Mahalangur Himal: Three Passes Trek

Overview And Highlights

This trek explores the Khumbu and Gokyo regions thoroughly and includes views of glacier fields and mountain ranges from novel viewpoints not experienced on other treks. But the three passes trek is everywhere demanding: calling for thorough pre-fitness, stamina and perseverance.
It also calls for an awareness/prevention of mountain sickness, often due to climbing too high too fast: It begins at
2 800m drops a bit and then climbs steadily. Let your guide set the pace and stay with it. If you begin to have headaches, tell him/her. Taking Diamox can help…
The itinerary below offers the best route to assist with the above warnings. It is possible to reverse the trek,
beginning with the Gokyo section – which can be initially gruelling.

Difficulty level: Demanding
Elevation gain: 4200 mt
Trip length: 130 Km
Duration: 19 days
Participants: 12 people
Internal travel:
Overnight:
Price from: $1900

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Days

19 days

Distance

130 Km

Difficulty

Demanding

Highest Point

5450 mt

Best Season For The Trek

Trek Difficulty

Day To Day Itinerary

Day 1

1300 mt

Arrival: Kathmandu Tribhuvan International Airport (1 300m/4 260ft)

On arrival, purchase your visa, then complete your passport, immigration and visa requirements, before collecting your luggage. Exit the building into the area where we will meet you. (Look for our Travel Nepal Himalayas board and your name). We will then transfer you to your hotel: afternoon free. Evening: a welcome dinner with your guide and a description of the trek and a check on essential trekking gear.
Transfer: car
Foor: welcome dinner
Accomodation: Hotel

Day 2

1300 mt

A Day in the City: Kathmandu Valley Sightseeing OR A Day at Leisure

We invite you explore the city on a day tour that includes six of Kathmandu’s cultural heritage sites: including Swayambhunath, the “monkey temple”; the city’s historical Durbar Square with ancient temples, unique art, architecture, with the chance to see the Kumari (living goddess); Patan’s Durbar Square; the Hindu temple Pashupatinath and Bouddhanath, the world’s largest stupa. A guide, car and driver will take you to each site-entrance. The car will wait for you. (Entry tickets and lunch are not included.)
Transfer: car
Foor: breakfast, dinner
Accomodation: Hotel

Day 3

2610 mt

Kathmandu – Lukla (2 800m/9 190ft) – Phakding (2 610m/8 560ft)

After an early breakfast, drive to the new Domestic Airport for the short flight to Lukla and the start of the trek. Meet your local porters: who will carry 15kg of luggage for each of two trekkers. The trail drops into the Dudh Koshi Valley, through agricultural land to Cheplung (2 700m) and Ghat (2 530m) – a stop will be made for lunch. Another hour’s walk takes you to Phakding.
Transfer: 35 min flight
Trek: 3-4 hrs
Food: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accomodation: Lodge

Day 4

3440 mt

Phakding – Namche Bazaar (3 440m/11 290ft)

Walk through pine forests along the Dudh Koshi (large river) through the Sherpa villages of Benkar (2 710m), Chumoa (2 820m), Monjo (2 840m) and Jorsale (2 830m): the gateway and permit checkpoint to the Sagarmatha National Park. Continue to Laja Dobhan (confluence) with the Imja Khola - and the first glimpses of the Everest- Nuptse-Lhotse ridge. A forested trail then climbs, for ~3hrs to the Sagarmatha national park’s administrative and trade centre at Namche Bazaar.
Trek: 5-6 hrs
Food: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accomodation: Lodge

Day 5

3440 mt

Namche Bazaar: Acclimatization and exploration day

This is the first scheduled acclimatization day. Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) experts recommend at least a 24hr rest period. Keep active: climb high and sleep low is the acclimatisation advice. Namche is the only village that offers ATMs, cyber cafés, restaurants and bakeries. A market is set up on Friday evening and Saturday morning. The Sagarmatha (Everest) National Park Visitor’s Centre has displays on Sherpa culture, local flora and fauna. The village of Khumjung (3 780m) offers a more traditional view of Sherpa life. Spend a morning walking up to the village. A circular trail is possible. At the very least, visit the closer Everest View Hotel (3 880m).
Food: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accomodation: Lodge

Day 6

3870 mt

Namche Bazaar – Tengboche (3 870m/12 700ft)

Walk to the top of the village for the trail that contours around a hill to Sanasa (3 600m). A NW trail leads to Gokyo, we will continue NE for Everest. Descend to water driven prayer wheels at Phunki Thenga (3 250m, lowest point north of Namche). Cross the Dudh Koshi near its confluence with the Imja Khola and climb steeply up the Imja Khola Valley, through rhododendron and conifers, to the hilltop village of Tengboche. Views from the village include the Everest group. Visit the important monastery. At October’s full moon the colourful, Mani Rimdu festival is held; with Tibetan Opera and masked dancing. Overnight in Tengboche.
Trek: 5-6 hrs
Food: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accomodation: Lodge

Day 7

4360 mt

Tengboche – Dingboche (4 360 m/14 300ft)

Descend to Debuche (3 820m): with a nunnery. Cross the Imja Khola and gradually ascend to Pangboche (3 860m). Look back for views of towering Ama Dablam (6 856m). The trail continues to Dingboche: the highest year-round settlement in the region. Walls around the terraced fields protect barley, buckwheat and potatoes from icy winds and hungry animals during the short growing season at this altitude. Overnight in Dingboche.
Trek: 5-6 hrs
Food: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accomodation: Lodge

Day 8

4730 mt

Dingboche – Chhukhung (4 730m/15 520ft)

Views broaden towards the head of the Imja Valley. Lhotse towers to the left, Ama Dablam’s north face to the right. Trek up to Bibre (4 570m), a collection of yak herder’s goths (huts). Beyond a terminal moraine slope, and Island Peak (Imja Tse, 6 189m, a popular trekking peak) soars into view. Icy streams later intersect the trail, ~30 min before Chhukhung. After lunch, stroll towards a rocky knoll (5 550m) on Chhukhung Ri for tremendous views of Lhotse, Peak 38, Island Peak, Makalu, Baruntse, et al and their glacial systems. Overnight in Chhukhung.
Trek: 3-4 hrs
Food: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accomodation: Lodge

Day 9

4730 mt

Chhukhung: Rest day – explore Island Peak Base Camp

A second scheduled acclimatization day is recommended before tackling the highest pass on this trail. Stay active: the views further up the valley on the moraines towards Island Peak (6 189m) are tremendous. Head for its BC (4 970m) along the Lhotse glacier, passing the Imja Tsho (lake). The south face of Lhotse (8 414m) & Lhotse Shar (8 393m) towers to the north. To the south, the fluted ice walls that flank Amphu Lapcha La (5 845m) dominate the horizon. Ama Dablam’s north eastern face provides an unusual view of this glorious peak. Return to Chhukhung for the night.
Food: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accomodation: Lodge

Day 10

4940 mt

Chhukhung – Kongma La (5 535m/18 160ft) – Lobuche (4 940m/16 210ft)

An early start (and a packed lunch) is essential for this long, high and strenuous route. The ascent requires around five hours and the difficult descent another two hours to the Khumbu Glacier. Cross the glacier and continue to Lobuche for the night. The trail traverses a hill northwest of Chhukhung, crossing the Nuptse glacier moraine before crossing the Niyang Khola and ascending its valley: below towering walls of rock. It then turns westwards, up through a boulder strewn landscape toward a ridge and a shallow depression of frozen lakes. After passing these, the trail ascends, over loose scree, to the flag-bedecked Kongma summit. To the east is the impressive rock and ice landscape of the ascent; the western view plunges steeply to the Khumbu Glacier. The descent is over unabated loose scree until firmer ground is finally reached on the moraine. The route across the glacier is marked by cairns and is relatively easy. At the top of the opposite moraine a trail heads north to Lobuche. Overnight in Lobuche.
Trek: 9-10 hrs
Food: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accomodation: Lodge

Day 11

5360 mt

Lobuche – Gorak Shep (5 160m/16 930ft) – Everest Base Camp (5 360m/17 590ft) – Gorak Shep

A bleak trail along the moraine heads for the last, seasonal, village of Gorak Shep below Pumori. After an early lunch, trek to cold EBC: positioned on the Khumbu Glacier opposite the dreaded icefall – the most nerve-wracking section of an Everest ascent. During the April-May ascent season, porters and donkeys constantly arrive with supplies and the site is a riot of colourful tents perched on the dirty ice. Out of season it is bleak and silent, bar birds, wind and avalanches. Everest and the Cwm are hidden behind the West Ridge. Walk back to Gorak Shep for the night.
Trek: 8-9 hrs
Food: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accomodation: Lodge

Day 12

4830 mt

Gorak Shep – Kala Patthar (5 545m/18 193ft) – Dzonglha (4 830m/15 850ft)

From the village, a pre-dawn climb (2-3 hrs) up Kala Patthar, offers sunrise over: Everest (8 848m/29 028ft), Lhotse (8 516m), Nuptse (7 861m) and Changtse (7 550m, north of the Rongbuk Glacier). Then Pumori (7 145m), Lingtren (6 697m) and Khumbutse (6 623m). Reeturn to Gorak Shep for breakfast and then retrace your steps down to Lobuche for lunch. The trail to Dzonglha branches to the right of the main Lobuche – Dingboche route at Duglha, before the snout of the Khumbu Glacier is reached. Contour to the west beneath Awi Peak (5 245m) to enter a wide shallow valley, beneath Taboche and Cholatse. Walk up the gentle slope, past the large Cho La Tsho (lake) to the village. Overnight in Dzonglha.
Trek: 8-9 hrs
Food: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accomodation: Lodge

Day 13

4770 mt

Dzonglha – Cho La (5 420m/17 780ft) – Tagnag (4 700m/15 420ft) – Gokyo (4 770m/15 580ft)

Start early for the three-hour climb to avoid cloud at the summit. Walk through the boulder-strewn, valley, towards the rock wall ahead. Scramble up a series of boulders beneath a granite buttress to a ridge. The Cho La Glacier lies ahead. Behind is the Cholatse Tsho with Ama Dablam taking centre stage amongst distant peaks. Climb the icefall and cross the glacier carefully as it rises and curves to the west around a buttress to the flags on the narrow neck of the pass. Summit views back to the east overlook Cholatse, Baruntse, Lobuche West and East and Ama Dablam. To the north the high border ridge of the Mahalangur Himal presents the vast white wall from Ghyachung Kang, west, across Ngozumpa II and I to Cho Oyu: from which Nepal’s longest, Ngozumpa, glacier is formed. These peaks are all above 7,600m. Below to the west is the Ngozumpa Glacier, with Pharilapche and Kyajo Ri standing out amidst other peaks. The long descent into the Gokyo Valley is marked erratically by stone cairns and is across loose scree on hidden ice. This eventually leads down to a valley on the far side of which is a grassy hill that drops to the summer grazing hamlet of Tagnag on the edge of the glacier. From here there is a wider panorama of mountains. A trail, of sorts, on the glacier heads north to Gokyo. The village is set on the side of the moraine and overlooks the blue-green Dudh Pokhari (lake) which nestles in a curve of high peaks at the foot of Gokyo Ri and the Renjo La. Cho- Oyo (8 210m) and the ice ridge to Ghyachung Kang (7 952m) are visible behind low ridges to the north. Overnight in Gokyo.
Trek: 9-10 hrs
Food: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accomodation: Lodge

Day 14

4770 mt

Gokyo: Rest and exploration day

Gokyo offers two exploration options: the second has similarities to the views from the Renjo La. 1) A gently rising 3km trail north of the village explores the route past the remaining lakes. They, together with vast melt water from the glaciers are the source of the Dudh Koshi that you followed from Lukla. Aim for Thonak Tsho (4 870m) Ngozumpa Tsho (4 980m) and Scoundrel’s viewpoint (5 000m) on a low hill. From here there are tremendous close-up views of Cho-Oyu, the ice wall and Ghyachung Kang plus Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse and Makalu. Allow at least 2hrs to return to Gokyo. Return to Gokyo for the night. 2) The trail to the Gokyo Ri viewpoint (5 360m/17 590ft), begins after a short walk around the lake. Set out early to avoid mid-morning cloud: for the two-hour climb to its summit. Below is the rubble-covered, 36km, Ngozumpa Glacier, gouged from the wall of towering peaks on its eastern flank. Above is the unforgettable vista of the Mahalangur Himal that includes Cho-Oyu (8 201m) the ice wall and Ghyachung Kang (7 952m), the north face of Everest (8 848m/29 028ft), Lhotse (8 516m), Nuptse (7 861m), and Makalu (8 463m). To the south Cholatse, Taboche, Thamserku, Kangtega, and many more, all over 6 000m, many unnamed, rear their peaks.
Food: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accomodation: Lodge

Day 15

4200 mt

Gokyo – Renjo La (5 345m/17 537ft) – Marulung (4 200m/13 780ft)

A dawn start is needed to ensure that Marulung is reached well before sunset. Snow and ice can slow progress. The 3-4hr westwards-climb to the La rises gradually up the flank of Gokyo Ri before zigzagging up an ever-steeper ribbon of scree above the northwest corner of the lake to cross a ridge. It continues to rise, less steeply to the summit: with stupendous views in all directions. To the east, the Cho La – Everest group dominate a horizon of innumerable peaks. Below, a diminutive Dudh Pokhari and Gokyo lie beneath the glacier. To the west a new panorama over the Rolwaling Himal is on view. From the summit, the trail drops down stone staircases and loose scree, passing several small lakes. It then enters a narrow valley with giant boulders, before reaching the summer village of Lungden above the Bhote Koshi: which drains the western Mahalangur Himal. At Lungden the trail joins the ancient trade route from Tibet via the Nagpa La (5 716m). Another hour’s walk leads to Marulung on the east bank of the Dudh Khosi. Overnight in Marulung.
Trek: 8-9 hrs
Food: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accomodation: Lodge

Day 16

3440 mt

Marulung – Thame (3 750m/12 300ft) – Namche Bazaar (3 440 m/11 290ft)

Below Marulung the ancient trail crosses to the west of the Bhote Kosi and on to Taranga (3 700m). It then crosses the Langmuche Khola: which drains the Dig Tsho that caused devastating floods along the Bhote Koshi when it burst its banks in 1985. Trek to Thame for lunch: a sprawling village with magnificent views. Its hill Gompa is 350 years old and houses impressive images of Chenresig, Guru Rinpoche and Buddha Sakyamuni. The trail then continues its descent to the hamlet of Samdo before dropping steeply to Thamo; and the Khari nunnery. Beyond is a hydroelectric scheme that supplies power to the upper Khumbu region. Continue to Namche Bazaar for the night.
Trek: 8-9 hrs
Food: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accomodation: Lodge

Day 17

2800 mt

Namche Bazaar – Lukla (2 800m/9 190ft)

From Namche, the long final trail descends to more comfortable altitudes, passing through the friendly farming villages of Jorsale (exit point from the National Park), Monjo and Phakding: then cross the suspension bridge at Thado Kosi before rising to Ghat, Cheplung and the final haul to Lukla: where your porters will take their leave. Overnight in Lukla.
Trek: 8-9 hrs
Food: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accomodation: Lodge

Day 18

1300 mt

Lukla – Kathmandu (1 300m/4 260ft)

After an early breakfast, take the return flight to Kathmandu. Transfer to your hotel. Rest of day free. Overnight in hotel
Transfer: 35 min flight
Food: breakfast, lunch, farewell dinner
Accomodation: Hotel

Day 19

1300 mt

Final departure

Transfer to Tribhuvan International Airport for your flight to your onward destination. NB: Cloud and turbulent weather along the mountain ranges is common and may lead to internal mountain flight delays or cancelation
Transfer: car
Food: breakfast

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