Highlights
- Take a thrilling and adventurous 35-minute Lukla Flight from Kathmandu, from the bustling capital city, to the starting point of the iconic trails of the Everest region.
- Navigate through the UNESCO-listed Sagarmatha National Park, right from the start, unravelling the unique landscapes, terrains, forest trails, suspension bridges, terraced farms, alpine mountain villages, and glaciers, surrounded by huge Himalayan giants.
- Traverse via red blooming rhododendrons, oaks, pines along the roaring Dudh Koshi and Bhote Koshi Rivers, encountering Himalayan mules, and rare wildlife.
- Explore the famous Namche Bazaar, also famously known as the capital city of the Khumbu region, visiting small bakeries, cafes, lively restaurants, and local shops - a distinct insight into the Himalayas.
- Side Trip to Everest View Hotel, Khumjung village, and its monastery, where a yeti's head skull (the snowman) is displayed as well.
- Visit the legendary Tengboche Monastery, residing on the confluence of the Imja Khola and Dudh Koshi rivers, which showcases a wide-angle vista of several mountains, including Nuptse, Lhotse, Thamserku, and Ama Dablam.
- Take the uphill acclimatisation hike to Nangkartshang Peak at 5083 meters.
- Reach the almighty Everest Base Camp (EBC), the foothill of the world's tallest peak, and Kala Patthar (5455 meters), one of the best Everest viewpoints, and a prominently worldwide famous spot.
- Venture out to the two thrilling high passes, Cho La (5420 m) and Renjo La (5360 meters), exploring the remote Sherpa villages, cultures, traditions, and lifestyle.
Everest Base Camp with Cho La and Renjo La Pass is an adrenaline-boasting trek famous for exploring mountains, Sherpa villages, and iconic viewpoints. The journey lasts for 16 days, and is popularly known as the two high passes trek, which stands out as a challenging yet surprising odyssey, rewarding you with great mountain views, glaciers, distinct landscapes, modern and remote versions of Sherpa settlements and people, as it covers standard EBC Trail, on the first half, and then, covers, the off beaten less crowded trails, while crossing the Cho La and Renjo La Pass.
Throughout, you get to experience the panoramic vista of the legendary Himalayan peaks, including Ama Dablam, Lhotse, Nuptse, Pumori, Thamserku, Makalu, Cho Oyu, and Mount Everest (8848 m), face to face, and explore the enchanting Gokyo Valley and its sacred lakes as well. On this trip, it basically explores the renowned viewpoints of the Everest region, which sits at elevations ranging from 5300 m up to 5545 meters, with an intriguing outlook of the wetlands, Himalayan giants, woodlands, and diverse walking terrains, along with preserved flora and fauna, a one-of-a-kind excursion to the mountain areas.
Although the Everest Base Camp, Gokyo, Cho La, and Renjo La Pass Trek takes you to such high elevations, with increasing altitude each day, we've customised the itinerary via a gradual moderate pace, minimising hazards like altitude sickness, and ensuring a safe trip. Many trekkers across the globe have completed this journey with our experienced trekking guides and a safety-focused, day-to-day itinerary; however, the trek is customizable. If you choose other trailheads or side trips, inclusion, or the total duration, can be extended or minimised as your time frame allows.
Everest Base Camp with Cho La and Renjo La Pass Trekking Route
The 16-day adventure begins with a flight over to Lukla from Kathmandu, lasting for 35 minutes, whereas the walking trail soon starts from Lukla (Tenzing-Hillary Airport), towards Phakding, entering the lush green forest area, crossing several river streams and suspension bridges; the hike only lasts for 3.5 hours on the very first day. The route then proceeds to Namche Bazaar, which is also marked as a first acclimatisation day (2 nights with optional excursion hikes). On this rest day, we'll have two options: either we visit the world's highest 5-star hotel, Everest View, and explore the Sherpa cultures, monasteries, shops, local bakeries, or take a 4-5 hour round trip to Khumjung Village / Monastery.
Leaving Namche behind, on the next two consecutive days, we will march towards Tengboche Monastery, followed by Dingboche Village. Dingboche stands out as another key acclimatisation point, where it takes us to an uphill climb to the Nangkartshang Peak, or we can just set back at the tea house, and explore the area, but it is highly recommended to go the peak, as it soars above 5000 meters, lets your body gradually adopt the dropping oxygen, and increasing elevation on the further upcoming days, the choice is yours.
From Dingboche, the pathway to Lobuche is a bit strenuous, as you can feel the changes in the air, and also, the walking terrain, as it gets more rugged, rocky, and less greenery, and more like an isolated side, but it lasts for only 6 hours, so we'll take a slow pace hike, enjoying the upfront views. On the 8th day, the hike leads us finally to Everest Base Camp (5364 meters), through Gorakshep, the last settlement of the standard EBC Trail, where we get an insight into the great giants of Lhotse, Nuptse, Ama Dablam, Makalu, and Cho Oyu, from the world's highest peak foothill.
The next day, at 4:00 AM, we'll take a morning hike to the almighty Kala Patthar, which rewards us with the breathtaking sunrise view over the Khumbu Glacier, and the 360-degree panoramic vista of the Mt. Everest (8848 meters), including other peaks, it is truly an accomplishment, as it is the highest, we can get to, without climbing permits, and known for the best view point for sunrise and sunset. Afterwards, the route then diverges to Dzongla, a complete downhill walk, and officially touches the trail of Gokyo and two high passes.
From here, we'll head to Thagnak, crossing via Cho La Pass at 5420 meters, and then, undertake a hike towards Gokyo Valley, along the series of the sacred lakes, including Dudh Pokhari and Nepal's longest himalayan glacier, Ngozumpa glacier, followed by an early morning ascent to Gokyo Ri View Point (5357 meters), on the next day, where another acclimatisation (rest day) is scheduled at Gokyo village.
On another day, we’ll finally cross the high Renjo La Pass at 5,360 m, enjoying breathtaking views before descending to Lungden for an overnight stay. Over the next three consecutive days, we’ll pass through the scenic Thame village and its monastery, then continue our descent to Namche Bazaar and Lukla, where the trek concludes. From Lukla, we’ll take a flight back to Kathmandu to wrap up the journey.
Popular Everest View Points during the trek - What to Expect?
During the adventure to the Everest Base Camp, Cho La, and Renjo La Passes, you get to explore the iconic trailhead and reach the pinnacles of the legendary Everest viewpoints, rather than solely focusing on one particular destination. In this excursion lasting for 16 days, you will come across two thrilling high mountain passes, Gokyo Lakes, Gokyo Ri, Kala Patthar, and others, during the side trip, like Nangkartshang Peak, giving you another glance and view of the mountains, glaciers, Sherpa villages, and landscapes. If you want to extend to Kongma La Pass, by opting for the Everest Three High Pass Trek, doing the full circuit, but if you want an easier and non-technical beginner-doable route, then you can choose the Two Everest Passes instead.
Everest Base Camp
The EBC is the classic starting point for the summitters, who want to ace (summit) the world's tallest peak, which is famously known as one of the most famous trekking destinations in the world. Reaching here neither demands technical knowledge nor prior Himalayan experience, and can be successfully achieved by everyone, even kids and seniors. Perched at an altitude of 5364 meters, it sits in the southern part of Nepal, whereas the northern one sits in Tibet, which you can directly reach by road, but for the main base camp (South), the Everest Base Camp can only be reached via trekking route or helicopter ride, which makes this lap even more fascinating. Surrounded by the gigantic Himalayan giants, such as Lhotse, Nuptse, Pumori, Ama Dablam, and Khumbu Icefall, this spot serves as the first main destination of the journey.
Kala Patthar Summit
Considered one of the best Mount Everest vantage points, soaring at an elevation of 5545 m, Kala Patthar is the highest altitude that the trek reaches, which is also known as a mountain (peak) on the flank of Mt. Pumori. It just sits above Gorakshep, the last settlement of the standard base camp trail, which demands a 1.5-hour morning uphill walk at 4:00 AM, offering the rewarding views of panoramic mountains such as Nuptse, Lhotse, Pumori, and Mt. Everest itself, with the expansive Khumbu Glacier just below. To reach here, you do not require any special permits or climbing skills. It is short and relatively easy, and is known as a successful summit point for those who are undertaking any Everest treks and want to enjoy the closest insight into the world's tallest peak.
Gokyo Ri
Gokyo Ri is another vantage point that you will encounter or take an uphill climb to, which lies just above the Gokyo lakes, demonstrating the clear vista of Mount Everest, Cho Oyu, Lhotse, Makalu, and the entire Gokyo village and turquoise Gokyo lakes. The hike, from the valley to the summit, just takes approx. 3 hours of a round-trip, during a rest day, which is also one of the major highlights of the journey.
Chola Pass
Cho La Pass marks the summit point, at 5420 m, that connects the Dzongla and Thagnak route, passing through the rugged, remote, and off-beaten terrain, giving you a wilderness to cross the Himalayan terrain. Reaching the top, it shows the impeccable view of the giants like Everest, Pumori, Lhotse, Nuptse, and the wide Khumbu valley. The pass includes steep climbs, some snowy and icy trails, rocky pathway, but can be achieved with a steady pace and falls under a non-technical trail.
Renjo La Pass
The last high pass, which the trail takes you to, marks Renjo La, which stands at 5360 meters, and sits between Gokyo Valley and Lungden, through the less crowded and less trodden route. From the pinnacle, it showcases the breathtaking, alluring vista of mountains, including Cholatse, Taboche, Lhotse, Makalu, Mt Everest, Cho Oyu, and Tibetan border peaks to the other as well.
