Renjo La · 5,340 m
Our first pass links Lunden with Gokyo. We will climb into a wide mountain panorama, then descend to the lakes. The first high crossing is also the first test of the accumulated altitude.
THE THREE PASSES
Everest Three Passes: Our Clockwise Route
Lukla to Chhukung via Renjo La, Cho La and Kongma La. The map follows our confirmed 16-day plan.
THE CLOCKWISE JOURNEY
Lukla to Chhukung.
From Lukla to Chhukung, we will cross Renjo La, Cho La and Kongma La, with side trips to Gokyo Ri, Everest Base Camp and Kala Patthar.
Tap a marker to explore a place. Choose a day below to follow that part of our journey.
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OvernightHigh passViewpoint / Base CampWalkingHelicopter
Route at a glance
Lukla → Phakding → Namche → Thame → Lunden → Renjo La → Gokyo → Thangna → Cho La → Dzongla → Gorakshep / Everest Base Camp → Kala Patthar → Lobuche → Kongma La → Chhukung.
Side trip: Gokyo Ri. Planned helicopter return: Chhukung → Kathmandu, 5 November.
Schematic itinerary sequence, not a navigable GPS trail. This overview and the full itinerary remain available without map tiles.
Three passes. One clockwise journey.
23 October–7 November 2026 · Walking from 25 October to 4 November.
Lines connect itinerary stops approximately; they are not a GPS trail or a navigation aid. The dashed helicopter line shows the connection, not the flight path. Walking distances and times describe whole days. Elevations follow our confirmed itinerary; additional elevations are marked approximate. Terrain tiles require an internet connection.
23 OCTOBER–7 NOVEMBER 2026
Sixteen days in Nepal.
The mountain stages begin in Lukla on 25 October. Dates, places and walking estimates follow our confirmed itinerary.
| Day | Date | Route | Sleeping altitude | Approx. walking time | Key point |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Arrive in Kathmandu | Kathmandu · ~1,400 m | — | Arrival | |
| 02 | Kathmandu · before the mountains | Kathmandu · ~1,400 m | — | Preparation | |
| 03 | Fly to Lukla · trek to Phakding | Phakding | 3 hours | First trail day | |
| 04 | Phakding to Namche Bazaar | Namche · 3,440 m | 6 hours | Climb to Namche | |
| 05 | Acclimatisation · Everest View Hotel | Namche · 3,440 m | 3–4 hours | Acclimatisation walk | |
| 06 | Namche to Thame via Khumjung | Thame · 3,792 m | 5–6 hours | Khumjung and Thame | |
| 07 | Thame to Lunden | Lunden · 4,300 m | 5–6 hours | Approach to first pass | |
| 08 | Renjo La Pass · Gokyo | Gokyo · 4,700 m | 6–7 hours | Renjo La · 5,340 m | |
| 09 | Gokyo Ri · trek to Thangna | Thangna · 4,700 m | 6–7 hours | Gokyo Ri · 5,360 m | |
| 10 | Cho La Pass · Dzongla | Dzongla · 4,830 m | 7–8 hours | Cho La · 5,420 m | |
| 11 | Gorakshep · Everest Base Camp | Gorakshep · 5,180 m | 8 hours | Everest Base Camp · 5,364 m | |
| 12 | Kala Patthar · return to Lobuche | Lobuche · 4,910 m | 4–5 hours | Kala Patthar · 5,545 m | |
| 13 | Kongma La Pass · Chhukung | Chhukung · 4,730 m | 7–8 hours | Kongma La · 5,535 m | |
| 14 | Helicopter to Kathmandu | Kathmandu · ~1,400 m | — | Weather-dependent flight | |
| 15 | Kathmandu contingency day | Kathmandu · ~1,400 m | — | Weather buffer | |
| 16 | Departure from Kathmandu | — | — | Departure |
25 OctTrek begins · Lukla to Phakding
5 NovHelicopter · Chhukung to Kathmandu
6 NovContingency day in Kathmandu
DAY 01Arrive in KathmanduOur journey begins
We will begin our journey in Kathmandu, Nepal’s capital. This is the city end of an expedition that will take us into the Khumbu, the Himalayan region surrounding Everest, and across three high mountain passes.
DAY 02Kathmandu · before the mountainsThe city before the trail
We will spend a day in Kathmandu before heading into the mountains. Ahead of us is a route linking river valleys, Sherpa villages, glaciers and high passes—crossing points between valleys rather than mountain summits.
DAY 03Fly to Lukla · trek to Phakding8 km · 3 hours
Phakding · 2,652 m / 8,701 ft
We will fly into Lukla and begin walking towards Phakding. The opening stage will take us through terraced fields and Sherpa villages, introducing the settled, greener landscape of the lower trek before the exposed terrain higher up.
We will pass Cheplung on the way, with the mountain of Khumbila rising above this part of the valley. This shorter first walk will begin our journey into the Everest region.
DAY 04Phakding to Namche Bazaar10–12 km · 6 hours
Namche Bazaar · 3,440 m / 11,286 ft
We will follow the Dudh Koshi River, crossing suspension bridges and passing through Monjo into Sagarmatha National Park. The route will climb through forest towards Namche Bazaar, a key Sherpa town and a meeting point for trekkers in the Everest region.
The sustained climb to Namche will make this a more demanding day than our opening walk. If the skies are clear, we may catch our first distant view of Everest on the approach.
DAY 05Acclimatisation · Everest View Hotel3–4 km · 3–4 hours
Return to Namche · 3,440 m / 11,286 ft
We will walk above Namche towards Syangboche and the Everest View Hotel, then return to Namche. This acclimatisation day is built into the itinerary to allow time at altitude before we continue higher.
We will look out towards Everest, Lhotse and Ama Dablam, weather permitting. Visits to the Sherpa Culture Museum and Everest Photo Gallery will add context to the landscape: the communities who live here and the mountaineering history that has made the region famous.
DAY 06Namche to Thame via Khumjung12 km · 5–6 hours
Thame · 3,792 m / 12,441 ft
We will travel through Khumjung and Khunde before continuing towards Thame. Along the way, we will visit the school and hospital associated with Sir Edmund Hillary’s Himalayan Trust, seeing another side of the region beyond its mountain views.
We will follow trails through rhododendron woodland and yak pastures, passing Thamo on the way to Thame. The village and its monastery mark a change of pace as our route leads towards the first high pass.
DAY 07Thame to Lunden7 km · 5–6 hours
Lunden · 4,300 m / 14,108 ft
We will follow the Bhote Koshi River higher into the valley towards Lunden. Alpine meadows and snow-covered ridges will frame this stage, with the route moving into a more remote landscape.
Lunden will be our starting point for Renjo La the following day. The distance is relatively short, but the planned walking time gives a better sense of the day’s pace as we move above 4,000 metres.
DAY 08Renjo La Pass · Gokyo12–13 km · 6–7 hours
Renjo La · 5,340 m / 17,520 ft · Gokyo · 4,700 m / 15,420 ft
We will cross Renjo La, the first of our three high passes, leaving the Lunden valley and descending towards Gokyo. Reaching the pass will take us above 5,000 metres for the first time on this itinerary.
In clear conditions, the panorama includes Everest, Lhotse, Cho Oyu and Makalu. We will then make a long descent to Gokyo, where turquoise lakes sit among the mountains—a striking change from the rocky crossing above.
DAY 09Gokyo Ri · trek to Thangna10 km · 6–7 hours
Gokyo Ri · 5,360 m / 17,585 ft · Thangna · 4,700 m / 15,420 ft
We will climb Gokyo Ri, a viewpoint above the lakes, before continuing to Thangna. From the top, clear weather will reveal the surrounding peaks and the scale of the Ngozumpa Glacier below.
After descending to Gokyo, we will cross the glacier towards Thangna, at the approach to Cho La. This day combines an out-and-back viewpoint climb with the onward walk to our next valley crossing.
DAY 10Cho La Pass · Dzongla9 km · 7–8 hours
Cho La · 5,420 m / 17,782 ft · Dzongla · 4,830 m / 15,846 ft
We will cross Cho La, our second high pass, then descend to Dzongla. The route includes a steep ascent and rocky terrain, with possible ice making conditions an important part of the day’s challenge.
We will move from the Gokyo side of the trek towards the route leading to Everest Base Camp. Around us, peaks such as Ama Dablam and Cholatse will give this crossing a different backdrop from Renjo La.
DAY 11Gorakshep · Everest Base Camp14–15 km · 8 hours
Everest Base Camp · 5,364 m / 17,598 ft · Gorakshep · 5,180 m / 16,995 ft
We will walk from Dzongla towards Lobuche and Gorakshep, then continue to Everest Base Camp. The route follows the Khumbu Glacier through a landscape of boulders and moraine—the rock and debris carried and left behind by a glacier.
Base Camp is the starting point for Everest climbing expeditions. For us, it will be a major milestone within the wider Three Passes journey. We will return to Gorakshep after our visit, completing one of the longest walking days of the trek.
DAY 12Kala Patthar · return to Lobuche6–7 km · 4–5 hours
Kala Patthar · 5,545 m / 18,192 ft
We will climb Kala Patthar, a high viewpoint near Gorakshep, for a close view towards Everest and its neighbouring peaks. At the itinerary’s stated 5,545 metres, this will be our highest planned point—higher than any of the three passes.
After the climb, we will descend through Gorakshep and follow the route back towards Lobuche. The day combines a high viewpoint with a return down the valley before our final pass.
DAY 13Kongma La Pass · Chhukung10–11 km · 7–8 hours
Kongma La · 5,535 m / 18,159 ft · Chhukung · 4,730 m / 15,518 ft
We will leave Lobuche and cross Kongma La, the third and highest of our three passes. A steep, rocky ascent will lead to the final crossing of the expedition, followed by a long descent towards Chhukung.
We will finish in the Imja Valley beneath Lhotse’s south face. Reaching Chhukung will complete the three-pass sequence: Renjo La, Cho La and Kongma La, with Gokyo Ri, Everest Base Camp and Kala Patthar along the way.
DAY 14Helicopter to KathmanduThe Himalayas from above
We will leave Chhukung by helicopter and return to Kathmandu. If conditions allow, the flight will give us an aerial perspective on the valleys, glaciers and ridges we have spent the trek exploring on foot.
The journey back will take us from the high Himalayan landscape to the Kathmandu Valley, bringing the mountain stage of the expedition to a close.
DAY 15Kathmandu contingency dayWeather buffer
We will keep an extra day in the schedule to allow for weather delays or changes in the mountains. If the trek and return flight run to plan, we will spend the day in Kathmandu. This breathing space reflects the reality of a journey shaped by mountain conditions.
DAY 16Departure from KathmanduOur journey concludes
We will leave Nepal after a journey from Kathmandu into the Everest region and across three high passes. The route will have taken us through Sherpa villages, river valleys, glacier landscapes and some of the highest viewpoints of the trek.
Confirmed on 25 September 2026. Route, elevations and approximate walking distances and times are based on Nepal Hiking Team’s itinerary. Elevations describe places and high points, not daily height gained. Weather, trail conditions and the guide’s decisions may require changes.
READING THE ROUTE
Why we go clockwise.
We turn west from Namche towards Thame and Lunden, then meet Renjo La first. That gives us the Gokyo valley before the Everest Base Camp trail. A reverse circuit has a different sequence; neither direction removes the need for gradual ascent and decisions about conditions.
Cho La · 5,420 m
From Thangna we will cross towards Dzongla. The ascent is steep and the ground can be rocky or icy. Conditions on the day will shape our guide’s decision.
Kongma La · 5,535 m
The final and highest pass takes us from Lobuche towards Chhukung. It comes after Base Camp and Kala Patthar, with plenty of distance already in the legs.
Everest Base Camp · 5,364 m
We plan to visit from Gorakshep on day 11, then return there to sleep. It is a significant stop within a wider circuit, rather than the end of our walk.
Kala Patthar · 5,545 m
A viewpoint above Gorakshep for a close view of Everest in clear weather. By our itinerary, it is the highest point we expect to reach.
Acclimatisation
We spend two nights in Namche with a walk higher in between, then move through Thame and Lunden before Renjo La. The staged approach gives time to observe how we respond; it cannot guarantee an uncomplicated ascent.