Trip Facts
Country:
Nepal
Duration:
20 Days
Max Altitude:
5,545 m (18,192 ft)
Activities:
Trekking
Region:
Everest / Khumbu region
Starting Point:
Kathmandu
Ending Point:
Kathmandu
Grade:
Challenging
Group Size:
1 to 12 pax
Accomodation:
Teahouses, Hotel in Kathmandu
Best Season:
Mar-May & Sep-Nov
Overview of Everest Three Passes Trek 20-Days
The Everest Three Passes Trek is a 20-day loop through Nepal’s Khumbu region that links the three great high passes of the Everest area into one continuous circuit. It crosses Kongma La (5,535 m), Cho La (5,420 m), and Renjo La (5,360 m), and on the way it reaches Everest Base Camp, climbs Kala Patthar for the classic Everest view, and drops into the turquoise Gokyo Lakes valley. It is the complete Khumbu experience and the natural step up for trekkers who have already done, or want far more than, the standard Everest Base Camp Trek.
The whole route runs inside Sagarmatha National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and circles some of the highest mountains on Earth. From the passes and viewpoints you look out at four of the world’s six tallest peaks: Mount Everest (8,849 m), Lhotse (8,516 m), Makalu (8,485 m), and Cho Oyu (8,188 m). The dawn climb to Gokyo Ri (5,357 m) alone shows all four 8,000 m giants in a single sweep (Wikipedia: Gokyo Ri, retrieved 2026-06-17), above the Ngozumpa Glacier, the largest glacier in Nepal and reputedly the largest in the whole Himalayas.
The trek begins with the famous flight to Lukla, then follows the classic trail through Namche Bazaar, Tengboche, and Dingboche, with two built-in acclimatization days. From Chhukung you cross Kongma La to Lobuche, visit Everest Base Camp and Kala Patthar, then traverse Cho La into Gokyo. After climbing Gokyo Ri you cross the final pass, Renjo La, and descend through the quiet Sherpa village of Thame back to Namche and Lukla. Each pass is a full, committing day on rough, often icy ground, which is exactly why this circuit feels like a genuine mountain expedition rather than a walk.
Spade Himalaya runs the Three Passes with licensed Sherpa guides who know each pass, watch the weather windows, and carry a first-aid kit and a pulse oximeter to monitor how you are adjusting. The long acclimatization profile is built for safety on terrain this high. If you want a shorter or gentler Himalayan trek instead, consider the classic Everest Base Camp Trek, the Annapurna Circuit Trek, the remote Manaslu Circuit Trek, or the lower Annapurna Base Camp Trek.
Trips Highlights
- Cross all three high passes of the Everest region: Kongma La (5,535 m), Cho La (5,420 m), and Renjo La (5,360 m)
- Stand at Everest Base Camp (5,364 m) at the foot of the world's highest mountain
- Climb Kala Patthar (5,545 m) at dawn for the finest Everest view on the trek
- Reach Gokyo Ri (5,357 m) for a single panorama of Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, and Cho Oyu
- See the turquoise Gokyo Lakes and the immense Ngozumpa Glacier, the longest in Nepal
- Take the dramatic Lukla flight, one of the most spectacular mountain flights anywhere
- Explore Namche Bazaar, the trading and cultural heart of the Khumbu
- Visit Tengboche Monastery, the largest and most revered monastery in the region
- Walk through quiet, traditional Sherpa villages like Chhukung, Dzongla, and Thame
- Experience warm Sherpa hospitality far from the busiest sections of the Everest trail
Kathmandu (1,400 m) → fly to Lukla (2,840 m) → Phakding (2,610 m) → Namche Bazaar (3,440 m) → Tengboche (3,860 m) → Dingboche (4,410 m) → Chhukung (4,730 m) → Kongma La (5,535 m) → Lobuche (4,910 m) → Everest Base Camp (5,364 m) → Gorak Shep → Kala Patthar (5,545 m) → Dzongla (4,830 m) → Cho La (5,420 m) → Gokyo (4,790 m) → Gokyo Ri (5,357 m) → Renjo La (5,360 m) → Lumde (4,360 m) → Thame (3,800 m) → Namche Bazaar → Lukla → fly to Kathmandu.
Short version: the trail climbs the classic Everest route to Chhukung, crosses Kongma La to Lobuche, visits base camp and Kala Patthar, traverses Cho La into the Gokyo valley, climbs Gokyo Ri, then crosses Renjo La and descends via Thame back to Lukla.
Trips Include
- Airport transfers in a private vehicle.
- 2 nights' hotel in Kathmandu (arrival and post-trek), with breakfast.
- Round-trip flights between Kathmandu (or Manthali / Ramechhap) and Lukla.
- All ground transfers to and from Manthali / Ramechhap in peak season.
- All teahouse accommodation during the trek.
- All meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner) during the trek.
- Sagarmatha National Park entry permit and Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality permit
- A licensed, experienced Sherpa guide (pay, insurance, meals, lodging)
- Porter support, one porter per two trekkers (pay, insurance, meals, lodging)
- A 75 litre Spade Himalaya duffel bag (yours to keep)
- Guide's first-aid kit, pulse oximeter, and daily health monitoring
- Trip-completion certificate and a farewell dinner in Kathmandu
Trips Exclude
- International airfare to and from Nepal
- Nepal entry visa (US$30 for 15 days, US$50 for 30 days, US$125 for 90 days)
- Travel and medical insurance (mandatory; must cover trekking above 5,500 m and helicopter evacuation)
- Lunches and dinners in Kathmandu
- Drinks, snacks, hot showers, Wi-Fi, and device charging on the trail
- Sleeping bag and down jacket (available to rent for about US$35 each)
- Optional Kathmandu to Lukla helicopter transfer (about US$550 per person, 5-person sharing)
- Tips for guide and porters
- Personal expenses and any costs from early departure or itinerary changes
