There is a version of the Everest region that most trekkers never see.
They fly into Lukla, walk north on the same trail as the fifty thousand people who trekked to Base Camp last year, stand at Kala Patthar in the dark, take their photograph, and walk back down the same path they came up. The experience is extraordinary. It is also a single line through a landscape that contains multitudes.
Three Passes Trek Nepal 2026
The Three Passes Trek is the other version.
In eighteen to twenty days, crossing Kongma La (5,535m), Cho La (5,420m), and Renjo La (5,360m), you traverse all four major valleys of the Khumbu region in a 150-kilometre circuit that visits Everest Base Camp, the Gokyo Lakes, remote Sherpa villages that EBC trekkers never pass through, and three mountain passes each of which delivers a panoramic view that Kala Patthar the famous EBC viewpoint cannot match in range or variety.
From Renjo La, you see Everest and Cho Oyu simultaneously with the Gokyo Lakes far below. From Cho La, you are close enough to the Khumbu Glacier to hear it settle. From Kongma La, the highest of the three, Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, and Ama Dablam fill the horizon so completely that choosing where to look first becomes a genuine problem.
This guide tells you everything you need to assess whether the Three Passes Trek is the right challenge for you and, if it is, how to do it properly in 2026.
What Is the Three Passes Trek?
The Three Passes Trek is a high-altitude circuit in the Khumbu region of Nepal that connects the Everest Base Camp trail, the Gokyo Valley, and the remote Nangpa La region by crossing three mountain passes above 5,300 metres. Unlike the standard EBC trek which follows a single linear path from Lukla to Base Camp and back the same way the Three Passes route forms a complete loop through the Khumbu, visiting terrain and communities that the linear route entirely bypasses.
The three passes, in the order most commonly crossed on the standard counter-clockwise route:
Renjo La Pass 5,360m (17,585ft) The first major pass on the counter-clockwise route, crossing from the Thame Valley into the Gokyo Valley. Generally considered the most accessible of the three a steep but straightforward ascent with no glacier crossing required. The view from the top is many experienced trekkers’ favourite moment of the entire circuit: Everest, Lhotse, and Makalu to the east, Cho Oyu directly ahead, and the five Gokyo Lakes stretching below in their extraordinary turquoise.
Cho La Pass 5,420m (17,782ft) The technical heart of the Three Passes Trek and the one that separates this route from anything accessible to casual trekkers. Cho La involves a genuine glacier crossing on the descent from the pass — crampons or microspikes are not optional, they are essential. The route from Dzongla to Cho La ascends steeply through rocky terrain before reaching a small glacier that must be crossed carefully. On the descent toward Thagnak and Gokyo, one wrong step on ice can have serious consequences.
The Cho La glacier is also retreating. The crossing route shifts slightly each season as the ice changes. A guide who has crossed it recently in 2025 or 2026 is not a luxury. On Cho La specifically, it is safety-critical.
Kongma La Pass 5,535m (18,159ft) The highest of the three passes and the final physical test of the circuit. Kongma La connects Chukhung to Lobuche via a route that crosses the edge of the Khumbu Glacier’s lateral moraine an alien landscape of boulders, ice pinnacles, and glacial debris that requires both navigation skill and careful footwork. Due to ongoing glacier retreat, many trekkers in 2025 reported that the descent from Kongma La now involves sections of loose, unstable moraine that were previously consolidated ice. Some agencies are beginning to recommend skipping Kongma La for this reason discuss the current condition with your guide.
The panorama from Kongma La is exceptional: Everest’s south face, Lhotse, Nuptse, Ama Dablam and Island Peak from a perspective that the standard EBC trail never provides.
Altitude Profile: What Your Body Will Experience
Understanding the altitude architecture of the Three Passes Trek is essential not for dramatic effect but because altitude management on this route is more demanding than EBC precisely because you do not descend after crossing each pass. You stay high.
| Key point | Altitude | Night(s) slept |
|---|---|---|
| Lukla | 2,860m | 1 |
| Namche Bazaar | 3,440m | 2 (acclimatisation) |
| Thame | 3,800m | 1 |
| Lungden | 4,380m | 1 |
| Renjo La Pass | 5,360m | (cross only) |
| Gokyo | 4,790m | 2 (rest + Gokyo Ri) |
| Cho La Pass | 5,420m | (cross only) |
| Dzongla | 4,830m | 1 |
| Lobuche | 4,940m | 1 |
| Everest Base Camp | 5,364m | Day visit only |
| Gorak Shep | 4,791m | 1 (Kala Patthar dawn) |
| Chukhung | 4,730m | 1 |
| Kongma La Pass | 5,535m | (cross only) |
| Dingboche | 4,410m | 1 |
| Tengboche | 3,867m | 1 |
| Namche Bazaar | 3,440m | 1 |
| Lukla | 2,860m | 1 |
The critical altitude fact: On the standard EBC trek, trekkers sleep at a maximum of 5,140m (Gorak Shep) for one night before beginning descent. On the Three Passes Trek, you spend multiple consecutive nights above 4,700m at Gokyo, Dzongla, Lobuche, and Gorak Shep and cross passes above 5,300m on three separate days during this period.
Your body does not fully acclimatise to altitude above 5,000m it tolerates it. The longer you spend there, the more this distinction matters. A two-night minimum stay at Namche and one full acclimatisation day at Dingboche or Chukhung are not optional schedule choices. They are the difference between completing this route safely and finding yourself in the Himalayan Rescue Association clinic at Pheriche.
Difficulty Rating: The Honest Assessment
Grade: Strenuous to very strenuous. Rated harder than EBC, easier than technical mountaineering objectives like Island Peak or Ama Dablam. This is the most demanding teahouse trek in the Everest region.
What makes it harder than EBC:
Multiple sustained days above 5,000m, not a single high point followed by rapid descent. Three technical pass crossings requiring navigation on snow, ice, and unstable moraine. Pass-crossing days of 8–10 hours are common. The Cho La glacier section is genuinely technical falls with injuries do occur here each season. Weather dependency at three separate high points rather than one. Total circuit distance of approximately 150 kilometres over 17–21 days.
What makes it not technical mountaineering:
No ropes required. No vertical climbing. No supplemental oxygen. No expedition permit. The technical sections are within the capability of any reasonably fit, well-acclimatised trekker with proper footwear and microspikes.
The honest filter: If you have completed a multi-day trekking route above 4,500m and acclimatised without significant AMS, you have demonstrated the baseline physiological response that this trek requires. If you have not trekked above 4,500m before, this is not the right starting point. EBC, Annapurna Circuit, or Mardi Himal first then Three Passes.
Age: Not a barrier by itself. Fitness, prior altitude experience, and willingness to turn back if altitude demands it are the relevant variables. The oldest trekkers to complete this route are well into their sixties.
Fitness preparation: Train for 12–16 weeks. Weighted uphill hiking (a full pack on steep terrain, not treadmill walking) for 5–6 hours minimum in consecutive training sessions. Core stability and leg strength for the technical pass descents. Cardiovascular base sufficient for sustained 8-hour days with significant elevation gain. If you are not already training when you read this, start tomorrow.
The Counter-Clockwise vs Clockwise Debate
Most operators run the Three Passes Trek counter-clockwise — Namche → Thame → Renjo La → Gokyo → Cho La → EBC → Kongma La → Dingboche → Namche.
The argument for counter-clockwise:
You cross Renjo La first the most forgiving of the three passes when you are freshest, building altitude experience and confidence. You arrive at Gokyo Lakes with Renjo La already behind you. The Cho La crossing from west to east (Dzongla to Gokyo direction) is technically easier on the descent. And the views from Gokyo Ri one of the finest mountain panoramas in Nepal are a natural midway reward.
The argument for clockwise:
Some guides argue that crossing Kongma La before Cho La (clockwise sequence) is better because Kongma La’s glacier descent is more treacherous and is better handled earlier when legs are stronger. This is a minority view but not without logic.
In 2026, the counter-clockwise route remains the standard. Discuss your specific guide’s current experience of both routes’ conditions before departing Kathmandu not before departing Namche, when changing the sequence adds logistical complexity.
Day-by-Day Itinerary: The 18-Day Standard Route
Days 1–2: Kathmandu — Lukla flight — Phakding — Namche Bazaar Fly to Lukla (2,860m), walk to Phakding (2,610m) for the first night, then the long climb to Namche Bazaar (3,440m) via the Hillary Suspension Bridge. Namche is the Khumbu’s cultural and commercial hub a horseshoe of stone buildings stocked with expedition gear, bakeries, and cafes improbable at this altitude.
Day 3: Namche Bazaar acclimatisation day Walk high, sleep low. Hike above Namche to Everest View Hotel (3,880m) for the first Himalayan panorama of the trip Everest, Ama Dablam, Thamserku all visible on a clear morning. Return to Namche for the night. Do not skip this day.
Days 4–5: Namche — Thame — Lungden Leave the main EBC trail here. The Thame Valley is the first departure from the beaten path — quieter, greener, with the Sherpa village of Thame (3,800m) clustered around a monastery that predates organised trekking by centuries. Continue to Lungden (4,380m) for the night before the first pass.
Day 6: Lungden — Renjo La (5,360m) — Gokyo The first major day. Wake early, begin the ascent to Renjo La in the morning light. The climb is steep but the trail clear. At the pass, the view stops you. You will understand on this day why experienced Himalayan trekkers rank the Three Passes circuit above EBC for sheer panoramic impact. Descend to Gokyo (4,790m) past the first of the five sacred Gokyo Lakes.
Day 7: Gokyo rest and Gokyo Ri (5,357m) Pre-dawn ascent to Gokyo Ri. The summit view Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, Cho Oyu, and the Ngozumpa Glacier, the largest glacier in Nepal, spread below is the most comprehensive Himalayan panorama available from any trekking viewpoint. Many trekkers rank it above Kala Patthar. The afternoon is for rest, recovery, and exploration of the turquoise lake chain.
Day 8: Gokyo — Thagnak — Cho La (5,420m) — Dzongla The most demanding day of the trek. An early departure from Gokyo, a long walk to the base of Cho La, then the technical climb to the pass. On the descent, the glacier crossing. Microspikes on, poles planted carefully, methodical movement. Your guide’s experience here is not supplementary it is the reason guides exist on this route. Reach Dzongla (4,830m) for the night.
Days 9–10: Dzongla — Lobuche — Everest Base Camp — Gorak Shep — Kala Patthar The EBC portion of the circuit. Walk to Lobuche (4,940m), continue to Gorak Shep (4,791m), then the three-hour walk across glacial moraine to Everest Base Camp (5,364m). Remember: trekkers cannot overnight at Base Camp this is a day visit only under the 2026 DoT rule. Return to Gorak Shep, sleep, rise at 4:30am for the Kala Patthar (5,545m) ascent at dawn.
Day 11: Gorak Shep — Lobuche — Chukhung Descend from the high point of the EBC leg, move toward Chukhung (4,730m) via Dingboche for the night before the final pass.
Day 12: Chukhung — Kongma La (5,535m) — Lobuche The highest pass, the hardest day. Begin before dawn. The ascent from Chukhung is long and steep, crossing rocky terrain that becomes increasingly unstable on approach to the pass. The summit is the highest point of the entire circuit. The descent involves the moraine crossing slower and more technically demanding than the ascent. Allow 9–11 hours for this day. Arrive at Lobuche exhausted and elated.
Days 13–15: Lobuche — Pangboche — Tengboche — Namche — Lukla Three days of progressive descent through terrain you know from the approach the Tengboche Monastery at 3,867m makes a final cultural stop worth the detour. Namche for the last night on the trail, then the walk back to Lukla and the flight home.
Note: Many operators run 17–21 day variations of this itinerary. The 18-day version above includes two proper acclimatisation stops. Do not accept itineraries shorter than 17 days.
Permits and Costs: What You Will Pay in 2026
Permits Required
| Permit | Cost (foreign nationals) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sagarmatha National Park entry | NPR 3,390 (~USD 25) | Includes 13% VAT |
| Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality | NPR 2,000–3,000 (~USD 15–22) | Collected at Monjo or Lukla entry gate |
| Licensed guide (mandatory) | USD 25–35 per day | Required by law under Nepal’s 2023 mandatory guide policy |
No restricted area permit is required for the Three Passes Trek. The entire route falls within Sagarmatha National Park and the standard Khumbu municipality zone. Total permit cost approximately USD 37–47 per person.
The TIMS card is not required in the Khumbu region in 2026. Any agent including TIMS in your EBC or Three Passes permit list is providing outdated information. See our complete Nepal Trekking Permits 2026 guide for full verification.
Total Trek Cost
| Budget category | Cost range | What’s included |
|---|---|---|
| Budget (agency package) | USD 1,295–1,395/person | Guide, porter, Lukla flights, teahouse accommodation, three meals per day, permits |
| Mid-range | USD 1,500–2,000/person | Same plus better-standard teahouses, more experienced guide, buffer flexibility |
| By road (no Lukla flight) | USD 1,700–2,500/person | 19-day itinerary avoiding Lukla flight, includes overland transport |
Lukla flight cost separately: USD 150–200 return from Kathmandu (or from Manthali, 5 hours from Kathmandu by road, which most domestic Lukla flights now use). Check departure airport carefully most spring and autumn season Lukla flights in 2026 operate from Manthali, not Kathmandu.
The Three Peaks: What the Agencies Don’t Lead With
The Three Passes Trek is sometimes called the “Three Passes Three Peaks Trek” because in addition to the three passes, the standard itinerary visits three significant viewpoint peaks, none of which require a mountaineering permit.
Gokyo Ri (5,357m): A 1–2 hour ascent from Gokyo teahouses. The finest 360-degree Himalayan panorama accessible by trekking route. Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, Cho Oyu, Ngozumpa Glacier. Many experienced trekkers rank this above Kala Patthar for sheer panoramic scope.
Kala Patthar (5,545m): The classic Everest viewpoint. Pre-dawn ascent from Gorak Shep, Everest’s pyramid appearing as the sky lightens. The single most photographed mountain view in Nepal.
Chukhung Ri (5,550m): The least-known of the three and arguably the most dramatic view of Island Peak (6,189m) and Ama Dablam from above. An optional but strongly recommended detour from Chukhung, adding 3–4 hours to that day’s walking.
None of these require separate permits. All three are within the Sagarmatha National Park permit zone already required for the circuit.
The 2026 Update: Glacier Retreat and Route Changes
The Three Passes Trek is not immune to the changes happening across the Himalayan cryosphere. In 2026, two route conditions are worth knowing before you leave Kathmandu.
Cho La glacier retreat: The glacier that must be crossed on the Cho La descent is smaller each year. The crossing itself has become more exposed patches that were previously covered by snow are now bare ice, which is faster-moving underfoot. Microspikes that were “recommended” five years ago are non-negotiable in 2026. Discuss the current state with your guide at Dzongla, the night before the crossing. Conditions change with each snowfall and thaw cycle.
Kongma La moraine instability: Some agencies began in 2025 to recommend skipping Kongma La specifically because of increasing moraine instability on the descent toward Lobuche. Some trekkers who attempted to skip Kongma La after completing Renjo La and Cho La did not receive the Three Passes designation from their agency. If completing all three passes matters to you, confirm with your operator whether Kongma La remains on the itinerary and what their current assessment of conditions is.
These are not reasons to avoid the trek. They are reasons to choose an agency whose guides crossed these passes in the 2025 autumn season and know exactly what they found.
Who This Trek Is Actually For
Most marketing for the Three Passes Trek pitches it as “for any fit trekker who has done EBC.” This is an oversimplification that regularly puts underprepared trekkers in difficulty.
This trek is for you if:
You have previously completed a multi-day trek above 4,500m without significant AMS either EBC, Annapurna Circuit, or equivalent altitude experience. You have trained seriously for 12–16 weeks with weighted hiking as the core of that preparation. You have genuine flexibility in your schedule weather delays on pass-crossing days are not uncommon, and a built-in buffer of 2–3 extra days at the end of your trip is not optional. You are comfortable with the idea that Cho La may genuinely frighten you on the glacier section, and that this is appropriate rather than a problem.
This trek is not for you if:
You are planning Nepal’s first major trek and EBC seems “too easy.” EBC is not too easy and the Three Passes is in a different difficulty category. You have a fixed schedule with connecting flights within 48 hours of your Lukla exit. Weather holds on pass-crossing days happen. You are uncomfortable with technical terrain if ice and moraine navigation sounds like something you would find paralysing rather than challenging, the Cho La crossing will be a miserable experience.
The most honest recommendation: If you have done EBC once and want to go back to the Khumbu with something harder and more complete, the Three Passes Trek is the exact right answer. It takes everything that made EBC extraordinary and expands it in every direction more valleys, more passes, more culture, more altitude, and a sense of accomplishment at the end that the linear EBC route, for all its magnificence, does not match.
The Khumbu has been showing you one face for your entire trekking career. The Three Passes is how you see the others.
Practical Tips for the Three Passes Trek in 2026
Gear that is non-negotiable:
- Microspikes or lightweight crampons Cho La glacier makes these essential, not optional
- Trekking poles with snow baskets particularly for the Cho La and Kongma La descents
- Four-season sleeping bag rated to at least -15°C teahouses above Namche are cold
- Waterproof and windproof outer shell weather above 5,000m changes fast
- Gaiters for snow sections on pass crossings
- Headlamp with spare batteries pre-dawn pass departures require good light
- Portable charger cold kills phone batteries above 4,500m
Booking: Book 6–8 weeks ahead for autumn (October–November) departures. Spring (March–May) is slightly more flexible. Confirm your guide has personally crossed all three passes in the previous season not an experienced guide who has only done EBC. The Cho La specifically requires recent firsthand knowledge.
Emergency: The Himalayan Rescue Association maintains a clinic at Pheriche (4,371m), which sits on the standard route between Tengboche and Lobuche. Your guide has direct contact with HRA through your agency’s emergency system. Helicopter evacuation from anywhere on this route is possible in good weather ensure your travel insurance covers helicopter evacuation at altitudes up to 6,000m. Confirm this before purchasing. Many standard travel policies do not.
Planning the Three Passes Trek for 2026 or 2027? The Explore All About Nepal team is based in Kathmandu and can connect you with verified TAAN-registered operators whose guides have current experience on all three passes. Leave your question in the comments.