Everest High Pass Trek: 19 Days

The Everest High Pass Trek begins as you arrive in Kathmandu via Tribhuvan International Airport. In the airport, you will meet our representatives, who will greet you with a warm welcome before assisting you with your transfer to your hotel in the tourist center of Thamel. Check into your hotel, and take some time to rest.

In the evening, you can explore the local cafes and restaurants and experience the vibrant lifestyle of Nepal’s capital, Kathmandu. 

Your journey to Lukla begins with a scenic flight from the Kathmandu airport or with a drive to Ramechhap. The journey depends on the season and flight availability. Seats on the Lukla flights from Kathmandu are extremely limited and sell out months in advance. Book early to secure your direct flight from Kathmandu. 

If you get a direct flight from Kathmandu to Lukla, the flight takes you across the diverse terrain, giving you spectacular views of the Himalayas. Upon landing, you will meet the rest of your crew and begin your trek from Lukla’s Tenzing-Hillary Airport to Phakding. 

During peak seasons (March to May and September to November), you will need to catch a flight from Ramechhap. First, to get to Ramechhap, you will go on a 4-5 hour drive from Kathmandu on a sharing jeep/Hi-ace Van from Thamel (Garden of Dreams). Remember, the vehicle departs between 1 to 2 AM. Ensure you reach your pickup destination on time. Or, for a more private trip, you can book a private vehicle at an extra cost.

Upon reaching Ramechhap, you will board a flight to Lukla. From Lukla, your trek to Phakding begins immediately. The route gradually descends toward the Chaurikharka village along the Dudh Koshi River. You will hike across several charming Sherpa villages along the lush lowlands on a 4-hour hike before reaching Phakding. Overnight stay in Phakding. 

Today, you will trek from Phakding to the commercial hub of Namche Bazaar. The journey takes you along the Dudh Koshi trails and passes across several suspension bridges, including the famous Hillary Suspension Bridge to Monjo. After reaching Monjo, you will submit your permit at the tourist counter and enter the Sagarmatha National Park. 

The journey to Namche Bazaar from Monjo involves a steep ascent through the challenging pine forests. However, the ascent rewards you with your first glimpse of Mount Everest before reaching Namche Bazaar, the region’s commercial hub. 

To help your body get used to the increasing altitude, you will spend a day acclimatizing in Namche Bazaar. In this commercial hub of the Khumbu region, you can visit a cozy cafe or explore the ancient monasteries. 

On the acclimatization day, we go on a short hike to nearby destinations. This is to practice the principle of “trek high and rest low”. During your acclimatization hike, you will travel to a higher altitude and return to a lower altitude. This ensures that your body is properly acclimated to the sparse oxygen levels of the higher elevation regions. 

Today, you will hike to the Everest View Hotel (3,880 meters) for a stunning panoramic view of the icy mountains. From this vantage point, you can enjoy breathtaking vistas of Mount Everest, Lhotse, Ama Dablam, and other surrounding peaks. During your descent to Namche Bazaar, you can also take a side trip to the Khumjung Village and visit the local monastery and school founded by Sir Edmund Hillary. 

As you leave the vibrant Namche Bazaar behind, you will take on the gentle and wild trail with awe-inspiring views of Everest, Lhotse, and Ama Dablam. During this relatively steady start, you can fully appreciate the raw beauty of the vast Himalayas. 

Eventually, the trail descends steeply to the river at Phuki Thanga. You will stop for lunch here before beginning the second leg of the day’s trek. 

After lunch, a challenging two-hour climb awaits. The journey takes you through dense rhododendron and pine forests. Your efforts are rewarded when you reach the serene hilltop village of Tengboche. 

In Tengboche, you can visit the famous Tengboche Monastery, the largest in the Khumbu region. Relish the serenity and experience a spiritual aura combined with the majestic panoramic backdrop of the mighty mountains. 

After a magical morning in the spiritual center of Tengboche, you will begin your day’s journey. The trek kicks off with a descent through lush sub-tropical forests. As your journey continues toward Dingboche, you will cross the Imja Khola suspension bridge and take on a gradual climb to Pangboche. 

In Pangboche, you can enjoy the local cultural heritage sites and visit the ancient Pangboche Monastery. This is the oldest Buddhist monastery in the region. Next, your journey continues toward the dramatic alpine terrain. From the lush rhododendron forests, you will transition into arid Himalayan regions with sparse vegetation. The trails are more vast with open spaces that provide magnificent views of the Himalayan peaks, including Lhotse and Ama Dablam. 

After a 5-6 hour hike, you will reach the picturesque village of Dingboche. Dingboche is also referred to as the “summer valley”. Here, you will find stone-walled fields that protect the local crops from the harsh mountain winds. 

Today’s journey, from Dingboche, takes you deeper into the Imja Khola Valley. You will head to the bases of some of the highest mountains in the world as you begin your journey with a gradual ascent. During the trek, you will find yourself surrounded by icy peaks, placing you in the center of a natural amphitheater. Enjoy the views of the colossal south face of Lhotse and the stunning Ama Dablam peak as you enter a high-altitude environment. As you traverse along the beautiful landscape of rock and ice, you arrive in Chhukung in the afternoon. 

Compared to the previous days, today’s trek is shorter and is designed to help your body acclimatize. The trek takes you closer to the 5000-meter mark, where altitude sickness and its symptoms can be common among many trekkers. 

The rest day in Chhukung is crucial. This is the final rest stop before ascending the three passes. Today, you can take some time to rest, but we strongly advise hiking to a higher altitude and returning to the lower region of Chhukung for better acclimatization. 

The optional acclimatization hike takes you to the Chhukung Ri (5,550 meters). Your journey today is steep and demanding. Ensure you walk at a slow and steady pace with strong determination. Conquering the Chhukung Ri rewards you with breathtaking close-up views of the Imja Tse (Island Peak). You will also find the Lhotse and Nuptse walls, Makalu, and the Himalayan glaciers in the distance. 

After this strenuous hike, you will head back to Chhukung. You will rest for the remainder of the day and refuel before taking on the challenges of the Everest Three Passes. 

Today’s journey is a test of endurance and mental strength. The trek takes you to the highest point at Kongma La Pass. This is the most challenging pass among the three passes. 

The day begins before dawn. With the help of a headlamp, you will navigate the rugged and rocky Himalayan terrain. During this ascent, ensure careful footing to avoid accidents. You will reach the prayer-flag-adorned summit of the Kongma La Pass before sunrise. Here, you can enjoy your reward of a magical sunrise and get a unique perspective of Makalu and the surrounding peaks and glacial lakes. 

After celebrating your triumph, you will follow a steep and tricky descent that leads you to the edge of the Khumbu Glacier. You will walk along the glacial moraine before finally reaching your shelter in Lobuche. 

Today is another monumental day of the Everest High Pass Trek, as you will trek to Everest Base Camp, the foot of the world’s tallest peak. The day begins at your Lobuche teahouse. After breakfast, you will trek along the Khumbu Glacier moraine. Find yourself surrounded by the surreal landscape comprising rock and ice. 

As you head toward your first destination, Gorakshep, you will find an incredible view of the Nuptse Wall. This is the last and the highest settlement and is situated on a frozen lakebed. Here, you will stop for a quick lunch and make the final push toward Everest Base Camp. 

The trail to Everest Base Camp is challenging. A strenuous journey along the rugged trails finally takes you to the base of the world’s tallest peak. You will find yourself surrounded by prayer flags and tents, with the Khumbu Ice Fall beside you. Enjoy this deeply moving experience before heading back to your teahouse at Gorakshep for a much-deserved rest. 

The trek to Kala Patthar begins before dawn. With the help of headlamps, you will ascend the Kala Patthar. This pre-dawn hike is challenging, but the reward is unparalleled. From the Kala Patthar vantage point, you will catch the first glimpse of the sun shining over the Everest summit. Capture this magical moment before returning to the Gorak Shep teahouse for breakfast. 

From Gorakshep, you will trek down towards Lobuche, retracing your steps along the glacial moraine. Overnight stay at Lobuche. 

The trek to Dzongla is very relaxing. After a strenuous journey across the tough Himalayan terrain, this short 3-4 hour trek allows your body to recover while taking you toward your next pass crossing. 

The Dzongla trail diverts away from the Everest Base Camp and heads towards a more serene route. You will journey across a glacial lake, taking in the picturesque views of the north face of Cholatse Peak and Taboche Peak. During this leg of the journey, you will find yourself surrounded by the serenity and solitude of the remote trails.

You will reach Dzongla in the afternoon. Dzongla is a charming settlement at the base of the Cho La Pass. This is an excellent time to rest and prepare for the challenging journey that lies ahead. 

After a relaxed day of trekking, you will cross another challenging pass. Today, you will take on the ascents across the Cho La Pass, beginning with an uphill journey over rocky and slippery terrain. You will find the presence of ice along the terrain, which demands careful footing. This is a true test of your technical skills. After completing the strenuous climb, you will reach the Cho La Pass peak. Here, you will find yourself surrounded by prayer flags and dramatic alpine scenery with close-up views of surrounding peaks. 

From Cho La Pass, your journey continues along the steep and tricky descent. You will navigate your way across the edge of the Ngozumpa Glacier, the longest Himalayan glacier. As you trek your way toward Gokyo via Ngozumpa Glacier, you can relish the vast and surreal landscape made of icy moraine. 

After crossing the glacier, you will push to the tranquil village of Gokyo. You will stay in a teahouse nestled beside the stunning turquoise lakes, where you can enjoy the rewarding views.

Today is your final rest day during the Everest Three Pass Trek. Like previous acclimatization stops, you will trek to a higher altitude to get accustomed to the thin atmosphere of the Himalayas. Today, you will take on a pre-dawn trek to Gokyo Ri. The climb is demanding, but it rewards you with dramatic views of the Himalayan landscape, with one of the best views in the Everest region. 

From the Gokyo Ri viewpoint, you will witness a breathtaking sunrise as the golden rays of the sun engulf Mount Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, Cho Oyu, and other surrounding peaks and landscape. After spending some time in Gokyo Ri, you will descend back to Gokyo Village. You will enjoy your breakfast. You have the rest of the day to yourself. You can explore the pristine Gokyo lakes and rest for the final pass crossing. 

Your day starts early as you trail from Gokyo along the Dudh Pokhari. From Dudh Pokhari, you will take on a steep ascent to the scenic Renjo La Pass. The Renjo La Pass is arguably the most scenic of the three passes. You will experience challenging terrains but find rewarding views of the Gokyo Valley with Everest, Lhotse, and other icy giants standing tall in front of your eyes. 

After celebrating your triumph, you will head along the long and mostly steep downhill trails. You will encounter icy terrain, which requires careful footing. The trails lead you outside the Khumbu region and into the more remote Bhote Koshi valley. Your destination today is a small village along the commercial path traditionally used by Tibetan traders. Overnight stay in Marlung. 

You will head back to the conventional Everest Base Camp trail as you trek to Namche Bazaar. The trek involves a significant descent along the Bhote Koshi River. Today’s trek takes you along traditional Sherpa villages, including Thame, known for its ancient monastery perched on a hill. 

The descent takes you back into the sub-tropical environment where you will experience warmer air and more vegetation. After 5-6 hours of trekking, you will reach the commercial hub of Namche Bazaar. Here, you can enjoy the comforts of modern amenities, hot showers, and freshly baked goods. Celebrate your incredible victory of conquering the three high passes. 

Today’s trek marks the end of your trek as you head to Lukla. The journey mostly consists of steep sections along the Dudh Koshi River and several Sherpa communities like Monjo and Phakding. Upon reaching Phakding, you will take on a gentle ascent that takes you to Lukla. 

Embracing the stunning mountain views one last time before leaving the Everest region. You will board an early morning flight back to Kathmandu. The flight is short but offers scenic views of the magnificent Himalayas. Upon arriving in Kathmandu, you will be transferred to your hotel. 

During peak seasons (March to May and September to November), you will need to catch a flight from Lukla to Ramechhap. First, to get to Ramechhap, you will drive 4-5 hours from Ramechhap to Kathmandu on a sharing jeep.

Your incredible 19-day Everest High Pass Trek concludes today. A representative from Global Adventure Trekking will pick you up 3 hours before your boarding time and help you transfer to the Tribhuvan International Airport.