Everest three passes trek-17 days

The Everest Three Passes Trek is a high-altitude challenge for experienced trekkers seeking the full Everest adventure. This 17-day journey covers three iconic passes—Renjo La (5,360 m), Cho La (5,420 m), and Kongma La (5,535 m)—while exploring every major valley in the Everest region.

Starting with a short flight from Kathmandu or Manthali to Lukla, the route heads through Phakding to Namche Bazaar for acclimatization. From there, you’ll trek to Thame and Lungden before crossing Renjo La to reach Gokyo Lake. A rest day at Gokyo lets you ascend Gokyo Ri for unforgettable Himalayan views.

The trek then moves through Cho La Pass into the Khumbu Valley, leading to Everest Base Camp and sunrise at Kala Patthar. The final pass, Kongma La, completes a circular loop, showcasing alpine lakes, glaciers, and forested trails. After crossing Kongma La, you descend via Chhukhung, Tengboche, and Namche Bazaar, ending at Lukla and returning to Kathmandu.

This route ensures enough acclimatization while offering remarkable views of Ngozumpa Glacier, sacred lakes, and giants like Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, and Cho Oyu. It’s a complete and rewarding Himalayan trek.

Planning your Everest trekking Nepal trip? Be aware that Lukla flight schedules are often impacted by weather delay, so it’s smart to add two extra days to your plan to avoid missing your return flight. The Kathmandu to Lukla route is scenic but highly sensitive to mountain weather.

In busy trekking months like March, April, May, October, and November, most Lukla flights operate from Ramechhap to Lukla, not directly from Kathmandu. Travelers must leave Kathmandu at 12:30 a.m. for a 5-hour drive to Ramechhap airport.

In other months, Kathmandu to Lukla flights usually operate without needing to go through Ramechhap. However, flight changes can still occur, so always stay flexible. Whether you’re heading to Everest Base Camp or following the best trek route in Nepal, keeping track of your Lukla flight is essential for a hassle-free Everest trekking Nepal experience.

Preparing the right gear is essential for your Everest Three Passes Trek to ensure safety, comfort, and success on this challenging high-altitude journey. Please keep your luggage within the 9 kg limit as you will share a porter with one other trekker. We recommend packing essentials in a duffle bag of over 60 liters capacity. You can safely store any excess luggage at our Discovery World Trekking store free of charge.

Headgear and Sun Protection:

• Wide-brimmed sun hat for excellent sun coverage
• Warm beanie to protect from cold temperatures
• Buff or neck gaiter for sun protection and warmth at high altitudes
• Lightweight headlamp with adjustable brightness for night trekking or early mornings
• High SPF sunscreen to protect from strong Himalayan UV rays
• Lip balm with SPF to prevent chapped lips in dry, cold air
• UV-protected sunglasses to shield your eyes from snow glare
• Face wipes to keep fresh and clean after dusty trails

Upper Body Clothing:

• Moisture-wicking t-shirts (both short and long sleeve) to keep dry
• Thermal base layer for insulation during cold weather
• Fleece jacket and down jacket for warmth in freezing conditions
• Lightweight puffy jacket for extra insulation
• Waterproof and windproof jacket (Gore-Tex or similar material) to stay dry during rain or snow
• Breathable long-sleeve shirts for sun and insect protection
• Polypropylene underwear (at least four pairs) for moisture management

Hands Protection:

• Insulated gloves or mittens for extreme cold conditions
• Waterproof gloves to keep hands dry during wet weather

Lower Body Clothing:

• Quick-drying pants (convertible or full-length) for versatile use
• Insulated pants for colder nights and high passes
• Lightweight cotton pants for comfortable campwear
• Thermal leggings or long underwear for extra warmth
• Two pairs of thermal or trekking trousers for durability and comfort

Footwear:

• Thick wool or synthetic moisture-wicking socks (minimum 4 pairs)
• Waterproof, ankle-supportive hiking boots, well broken-in for rough terrain
• Sandals for camp use and river crossings
• Gaiters to protect feet and lower legs from mud, snow, and debris
• Crampons or spikes for icy trail sections (optional but recommended)

Toiletries and Personal Care:

• Biodegradable soap to minimize environmental impact
• Toothbrush and toothpaste
• Medium-sized quick-dry towel
• Wet wipes or hand sanitizers for hygiene
• Toilet paper in a Ziplock bag
• Feminine hygiene products (if applicable)
• Travel-sized shampoo and toiletries
• Nail clippers and small mirror for grooming

Backpacks and Bags:

• Large duffle bag (60+ liters) for porter luggage (one bag shared between two trekkers)
• Personal daypack (20–30 liters) for daily essentials and valuables

Personal Accessories and Essentials:

• Adjustable lightweight trekking poles (collapsible preferred) to aid balance and reduce strain
• Water bottles or hydration bladder (minimum 2 liters capacity) – insulated preferred to prevent freezing
• Water purification system such as tablets, filters, or UV purifiers for safe drinking water
• High-quality sleeping bag rated for -10 to -15 degrees Celsius for cold nights at altitude

Extra Items for Convenience and Safety:

• Camera or smartphone with extra memory cards and batteries for capturing the breathtaking scenery
• Rechargeable power bank and extra batteries to keep electronics charged
• Two-pin charging plug compatible with Nepal’s electrical outlets
• Basic first aid kit including band-aids, antiseptic wipes, pain relievers, and altitude sickness medication (Diamox)
• Personal medications such as inhalers or allergy medicines
• Passport-size photos and photocopies of your passport
• Notebook and pen for journaling your trekking experience
• Binoculars for wildlife and mountain viewing
• Swiss Army knife or multi-tool with scissors and can opener for practical needs

Optional Gear Provided by Everest Destiny Treks:

• If you do not have your own equipment, we can provide:
• Non-waterproof duffle bags
• Used down jackets and sleeping bags

Arrival, Welcome, and Trek Start:

Upon your arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, a friendly representative from our team will warmly welcome you, holding a pamphlet with your name for easy identification. You will be greeted traditionally with a Khada scarf or a marigold garland, symbolizing good luck and hospitality. From the airport, you will be comfortably transferred to your hotel by private vehicle, where you can rest and prepare for your upcoming adventure.

The trek officially begins with a domestic flight to Lukla on the day of departure. During peak trekking seasons—March, April, May, September, October, and November—flights to Lukla may sometimes be redirected to Manthali Airport due to high demand or weather conditions.

In such cases, on the trek departure day, our guide will pick you up from your hotel around 12:30 am for a scenic five-hour drive to Manthali Airport, followed by a short 20-minute flight to Lukla, the gateway to the Everest region.

In off-peak months—December, January, February, June, July, and August—flights to Lukla generally operate directly from Kathmandu. On your departure day, we will ensure timely transportation to Kathmandu Airport early in the morning for a 40-minute scenic flight to Lukla, setting the stage for your Everest Three High Passes Trek

Accommodations:

Throughout the 17-day trek, you will stay in carefully selected lodges that offer comfort and warmth amidst the rugged Everest region.

For the first five nights, accommodations include rooms with private attached bathrooms located in Lukla, Phakding, and Namche Bazaar (three nights). For the remaining eleven nights, you will stay in comfortable twin-sharing standard rooms in Thame, Lungden, Gokyo (two nights), Dzongla, Lobuche (two nights), Chhukung, Gorak Shep, Thangnak, and Pheriche.

Most lodges provide essential amenities such as hot showers, electricity for charging devices, and Wi-Fi access available for a small additional fee. These lodges offer a cozy refuge after a long day of trekking, allowing you to recharge for the next day’s journey.

Please note that accommodations and meals in Kathmandu before and after the trek are not included in this package, but the city offers a wide range of lodging options suitable for all budgets and preferences.

Meals:

Our Everest Three High Passes Trek package includes full-board meals with 17 breakfasts, 17 lunches, and 16 dinners. All meals are freshly prepared with high standards of hygiene and nutrition in mind. The menu features a variety of traditional Nepali, Asian, and Western dishes designed to keep your energy levels high during the demanding trek.

Recommended local specialties include Dal Bhat (a nutritious lentil soup served with rice), Momos (steamed or fried Tibetan-style dumplings), and Chowmein (stir-fried noodles). We encourage trekkers to maintain proper hydration with healthy drinks like green tea, ginger tea, and garlic soup, which are known for their warming and medicinal properties in high-altitude environments.

We advise avoiding non-vegetarian foods, dairy products, alcoholic beverages, and caffeinated drinks during the trek to minimize digestive issues and altitude sickness risks. Personal bills for additional items such as hot drinks (tea, coffee), cold drinks, alcoholic beverages, and snacks are excluded from the package and are payable directly to the lodges.

Luggage and Porter:

This trek package includes porter service with a luggage allowance of up to 9 kg per trekker. One porter will carry the combined luggage of two trekkers, with a maximum weight limit of 18 kg per porter. To make the most of this arrangement, we strongly recommend partnering with a fellow trekker and packing your gear together in a duffle bag with a capacity of over 60 liters.

This careful packing and sharing of porter services not only helps keep your individual loads light but also ensures that your essential trekking gear is transported safely, allowing you to focus fully on the breathtaking adventure ahead.

Proper Hydration from Water:

We strongly advise against drinking untreated water from rivers, taps, or wells during the trek. While bottled water is available for purchase, to minimize plastic waste and protect the fragile environment, we recommend bringing a reusable water bottle and buying boiled or filtered water instead. Most lodges and shops along the trek route provide boiled or filtered water for a small fee.

For extra safety, using water purification pills is highly recommended to prevent waterborne illnesses. If you do not have purification pills, we can supply them to you before or during the trek.

Communication and connectivity:

Discovery World Trekking keeps daily contact with all trekking groups through their leaders using mobile networks. While local SIM cards are easily available in Kathmandu and suitable for personal use, mobile signals in high-altitude regions of the Everest trek may be weak or intermittent.

Rest assured, our team is always on standby to manage emergencies, ensuring your safety throughout the trek.

Travel Essentials

Visa Requirements:
Most nationalities require a visa to enter Nepal, which can be conveniently obtained on arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport. The standard 30-day tourist visa costs USD 50. To apply, you need a valid passport with at least six months of validity remaining and a passport-size photo.

Nationals from SAARC countries and China may be eligible for a free visa, while some countries require pre-approval before arrival. For detailed and updated visa information, visit the official Nepal Immigration website: https://www.immigration.gov.np/en.

Travel Insurance:

Travel insurance that covers medical expenses and emergency helicopter evacuation for high-altitude trekking (up to 5,550 meters) is mandatory. You must provide your insurance policy details at the time of booking.

We recommend you directly confirm with your insurance provider that helicopter rescue is included, rather than relying solely on website information.

Currency Exchange:
The official currency used in the trekking regions is Nepali Rupees (NPR). The approximate exchange rate is 1 USD = 133 NPR. You can exchange major foreign currencies at banks or authorized money exchange counters in Kathmandu.

ATMs in Kathmandu allow cash withdrawals up to NPR 35,000 per transaction, usually with an additional service fee. To avoid issues, bring new, crisp, and untorn notes, as banks may refuse old or damaged currency. Only the Indian 100-rupee note (INR 100) is legally accepted in Nepal.

Extra Expenses

While this Everest Three High Passes Trek package covers most trek-related costs, there are some additional expenses you should budget for. These include:

• Meals and accommodations in Kathmandu before and after the trek
  
• Extra meal courses, snacks, and beverages during the trek
  
• Tips for guides, porters, and staff
  
• Souvenirs and personal shopping
  

We recommend budgeting approximately USD 35 per trek day to comfortably cover these extras.

The best seasons for trekking the Everest Three High Passes are spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November). These periods offer clear skies, pleasant temperatures, and breathtaking mountain views. During spring, daytime temperatures at higher altitudes can reach around 20 °C, while nights can drop to approximately -5 °C. In autumn, daytime highs can climb to 25 °C, with nighttime temperatures falling as low as -10 °C.

Summer and Winter Trekking Conditions:

Trekking is also possible during summer (June to August) and winter (December to February), but these seasons come with challenges.

• Summer: Daytime temperatures at high altitudes may rise up to 27 °C, with nighttime lows near 5 °C. However, summer coincides with the monsoon season, which brings heavy rains that can make lower trails slippery and increase the risk of landslides. Monsoon weather often leads to frequent flight delays or cancellations to Lukla.
  
• Winter: Daytime temperatures can reach up to 15 °C, but nighttime temperatures may plunge as low as -20 °C at higher elevations. Snow and extreme cold can make trekking difficult, and some high passes might be inaccessible due to heavy snowfall.

Each day begins with an early breakfast before setting off on the trail around 7 to 8 AM. You will trek for about 3 to 4 hours in the morning, then pause for a lunch break and rest for approximately an hour. Afterward, you’ll continue trekking for another 2 to 3 hours in the afternoon. Once you arrive at your destination for the day, you’ll have free time to explore the area and soak in the surroundings.

Dinner is usually served around 7 PM, followed by a short briefing where your guide will share the plan for the next day. Evenings are perfect for unwinding at the lodge — whether that’s playing games, chatting with fellow trekkers, or simply relaxing.

Farewell Dinner:
At the end of your trek, Discovery World Trekking will organize a farewell dinner where you can share your thoughts and feedback about the journey. During this event, you will also receive a certificate recognizing your successful completion of the trek.

Departure:
On your final day, we will arrange transportation from your hotel to Tribhuvan International Airport. We hope your experience with us becomes a treasured memory, and we look forward to welcoming you again in the future. Please make sure to provide us with your hotel details, room number, and departure date so we can coordinate your transfer smoothly.

Private Trekking Packages:
At Everest Destiny Trek, we specialize in organizing exclusive private trekking experiences tailored just for you. Unlike group treks that mix strangers, our private trekking tours ensure your party remains exclusive, making your Nepal trekking journey more personal and comfortable.

 If you are traveling with a larger party, we offer special discounts for group treks and can arrange an experienced trekking guide and assistant for groups of 12 or more, ensuring smooth logistics and expert support throughout your adventure.

Safe and Secure Trek Booking Process:
Everest Destiny Trek is a licensed and bonded operator under the Nepal government, fully authorized to conduct safe and reliable Nepal trekking expeditions. We hold memberships in the Trekking Agency Association of Nepal (TAAN) and the Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA), reflecting our commitment to quality and safety in all our trekking operations.

 Our booking system is transparent and customer-friendly. To confirm your trek, we require a 10% deposit with multiple trek payment options available, including bank transfers, credit cards, Western Union, Wise, or cash payments in Kathmandu. You will receive detailed payment instructions via email to keep your booking process hassle-free.

Last-Minute Trek Bookings and Flexible Trekking Schedule:
While we recommend securing your Nepal trekking experience at least one month in advance, Everest Destiny Trek also welcomes last-minute bookings. For these bookings, full payment must be made at least 24 hours before the trek’s departure date. We advise travelers to keep in mind that last-minute arrangements may encounter challenges such as flight delays or limited accommodation availability due to peak seasons. 

To ensure your adventure is seamless, please reach out to our team by calling or emailing info@everestdestinytreks.com once your documents are ready. Additionally, we offer a flexible trekking schedule — if our fixed trek departure dates don’t fit your itinerary, inform us of your preferred dates, and we will adjust your trek accordingly to provide a personalized Nepal trekking experience.

Trip Extension Options in Nepal:
Extend your stay and make the most of your Nepal visit with exciting trip extension Nepal packages. Choose from thrilling jungle safaris in Chitwan National Park, immersive cultural tours in Kathmandu, or embark on additional trekking routes to explore Nepal’s diverse landscapes and unique heritage. Our team will help you design a customized itinerary that complements your Nepal trekking adventure and maximizes your time in this beautiful country.

At Everest Destiny Trek, our dedicated team of Himalayan guides and trekking porters are not only born and raised in the high Himalayas but also extensively trained and experienced in supporting trekkers through Nepal’s challenging mountain trails. Our experienced trekking team is fully insured and equipped with the best gear, nutritious meals, and comfortable accommodations to ensure their well-being on every journey.

We believe that a happy and well-supported team is essential to delivering a memorable and safe Nepal trekking experience for all our clients. Each of our licensed trekking guides holds government certification and is trained in wilderness first aid and rock climbing, guaranteeing your safety and expert assistance during the trek. Their local knowledge, combined with professional skills, makes them invaluable companions on your adventure through the Himalayas.

Everest Destiny Trek is deeply committed to eco-friendly trekking and sustainable tourism in Nepal. We actively collaborate with local environmental initiatives such as the Kathmandu Environmental Education Project (KEEP) to minimize our ecological footprint in the fragile Himalayan ecosystems. Our approach focuses on environmental conservation and supporting local communities by promoting responsible trekking practices.

We strongly encourage trekkers to follow the “Leave No Trace” principle to ensure that future visitors can enjoy pristine landscapes. By choosing our eco-conscious trekking packages, you contribute to preserving the natural beauty and cultural heritage of the region. Together, we aim to leave only footprints behind on the trails of Nepal.

In Nepal trekking culture, tipping is a respected way to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of your guides, porters, and support staff. While tips are not mandatory, they are highly appreciated and form an important part of the local trekking economy. We recommend that tips be given at the end of the trek and ideally pooled as a group contribution to fairly reward the entire team.

The amount of the tip should be proportional to the quality of service, the total trek cost, and the length of your journey. Your generosity helps maintain motivation and encourages continued excellence in trekking support and hospitality, ensuring every trekker receives the best possible experience in Nepal.