Three Peaks Climbing - 30 days

Please pass on the details of your arrival so that we can arrange airport pick-up for you. Once you arrive at the Tribhuvan International Airport, you can complete the immigration process and head toward the airport terminal. One of Third Rock Adventures' guides will be waiting outside holding a placard with our agency's logo or your name printed on it.

After greeting and welcoming you he will drop you at your hotel and help you check-in. You can take a rest and catch up on some much-needed sleep. No activity has been planned for today.

Overnight in Kathmandu.

Today you will make all the necessary preparations for your much anticipated climbing adventure. There will be a trip briefing at our office or your hotel. If you are with a group you will meet your fellow climbers at the briefing. You will also get introduced to your climbing guide who will discuss the route you will take. He will also brief you about any issues you should pay heed to while climbing.

There will be a final gear and equipment check after the briefing. There are many mountaineering gear and equipment rental stores in Kathmandu if you plan to use hired gear and equipment. But it's best to use your own, as the ones available at rental outlets may not be of good quality. You will be climbing three peaks above 6000 meters and having good quality gear and equipment to scale the mountains will make a world of difference.

Overnight in Kathmandu.

You wake up early in the morning and head to the domestic airport. You board the tiny plane and fly towards flight. It's a beautiful flight filled with grand views of the Himalayan Range. The airport at Lukla lies on a plateau close to the mountains. The landing at the narrow runway built above a rocky cliff is heart stopping.

After landing at the airport, you will meet the rest of the local crew (porters, assistant guides). You begin your trek and follow your guide out of the busy town of Lukla. It is a busy trail filled with mule packs transferring goods, locals, and foreign trekkers. The walk through the scenic Dudh Koshi Valley is refreshing. A lot of ascents and descents later you arrive at a metal suspension bridge built over the Dudh Koshi or Milky River. After crossing it you arrive at the picturesque village of Phakding. You spend your first night in the mountain at a local teahouse in Phakding.

Overnight in Phakding.

You leave Phakding and head towards Namche. The scenery is beautiful en route. As you walk through lush pine forests, huge mani walls, waterfalls, and Sherpa villages. At the entrance of the Sagarmatha National Park in Monjo, your belongings will be checked (for drones or other illegal items) by armed guards. Later you walk past Jorsale and take the upward trail. You cross high swaying bridges including the highest one in Khumbu, the Hillary Bridge. 

A short walk after crossing the bridge you reach a viewpoint from where you can feast your eyes on the first view of Mount Everest from the trail. Soon you reach the settlement of Namche, which is carved on the side of a mountain. Climb up the stone staircase that leads up to the center of the settlement. Head to a local teahouse and rest your weary legs.

Overnight in Namche.

Allow your body to adapt itself to the thin air by staying an extra day in Namche. Namche, surrounded by the snowy spires of Thamserku, Kantega, Kusum Kanguru, and Kongde Ri is a favorite acclimatization spot for trekkers and mountaineers. The town which is also the capital of the Sherpas is the economic center of the Khumbu Region.

You can explore the town or hike to Hotel Everest View via Shyangboche to savor panoramic views of Ama Dablam, Mount Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse, and other giants. You can also trek to the villages of Khumjung and Kunde where Sir Edmund Hillary established the first school and health center. At the Khumjung Gompa, you can have a look at the scalp of a 'Yeti', the abominable snowman by paying a fee.

Overnight in Namche.

Leave Namche behind and head towards Tengboche. The trail levels out after a gentle ascent out of the settlement. This is one of the most beautiful sections of the EBC trail and you can enjoy close-up views of Ama Dablam, and Thamserku, while Mount Everest, Lhotse, and Nuptse rear up in the distance. 

At Sansa there's a fork on the trail - the upper trail leads to the Gokyo Valley while the lower go to EBC. You head downwards and continue your descent to Phunki Tenga.  Cross the Dudh Koshi river and take the steep trail to Tengboche. The climb is exhausting but you soon reach the settlement where the huge Tengboche Monastery dominates the skyline.

You follow your guide and make your way to a local teahouse where you will stay overnight. After a brief rest, you can visit the monastery. The lamas at the monastery allow tourists to attend the evening or late afternoon prayer meeting which is held in a large hall decorated with murals and Buddhist thankas(scroll paintings).

Overnight in Tengboche.

After breakfast take some time out to enjoy the mountain views. Later you can take the downward trail out of Tengboche and walk through a dense forest.

The forest between Tengboche and Debuche is home to some of Khumbu's endangered wildlife. You can spy herds of Himalayan Tahr, Musk deer, or the colorful Himalayan Monal. Cross a bridge over the thundering Imja River and climb to the village of Pangboche. Ama Dablam, which towers close to the village looks alluring. Carry on your hike through a wide valley. You reach Dingboche after a gentle ascent.

Overnight in Dingboche.

You spend your second acclimatization day at Dingboche. Like other trekkers you take a short ascent to the Nagarjun Hill which stands above Dingboche. Rising to a height of 5083 meters, Nagarjun Hill offers glorious views of Makalu, Kantega, Ama Dablam, Taboche, Lhotse, etc. The route is non-technical and you can easily walk up the hill. Complete your hike in the first half of the day as fog tends to roll in as the day progresses.

Overnight in Dingboche

The mountains appear closer as you trek to Lobuche. It's a long and tiring ascent filled with inspiring views of Taboche, Ama Dablam, Pokalde, Kongmatse, and Nuptse. En route, you cross the village of Tughla and the Tughla Pass decorated with memorials of mountaineers who lost their lives on Mount Everest. Some of the famous names you will find etched on the stone chortens are those of Rob Hall and Scott Fischer, whose tragic ordeal on the mountain has been dramatized in the movie Everest.

After descending from the pass you walk across the Khumbu glacier and reach Lobuche. There are only a few teahouses in Lobuche. You head to a teahouse and spend the rest of the day inside the warm and cozy communal or living room.

Overnight in Lobuche.

After an early breakfast we take the trail to Gorak Shep. Tread past a rocky and flat ground. This part of the trail remains quite busy with a constant flow of trekkers, yak and mule packs, and the occasional Sherpa horse rider trotting astride a horse.

It takes only two or three hours to reach Gorak Shep but the gain in elevation makes the hike difficult. An ascent up a steep incline on the side of the Khumbu Glacier brings you to Gorak Shep. You walk to a teahouse, keep your bags, have your lunch, and continue your hike to Everest Base Camp.

The walk to Everest Base Camp and back takes roughly 3 or 4 hours. You hike up and down a rocky terrain covered with loose pebbles. You need to be extra careful and watch where you step as the tiny loose rocks don't offer a firm hold.

The last section of the hike is filled with breathtaking views of the Khumbu Glacier, frozen lakes, and of course the towering fang like summits. A huge boulder covered with prayer flags, popularly known as the trekkers EBC is the last point of your hike. Further away you can see the Khumbu Icefall and the actual camps of the Everest expedition groups. After taking pictures you hike back to Gorak Shep.

Overnight in Gorak Shep.

Wake up early before dawn and hike to Kala Patthar, the most popular viewpoint in the Everest region. Savor the views of the snow-clad mountains glistening in the early morning sun. From here you can enjoy close-up views of Mount Everest, Pumori, Lhotse, Nuptse, Changtse, and Ama Dablam.

After taking pictures head down to the teahouse, have your breakfast, and retrace your steps towards Lobuche. 

Overnight in Lobuche.

A scramble up a rocky cliff brings you to the Lobuche East High Camp. Our sherpas will hold a training session near the camp. Ropes will be fixed on the cliffside and you will get the opportunity to practice your abseiling and jumaring skills before your big climb. The Sherpas will share valuable tips on the use of harnesses, anchors, knots, ascenders, and jumars. They will teach you how to climb on ice, rock, and snow using crampons. They will also demonstrate what to do in case you suffer a fall or a slip on the mountain.

Camping at High Camp.

Wake up at 1 AM and prepare for the summit push. Use a headlight and start climbing the mountain. You follow your guide through a steep rocky area. As we hit the glacier and the snow up high, we will use fixed ropes at steep inclines to move forward. You traverse through the glacier using the rope and make your way to the top. It usually takes around 4 to 5 hours, after leaving the High Camp, to reach the summit. The fewer breaks you take en route the sooner you reach the top. From the summit of Lobuche East, you can enjoy impressive views of Mount Everest, Ama Dablam, Pumori, Makalu, Nuptse, Cho Oyu, and the whole valley.

After spending some time at the top, savoring your moment of triumph, and taking pictures, you start your descent. You rappel down using Figure 8 or ATC and work your way down to the anchor stations that were put up on the way to the summit. You navigate your way slowly out of the glacier and the rocky area and reach the Lobuche High Camp. Have a warm drink and refreshment and rest for some time before heading down to Lobuche.

Celebrate your first ascent of the three peaks with your teammates before turning in for the night.

Overnight in Lobuche.

An extra day set aside for unexpected delays due to bad weather or any unforeseen emergency. 

You make your way toward Chukkung by walking past the settlement of Dingboche via the Thughla Pass. After a brief rest at Dingboche, you continue hiking toward Chukkung. It's a gradual uphill trek on scree and rock fields. The frozen summit of Lhotse Shar rises close to the trail.

The village of Chukkung lies surrounded by the icy peaks of Ama Dablam, Island Peak, Lhotse, Taboche, Nuptse, etc. Once you enter the village, make your way to a teahouse and take a much-needed rest.

Overnight in Chukkung.

Start your trek early and leave Chukkung taking the southward trail. The trail goes up and zigzags past the Lhotse and Imja Glaciers. You walk up to a wide valley and reach the Island Peak Base Camp. After arriving at the base camp, you can rest for a while and later participate in pre-climb training.

Camping at Island Peak Base Camp.

By 1 AM you should be ready to start your climb. A rocky path takes you up to High Camp. You continue your ascent and soon reach Crampon Point. You will need to wear your crampons from this point onward as you will have to traverse through some icy sections. At 5700 meters the group will be secured by a 'man-rope'. Walk on a rocky ridge and arrive at the base of the Imja glacier. Follow a gradual incline of about forty five degrees. You can see the summits of Barun Tse, Makalu, and Ama Dablam glistening in the early morning as you near the summit. Lhotse towers above hiding Mount Everest from our view.

There will be some crevasses en route which you will cross using steel ladders. The last portion of the climb is the toughest as you will have to climb a vertical wall to reach the summit. After climbing the wall you walk past the ridge to the summit of Island Peak.

Spend some time enjoying the view before descending to Base Camp.

Camping at Base Camp.

An extra day set aside in case of any delay during the summit push.

From the Island Peak Base Camp, you make your way to Chukkung. After reaching the village you head towards the Amphu Labsta North Base Camp in the Upper Honku Valley. You cross the Imja Tsho Lake beside the Imja Glacier before arriveingat the stunning Amphu Labtsa North Base Camp. The camp lies near the Amphu Labsta Glacier. The Sherpas set up camp and prepare dinner while you soak in the incredible views.

Camping at Amphu Labsta North Base Camp.

The crossing of the Amphu Labtsa Pass is more technical and difficult than climbing Mera Peak. You make your way past the Ampha Labsta Glacier and ascend a path field with ice seracs. You use fixed ropes to climb up to the top of the narrow ridge. Once at the top you use a figure 8 to abseil down the vertical cliff. Technical climbing skills are a must to make it through this formidable pass.

After reaching the bottom of the pass, head to the Amphu Labsta South Base Camp and camp for the night.

Camping at Amphu Labtsa South Base Camp.

You are now in the remote Upper Honku Valley. Very few trekkers visit this isolated corner of Khumbu making it a secluded paradise. The raw beauty of the frozen lakes, icy glaciers, and snow-covered mountains is breathtaking.

Leaving Amphu Labtsa you make your way to Seto Pokhari, a sacred mountain lake. Also known as Paanch Pokhari, the lake is the source of the Barun River. Surrounded by the Malalu Himal and other mountains, you set up camp at a picturesque location.

Camping at Seto Pokhari.

You leave your charming campsite and head towards Kongma Dingma. Cross yak pastures and seasonal camps of yak herders to arrive at the campsite at Kongma Dingma.

Overnight in Kongma Dingma.

From Kongma Dingma you make an ascent to the Mera High Camp. You cross the rocky Mera La from where you can enjoy clear views of all three summits of Mera Peak – Mera North, Mera South, and Mera Central. Walk through the Mera Glacier and take a gentle incline till you reach Mera High Camp. Retire early as you start your summit push before daybreak tomorrow.

Camping at Mera High Camp.

By 2 AM you should be all set to conquer Mera Peak. Have your tea and a light breakfast and kick start your ascent. You will be secured by a 'man-rope' as you make your ascent up the mountain.  Though Mera Peak is the highest of the 3 peaks, it is the least technical. There's a steep section on the last section of the summit where you may have to use a jumar and fixed rope to climb to the dome-shaped summit.

From the top, you can savor outstanding views of Mount Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, Cho Oyu, and Kanchenjunga – five of the tallest mountains in the world. Enjoy the grand views and celebrate with the team. This is the last of the 3 peaks and you have conquered them all. After taking pictures head down to Khare.

Overnight in Khare.

A buffer day that can come in handy in case you need to extend your summit push due to bad weather.

From Khare, it's a pleasant hike to Kothe via Thaknak. The mountains look over the trail like giant sentinels. You walk past boulder-strewn meadows and glacial streams. It's a beautiful trail and you enjoy your hike soaking in the pretty views. You soon reach Kothe located in the western part of the Hinku Valley. The tiny settlement is surrounded by a lush forest filled with rhododendron, pine, and cypress trees.

Overnight in Kothe.

After spending a restful day and night at Kothe it's time to bid this beautiful settlement goodbye. You head up through a moss-covered forest and take the trail down to the Hinku River. Cross the river and follow a steep trail. Hiking up you reach the village of Thaktok.  

Continue climbing past a beautiful rhododendron forest. If you plan your trip during spring, the trail will be filled with white, pink, and red blooms of rhododendron. It's a tough climb to the settlement of Thuli Kharka, your overnight stop. After reaching the settlement you head to a teahouse and rest by the warm wood stove.

Overnight in Thuli Kharka.

You follow the trail out of Thuli Kharka to the Zatrwa La Pass. It’s a steep and rocky ascent to the pass where prayer flags are strung. A little way down is a small hut which sell tea and refreshments to trekkers. You continue making our way down and soon head out of the Makalu Barun National Park. Before reaching Lukla you will walk through the beautiful sub-alpine meadows and yak herders camps that has now been converted to teahouses by enterprising locals.  You hike down rocky paths, moss covered trees and some deep river canyons. 

Once you arrive in Lukla you head to a lodge where you can enjoy a hot shower and a sumptuous meal. In the evening you can celebrate the completion of your adventure with the local guides and porters. They have been instrumental in helping you achieve your goal. You can show your appreciation and gratitude by tipping them generously. Bid them goodbye before retiring for the night.

Overnight in Lukla.

It's time to leave the mountains and head to Kathmandu. Enjoy the thrilling take off from the airport's narrow airstrip and soak in the views of the Khumbu mountains for one last time.

After reaching Kathmandu you will be driven to your hotel. Check in and relax. Later you can shop for souvenirs or you can head to a spa and get a relaxing massage.

Overnight in Kathmandu.

One of Third Rock Adventures’ guides will drop you at the international airport three hours before your scheduled departure.

Before leaving for the airport bid goodbye to Kathmandu and the people you have befriended during your trip to Nepal. This had been one hell of an adventure and we are sure you would like to be back for more. Please do get in touch with us for more thrilling ascents in the Nepal Himalaya.