Everest Three High Passes Trek — Self-Launched

Land at Tribhuvan International Airport and take a pre-paid airport taxi (NPR 800-1,200 / ~£6-8) or ask your hostel for a pickup into Thamel. Sort out a Nepali SIM (Ncell or NTC, ~£4 for data), withdraw cash and start your TIMS/permits paperwork if your hostel offers help. Evening: dal bhat in Thamel and an early night.

🚌Airport taxi ~£7

🛏Budget hostel or guesthouse in Thamel, £8-15/night

• →Thamel orientation walk
• →Buy SIM card and SIM data package
• →Permit paperwork prep

Do your own permit run: Khumbu Pasanglhamu Rural Municipality permit (NPR 2,000 / ~£12) and Sagarmatha National Park entry (NPR 3,000 / ~£18) — both obtainable at the Nepal Tourism Board office in Kathmandu or at Monjo/Lukla. Then self-guided walk to Kathmandu Durbar Square, Swayambhunath (Monkey Temple) and Boudhanath Stupa; combined entry fees ~£15-20. Organise trekking gear rental in Thamel (down jacket, sleeping bag, poles ~£30-45 for the whole trek).

🚌Local buses/taxis around the city ~£3

🛏Budget hostel or guesthouse in Thamel, £8-15/night

• →Khumbu permit + Sagarmatha National Park entry
• →Swayambhunath and Boudhanath stupas
• →Kathmandu Durbar Square
• →Gear rental in Thamel

Early flight Kathmandu–Lukla (Ramechhap or direct, ~£150-190 one-way booked direct with Tara/Yeti/Summit Air or a local agent; allow buffer days for weather). From Lukla walk ~3-4 hours downhill through Sherpa farm villages to Phakding on the Dudh Koshi, passing mani stones and prayer flags.

🚌Kathmandu–Lukla flight ~£170 + taxi to airport ~£4

🛏Teahouse in Phakding, £4-8/night (included in meals packages)

• →Scenic mountain flight to Lukla
• →Trek Lukla to Phakding (2,610m)

Trek 5-6 hours: cross the Hillary Suspension Bridge, enter Sagarmatha National Park at Monjo (show your permit), then climb the big switchback hill into Namche Bazaar (3,440m). Steep but steady — take the climb slowly.

🚌On foot

🛏Teahouse in Namche Bazaar, £5-10/night

• →Hillary Suspension Bridge
• →Sagarmatha National Park checkpoint at Monjo
• →Trek to Namche Bazaar (3,440m)

Rest day with active acclimatisation: free entry to the Sagarmatha National Park Visitor Centre (Everest climbing history, Sherpa culture, flora/fauna exhibits), then hike up to the Everest View Hotel or to Khunde/Thame for altitude gain and back down to sleep. Browse the Saturday market if your timing lines up.

🚌On foot

🛏Teahouse in Namche Bazaar, £5-10/night

• →Sagarmatha National Park Visitor Centre
• →Acclimatisation hike to Everest View Hotel / Khunde
• →Namche Saturday market

5-6 hours of superb trail along the ridge with Everest, Nuptse, Ama Dablam, Thamserku and Lhotse on show. Drop to the Dudh Koshi at Phunki Tenga, then climb through forest to Tengboche (3,860m) and its famous monastery (small donation, ~£2).

🚌On foot

🛏Teahouse in Tengboche, £5-10/night

• →Ridge trail with Everest, Nuptse and Ama Dablam views
• →Tengboche Monastery visit

Walk 4-5 hours up the Imja Valley past chortens, mani walls and small villages (Deboche, Pangboche, Somare), crossing the Lobuche River before the climb to Dingboche (4,410m). Lunch at a village teahouse en route; optional higher variant beneath Ama Dablam's north face.

🚌On foot

🛏Teahouse in Dingboche, £6-10/night

• →Trek through Imja Valley villages
• →Chortens and mani walls
• →Lobuche River crossing

Short acclimatisation hike to Nagarjuna Hills (Nangkartshang, ~5,083m) for views of Makalu, then descend to sleep low. Big views for 3-4 hours of effort; come straight back down and hydrate.

🚌On foot

🛏Teahouse in Dingboche, £6-10/night

• →Nagarjuna Hills (Nangkartshang) acclimatisation hike
• →Mt. Makalu viewpoint

Easy 3-hour day up the valley to Chhukung (4,730m), Island Peak's base village. Optional afternoon scramble up Chhukung Ri (5,550m) if you're feeling strong — otherwise save energy for Kongma La tomorrow. Check the pass conditions with teahouse owners and other trekkers.

🚌On foot

🛏Teahouse in Chhukung, £6-12/night

• →Trek to Chhukung (4,730m)
• →Optional Chhukung Ri hike
• →Island Peak (Imja Tse) views

The hardest day of the trek: pre-dawn start (4-5am), 7-9 hours up rough moraine and snow to Kongma La (5,535m), then a long, loose descent past Chhukung Pokhari lake over the Khumbu Glacier moraine to Lobuche (4,910m). Doing this without a guide is only advisable if you're experienced and confident with glacier moraine navigation in early-season snow — otherwise hire a local guide in Chhukung (~£40-60/day) or consider taking the easier valley route via Dingboche/Pheriche.

🚌On foot

🛏Teahouse in Lobuche, £6-12/night

• →Kongma La Pass (5,535m) crossing
• →Chhukung Pokhari glacial lake
• →Khumbu Glacier moraine descent

Walk to Gorakshep (5,164m), drop bags at the teahouse, then 2 hours along the Khumbu Glacier to Everest Base Camp (5,364m) — the only section where you follow the shared EBC trail crowds. Return to Gorakshep for the night. Independent trekkers can go to Base Camp without a guide, but you must not cross onto the icefall/Khumbu Icefall side.

🚌On foot

🛏Teahouse in Gorakshep, £8-15/night (priciest on the route)

• →Trek to Everest Base Camp (5,364m)
• →Khumbu Glacier moraine walk
• →Views of Nuptse, Pumori, Khumbutse and Lingtren

4am start for the 2-hour climb to Kala Patthar (5,555m) for the classic Everest sunrise — take it slowly, it's cold and thin air. Back to Gorakshep for breakfast, then descend to Lobuche (2-3 hours), which feels easy after altitude.

🚌On foot

🛏Teahouse in Lobuche, £6-12/night

• →Kala Patthar (5,555m) sunrise viewpoint
• →Mt. Everest panorama

Short, gentle 2-3 hour day crossing the Chola Khola bridge and passing Chola Tsho lake to Dzongla (4,830m) — deliberate easy mileage to set up Cho La tomorrow. Afternoon rest, eat well, scout the pass approach from the village.

🚌On foot

🛏Teahouse in Dzongla, £5-10/night

• →Chola Tsho Lake
• →Chola Khola bridge crossing
• →Trek to Dzongla (4,830m)

Early start for Cho La (5,420m): a steep boulder/scree climb, possibly a snow slope (microspikes useful, rentable in Namche/Lukla), then a long descent past Chola Lake through Dughla/Thangnak to Gokyo (4,750m). 7-9 hours, with a stop for tea/garlic soup mid-way. Again, think carefully about going guide-free over this pass in shoulder season.

🚌On foot

🛏Teahouse in Gokyo, £6-12/night

• →Cho La Pass (5,420m) crossing
• →Chola Lake
• →Descent to Gokyo lakeside

Sunrise hike up Gokyo Ri (5,357m), roughly 2-3 hours up and 1.5 down, for the best single panorama in the Khumbu: Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, Cho Oyu, Cholatse, Tawache. Afternoon stroll along the Gokyo lakes; the energetic can push to the 5th lake under Cho Oyu (~5 hours return) or up to Gokyo's 4th lake.

🚌On foot

🛏Teahouse in Gokyo, £6-12/night

• →Gokyo Ri (5,357m) sunrise hike
• →Gokyo Lakes walk
• →Optional 5th Lake / Cho Oyu base viewpoint

Ascend to Renjo La (5,340m) in 3-4 hours for a front-on Everest/Lhotse wall and Cho Oyu panorama, then descend the far side to the frozen lakes and on to Lungden (4,380m). 6-8 hours total, quieter trail than the other two passes.

🚌On foot

🛏Basic teahouse in Lungden, £5-9/night

• →Renjo La Pass (5,340m) crossing
• →Frozen lakes below the pass
• →Cho Oyu and Nangpa La views

Follow the old Tibetan salt-trade route down the Bhote Koshi valley through Taranga village and a suspension bridge to Thame (3,820m). Visit Khari Gompa monastery and the small Thame Gompa up on the hillside. 4-5 hours of gentle descending.

🚌On foot

🛏Teahouse in Thame, £5-10/night

• →Tibetan trade route along the Bhote Koshi
• →Taranga Village and suspension bridge
• →Khari Gompa monastery

Short 3-hour walk back to Namche Bazaar. Afternoon of real coffee, bakeries and perhaps your first shower in a week — Namche has hot showers for ~£3-4 and Wi-Fi for a few pounds.

🚌On foot

🛏Teahouse or guesthouse in Namche Bazaar, £5-12/night

• →Trek Thame to Namche Bazaar
• →Namche bakeries and cafés

Long final trekking day, 7-8 hours descending via Phakding to Lukla. Celebrate with a cold Everest Beer and confirm your flight out for tomorrow (or the first available slot — keep a buffer day).

🚌On foot

🛏Guesthouse in Lukla, £5-10/night

• →Trek Namche to Lukla via Phakding
• →Flight reconfirmation

Fly Lukla back to Kathmandu (~£150-190; delays are normal — allow a spare day). Transfer to a guesthouse in Thamel and treat yourself to a real bed and a hot shower. Optional extensions if you have time: Pokhara/Phewa Tal or Chitwan National Park (3-4 days, bookable on arrival).

🚌Lukla–Kathmandu flight ~£170 + airport taxi ~£6

🛏Budget hotel or guesthouse in Thamel, £10-18/night

• →Mountain flight to Kathmandu
• →Thamel evening

Slow day: souvenir shopping in Thamel, the Garden of Dreams (entry ~£2) for a quiet coffee, and Patan Durbar Square if you still have energy (taxi ~£3). Get a massage, do laundry, rebook any onward flights.

🚌Local taxis ~£5

🛏Budget hotel or guesthouse in Thamel, £10-18/night

• →Garden of Dreams
• →Patan Durbar Square (optional)
• →Souvenir shopping in Thamel

Airport taxi to Tribhuvan International Airport and fly home. If you're a UK passport holder, check whether you overstayed your 30-day tourist visa (extension ~£25-30 per 15 days, paid at Immigration in Kathmandu).

🚌Airport taxi ~£7

🛏—

• →Airport transfer
• →Visa extension check if needed