Everest Two High Passes Trek - 20 days

Namaste and Tashi Delek! Third Rock Adventures welcomes you to Nepal, the country of mountain adventures. After you arrive at the Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, you will be met by our guide who will be waiting for you at the airport's terminal. He will drive you to your hotel and help you check-in. Later you can freshen up and take a rest.

Late afternoon or evening you will meet your guide who will brief you about your upcoming adventure. You can go through the gear and equipment list and rent or buy any item that's not with you. There are plenty of rental shops in Thamel from where you can rent gear and equipment. Have an early night as we will be leaving early tomorrow.

Overnight in Kathmandu.

After an early breakfast, you head towards the airport. Here you should note that during peak tourist season only the first flight is allowed to take off from the domestic airport in Kathmandu. Due to the congestion at the airport, the later flights (to and from Lukla) are rerouted to Manthali Airport, which is located about 132 km from Kathmandu. It takes around four hours' drive from the capital to reach Manthali Airport.

If your trip is planned during the off-season you can fly directly from Kathmandu.

The flight to Lukla is spectacular and you are offered aerial views of the Himalayan range from aboard. Once your plane lands at the narrow airstrip of the Tenzing Hillary Airport, you get down and meet the rest of the crew. The porters will carry your heavy luggage while you will have with you a small daypack.

Begin your trek and head out of Lukla. Following your guide, you descend a flight of steps and walk through the picturesque Dudh Koshi River Valley. Breathe in the fresh air and enjoy the verdant landscape. Crossing a suspension bridge over the Dudh Koshi River you arrive at Phakding, the first overnight stop of your trekking adventure.

Overnight in Phakding.

After breakfast, you continue your hike to Namche Bazaar. It's a beautiful walk filled with inspiring views of the snow-draped Khumbu mountains, waterfalls, and hills swathed with pine trees. You get a glimpse of Thamserku, rising in the distance. There are steep ascents and descents with crossings of gorges via the long suspension bridges.

You walk by traditional Sherpa villages with stone fences protecting potato and barley fields. Buddhist shrines, prayer wheels, chortens, mani walls, and prayer flags dot the trail sendging positive energy and good vibes.

Before reaching Namche you cross the highest suspension bridge in Khumbu Region, the Hillary Bridge. After crossing the bridge you reach a viewpoint from where you get the first view of Mount Everest. Walk on further and climb a series of steps to reach Namche Bazaar, the capital of the Sherpas. The settlement of Namche is situated on the side of the mountain overlooking the Kantega, Kusum Kanguru, Kongde, Thamserku, and Khumbila peaks.

It is a lively town with shops, cafes, restaurants, bakeries, massage parlors, and lodges lining the main street. There is also a bank and an ATM booth. On reaching Namche you head to the lodge where rooms have been booked for you. Rest your sore legs and relax in the communal area.

Overnight in Namche.

You spend your first acclimatization day in Namche. You can hike to the Himalayan viewpoint at Hotel Everest View which sits right above Namche or explore the neighboring villages of Khumjung and Kunde. 

To reach Hotel Everest View you walk to the edge of Namche and climb a winding stone staircase that brings you to the top of a hill. You will find a museum here and the statue of the first Everest summiteer Tenzing Norgay. Walking through a grassy meadow you reach Shyangboche which has an abandoned airfield. Hike further on a gentle incline and you will reach the hotel. From the deck of the hotel, you get breathtaking views of Mount Everest, Ama Dablam, Thamserku, Lhotse, Nuptse, Kantega, Kusum Kanguru, Kongde, etc.

After soaking in the views hike down to Namche or take a detour to the Sherpa villages of Khumjung and Kunde, where the first school and first hospital were established by Sir Edmund Hillary's Himalayan Trust in the early sixties.

Overnight in Namche.

After getting properly acclimatized you leave Namche and head towards Dole. Today the route diverts from the popular Everest Base Camp trail and heads toward Gokyo Valley.

 After leaving the settlement ascend a steep incline. Walk on level ground after the ascent. The views open up and you can see Ama Dablam rearing close to the trail. This is one of the most beautiful and photographed sections of the Everest trail. After walking for a while you reach Sanasa where the route diverts. The trail on the right goes down and leads to EBC while the other trail goes up towards the Gokyo Valley.

You head left and continue walking on a steep path. The trail hugs the side of a rocky hill. Below the Dudh Koshi River flows through a deep gorge. Though tiring it's a beautiful walk past waterfalls and rhododendron and fir forest. After you walk past the forest you reach Dole, a beautiful Sherpa settlement with neat tin-roofed stone cottages.

Overnight in Dole.

You leave Dole and hike up around three hundred meters up a hill. After the uphill portion, you walk on a path contoured on the side of the hill. From here you follow a relatively flat trail till Machhermo. En route, you cross the settlement of Luza. There are small streams and grassy pastures with horses and yaks grazing, and the horizon is filled with snow-covered mountains rising high up towards the sky. From the trail, you get a good view of Cho Oyu the world's sixth-highest mountain.

The settlement of Machhermo lies in a deep valley flanked by hills on either side. Once you reach the village you make your way to a teahouse and rest your aching legs.

Overnight in Machhermo

Leaving Machhermo you take the trail to Gokyo. The route follows a steep trail. After crossing the steep sections you walk on a flat and even trail. Stop briefly at Pengka for rest and refreshments. After Pengka you walk on level trail for some time.  There are stone steps carved on the side of a rocky cliff. You ascend these and arrive at a wide valley. Far in the distance, you can view the brown summit of Gokyo Ri and Cho Oyu towering above it. Soon you come across the first of the Gokyo Lakes. Walking on the flat valley you cross two more lakes before arriving at Gokyo, one of the most beautiful places in Nepal Himalaya, or as some people would like to believe, the whole world. 

Located on the banks of Gokyo Tsho or Dudh Pokhari, Gokyo village only has a few lodges that cater to trekkers walking on the Gokyo trail.

Overnight in Gokyo.

You start your hike pretty early in the morning as you have a long distance to cover. Since it's going to be a long day you will carry with you packed lunch, water, and some snacks to munch on the way. This stretch of Khumbu is uninhabited and there are no teahouses. Few choose to explore this area.

Leaving Gokyo you follow the sign indicating the way to the 4th and 5th Gokyo Lakes. The trail goes past an area covered with stones. After about thirty or forty minutes you arrive at Fourth Lake. The trail lies above the lake. You can enjoy the view from above or head down to the shore of the lake for a better view.

Continue on the dirt path on the side of the Ngozumpa Glacier. Once you reach the fifth lake you get a very good view of Mount Everest's summit. Cho Oyu and Lhotse rise majestically. After reaching the Fifth Lake you can retrace your steps back to Gokyo or hike further to the Sixth Lake. It's a long and tough hike recommended for only seasoned trekkers. The trek to the sixth lake takes you to the base camp of Cho Oyu, close to the Nepal-Tibet border.

Overnight in Gokyo.

Wake up before sunrise and head out wearing headlamps to find your way in the dark. You make your way toward the base of Gokyo Ri which lies close to the village. Gokyo Ri is one of the few viewpoints in Nepal from where you can enjoy close-up views of four (Cho Oyu, Makalu, Mount Everest, and Lhotse) of the fourteen highest peaks in the world.

It's a steep ascent to the top. Scramble up carefully on the stony path making sure not to slip. It is a tiring ascent and by the time you reach the top, you will be out of breath.

But the hard climb is well worth the effort as you view the sunrise lighting up the whole Gokyo Valley. You can see the lakes shimmering below and the white and grey summits of Mount Everest, Cho Oyu, Makalu, Lhotse, and other giants glimmering in the golden sunrise.  The wide expanse of Ngozumpa glacier looks astounding. After enjoying the views you head down and walk to your lodge and spend the rest of the day chilling by the lake.

Overnight in Gokyo.

Your hike to Thagnak involves crossing the longest glacier in the Himalayas, the Ngozumpa Glacier. After a hearty breakfast, leave Gokyo and climb up the lateral moraine of the glacier. Walk across and take the well-marked trail on the other side. With no vegetation, the trail is covered in stone, sand, and grit. There will be patches of snow and ice in some sections.

There's not much of an elevation gain today, which means you can walk comfortably. It's a gentle up and down hike. After crossing a small stream you reach Thagnag.

Overnight in Thagnag.

From Thagnak you take a rocky ascent to the foot of the Cho La Pass. It's a tiring ascent on a boulder-filled trail. There are rocks and more rocks. It's a steep climb to the top of the pass. Cables have been fixed on the side of the mountain to help trekkers hike up to the top. There will be ice and snow so you better have your crampons on. It is a steep climb to the top. Once you reach the top of Cho La Pass you can take pictures and enjoy the view. The pass is decorated with prayer flags. You can see the whole Khumbu Valley and the mountains stretching continuously as far as the eyes can see.

On your descent, you cross the Cho La Glacier which is covered with snow and ice. You need to walk with the support of trekking poles (do not forget your crampons or micro spikes!) as the path is slippery and dangerous. After crossing the glacier, it's downhill all the way to Dzongla.

Like other places at this elevation, there are only a few lodges or teahouses in Dzongla. Make way to one where your guide has booked a room or rooms for you.

Congratulations! You have completed your first challenge. Now get ready to cross the second pass.

 Overnight in Dzongla.

Today you make your way to Lobuche. Following a clearly marked trail you walk on the moraine and take a downward trail to Chola Tsho(lake). After your descent, you take the trail to the left that leads towards the Khumbu Valley.

It's an easy walk with plenty of gentle downhills, and uphills. You hike up the Lobuche Kharka where you can find yaks grazing peacefully. Walk through the Khumbu Glacier covered in ice and debris. The views are awesome and you can stop at intervals to take pictures. You finally reach Lobuche and head to a teahouse. Lobuche is not a proper village. It's just a rest stop for trekkers where you will find a couple of teahouses, bakeries, and cafes.  

Overnight in Lobuche.

From Lobuche, you follow the trail snaking past the Khumbu Glacier. The trail is mostly level but the decrease in the level of oxygen makes walking difficult. Breathe slowly and deeply and walk at an even pace. The trail is dusty so keep your nose and mount covered. There are stones and loose scree on the gravel path so watch where you step. The path could be dry but the loose pebbles make the trail slippery.

After reaching Gorak Shep you rest for a while at a teahouse before ascending the brown hill known as Kala Patthar. The Kala Patthar hill rises right behind Gorak Shep. This is the most popular viewpoint in the Khumbu Region as you get close-up views of some of the highest peaks in the world – Mount Everest, Lhotse, Cho Oyu, Makalu, Kanchenjunga, etc. Pumori a 7000-meter peak, can be viewed in its entirety, from the base to the top. As Mount Everest can't be seen from Everest Base Camp, trekkers on the EBC trail flock to Kala Patthar to catch a glimpse of Mount Everest's rocky summit. After spending some time at Kala Patthar, you hike down to Gorak Shep and return to Lobuche.

Overnight in Lobuche.

After an early breakfast, you take the trail to Kongma La, the second and final pass of your trip. You walk along the Khumbu Glacier and cross a couple of lakes. En route, you can enjoy incredible views of Pumori, Taboche, Pokalde, and other peaks.  

There are rocks and boulders everywhere, so you need to be careful. It's a scramble up a steep and rocky path. No technical skills are needed to get to the top. Once you reach the top you can enjoy sweeping views of the Khumbu Glacier and Lobuche.

Makalu, Mount Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse and Cho Oyu rise up in the distance. The frozen summit of Pokalde peak sits right next to Kongma La. After a small celebration head down the pass and continue your hike towards Chukkung. You get grand views of Ama Dablam and the glacial lakes as you head down. Follow an up-and-down trail and finally enter Chukkung.

Overnight in Chukkung.

Leaving Chukkung you walk through rock and scree fields. There are huge boulders and the dwarf shrubs and grasses are the only vegetation in the barren landscape. You can enjoy beautiful views of Island Peak, Ama Dablam, and Taboche from the trail. The trail is mostly flat till you descend a hill and reach Dingboche.

From Dingboche, you follow an up and down path and walk through the villages of Pangboche, Orso, Somare, and Phunki Tenga. You leave behind the barren landscape and enter the lush and green forests of Debuche and Tengboche, where you can spy herds of Himalayan Musk deer and Himalayan Tahr. An exhausting ascent up a steep hill finally brings you to the village of Tengboche. You follow your guide to a teahouse and take a much deserved rest.

The majestic Tengboche Monastery dominates the landscape. This sacred gompa is the largest and the most important Buddhist monastery in Khumbu. 'Mani Rimdu' an important Buddhist festival is celebrated by the Sherpas at this monastery. 

You can visit the monastery if it's open. The monks allow visitors to attend the prayer service which is held in a large prayer hall decorated with Buddhist murals and frescoes.

Overnight in Tengboche.

Wake up early to catch the sunrise over the snow-covered Ama Dablam peak. After breakfast, you start your trek. Head down the Imja River and later make a steep ascent. The trail follows an up and down route with a few flat sections.

Make your way down through Namche and reach Monjo via Jorsale. Monjo is a peaceful village surrounded by lush green trees. Many trekkers bypass this village opting to stay at Phakding or Namche.  You will be staying at a lodge run by a local family.

Overnight in Monjo.

Leaving the green and lush settlement of Monjo you make your way toward Lukla. It's your final walk in the Khumbu and you can soak in the splendid views for one last time. En route, you exit the Sagarmatha National Park’s gate. Ascending up a flight of stone steps you reach the busy town of Lukla. 

Making your way through a narrow street where people and mule packs jostle for space, you reach the lodge where you will stay overnight. In the evening you can celebrate the successful completion of your trip with your guides and porters. They have helped you achieve your goal and supported you in your difficult journey across the mountain passes. You can show your appreciation by tipping them generously for their hard work.

Overnight in Lukla.

Today you bid goodbye to the local crew and leave for Kathmandu. You board a flight from the Tenzing Hillary Airport and fly to the capital city. Enjoy aerial views of the mountains and valleys for one last time during your flight. On reaching Kathmandu you head to your hotel and spend the rest of the day at leisure.

Overnight in Kathmandu.

You can spend this day as you wish. You can chill out at your hotel or book a guided sightseeing tour. Kathmandu has seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites which are worth a visit. If you have already visited these monuments, you can explore the bazaar area and shop for souvenirs. Tea, organic honey, thanka painting, Dhaka (traditionally woven textile) shawls, decorative khukuri, Mithila art pieces, etc are some of the items you can take home with you.

Overnight in Kathmandu.

You bid goodbye to people you have met and befriended during your trip and head home. Our guide will drop you at the international airport at least three hours before your scheduled departure. If you have plans of holidaying in Nepal in the future, please do let us know. We will be more than happy to help you organize yet another memorable adventure in the Himalayas.