Overview
The Everest Three Passes Trek is the ultimate circuit of the Khumbu region, combining the Everest Base Camp trek and the Gokyo Lakes trek into a single demanding loop. Rather than choosing between the two, this route crosses all three of the Khumbu’s high passes — Renjo La (5,360m), Cho La (5,420m), and Kongma La (5,535m) — linking every major valley in the region into one continuous high-altitude journey.
Following the clockwise direction for easier acclimatization, the trek climbs from Namche Bazaar to the climbing village of Thame, then over Renjo La into the Gokyo Valley, where the turquoise Gokyo Lakes sit beside the Ngozumpa Glacier, Nepal’s longest.
A side hike to Gokyo Ri adds a 360-degree panorama before the trail crosses Cho La to reach the main Khumbu valley and Everest Base Camp itself, with a sunrise climb to Kala Patthar for the finest close-up view of Everest on the route. The final pass, Kongma La, the highest and toughest of the three, connects Lobuche to Chhukung before the trail descends back through Tengboche to Namche Bazaar and Lukla.
What makes this trek the definitive Khumbu experience is refusing to choose between its two most famous routes.
Rather than picking Everest Base Camp or the Gokyo Lakes, trekkers get both, connected by three genuinely demanding high passes that most visitors to the region never attempt.
Following the clockwise direction, starting with Renjo La before finishing with the toughest pass, Kongma La, gives the body the best chance to acclimatize gradually across the full three-week circuit.
Permits for this trek are issued under Nepal’s Department of Immigration Trekking Permit system, alongside the Sagarmatha National Park entry permit.
If you’d prefer just the classic route to base camp, see our Everest Base Camp Trek and for the Gokyo Lakes without the full three-pass circuit, see our Gokyo Lake Trek.
Highlights
- Cross all three high passes of the Khumbu: Renjo La (5,360m), Cho La (5,420m), and Kongma La (5,535m)
- Visit Everest Base Camp (5,364m) and walk across the legendary Khumbu Glacier
- Climb Kala Patthar (5,545m) for a 360-degree sunrise view of Everest and its neighbouring giants
- Explore the turquoise Gokyo Lakes beside the Ngozumpa Glacier, Nepal's longest glacier
- Hike Gokyo Ri (5,357m) for sweeping views over the Gokyo Valley
- Visit Thame, the birthplace of many of Nepal's most famous high-altitude climbers
- Experience every major valley of the Khumbu region and deep Sherpa Buddhist culture in one continuous route
