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EBC Three Passes Trek – An Introduction
EBC three passes trek is one of the most challenging trek in Everest region of Nepal. While trekking to EBC three passes, the route will take you through the Sherpa settlement, high passes & differed terrain in high Himalaya along with the view of lofty mountain peaks including Mount Everest.
Three high pass trek in Everest Trekking trail is a circuit around entire Everest region. This adventure trek in Everest is something very pleasing to experience along with crossing of 3 passes above 5,000 meters high.
The passes you will traverse during EBC three passes trek are; Renjo la pass, cho La pass and Kongma la pass.
3 passes trek Itinerary
Everest 3 high passes trek is best trek for high altitude trekking adventurers. Trekking trail takes into the wilder areas of Everest Nepal. 3 passes trek demands an average of 6 hours a day walk from the trekkers. However – you ave to walk more than 9 hours in some of the passes day. Also the way back from the last pass of 3 high passes trek has longer hours of walk.
During the trek, you will have an overnight mostly in Sherpa settlement. This is an opportunity for you to experience of local Sherpa people culture, tradition, food, language, custom etc..
In general; EBC 3 passes trek can take from 18 to 25 days but is flexible or can be customized according to the trekker’s preference. Number of days for the trekking is always dependent with the route, starting point & how you want to spend your time/vacation days you have.
The highest point of this trek is 5,555 meters i.e. top of the first pass – Kong ma La pass. In contrast – Kalapatthar is the highest place for Everest base camp trekkers; from the top of Kalapatthar – you can get the panoramic views of many mountains above 8 thousand meters and their respective ranges.
Here, we have provided general – 3 passes trek itinerary without Everest base camp;
- Day 1: Arrival at Kathmandu, Nepal
- Day 2: Flight from Kathmandu to Lukla and hike to Phakding; 2610 m, 3 hours
- Day 3: Trek to Namche Bazzar; 3440 m, 6 hours
- Day 4: Acclimatization day at Namche
- Day 5: Trek from Namche to Tengboche; 3870m, 4 hours
- Day 6: Trek from Tengboche to Dingboche; 4410m, 5 hours
- Day 7: Acclimatization Day
- Day 8: Trek to Chukkung; 4730m, 3 hours
- Day 9: Trek to Lobuche via Kongma la Pass; 5535m, 8 – 10 hours
- Day 10: Trek to Dzongla; 4200 m, 3 hours
- Day 11: Trek to Gokyo via Chola; 5420 m, 8 – 10 hours
- Day 12: Hike around Gokyo lakes
- Day 13: Trek to Lungde via Renjo la pass; 5340/4380 m, 6 hours
- Day 14: Trek to Thame Village; 3800 m, 3 hours
- Day 15: Trek to Namche Bazzar; 3440 m, 3 hours
- Day 16: Trek to Lukla; 2850 m, 7 hours
- Day 17: Fly back to Kathmandu; 1400m, 30 minutes
On the Day 10 – if you want to go to Everest base camp – please add one extra day and you will be able to Everest 3 high passes trek with Everest basecamp.
Cost for EBC 3 Passes Trek
Cost for trek varies with accommodation, number of days & mode of transportation. Taking flight in and out of Lukla & normal tea house accommodation will cost around 2000 USD.
If you take jeep from Kathmandu to trekking start point and jeep for the way back. The cost will be lowered. Please feel free to contact us directly on whatsapp if you need any information.
Cost fluctuates according to trekker’s desire and wants. There are good hotels in the everest region with cost of USD $280 per night. Food cost varies according to the places you stay.
Accommodation, Meals and itinerary you choose plays an important role in fluctuating the cost for 3 passes trek. But trekking with a local guide through a local trekking agency in Nepal will surely give you the best out of how much you spend.
Trekking agency keeps very small margin and arrange all your accommodation, food, flights or jeep and anything involved during the trip. Trekking agencies can help you to coordinate with your insurer in case of necessity.
To trek to 3 passes, the trekker have to obtain Local permit of USD $20, TIMS card of cost NRS 1000 (around $10) and permit in monjo village which costs NRS 3000 (around $30). Flight to Lukla from Kathmandu will cost around $180 – $200 for one way.
Everest Three high passes trek price comparison with EBC chola pass trek
Everest three high passes includes trekking in the 3 high passes of Nepal which includes Cho la, Renjo la and Kongma la pass. Each pass are over 5,000 meters. Among these three pass Kongma la pass has the highest altitude i.e. 5555 meters.
EBC chola pass trek has only one high pass – Chola pass. Cho la pass covering an altitude of 5,420 meters.
As EBC chola pass has only one pass of everest 3 high passes trekking; it can be done in shorter days in comparison to Everest three high passes trek, obviously.
In EBC chola pass trek, you will exclude trekking to Renjo la and Kongma la pass.
Excluding 2 high passes cuts 4 days of trekking in total. Hence the cost of EBC chola pass is less than 3 high passes trekking in Everest.
In comparison to Everest Three high passes trek, EBC chola pass trek is cheaper. But the highlights of the trekking in Everest can be achieved in equal height. Places like Kalapatthar & Gokyo Ri as major insights of EVErest region trekking for short option with only Chola pass in Everest trekking.
To be precise – EVerest 3 high passes trekking is famous for those – who want to set high goal in their adventure tour in Nepal.
EBC chola pass trek can be complete in 12 – 15 days. While Everest Three high passes trek can be possible only within 18 – 25 days.
When you spent fewer days, you also consume fewer facilities such as food and accommodation thus the price goes below 2000 USD. The more days you spent in the high altitude, the more the cost is. The roughly cost to trek Everest three high passes trek will cost you around $2000 USD, while the EBC chola pass trek can be done in around $1500 USD.
Can i do Everest three high passes trekking Solo?
Yes. Many people do this trekking solo. But as a beginner trekkers in Everest region, do not dare solo trekking on your own. But solo trekking to Everest 3 high passes trekking with local guide & porter can always be done. Solo meaning 1 person in the group or say a private trekking package.
As we mentioned, this trek falls under one of the challenging trek to do in Nepal. While trekking solo to three passes, you should have all the require information that is needed to trek three passes successfully. Previous experience in trekking in Nepal is much needed.
Firstly, the trekkers need to be physically and mentally fit. You must have to have basic level of physical and mental fitness. Before trekking solo to three high passes of Everest, we recommend you to do few hikes – around Kathmandu Valley. This will help you to increase the certain level of physical fitness.
If you have plan to trek three passes solo, you must have to choose best season to prevent from difficulties. Autumn and spring are the best season to trek three passes where you can find lots of trekkers in the trail and during your stay. Having lots of trekkers in the trail will surely help you for navigation.
Before trekking solo to three pass, you must have to analyze the budget. Take a little more money than you estimate because, you can’t use any credit cards during your trek.
We recommend you to hire guide and porter for the Everest three passes trek. This is because, guide and porter will help you out to make your trek successful. They will have the proper information about the trip such as when to acclimatize, where to stay, which equipment to use and what to avoid. Once you hire porter, it will be easy for you to walk because there will be no pressure of loads. The cost for guide is around $25 – $35 per day whereas porter fee is $20 – $25 per day.
Package trip of Nepalgram Adventure
As a local trekking agency in Nepal- we have 4 different types of trekking and tour package in Nepal. For EBC three passes trekking we have 3 types of package.
Service package – In this package :- we provide guide, porter, permits & other transportation like Plane & car. Food is not included in Service package.
All Inclusive package – It includes everything. If you see our trekking packages you will find the details of the cost includes & excludes.
Luxury Package- In this package – Nepalgram provides top accommodation,best food and best transportation for land and air. Best guide and strong porters will make luxury trip a best trip in Nepal.
