About Everest Three Passes Trek
The Everest Three Passes Trek is high mountain walking pushed to the next level, literally. The high-altitude vistas, challenging passes, and 8000-meter peaks draw those who hunger for challenging but rewarding long-distance high-altitude walking.
From the bustling Sherpa outpost of Lukla to the lesser visited high pass of Khongma La (5535m), you will traverse Sagarmatha National Park and can look forward to encountering Sherpa culture, some of the most dramatic high-mountain scenery on Earth, and possibly even a few of the rare species that call this region home. The Everest Three Passes Trekis a challenging banquet of high-altitude trekking awesomeness. For those looking for a more off-the-beaten-path trip to the Everest region, you should consider this trek.
Our walk begins in Lukla following a thrilling, scenic flight introducing us to many of the mountains that will accompany us through much of our trek. As we proceed up the eastern side of the valley, we are accompanied by the Dudh Kosi, the aqua-colored glacially-fed river that originates in higher altitudes of the Everst region and that defines the valley floor.
During our walk, we pass through Sherpa villages filled with Mani walls, prayer wheels, and legendary hospitality. We stop in Namche Bazaar (3440m), a bustling mountain-side village full of stories, delicious food, and excellent day hikes for acclimatizing. We discover Tengboche, the spiritual center of the Khumbu region and home to its largest Gompa.
In the higher alpine, we clamber over moraine trails, glimpse glacier after glacier, and consider the mysticism of colorful prayer flags and Mani walls. From Chukhung, we ascend the regions highest non-technical pass, the Khongma La. From Gorak Shep, we bag Kala Patthar (5643m) and catch a killer sunrise and epic panoramic views of Everest (8848m), Ama Dablam (6812m), Lhotse Shar (8383m), Pumori (7161m), Thamserku (6608m), and so many others that we will be drooling.
From the upper Khumbu, we climb the Chola La (5330m), a mildly-technical pass and descend into the Gokyo Valley, home to the highest freshwater lake system on Earth. We bag Gokyo Ri (5357m) for views of Cho Oyo (8188m) and the Ngozumpa glacier, the longest glacier in the Himalayas. We then climb the Renjo La (5360m), our third high-altitude pass, before circling back to Namche.
Following our walk in the Khumbu region, we return to Kathmandu via another scenic flight for final glimpses of the big peaks.
