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Everest Base Camp - Three High Passes
Duration: 16 days
Trails: T3 trails
Distance: 15 - 20 km / 9 - 12 mi per day
Ascent per day: 500 - 1000 m / 1640 - 3281 ft ascent per day
> Visit of historical monastery of Tengboche
> Mesmerizing views of Khumbu Ice Fall
> Incredible sunrise view with Everest
> Unique culture of the Sherpa people
Join us for a once in a lifetime experience! Our guides and porters will assist you to make this amazing trek safe, happy and as informative as you want. Follow the footsteps of Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay, while you get as close as possible to Mount Everest.
The scenery along this trail is stunning, with many towering mountains like Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse, Ama Dablam and many others. We will cross the Cho-La Pass and relax at the beautiful Gokyo Lake. Himalayan people, their culture and tradition will amaze you during these 16 days in which you will also pass fascinating Sherpa villages and Tibetan monasteries.
Sagarmatha National Park, established in 1976, with the objective to protect the diverse floras and faunas of Himalayan, has been successful in achievement of its goals. You will be able to see different exotic species on your trek like Musk deer, Mountain Goat, Snow leopard, Pheasants, Lophophorus, Snow duck, Mountain hawk among others. It is believed that the giant mystical creature, Yeti is found in Khumbu Region! You’ll be able to see many bridges, monasteries, Chhotre laden with colorful Buddhist flags, and scribbles of prayers, which gives life to the rough terrain of the mountains.
We will hike through stunning Namche, Tengboche, Dingaboche and we will see other beautiful places. We will come across captivating valleys such as Khumbu Valley, Imja Valley, Dusa Valley. Khumjung-Khunde Valley, Gokyo Valley, and Thame Valley which will allow you to see the enchanting mountains from different angles. Mount Everest (8848m), fourth highest Lhotse (8516m), fifth highest Makalu (8485m), sixth highest Cho-Oyu (8210m) and other just as stunning mountains that will feast your eyes. Amazing right?
Itinerary
Day
1
Fly to Lukla , trek to Phakding
Duration: 02:30 h
Distance: 7.3 km / 4.5 mi
Ascent: 160 m / 525 ft
Descent: 370 m / 1214 ft
We’ll board a flight to Lukla (2810m). You will be able to enjoy the beauty of splendid hills, rivers and mountains during the 30 minute flight. On reaching Lukla airport, you’ll be introduced to your porter, and served a wholesome breakfast. After that, we will head north to Phakding (2620m). It is an easy 3 hour hike through the Dudhkoshi valley. We will head north from the airstrip to Chheplung (2700m) and cross the crystal clear Thadokoshi on a locally built suspension bridge. Past the bridge, you can witness KusamKanggru (6367m), which is one of the toughest mountains to conquer. Away from the ThadoKoshi, the trail continues towards the Ghat (2590m) and we will cross a ridge marked with painted Mani stones. We will reach the beautiful tribal village of Phakding where you will stay overnight.
Phakding
Day
2
Trek to Namche Bazaar
Duration: 04:30 h
Distance: 10.5 km / 6.5 mi
Ascent: 910 m / 2986 ft
Descent: 150 m / 492 ft
Heading for the Namche Bazaar, we cross through the hamlet of Zamphute and Tok Tok to see dazzling Thamserku glistening in the sun that stays all the way with us in most of our trek. Passing through the scenic Sherpa villages of Benkar, Chumoa and Monjo, we reach Utche Choling Gompa on a bluff abutting the Dudhkoshi river and further we make our way between the bluff to the entrance of Sagarmatha National Park, a UNESCO declared world heritage site. Completing halfway to Namche Bazaar, we head for the second half of the march that would likely to take more time due to steep climb at the end. Crossing through the last village of Jorsale, a steep stepped path leads us to an amazing high bridge over the Dudhkoshi River gorge and just before this bridge, the Dudhkoshi is met by its tributary, the BhoteKoshi.
Namche Bazaar
Day
3
Acclimatize at Namche Bazaar
We have an acclimatization day at Namche Bazaar. To help our body better adapt to the high altitude, we can take short walks or climb few hundred feet during the day to have a look in the villages, houses, terraced fields and snowy mountains of Kwangde, Khumbu peak, Thamserku, Kusum Kanguru and the village’s big weekly event, the Saturday market to have fun mingling with the crowds and watching men and women in traditional attire.
Namche Bazaar
Day
4
Trek to Tengboche
Duration: 05:30 h
Distance: 9.5 km / 5.9 mi
Ascent: 780 m / 2559 ft
Descent: 350 m / 1148 ft
Our route for today to Tengboche weaves in and out of side valleys, making small ups and downs, to the picturesque tea shops of Kenjoma, and joins the trail from Khumjung just before a collection of Mani stones. The views of Everest and Ama Dablam are excellent from this part of the trek. We pass the small settlement of Sanasa from where the trail drops towards Phunkithanga (3250m). From here the trail climbs steeply through pine forests and around Mani stones as it follows the side of a hill to the saddle on which the monastery of Tengboche sits at 3870m. The view from here is rightly deemed to be one of the world’s most magnificent sceneries. Kwangde (6187m), Tawachee (6542m), Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse (8501m), Amadablam, Kantega and Thamserku provide an inspiring panorama as the Himalayan giants. We will spend the night in Tengboche.
Tengboche
Day
5
Trek to Dingboche
Duration: 05:30 h
Distance: 10.8 km / 6.7 mi
Ascent: 630 m / 2067 ft
Descent: 170 m / 558 ft
We descend through a beautiful forest then cross the Imja Khola and trek through the village of Pangboche. The route continues through summer pastures to Dingboche. We will spend the night at Dingboche. It is a very relaxing village with lots of mountain views. This is a very easy hike which will take about 3 to 4 hours.
Dingboche
Day
6
Trek to Chhukung
Duration: 02:00 h
Distance: 4.5 km / 2.8 mi
Ascent: 390 m / 1280 ft
After breakfast we start a pretty trek as we leave Dingboche through stone walled fields and alpine landscape. We hike the trail from Dingboche through Imja Khola valley to a land dotted by glacier moraines amidst towering mountains. We hike at our own pace as our schedule for today is only 3-4 hours trek. While hiking through the valley, Lhotse towers on our left and Ama Dablam on our right. After hiking for about 3 km, we reach a yak herdsman’s place called Bibre. Straight ahead of us, beyond a terminal moraine wall, soars the Island peak (Imja Tse), a popular trekking peak. The pyramidal Imja Tse looks awesome with its steep rock and-icy south face. The trail ahead is intersected by icy streams, we reach Chhukung in about half an hour after leaving Bibre, and there are glaciers and massive snowy mountains all around the place. It is a pleasant hike and we will also hike around the Chukum Valley which will get us physically ready for our first pass, the famous Kongma La.
Chhukung
Day
7
Trek to Lobuche via Kongma La (5535m)
Duration: 06:30 h
Distance: 10 km / 6.2 mi
Ascent: 820 m / 2690 ft
Descent: 630 m / 2067 ft
We start our trekking quite early in the morning after an early breakfast. Today, as we will have quite a long and tiring day, we head directly west out of Chhukung, hike a small, rocky trail and contour around many hillsides, usually not very steeply, until we reach Pokalden Base Camp. We start at first light. As we have to conquer the highest pass of the trip today, we carry plenty of water, some snacks and a packed lunch as there are no teahouses on the way. We will really enjoy the remoteness of the area and the wonderful display of nature up here. We can choose to go via any of the possible trails – either taking a climb over the hill northwest of Chhukung over the moraine of the Nuptse Glacier or we might hike back down the valley to Bibre and follow a high trail above the Niyang Khola. After some hiking there are great views of Island peak valley and the jagged ridge of Amphu Lapcha. Ascending along the east side of Niyang Khola valley, we turn west and hike over a loppy stony trail. We enter a wide basin dotted with small frozen lakes. After a few other hills and more steep climbs; we will reach another Base Camp for Pokalden and a clear blue lake which sits just below the pass. We climb the last half an hour on a trail which is good but looks daring. It is built on the side of a cliff. We are now approaching Lobuche.
Lobuche
Day
8
Trek to Gorak Shep (5180m) – Everest Base Camp (5364m) – Ghorak Shep
Duration: 06:40 h
Distance: 12 km / 7.5 mi
Ascent: 390 m / 1280 ft
Descent: 150 m / 492 ft
This challenging trek day will take around 6-8 hours. From this point onwards you will probably feel the altitude more than before. We therefore will have have to be extra careful. The trekking distance will be around 15km. After a filling breakfast, we will head to Everest Base Camp, trekking through the rocky terrain alongside the Khumbu Glacier. Upon reaching EBC, you will have some time to enjoy the heavenly environment and take photographs. If you are trekking somewhere between March and May, you might get the chance to see all the commercial expeditions trying to reach the summit. After lunch, we will trek downhill to Gorak Shep, and spend the night at a local guest house there.
Gorak Shep
Day
9
Trek to Kalapathar for sunrise and trek to Dzonghla
Duration: 08:15 h
Distance: 15.8 km / 9.8 mi
Ascent: 510 m / 1673 ft
Descent: 860 m / 2822 ft
For many, this is the highlight of the whole trip. Ideally, the day starts with a cloudless sky. We will hike early morning to Kala Pathar, from where you will get undoubtedly the best sunrise view of Everest and the other giants. Live the moment and take plenty of photographs to take back home.
Dzongla
Day
10
Cross Chola pass (5420m) and descend to Tagnag
Duration: 05:30 h
Distance: 8.9 km / 5.5 mi
Ascent: 620 m / 2034 ft
Descent: 740 m / 2428 ft
After a good night, we will set on to cross the enchanting Chola Pass (5420m). The trek involves a gradual ascent up the valley passing through rhododendron forests. If we get lucky we might get glimpse of musk deer. The view of Ama Dablam and Tawache is remarkable from here. After, we trek down to Tagnag (4695m), a village situated just below a small cliff. We spend the night here.
Tagnag
Day
11
Trek to Gokyo
Duration: 02:00 h
Distance: 3.6 km / 2.2 mi
Ascent: 110 m / 361 ft
Descent: 40 m / 131 ft
We start our day by crossing the Ngozumpa Glacier on a sandy, shifting trail, the frozen lakes creaking below and beside us as we turn our way to the other side. Once back on the main trail to Gokyo, we have an hour’s hike past the second lake before we reach the lodge at Gokyo. In the Gokyo valley, the character of trekking changes abruptly. The opaque powder-blue lakes are often on the verge of freezing over and sometimes perform a Himalayan symphony of expanding and retracting ice. We have entered the grassy ablation valley running beside the Ngozumpa Glacier, and have our first sight of Gokyo, a seasonal village and grazing area built beside the third and biggest lake. Gokyo has become something of a Himalayan resort without the crowd at least in terms of the comfortable lodges with sunrooms, unbeatable views, excellent food and warm stoves. It is a great base to explore from, and we as tomorrow we take the time to acclimatise, we will have plenty of time for exploration.
Gokyo
Day
12
Cross Renjo pass (5360m) and descend down to Lungden
Duration: 11:00 h
Distance: 14.7 km / 9.1 mi
Ascent: 1130 m / 3707 ft
Descent: 1520 m / 4987 ft
Early morning after breakfast, we will head up again. A steep climb takes us across the Renjo La pass at over 5,300m and we'll descend to Lungden (4350m), where we will spend the night.
Lungden
Day
13
Trek to Thame village
Duration: 04:00 h
Distance: 9.5 km / 5.9 mi
Ascent: 20 m / 66 ft
Descent: 590 m / 1936 ft
Today we will hike to Thame. Situated at 3800m, we will also visit the historic Thame monastery and experience spiritual Buddhist practices. We can also witness the lovely culture of Sherpa people at Thame. We will spend the night here and enjoy the much needed rest for our downhill trek tomorrow.
Thame
Day
14
Trek to Namche Bazaar
Duration: 03:30 h
Distance: 9 km / 5.6 mi
Ascent: 190 m / 623 ft
Descent: 550 m / 1804 ft
We continue our trekking following the flat route and descending to our first resting place Thamo. We then head for Namche Bazaar. We descend after crossing a bridge that eventually leads us to Samde. The place offers breathtaking views. The path descends steeply to Thamo village which hosts a monastery called Khari Gompa which is a nunnery being home to some nuns and monks. After passing through a check post, we come to the world’s highest hydroelectric power station. This was built with help from Austria.
Namche Bazaar
Day
15
Trek to Lukla
Duration: 07:00 h
Distance: 18 km / 11.2 mi
Ascent: 530 m / 1739 ft
Descent: 1080 m / 3543 ft
Finally we return to Lukla following the Dudhkoshi River, where the trek ends. We will spend the night in Lukla.
Lukla
Day
16
Fly back Kathmandu
Early morning air trip from Lukla to Kathmandu. Don’t forget to pick a seat on the right side, to see the spectacular mountain views again. On reaching Kathmandu, it will be time to say goodbye! May you enjoy the rest of your journey here in Nepal.
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