Everest Three High Passes Trek meets your complete trekking goal because when you trek to the Renjo La, Cho La, and Kongma La Pass, you feel you have really conquered the tough distance. However, it is not that difficult; it is also moderate. But above all, it is more scenic than the world’s best Everest Base Camp Trek. Although its challenges are great, it has only what a few treks in Nepal have, and that is a circuit trekking trail.
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And this is the trail that makes you familiar with the hidden natural wonders of the Everest Region and what most of the trekkers talk about, that is, it includes the itinerary of the Everest Base Camp Trek and the Gokyo Valley Trek, including the highest lake and the largest glacier of Nepal.
Everest Three High Passes Trek (Also known as Nepal Three Passes Trek) is more difficult than the Everest Base Camp and the Gokyo Valley Trek because there are three high passes of 5000 m plus to be crossed, but they will come after you have walked from one village to another, as well as after you have acclimatized. This trek will show you what you dream of seeing. One of the highlights of this trek is Gokyo Ri, which will completely show you the beautiful view of the Eight-Thousand-Meter Peaks, such as Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, and Cho-Oyu.
It’s More Than Just Everest Base Camp
And it is here, around the central part of this Everest Region, that you are going to pass by the Gokyo Lakes that are as blue as turquoise and that are located in the highest region of the world. The Gokyo Valley is as quiet as anything else, but it never felt short of showing the beautiful view of mountains, including the alpine view. Here, the trekking trail takes you to the rugged area and to the glacial area that you would rarely see in other parts of the world. And it is in the midst of the Gokyo Valley that the trekking trail loops to head to the base of Everest, giving you the Complete Experience of Everest.
You’ll Cross Three Major Passes Over 5,000 Meters
As you traverse these passes: Kongma La (5,535m), Cho La (5,420m), and Renjo La (5,360m), you will know about the famous mountains of the Everest Region in depth. At the Kongma La Pass, you will be at the top of the highest pass, which means it is challenging because you are going to walk on steep terrain. And at the same time, it shows you a panoramic view of Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, Nuptse, and Ama Dablam, which have always captivated the trekkers for more than 50 years.
The second-highest pass is the Cho La Pass, which ranges to an altitude of 5420 m, so you can imagine how much you will have to walk, and at the same time, see the stunning view of the surrounding mountains and the glacial lake called the Tsho La Tsho.
As you are on the top of the Renjo La Pass, you are in a less crowded place, but like other passes, it also shows you a 360-degree view of the Everest Region, including that of the Gokyo Valley. Acclimatization is a must in the Everest Region. So before you cross the Kongma La Pass, you have to acclimatize in Dingboche. In the same way, you have to acclimatize in Gokyo before crossing the Renzo La.
The Trek Tests Both Endurance and Mindset
Being at 5000 m plus means being at a rare place once in your lifetime, but this scenic place also has a thin level of oxygen. You might suffer from what the doctor calls hypoxia, which happens due to altitude mountain sickness. Crossing the pass takes you 5 hours, and this will make you feel a loss of energy, but this will not stop you from walking. You may lose appetite; your brain might not think properly, and you might lose sleep.
You always have to start your trek early in the morning so that you can escape the strong wind at the top of the pass, and you may think this is the difficulty of the Everest Base Camp Trek as you head from Kongma La Pass. This is the rule of crossing the pass, not only to escape the wind but also to reach your destination on time, and if you have already done the Everest Base Camp Trek, then it would not be difficult for you to do the Everest Three High Passes Trek that you have booked as soon as you see it.
The Scenery Changes Every Day
Precisely speaking, you will be traversing the Khumbu Glacier Valley, and the source of this glacier can be traced to Mount Everest and its surrounding mountains. Ngozumpa Glacier is another highlight that you are going to see, and it will surprise you with its glaciers, ice, and rock. Not only this, but you will also know that it is the source of Gokyo Lake. If these are the highlights, then there is also another that lies on the way, such as the Sherpa village. You will walk through some Sherpa Villages, and you are going to spend some nights there.
From Namche, you can see the beautiful view of Mount Everest, and as you go higher and higher, the view of Mount Everest becomes closer and closer. Everest Three High Passes is a multi-day trek, so you are going to see what you will not see in other treks, like different types of beautiful scenery, different types of landscapes, different types of wildlife, and also the local people, including foreign climbers and trekkers.
You Can Do It Clockwise or Counterclockwise
Since the Everest Three High Passes Trek has a circuit trekking trail, unlike other treks, it gives you the option, but it’s up to you whether you want to follow the clockwise trekking trail or the anti-clockwise trekking trail. If you follow the clockwise itinerary, you will first have to cross the highest pass called Kongma La, and it is just like going from difficult to more difficult to easy. This is not only the reason why most trekkers like a clockwise itinerary, but also they will be following the itinerary of the world’s best trek, called the Everest Base Camp Trek.
Weather Can Make or Break the Experience
You can select any day to do the Everest Three High Passes Trek if your vacation falls in any of these months, like March, April, May, October, and November. Snow is common at 5000 m plus, but heavy snow is not an appropriate thing because it covers the trail, which will cause much confusion. Even if there is no snow, the trekking trail is always prone to slippery conditions.
This is the reason why weather forecasting becomes necessary on the day you are going to cross the pass. If there is a heavy snowfall in the Kongma La Pass, the pass will become impassable, so by avoiding the pass, you will head from Dingboche to Thukla. And if the Cho La Pass becomes impassable due to heavy snow, you will head from Thangnak to Macherma to Dole to Sansa to Namche.
It’s a True Himalayan Expedition, Not Just a Trek
All three high passes are covered with snow, and there are also icy features you will come across. And it is here that you have to put a micro spike on your trekking boot so that you do not slip. Cho La Pass is icy, so you would have to be more careful here; on the other hand, Kongma La Pass is difficult. Since you will be in the pass, a good trekking gear is a must, so you have to have all these things before you start trekking, such as a Down Jacket, trousers, a Wind cheater, Trekking shoes, Leg gaiters, a Sleeve shirt, gloves, a woolen cap, sunglasses, and sun cream.
In addition to this, you have to have an experienced guide who leads you and who has an in-depth knowledge of the Everest Region, ensuring your safety throughout the round trip. But the most important one is travel insurance, and its coverage must include the ascent of 5500 m plus, because this is the height you would be at.
When you have all of these for the Everest Region, then you would have to start the time to see the spectacular beauty of the region as you walk off the beaten path, overcoming difficulties and harsh conditions, as well as crossing crevasses and rocks. And as you look around, you receive more than you seek.
Everest Three High Passes Trek is a means to check the physical limits that you are proud of and ready to display in the world’s famous trekking region, called the Everest, where the hard work pays off immediately. The mountains are calling you, so it is time to respect them, but before that, you have to do an uphill walk, improve the muscles of your legs, and work on cardiovascular, last but not least, improve your mental capacity for more than 30 days to do only one thing: the Everest Three High Passes Trek.
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