Three Passes Trek is the ultimate trekking route in the Everest region. During this trek you will visit Everest basecamp, Gokyo lakes and you will make over three high passes above 5000 meters. This is the best option in Khumbu if you have some time. Also if you have more time you can add Island Peak climbing to your itinerary. It will take you 2 additional days from Chukung village. I did this trek in November, 2018 and I started it in Phaplu, so my itinerary starts and finishes there. Check it out:
Hiking Phaplu-Namcha Bazaar:
Day
1st
Route
Phaplu-Ringmo
Hiking distance, time & elevation
12 kilometers. 3 hours. 360 vertical meters
Notes
Started when the jeep arrived so most of the hike in the dark, many
lodges on the way. Slept at Center Sherpa lodge. 150NRP for sleep, vegetable
soup – 200NRP, pancake apple+honey – 250NRP, free charging. Sleeping altitude
– 2700m.
Day
2nd
Route
Ringmo-Bupsa
Hiking distance, time & elevation
18,5 kilometers. 8 hours. 1300 vertical meters.
Notes
Started around 7:30 in the morning, steep hike until Taksindu La, old
stupas on the way. Getting down until Great Martyers gate and suspension
bridge. Altitude – 1500m. 3 oranges for 90NRP. Slept in Bupsa – Sundup lodge
run by Pemba Janbu Sherpa. Veg potatoes + egg – 450NRP, apple pie – 400NRP,
oat meal with milk – 400NRP. Sleep was free. Sleeping altitude – 2540m.
One of Khumbu villages.
Day
3rd
Route
Bupsa-Phakding
Hiking distance, time & elevation
22,5 kilometers. 9 hours. 1150 vertical meters.
Notes
Started 7:30, hiking up. ~2:45 to Puiya. Lunch after Surke and ncell
started to work. Arrived to Buddha lodge in Phakding. Milk tea – 100NRP,
apple pie – 350NRP, veg. Fried noodles – 450NRP. Breakfast plain porridge –
400NRP. Sleep was free. Sleeping altitude – 2610m.
Day
4th
Route
Phakding-Namche Bazaar
Hiking distance, time & elevation
15,7 kilometers. 10 hours. 1300 vertical meters.
Notes
Left at 8:00. At 9:30 reached entrance to Monjo, municipality
fee&ticket 2000NRP, 10 minutes after that reached Sagarmatha national
park checkpoint, 3000NRP for ticket, no photo needed, guides try to avoid the
line. Found a geocache in Jorsalle. 13:50 at Namche Bazar. Namaste lodge
100NRP/person. Everest bakery – chocolate pie – 350NRP. Veg fried noodles
470NRP. Pancake with jam 360NRP, muesli with milk 360NRP. Sleeping altitude –
3440m.
Left at 8:30. At 11:10 reached ticket counter for
Tengboche/Pangboche/Debuche, price 500rp for a room (1-3 people). 13:20 reached
Tengboche bakery. From bakery wen to Stupa and reached it at 14:20. Stupa
altitude – 4200 meters above sea level. 14:40 back to bakery. Apple scramble –
450NRP + milk tea – 100NRP. 16:45 at Pangboche. Sleeping at Highland Sherpa
resort. Vegetable noodle soup 395NRP, spaghetti with tomato sauce and cheese
545NRP, half portion of Momos 250NRP, oat porridge with hot milk 355NRP.
Sleeping altitude – 3900m.
Day
6th
Route
Pangboche-Ama Dablam basecamp-Dingboche
Hiking distance, time & elevation
16,7 kilometers. 8 hours. 1200 vertical meters.
Notes
7:20 left to Ama Dablam BC. Total 2 hours 20 minutes to BC, 3 hours
45 minutes to go there and back to lodge. Ate noodles + veg. Soup for 395NRP.
12:05 left lodge. Checkpoint in Shomare – 500rp for room (1-3 people).
Arrived to Dingboche around 14:45 – Valley view lodge. Bakery in Dingboche
“Cafe Himalaya”, showing Sherpa movies from 2pm. apple pie 500NRP,
milk tea 200NRP. Dal bhat 690NRP, oat porridge with milk 410NRP. Sleeping
altitude – 4300m.
Day
7th
Route
Dingboche-Nangartshang-Chukung-Chukung Ri
Hiking distance, time & elevation
14,6 kilometers. 10 hours. 1760 vertical meters.
Notes
Hard day. 7:20 left to Nangartshang. Took me 2 hours 20 minutes to
the summit, 9:40 there. 3 hours 20 minutes up&down, 10:40 back to lodge.
11:20 left lodge. 13:30 arrived at Sunset eco lodge in Chukung, arranged
island peak for 500$ (200$ cash, 300$ card + 30$ commission). 14:12 left for
Chukung Ri. 16:10 Chukung Ri (left summit on the pass). 17:20 back to lodge.
Everest link card 600NRP – 1gb. Dal bhat 600NRP, porridge 470NRP. Sleeping
altitude 4750m.
Woke up 6:30. 8:30 leaving the lodge for Kongma la. 13:45 on the
pass. 17:00 in the Italian pyramid. Agreed 30€ for hot shower + wifi + dinner
+ breakfast. Definitely the best place to stay on the trail with running hot
water. Sleeping altitude – 5050m.
Joseph at Everest basecamp.
Day
9th
Route
Italian pyramid-Gorakshep-Everest Basecamp-Kala Patthar-Gorakshep
Hiking distance, time & elevation
13,7 kilometers. 9 hours. 860 vertical meters.
Notes
Woke up 6:30, oat meal porridge with 2 boiled eggs for breakfast.
Left the lodge at 8:20. 2hr30min to Gorakshep, at 10:50 arrived there.
Staying at Everest inn. 11:40 left lodge to EBC. 13:05 at the EBC, many
people taking photos. Rara noodle soup – 550NRP, tomato noodle soup – 550NRP,
apple porridge – 600NRP .
Day
10th
Route
Gorakshep-Dzhongla
Hiking distance, time & elevation
11,6 kilometers. 6 hours. 140 vertical meters.
Notes
8:45 leaving the lodge. 11:30 at the bakery in Lobuche (highest
bakery in the world!) – apple pie – 500NRP, chocolate muffin – 400NRP, black
tea – 200NRP. 14:30 arrived to Dzhongla. 800NRP for mixed fried noodles
(tuna, veggies, cheese), huge portion. Musli with milk – 600NRP, hot
chocolate – 150NRP, oat porridge – 600NRP. Sleep – 500NRP. Sleeping at
Dhongla Inn. Sleeping altitude – 4820m.
8:05 leaving the lodge. 12:25 at the pass. 14:45 arrived at Dragnag
Tashi Friendship lodge and had tomato soup. Tomato soup – 500NRP, fruits
cocktail – 500NRP. 15:30 left the restaurant. 17:30 arrived at Fitzroy Inn in
Gokyo. Sherpa stew – 600NRP, black tea – 80NRP, apple pie – 450NRP, rice
pudding with apple and raisin – 650NRP.
“Rest day” in Gokyo – time for lakes. 9:15 left for the
lakes. 1hr to 4th lake, 2hr20min to 5th lake, 4hr15min to 6th lake. Total
7hr10min back to lodge. Had a great jak steak. Jak steak – 1000NRP, black tea
– 80NRP, mocca pie – 500NRP, Champa porridge – 500NRP. Sleep for 2 nights –
200NRP.
Today was a long day. Found a geocache in Gokyo and at 7:20 left the
lodge. 3hr15min to the top of the pass. 13:20 at the first village Sherpa
Stew – 400NRP, coke – 400NRP. 14:00 leaving further. Arrived to Namche in the
dark and stay in Namaste Lodge, room 100NRP, jak steak – 750NRP, apple pie –
480NRP, fanta – 330NRP, oat meal – 360NRP.
Bounty + Sprite 150NRP+200NRP in the shop. Chocolate cake – 350NRP
& milk tea 200NRP at Everest bakery (best bakery in Namche Bazaar).
Leaving bakery at 9:50. Carrot+orange on the way – 100NRP. 13:50 lunch time
before Phakding. Noodles soup with veggies 350NRP, apple pie 350NRP, milk tea
80NRP. Staying at paradise lodge&restaurant in Lukla. Yak burger – 800NRP,
black tea 50NRP, mushroom soup 200NRP, porridge 250NRP, room 200NRP, black tea
50NRP, agreed that charging would be free. Sleeping altitude 2840m.
Leaving lodge at 7:10 to geocache. 1hr30min to go there and come back
(~5 kilometers). Apple 50NRP, orange 50NRP, big banana 100NRP, 2 packs of
cookies 100NRP, cola 150NRP in Lukla. 9:15 leaving Lukla to Bupsa – Apple pie
400NRP, noodle veg soup 300NRP. 17:00 arrived to Kharikola – Namaste lodge.
Fried potato + veg + egg 400NRP, fanta 200NRP, apple pie 400NRP (very good!).
Oat meal porridge with milk 250NRP. Sleeping altitude – 2000m.
Leaving lodge at 7:00. 2 oranges 50NRP, 2 kiwi 20NRP, 2 packs of
cookies 50NRP. Noodle soup in Nunthala at 10:40 for 130NRP. Just before
Phaplu – soup 150NRP, orange 20NRP, coke 150NRP, 8 samosas 240NRP. Sleeping
at The hill view Guest house, Salleri – 300NRP room, 350NRP for chicken
chowmein.
So it took me total 16 days from Phaplu to Phaplu through Everest basecamp, Kalla Patthar, Gokyo lakes, three passes (KongMa La, Cho La and Renjo La). It was great adventure and I can definitely recommend it for others.
Duration of the hike – 16 (18 days with Island Peak climbing).
Total distance of Three Passes trek – 310 kilometers.
Hey! Thanks for reading. I am Joseph - young guy from a small country called Lithuania. Haven't heard about that? No surprise for me, we are only 3 million people. I am sports addict, mountains climber, travel blogger, adventurer and digital nomad, making my way around the world while building successful online businesses. Are you looking for more travel advice? Check other articles!
Jozef, thanks for Your discription of trek. I printed it and it was very usefool for my trek in Nepal. I did almost same route as You. Few thinks has changed since last year. In SoloKumbu every room cost 500 NRP and for Island Peak in Chukhung in Summer Eco Lounge they charge me 100$ more.
Hey! I am Joseph – travel, nature and adventures addict. I do it full-time and this blog is to help you do it also! Check the tips&tricks I wrote already.
Jozef, thanks for Your discription of trek. I printed it and it was very usefool for my trek in Nepal. I did almost same route as You. Few thinks has changed since last year. In SoloKumbu every room cost 500 NRP and for Island Peak in Chukhung in Summer Eco Lounge they charge me 100$ more.
Maciej, great to hear that it was useful for you! I guess Island Peak depends on season, how many guides and trips they have.
Thank you so much for sharing each detail of Everest three passes trek. It helps me a lot to prepare Everest high passes trek program.
I am glad that it helps you!