Everest Three Passes Trek - 17 Days

Months from March to May and from October to December are the best time to commence this trek. During March-May, the weather is usually clear and, snowfall is very common at this time of the year. But, the clearest and mind-boggling view of the Himalayas can be seen from October to December as the skies are very clear with no rainfall and meager fog. However, the trekking routes are usually more crowded from October to December than in any other season.

At the high camps and on the passes, night temperatures regularly drop to -10C to -20C, and colder in winter, while daytime walking in sun can feel mild. The three passes, all above 5,300m, are the coldest and windiest points of the trek. This is why a -20C sleeping bag and proper layering are non-negotiable. We time daily starts to cross the passes in the safest weather window.

It's possible in December and January for experienced, well-equipped trekkers, and you're rewarded with crystal-clear skies and empty trails. The trade-off is serious cold and the real risk of Cho La or Renjo La closing after heavy snow. We monitor conditions closely and always keep flexible backup days in winter itineraries. If you're considering a winter attempt, talk to us first so we can plan it safely.

Yes. From June to August the monsoon brings rain at lower elevations, clouds that block mountain views, leeches on forest sections, and frequent Lukla flight delays. The high passes can still be crossed but visibility is often poor. Most trekkers avoid this window, though the Everest rain shadow makes it less wet than other regions. We generally recommend spring or autumn instead for this route.

In particular to this trek, the nights are spent on lodges with good facilities and quality food. This trek lies in the Everest region which is famed for its highest peak in the world so, it welcomes many hikers and climbers every year, so, the lodges and tea houses are advanced and offer various options for our meals and breakfast. However, these trails and lodges may be crowded and packed during the trekking season.

Teahouses along the route serve hearty trekking food: the classic dal bhat (rice, lentils, vegetables) with free refills, plus noodles, fried rice, pasta, soups, momos, potatoes, eggs, and porridge or Tibetan bread for breakfast. Menus get simpler and pricier at higher, remote camps. We recommend dal bhat for the energy it gives at altitude. Vegetarian food is easy; tell us in advance about any allergies or dietary needs.

Don't drink untreated tap or stream water. You can buy bottled or boiled water at teahouses, or better, bring a reusable bottle with purification tablets or a filter, which is cheaper and cuts plastic waste on the trail. Boiled water is widely available for a small charge as you climb. Staying well hydrated also helps prevent altitude sickness. Our guides show you the safest options each day.

Mostly yes, but as paid extras that get more expensive with altitude. Lower teahouses often have gas hot showers, while higher up you may get a bucket of hot water for a few dollars. Charging your phone or camera and using Wi-Fi also carry small fees at higher camps, where power comes from solar. Bring a power bank and expect basic but genuinely welcoming lodges. We prepare you for what each night looks like.

This trek is mainly about ascending three passes with more than 5000m altitudes so, the routes are very technical and challenging. Also, children are more likely to get altitude sickness during the expedition. Because of that, taking children with us on this trek is very risky and almost impossible to conquer. 

Yes, we can combine this route with other treks. Such as Everest Base Camp Trek and Gokyo Lake Trek.

While it is possible to trek the Everest three pass trek clockwise it will be more challenging than the counter clock-wise trek.
You will cross the Renjo La Pass which is situated at an elevation of 5,360 m / 17,585 ft directly at the start of your trek. This route connects Gokyo Valley, famous for the Gokyo Lake but is only recommended to experienced trekkers. However, we suggest that even experienced trekkers attempt the Everest three passes trek clockwise if they are already acclimatized in the high altitude zone (meaning they recently trekked any other treks at high altitude).

So, you can trek the three passes trek clockwise but with extreme caution and you are perfectly fit with low to zero chance for altitude sickness.

While the everest three pass trek is a long trek the time it takes mostly depends on your experience as well as trekking Itinerary. While directly trekking Everest three Pass Trek from Kathmandu without sight seeing mostly takes about 16 days, the acclimitization days, weather, affects the number of days you trek.
So, depending on your season, acclimitization routine, and your experience, the Everest three pass trek will take 16 - 20 days.     
 

Everest three pass trek is one of the most challenging treks in Nepal and is rated “Challenging” grade. It is a strenuous adventure as all the passes lie over 5400 m and a good amount of stamina and physical strength is required for this long trek of 16 - 20 days. 
 

Yes — it's widely considered the ultimate Everest-region trek because it combines Everest Base Camp, the Gokyo Lakes and three high passes in one loop, with far fewer crowds on the pass sections than the main EBC trail. If you're fit, acclimatise well, and want more than base camp, it's the standout choice. 

The Everest Three Passes trek is the ultimate high-altitude circuit in Nepal's Khumbu region, crossing Renjo La (5,360m), Cho La (5,420m), and Kongma La (5,535m) while also taking in Everest Base Camp, Kala Patthar, and the turquoise Gokyo Lakes. It's a more remote, challenging, and rewarding alternative to the classic Base Camp trek, with far fewer crowds on the passes. It suits fit trekkers seeking a genuine adventure. We tailor the pace to your experience.

This is a demanding trek: you should be comfortable walking 6 to 8 hours a day for over two weeks at high altitude, with several long days above 5,000m. Previous multi-day trekking experience is strongly recommended. Cardio training, hiking with a loaded pack, and building leg strength for two to three months beforehand pays off enormously. Tell us about your fitness and hiking background and we'll advise honestly whether this route is right for you.

The classic Everest Base Camp trek is an out-and-back route to Base Camp and Kala Patthar, taking around 12 to 14 days and suiting most reasonably fit first-timers. The Three Passes trek is a longer 17 to 20 day loop that adds Renjo La, Cho La, and Kongma La plus Gokyo Lakes, demanding more fitness, acclimatization, and glacier travel. Think of it as Base Camp plus the full Khumbu adventure. We can help you choose based on your time and experience.

The foremost thing to do before inaugurating the trek is to do a regular medical check-up. However, if you get altitude sickness or any other sickness along the way then, we will consult the local doctors first and review if you can continue the journey. If you are fit enough to continue then, we will resume the journey and if no improvements are seen in your health, then we will be forced to send you back. In those cases, we will refund after calculating all the expenditures up to sick days on mutual consent.

The key is gradual acclimatization: our itinerary builds in rest days at Namche and Gokyo, follows the climb-high-sleep-low principle, and keeps ascent rates safe before each pass. Stay hydrated, walk at a steady pace, avoid alcohol, and tell your guide about any headache or nausea early. Our guides carry a pulse oximeter and are trained to spot altitude symptoms. Never rush this trek; your body needs the time.

Yes. The Everest region has one of the most established helicopter rescue networks in Nepal, and evacuation from most points on the Three Passes route is possible in good weather. This is exactly why we require travel insurance that covers high-altitude helicopter evacuation up to at least 6,000m. Our guides coordinate rescues directly when needed. We'll help you understand what your insurance must include before you travel.

Absolutely, and it must specifically cover trekking above 5,000m plus emergency helicopter evacuation and medical treatment. Standard travel insurance often excludes high altitude, so check the fine print carefully. This trek crosses three passes over 5,300m, so proper cover is essential, not optional. We can suggest what to look for in a policy, though we recommend buying it in your home country.

Choose a TAAN-registered Nepali operator with high-altitude-experienced guides and real Three Passes reviews — this trek is too demanding for a general operator. North Nepal Travel & Trek runs it with licensed guides who manage the pacing across all three passes; the 2026 price includes Lukla flights, both permits, a guide, and full board.

Our cancellation terms depend on how far ahead you cancel, since we commit to flights, permits, and guides in advance. Deposits are generally used against non-refundable costs, while the balance may be partly refundable or transferable to a future trek depending on timing. We lay out the exact terms clearly before you pay, with no hidden fine print. Message us for the current written policy that applies to your dates.

For peak seasons (spring and autumn) we recommend booking two to three months ahead, mainly to secure Lukla flights and teahouse space on this popular route. Off-season or last-minute trips are sometimes possible, but flight availability gets tight. Booking early also gives you time to train and arrange insurance. Send us your target dates and we'll tell you honestly what's still available.

Yes. North Nepal Trek is a government-registered adventure travel company based in Pokhara, Nepal, with a branch in Thamel, Kathmandu, and is a member of the Trekking Agencies Association of Nepal (TAAN). We run treks, tours, expeditions, and helicopter tours across Nepal, Bhutan, and Tibet with licensed guides. Our approach is simple: come as a guest, leave as a friend.

The standard itinerary is 17 days from Kathmandu, including the Lukla flights and acclimatisation days. The package includes the round-trip Lukla flights, a licensed guide, the Sagarmatha National Park and Khumbu Rural Municipality permits, teahouse accommodation, and three meals a day. Porters, insurance and tips are extra.

Beyond your package, budget for Nepal visa on arrival, travel insurance with high-altitude helicopter evacuation cover, meals in Kathmandu, hot showers and device charging at teahouses (a few dollars each higher up), Wi-Fi, drinking water, snacks, and tips for your guide and porter. A rough guide is USD 15 to 25 per day for personal extras on the trail. Ask us and we'll give you a realistic day-by-day estimate.

You can pay securely online through our payment page, by bank transfer, or by card, and we typically confirm your booking with a deposit while the balance is settled before or on arrival in Kathmandu. This holds your trek dates, guide, and domestic flights. We'll always confirm the exact deposit amount and accepted methods in writing before you pay. Visit northnepaltrek.com/online-payment or message us to arrange it.

Tipping is customary in Nepal and genuinely appreciated, though never mandatory. A common guideline on a 17-day trek like the Three Passes is around USD 10 to 15 per day for a guide and USD 8 to 10 per day for a porter, usually pooled by the group and given at the end. It reflects the hard, high-altitude work they do to keep you safe. We're happy to explain local norms so you feel comfortable.

Two: the Sagarmatha National Park permit and the Khumbu Rural Municipality permit. TIMS is not required in the Everest region. Both are included in our package and arranged for you. To book, send your dates and group size, and we'll confirm availability and the guide.

For 2026, the Everest Three Passes trek requires two permits: the Sagarmatha National Park entry permit (NPR 3,000, about USD 25) and the Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality permit (NPR 2,000, about USD 20). You no longer need a TIMS card for this route. North Nepal Trek arranges both permits for you before the trek begins, so you skip the paperwork in Kathmandu. Message us for the current confirmed rates.

Yes. Since April 2023, Nepal requires a licensed guide for trekking in national park areas, including the Everest region. Beyond the rule, a guide is essential on the Three Passes route because Renjo La, Cho La, and Kongma La involve glacier crossings and unmarked high-altitude terrain. All North Nepal Trek guides are government-licensed and trained in altitude first aid.

The trek starts in Lukla, reached by a 30 to 40 minute mountain flight from Kathmandu (or from Ramechhap/Manthali during peak season, when Everest flights shift there to ease Kathmandu congestion). From Lukla, the trail heads to Phakding and Namche Bazaar. We handle all flight bookings and transfers, and advise you in advance which airport your departure uses.

For the Three Passes you need a four-season sleeping bag rated to -20C, an insulated down jacket, waterproof shell layers, sturdy broken-in trekking boots, microspikes or crampons for the icy passes, trekking poles, and UV sunglasses for glacier glare. Because you cross three passes above 5,300m, warmth and traction matter more than on standard Everest Base Camp treks. We send every booked trekker a full route-specific packing list.

Yes, and many trekkers do. Thamel in Kathmandu has dozens of gear shops renting down jackets, sleeping bags, crampons, and trekking poles at fair daily rates, plus both genuine brands and good-value local equivalents for sale. Renting bulky items like a -20C sleeping bag makes sense if you won't trek often. We can point you to reliable shops and help you decide what to rent versus bring from home.

Aim to keep your personal daypack around 5 to 7 kg, carrying water, snacks, a camera, and layers you need during the day. Your main duffel, carried by a porter, should stay under 15 kg per trekker as this is the airline weight limit on the Lukla flight. Packing light genuinely improves your comfort at altitude. We provide a duffel bag and share exact weight limits when you book.

You fly. The Kathmandu to Lukla flight takes around 40 minutes and is one of the most scenic mountain flights in the world, landing at Tenzing-Hillary Airport. During peak seasons the flight often departs from Ramechhap (Manthali), a four to five hour drive from Kathmandu, to reduce congestion. We arrange the flights and any road transfers, and always tell you the current departure point in advance.

Lukla flights depend on clear mountain weather, so occasional delays happen, especially in monsoon and winter. We build buffer days into our itineraries to absorb this, and in serious cases a helicopter shuttle is available as a paid alternative to avoid losing the trip. Our team manages rebooking on the ground so you're never stranded alone. This is a real reason to avoid booking a tight international connection right after the trek.

Yes. Every North Nepal Trek package includes a private airport pickup and transfer to your hotel when you land in Kathmandu, and a drop-off when you depart. Your guide or a company representative meets you with a North Nepal Trek sign in the arrivals area. It's a small thing that makes a big difference after a long flight. Just share your flight details when you book.