Everest High Passes Trek

We have divided this day into two parts. In the first half, we visit tourist sites like Monkey Temple, Boudhnath Stupa, Pashupatinath Temple, and Kathmandu Durbar Square. The tour introduces you to Nepali culture and architecture. It's a guided tour, so you'll learn much about the monuments.

In the latter half of the day, we meet with the trek guide in our office and prepare for the three-pass trek. Our trek briefs about the trail and double-checks all the gears. All the duffel bags are packed today, and last-minute shopping is done if needed.

Today, we have a morning flight to Lukla Airport. So, you have to wake up pretty early and get ready. We'll pick you up from your hotel lobby and drive to the domestic airport. The flight to Lukla is short and scenic. In Lukla, the rest of the crew (porters) join us.

To avoid altitude sickness, we spend the first night in Phakding village instead of Lukla. The trail descends along the side of the Dudh Kosi River through forested paths. Passing by Ghat village (2,530 m), we trek for an hour to reach Phakding.

The trail from Phakding to Namche Bazaar is awe-inspiring and adventurous. Trekking through pine forests and listening to the rushing sound of the Dudh Koshi River, we ascend and pass by villages like Benkar, Monjo and Jorsale. The trail up to Monjo crosses many suspension bridges.

From Monjo, we trek in a protected area called Sagarmatha National Park. From here onwards, the route gradually follows through dense forests and crosses thrilling hanging bridges. We'll come across lovely waterfalls and pass by small settlement areas before steeply ascending towards Namche Bazaar.

We have come very far at 3,440 meters from sea level. So, an acclimatization day is crucial at this point. Also, a rest day in Namche Bazaar lets you explore nearby famous places like Syangboche Airstrip and Everest View Hotel. We hike to these places to witness breathtaking views of mountains like Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse, Ama Dablam, Thamserku, and Kangtega.

From here, we walk toward Sanasa. On the way, we may see the Himalayan tahr and Danphe (Nepal's national bird). The trail takes you to Tashinga and descends steeply to Dudh Koshi. Crossing the river, we reach Phunki Tenga (3,250 m) and ascend through lush rhododendron, pine, fir and juniper forests to Tengboche village.

We visit the Tengboche monastery early in the morning and witness a stunning sunrise. After breakfast, we walk through the rhododendrons, fir, pine, and birch forests. The trail takes us to Debuche, from where we steeply ascend.

The trail passes by Imja Khola and leads us to Pangboche village. We take a lunch break here and then follow an uphill route through alpine hillsides and terraced fields to Dingboche.

We will hike to a nearby hill with fantastic mountain views to acclimatize. Later, we can explore the Digbcohe village and its terraced fields.

From Dingboche onwards, we leave the main EBC trail and trek to Chhukung Valley. It is located beneath a rock wall that links Nuptse with Lhotse. The trail is rugged and rocky.

Along the trail, we enjoy the fantastic panorama of Ama Dablam and Island Peak.

Today, we will cross the first pass of our trek, Kongma La. From Chhukung, we have two routes to Kongma La. We walk in an isolated area and ascend a hill northwest of Chhkung, following the moraine of the Nuptse Glacier. Another option is to descend to Bibre and take a high trail above the Niyang Khola.

On the way, we pass by small frozen lakes and steeply ascend over loose scree to the top of the pass. The top is marked with colorful prayer flags. The feeling of conquering the first pass and getting rewarded with heavenly scenery will motivate us to walk further. Further, we do the final descent to Lobuche. It's a tricky section of the trail that climbs moraine on the far side and walks by Khumbu Glacier.

The trail to Everest base camp is windy, and the thin air makes the walk more exhausting than it is. We walk on a rocky trail on the north crest of Everest. The trail offers prominent views of Pumori, Khumbutse, Nuptse, Lhotse, and Lingtern.

Walking alongside Khumbu Glacier, we reach Gorak Shep. From here, we follow a steep, rocky trail to Everest base camp, where we'll spend the night.

We wake up before sunrise and hike to Kala Patthar. It's a popular viewpoint that offers mountain panorama, including one of the best views of Mt. Everest. After enjoying the gorgeous sunrise and mountain views from Kala Patthar, we descend to Dzongla for the night. It's a relatively short day and allows us to rest.

Leaving Dzongla, we embark on an adventurous route today. The trail goes west and descends through landslide areas. We walk on a glacial path and reach the top of the basin. Soon, we cross Cho La Pass and witness breathtaking views of Ama Dablam. From here, we descend to Thangnak. The downhill route is rocky and ice-lazed, so be careful while dropping.

The trail from Thangnak leads to the edge of the Ngozumpa Glacier, Nepal's biggest glacier. From here, we walk, enjoying stunning mountain views, past several small lakes, and to the Gokyo village. It's a beautiful village tucked away amidst a snow-capped mountain at the shore of an alpine lake.

We spent another acclimatization day in Gokyo village and hike to Gokyo Ri (5,350 m). It's a few hours' walk from Gokyo village to Gokyo Ri on a steep, rugged path The viewpoint offers a surreal view of Cho Oyu, Island Peak, Gyachukang, Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, Cholatse, Tawache, and many other mountains. Later, we'll explore the Gokyo Lakes and spend the rest of the day with the locals.

Today, we'll cross the third and last pass, Renjo La. We follow a gray screen from Gokyo above the lake's northwest corner. The trail descends from Gokyo Valley, and leaving the main trail, we follow an uphill route that leads to Renjo La pass.

The walk is strenuous, but once we reach the top of the pass, the crisp wind and phenomenal mountain views will make us forget the pain. From here, we descend to Thame to spend the night.

Leaving Thame, we walk and reach a small village called Phurte. Here, we visit the old Laudo monastery. Walking through forested paths and small towns, we reach Namche Bazaar. We also pass by gompas, mani walls, and chortens.

After having breakfast, we begin trekking out of Namche Bazaar and steeply descend through lush forests. We pass by waterfalls and streams and cross many suspension bridges until we reach Phakding village.

On this day, we'll be retracing the path to Lukla so that you may remember a few things. From Phakding, it's a few hours of ascent to Lukla.

We fly back to Kathmandu today. Our team will drop you at the hotel. The remaining day is free. You can explore Thamel and its narrow, lively streets. There's a royal garden called the Garden of Dreams located just at the entrance of Thamel; you can visit there, too.

We have an extra day in Kathmandu. We use this if we need it on the trek or if our Lukla flight is delayed or canceled due to bad weather. On this day, we recommend visiting Bhaktapur and Patan Durbar Square. You can explore palaces, gates, courtyards, museums, galleries, and temples there.

We also highly recommend that you visit the local market. In the evening, meet us for a farewell dinner.

We have marked the end of our adventurous trip to Nepal. On this day, you fly back home. Our airport team will help you check out and drop you off.