Everest Three Passes Trek

Your Everest Three Passes adventure begins as you check in for your international flight from Zurich, bound for Kathmandu, the vibrant capital of Nepal. Depending on your routing, the journey may include a layover, giving you time to relax before the demanding trek ahead. As you approach Kathmandu, look out for your first glimpses of the terraced hills and forested foothills that mark the edge of the Himalayas.

Arrive at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu (1,400 m/4,593 ft) and transfer to your 4-star hotel. With the rest of the day free, take time to rest after your flight, meet your trekking guide, review the days ahead, and do any last-minute shopping for trekking or high-altitude gear in the Thamel district. Given the length and difficulty of this trek, this is also a valuable opportunity to double-check your equipment and ask any final questions before setting off toward the Khumbu.

Take an early and scenic 35-minute flight from Kathmandu to Lukla (2,840 m/9,318 ft), one of the most famous mountain airstrips in the world, or, depending on seasonal flight scheduling, drive by shared tourist vehicle to Manthali/Ramechhap (474 m/1,555 ft), a journey of 5 to 6 hours, followed by a shorter 20-minute flight to Lukla. On arrival, meet your trekking crew and set off on the trail, descending gently through pine forest and past mani walls and prayer flags to reach Phakding (2,610 m/8,563 ft), a walk of around 3 to 4 hours alongside the Dudh Koshi River.

Trek from Phakding to Namche Bazaar (3,440 m/11,286 ft), a 5 to 6-hour walk that includes crossing several suspension bridges over the Dudh Koshi River, including the dramatic Hillary Suspension Bridge, before a steep, switchbacking climb up to Namche. Along the way, you'll pass through Sagarmatha National Park's entry checkpoint at Monjo, and, on a clear day, catch your first distant glimpse of Mount Everest. Namche Bazaar itself is the bustling trading hub of the Khumbu, with shops, bakeries, and a lively Saturday market.

Spend a crucial acclimatization day in Namche Bazaar, with a hike up to the Hotel Everest View (3,880 m/12,730 ft) and back, taking around 4 to 5 hours round trip. This higher-altitude excursion offers extraordinary panoramic views of Everest, Lhotse, Ama Dablam, and Thamserku, and follows the trekking principle of climbing high and sleeping low to aid acclimatization. Many trekkers also use part of the day to explore Namche's shops, cafes, and the excellent Sherpa Culture Museum.

Trek from Namche Bazaar to Tengboche (3,860 m/12,664 ft), a 5 to 6-hour walk along a scenic trail with continuous views of Everest, Lhotse, and Ama Dablam. The route descends to the river at Phunki Tenga before a steady climb through rhododendron forest to Tengboche, home to the largest and most famous monastery in the Khumbu region, where an afternoon prayer ceremony is often open to visitors.

Trek from Tengboche to Dingboche (4,410 m/14,468 ft), a 5 to 6-hour walk descending through forest before climbing steadily up the Imja Khola valley, with the trees gradually giving way to open, high-altitude terrain. Dingboche is a picturesque farming village surrounded by stone-walled fields, sitting beneath the striking peaks of Ama Dablam and Lhotse.

Spend a second key acclimatization day at Dingboche, with a hike up to Nangkartsang Peak (5,083 m/16,677 ft) and back, taking around 4 to 5 hours round trip. This challenging but rewarding excursion offers sweeping views over the Imja Valley toward Island Peak, Makalu, and the surrounding Himalayan giants, and is an important step in preparing your body for the significantly higher altitudes to come over the following days.

Trek from Dingboche to Chhukung (4,730 m/15,518 ft), a shorter 4 to 5-hour walk up the beautiful, glacier-carved Imja Valley. Chhukung is the last permanent settlement before Kongma La and serves as the launching point for tomorrow's crossing of the trek's first high pass, with fine views of Island Peak and the surrounding ridgelines along the way.

The first major test of the trek: trek from Chhukung to Lobuche (4,910 m/16,109 ft) via Kongma La Pass (5,535 m/18,159 ft), a demanding 7 to 8-hour trekking day. The climb to the pass crosses rocky, glaciated terrain and demands a steady pace and good acclimatization, rewarding you at the summit with extraordinary views over the Khumbu Glacier and surrounding peaks, before a careful descent to Lobuche alongside the glacier's edge.

The most iconic day of the trek: trek from Lobuche to Everest Base Camp (5,364 m/17,598 ft) and then back to Gorak Shep (5,164 m/16,939 ft), an 8 to 9-hour trekking day. The trail follows the edge of the Khumbu Glacier, passing memorial cairns dedicated to climbers who have lost their lives on Everest, before arriving at the famous Base Camp itself, marked by prayer flags and, in climbing season, colorful expedition tents. After taking in the moment at Base Camp, retrace your steps to Gorak Shep for the night.

Rise well before dawn for the demanding but unforgettable hike up to Kala Patthar (5,555 m/18,225 ft), the highest point of the entire trek and widely considered the finest viewpoint of Mount Everest anywhere in the region, with sunrise light gradually illuminating Everest, Nuptse, and the surrounding summits. After soaking in the views, descend back through Gorak Shep to Lobuche (4,910 m/16,109 ft), an 8 to 9-hour trekking day in total.

Trek from Lobuche to Dzongla (4,830 m/15,846 ft), a shorter and more relaxed 4 to 5-hour walk that allows time to recover after the demanding previous days. The trail traverses open, high-altitude terrain with fine views back toward the peaks surrounding Everest Base Camp, positioning you for tomorrow's crossing of the second high pass on the circuit.

The second major test of the trek: trek from Dzongla to Gokyo (4,800 m/15,748 ft) via the crossing of Cho La Pass (5,368 m/17,612 ft), a challenging 8 to 9-hour trekking day. The ascent to the pass involves scrambling over rocky terrain, while the descent crosses a section of glacier that typically requires crampons or microspikes due to ice underfoot. Beyond the pass, the trail descends into the stunning Gokyo Valley, home to a chain of turquoise glacial lakes fed by the Ngozumpa Glacier, Nepal's largest.

Climb Gokyo Ri (5,483 m/17,988 ft) and return to Gokyo, a rewarding 3 to 4-hour round trip that offers one of the most spectacular panoramas in the entire Himalayas, with unobstructed views of four of the world's six highest peaks: Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, and Cho Oyu, alongside the turquoise Gokyo Lakes and the vast Ngozumpa Glacier below. The afternoon is free to relax by the lakeside village of Gokyo, one of the most scenic settlements on the entire trek.

The third and final major pass of the trek: trek from Gokyo to Lunden (4,300 m/14,108 ft) via the crossing of Renjo La Pass (5,340 m/17,520 ft), a demanding 7 to 8-hour trekking day. The pass offers one final, spectacular panorama back over the Gokyo Valley and the Everest massif before a long, rewarding descent toward Lunden, marking the completion of the trek's three-pass challenge.

Trek from Lunden to Thame (3,800 m/12,467 ft), a gentler 4 to 5-hour descent through the quieter, less-visited Bhote Koshi valley. Thame is a historic Sherpa village and the birthplace of several renowned Everest climbers, including Apa Sherpa, and is home to an important centuries-old monastery well worth a visit.

Trek from Thame back to Namche Bazaar (3,440 m/11,286 ft), a 4 to 5-hour walk that rejoins the main Everest trail, offering a final chance to enjoy the comforts of Namche's bakeries, shops, and lodges after over two weeks in more remote high-altitude terrain.

Trek from Namche Bazaar back to Lukla (2,840 m/9,318 ft), a 6 to 7-hour walk retracing the trail down through Phakding and along the Dudh Koshi River, marking the final trekking day of this remarkable three-pass journey through the Khumbu.

Take your return flight from Lukla to Kathmandu, a scenic 35-minute journey, or fly from Lukla to Manthali/Ramechhap, a 20-minute flight, followed by a same-day drive to Kathmandu by shared tourist vehicle, taking around 5 to 6 hours. Arrive back in the city and check in to your 4-star hotel, with a well-earned hot shower and comfortable bed waiting after three weeks of demanding high-altitude trekking.

Transfer to Tribhuvan International Airport in good time for your international flight home, bringing to a close an extraordinary journey across three of the highest passes in the Everest region, alongside Base Camp, Kala Patthar, and the Gokyo Lakes.

Arrive back in Zurich, marking the end of your Everest Three Passes Trek adventure, with the memory of Kongma La, Cho La, Renjo La, and the incomparable scenery of the Khumbu staying with you long after the journey ends.