Everest Three Passes Trek

You will explore Kathmandu’s spiritual heartbeat: Swayambhunath’s stupa atop its hill, the riverside sanctity of Pashupatinath and the splendid white dome of Bouddhanath, followed by the medieval courtyards of Durbar Square. After a day of sightseeing you’ll finalise kit, collect your Iconic Himalaya duffel bag and T-shirt, and rest. A good night sleep is the best preparation for Lukla’s mountain flight that will follow the next day.

An early, spectacular flight into Lukla sets the tone. The runway clings to a green slope beneath jagged peaks and the Dudh Koshi valley unravels in a mosaic of terraced fields and forest. From Lukla your trail gently descends and then skirts the river, passing small villages and prayer-flagged suspension bridges to reach Phakding 2869m, approx. 3–4 hours of gentle trek. This is the first night in the mountains. The light is crisp, the air smells of pine, and your legs begin to remember walking uphill.

Today you cross the Dudh Koshi valley and begin the climb into Sherpa country. The trail threads suspension bridges, passes Mani walls and small hamlets; the final ascent into Namche Bazaar is steep and memorable. Your first real view of Everest and the higher Himalaya appears as you gain altitude. Namche is the essential Sherpa hub: bustling, friendly, and perfect for an evening wandering among bakeries, cafes and local markets.

Namche is made for acclimatisation. After breakfast we take a short hike to the Everest View Hotel for superb panoramas of Everest, Ama Dablam and Lhotse; a photographer’s dream at sunrise or late afternoon. Use the remainder of the day to visit the Sherpa Cultural Museum, try local cuisine and let your body adjust. Gentle walks around town and light activity keep circulation moving, it is the best insurance against altitude discomfort.

Leaving the bustle behind, the trail climbs along ridgelines with expansive valley views, then descends through rhododendron and fir forests toward Tengboche. This village’s monastery sits like a jewel on a ridge, framed by giant peaks. Attend an evening prayer at Tengboche Monastery. – the chanting of the prayers, beautifully lit butter lamps and the gentle fluttering of prayer flags makes an unforgettable spiritual experience.

The path continues amid spectacular scenery. Wide valley floors, yak pastures, and the sightline to Ama Dablam dominating the skyline is one of many things you will remember forever. Passing through Pangboche and smaller settlements, you drop toward the Imja and Pheriche valleys before crossing to Dingboche. It is a broad, high valley that feels like an alpine bowl, rimmed by ice and stone. Dingboche’s terraced fields cling to the slopes and its teahouses are so comfortable and a perfect base for your next acclimatisation night.

Dingboche is ideal for an acclimatisation hike. A climb to Nangkartshang often called Nirekhasang, rewards you with sweeping views of Makalu, Lhotse and Ama Dablam while helping your body adapt to the altitude. The hike is invigorating without being exhausting if paced sensibly. Back in Dingboche, the barley fields and stone walls seem to cradle the sky. It is an oasis of calm before you climb higher, so take time to relax, explore village and enjoy the warmth of Sherpa hospitality.

From Dingboche the landscape becomes changes drastically. The vegetation thins, moraines replace meadows, and the air feels thinner. The route ventures past Dughla and over the Thukla ridge you will arrive at a place marked by memorial cairns where climbers are remembered before descending slightly into Lobuche. The approach to Lobuche makes Everest feel closer and more immediate.

An early push takes you to Gorakshep, the last settlement before Everest Base Camp. After lunch we strike out across a rocky landscape to the Khumbu Glacier and onto Everest Base Camp itself.  It is a colourful array of expedition tents tucked beneath the Khumbu Icefall. The day is a mixture of elation and reverence as you explore the base camps, photograph the glacier, and feel the immense presence of the world’s highest peaks. You return to Gorakshep for the night, the sky here is close and luminous.

We rise very early for the classic Kala Patthar sunrise. It is a short but steep climb that explodes into the most intimate view of Everest at dawn. As first light crowns the summit, the panorama of Everest, Nuptse, Changtse and Lhotse is unforgettable. After descent and a rest in Gorakshep, we begin the longer downward journey into the more sheltered valleys, making our way to Pheriche. The afternoon is restful, your lungs and legs will appreciate the gentler altitude.

Today we retrace and alter our route slightly as we approach the Imja Valley and Chhukung. It is an important staging area for Kongma La. The day’s walk blends familiar peaks with new valley angles, as the trail threads toward the Imja glacier basin. Evenings in Chhukung are quieter and wilder; stone walls and prayer flags mark the settlement while icy ridges curl above.

This is the day you cross Kongma La, the highest of the three passes and a bold, technical crossing across moraine and glacier terrain. Early departure, crampons (if required), and steady pacing are essential. From Chhukung you climb toward the pass, emerge above the glacier line and then descend into the Lobuche/Khumbu side. The pass offers sweeping views of the Khumbu Glacier and remote eastern valleys. It is a day that feels like stepping from one world into another. Kongma La is the highest pass on the route and a genuine highlight for experienced trekkers.

After Lobuche you head toward Dzongla. Crossing Cho La is an alpine moment with the glacier snow, seracs in the distance, and a memorable descent onto the Gokyo side. The glacier can be slippery and crampons or careful ropework may be necessary in snowy conditions, so this day requires focus and a calm mindset. Once descended, the lush, turquoise bowls of Gokyo Lakes open before you. The shift from glacial grey to jewel-blue water is intoxicating.

We take the morning to climb Gokyo Ri, a climb that pays back with arguably the finest panorama of Everest, Cho Oyu, Makalu, and other giants framed above the shimmering lakes. The afternoon is for exploring the lakes, visiting the tranquil Gokyo village, and absorbing the rare silence that seems to hang over these high waters. This is a day for photography, quiet reflection, and the slow pleasures of high-altitude life.

From Gokyo the trail leads toward Renjo La. The scenery alternates between lake reflections and moraine fields. Depending on conditions, you may begin with a climb toward Renjo La or make a gentle approach via the valley floor to reach a comfortable teahouse before the pass day. Thame, an ancient Sherpa valley with old monasteries and traditional houses, makes a wonderful cultural counterpoint to the glacier landscapes you’ve traversed.

Today we cross Renjo La, a pass that rewards effort with one of the most cinematic viewpoints of Everest and Cho Oyu, plus sweeping vistas down to the Gokyo basin. The descent from Renjo La steadily returns you to lower rhododendron and alpine forests, and by late afternoon you arrive in Namche Bazaar for a final celebratory evening among shops, cafes and familiar faces. Renjo La’s outlook gives you a last panoramic bookmark of the mountains before the journey down. 

The final trekking day follows the familiar ridge and river trails back through Phakding and on to Lukla, where you’ll share stories, hand out thanks, and celebrate the completion of an epic circuit. If skies permit, you’ll fly back to Kathmandu from Lukla or, when flights are booked differently, return overland via Manthali. Tonight enjoy a farewell dinner and rest — you have earned it.