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Everest Three Passes trek

A typical plan runs 18 days from Kathmandu and back, up to Kala Patthar at 5,644 m, with 3 rest days on the way.

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Rated 4.9 from 21 reviews on TripAdvisorMember of the Trekking Agencies' Association of Nepal
Phakding2,610 mNamche Bazaar3,440 mTengboche3,860 mDingboche4,410 mChhukung4,730 mLobuche4,940 mGorak Shep5,164 mDzongla4,830 mThagnak4,700 mGokyo4,750 mLungden4,380 mThame3,820 mLukla2,860 m5 km
Each dot is a place you sleep, joined in the order you walk. High point: कालापत्थर Kala Patthar, 5,644 m.
  1. Phakding, 2,610 m
  2. Namche Bazaar, 3,440 m
  3. Namche Bazaar, 3,440 m
  4. Tengboche, 3,860 m
  5. Dingboche, 4,410 m
  6. Dingboche, 4,410 m
  7. Chhukung, 4,730 m
  8. Lobuche, 4,940 m
  9. Gorak Shep, 5,164 m
  10. Dzongla, 4,830 m
  11. Thagnak (Dragnag, Thangnak), 4,700 m
  12. Gokyo (village), 4,750 m
  13. Gokyo (village), 4,750 m
  14. Lungden (Lumde), 4,380 m
  15. Thame, 3,820 m
  16. Namche Bazaar, 3,440 m
  17. Lukla, 2,860 m

Three Passes

5,644 m
Price on request

Trip facts

Days
18 days
High point
Kala Patthar, 5,644 m
Grade
Moderate and high passes
When to go
October to November and March to May
Starts
Lukla (2,860 m)
Finishes
Lukla (2,860 m)
Days on the trail
17
Walking each day
3 to 9 hours

Typical figures for this route, checked on 1 October 2026. Narbin's team confirms the days, heights and grade for your dates.

Getting there

Fly to Lukla. In recent peak seasons most Lukla flights have operated from Manthali (Ramechhap) airport rather than Kathmandu: drive about 4 to 6 hours (132 km) from Kathmandu to Manthali, usually leaving before dawn, then fly about 17 to 21 minutes to Lukla. When flights run from Kathmandu the flight takes about 30 to 35 minutes.

Getting back

Reverse of the approach: in peak seasons fly Lukla to Manthali (about 17 to 21 minutes) then drive about 4 to 6 hours to Kathmandu; otherwise fly Lukla to Kathmandu (about 30 to 35 minutes). Lukla flights operate only in daylight in good weather and are often delayed by a day or more, so itineraries keep a spare day.

Route and altitude

Heights on the way

Passes, viewpoints, camps and side trips, highest first.

कालापत्थरKala Patthar
5,644 m
Chhukung Ri
5,546 m
Kongma La
5,535 m
Cho La
5,420 m
Everest Base Camp (south side, Nepal)
5,364 m
Renjo La
5,360 m
Gokyo Ri
5,357 m
Nangkartshang (ridge above Dingboche)
5,121 m
Chhukung
4,730 m
Altitude by dayEach dot is where you sleep that night. On rest days you stay at the same height.
Altitude each night on the Everest Three Passes trek. The high point is Kala Patthar, 5,644 m, on day 10.
DayOvernightAltitude
1Phakding2,610 m
2Namche Bazaar3,440 m
3Namche Bazaar, rest day3,440 m
4Tengboche3,860 m
5Dingboche4,410 m
6Dingboche, rest day4,410 m
7Chhukung4,730 m
8Lobuche4,940 m
9Gorak Shep5,164 m
10Dzongla4,830 m
11Thagnak4,700 m
12Gokyo4,750 m
13Gokyo, rest day4,750 m
14Lungden4,380 m
15Thame3,820 m
16Namche Bazaar3,440 m
17Lukla2,860 m

Day by day

A typical plan. The team adjusts it to the weather, the flights and how the group is doing.

  1. Day 1

    Route
    Kathmandu to Lukla, then Phakding
    Overnight
    Phakding
    Altitude
    2,610 m
    Walking
    3 to 4 hours

  2. Day 2

    Route
    Phakding to Namche Bazaar
    Overnight
    Namche Bazaar
    Altitude
    3,440 m
    Walking
    5 to 7 hours

  3. Day 3

    Route
    Rest and acclimatise: Namche Bazaar
    Overnight
    Namche Bazaar
    Altitude
    3,440 m
    Walking
    3 to 4 hours

  4. Day 4

    Route
    Namche Bazaar to Tengboche
    Overnight
    Tengboche
    Altitude
    3,860 m
    Walking
    5 to 6 hours

  5. Day 5

    Route
    Tengboche to Dingboche
    Overnight
    Dingboche
    Altitude
    4,410 m
    Walking
    5 to 6 hours

  6. Day 6

    Route
    Rest and acclimatise: Dingboche
    Overnight
    Dingboche
    Altitude
    4,410 m
    Walking
    4 to 5 hours

  7. Day 7

    Route
    Dingboche to Chhukung
    Overnight
    Chhukung
    Altitude
    4,730 m
    Walking
    2 to 4 hours

  8. Day 8

    Route
    Chhukung to Kongma La, then Lobuche
    Overnight
    Lobuche
    Altitude
    4,940 m
    Walking
    7 to 9 hours

  9. Day 9

    Route
    Lobuche to Gorak Shep, then Everest Base Camp and back
    Overnight
    Gorak Shep
    Altitude
    5,164 m
    Walking
    7 to 9 hours

  10. Day 10

    Route
    Gorak Shep to Kala Patthar (5,644 m), then Dzongla
    Overnight
    Dzongla
    Altitude
    4,830 m
    Walking
    Travel day, no trekking

  11. Day 11

    Route
    Dzongla to Cho La, then Thagnak
    Overnight
    Thagnak
    Altitude
    4,700 m
    Walking
    6 to 8 hours

  12. Day 12

    Route
    Thagnak to Gokyo
    Overnight
    Gokyo
    Altitude
    4,750 m
    Walking
    3 to 4 hours

  13. Day 13

    Route
    Rest and acclimatise: Gokyo
    Overnight
    Gokyo
    Altitude
    4,750 m
    Walking
    3 to 4 hours

  14. Day 14

    Route
    Gokyo to Renjo La, then Lungden
    Overnight
    Lungden
    Altitude
    4,380 m
    Walking
    6 to 8 hours

  15. Day 15

    Route
    Lungden to Thame
    Overnight
    Thame
    Altitude
    3,820 m
    Walking
    Travel day, no trekking

  16. Day 16

    Route
    Thame to Namche Bazaar
    Overnight
    Namche Bazaar
    Altitude
    3,440 m
    Walking
    3 to 4 hours

  17. Day 17

    Route
    Namche Bazaar to Lukla
    Overnight
    Lukla
    Altitude
    2,860 m
    Walking
    6 to 8 hours

  18. Day 18

    Route
    Lukla to Kathmandu
    Overnight
    Kathmandu
    Walking
    Travel day, no trekking

What is included

From our 2023 trip notes; to be confirmed in your quote.

Included

  • Airport pickup and drop-off by private car
  • Two nights in a tourist hotel in Kathmandu, with breakfast
  • A welcome dinner and a farewell dinner in Kathmandu
  • Breakfast, lunch and dinner on the trek
  • Tea or coffee four times a day on the trek
  • A sightseeing day in Kathmandu: Durbar Square, Swayambhunath, Boudhanath and Pashupatinath
  • Rooms in family-run lodges on the trek
  • TIMS card (a trekker registration card)
  • Sagarmatha (Everest) National Park entry permit
  • Toilet paper on the trek
  • The paperwork for your permits
  • Transfers to and from the domestic airport
  • A trekking guide
  • Porters: one porter for every two trekkers
  • Wages, meals, rooms, transport and insurance for your guide and porters
  • A certificate to mark your trip
  • A rescue helicopter arranged in an emergency, paid for by your travel insurance
  • A first-aid kit
  • Government taxes
  • Our service charge

Not included

  • Your Nepal visa fee
  • Travel insurance with rescue cover
  • International flights and departure tax
  • Other meals in Kathmandu
  • Extra costs if you come down from the mountains early
  • Extra costs from strikes, delays or cancelled flights
  • Extra hotel nights in Kathmandu
  • Drinks and personal costs: phone, laundry, battery charging, water and showers
  • Tips for your guide and porters

Permits and rules

We arrange these permits for your trek. Fees are as the issuing office lists them, with the date we checked.

  • Sagarmatha National Park entry permit

    Issued by Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation

    Foreign visitors
    NPR 3,000person per entry
    Citizens of SAARC countries
    NPR 1,500person per entry
    Nepali citizens
    NPR 100person per entry

    Issued by Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation; paid at the Tourist Service Centre, Bhrikutimandap, Kathmandu, or at the park entry points. Children under 10: free.

    Source: Nepal Tourism Board (figures supplied by the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation), checked 1 October 2026

  • Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality trek card (local entry permit)

    Issued by Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality

    Foreign visitors
    NPR 3,000person
    Citizens of SAARC countries and China
    NPR 2,000person

    Issued by Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality, Tourist Information Centre, Lukla.

    Source: Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality (Wayback capture of 2026-06-13), checked 1 October 2026

Rules on this route

  • Since 1 April 2023 foreign trekkers in national parks and conservation areas must trek with a licensed guide arranged through a registered agency, and get the TIMS card through that agency.

    The Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality does not apply it in the Everest region; news in 2025 still reports the Everest region as the exception.

    Source: The Kathmandu Post, checked 1 October 2026

  • Peak-season Lukla flight routing set by the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal: in busy seasons most Lukla flights are moved from Kathmandu to Manthali (Ramechhap). Dates are announced each season.

    Source: Republica (1 October 2022), checked 1 October 2026

Is this trip right for you?

The hardest of the three trips: three passes above about 5,300 m on long days (7 to 9 hours for the Kongma La), loose rock, a Khumbu Glacier crossing after the Kongma La and a glacier section on the Cho La that is often snowy or icy. No technical climbing, but microspikes or mini crampons are advised for the Cho La and in snow, route finding can be difficult in poor weather, and it suits experienced hikers who acclimatise well.

Ask us if this trek suits you
Walking each day
3 to 9 hours
Highest night
Gorak Shep, 5,164 m
Rest days in the plan
3
High point
5,644 m

Price and booking

Price on request

Ask us for this season's price for the Everest Three Passes trek. It depends on the size of your group, the season and whether you travel privately or join a group.

We confirm payment terms in your quote. Nothing is paid online.

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