Guide for Everest High Passes Trek
‘traverse over world’s high passes in the shade of mighty Mt. Everest with unmatched views’
Everest Three Passes Trekking, probably one of the highest passes on this planet earth and in all Himalaya range of mountains, for you to dare the mighty feats and challenges crossing over and above 5,400 m passes with breath-taking views of giant peaks that surround you.
Everest Three Passes Trekking, located on high and scenic Khumbu valley within Everest region dominated by high mountain range of Nepal Mid-East Himalaya where you will be in complete wilderness around arctic zone within remorseless fields of ice and glaciers.
Marvelous and scenic adventure that leads you to enjoy local Sherpa culture and traditional farm life interwoven with Buddhism religions, similar colorful custom to Tibetans where the border is a mere distance due North from Khumbu and behind South Face of Everest.
An adventure where one needs to be physically fir and in sound health to take part in this awesome journey to traverse from one scenic areas to another beautiful places of Khumbu valley with ever-present Mt. Everest.
Starting great adventure ‘Everest Three Passes Trekking’ taking a sweeping morning flight from Kathmandu in a small aircraft (Dornier-Twin Otter or similar types) to land at Lukla town and its unique short airstrip.
The airport in Lukla named after legendary mountaineers late Tenzing and Hillary the first to conquer on top Mt. Everest in May 29th 1953, Lukla an interesting busy Sherpa town with few other minority people besides Sherpa the dominion tribe of Khumbu and Everest region.
As walks starts heading towards many nice Sherpa farm villages encountering Buddhist prayer monuments called Mani Wall with religious inscription on rocks and boulders, long row of prayer stone slabs including spinning bells.
Overlooking impressive views of snow peaks of Kongde, Kusum-Khanguru and Thermasarkhu where route leads into cool shade of alpine woodland filled with tall rhododendron (Nepal national flower), magnolia, oaks, firs with various species of pines and junipers.
After walking past lovely villages of Phakding-Benkar and Monjo entering at Sagarmatha National Park (Sagarmatha for Everest in Nepalese while in Sherpa known as Chomlungma in both languages it means ‘Great Mother’).
At the park where you need to purchase park entrance tickets paying fees and also showing your trekking permits TIMS (Trekking Information Systems) which is obtained from your local agencies in Kathmandu.
From the park crossing over Dudh Kosi River and following the river for sometimes within forested area, as walk climbs for few hours with grand views of peaks including Everest and Lhotse, then reaching at famous Namche Bazaar where you can find all types of facilities full of shops and stores, restaurants, banks to post office.
Namche holds a busy and colorful market every Saturday once a week which is interesting to observe the local Sherpa culture and custom of Khumbu and Everest region, here with time to get acclimatize with short scenic walks to viewpoint.
Walk continues after pleasant rest at Namche Bazaar at the height of 3,440 m where walk leads on good wide path within tree lines facing views of Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse and magnificent Amadablam with adjoining lesser peaks.
Slowly climb leads into beautiful woodland to reach at scenic Thyangboche and its impressive monastery surrounded by high peaks with views of Mt. Everest towards north, with time here to visit the monastery of great interest.
From Thyangboche onward where tree-lines and green vegetation disappears for short alpine shrubs and juniper bushes, walking into barren country getting closer towards mountains to reach at wonderful Imjatse valley at Dingboche and further to Chhukung the last settlement around Khumbu area.
With time for acclimatization and short walks ready for the first high pass to cross over Kongma-la the highest ridge to traverse of the adventure at 5,535 m high starting early morning where walks for Chhukung takes you to enter complete wilderness of high mountains beneath Nuptse and Lhotse.
Finally reaching on top of Kongma-la pass, after walking past faint and vague path of boulders and moraine, where walk takes you over Khumbu glacier to reach at Lobuche a small settlement with number of good lodges and inn to stay.
After Lobuche optional hike to Everest base camp for views of massive Khumbu Ice Falls and glaciers with climb on top scenic Kalapathar hill top for panorama of mountains with Everest at close distance.
Kalapathar at the height of 5,545 m the highest point of the adventure, located above Gorakshep offering tremendous views of high peaks, after an exciting walk to base camp and on top the highest spot at Kalapathar, walk to the base of the second big pass of Tsho or Cho – La at Dzongla.
With a peaceful overnight at Dzongla walk leads to cross over the Cho-la also spelled as Tsho-la at above 5,368 m high facing fantastic views of nearby peaks of Nirekha, Cholatse and Taboche from the top descend to beautiful Gokyo valley and its shimmering glacial lakes.
At Gokyo enjoy the day with optional hike to another best view-point on top Gokyo-Ri rewards you with panorama of worlds four highest mountains Mt. Everest, Lhotse, Cho-Oyu with Mt. Makalu in the east direction, overlooking views of Gokyo valley and lakes with Ngozumba glacier.
From Gokyo valley heading towards our last and final high pass of the adventure where climb leads on top Renjo-la at 5,360 m high with mind-blowing views of surrounding high peaks and then on completing all Everest Three Passes with long descend to Thame village.
Thame village a remote and isolated place which was the early childhood home of famous Tenzing Sherpa, and Apa Sherpa who climbed Everest 20 times, Thame with an interesting monastery which is worth a visit into the Buddhist holy sites of more than 500 years old.
After concluding Everest Three High Passes, walk is easier to reach at Namche and back into green vegetation and tree lines where route leads back to Lukla for scenic short flight back to Kathmandu, on completing an overwhelming adventure of life time experience.
Seasons:
Nearly all seasons for this adventurous Everest Three High Passes trekking, except the monsoon wet months of June to mid September months, March to May one of the best times and October to December but will be cold with freezing temperatures above 3,500 m high, but day will be fine with sunshine.
Options for Everest Three High Passes
There are two ways that one can choose either taking the clockwise from Thame towards Renjo-la first, or doing the anti-clock wise from Dingboche and Chhukung towards Kongma-la Pass.
The best options will be the later one over Kongma-la, first the reason is simple if bad weather persists with heavy snow sometimes, the pass can be closed for some days, on doing the Kongma-la at least one take the normal route to Lobuche avoiding the high pass.
From Renjo-la if it is in heavy snow there are no quick ways to reach the other two passes or to Everest base camp.
So be smart and wise Kongma-la will be the better options to choose for all weather conditions and to get acclimatize well before traversing all three passes.