Everest Three Passes Trek
Everest Three Passes Trek is a high-altitude multi-day circuit in Nepal’s Khumbu region that links the area’s major valleys by crossing three passes: Kongma La (5,535 m), Cho La (5,420 m), and Renjo La (5,360 m). The route is commonly run as a loop in either direction and can include a detour to Everest Base Camp.
Typical high-pass structure centers on three major transitions over 5,000 m: the highest and least-traveled pass is Kongma La, Cho La is the most heavily used, and Renjo La is usually the lowest of the three. These crossings involve rugged high terrain and, at the higher points, expect glacier travel components.
A commonly used version of the route starts from Chukhung and ends in Lobuche, with the loop linking through Khumbu villages and mountain valleys. The pass-to-valley connections include trekking to Gokyo Lakes via Cho La, and finishing the Renjo La side by descending toward the Sherpa village of Lumde (also seen as Marlung) before continuing toward Thame.
The itinerary scale is long—about 15 to 20 days for the full circuit—and the curated track length for this route is 170.71 km (long-distance hiking route tier). Lodging is generally by tea house/guesthouse style stops in villages along the way.
Planning-wise, this is not just an “Everest Base Camp with a bit extra” walk: it’s a sustained circuit with multiple days spent at altitude, plus several major high-pass days that can involve slippery glacier crossings. Most groups schedule their pass attempts early in the day to reduce exposure to worse afternoon weather at altitude.
In the hiking season window, the most popular period is fall (September to November), with spring (March to May) also common for trekkers moving through the Everest region. Permits for trekking in the Everest area are typically required for Sagarmatha National Park and the Khumbu area, which matters for logistics when arranging guided or independent travel.