buy at several places for between $1 and $3 a bottle (it gets more expensive towards base camp). A better solution is to buy water tablets in Kathmandu for around $2 and treat the water (your guide can help you find good places to fill your water bottle).
    • The other things not included on the trek are like Wifi, charging batteries, and hot showers. Wifi is available in some tea houses for $3 to $5 an hour. Hot Showers are also available in a few for around $4 and charging costs about $1.50 an hour.
    • Unforeseen costs due to flight cancellation, weather conditions, etc. You are responsible for extra hotel nights ($30/night) and meals in Kathmandu for any extra days in Nepal due to flight delays.
    • .

  • Airport to hotel pick up and drop by private vehicle
  • Two-night hotel in Kathmandu at three-star categories in BB Plan.
  • Accommodation in Mountain Lodge run by local people during a trek
  • Meal on full board (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) a cup of tea/coffee in each meal during the trek
  • One dinner with a typical Nepali culture show in Kathmandu
  • One highly experienced mountain Guide and Porter
  • Down jacket, four seasonal sleeping bags, duffel bag, and trekking map (down jacket and sleeping bag are to be returned after trip completion)
  • Accommodation food, drinks, salary, insurance, transportation of both trek guide and Porter
  • Group medical supplies (first aid kit)
  • All necessary papers work and Sagarmatha National Park entry permit
  • TIMS Card (Trekker’s Information Management System card)
  • Khumbu Village community entry fee
  • All additional government tax
  • All ground transportation is by private vehicle.
  • Kathmandu/ Lukla / Kathmandu airfare.(Ramechap-Lukla-Ramechap)
  • Trek guide airfare.

  • Other ground transportation
  • Nepal entry visa fee (USD 30 for 15 days/ USD 50 for 30 days from the date of issue) (You may easily get a Nepal visa upon your arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu)
  • International airfare
  • Travelers Insurance
  • Cold  and hotel drinks
  • Extra night accommodation in Kathmandu because of early arrival, late departure, or early return from the mountain(due to any reason) than the scheduled itinerary
  • Boiled water, Hot shower, Mineral water, Batteries charge, and hot drinks (in a pot)
  • Lunch and dinner in Kathmandu
  • Bar bills, telephone bills, and other personal expenses (shopping/ laundry)
  • Tips to guide and porter
  • All expenses due to unavoidable events e.g. Personal illness strike etc.
  • Helicopter evacuation charge in case of emergency whilst trekking
  • We don't include drinking water on the trek which you can buy at several places for between $1 and $3 a bottle (it gets more expensive towards base camp). A better solution is to buy water tablets in Kathmandu for around $2 and treat the water (your guide can help you find good places to fill your water bottle).
  • The other things not included on the trek are like Wifi, charging batteries, and hot showers. Wifi is available in some tea houses for $3 to $5 an hour. Hot Showers are also available in a few for around $4 and charging costs about $1.50 an hour.
  • Unforeseen costs due to flight cancellation, weather conditions, etc. You are responsible for extra hotel nights ($30/night) and meals in Kathmandu for any extra days in Nepal due to flight delays.

Trek Map

Map
Three Passes Trek map
Three Passes Trek Altitude chart

Detailed Itinerary

Detailed Itinerary

Trek FAQs

FAQs
You don't need to carry all your stuff which is not required for trekking. You can be left at your hotel or Himalayan Smile Treks office in Kathmandu. Nearly all hotels have a luggage deposit but we do not store clients valuables in our office. Also the hotel you will provide locker their you can store your valuables things. After you come back from trekking, we handover your luggage and other stuff to you.
We assign one of our officers to look after you, who constantly stay in touch with you during your stay in Nepal. We give you his mobile number. Or you may directly contact to our office number also.
In fact you don't need to be a mountaineer with rippling muscles to enjoy trekking. If you are reasonably fit, have a spirit of mountain journey and like walking, you are always qualified for any trekking in Nepal. You do not need any previous experience. However we suggest you some physical fitness programs such as running, swimming, hiking before you embark on journey.
If you're doing camping trek we offer standard meals as well as a vegetarian meal option. Just let us know if you want vegetarian meals when you book your trek. But we can't fulfill every trekkers requirement(i.e., dietary requirements or special meals ). Also tea house trekking you will get vegetarian meal. Please tell about your trekking guide about details of your food allergy.
If your solo trekkers we will provide you on single room in tea house. In peak season (October, November, December , March, April) you have to share room with a member of the same sex but it is rarely.
You will be served freshly cooked food during trekking. In all tea houses/ lodges along trekking trail Western, Continental and Nepali dishes are available. Three meals a day will be provided you in full board (Gold) package.
Up to a maximum of 5-6 hours a day with lunch breaks along the trail. The maximum altitude is depends upon which trek you are going. In Nepal normally the maximum altitude of most of the trekking falls between 3500m to 5000m.
To some trekkers when they go over 3000 m they may feel some affect of altitude sickness like shortness of breath and possibly a light headed which is fairly common. Sometime they may also get diarrhea as well as sprains and muscle aches. In such case our guide who is experienced in first aid treatment and high altitude sickness will advise you about any health requirements and also treat you. Altitude sickness is dangerous but it can be avoidable. If your follow a few simple rules you will not suffer from altitude sickness. Rules are trek slowly with your guide, drink at least two liters of water per day (not including beer or soft drinks), If you feel shortness of breath, a slight headache or dizziness, tell your guide and rest immediately. Lie down, drink water. If you are still feeling unwell you may consider going down a few hundred meters. Do not pretend you are okay, and do not go down alone. For further information of altitude sickness
You must disclose at the time of booking any medical condition that could affect your ability to do the Himalaya trekking. The Himalayan Smile Treks advise to do trek who has with heart conditions, knee problems, severe asthma or pregnant should not participate in the trek. The Himalayan Smile Treks could not be responsible in Himalaya trekking due to the lack of the medical facilities any problems due to your special dietary requirements or medical condition
There is no government restriction on the age limit for the Nepal trekking. If the trekkers children under the age of 8 years old and adults over 70 years old. The Himalayan Smile Treks recommend to hire an extra porter(our package price including one porter for two people).
In our trek packages one porter is including for two people. The one porter can carry 20-25 kg your luggage( per person 12 KG). If you're interested to hire extra porter we will recommend to hire in Lukla for Everest base camp trek. The porter cost approximately USD 15. If you want to hire a porter then please let us know at the time you make your trek booking. After Lukla it is very difficult to get porter. if your hire porter above the Lukla or Namche bazaar the porter cost USD 20 to 30 but they cannot always be reliable.
As general rule, it is hot enough during the days to wear an open-neck shirt with shorts and you will not be cold. During the evening, it gets cold so, long trousers and a warm jersey is essential.
Please consult your local doctor and follow his advice. However, if you are taking any particular medicines, it would be best to bring them with you.
There are trekking shops at Thamel, in Kathmandu, where you can easily rent or buy items like sleeping bags, down jackets, walking sticks, rucksacks, duffel bags and other equipments on reasonable price.
We will recommend you to rent or buy sleeping bags as low as -30 °C. This temperature is suitable for Everest base camp trekking(above 4000m). We will suggest to buy /rent sleeping bags and so you can try it out. Also you can rent /buy sleeping bag in Kathmandu trekking store.
If you are flying from a remote mountain airstrip like Lukla, Jomsom, Simikot, Taplejung and Dolpo, you should keep at least two spare days before your departure for home.
Trekking areas like Everest, Annapurna and Langtang, all most tea houses/ mountain lodges have telephone facilities. From there you can make international calls to your home and friends staying any part of the world.
Nepal is absolutely safe country to travel. Our staffs do take every precaution to ensure the comfort and safety of the trekkers. Before 2006 when Maoist movement was going on, there was a kind of fear in few trekking destinations. But today they have also come to peaceful political stream. So there is no more any fear and need to give donation for any party.
We offer you an experienced trekking guide. He is in charge of your overall trekking. This is the person you should go to with all problems, concerns and questions. He is well trained in all aspects of trekking, high altitude medicine, first aid and emergency procedure. He is selected in terms of his professionalism. Remember that trekking guides are local citizens and their English may be basic and limited to trek related topics. About porters, they carry your luggage. They are also local citizens. Normally one porter carries 20 to 25 kg of stuff. Normally we provide one porter for every two trekkers
Our group size is minimum 2 and maximum 12 however we will start trek from One people. We can organize trek according to customer requested date.
In Everest region trekking we offer you accommodation in tea house (mountain lodge). A Tea House is the combination of guest house, restaurant, and social hang out. The rooms are spare with twin beds and very little additional furniture. Around 5000 m trekking you don't need crampons but if you're going cross the high pass like Larkya la pass(5,235 m), Throng la Pass(5216 m) and Cho La Pass( 5,420 m) it is recommended. We will provide clean sleeping bag during the trekking.
Most of the Tea Houses have running water facility. Many of them also available hot water for shower. The hot shower is bucket shower(not running hot shower) except Namche bazaar. Most bathrooms are shared and toilets can be either squat type of the western version.
In tea House serves the traditional Nepali meal Dal Bhat (rice and lentils), as well as a variety of different food items, such as rice, vegetables, noodles, potatoes and soup. In tea house your will get vegetarian food. Also we will recommend to eat Vegetarian food. Also in tea house has western food such as pizza, pasta and French fries. Soft drinks, snacks and beer are available in most of the Tea Houses and trail side restaurants
The Three Passes Trek is regarded as one of the most extreme treks in the Everest region, requiring both a high level of physical fitness and mental determination. Expect several days spent above 5,000m as you pass through three high-altitude passes: Renjo La, Cho La and Kongma La. You will be doing 8-9 hours of staggeringly steep, rocky trails along a glacier-style terrain that will often be technical, requiring a solid footing. The chance of altitude sickness is high, so it is very important to acclimatize properly. Experience in high-altitude trekking is strongly encouraged. The glacier crossing of Cho La Pass, which may require crampons, can be challenging. You will trek for a total of 17-19 days, with the only burden being a lightweight day pack, as you will have porters carrying your main luggage.
The Three Passes Trek is a challenging circular trekking trail in Nepal's Khumbu region across three awe-inspiring high-altitude mountain passes above 5,400m. This complete circuit includes the traditional trek to Everest Base Camp and Gokyo Lakes valley, an unforgettable and truly immersive experience in the Everest region. You will ascend over Renjo La Pass (5,435m), Cho La Pass (5,420m), and Kongma La Pass (5,535m) and visit renowned locations such as Everest Base Camp, the viewpoint at Kala Patthar, and the serene Gokyo Lakes. The trek follows through Sagarmatha National Park and introduces you to the Sherpa culture while allowing you to enjoy the rich Himalayan landscapes of forests, glaciers, and dry high-altitude areas.
The Three Passes Trek typically starts with a breathtaking mountain flight from Kathmandu to Lukla's Tenzing-Hillary Airport at 2,860m, which is one of the world's most dramatic approaches to an airport. Once the trekkers reach Lukla, trekkers will continue along the Everest Base Camp trail through Phakding to Namche Bazaar, where they will do their initial acclimatization. The circuit can be done in either direction, clockwise or counter-clockwise. However, counter-clockwise (via Gokyo first) is the more popular option, as it allows for better acclimatization to the altitude. Most trekkers will head west from Namche toward Thame and Lungden before they cross the Renjo La Pass to the Gokyo lakes. The trek wraps up back in Lukla, after you successfully do the entire area and all 3 passes.
The cost of the Three Passes Trek can vary widely depending on the level of service and group size, but generally costs anywhere from $1,500 to $3,500 per person for organized packages. Budget-minded independent trekkers who are spending on tea houses, permits, and flights might spend $1,200-$1,500. Mid-range organized treks with a guide and porter generally cost $2,000-$2,500. Premium packages with improved lodges and levels of service can cost $3,000-$3,500. Costs typically include flights in and out of Lukla ($350-$400 round trip), Sagarmatha National Park permit ($30), TIMS card ($20), accommodation ($5-$15 per night), meals ($25-$35 for the duration of the trek), guide ($30-$40 per day), porter ($25-$30 per day), travel insurance, and equipment rental (if needed). You should budget extra for tips, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, hot showers, and charging devices.

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