Everest Three Passes Trek
Crossing the Challenging Passes above 5000 meters in one trip offering the breathtaking views of the lakes and the stunning mountains in the famed Everest Region
per person from USD 2650 per person
Best Season | March to May and September to November |
|---|---|
Trip Duration | 20 Days & 19 Nights |
Trip Difficulty | Challenging |
Accomodation | Hotels in cities and tea houses & lodges during the trek |
Max. Elevation | 5,535m/18,159ft |
Trip Highlights
- Witness the world’s highest mountains over 8000 meters; Mt. Everest (8,848.86m), Mt. Lhotse (8,516m), Makalu (8,481m), and Mt. Cho Oyu (8,201m).
- Explore the popular Everest trails to the Everest Base Camp (5,364m) and Gokyo Lake.
- Leave the crowds of EBC and embark on the remote and pristine trails.
- Stunning panoramic views from the Gokyo Ri (5,357m) and Kalapathar (5,555m).
- Witness the sunrise and sunset over the mighty Everest from Kalapathar.
- Explore the Sherpa villages and their local lifestyle, Buddhist monasteries, and the beautiful valleys.
- Cross the challenging and rewarding Everest three passes above 5000 meters.
- Sagarmatha National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- Witness a wide range of flora and fauna.
- World’s highest hotel- Hotel Everest View (3,962m).
- Traversing Ngozumpa Glacier, the longest glacier in the Himalayas (36 km.)
- Highest glacier in the world- Khumbu Glacier (4,900m)
Introduction
The Everest Three Passes trek is the ultimate challenging, most rewarding, and adventurous trek in the Everest region. This is the trek that will check your actual endurance and determination. But reward you with stunning sights to see and lifelong memories to treasure. Not only will you get the vistas of the world’s famous Everest Base Camp but also cross the challenging three passes of the world namely; Kongma La Pass (5,535m/18,159ft), Cho La Pass (5,420m/ 17,782ft), and Renjo La Pass (5,340m/17,520ft). We will be covering the Gokyo region as well while taking other additional trekking trails from the usual EBC route.
The breathtaking views of the world’s highest mountain, Mt. Everest, Mt. Makalu, Mt. Lhotse, Mt. Pumori, Mt. Ama Dablam, Mt. Thamserku, and many other peaks are the major highlights of the trek. Likewise, the Sherpa culture, Namche Bazaar, Gokyo Lake, and the largest Khumbu glacier add to the beauty of this trek. The Sagarmatha National Park region is where the Three High Passes Trek takes place. The peak is the habitat of 118 different species of birds, including the national bird of Nepal, the Himalayan Monal. Along with that, endangered creatures like the Himalayan black bear, red panda, snow leopard, and musk deer are spottable during the trek in the park.
The Everest Three Passes trek is a moderate to difficult grading trek suitable for adventure seekers. With a prior high-altitude trekking experience in the Himalayas. Trekkers need to be well equipped with the proper trekking gear, clothing, and food to tackle challenging terrain and weather conditions.
The trek takes between 19 to 21 days to complete depending on the schedule and pace of the trekker. The walking hours per day are normally 5 to 6 hours. But it depends upon the trails and your physical fitness level. As you go higher your pace may decrease due to the increase in altitude. So, sometimes it may take some more hours to reach the destination of the day. The walk to Chukhung through Kongma La Pass is the longest day on the day trail. It will take about 8 to 9 hours of your time for it.
Continue ReadingThe trek usually starts and concludes at Lukla, a small town in the Khumbu region, and ascends to Namche Bazaar via the well-known Everest Base Camp trekking route. From there, the route splits off in the direction of Thame and travels via the breathtaking Renjo La Pass (5,360m) before arriving at the Gokyo Valley. The trail leaves Gokyo and travels east across the Cho La Pass (5,420 meters) to the Everest Base Camp. It then takes a southern route to pass the Kongma La Pass (5,535 meters) and finally makes its way back to Lukla.
The trek can be completed in the clockwise direction starting with Renjo La Pass and ending with Kongma La Pass as well as in the counter-clockwise direction starting from Kongma La Pass and ending with Renjo La Pass. Most trekkers prefer to trek in the counter-clockwise direction because you will get a good acclimatization schedule. You will get time to be familiar with the higher altitude. Moreover, the views that you get during the trek from Namche Bazaar to Chukhung are significantly better when traveling counterclockwise than when traveling clockwise. Ascending the Kongma La Pass from Lobuche to Chukhung in a clockwise direction is the most difficult push of the entire expedition with a very long and tiresome portion and steep altitude gain. So our itinerary will be in the counterclockwise direction as most trekkers do. If you wish we can arrange the itinerary in the clockwise direction too. Taking a clockwise direction will be the best option for anyone wanting to witness the amazing views while descending the passes.
The perfect time to go on the Everest Three Passes trek is the autumn (September to November) and spring (March to May) seasons when the weather is dry and stable, skies are clear with excellent visibility.
Read LessItinerary
Trip Itineraries are customizable according to your choice & the number of days you want to stay. Simply, Contact Us
Cost Includes
- All required airport arrivals and departure fees.
- All transportation fees for the Everest Three Passes Trek on the private van, including transfer to the airport.
- All paperwork and other government taxes and service charges.
- 2 nights of twin-sharing hotel accommodations in Kathmandu under the BB plan.
- 17 nights in the best available room during the trek at Phakding, Namche Bazaar, Deboche, Dingboche, Chukhung, Lobuche, Gorakshep, Dzongla, Lungde, and Lukla.
- 3 meals each day (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) during the trekking.
- Tea, or coffee during the trek 3 times a day.
- English-speaking professional trekking guide with a government license and his pay.
- Porters to transport the baggage during the trek (We assign one porter for every two guests).
- All the costs for lodging, flooding, transportation, flights, and other essential gear, and accidental insurance for the guides and porters.
- The required number of Porters or Jokyo to carry the luggage during the trek (We assign one porter for every two guests). Each guest should have a 10 kg luggage weight.
- Assistant Guide and his salary
- Coverage of Guides and Porters, their meals, insurance, transportation, flight, and other necessary equipment.
- Assistance in arranging rescue operations in case of health emergencies (funded by travel insurance)
- Sagarmatha National Entry Park Permit
- Rural Municipality Entry Permit (Lukla Trek Card)
- TIMS Permit
- A basic medical kit.
- Waterproof Duffle bag – 1/1 (no need to return)
Cost Excludes
- Sightseeing at Kathmandu. If you have leisure time and want to extend your stay by spending some time sightseeing in Kathmandu, we can manage it as well.
- International flight costs to/ from Nepal.
- Nepal Entry Visa fees for multiple entrances into Nepal upon arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport.
- Accommodations and meals in Kathmandu after the trek.
- An additional night’s lodging in Kathmandu due to earlier arrival, departure, or return from the trek than as planned (for any reason).
- Additional luggage fees during the trek (limit is 9 kg per person).
- Travel insurance covers, medical, emergency rescue, evacuation, loss, etc.
- Personal expenses (shopping, snacks, boiled bottles of water, hot and cold beverages, a hot shower, alcohol, a phone call, Wi-Fi charge, a battery recharge price, additional porters, etc.)
- Personal clothing and gear.
- Extra costs for any causes that are not under management’s control, such as landslides, weather, route changes because of safety concerns, illness, new government regulations, strikes, etc.
- Tips and gratitude for guides and porters (recommended)
Train Yourself
The best physical condition is required to trek in Nepal’s high altitude. Without some pre-trek training or a good level of basic fitness, trekking can be hard. We suggest running, walking, hiking on the hill, and climbing stairs rather than elevators to prepare for the trek. Include swimming, rowing, and biking in your daily base training. The fitter you are before you depart, the easier the trek will be.
Basic further experience and strength are required for Trekking
- One should be able to hike for 6-7 hours a day.
- One should be able to carry 5 kg themselves in a backpack for preparation.
- We suggest you run about 2/3 miles in the home for the preparation with some load on your back for 1 to 2 months to make your climbing much easier. Or use a treadmill for everyday running and walking.
- If you have an uphill location/mountain then once a week you should go hiking with a loaded bag pack on your back. If you do not have mountains and high hills then use stairs to go up/down than the elevator.
- Regular swimming, biking, and rowing are also good ways to maintain your physical strength.
- Fuel your body well with small but frequent healthy foods and drink plenty of water.
- Go through a trek grading and know what type of trekking is suitable for you. The treks are graded as easy, moderate, hard, and challenging treks.
- Go after what you want and what your physical capabilities will allow you to. Do not push too hard yourself. Trekking is not a competition. It is relaxing and rewarding.
- Walk at a pace you are most comfortable with. An assistant guide will be always walking at the back of the group so you don’t have to rush to catch up with the faster walkers at the front.
- Using trekking poles reduces the body and backpack’s weight on the legs and makes walking more easier on inclines.
- Invest in the comfortable full trekking boot with ankle support and a sturdy Vibram sole that suit your foot to avoid blisters.
FAQs
Will someone come after my arrival to pick me up at the airport?
Yes, the Trekkers Paradise representative will be there to greet you outside of Terminal Hall. He will be displaying a Trekkers Paradise name card with your name on it. You will be moved to the pre-select Hotel after that.
Do I need a visa to travel to Nepal?
All foreign nationals, except Indian Citizens, need visas to enter Nepal.
What is the cost of the visa application process and Visa? Should we apply for a visa from our home country or will we get it at Nepalese Airport? Which documents are important that I should bring with me?
After landing, you can obtain a visa at Tribhuwan International Airport, furthermore, it will be easier if you are filling up the visa form online (http://online.nepalimmigration.gov.np/tourist-visa) before taking the flight to Nepal. Entry Visa fees- at present are $ 30 for 15 days, $ 50 for 30 days, and $ 125 for a three-month visa on entry to Nepal.
You should bring the following essential documents on the trip:
- Valid Passport: must be valid for up to 6 months.
- Travel insurance: you need to provide a copy of the insurance paper to Trekkers Paradise before you start the trek.
- Flight Tickets.
- Emergency contact numbers for T/C’s bank, insurance, and family contacts.
When is the best time to travel to Nepal?
The weather is probably the best guide for deciding when to plan your trip to Nepal. The best time to visit Nepal is between September to November and March to May.
Are there porters or yaks carrying the luggage or are we supposed to be carrying it alone?
Our porters, who are honest and experienced, will look after your luggage while on the trek. All you need to carry is your small day bag for your personal belongings like a camera, water bottle, sun cream, money, etc. Normally, we assign one porter to carry the luggage of two trekkers.
What type of Permits do I need for the Everest Three Passes Trek?
You need to have two permits to start the Everest Three Passes Trek.
- Sagarmatha National Park Entry Permit
- Trek Card
How long does it take to trek Everest Three Passes ?
The Everest Three Passes is one of the longest trek runs in Nepal that normally takes about 21 days time to complete the trek.
Is the Everest Three Passes safe to trek?
The only potential hazard during the trek is the possibility of altitude sickness to reduce the chances of it we suggest a single day for acclimatization. You will also be guided by an experienced trekking guide and assisted by local porters, who are there to take care of you during your trek.
What are the facilities available in case of emergencies during the trek?
In case you suffer from altitude sickness or any other problems, we will offer you the doctor’s prescribed medicines according to the type of problem facing you. We will descend you and incise of extreme cases, you will get rescued by helicopter.
Is the Everest Three Passes Trek difficult?
This trip is rated as having a difficulty grade of 9 out of 10 due to the longer duration of the trek and the high elevation. Thus, it is not a simple trek. Altitude sickness is a problem for the traditional Everest Base Camp route. However, during the Three Passes Trek, you must also be aware of the ongoing weather changes and ready to walk on melting glaciers or loose rocks.
Is the three passes clockwise or counterclockwise?
The Three Passes trip is typically best completed in the opposite direction of the clock. Although it is feasible to travel counterclockwise, doing so is not advised due to the significant height rise involved in first crossing the Renjo La. You can extend your trip from Gokyo by one day to explore the inaccessible Gokyo Lakes higher up the glacial valley.
How freezing is the Three Passes Trek?
Trekking the Everest Three Passes in the spring has very little chance of precipitation or snowfall at these times of the year. In these months, the area’s temperature ranged from 18°C to -12°C.
What is the Three Passes Trek's elevation gain?
The Three Passes Trek is very mentally and physically taxing. You will need to hike for around 2.5 weeks, averaging 5 to 6 hours per day, covering 112 kilometers and gaining close to 36,000 feet of elevation.
Do I need to hire a guide for the Everest Three Passes Trek?
Depending upon yourself, solo trekking without a guide involves setting up your own travel arrangements, packing your own luggage, and sleeping in teahouses along the way. Also, changeable weather conditions in the isolated area of the mountains are a great risk for anyone trekking alone. This is not the trek to try out if you have never trekked alone in Nepal or have prior trekking experience.
This method of trekking used to be possible, but due to sudden changes in the law, it is no longer permitted. That is why, you at least need to hire a guide for the safety purpose and the overall information about the place you are trekking to.
How fit the trekker should be to do the Everest Three Passes Trek?
Note down that this trek is a challenging trek with the three highest passes above 5000 meters and one should spend days in the high altitude along with some occasional extreme weather conditions. So, you need to have good physical fitness as well as a strong mentality to complete the trek successfully.
What are some basic Nepali customs that I should know about?
- Take off your shoes before entering a temple or one’s home
- Ask for permission before entering a Hindu temple
- Taking photographs inside most temples is considered illegal
- Ask for permission before taking photographs of objects and including Nepali people.
- Nepali people are friendly by nature. Have a genuine interest in them. Talk to them. Be friendly as you travel.
Are Trekkers Paradise’s staff insured?
Yes, all the staff of Trekkers Paradise including guides and porters are insured to recover any kinds of casualties.
Equipments
Accommodation during the trek
For accommodation, we provide one room for two customers having either two single beds or a master bed in some of the best hotels in the cities.
You can find some teahouses and lodges with good services on the trekking routes during your trekking days. But as you ascend higher they become more basic. Rooms are basic, almost every room consisting twin-bedded with two beds with a mattress, a pillow, and blankets. You can share a room with a fellow trekker with whom you feel at ease.
Although, each lodge has its own set of standards, please do not anticipate luxurious accommodations, particularly in the mountains. Most teahouses offer hot showers, boiled drinking water, extra blankets, charging stations, and WIFI for an additional fee. The price of teahouses is determined by the location and the facilities/services they offered.
Meals during the trek
Our trek takes us to high altitudes near the world’s highest point, which means your body will need enough starch, protein, and nutrition, as food is the body’s fuel for hiking on such massive Himalayan trails.
In addition to accommodation, all the meals including breakfasts, lunch, and dinner are served during your stay in Kathmandu and the trekking journey. Usually, breakfast and dinner are served at the same hotel where we stay overnight and lunch is served en route to our destination during the trek.
The services are basic, with some of the popular Western, Asian, or Nepalese menus being the most popular and consumed. The most popular and common menu items include the Dal-Bhat set, which consists of rice, lentils, and vegetables, as well as meat, rice, and noodle items, spaghetti, pasta, momo(dumplings), Tibetan bread, chapatti, local tsampa porridge, potatoes, sandwiches, macaroni dishes, pizza, Sherpa stew, steaks, vegetable curry and so forth.
However, you cannot compare them with the choices available in large cities. Usually, local agricultural products are used to prepare meals. Other ingredients are purchased from the market if they cannot grow at a particular elevation.
Breakfast and dinner orders are taken in advance to save time; breakfast orders are taken the night before and dinner orders are taken as soon as you arrive at the teahouse. Depending on your schedule for the day, your typical day will begin. Breakfast is served in your lodge each morning, after which you leave for the next stop. A guide will notify the next tea house or lodge of your arrival each day. Around noon, you’ll stop for lunch at any nearby lodge on the way. You will arrive at your destination shortly after lunch. You can unwind or explore the nearby attractions when you arrive. You will dine around 7 to 8 pm.
At high altitudes, we strongly advise drinking hot liquid drinks in addition to fresh vegetable foods and fruit drinks. Drink plenty of water, not all a once but regularly on a time intervals.
It is best to avoid smoking cigarettes, consuming alcohol, non-vegetarian foods like meat, caffeine-containing foods, hot chocolate, and dairy and cheese products on high-altitude treks. These things increase the chances of getting altitude sickness and diarrhea.
Safe Drinking Water
The availability of drinking water is not an issue. Bottled mineral water is available in most places for purchase, but there is no provision to dispose of plastic bottles. We encourage guests to do what they can to protect the environment. We do not recommend purchasing single-use plastic bottles. You can buy or bring your own Nalgene bottles on the trek which makes the trail free from bottles and rubbish.
Filling your water bottles in tea houses is another option for getting drinking water. Several guesthouses have the Euro-guard filters water. Boiled filter water is also available in tea houses that are completely safe to drink but may be inexpensive for the duration of the trek.
River water is generally full of glaciers and sand and may be contaminated with animal urine and toilet run-off, so do not drink it. The tap water in the lodges is piped from high up, away from rivers and clean glaciers, so it is better, but it still must be treated.
Use iodine drops (3 per liter) locally known as Lugols solution, available at Thamel supermarkets in Kathmandu. The chlorine-based tablets are another choice, but they do transmit a taste to the water. Alternatively, you could purchase a Steripen, which uses UV to kill the bacteria but is a bit fragile to carry during the trek.
The best option is the water purification tablet Aquaprove, which uses cutting-edge technology. Most importantly, it works against all pathogens in impure water. It’s light, simple to use, has no taste, and is all-natural.
Waste Management during the trek
Leave No Traces, Only the Footprints! Pack out your own waste. We practice responsible eco-tourism and organize eco-friendly trips to support sustainable tourism.
The trekking trail in Nepal has suffered significant damage as a result of not having a strong policy on waste management. Act and travel responsibly. We prefer that all of our clients bring their trash and keep them in a container or bag, and dispose of it properly at a specific spot or dustbin.
Safety and Health Precaution during the trek
Besides geographical protection, Trekkers Paradise has taken safety in following things to make travel as safe as possible making the most out of it without any worry!
- Our guides have received extensive wilderness first-aid training.
- Trek leaders and guides have years of trekking experience and can help you if there is any kind of uneasiness and assure happiness & satisfaction are guaranteed.
- We’ll have High-quality masks & Gloves with sanitizers for everyday use throughout the journey for the Trekkers Paradise team assisting you.
- Encouragement and inspiration can be a regular occurrence.
- Food and accommodation in the mountains would be rechecked for additional hygiene.
How to avoid acute mountain sickness?
Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) is the most deadly risk of trekking. Anyone can get a victim of this sickness when their body is exposed to a higher elevation in a short period of time and the body is unable to adapt to the changing atmospheric pressures. As you ascend higher, the oxygen and air pressure decrease. Our bodies are capable of handling the change, but they require time to gradually adapt. If it is not treated in time, it can be severe and result in death. You can take a few preventative measures to avoid it.
- Not to climb too high too fast.
- Climb slowly and attain the height gradually.
- Take it easy and climb at your own comfortable pace.
- Reduce your walking hours as you reach 2000 meters and walk slowly.
- Drink plenty of water.
- Get plenty of rest. If you feel like your body needs more rest, get it.
- Avoid drinking alcohol and smoking.
- Meditation and warm-up exercise each day before starting the trek.
- Allow an acclimatization day for every 1000m of elevation gain.
There are two more serious but less common severe forms of altitude sickness. Both have the potential to be fatal. You must descend immediately to receive medical care.
High-altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE) causes the lungs to swell with excess fluid, which makes breathing difficult even when at rest. You experience extreme exhaustion, weakness, and perhaps a sense of suffocation. A dry cough, nose breathing, shortness of breath, fever, chest tightness, rapid heart rates, congestion, swelling, and fainting are the symptoms of HAPE. If HAPE is not promptly treated by lowering the altitude or using oxygen, it can be fatal.
High-altitude Cerebral Edema (HACE) is characterized by an accumulation of fluid on the brain that results in swelling. Confusion, poor coordination, and possibly violent behavior could occur. Hallucinations, loss of consciousness, fever and fatigue, photophobia, hypertension, coma, shortness of breath, and inability to walk are some more symptoms of HACE. HACE can result in death if it is not treated immediately.
The early signs of altitude sickness can be relieved by immediately descending. However, if you are experiencing severe acute mountain sickness symptoms, you should see a doctor.
The drug acetazolamide can ease heavy breathing and lessen the effects of altitude sickness. You may also be given the steroid Dexamethasone. But you are never recommended to take such drugs as far as possible until the situation is harsh.
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