19-Day Everest Three High Pass Trek with EBC and Gokyo Lakes

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Day 01

Arrival in Kathmandu and Pre-Trip Meeting

• Arrive in Kathmandu, where our representative will pick you up from the airport. He will be displaying a signboard outside the airport terminal. Transfer to the selected hotel.
• Attend the pre-trip meeting held at our office in the afternoon. During this meeting, we will introduce your trek and/or tour leader/guide, so please make sure to ask any questions or raise any concerns. For the meeting, please bring your passport, 2 copies of passport-size photos, and a copy of your travel insurance policy (if you haven't sent it by email before). Also, sign the legally binding trip form as well as the non-liability disclaimer.

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Day 02

Kathmandu Valley Sightseeing Tour

• After breakfast, your sightseeing tour of Kathmandu Valley will start. You will have a professional tour guide with a private vehicle. Today, you will visit the following cultural wonders of Kathmandu Valley: Swambhunath Stupa, Pashupatinath Temple, Boudhanath Stupa, and Patan Durbar Square.

• After finishing the sightseeing, and on the way to your hotel, our driver will drop you at Kathmandu Durbar Square (only if you are staying at Thamel), from where you can walk back to Thamel through the narrow and oldest open street market of Asan.

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Day 03

Fly to Lukla and Trek to Phakding

• Begin your adventure with a flight from Kathmandu to Lukla that takes about 40 minutes, and enjoy Nepal's iconic mountain views throughout. This flight is one of the closest mountain flights you can do in this country. Touch down on the narrow mountaintop runway, and your dream Everest Base Camp trek begins.
• Head out on a half-day trek after your whirlwind arrival. You'll follow a riverside trail downhill through the Dudh Koshi Valley, passing farms, stone villages, and snow-topped mountains toward your first overnight stay in Phakding.

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Day 04

Trek to Namche Bazaar

• Start trekking. From Phakding, the route crisscrosses the pine-flanked Dudh Koshi (Milky River) on a steel cable suspension bridge. Keep an eye out for yaks and other local wildlife that amble along the same route. From there, the trekking path leads into Sagarmatha National Park, a UNESCO-listed nature reserve that is home to snow leopards and red pandas.
• Pass a checkpoint in Monjo to register your trekking permits, and then begin a steep ascent to Namche Bazaar. If the weather is clear, you may catch a glimpse of Mount Everest in the distance.
• After a strenuous uphill hike, arrive at your overnight stop with time to shop for souvenirs or any extra gear you may need. Namche, the main trading village in the Khumbu region, is the historic meeting point for Hindu traders from the lowlands and Tibetan yak caravans. It remains a global melting pot and now even boasts an Irish pub.

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Day 05

Acclimatization Day in Namche Bazaar

• Take today off to relax and acclimatize after yesterday's significant gain in altitude. The tourist capital and biggest settlement in the Khumbu region, Namche Bazaar, is well facilitated with ATMs, internet cafes, restaurants, bakeries, and lots of branded and local shops selling daily needs.
• Although it is a rest day for acclimatization, we walk up to Khumjung village through Everest View Hotel and enjoy beautiful views of the Himalayas, including Mount Everest. Khumjung village is a brimming little town beautifully inhabited by the Sherpa community. Walking through the Sherpa village will be a unique experience that helps you understand the real lifestyle of the Sherpa people.

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Day 06

Trek to Tengboche

• Proceed hiking. From Namche, the trail follows the valley high above the Dudh Koshi River. After the acclimatization day in Namche, you'll be ready to continue toward Everest Base Camp. As you leave Namche, you'll catch an outstanding glimpse of the Himalayas, marking the world's highest elevations.
• Continue along the trail. There are numerous tea shops along the way, so you can stop for a cup of Nepali chiya with a view of Ama Dablam.
• Make a steep descent over the river along yet another suspension bridge. Reach the village of Phunki Tenga, where we will stop for another mountain lunch. Load up on carbs over lunch as you enjoy the scenery.
• Face another steep climb. The shady path zigzags through rhododendron forests and high-altitude vistas - keep your eyes peeled for the region's colourful mountain bird species.
• Arrive at Tengboche, home to a legendary Buddhist monastery, the largest in the Khumbu.

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Day 07

Trek to Dingboche

• Have morning tea with the sunrise view over the Everest massif, and then descend steeply through the thick forest.
• Cross over the Imja Khola River, part of the Dudh Koshi River. From there, you'll arrive at the village of Pangboche, which is situated directly opposite Ama Dablam, one of the region's landmark summits. Because of the village's unique location, you can admire stunning and immersive views of the mountain. You'll also be able to see a gompa, or Tibetan monastery, along with sacred Buddhist mani walls.
• Arrive after another few hours of trekking at Dingboche, where you will spend the night.

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Day 08

Trek to Chukhung

• Get ready for an easy day. After the guesthouses at the top of Dingboche village, the trail continues between the hills toward the yak herding area. The view of Island Peak, Ama Dablam, and the surroundings is truly breathtaking. The hidden geography of Chukhung village lies around 3 hours' walk from Dingboche. It stays hidden until you are on top of the Chukhung ridge.

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Day 09

Acclimatization and Rest Day at Chukhung

• It is time for another rest day to help your body acclimatize before we head to the Kongma La Pass.
• On this day, you can head up to the higher elevations toward Chukhung Ri or Chukhung Tse. From here, you can admire the stunning views of Nuptse (7861m), Everest (8848m), Lhotse (8516m), Island Peak (6189m), Ama Dablam (6814m), Taboche (6501m), and many more. Just above the top of Chukhung, there is a memorial to Jerzy Kukuczka, a Polish mountaineer who fell to his death while attempting Lhotse from a new route.

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Day 10

Trek to Lobuche via Kongma La Pass

• Be ready for the highest pass you will traverse on this journey after a good rest and acclimatization. The trail to Kongma La Pass goes along the west of Nuptse Glacier.
• Cross the stream, and the trail continues through a long climb up the grassy ridge. It's mostly climbing today.
• After some ascents and descents, you will come across beautiful glacial lakes. The pass is close by, just above the ridge, covered in prayer flags and spirituality at an altitude of 5535m. It's the highest among all the passes on the Everest route. After the long and challenging walk, the views are heavenly from the top. You can admire more than 20 different peaks, including Lhotse, Ama Dablam, Cho Oyu, and others.
• Spend some time at the top of Kongma La Pass, and then head right toward the north.
• Come across the massive and popular Khumbu Glacier. It will take about 2 hours of tiring walking across the glacier, and then the village of Lobuche will be waiting for you.

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Day 11

Trek to Gorak Shep and Visit Everest Base Camp

• Start your trek to Base Camp after breakfast. Following a rocky moraine path, you will see an icy glacial pond and icebergs below the Khumbu Glacier. After the last rocky moraine dunes, a short downhill trek brings you to Gorak Shep, a dry, sandy lakebed that sports an ominous moniker - the name means "Graveyard of Crows." It's simple, but you're not stopping yet.
• Continue climbing along the Khumbu Glacier at a slow but steady pace to reach Everest Base Camp. Finally, after a long day at high altitude, the payoff arrives.
• Stop to take photos and relax on the world-famous threshold for all summit expeditions.
• Take some time to admire your surroundings and wander around the camps. Then, with the climbers and with the help of your guide, you'll make your way back down to Gorak Shep, where you'll spend the night.

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Day 12

Trek to Dzonglha

• Embark on your trek. From Lobuche, the trail to Dzongla moves downhill, keeping the Khumbu Glacier on the right. The trail is mostly downhill, with a few ascents along the way. The peak of Ama Dablam is visible to the southeast, and the peaks of Tabuche and Cholatse keep you company on the left.
• Cross Cholatse Lake and continue straight ahead. After crossing the stream of Cholatse Khola, the village of Dzongla can be reached in a few minutes of gradual ascent.

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Day 13

Trek to Gokyo via Cho La Pass

• Get ready for today's trek. Leaving the mesmerizing village of Dzongla is almost heartbreaking. It is an incredibly photogenic spot with the closest view of Cholatse and Lobuche.
• Climb higher, and Chola Lake begins to appear, while Cholatse gives a beautiful view from the west. At the same time, Ama Dablam will be greeting you from the south. The route continues to climb, staying close to the rock wall. Depending on the weather, crampons are advised, as you will have to cross the glacier. You need to take great care here, as it can get dangerously icy. Prayer flags and spiritual cairns mark the pass at an altitude of 5420m. From here, you can take a close look at the majestic mountain peaks surrounding the glaciers. Trekking down to Thangnak is not very difficult. The challenge ahead is Ngozumpa Glacier. This ice mass is the longest glacier in the Himalayas. The walking is tough and never-ending, but the views alongside will make you forget about it.
• Cross a few ponds and lakes lying on the glacier.
• Continue gently up to the third lake, where the small settlement of Gokyo rests in tranquillity.

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Day 14

Rest Day at Gokyo and Visit Gokyo Ri

• Start early today for Gokyo Ri (5360m), which lies above the village. The steep climb to the top is quite strenuous and takes about 3 to 4 hours, yet rewards you with one of the best mountain viewpoints in the Everest region. With the scenery of Gokyo village and Ngozumpa Glacier, you can observe 4 of the 14 tallest mountain peaks in the world - Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, and Cho Oyu - at close range, and it is magnificent.
• Head back toward the valley to our lodge for breakfast.
• Go sightseeing around the valley a bit and spend the rest of the day immersing yourself in the beauty of the Himalayas.
• Enjoy the highest bakery on the planet with a coffee shot.

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Day 15

Trek to Marlung via Renjo La Pass

• Take an early breakfast today to head for the final pass of the trek. Our trek goes through Gokyo Lake.
• Cross the stream ahead of Gokyo Lake, and we will climb toward Renjo Pass. The view of Mt Everest, Lhotse, and Makalu follows your sight as you continue. Again, at the top of the ridge, you will be welcomed by prayer flags and cairns with incredible views. That's Renjo La Pass at an altitude of 5340m. It is one of the most beautiful passes in the Himalayas. You can have the finest view over the Rolwaling Range, Ngozumpa Glacier, and many other mountains from here.
• Carry on downhill after the pass. Marlung is about 3 hours and 30 minutes from the pass.

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Day 16

Trek to Namche Bazaar

• Continue hiking. From Marlung, the trail is easy and mostly downhill with a few ascents. The route mostly follows the Bhote Koshi River with a view of Shar and Nup straight ahead.
• Reach the village of Thame.
• Trek through the villages of Samde, Thamo, and Phurte. The peaks of Thyangmoche, Lhov, Sar, and Nup can be seen in the southwest, while Thamserku, Kusum Kanguru, and Kyanshar fill the southeast.

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Day 17

Trek to Lukla

• Get ready for today, which marks your final day of trekking. The route follows the Dudh Koshi River all the way back down to Lukla, where you'll spend your last night in the mountains.
• It's time for a farewell party - sample some regional chang (home-brewed rice beer) and learn some Sherpa dance steps. You have a successful trek to celebrate.

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Day 18

Fly Back to Kathmandu

• Wake up early on your last morning in the mountains to catch a morning flight back to Kathmandu.
• Use the rest of the day at your disposal. If you didn't get a chance to see the city's main sights, you'll have a chance to do so now. You might also want to unwind with a massage or spa treatment in Thamel. Otherwise, you have the entire capital at your fingertips for sightseeing before you depart tomorrow.

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Day 19

Departure from Kathmandu

• Enjoy your last moments in Kathmandu with a city stroll and/or souvenir shopping. Your adventure in Nepal comes to an end today. It's time to say goodbye to Nepal until next time.
• Meet our representative at your hotel and drive to the airport for your return flight home. On the way home, you will have plenty of time to plan your next adventure in the wonderful land of the mystic Himalayas.