Everest Base Camp & Three Passes Trek
Overview
This 20 day adventure to Everest Base Camp via the Three Passes is a fantastic option for those with a bit more time or wanting to challenge themselves to take the long route to Everest Base Camp!
The three high passes of Cho La, Renjo La and Kongma La will give even seasoned trekkers a tough time. Only Renjo La at 5,360m sits below the altitude of Base Camp (5,364m) so you’re going to be spending significantly more time at altitude than on the more well-trodden trail to EBC. Think alpine starts, steep ascents, tricky trails back down and some sensational views along the way.
Whether you’re new to the Himalaya or an old hand, we can’t recommend this trip highly enough. Teahouse hospitality, Sherpa towns & villages, dal bhat power (24 hour) and the chance to enjoy some of the best views of Everest we’ve ever seen from the top of passes away from the crowds. And if you’ve got an extra day or two, why not check out our Island Peak and Three Passes adventure?
What's Included?
- Airport Transfers & Local Transport
- Expert Local Guides & Porters
- 3 Nights in a Hotel in Kathmandu
- 16 Nights in Local Teahouses
- 1 Night Camping at Island Peak Base Camp
- Return Flights from Kathmandu to Lukla
- 19 Breakfasts, 16 Lunches & 16 Dinners
- Park Fees & Permits
- Sherpa Cooking Class & Massage in Namche
- International Flights
- Travel Insurance
- Soft Drinks, Alcohol or Drinking Water
- Tips for Guides & Porters
- Personal Equipment & Clothing
- Souvenirs
Trip Highlights
- View from Renjo La: The views from all three of the high passes are sensational but this will be the last of the three passes you’ll complete and your last time with panoramic views of the monster peaks dominating the skyline before heading back down to Namche.
- Everest Base Camp: The hike in to EBC will feel like a gentle stroll after having been up to the Kongma La Pass a couple of days before. If you’re there early in the season, you might have EBC all to yourself. Being there for when the climbers are preparing for their ascent is another experience altogether.
- Summit Kala Patthar: You might not have realised but you’ll get the chance to summit a mountain that stands tall at 5,644m. Admittedly you’ll be surrounded by 8,000m peaks but it’s a great trek up with some sensational views.




Daily Itinerary
Welcome to Nepal! Our team will be ready to greet you as soon as you step off the plane. We’ll take you straight to your hotel in Thamel, a lively area of Kathmandu known for its bustling streets and rich culture. After some time to relax, we’ll gather for a welcome dinner where you can meet your guide. It’s the perfect way to start your adventure and get excited about the journey ahead. Meals Included: None
Today we’ll immerse ourselves in the rich culture of Kathmandu with a guided tour of its most iconic sites. You’ll visit the sacred Pashupatinath Temple, the grand Boudhanath Stupa, and the historic Kathmandu Durbar Square. In the afternoon, we’ll regroup at the hotel for a pre-trek briefing, making sure you’re fully prepared for the adventure ahead. Spend the evening soaking in the atmosphere of Kathmandu or resting up for the journey to come. Meals Included: Breakfast
We’ll be up early today to catch our flight to Lukla, the gateway to the Everest region. The flight offers breathtaking views of the mountains as we soar over the Himalayas. After landing, we’ll start our trek with a gentle descent to Phakding. The trail is peaceful, following the Dudh Koshi River and passing through charming villages and lush forests. It’s a perfect introduction to the trek. Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Today’s trek is a challenging one, but it’s filled with rewarding moments. We’ll cross the Dudh Koshi River several times via suspension bridges draped with prayer flags, adding to the spiritual ambiance of the trek. After lunch in Jorsalle, we’ll tackle the steep climb to Namche Bazaar. As we ascend, you’ll catch your first glimpse of Everest and the surrounding peaks. Namche Bazaar is a vibrant town, and we’ll spend the night here acclimatizing and soaking in the local culture. Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Acclimatisation is key to a successful trek, so today we’ll take it easy with a hike to the Everest View Hotel, where you’ll enjoy panoramic views of Everest, Lhotse, and Ama Dablam. We’ll also explore the nearby villages of Khunde and Khumjung, offering a glimpse into the daily lives of the Sherpa people. In Khumjung, you’ll visit the Hillary School, established by Sir Edmund Hillary, and a local gompa (Buddhist monastery). The day is as much about cultural immersion as it is about acclimatisation. Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
We’ve added an extra acclimatisation day in Namche Bazaar to give your body time to adjust to the altitude. This morning, you’ll get hands-on with a Sherpa cooking class, learning to prepare traditional dishes and understanding the cultural significance of the food. In the afternoon, unwind with a massage that not only eases muscle tension but also supports sustainable tourism by providing employment to local therapists. It’s a day dedicated to relaxation, cultural immersion, and acclimatisation. Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Today’s trek takes us from Namche to Tengboche, with the trail offering superb views of Everest and Ama Dablam. As we descend to the Dudh Koshi River and climb back up through rhododendron forests, the landscape is nothing short of breathtaking. We’ll arrive in Tengboche by afternoon, where you’ll have the chance to visit the famous Tengboche Monastery, the largest in the Khumbu region. We’ll also attend the evening prayer ceremony, a peaceful and spiritual experience in this serene setting. Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
We continue our journey today with a trek to Dingboche, also known as the "summer valley." The trail leads us downhill through a forested area to the small Deboche nunnery before crossing the Imja Khola. We’ll pass through the village of Pangboche, offering close-up views of Ama Dablam, before making our way to Dingboche. The village is surrounded by stone walls that protect crops from the cold winds, and you’ll have the rest of the day to explore or simply relax. Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Today is another important acclimatisation day as we hike to Nakarshang peak or Chukkung Ri, both offering incredible views of the surrounding peaks, including Makalu and Lhotse. The hike helps your body adjust to the altitude, preparing you for the challenging days ahead. After the hike, we’ll descend to Chhukung, a small settlement at the base of Island Peak, where we’ll spend the night. Rest up, as tomorrow’s trek will take us over the first of the three high passes. Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Today’s trek is one of the most challenging but also one of the most rewarding. We’ll cross Kongma La Pass, the first of the three high passes on this trek. The steep climb is tough, but the views from the top are worth every step. You’ll see Nuptse, Lhotse, Makalu, and the vast Khumbu Glacier below. After crossing the pass, we’ll descend to Lobuche, a small settlement where we’ll rest after a demanding day. Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Today is the day you’ve been waiting for—the trek to Everest Base Camp. We’ll start early, making our way from Lobuche to Gorak Shep, the last settlement before Base Camp. After a brief rest, we’ll continue to Everest Base Camp, situated on the Khumbu Glacier. The trail is rugged and challenging, but reaching Base Camp is a momentous achievement. We’ll spend some time taking in the atmosphere, snapping photos, and savoring the experience before heading back to Gorak Shep for the night. Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
We’ll start the day with an early morning hike to Kala Patthar, a renowned viewpoint offering some of the best sunrise views over Everest, Lhotse, and Nuptse. The climb is steep, but the golden light hitting the peaks is a sight you’ll never forget. After descending back to Gorak Shep for breakfast, we’ll continue our trek to Dzongla, passing through glacial landscapes and rugged terrain. It’s another challenging day, but the views and sense of accomplishment make it all worth it. Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Today we’ll cross Cho La Pass, the second of the three high passes. The trail begins relatively flat but soon becomes steep as we approach the pass. We’ll traverse a glacier, making this day both challenging and exhilarating. The descent to Thangnak is steep and requires careful footing, but the views of the surrounding peaks are stunning. Thangnak is a small settlement where we’ll rest after a tough but rewarding day on the trail. Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Today’s trek leads us across the expansive Ngozumpa Glacier, the largest glacier in the Himalayas, on our way to the breathtaking Gokyo Valley. The trail is challenging but offers unparalleled views of the surrounding landscape. Upon reaching Gokyo, you’ll be greeted by stunning turquoise lakes, each one more beautiful than the last. The serene waters reflect the towering peaks, creating a picturesque scene that’s truly unforgettable. Gokyo is a place of serene and awe-inspiring wonder. Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
We’ll spend a rest day in Gokyo, giving you the chance to explore the area and acclimatise. A morning hike up to Gokyo Ri offers incredible panoramic views of Everest, Cho Oyu, and the Ngozumpa Glacier. The climb is steep, but the views from the top are worth every step. The rest of the day is free to relax and enjoy the serene surroundings, or you can opt for an additional hike to the 4th and 5th Gokyo Lakes. Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Today we’ll cross the final high pass, Renjo La Pass. The steep climb is rewarded with breathtaking vistas from the top, including views of Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, and the turquoise lakes of Gokyo. The descent to Lungden is gradual, and you’ll pass through traditional Sherpa villages along the way. This day is the highlight of the entire trek, offering some of the most stunning views and a great sense of achievement. Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Today’s trek takes us from Lungden back to Namche Bazaar, passing through traditional Sherpa villages and lush landscapes. We’ll walk through the picturesque village of Thame before rejoining the main trail to Namche. The descent is easier on the legs, and you’ll have plenty of time to enjoy the beautiful scenery. Once back in Namche, you can enjoy the amenities of the town and celebrate the successful completion of the three passes. Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
The final day of trekking takes us back to Lukla. The trail descends steeply at first, then follows the Dudh Koshi River, passing through forests and small villages. It’s a chance to reflect on the incredible journey you’ve just completed. Once we reach Lukla, you can relax and celebrate with your trekking team, knowing you’ve accomplished something truly extraordinary. Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
After an early morning flight back to Kathmandu, you’ll have the rest of the day to relax or explore the city. It’s a great time to visit some of the places you may have missed earlier or do some last-minute shopping. In the evening, we’ll gather for a farewell dinner to celebrate the successful completion of your trek and reflect on the incredible experiences we’ve shared. Meals Included: Breakfast
And so, our adventure comes to an end. After breakfast, we’ll arrange your transfer to the airport for your onward flight. If you have extra time, feel free to do some last-minute shopping or sightseeing before your flight. We hope you leave with unforgettable memories and a desire to return to this beautiful country. Safe travels! Meals Included: Breakfast
Where We'll Stay
We’ve taken on the tough task of staying at some of the best hotels and guest houses around the world to hand pick those that we think you’ll love. They’ll always be locally-owned where possible. Below are some examples of where you’ll be staying on your trip, although please note, we don’t guarantee which hotels or guesthouses we use. On this trip, most of the time we’ll be staying in teahouses. These are often basic with twin rooms, shared facilities and communal dining. They’ll always be clean, provide great hospitality, have breathtaking views and be a welcome place to get some rest after long days on the trail! Where the trail diverges from the EBC trail, accommodation does become slightly more basic still but still with the same hospitality you’d expect from the region.







Like the sound of this trip, have a question or want to check something before you book? Maybe even have a great idea to customise this itinerary? Get in touch and start your adventure!
Interactive Route Map
Check out the interactive map of this trip below. You can simply zoom in and have a look at the route.
Or, if you’re wanting to get a feel for the route or to dive into the daily details then click on any of the steps and you’ll be redirected to our Polarsteps page.
What is Polarsteps?
We’ve loaded all of our itineraries onto Polarsteps. It’s an app that can help you plan, track and relive your travels. We’ve used it to display our trips in all their glory but anyone can easily create on-the-go mementos of their adventures.
Carbon Emissions
This trip emits approximately 346 kg of carbon per person. This includes emissions from transport, accommodation, food, activities, and the operations behind the scenes to run the trip.
What does this mean?
This is roughly the same as driving a typical petrol car about 1,100 miles.
It’s equivalent to the carbon emissions from heating an average UK home with a gas boiler for about 14 days during winter.
Our Approach
We recognise the significant carbon emissions from international travel, but we believe that the positive impact on the countries and communities we visit outweighs these challenges. We provide this estimate to help you make informed decisions about your carbon footprint and consider any offsets you may wish to support.
More Information
What's the fitness level required for this trip?
We grade all of our trips to try and make it easy to understand the fitness levels required. These are broad guidelines however so you’re welcome to chat to us about any specific concerns you might have.
You’ll find more information about these levels here and you can find the difficulty rating for this specific trip at the top of the page.
What if someone under the minimum age wants to travel?
It might not be an issue. Some destinations such as Rwanda have firm rules in place about how old people should be in order to visit the gorillas. In other destinations it’s more of a guideline.
Please do contact us and we’ll be happy to help.
Can I customise this trip in any way?
- adding in extra days or cutting out a day here or there;
- squeezing in other destinations or removing them;
- starting or finishing the trip in a different place;
- staying in a hotel or guesthouse that we don’t list as an option.
What are your payment terms and is my booking financially protected?
Yes, absolutely. Here’s a link to where you can read more about how we are an ABTOT member and have an ATOL licence and what this means for your financial protection when booking a trip with us.
Deposits vary from destination to destination and from trip to trip. Generally speaking we require a deposit of 25%. This amount may be higher for certain trips where more services that usual need to be booked and paid for in advance (such as gorilla permits in Rwanda). Deposits are non-refundable.
Balance payments are required up to 70 days prior to travel.
If you need to cancel your booking, the following fees will apply based on the time before your scheduled departure:
- Immediate loss of deposit (25% of total cost) upon cancellation.
- 50% of the total cost if cancelled after the balance is paid and up to 45 days before departure.
- 75% of the total cost if cancelled 30 to 45 days before departure.
- 100% of the total cost if cancelled within 30 days of departure.
These fees compensate for expenses and bookings made on your behalf in anticipation of your trip.
Which airport do I need to fly into and out of for my trip to Nepal?
Your trip starts and ends in Kathmandu. You will need to book flights to arrive and depart from Kathmandu Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM). This is around a 20-30 minute drive to the hotel you’ll be staying at.
How do I find out which hotels, meals and activities are included?
Unfortunately we can’t provide an exhaustive list of everything included in the ‘What’s Included’ section of this page as we include a whole bunch of stuff on our trips!
If it’s in the itinerary and we’ve not explicitly said that it’s an optional activity, then yes – it’s almost certainly included. If you’re not sure, please ask.
The meals that are included are all listed on the daily itinerary.
For the accommodation, we’ve got a shortlist of properties that we use. You can get a sense of the types of accommodation we use higher up the page in the ‘Where We’ll Stay’ section. We cannot guarantee any specific properties for your trip as it’s based on availability. If you are wanting to specifically request a property then please get in touch as we’re able to customise our trips.
How much should I tip in Nepal?
Tips are not included in any of our trips. They are entirely discretionary but in most cases are expected by the teams that will be looking after you. We know it can be daunting to work out exactly what to give so whilst this guideline hopefully helps, please remember that it’s a completely personal choice and you should feel free to tip more or less based on the quality of service that you receive.
Trekking Guide: $10-$20 USD per day
Porters: $5-10 USD per day
Drivers: $5-10 USD for short trips; $10-15 USD for full-day services.
Again, tipping is not compulsory and please only do so if the service you’ve received warrants it. It’s hugely appreciated and a way for the teams looking after you to supplement their income.
What should I know about the possible cold climate?
This trip spends time in locations where there might be significantly cold temperatures (below freezing) during the day with further temperature drops at night. You might be staying in poorly insulated accommodation in rural locations. It’s important that you are adequately equipped and that you remain sufficiently hydrated and nourished.
Our guides are trained to mitigate the risks associated with undertaking activity in cold weather but you should be aware of the risks and ensure you’re appropriately prepared.
What should I consider about trekking at altitude?
A lot of our trips spend considerable time above altitudes of over 2,500m. Some people may experience symptoms associated with Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS). It’s really important to note a couple of things. Firstly, past experience at high altitudes is not necessarily an indicator of how you’ll fare in the future. Secondly, our itineraries have been curated and our guides have been trained to mitigate the risks associated with trekking at altitude. However, due to the nature of trekking at altitude it’s vital that you report any symptoms to your guide immediately. It’s also important that you have travel insurance covering you up to the maximum altitude at which you’ll be trekking.
Is travel insurance mandatory?
Yes, it is. We run adventurous trips and it’s mandatory that you have suitable travel insurance in place to cover overseas medical treatment as well as evacuation or repatriation.
We can’t recommend which provider you use but the main things we’d encourage you to look out for is that you’re fully covered for the activities you’re taking part in (i.e., covers you up to the altitude you’ll be trekking at) and that it covers cancellation in the event that illness or other circumstances prevent you from travelling.
What information will I receive after I book?
After you book, we’ll get to work confirming that the dates you’ve selected are completely available.
There are extremely rare circumstances that may mean we’re unable to confirm your booking. These circumstances are limited to events beyond our control or not being able to secure the services that you wanted to book.
In the extremely rare event that we’re unable to confirm your booking you will be offered an alternative itinerary or a full refund without any fees. Please do not book any non-changeable travel plans until you receive the confirmation from us. This will be within 72 hours.
A detailed Trip Dossier will then be sent to you after you make your booking. It’ll contain all the information you might need to help you pack and get prepared for your trip, including information on visas, vaccinations, packing and training.
We encourage you to refer to the UK Government’s official travel advisory service when planning your trips. You can find the FCDO advice here.
And when you travel, we work closely with local experts to put together the best itineraries. We’ve worked with them exhaustively to provide safe adventures at great value. They know their destination better than we ever could so you’ll be in good hands! You can read a bit more about why we will only ever have locally-led trips here.
Book Now
Whether you’d like more information about this itinerary or to customise it to exactly what you want to do, drop us a line and let us know your plans!