• Duration: 21 Days
  • Diffculty: Moderate Plus 
  • Best Time: Marc - May, Sept - Dec
  • Max. Altitude: 5550 m

Three Passes Trek - A Complete High Altitude Route in Everest

Three Passes Trek offers the ultimate trekking experience in the Everest region. This 3 passes trekking explores the high pass routes in the Himalayas. This is a strenuous and less-trodden high-altitude trek in Nepal. It best suits to experienced trekkers with good physical fitness. The three-pass route links four distinct valleys in the Everest region. We hike the four valleys of Bhotekoshi, Gokyo, Khumbu, and Imja Tse simultaneously. We traverse the rugged high passes of Renjo La, Chola, and Kongma La. All of them are above 5000 meters. We climb three peaks of Gokyo Ri, Kalapathar, and Chukung by hiking to EBC. No need to have any climbing skills to join. It is purely a challenging trek. This high route offers an excellent adventure journeying in Nepal.

Everest Three passes trek with seven superb destinations over 5000 meters. Renjo La, Chola, Kongmala, Gokyo Ri, Kalapathar, EBC and Chukung Ri. A Truly Himalayan journey of a lifetime.

Everest 3 High Passes of Renjo, Chola, and Kongmala in Nepal

The Three Passes Trek in Nepal begins with an exciting flight to Lukla. Then, we spend two nights at Namche for proper acclimation. We hike to the less-trodden trail via Thame and Lungden on our way to Gokyo. These settlements are close to the Tibet border. However, The Renjo la challenges its rewards with stunning views. Arguably the best ideas of the entire journey. From the pass, you can get the parades of Himalayan giants, including Mt. Everest, with pristine Gokyo lakes in a single frame. We hike the Gokyo Ri, the first of three peaks on our list from Gokyo. We walk over the largest Ngonumpa glacier on our way to Chola. Later on, we join the famous Khumbu Valley trekking route at Lobuche. We hike the Kalapathar peak and explore the Base Camp of mighty Everest. 

We cross the Kongmala, the less trodden and rugged pass. From Chukung, we climb our third peak: Chukung Ri. It offers a stunning view of Amadablam, Lhotse, Nuptse, and Makalu. On our way down, we trek via the Thyangboche monastery and Namche. It makes a big circle to complete this three-pass trek: great memories and a tremendous sense of achievement. Look no further if you are looking for Nepal's high pass, less trodden route.

Three Passes Trek in Spring or Autumn 2023 and 2024

March to May and September to November is the best time for Three Pass Trek. We have fixed departure dates to join in the Spring or Autumn seasons of 2023 and 2024. We accept individual and group bookings. We offer an all-inclusive package at an affordable cost. This cost includes all of your expenses on the trek. We provide the full board meal with a twin-bedded room at a tea house on a hike. We ensure permit and Lukla flight, a reliable guide/crew on service. We run a responsible trek with a dedicated porter for each trekker. This provides the required help and plan adjustment to each trekker if needed. Most importantly, we carry supplementary Oxygen on a trek. This is a life-saving in case of Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS).

Himalaya offers more adventure options besides the three Passes Trek. High-pass trekking combines with trekking peak climbing in the Everest region. You can choose the Everest High Passes and Peak trip. This trip combines the Island peak with high passes trekking. Another less challenging alternative is the Everest Circuit Trek. This trek connects the Everest base camp with Gokyo Lake via the Chola.

Trip in Nutshell

  • Venture to 3 passes and three valleys in the Himalayas.
  • Crossing the Renjo, Chola, and Kangmala passes.
  • Climb the Gokyo Ri, Kalapathar and Chukung peaks.
  • Explore the less trodden Thame, Gokyo valley with Khumbu and Imtatse.
  • A responsible trekking policy of 1 Trekker: 1 Porter.
  • Safety backup with Oxygen Cylinder and Medical box
  • Full board meals and accommodation in a trek.
  • Best Three passes trek cost with guaranteed group departure dates.

Trip map

Three Passes Trek map

Itinerary

Mountain Monarch representative will receive you at the Airport. Then, transfer you to the hotel check-in briefing about Hotel facilities. Pre-trek briefing and trek pack distribution. Traditional Nepali dinner with a cultural show in the evening. The next morning, a half-day city tour followed by gear checking and trek preparation

  • AccommodationHotel
  • Mealswelcome dinner
  • Altitude1340 M

Early morning flight to Lukla. Three-hour picturesque trek to Phakding for the first night sleeping in a mountain. Enter the Sagarmatha National Park World Heritage site. It offers spectacular high mountain views, including the majestic Mt. Everest. The following day acclimatization hike to Everest View Hotel. Afternoon explore the Sherpa Museum and the local market of Namche Bazar.

  • AccommodationTea house
  • MealsB, L, D
  • Altitude3440 m

Today we hike to Thame, the clockwise direction of Everest Base Camp. We follow the West Bhotekoshi River valley towards Nyangpala Pass. This is a gateway of the Tibet-Nepal traditional way. 

It is a short day trek from Thame to Lungden. It takes about 4 hours in the direction of the Nangpa La. This is the glaciated pass on the Nepal-Tibet border. At Lungen, we spend our second day hiking to the surrounding Hills.

  • AccommodationTea house
  • MealsB, L, D
  • Altitude4370 m

Start early to reach Rinjola on top of time for a great view. The views from the pass are incredible Majestic. Mt. Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse, Makalu, the fourth highest in the world. Many more gigantic Himalayan peaks, Cho- Oyu above 8000 m, in close view. We descend to Gokyo at an elevation of 4,7900 meters.

  • AccommodationTea house
  • MealsB, L, D
  • Altitude4790 m

We start a steady ascent of Gokyo Ri early in the morning. Average 4 hours walk to top Nepal's best panoramic viewpoint.  Afternoon we cross the glacier sections on the way to Thangna.

 

  • AccommodationTea house
  • MealsB, L, D
  • Altitude4700 m

We start walking in the early morning to avoid unforeseen situations. In addition, the frozen condition has more stability advantages. So there are fewer chances of falling loose rocks before a pass. After the Pass, there are no hazardous sections to come across.

  • AccommodationTea house
  • MealsB, L, D
  • Altitude4830 m

We traverse high pasture land before we reach Lobuche. We get Lobuche by lunchtime.

Walk the western side of Khumbu Glacier and pass the moraine to Gorak Shep. We hike Everest Base camp after lunch. It is a strenuous day excursion due to the high altitude.

  • AccommodationTea house
  • MealsB, L, D
  • Altitude5140 m

Early morning Ascent Kalapathar with the help of a flashlight. The trail is challenging to follow in the dark. But gets rewarding views from the summit of Kalapathar. We descend to the lodge and take breakfast before continuing to Lobuche.

  • AccommodationTea house
  • MealsB, L, D
  • Altitude4910 m

The route leads to wilderness away from the main trekking area. We walk carefully to climb and cross the glacier. Then we reach nearby the Nuptse wall. Steady climb toward the Kongmala pass, 5535 meters, the highest pass on our trip. The walk leads higher up and then descends towards the glacier pond. Furthermore, the walk leads to the Chukung village.

Chhukung Ri, 5,550 meters, is an accessible trekking peak. It used to be an NMA peak that required a climbing permit. Don't require any specific climbing gear and skills to summit this trekking peak. The summit view of parades of peaks is simply breathtaking.

  • AccommodationTea house
  • MealsB, L, D
  • Altitude4730 m

Descend the windy trail to Pangboche. We pass the beautiful village Dingboche set on the Imjatse valley. We explore the Pangboche monastery, the oldest in Khumbu Valley.

There can be a tendency to rush on the way back. We visit Tengboche Monastery, which sits on the lap of Amadablam Peak. We retrace our route back to Namche, making a big circle.

We trek out to Lukla and spend the last night on the trek. We celebrate the success of the trek with our crew.

  • AccommodationTea house
  • MealsB, L, D
  • Altitude3930 m

This morning we fly back to Kathmandu. This will likely have Lukla to Ramechhpa flight and then drive to Kathmandu. It is due to the heavy air traffic at Kathmandu airport. The next day we organized the airport transfer for the onward flight,

  • AccommodationHotel
  • MealsBreakfast
  • Altitude1340 M

Everest Three High Pass Trekking Itinerary. Check out the hiking route, elevation, walking hours, accommodation, and meals.

What's Included
  • Airport transfers on both domestic and international flights
  • Standard hotel accommodation in Kathmandu on a twin with breakfast.
  • Full board meals while on three passes trekking.
  • Responsible for trekking, having a Porter for each trekker
  • Accommodation at a teahouse or lodge on twin shares a private room.
  • Welcome dinner with cultural program as listed in the itinerary.
  • Half-day guided city tour with world heritage entrance permit.
  • All Domestic flights and airport taxes are listed in the itinerary.
  • Free use of quality trekking gear - sleeping bag, fleece liner, down jacket, and rain poncho as required.
  • Professional trek guide trained in Wilderness First Aid and trek crew with salary, wages, transportation, proper insurance, and required trek gear.
  • Supplementary OXYGEN cylinder  and comprehensive First Aid Kit as a safety backup
  • Complementary trek Duffle bag, Mountain Monarch T-shirts, and trek map
  • TIMS or VDC trekking permit, Everest National Park entry fees, VAT, all government taxes, etc.
What's Excluded
  • Nepal entry Visa fees, Your travel insurance of any kin
  • International Airfare
  • All beverage drinks
  •  Main meals ( Lunch and Dinner) in cities.
  • Tips and Items of personal expenses like the hot shower, battering charge, telephone, and beverage drinks

Dates & Availability

Here is the list of Three passes trek in Nepal with departure dates for the years 2023 and 2024.

March Departure
     
Start DateStart DateMarch 24, 2024End DateEnd DateApril 13, 2024StatusStatusAvailablePricePriceUS$2390
Start DateStart DateMarch 31, 2024End DateEnd DateApril 20, 2024StatusStatusAvailablePricePriceUS$2390
Book with flexibility
All-Inclusive CostUS$2390

This trip can be booked privately if you’re travelling solo or private.

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Customer Reviews
  • C
    Craig Grant 5.0AustraliaNovember 14, 2023logo
    Mountain Monarch - 3 Passes Trek

    Just back in Australia after completing a wonderful 3-Passes adventure with Mountain Monarch. The trip was perfectly organised and executed. I was a sole client for my trek with an awesome guide (Calendar) and a porter. Being one-on-one with the guide allowed us to tweak the itinerary to jam in a few extra bonus walks (Gokyo Lakes 4 and 5, and Island Peak Base Camp and Imja Lake). Also a shout out to Finjo who was my guide for the first 3 days of the trek while I was with a bigger group before we went our separate ways (me to 3-Passes, them to EBC).I could not be happier with my experience. The 3-Passes trek is certainly a challenge but the amazing views make it all worthwhile. It seems so much better to me to tackle this walk to see a much larger range of mountains, valleys and lakes than just walking up and back to EBC with the masses.

  • I
    Ian Herbert 5.0United KingdomDecember 12, 2022logo
    Fantastic Experience

    Fantastic experience. We did the Three Passes Trek with Mountain Monarch, and everything was perfect. Pradip was flexible on our booking due to Covid, and we rolled the date forward twice. When we were finally able to travel, we were met at the airport, and Pradip was at the hotel to greet us and take us for a welcome dinner. He also took us to the airport to fly to Lukla, where our guides Nima and Horizon met us with our four porters - 1 for each trekker, so they had reasonable loads. Nima and Horizon were excellent - did the correct acclimatization, including walking at a slow pace uphill; very informative about the views, local life, wildlife, and culture. Renjo La and Cho La were tough, long days, but we got there at the steady walking pace set. We had great rooms in the teahouses, and they really looked after us well with dinners, teas, and chocolate bars. One of our parties had a medical problem, and Nima dealt with this expertly. Horizon gave good advice on our capabilities, including getting myself and my wife to EBC and then to the top of Kalapatthar the next day. We decided to skip the final Pass and make a leisurely way down the Khumbu - Horizon was happy to switch the itinerary to meet our needs. After 18 days of trekking, Nima and Horizon became friends and Guides. Once back in Kathmandu, we were met again by Pradip, and then he personally took us to the airport for our trip home. Everything was so well organized and ran smoothly - I would totally recommend this local Nepalese company for a future trek.

  • O
    Oliver Needham 5.0United KingdomJune 30, 2022logo
    Three Pass Trek - an amazing experience with Mountain Monarch

    I trekked the Three Pass route + Everest Base camp with Mountain Monarch in May 2022. The trip was one of the most rewarding and inspiring experiences of my life and couldn't have been better organized and run by the Mountain Monarch team. Despite some challenges along the way (one of our group suffered from altitude sickness), the trip was a safe, well-planned, and enriching experience. Our Sherpa (MingMa) was terrific - knowledgable, inspiring, and always on hand with anything we might need. His knowledge, stories, and openness to share were one of the trip's highlights - we felt like family for the 21 days we trekked together. The Three Pass route is awe-inspiring - amazing, varied scenery, some challenging but achievable climbs, and more impressive views and mountainous landscapes than I could have imagined. Having a local share their knowledge and wisdom of the area was a true highlight and made the trip what it was. Mountain Monarch arranged a seamless, safe, inspiring journey from start to finish, and I can't wait to be back to take on the next challenge.

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