Everest Two Passes Trek

Upon arrival at Kathmandu International Airport, a friendly representative from Himalaya Guide Nepal meets you, assists with your luggage, and provides a private transfer to your hotel. After settling and resting, you can explore the lively streets of Thamel, where local shops draw your attention. Visit local SIM card centers, ATMs, money exchange counters, trekking gear, and souvenir shops while enjoying the sights, sounds, and flavors of the city. This walk helps you stretch your legs, grab a light snack or coffee, and start absorbing the unique energy of Kathmandu.

Later, you meet with the trekking team for a full briefing. They will check your equipment, help finalize your high-altitude permits, and explain the 15-day trek in detail, including daily routes, safety tips, and acclimatization advice. You can ask any questions or raise any concerns freely, we’ll be glad to help. After that, enjoy a steaming plate of the nation’s favourite, Dal Bhat or Mo: Mo, then pack and get a good night’s rest for the Two Passes adventure ahead.

Our staff pick you up early in the morning after breakfast and transfer you to the airport for a scenic, thrilling 35-minute flight to Lukla (2,840 M). Depending on the season, your flight may depart from Kathmandu or Manthali for the smoothest start to your Everest Two High Passes trek. Once you land at the famous Tenzing-Hillary Airport and meet our local porters at Lukla, you head north toward Chablung to begin our 15-day journey.

Along the trail, you catch your first glimpse of Kusum Kangru (6,367 M), one of the region’s most impressive trekking peaks, just past the bridge along the Dudh Koshi River. Then the path winds through hills as you pass by ancient painted mani stones and prayer wheels. After that, you climb gently above the Tharo Koshi toward the village of Ghat (2,590 M), from where you trek towards Phakding (2,610 M), your stop for the day. This first day introduces you to the Khumbu region softly.

From Phakding, you continue on the west side of the Dudh Koshi River and follow the main Everest Base Camp trail into the lower Khumbu valley. The path gradually climbs above a stony ridge toward Benkar, where the air feels fresh and fragrant as it winds through lush forests of magnolia, giant fir, and rhododendrons. After crossing the Kyashar Khola, you arrive at the village of Monjo, marking your entry into Sagarmatha National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Here, officials check your permits first and allow you to enter.

Continuing onward, you pass through Jorsalle and soon cross the iconic Hillary Suspension Bridge, draped in fluttering prayer flags high above the confluence of the Dudh Koshi and Bhote Koshi rivers. From here, the trail gets steeper as you walk through pine forests, and the path winds up in switchbacks, giving you more and more views of the surrounding mountains. Halfway up, you stop at a viewpoint to catch your first breathtaking glimpse of Mount Everest, peeking above the Lhotse-Nuptse ridge. Eventually, the trail finally opens into Namche Bazaar (3,440 M), the bustling Sherpa capital surrounded by the towering giants of the Khumbu region, where you rest for the night.

Since you’re now at 3,440 meters in Namche Bazaar, it’s crucial to acclimate before moving forward. For that, you take a scenic hike to higher altitude villages like Khunde and Khumjung. It starts with a steady climb to the Syangboche Airstrip (3,790 M), where you get your first broad view of Ama Dablam and Thamserku. The trail continues to the Everest View Hotel (3,880 M), the highest hotel in the world, where you can enjoy a cup of tea while admiring Mount Everest, Lhotse, and Nuptse.

From there, the path winds gently toward Khunde. Here, you pass ancient stone chortens and mani walls, then head east into Khumjung, the largest village in the Khumbu. This village, set beneath the sacred Mount Khumbila (5,761 M), hosts the Khumjung Monastery, which holds the legendary “Yeti Scalp”. You can also visit the Hillary School established by Sir Edmund Hillary. After a local lunch, you descend along winding switchbacks to Chhorkung (3,540 M), a beautiful viewpoint on the ridge directly above Namche. From here, it is a short, easy walk back down to Namche Bazaar for a well-earned night’s rest. This way, you see every angle of the Khumbu’s famous Sherpa villages during the circular loop day hike.

Today, you trek from Namche Bazaar to Tengboche, following side valleys along the well-known Everest Highway trail. The route has a few gentle ups and downs as you pass the cozy tea shops of Kenjoma. Near a cluster of ancient mani stones, the trail from Khumjung merges with the main path, giving you clear, breathtaking views of Ama Dablam and Everest. Enjoying the views, you continue past Sanasa, a small junction, and descend through rhododendron forests to reach the riverside village of Phunki Thanga (3,250 M) for a well-earned lunch.

After lunch, you cross the Dudh Koshi River and climb the hillside through pine and fir forests, where the path winds around sacred mani stones. This eventually leads to the saddle where the iconic Tengboche Monastery (3,860 M) sits. As the spiritual center of the Khumbu, the monastery offers a chance to join the evening prayer ceremony. Here, you can witness and experience the deep Buddhist traditions of the Sherpa people before settling in for the night.

Leaving Tengboche, the day’s trek starts with a gentle descent through a lush forest of birch, conifers, and rhododendrons to reach Deboche (3,820 M). You cross the Imja Khola on a high suspension bridge, then climb past carved mani stones to the historic village of Pangboche (3,930 M). Here, Ama Dablam dominates the skyline, offering stunning close-up views. Continuing on, you cross the tree line and enter a rugged alpine zone, where only hardy shrubs and grasses survive.

After some hours of walking, you pass small settlements like Shomare and cross the Lobuche Khola. The valley opens to reveal the south face of Lhotse and the pyramid of Island Peak. You follow trails through stone-walled fields, built by locals to protect crops from fierce winds, until you reach the summer settlement of Dingboche (4,410 M). This village serves as your high-altitude base for two nights, a perfect gateway to explore the Everest and Island Peak regions.

Today is an important acclimatization day in Dingboche to help your body adjust to the thinner air. You hike east into the Chhukung Valley toward the settlement of Chhukung (4,730 M). This trail takes you along the Imja Khola and gives close-up views of Lhotse’s massive south face and Island Peak’s sharp pyramid. As you approach the village, the valley grows narrower, framed by dramatic ridges of Ama Dablam and Amphu Lapcha.

At Chhukung, the vast glaciers stretch like frozen rivers below jagged peaks. Here, you not only get to enjoy the views but also get a natural altitude workout that boosts red blood cell production. You descend back to Dingboche for a hearty lunch in the gentler air, letting your muscles recover. Later in the afternoon, you can take a quiet walk to the nearby bakery or simply watch the sunset. This day quietly builds strength and focus for tomorrow’s climb over Thukla Pass and the Everest Memorials tomorrow.

After an acclimatization day in Dingboche, you now leave the Imja Valley and make your way toward Thukla (4,620 M). The day’s trek begins with a steady climb across the high-altitude grasslands, where the trail opens up to sweeping views of Taboche and Cholatse peaks. After a while, you reach the steep terminal moraine of the Khumbu Glacier. You can take a short rest here before continuing up to Thukla Pass (4,830 M), where the Everest Memorials honor climbers and Sherpas who lost their lives on the world’s highest peaks.

From the pass, the Everest Two Pass trek route bends west. It winds around Cholatse and along remote high ridges. Along the way to Dzongla (4,830 M), you witness a bird’s-eye view of the frozen Cholaste Lake below. Dzongla is a quiet settlement located in a grassy basin beneath the towering north face of Mount Cholatse. After arrival, you can spend the remainder of the day resting, hydrating, and absorbing the serene alpine surroundings in preparation for the early morning crossing of the icy Cho La Pass, the first high pass on your Everest Two Passes trek journey.

Today, you tackle the legendary Cho La Pass (5,420 M). For that, you leave Dzongla before dawn, around 4:00 or 5:00 AM. It starts off with a steep climb on a rocky trail into a hidden world of ice and snow beneath the towering cliffs of Cholatse and Lobuche. After a steady ascent, you reach the Cho La Glacier moraine, surrounded by ice walls on all sides. You cross this huge field of blue ice using microspikes for grip. After that, you make a final climb from the icy basin up a steep, rocky trail to the summit of Cho La Pass.

After a 1.5-hour climb from the Cho La glacier moraine, you finally reach the summit, where fluttering prayer flags and an amazing 360-degree Himalayan view reward your effort. At the top, you can rest for a while and take in the views. Soon after, you descend through steep, rocky slopes into the remote Ngozumpa or Gokyo Valley. The last part of the trail crosses the Ngozumpa Glacier, the longest glacier in the Himalayas. It is marked by loose rocks and hidden ice patches. You end the day at the quiet village of Dragnag (4,700 M), hidden behind the mountains. It is a great place to rest after an intense, high-altitude day crossing the pass.

Leaving Dragnag, you step onto the massive Ngozumpa Glacier. The trail twists and turns across grey boulders, loose scree, and hidden turquoise ice pools. Here, stone cairns mark the safest route. You can see jagged peaks on both sides, creating a dramatic, almost surreal landscape. Similarly, you can hear the occasional crack of shifting ice echoing through the valley, reminding you of the glacier’s raw power as you carefully make your way toward the western side of the valley.

As the moraine ends, the scenery shifts to vibrant colors with the first glimpses of the Gokyo Lakes. You first pass the small, emerald-green First Lake (Longponga Tsho) and the larger Second Lake (Taujung Tsho), where the water reflects the towering Himalayan ridges. Finally, you arrive at the shores of the Third Lake (Dudh Pokhari), where the village of Gokyo (4,790 M) sits mirrored in the still, turquoise water. Because this is a shorter trekking day of only 2 to 3 hours, you have the entire afternoon to rest by the lakeside or hike further up the valley to explore the fourth and fifth lakes before the big climb tomorrow.

Today is a long and tough day that begins before sunrise with an optional climb to Gokyo Ri (5,357 M). The trail to the top is steep, with zigzags over a rocky, grassy path, but it requires no technical climbing. It takes about a 2-3-hour hike to complete. Once at the top, you witness one of the best sunrise views of the four of the world’s six tallest 8,000-meter peaks: Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, and Cho Oyu. Then, you descend back to the Gokyo village for a quick breakfast.

After that, the trail continues toward Renjo La Pass (5,360 M), the second and final high pass on the Everest Two Passes Trek. The path climbs along the northern shore of Gokyo Tsho before turning steep and rocky. You can view the Ngozumpa Glacier growing behind you as you climb. Finally, at the top, prayer flags flutter as you take in stunning views of the same 8,000-meter peaks and turquoise Gokyo lakes from different angles. You then descend along stone stairs past Angladumba Tsho and alpine pastures into the peaceful Bhote Koshi Valley. The day’s trek ends in the quiet village of Lumde (4,370 M), where you rest and celebrate completing the final high pass.

After crossing both passes, today’s trek is gentle. It includes a scenic descent through the valley on an ancient salt trade route linking Nepal with Tibet. The trail follows the Bhote Koshi river downstream, twisting past high-altitude grazing lands and small seasonal settlements like Marulung, Tarnga, Thame Teng, etc, where yaks and sheep graze peacefully. The path is mostly downhill. As you trek down, you can see the visible shift in the scenery as the icy, rugged peaks gradually give way to softer, rolling hills, forests, and lush vegetation. The air also feels warmer and more breathable.

As you trek to Thame (3,800 M), one of the Khumbu’s most culturally significant villages, you can explore the 14th-century Thame Monastery perched high on a cliff. Being one of the oldest monasteries in the region, it offers insight into traditional Sherpa spirituality. Besides that, you can also get stunning views of the village below. After visiting the gompa and admiring its intricate wall paintings, you return to your lodge to rest, reflect on your high-altitude journey, and enjoy a peaceful evening in this historic Sherpa settlement.

After crossing both passes, today’s trek is gentle. It includes a scenic descent through the valley on an ancient salt trade route linking Nepal with Tibet. The trail follows the Bhote Koshi river downstream, twisting past high-altitude grazing lands and small seasonal settlements like Marulung, Tarnga, Thame Teng, etc, where yaks and sheep graze peacefully. The path is mostly downhill. As you trek down, you can see the visible shift in the scenery as the icy, rugged peaks gradually give way to softer, rolling hills, forests, and lush vegetation. The air also feels warmer and more breathable.

As you trek to Thame (3,800 M), one of the Khumbu’s most culturally significant villages, you can explore the 14th-century Thame Monastery perched high on a cliff. Being one of the oldest monasteries in the region, it offers insight into traditional Sherpa spirituality. Besides that, you can also get stunning views of the village below. After visiting the gompa and admiring its intricate wall paintings, you return to your lodge to rest, reflect on your high-altitude journey, and enjoy a peaceful evening in this historic Sherpa settlement.

This is the last day of trekking on your Everest Two Pass Trek itinerary. Today’s trek includes a descent as you follow the Dudh Koshi River downstream and cross a few high suspension bridges over its turquoise glacial waters. You pass through familiar villages like Phakding and Ghat, where green fields and blooming flowers contrast with the rugged high-altitude passes you recently crossed. Walking through the Sherpa farmlands, you can fully enjoy the gentle pace and scenic surroundings.

The final stretch climbs gradually from Chublung to the busy town of Lukla. Arriving at Tenzing-Hillary Airport marks the end of your trekking journey. In the evening, you celebrate with your trekking team and porter. You can share stories and reflect on the Cho La and Renjo La passes and the unforgettable Everest Two Passes adventure you shared together.

Your final morning in the mountains starts with an early flight from Lukla to Kathmandu. During the flight, you can still get one last view of the towering peaks from above. Sometimes, you may need to land at Manthali Airport due to high traffic and unpredictable mountain weather. If you arrive in Manthali, our team provides a private vehicle for a scenic 4-5 hour drive back to Kathmandu. The overland route follows riverside roads, terraced farms, and small villages like Khurkot and Nepalthok, offering one last glimpse of Nepal’s beautiful countryside.

Once you arrive in Kathmandu, you are transferred to your hotel for a hot shower and some well-earned rest. The afternoon is free to relax, explore the city, or visit sites like Kathmandu Durbar Square, Swoyambhunath, and Boudhanath, as you want. In the evening, we host a farewell dinner at a traditional restaurant. a perfect moment to share photos, swap stories with your guides, and celebrate the unforgettable achievement of crossing the Cho La and Renjo La passes.