Three High Passes with Everest Base Camp Trek

Kathmandu is a free day where one can join in our interesting sightseeing tour options, as the capital Kathmandu of Nepal is steeped with historical and religious monuments of world heritage sites. Afternoon at leisure and preparation for Everest Three High Passes Trekking, starting next early morning with a flight to land at Lukla.

As per your flight time for Lukla, usually happens early morning where a short drive takes you to Kathmandu airport, after checking in at the respective airline’s counter with security then board a small aircraft for a scenic short of 30 minutes to land at Lukla small airstrip. During air grand panorama of Himalayan peaks with Everest and Makalu at a close distance as the plane heads to the runway to stop at a parking area at Tenzing and Hillary Airport in Lukla.

With time here for refreshing stops and then walk starts accompanied by our native guide and porters, beginning with a pleasant start on downhill past Lukla town to reach at Dudh Kosi River valley with Sherpa farm villages as our route leads further encountering prayer walls and spinning bells to reach our first overnight stop at Phakding village.

Our second-day walk is quite long due to the increase in heights as morning starts beyond Phakding entering a river gorge and crossing over a bridge to reach a nice lovely village at Monjo with views of Thermasarkhu peaks.

From here short descent to enter Sagarmatha National Park, where all trekkers have to obtain National Park permits, as TIMS (Trekking Information Management Systems) pre-obtained in Kathmandu. Sagarmatha is a Nepalese name for Everest, where local Sherpa of Tibetan origin languages calls Chomolungma in both words means Great Mother. From here cross over a bridge to reach Jorsalle the last village before climbing to Namche Bazaar, at Jorsalle for possible lunch stops and then walks lead towards river banks into lovely woodland of pines and rhododendron after crossing a last high suspension bridge with a gradual climb on the winding road facing views of Kongde-Kusum Kanguru with Everest and Lhotse to reach famous Namche Bazaar.

Namche Bazaar is located at 3,440 m high with amphitheatre landscapes adorned with a number of well-built houses serving as hotels, lodges, and resorts. At Namche for overnight stops with grand views of Kongde and Thermasarkhu peaks and time for short walks around its streets lined with well-stocked shops and stores and many restaurants and fresh bakeries.

At Namche Bazaar for a rest day to support with acclimatization at this right altitude of above 3,000 m high, on this day taking a short hike to Everest View Hotel above Namche Bazaar, the first Porsche hotels or resort of Khumbu area.

Offers grand views of Everest and Amadablam peaks with other adjoining peaks within beautiful green woodland of tall rhododendron and silver fir trees. Other options will be walking high above Namche at the Park Museum area facing mighty views of Everest, Lhotse, and stunning looking Amadablam peaks, with time to visit the museum of great interest with full information of the Khumbu areas for Sherpa culture and history

From Namche morning a short steep climb to reach a gradual scenic trail, where walk leads on a winding path facing glorious views of Everest with magnificent Amadablam within the cool shade of the woodland.

As the walk progress downhill to reach a bridge over Imjatse River to a small place at Phung-Tenga Situated forest surrounding, a possible lunch stop here where an afternoon walk takes you to a climb into the cool shade of the forest and then reaching a small plateau at Thyangboche with an amazing panorama of mountains with Everest in views. At Thyangboche visit its colourful and impressive monastery and witness the priest-Lama and monks active in prayer with the grand surrounding of tall trees and mountains. Thyangboche is a scenic and beautiful spot where once a year in the month of mid-October or November a festival is held called Mani-Rimdu, where you can observe monks adorned with different deities’ masks wading evil spirits.

Morning walk leads on easy downhill past small place of Deboche and then leaving the green vegetation and tree lines reaching a steel bridge over Imjatse River, where walk leads on an open wide country with magnificent views of Amadablam.

A slow uphill reaches you at Pangboche the last permanent village, where other places on the route are temporary settlements to cater for the requirement of travellers and trekkers, as the walk proceeds into dry and arid terrain and crossing a small bridge with short steep ups to reach a beautiful Imjatse valley where Dingboche located. At Dingboche staying for overnight with views of stunning Island peaks with Nuptse, Lhotse, and Taboche peaks with the North Face of Amadablam.

A full rest day at Dingboche for better acclimatization to make sure that every member in the group is well and fit for the onward journey to Everest base camp, at Dingboche take a short hike to Nagarjuna hill for a great panorama of Imjatse valley with Island, Taboche peaks includes views of world’s fifth highest Mt. Makalu towards east direction. Afternoon rest and enjoy the surrounding views of peaks at ease in the lodge at Dingboche.

After a pleasant and wonderful rest at Dingboche morning a short walk of a few hours to reach Chukung a small settlement with small numbers of lodges, located at the end of scenic Imjatse Valley, as the walk leads towards east facing views of Amadablam-Lobuche and towering Island Peak. Finally, after a great morning walk with a few short down and ups climbs reaching Chukung for lunch and an overnight stop, where afternoon you can relax facing mountain views in preparation for the next early tough treks over Kongma-la to reach Lobuche.

Starting early morning before the crack of dawn heading back to inner Imjatse valley taking a high Route beneath Lhotse and Nuptse mountains, slowly walk leads to the faint path entering into a Gully in between Nuptse and Pokalde peaks. After much rest then climb towards high Kongma-La at above 5,535 m and 18,159 ft the highest Pass of the adventure, hidden in-between Nuptse, and Mihara peaks, the pass stepped with Rock cairns and Buddhist prayer flags to mark the top. From the pass descend towards Khumbu glacier, walking with care on icy path and moraine following our lead guides, then climb over the rubble of rocks and boulders downhill to overnight place in Lobuche after a hard-tough walk of the day.

After overnight at Lobuche, morning walk towards Everest Base Camp where walk leads on the pleasant path and then a short climb to reach higher ground. Then back on nice trails reaching a place where you can visit Glass Pyramid place, a metrological station a joint venture with the Italian and Nepalese Governments, surveying the weather and movement of ice and glaciers. From here acquiring interesting information about the project walk leads towards moraine and ice

above Khumbu’s massive glaciers and then a short descent to a wide-open field at Gorakshep, a place with few lodges. Gorakshep was an original earlier Everest base camp before it moved further east. After a short stop and rest heading towards our goal of walking into moraine and rocks to reach Everest base camp in the backdrop of mighty Khumbu Ice Falls and glaciers. Everest hid between the peaks of Lho-la and Nuptse where a tip of Everest can be seen from the base camp, with ever-present views of towering peaks after an exciting moment of the adventure heading back to Gorakshep for the last overnight on the highest point of the journey.

Gorakshep is located beneath Kalapathar and the lofty peak of Pumori, morning a steep climb heading into a rocky path with a vigorous breathtaking uphill to reach on top the highest spot of the adventure at Kalapathar, situated above 5,545 m facing a sweeping panorama of high giant mountains with the view of Pumori and Everest at close distance. After glorious scenic moments descend to Gorakshep and then walk on the same trail back to Lobuche and then at an isolated area in Dzongla, a small settlement with few simple lodges to stay with views of Amadablam-Taboche-Cholatse with other series of peaks.

Morning where our tough adventure takes you on top of the second high pass of the journey, climbing on steep slopes over rocky moraine with some ice-sections (sometimes), the finally reach on top Cho-la, often spelt as Tsho facing grand views of Cholatse-Lobuche East and West peaks with Nirekha peaks. After a wonderful moment and rest, then descend towards Thaknag around the Gokyo Valley area, where a walk leads over rocks and moraine to reach a lonely and isolated place at Thaknag for an overnight stop before Gokyo Lake.

Morning walks are much easier compared to other past days, where our route leads beneath Ngozumba glacier reaching first and then second lakes to reach beautiful areas of Gokyo, where lodges are situated above its third big glacial lake. At Gokyo with the free afternoon with views of world 6, the highest Mt. Cho-Oyu straddles the border of Nepal and Tibet-China. Energetic people can hike up to Gokyo-Ri for the panorama of peaks Everest and Makalu.

Our last and final great high pass to complete on this day, where early morning walk leads south of Gokyo lake, and then climb over rocks and scree path to reach high Renjo-la offering the super panorama of mountains with Everest, Lhotse, Cho-Oyu and Makalu towards east includes array mountain range. With the refreshing break on top, then walk downhill past Renjo’s icy ponds to reach Lungden located close to the high Nangpa-la pass that leads to Tibet, at Lungden enjoy the rest of the afternoon with views of Kongde peaks.

From Lungden feeling great after crossing all three high passes which makes the rest of the journey much easier with a downhill walk to Bhote-Kosi River near the small farm village of Marlung and the pleasant trail to reach the nice quiet village in Thame. At Thame enjoy the day visiting its oldest monastery in the Khumbu area, an interesting place enriched with ancient artefacts, idols and holy Buddhist books with super views of peaks around.

After a nice overnight stop in Thame, morning an easier walk down and then up following a nice gentle path towards Thamo village, and then back into trees and green vegetation as walk reaches you at famous Namche Bazaar for an overnight stop in its nice lodge.

After a fine morning with mountain views for breakfast, then start walking past Namche Bazaar with long descend to reach the confluence of Imajatse and Bhote Kosi rivers that makes and joins to Dudh Kosi River. A pleasant walk leads to Jorsalle with the last short steep climb to the entrance of Sagarmatha National Park, after passing the area reaching the ice and lovely village at Monjo for overnight stops.

Our last walking day of the adventure, where walk follows the Dudh Kosi River all the way to Phakding village and then heading towards Ghat and Tade-Kosi small areas with the last climb to reach the main gate of Lukla. After a final climb of the journey rest of the walk is easy going through Lukla town and its markets place to our overnight stop in a nice lodge at Lukla, with time in the afternoon for short walks.

As per our normal morning flight schedule for Kathmandu, transfer to Tenzing and Hillary Airport terminal and then board in respective airlines plane for the sweeping and panoramic flight back to Kathmandu, overlooking tremendous views of mountains as our air journey ends at Kathmandu airport. After checking out then transfer back to your respective hotels with time in the afternoon for leisure moments and individual activities.

After a wonderful time in Nepal with amazing time in high Himalayan mountains with great

adventure on Everest Three High Passes Trekking, with your last day in the country of awesome adventures where our staff and guide transfers you to the airport for your flight back home or to next port of call.

joining for this type of adventure where one should take the daily routine of exercise like jogging, swimming, aerobic, long walks for a few hours, Jumba or other healthy activities should be done at least 1-2 months before departure for the trek.

Depending upon your time and duration for the trek you can book this trip at least 2-3 weeks ahead of our departure dates for the trek, with advance payment as per the norms and rules of the company. Make sure that you have checked your medical and physical fitness before signing for the trip and as well purchasing medical and travel insurance which is very important for this kind of adventurous trek in Nepal Himalaya.

From a minimum of 3-4 people in the group with a maximum of 10-15 persons in the group, in some cases we do allow booking for a single person as well, running independently at extra cost than in groups.

The season-wise, where best time is from March to May when most of the day is clear with minimum temperatures of 0° to 20° Celsius depending upon the altitude and areas. Where most of the morning till mid-days clears for views and walks, sometimes afternoon can get overcast with chances of light rains and snow. March to May will be lively with wild flowers in full bloom especially various species of rhododendron (national flower of Nepal) from trees to short bushes.

Tea-House is the word used in the early days when there were smaller numbers of lodges on route trekking, at present each village has more than 10 to 20 good lodges with pleasant room accommodations, serving excellent food menus as per the season wise. Higher above 4,000 m the lodges are good but due to freezing cold temperatures at night and morning time where they have toilets on the outside, with some inside as common bathrooms and restrooms.

Most of the places do have electricity on route trekking run by hydro-power after Namche and Thyangboche, where much of the electric supply is private and individual of the lodge owners with sun / solar power to activate electric just for the lodge and as well for customers to charge their computers and cell-phones. Some places do have networks for cell phones and as well for internet like Wi-Fi above Dingboche and in some areas due to high peaks and hills, the networks are disturbed in deep areas like around river gorge areas. At present nearly all people in Nepal including remote villages do have an assist to cell phones with fine network connection only in bad weather, the line can be broken, otherwise, it is fine in working order.

In this situation where our guides are well equipped with knowledge for emergency and medical purposes, depending upon the seriousness of the victims if it is much critical where nearest medical attention is needed, we call for immediate evacuation for Helicopter services to reach the victims to the nearest medical station and hospital. For light AMS (Acute Mountain Sickness), resting and drinking enough fluid leaving an extra guide to take care of sick clients till he/she recover on route treks or help them to descend to safer areas and take an advance flight back to Kathmandu.

Meals are served and prepared according to your choice of menu items, all foods are carefully prepared with much hygiene concern, avoiding complaints and reputation of the lodges, as they have been serving for more than two decades to worldwide travellers.

Hearing rumours and seeing for your own self is a different picture, to be honest, some people are not used to Asian and spicy foods, that’s why people could get sick with a change of diets as well. To be on the healthy side before and after the treks is to get advice from your guides on what will be the best food to consume while on treks, we strongly suggest staying away from meats items in the first place, as it is not hygienic could be the stale meat of a week time or more. If you go with the vegetarian sometimes will be the best option to stay healthy till you get immune to the local environment and culture.

In our list we always mention general medication to bring from home as well from your doctor's advice also, your doctor might recommend you some basic medication list like a medicine against diarrhoea, headache, fever, cold-flu as well constipation including first aid for cuts-wounds and burns as well. On every trip of ours, we carry comprehensive medical kits which will be carried by our trekking staff, guides or group leader for common use if required as for your own personal illness, where your doctors might have recommended some medicine to carry with you.

Always abide by the rules of the company and guides/leader, most of the main sickness is stomach disorder due to change in foods and culture shocks. If people have travelled to Asia countries and knowing the food well will be not a problem. Other factors might leads to altitude sickness known as AMS (Acute Mountain Sickness) which can happen to any people if they are not careful by walking fast in higher elevations and might catch the symptoms of AMS. We have designed the itinerary days where people can acclimatize well with rest days in a couple of high places before reaching much higher to our goal and highlights. Some people might take Diamox pills, which are often used as high altitude pills, and should consult their doctors before taking the right dose, which helps to regulate the flow of blood systems from getting clots at high altitudes. Where drinking plenty of fluids, water juice and rehydration drink including black warm tea also help and taking much rest after getting tired.