Kongma La (about 5,535 m), Cho La (about 5,420 m) and Renjo La (about 5,360 m) link the three main valleys of the Khumbu in a single circuit.
Walk up beside the Khumbu Glacier to the classic base camp, then return to Gorak Shep for the night.
A dawn climb to about 5,550 m for the closest big view of Everest, Nuptse and Lhotse.
Turquoise glacial lakes beside the Ngozumpa Glacier, and a viewpoint at about 5,357 m looking over Everest, Lhotse, Makalu and Cho Oyu.
Chhukung, Dzongla, Thagnak and Lungden see far fewer walkers than the main Base Camp trail.
Market town, bakeries, monasteries, prayer walls and suspension bridges at both ends of the loop.
Visit the best-known monastery in the region on the way up and the traditional Sherpa village of Thame on the way down.
A UNESCO World Heritage area with rhododendron forest, Himalayan wildlife, huge glaciers and some of the highest peaks on earth.
This trek combines the Everest Base Camp route with the Gokyo valley and crosses the three high passes that connect them. You climb through Namche, Tengboche and Dingboche, cross Kongma La to reach the Everest side, then turn west over Cho La to the lakes at Gokyo and finish with Renjo La before dropping back to Thame and Namche.
It is one of the most demanding teahouse treks in Nepal. Pass days can last eight or nine hours, start before dawn and cross loose rock, steep scree and sometimes snow or ice. Acclimatisation is built into the plan with a rest day at Namche, a short day at Chhukung and a spare day at Gokyo, and you should treat these days seriously.
Weather decides how the passes feel. After fresh snow or in cold months, microspikes or crampons may be needed, and your guide will judge each crossing on the day. Lukla flights can also be delayed, so the final day is best kept as a spare day before your international flight.
| Duration | 19 days including arrival and departure days in Kathmandu |
|---|---|
| Start / End | Fly Kathmandu to Lukla; return by the same flight route |
| Highest point | Kala Patthar, about 5,550 m; highest pass is Kongma La, about 5,535 m |
| Highest sleeping altitude | Gorak Shep, about 5,160 m |
| Distance | Roughly 130 to 150 km on foot |
| Walking per day | 3 to 9 hours; the three pass days and Base Camp day are the longest |
| Difficulty | Strenuous; suited to fit walkers who are comfortable with long days at high altitude, ideally with previous trekking experience |
| Best seasons | March to May and late September to November |
| Accommodation | Simple teahouse lodges; basic rooms with shared toilets at the higher stops |
| Group size | Private trips or small groups |
| Permits | Sagarmatha National Park and local municipality permits, usually arranged by the operator; a licensed guide is usually required |
Meet your guide, transfer to the hotel and rest. In the evening we go through the plan, check your gear and sort permits.
Meals: depends on your hotel planA short mountain flight to Lukla, then an easy walk down the Dudh Koshi valley through small villages and over prayer-flag bridges.
Walking: 3 to 4 hoursEnter Sagarmatha National Park near Monjo, cross the high suspension bridges and climb the long steady hill to the Sherpa market town.
Walking: 5 to 6 hoursWalk up to the Everest View area or to Khumjung and Khunde, then rest. Visit the museum and bakeries in the afternoon.
Walking: 3 to 4 hours, optionalA scenic trail with views of Ama Dablam, a drop to the river and a long climb through forest to the monastery.
Walking: 5 to 6 hoursPass through Pangboche and leave the trees behind for the open alpine valley of the Imja River.
Walking: 5 to 6 hoursA short, steady day up the Imja valley under Lhotse and Ama Dablam. Spend the afternoon resting, or climb part of Chhukung Ri if you feel strong.
Walking: 3 to 4 hoursThe first and highest pass. Start before dawn, climb loose rock to the top, then take the steep scree descent and cross the Khumbu Glacier to Lobuche. Cairns mark the trickier sections.
Walking: 8 to 10 hoursFollow the glacier edge to Gorak Shep, then walk on to Base Camp beside the Khumbu Icefall and return to Gorak Shep for the night.
Walking: 7 to 9 hoursClimb Kala Patthar in the dark for the sunrise over Everest, return for breakfast, then descend towards Lobuche and cross to the quiet village of Dzongla below the Cho La.
Walking: 7 to 8 hoursAn early start over a rocky approach to the pass, which can be icy. The far side crosses a glacier and a steep descent to Thagnak, with few lodges along the way.
Walking: 7 to 9 hoursA short day across the Ngozumpa Glacier, the longest in Nepal, to the village on the shore of the third lake. Plenty of time to rest.
Walking: 3 to 5 hoursClimb Gokyo Ri for a wide panorama of Everest, Lhotse, Makalu and Cho Oyu, then walk along the lakeshore. It also works as a spare day for weather.
Walking: 3 to 5 hoursClimb stone steps and switchbacks above the lakes to the final pass, with a last big view of Everest, then descend a long valley to Lungden.
Walking: 7 to 9 hoursA gentle descent down the Bhote Koshi valley past yak pastures to the Sherpa village of Thame and its monastery.
Walking: 4 to 5 hoursFollow the river back to Namche, with warmer air and easier breathing. Celebrate with a hot shower and a bakery treat.
Walking: 4 to 5 hoursA long final walk down through Monjo and Phakding to Lukla. Many groups share a farewell dinner with the crew.
Walking: 6 to 8 hoursTake the morning flight back to Kathmandu and transfer to your hotel. The rest of the day is free for rest, laundry and shopping.
Meals: depends on your hotel planKept as a buffer for delayed Lukla flights or a pass day lost to weather. If everything went to plan, transfer to the airport for your flight home.
Meals: breakfast depends on your hotel planThe pass order and daily times are a guide. Your leader may change the plan for weather, snow or health, and Lukla flights are often delayed, so the last day works as a spare. Please keep at least one more spare day before your international flight. Altitudes and times are approximate and differ a little between sources.
It is a strenuous trek. Pass days last 7 to 10 hours at over 5,300 m, with steep loose ground and cold starts. Good cardio fitness, strong legs and previous trekking experience are strongly recommended.
It is not strictly required, but it helps a lot. Beginners should think carefully. A shorter trek such as Base Camp is a good first step.
Often not, especially in dry weather, but Cho La and Kongma La can be icy or snowy, mainly in winter, early spring and after storms. Your guide will tell you before each pass, and lightweight microspikes are cheap insurance.
The plan includes a rest day at Namche, short days at Dingboche and Chhukung, and a day at Gokyo. We also follow the rule of climbing high and sleeping low. Tell your guide at once about headaches, nausea or breathlessness.
Passes can be blocked by snow or storms. The guide may delay by a day, change direction or use an alternative route. The spare days at Gokyo and Kathmandu give some margin, so keep flexibility in your travel plans.
Usually yes. Sagarmatha National Park and local municipality permits are needed, and the rules require trekkers to hire a licensed guide through a registered agency. We arrange the permits for you.
Rules for trekking in this region can change. We confirm the current requirements when you enquire and can run private trips for two or more.
Simple twin rooms with blankets and shared toilets. Higher up, rooms are colder, meals are plainer and showers or charging cost extra. Dal bhat, noodles, soup and eggs are the staples.
Nights above 4,500 m often drop well below freezing. Bring a good down jacket, thermal layers, gloves, a warm hat and a sleeping bag rated to about minus 15 degrees Celsius.
Yes. Your policy should cover trekking up to at least 6,000 m, medical treatment and helicopter evacuation. Send us the details before you travel.
Send an enquiry from this page or message us on WhatsApp. We confirm dates and details, and a deposit secures your booking.
Lower villages often have a signal, and many lodges sell Wi-Fi or a local SIM data pack for a fee. Higher up and in remote valleys the connection is slow or absent, so tell family to expect quiet days. Wi-Fi is not included in the price. A local SIM bought in Kathmandu is a cheap backup.
Lodges serve dal bhat, noodles, soup, eggs, pasta, momo and pancakes, and dal bhat comes with refills. Vegetarian and vegan meals are easy to arrange. If you need gluten-free food or have allergies, tell us when you book so your guide can brief the kitchen, though choices narrow as you climb. Meals on trail days are included. City meals are not, apart from breakfast and the two special dinners.
Tap and stream water is not safe to drink untreated. Lodges sell boiled or bottled water for a fee, which is not in the price. Many trekkers bring purification tablets or a filter bottle to save money and plastic. Your guide can show you where it is safe to refill.
Yes. Pick-up and drop-off at Kathmandu airport, hotel nights in Kathmandu with breakfast, a guided city tour, and a welcome and farewell dinner are included. See the Included tab on this page for the full list. Extra hotel nights outside the itinerary are not included, so ask us if you need them.
A 20% deposit secures your booking. Send an enquiry from this page or message us on WhatsApp, and we will confirm the dates and how to pay. The balance is paid in Kathmandu before the trek. For cancellation and refund terms, see wildpasstreks.com/booking-policy/
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