Three Passes Trek

The Three Passes Trek is a roughly 160 km point-to-point trail in the Khumbu region of Nepal, climbing more than 9,000 m of cumulative elevation over 17 to 20 days and topping out at 5,611 m on Kala Patthar. Rated very strenuous, it links three Himalayan passes above 5,300 m with daily views of Everest, Lhotse and Makalu.

About the Three Passes Trek

The Three Passes Trek is the most complete high-altitude circuit in Nepal's Khumbu (Everest) region. Where the classic Everest Base Camp route runs out and back along a single valley, the Three Passes loops anti-clockwise across three glaciated saddles — Kongma La (5,514 m), Cho La (5,368 m) and Renjo La (5,360 m) — stitching together the Imja, Khumbu, Gokyo and Bhote valleys. Over the full circuit you cover around 160 km on foot, including acclimatisation side-trips, and gain well over 9,000 m of cumulative ascent.

This is a teahouse trek, so you sleep in lodges every night rather than carrying a tent. That keeps pack weight low, but it does not make the route easy. Pass days demand 6 to 9 hours of walking on rough moraine, scree and, on Cho La, a short glacier crossing where microspikes are genuinely useful. Altitude is the defining challenge: above 4,500 m the air holds roughly half the oxygen of sea level, and acute mountain sickness is the single biggest reason trekkers turn back. The reward is a circuit that, in 2026, remains far quieter than the main Base Camp highway while delivering the same — arguably better — panoramas of Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, Ama Dablam and Cho Oyu.

As part of Nepal's National Walking Network of long-distance Himalayan routes, the Three Passes Trek sits firmly at the expert end of the spectrum. It suits fit hikers with prior multi-day mountain experience who can manage cold, thin air and exposed terrain. The standard direction is anti-clockwise, tackling Kongma La first so the body adapts progressively before the harder technical ground.

Acclimatisation is the backbone of any sensible itinerary. The widely used guideline is to avoid sleeping more than 300–500 m higher than the previous night once above 3,000 m, and to schedule a rest day every 1,000 m of gain. On this route that means dedicated acclimatisation days at Namche Bazaar (3,440 m), Dingboche (4,410 m) and Gokyo (4,790 m), each spent climbing high and sleeping low on a nearby ridge such as Chukhung Ri or Gokyo Ri. Skipping these days to save time is the most common — and most dangerous — mistake on the trek, because the three passes give the body almost no margin once you are committed to a col at dawn.

Route Overview & Stages

The table below summarises a typical 17- to 20-day anti-clockwise itinerary from Lukla. Distances are walking distances; acclimatisation days at Namche Bazaar, Dingboche and Gokyo are not shown as separate rows but add roughly 15–25 km of side-hiking.

Daily distances of 10–18 km may sound modest, but every kilometre is walked at altitude with significant up-and-down. Pass days, in particular, start before dawn to clear the saddle before the afternoon wind and cloud build.

Highlights & Points of Interest

• Kongma La (5,514 m) — the highest and longest of the three passes, strung between Chukhung and Lobuche over a series of glacial tarns and a boulder-strewn col marked by cairns and prayer flags.
• Cho La (5,368 m) — the technical crux, requiring a short glacier crossing on the eastern side where microspikes and trekking poles earn their place.
• Renjo La (5,360 m) — widely rated the most scenic pass, framing a postcard line-up of Everest, Lhotse and Makalu above the turquoise Gokyo Lakes.
• Kala Patthar (5,611 m) — the highest point of the trek and the finest accessible viewpoint of Everest's southwest face, best at sunrise.
• Everest Base Camp (5,364 m) — the legendary tent city at the foot of the Khumbu Icefall, busiest during the spring climbing season.
• Gokyo Lakes & Ngozumpa Glacier — a chain of six high-altitude sacred lakes beside the longest glacier in the Nepal Himalaya.
• Tengboche Monastery (3,867 m) — the spiritual heart of the Khumbu, with Ama Dablam rising directly behind the courtyard.
• Namche Bazaar (3,440 m) — the Sherpa capital, a horseshoe of lodges, bakeries and gear shops that doubles as the trek's main acclimatisation hub.

Best Time to Hike the Three Passes Trek

There are two reliable trekking windows in the Khumbu, dictated by the monsoon. Autumn (late September to mid-November) delivers the most stable weather of the year: post-monsoon skies are scrubbed clean, the air is crisp, and the high passes are usually snow-free. Spring (March to mid-May) is the second window, slightly warmer, with rhododendron forests in bloom lower down and the Base Camp climbing season in full swing.

The single best month is October. Daytime temperatures at trekking altitude sit around 10–15 °C, nights at the high lodges drop to roughly −5 to −10 °C, visibility is at its peak, and the passes are typically dry. Late October into early November remains excellent, with thinner crowds as the season winds down.

Avoid the summer monsoon (June to August), when cloud smothers the views, trails turn to mud and Lukla flights are routinely cancelled, and deep winter (January to February), when heavy snow can close Cho La and Renjo La entirely and lodges above Dingboche shut. As of 2026, mountain weather in the Khumbu has grown noticeably more variable, so build at least two buffer days into any itinerary to absorb a snowed-in pass or a grounded flight.

Practical Information

Accommodation

The Three Passes Trek is a classic teahouse route — you sleep in family-run lodges every night, so no tent is required. Up to Namche Bazaar the standard is high, with some lodges offering hot showers, bakeries and Wi-Fi. Beyond Namche, rooms become basic: an unheated twin with plywood walls and a shared squat toilet is the norm. Expect to pay roughly €2–€6 per night for a room, on the understanding that you eat dinner and breakfast where you sleep. Meals run €4–€9 each and rise sharply with altitude, since everything is carried up by porter or yak. Budget €25–€40 per day for food, lodging, charging and hot drinks. In the high season the few lodges at Lobuche, Dzonglha, Dragnag and Gokyo fill fast, so aim to arrive by early afternoon.

Getting There & Back

The gateway is Tenzing-Hillary Airport at Lukla (2,855 m), one of the world's most dramatic airstrips. Flights take about 30 minutes from Kathmandu (around €165 one way), though in the peak autumn and spring seasons most flights shift to Ramechhap/Manthali, a 4–5 hour drive east of Kathmandu, with a 15-minute hop to Lukla (around €140). Flights are weather-dependent and cancellations are common, so never book an international departure for the day after you are due back in Lukla. An overland alternative runs by bus to Salleri or Jiri, adding 3–5 days of walking to reach the trailhead. The trek itself is point-to-point on foot, finishing back at Lukla for the return flight.

Permits & Fees

Two permits are required and both are checked en route. The Sagarmatha National Park entry fee costs 3,000 NPR (about €21) for foreign visitors, payable at the Monjo checkpoint or in Kathmandu. The Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality card costs 2,000 NPR (about €14) and is bought in Lukla or Monjo. The older TIMS card is generally not required inside the national park, but rules change, so confirm before departure. Check current park regulations with Nepal's Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation and broader entry advice with the Nepal Tourism Board before you fly.

Gear & Packing List

This is a cold, high, self-reliant trek where your pack must carry you over three 5,300 m+ passes while staying light enough to walk all day. A frameless or lightweight 50–60 litre pack is ideal for teahouse trekking, since you carry clothing, sleeping bag and snacks but not a tent or stove. The Arc Haul Ultra 60L and the 3400 Windrider both handle the multi-week load comfortably, while the Aircontact Lite 45+10 offers more structured support if you prefer a traditional harness. Beyond the pack, prioritise a sleeping bag rated to at least −15 °C, microspikes for the Cho La glacier, a down jacket, and a robust four-season layering system.

For trip planning, our guide to the best ultralight backpacks of 2026 compares seven packs head to head. Fuelling correctly at altitude matters as much as gear — read how many calories you need hiking a full day before you build your snack supply, because appetite drops sharply above 4,500 m even as energy demand climbs. Track every item's weight and your daily food load with HikeLoad's gear and food tools so nothing surprises you on a pass morning.

Similar Trails You Might Like

If the Three Passes Trek is on your list, these Nepal classics make excellent warm-ups or alternatives — each shares the same teahouse infrastructure but at a gentler altitude profile. For an Alpine point-to-point with a similar hut-to-hut rhythm, the Theth to Valbona trail in Albania is a superb European counterpart.

• Everest Base Camp Trek (Nepal) — the iconic out-and-back along the same Khumbu valley, ideal if you want the views without the passes.
• Annapurna Base Camp Trek (Nepal) — a shorter, lower amphitheatre trek through bamboo forest into a glacial sanctuary.
• Langtang Trek (Nepal) — a quieter valley close to Kathmandu, perfect for acclimatisation and Himalayan culture.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the best time to hike the Three Passes Trek?
October is the standout month: post-monsoon skies are clear, the passes are usually snow-free and daytime temperatures sit around 10–15 °C. The wider autumn window of late September to mid-November and the spring window of March to mid-May are both reliable. Avoid the June–August monsoon and the deep-winter snow of January and February.

How difficult is the Three Passes Trek?
It is rated very strenuous and is one of Nepal's hardest teahouse treks. Three passes above 5,300 m, a glacier crossing on Cho La, and a high point of 5,611 m at Kala Patthar combine with thin air and cold to test even fit hikers. Prior multi-day mountain experience and a careful acclimatisation schedule are essential.

How many kilometres do you walk per day?
Daily distances range from about 10 to 18 km, with pass days involving 6 to 9 hours of walking. The total circuit is roughly 160 km including acclimatisation side-trips over 17 to 20 days. Distances feel longer than the numbers suggest because of altitude, steep moraine and rough, exposed terrain near the passes.

Where do you sleep on the Three Passes Trek?
You stay in teahouse lodges every night, so no camping gear is needed. Rooms cost roughly €2–€6 per night on the basis that you eat dinner and breakfast on site, with meals at €4–€9 each. Lodges are comfortable up to Namche Bazaar and become basic and unheated higher up, so a warm sleeping bag is essential.

What permits do I need for the Three Passes Trek?
Two permits are required: the Sagarmatha National Park entry fee of 3,000 NPR (about €21) and the Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality card of 2,000 NPR (about €14). Both are checked at the Monjo checkpoint and can be bought in Lukla, Monjo or Kathmandu. Carry your passport, as details are recorded at the entry station.