Salleri to Everest Base Camp
with 3 High Passes
Salleri to Everest Base Camp Trekking with 3 High Passes
US$ 2340
per personOverview
The trek from Salleri to Everest Base Camp with three high passes is a challenging and adventurous trekking route in the Everest region of Nepal. This trek combines the classic Everest Base Camp trek with the addition of three high passes: Renjo La Pass, Cho La Pass, and Kongma La Pass. These passes offer stunning panoramic views of the Himalayas but require a good level of physical fitness and trekking experience due to their high altitude and rugged terrain.
Day to day itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Kathmandu
After landing at the Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu from your designated destinations, you will be received by a representative of the travel company at the arrival gate who will then transfer you to your allotted hotels. If the time allows, you can either visit the city or relax at the hotel to overcome your jet lag. O/N at Hotel.
Day 2: Familiarisation walk & trek preparation day
Today after breakfast, meet with the guide and walk around Thamel for familiarization. Today we will also examine your trekking gear and help you pack for the trek. In the evening there will be a group discussion for you to attend to discuss the upcoming trekking plans. O/N at Hotel.
Day 3: Drive from Kathmandu to Salleri (2390m) [9-10 hrs]
Early in the morning, we catch a jeep to drive us to Salleri. Salleri is a beautiful Himalayan town; which is 270km far from Kathmandu. The road goes through beautiful landscapes, mountain scenery and natural beauty. We can stop in several spots for photos and videos. As we have a long drive today, we will have an early dinner and go to bed.
Day 4: Drive from Salleri to Thamdanda [5-6 hrs] and trek to Puiyan (2700m) [1 hr]
After breakfast, we drive by a jeep to Thamdanda passing through the Salleri Bazar. The road crosses the Sherpa and Rai villages, beautiful rice traces, and alpine forest. Upon reaching Thamdanda, we will have our lunch here and start hiking to Puiyan village for an overnight stay.
Day 5: Puiyan to Phakding (2650m) [5-6 hrs]
After breakfast at Puiyan, we start our trek to Phakding. The trail goes through the jungle with bamboo bushes descending to the small settlement of Surke village. Surke – is a village where Pasang Lhamu Sherpa (the first Nepali woman to summit Mt. Everest) was born. From here, the trail goes north to a large scattered village with fertile land and reaches Chaurikharka. Stop here at Chaurikharka for our lunch and continue to Phakding. 15 km/9 miles.
Day 6: Phakding to Namche Bazaar (3440m) [6-7 hrs]
For the first couple of hours you will get to cross some of the famous suspension bridges, while gradually moving up-hill towards the entrance to the Sagarmatha National Park, the official entrance to the Everest Region. You continue downhill for a short time before it levels out to flat ground on mixed terrain. The trail then follows the river to the final high suspension bridge before you begin the long ‘Namche Hill’, which can take 2 hours, to reach the Sherpa village of Namche Bazaar. The total for today’s trekking is usually 6 hours long with plenty of breaks and rest along the way. From Phakding to Namche is 11.3 km/7.02 miles.
Day 7: Acclimatisation day at Namche Bazaar
Today is one of our acclimatisation days. As you trek up behind Namche Bazaar, the trail is quite steep and you can feel the lack of oxygen while you ascend 460m/1509ft to Shangbouche Airport, then cross the runway and head another 100m/ 328ft up to Shangbouche Hill at 3,900m/12795ft. We will enjoy the stunning views and relax for 30-45 minutes before returning back to Namche. This trek is an essential part of the acclimatisation process and usually takes approximately 4 hours. 3km/1.8 miles.
Day 8: Namche Bazar to Thame (3800m) [3-4 hrs]
After Namche, we separate from the classical route of Everest Base Camp and walk into the left corner onward Thame Village. It is the oldest village of Sherpa’s, used to be a trade route to Tibet/China. About 150m above the town there is the Thame Gompa, a picturesque monastery set amongst the many homes of Lamas. 9.7km/6 miles.
Day 9: Thame to Lungdeng (4400m) [6-7 hrs]
From Thame the trail heads north to Thame Teng and on through several small villages such as Chanakpa, Taranga, crossing through the yak field to reach Marlung. Today, we walk approximately 6 to 7 hours at a deserted hillside to reach Lungdeng where we will stay overnight at basic Mt. Tea house or at our tented camp if the tea house is not available. This has a great view of Ngazumpa glacier, the biggest glacier of the world.13.6km/8.45 miles.
Day 10: Lungden to Renjo- La (5465m) to Gokyo (4800m) [7-8 hrs]
This day is a big day! Crossing the Renjo La will be one of the more difficult days of the trip due to the altitude and the nature of walking. Typically, the weather is clear in spring from March to May and from September to November thus the prospects for favourable conditions are excellent. Upon reaching the top of Renjola, the views are just outstanding. Walking onward to Gokyo involves a glacier walk where sometimes where careful walking is required, and then the entire walking to Gokyo is via easy walking down. 12.86km/7.9 miles.
Day 11: Gokyo Valley: acclimatisation day – optional hike to Gokyo Ri (5357 m) [3-4 hrs]
We will hike to Gokyo Ri, a small peak above Gokyo village, in the morning and savor the fantastic views of the entire Khumbu region. As we ascend, the views become even more fantastic and we can see four of the seven highest peaks of Nepal, Cho Oyu, Everest, Lhotse and Makalu. Reaching the fourth lake, Thonak Tsho we take pleasure in the lake’s serene beauty after which we trek back along the retracing trail to the third lake. We may take an additional hike up to the fifth lake, Ngozumba Tsho if time permits and depending on our physical conditions. From here, the view of Ngozumba glacier, the longest glacier of the Himalayas, is so fascinating. Overnight in Gokyo. 3km/1.86 miles.
Day 12: Gokyo to Thagnak (4750 m) [4-5 hrs]
If we did not climb the Gokyo Ri the previous day, we can do that today. Climbing to the top of Gokyo Ri is demanding as it is steep and takes about 3 to 4 hours to reach the top. But the scenery of Gokyo village, on the edge of a third lake overlooked by Cholatse and the broad Nogzumpa Glacier, is magnificent. We are surrounded by panoramic mountains like Kusum Kanguru, Thamserku, Kangtega, Taboche, Cholatse, Makalu, Lhotse, Nuptse, Everest, Changtse, and Pumori. The sight of sun rays kissing Everest which towers over all the surrounding peaks is astounding. We trek through the Ngazumpa Glacier to the mountain on the other side. Next, traverse along the edge of that mountain and then meander into Thagnak. It will be a short hike today with an afternoon of rest which will prepare us for long hiking days and elevation gain to come. 4km/2.48 miles.
Day 13: Thagnak to Cho La pass (5367m) to Dzongla (4860m) [7-8 hrs]
Today is going to be one of the toughest days of the trip. The Cho La pass is not itself difficult, but it is steep and involves a glacier traverse on the eastern side. We need to be careful as the trail is vertical and the rocks glazed by ice may cause trouble by making the trail slippery. The trail from Phedi climbs through a ravine and a rocky trail. While trekking through the side of a frozen lake, we reach the top of the pass decorated with prayer flags. The pyramidal Ama Dablam presides over a range of mountains on the south even as Cholatse soars to the west and Lobuche East and Baruntse rises sharply to our right. We need to pass through some crevasses before we reach Dzongla Village. The village provides great views of Cholatse, Ama Dablam, Lobuche Mountains along with the Pheriche Village far below. 7km/4.34 miles.
Day 14: Dzongla to Lobuche (4940 m) [3-4 hrs]
This will be a very short trek so we have a lot of time to relax and enjoy the beauty that surrounds us. We climb down from Dzongla and walk through a grassy trail while enjoying the view of Lobuche Peak. The trail curves through the wide river bed before reaching Lobuche. We can spend the rest of the day taking a rest which will help us prepare for the next day’s long trek. 6km/3.72 miles.
Day 15: Lobuche to Gorak Shep (5170m), visit Everest Base Camp (5364 m) [6-7 hrs]
We take the trail to Everest Base Camp through the once vast Gorak Shep Lake. Continuing straight ahead, we come across the Indian army mountaineers’ memorials. The path from here can be misleading; hence, it is important that wefollow our lead Sherpa diligently. The walk is strenuous due to thin air in the high altitude. We pass through rocky dunes, moraine and streamsbefore reaching the Everest Base Camp. Upon reaching the Everest Base Camp, we see tents of mountaineers that stand out in bright colors against the monotony of gray surroundings (especially in the spring). Nuptse, Khumbuste and Pumori are the mountains we can view from the base camp. We get back to Gorak Shep for a good night’s rest. 13km/8 miles.
However, the sunset view from Kala Patthar is more admirable than the sunrise view, so it is recommended that we visit Kala Patthar today during sunset. As the setting sun’s rays strike the snow-capped mountains, the resulting scenery is incredible. Therefore, for those trekkers who wish to continue to Kala Patthar today instead of the next day please inform your guide and he/she will coordinate accordingly.
Day 16: Gorak Shep to Kala Patthar (5553m), back to Lobuche (4828m) [7-8 hrs]
We prepare for an early morning departure, amid pre-dawn darkness and cold temperatures (-10 to -14 C). Plus, there is always the potential for chilly winds which are quite common. Familiar peaks such as Lingtren, Khumbutse, and Changtse tower to the east even as Everest begins to reveal itself. But it is upon reaching Kala Patthar that we get to see 360 degree up-close and formidable views of Mt. Everest. We take pictures, enjoy the magnificent mountain panorama, and then return back to Lobuche for a good night’s rest. 12.2km/7.58 miles.
Day 17: Lobuche to Kongma La (5535m) to Dingboche (4400m) [6-7 hrs]
After breakfast, we trek via Khumbu Glacier to Kongma La Base Camp (5,000 m/16,404 ft). The ascent to Kongma La pass is the most difficult part of our trek today. In the Kongma La, we see cairns wrapped in prayer flags to mark the pass. Then we descend gradually to Imja Khola valley, followed by another descent to Dingboche. 12km/7.4 miles.
Day 18: Dingboche to Namche Bazaar (3420m) [8-9 hrs]
We gear up for a long day trekking today. We trek through Imja Khola to reach Pangboche village. We will also visit the famous monastery in Pangboche which is believed to be the oldest in the Khumbu region. We then descend down the trail via a green landscape filled with pine forest. The trail further leads to an uphill climb to reach the village of Tengboche. We pay our visit to the Monastery and descend down to Dudh Koshi River. We climb the hillside and entered Namche Bazaar. Overnight, we stay in Namche. 20km/12.42miles.
Day 19: Namche Bazar to Lukla (2652m) [7-8 hrs]
This long day can be one of the hardest as your body is tired after the trek. You start the day going back down Namche Hill and then the long stretch back to Lukla. You will pass Phakding before starting the last uphill section into Lukla where we will sleep for one more night. Today’s trek can take 7 to 8 hours. 21km/13 miles.
Day 20: Fly back to Kathmandu (1300m) [35 minutes flight]
Today your legs get a break as you only have to trek to Lukla Airport and fly back to Kathmandu, which is only about 10 minutes walking. Overnight at Kathmandu Hotel. Today, we will go to one of Nepal’s authentic restaurants & will have Nepali dinner with some traditional Nepali songs and dances. O/N at Hotel.
Day 21: Departure to the Airport
Today, we will take you to the Airport approximately 3 hours before your scheduled flight.