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Everest High Pass Trek or The Three High Passes Trek is a trek to reach the three high passes of the Everest region, the home to Mt Everest. The three passes that you will climb on tour are Renjo La(5,385M), Kongma La (5,535m), and Cho La(5,360m). Not only Choyu and Gokyu Ri, but the walk also goes to Kala Patthar (5,545m) via Everest Base Camp itself. Thus, you can take it as the ultimate trekking trail of the Everest Region when it comes to mountain passes.
You will walk through all the offerings of the Everest Region, through its scenic valleys, traditional Sherpa villages, Buddhist Heritages, lush woods, rough landscapes, and whatnot, by the popular Gokyo Lakes. Mapping out the three passes and EBC trekking, you will go about walking most of the region on your feet. And, the breathtaking displays of Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, Ama Dablam, and Cho Oyu will be too regular on the trek.
However, Everest Three High Passes Trek is not an easy piece of cake. It is one of the most demanding and extended treks in Nepal. The 20-day adventure will start from Lukla and then lead to Namche, Dingboche, Imja Valley, Gokyo Valley, Thame Valley, and more, gaining heights every time. The trek's highest point is about 5600m, and that is undoubtedly a high altitude for every sort of trekker. In between, there will be rough terrain, challenging weather, and other problems. So, it is not going to be a simple trek.
If you are an experienced trekker with good preparation, Everest High Passes Trek is just a regular trek for you. You will have a lot to experience and cherish throughout the walk. On the contrary, for those with less or no preparation, it can be a nasty adventure. Thus, we highly recommend this trek to those with prior high-altitude trekking experience and good training.
We, Sabbatical Explore Nepal, are always on the go if you ever think of doing Everest High Passes Trek. Just let us know!
Day 1: Arrival In Kathmandu (1345m)
Day 2: Kathmandu valley sightseeing
Day 3: Fly from Kathmandu to Lukla and Trek to Phakding (2610m-4 hours)
Day 4: Trek from Phakding to Namche (3440m-6 hours)
Day 5: Acclimatization Day in Namche Bazaar (4 hours hike)
Day 6: Trek from Namche to Tengboche (3860m-5 hours)
Day 7: Trek from Tengboche to Dingboche (4360m-5 hours)
Day 8: Trek from Dingboche to Chhukung (4740m-4 hours)
Day 9: Acclimatization Day in Chhukung, Climb Chhukung Ri
Day 10: Trek to Lobuche via Kong Ma La(5,535m) | 8-9hrs
Day 11: Trek to Gorak Shep to Everest Base Camp(5364m) | 8hrs
Day 12: Trek to Dzong La via Kala Patthar(5545m) | 5hrs
Day 13: Trek to Gokyo via Chola Pass(5368m) | 8hrs
Day 14: Exploration day in Gokyo
Day 15: Trek from Gokyo to Lungden via Renjo La(5,360m) | 6-7hrs
Day 16: Trek from Lungden to Thame Village | 4hrs
Day 17: Trek from Thame to Namche Bazaar | 7-8hrs
Day 18: Trek from Namche to Lukla | 6-7hrs
Day 19: Fly back to Kathmandu| 30mins
Day 20: Final Departure
Our team will be at the airport for your hassle-less arrival. After the warm welcome, we will move to your hotel where you will rest. In the evening, we will organize a welcome dinner where you will interact with the team about the trek. Overnight in Kathmandu.
Kathmandu Valley's tour is a must before any trip outside the valley. So after breakfast, we will take you on a drive-aided tour to the significant cultural heritage sites in the valley. Our guide will make sure you thoroughly explore places like Swayambunath Stupa, Pashupatinath Temple, Basantapur Durbar Square, and Bouddhanath Stupa. If time permits, we will explore some more of such cultural and historical sites. On the other side, our team will prepare all the trek arrangements for Everest High Passes Trek. Overnight in Kathmandu.
Now, we are all set to move. We will hop into an aircraft to Lukla. It will be an awe-inspiring flight of 30 minutes. Upon landing in Lukla and breakfast, we will eventually start trekking towards Phakding, the first stop of every Everest Region trek. It will be a walk of 3-4 hrs through Dudhkoshi Valley. Beginning with a descent, we will pass Cheplung Village and Ghat to reach Phakding. We will see some of the peaks along the trek. Overnight in Phakding.
Waking up in Phakding and eating our breakfast, we will move in the direction of Namche. The trek will mainly happen through the packed forest of Sagarmatha National Park. We will also cross one too many suspension bridges across the day. At Jorsale, we will officially enter the national park by showing permits. Following the riverbed of the Dudh Koshi River, we will keep on trekking slowly. If the day is clear, we may see the first sight of Mt Everest. We will call it a day in Namche Bazaar, the hub of the Everest Region.
On the fifth day of Everest High Passes Trek, we will have an acclimatization day in Namche. It will be a vital day where we will hike around Namche to get familiar with high altitudes. We will either visit the nearby Sherpa settlements like Khumjung and Khunde or hike up to the Everest View Hotel to use this day appropriately. Khumjung and Khunde are the two biggest Sherpa communities in the region. We will explore the culture and lifestyle of the locals. Similarly, Everest View Hotel is one of the highest-placed hotels in the world. We will hike up to the hotel for delicious dining with breathtaking Mt Everest and adjoining peaks. Overnight in Namche Bazaar.
Now we head out of Namche Bazaar. We will join a trail that takes us to Phunki Thanga. It will be a descending trek to the Dudh Koshi Valley up to the place. From there, we will start an uphill walk to Tengboche, the home of the famous Tengboche Monastery. The trek will be around 5-6 hours long, and we will get to see Everest, Nuptse, and Ama Dablam quite clearly. Upon reaching Tengboche, we will spend some time around the monastery and the village. Overnight in Tengboche.
We will wake up to join early morning prayers at the monastery. After that and breakfast, we will take a downhill road which will lead us into a forest of Rhododendron and Birch. The views will keep on getting better and closer as we trek ahead via Debuche. We will cross the Imja River and Lobuche River via several prayer flags dotted suspension bridges. Eventually, after a trek of 5-6 hrs, we will end up in Dingboche, a charming Sherpa hamlet. Overnight in Dingboche.
After a delicious breakfast, we will begin another day of trekking. It will be the easiest trekking of the entire Everest High Passes Trek. Merely walking for 3-4 hrs, we will reach Chhukung by enjoying views of mountains and landscapes. Bibre, a yak stable, and pasture will come across as we trek ahead in the Imja Valley. We will also see Island Peak, a famous trekking peak in the region. As we will reach Chhukung early, we may go for a short stroll around the village. Overnight in Chhukung.
Now things will slow down a little bit in Chhukung. We will have a full rest day in Chhukung village to acclimate with altitudes. On the day, we will do an uphill hike to Chhukung Ri, the best place to enjoy the amazing angles of Mt Ama Dablam. The climb will not be that hard and long. We will get astonishing views of the Imja Valley and sky-towering mountains from the top. After enough time at the top, we will descend back to the village for the night.
On this day, we will climb across the first pass of the Everest High Passes Trek. It will be a long day as well, so we will leave Chhukung right after breakfast. We will join a route that heads out of the village to the Niyang Khola Valley. Continuing the trek through the valley, we will come across Nuptse Glacier and Amphu Lapcha. Leaving the canyon down, we will climb to approach Kong Ma La Pass via a steep and rugged trail.
The vision from Kong Ma La is simply breathtaking and can leave us awe-struck for a while. We will be able to view the surrounding mountains, valleys, and glaciers from there. Following, we will descend from the top, walking on a slippery and rough trail to Lobuche. We will also walk side by side of the Khumbu Glacier. Overnight in Lobuche.
From Lobuche Village, we will trek across the lateral moraine of Khumbu Glacier to reach Gorak Shep. We will gently stroll as we are at a high altitude already. We will take a break in Gorak Shepa's teahouse before going to Everest Base Camp. In total, we will trek for around 8 hours throughout the day. We will successfully climb down Everest Base Camp to enjoy the glorious moments and views. After that, we will trace back to Gorak Shep to call it a day.
Waking up to a crispy view in Gorak Shep, we will start the trek early today. We will try to reach Kala Patthar before sunrise to get the astonishing views of Mt Everest. It will take us some hours of trekking on an uneven trail to reach Kala Patthar. But the vision from the place will make every step count. We will enjoy the best views of Mt Everest and other peaks. Next, we will descend to Dzong La by retracing the trail to Gorak Shep and Lobuche. Overnight in Dzong La.
Now, we will scale another pass of the trek, Chola Pass. It is going to be another long day as well. Firstly, the hike will reach Cho La Pass(5368m) via a steep section. The climb is also a little tricky in some areas. Overcoming all of that, we will touch Cho La Pass to enjoy a great panorama of the Everest Region. Following the moments at Cho La, we will descend to Thangnak. The trail to Thangnak is not that demanding but moving boulders and rocks make it a little risky. Watching our steps and falling gradually, we will reach Thangnak. From there, we will trek along Ngozumpa Glacier to enter Gokyo Valley. We will come across two of six Gokyo Lakes today. Our day will end at Gokyo Village, which is just by the third Gokyo Lake.
The day will be one of the busy days of the entire Everest Three High Passes Trek. We will start the day with a hike to Gokyo Ri(5,483m), a significant mountain pass. It will take us 2 hours to reach the pinpoint of Gokyo Ri. We will come across breathtaking views of Gokyo Lakes, mountains, and glaciers from the top. Along with Gokyo Ri, we will reach the remaining Gokyo Lakes along the day. After all of this, we will retrace Gokyo Village for the night.
It is time for the third and last pass of the Three High Passes Trekking. We will leave Gokyo Village and Lakes behind to pursue Renjo La Pass. Soon later, the ascent to the top starts, which takes around 3 hours. Pushing ourselves over the sloppy terrain, we will reach the top to experience the Everest Region from Renjo La Pass. We will celebrate the successful climb of all the passes. Succeeding, we will descend from Renjo La Pass to Lungden, where we will settle for the night. En route, we will explore some other lakes of the region; Renjo, Relamo Tsho, and Angladumba Lake. Overnight in Lungden.
After a night full of sleep in Lungden, we will take a road to Thame Village. The trek will not test us as we have only 4 hours of trekking on a descending trail. We will enjoy this comfortable walk by watching the mountains continuously. En route to Thame, we will arrive in Marulung, a small hamlet with mountain views behind. Catching our breath there, we will move towards Thame Village across the Bhotekoshi River and Taranga Village. We will have a spiritual evening in the village of Thame Monastery.
The morning prayers at Thame Monastery will wake us today. Joining the prayers and eating breakfast, we will bid farewell to the village. The trail from here is greener than the high areas. We will enjoy walking amid green woods in the direction of Namche Bazaar. It will be a longer trek day than the previous one. But the views of landscapes will keep us moving. Following the 7-8 hrs of the trek, we will arrive in Namche Bazaar for the second time. Overnight in Namche.
We will wake up to the hustles and bustles of Namche Bazaar. After eating our breakfast, we will join the final trekking day of the Everest High Passes Trek. This will be the last chance to witness the beauty of the Everest Region until next time. On this day, we will push ourselves to reach Lukla by nightfall. Trekking along the same route, we will trace Lukla. Like the other day, we will walk through forests, over suspension bridges, and via villages. It will be a trek of around 6-7 hrs. Overnight in Lukla.
This is when you leave the region and officially complete the trekking part of the Everest Three High Passes Trek. After a delicious breakfast in Lukla, we will board a plane to Kathmandu. The flight will take 30 minutes to land in the capital; the flight is scenic. Once landed at the airport, we will head to our hotels in Kathmandu for a rest. You can use the rest of the time to explore and buy souvenirs around the city. Overnight in Kathmandu.
On the 20th day of the Everest High Passes Trek itinerary, we will give you a transfer to the airport at the time of departure. We will bid you goodbye and promise to meet on another adventure.
What kind of meals should I expect during the trek ?
You will get hygienic, energetic, and well-cooked meals three times a day. The food items available on the trek are the most common ones from Nepali, Indian, Chinese, and Western but local style.
What are the odds of getting altitude sickness during the trek ?
If you do not follow health precautions and take mountain sickness lightly, you never know when. You have to be careful up in the higher areas and follow what your guide has to say. This way, you can lower the chances of sickness.
Will I get WiFi on this trek?
Yes, but not in all the places. The teahouses of the lower areas have WiFi services. But the higher areas teahouses may lack the service.
What is the best time for this Trek ?
March till May and September till November are the two-time intervals that are best for the trek.
Is it necessary to have training for the trek ?
If you are an experienced trekker, you do not need that. But if you are an amateur, it is helpful to have training like cardio, hiking, and running. Those sorts of activities will make you ready for the rugged trails of the trek.
Do I need a visa to visit Nepal?
Yes, a visa is necessary to visit Nepal for all tourists except Indian nationals. You can get a visa from the Nepalese Embassy in your country or an on-arrival visa from Kathmandu (TIA) Airport. For that, you will need a valid passport before 6 months, some passport-sized photos, and a visa fee.
How much is a Nepalese Visa fee?
The up-to-date visa fees (as of 6/6/2024) for a Nepalese visa is: US$30 for 15 days, US$50 for 30 days, US$125 for 90 days. For Visa Extension: 3 USD per Day(minimum 15 days) 5 USD per day as late fine in the case of delay
Which time is best for a Nepal tour?
The best times to visit Nepal are September to November and March to May. If you are not doing any high-altitude tours, you can visit Nepal all year round, including Monsoon and Winter.
What is Nepal best known for?
Nepal is known for multiple reasons. The country is geographically, culturally, architecturally, and religiously a gifted one. It is the birthplace of Buddha, home of Mt Everest and eight other world & highest peaks, the world best trekking trails, the land of brave Gurkhas, and more. Therefore, multiple reasons make Nepal popular across the globe.
I had an amazing experience with Sabbatical Explore Nepal when I visited Nepal during my Gap year 2018. Our guide and driver were so experienced and helpful. I remember seeing many animals like tigers, deers, rhinos during Jungle Safari in Chitwan. I even went to the Elephant Breeding Centre and that was amazing. In Lumbini, the birthplace of Buddha I visited Maya Devi Temple and other monasteries. I was mesmerized by the architectural designs of the Temples and Monasteries built by different countries. I was a little sad that I couldn't visit other amazing places but the 6 days I spent in Nepal were very meaningful and memorable. I am looking forward to my next trip to Nepal.
Felix
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The trek of Kalo and Seto Kunda was with the guide and he had arranged of vehicles from Kathmandu to Syabrubeshi which takes 8 to 9 hours to reach Syabrubeshi. Syabrubeshi is taken as the gateway to Langtang valley which is situated at the confluence of Bhotekosi River and Langtang Khola. i and my friend will defenately visit again to Kathmandu and we are sure for Social Tourism & Sabbatical Explore Nepal are the best career break trip planner in Nepal.
Leah
The trip was well worth it! I was in Nepal last Autumn with the team of Shiva and Kiran, whom I knew from my colleagues. I was confused about where to go. But my expert friends, Shiva and Kiran, suggested I do their best-selling Nepal Panorama Tour. I'm glad they suggested it. I am not a hiking person, my body does not let me be. So I went on a tour of Kathmandu, Pokhara, and Chitwan. In Kathmandu, I saw a lot of historical and time-traveling sites. Pokhara was so much vivid by Fewa Lake; I enjoyed the boat riding there. And Chitwan was unimaginably full of nature. I saw rhinos, elephants, birds, crocodiles. I was expecting the Bengal Tiger, but luck did not favor me. Except for that, Chitwan treated me quite well. Overall, the trip felt so smooth and rewarding. I traveled around Nepal panoramically. Thanks!
Dr. M.H. ALHAMRAN
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