Trek the Khumbu High Passes

The Solo Khumbu, the basis of the highest mountain in the world and the home land of the famous Sherpa people. For a long time, this spectacular and spiritual mountain area has been attracting ambitious trekkers and mountaineers from all over the world. During this challenging trek you will visit the most beautiful and most spectacular view points of the entire Solo Khumbu. You trek across the Renjo La (5390m), Cho La (5420m) and Kongma La (5535m) and climb to the summits of challenging peaks of around 5500m that gives you the absolutely stunning views of the Solo Khumbu and this beautiful and unique part of the Himalayas.

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+ Trip description

Part 1 - The trek to Namche Bazar

To use your time effectively, we suggest that you fly to the Solo Khumbu from Kathmandu. Our destination is the little mountain airport of Lukla with its spectacular runway! The views from the small plane are amazing, providing dramatic views of terraced hills and the distant Himalayan peaks. From the moment you land in Lukla you will find yourself in the most beautiful mountain sceneries you will find in the entire Himalayas. The green Dudh Kosi Valley (milk river) leads you through deep, green valleys to the pleasant trade center of Namche Bazar. In Namche we will take our first important acclimatization day by exploring this busy mountain village and by making a trip to a few stunning Everest view points and the Everest museum.

Part 2 - Across Renjo La (5390m)

In the second part of this High Passes trek we trek the old Tibetan trade route from Namche Bazar in the direction of Cho Oyu at the Tibetan border. Renjo Valley is a peaceful valley with small Sherpa villages next to wild and high mountains. In a few days time we climb to the remote and wild alpine areas of the Renjo pass. Renjo La is 5390m high and is reached by trekking across small alpine trails and rocky moraines untill you reach large stone steps near its summit. From this pass you will get your first spectacular view of Everest and its stunning surroundings. What's left is a long and tiring descent across glaciers and snowfields to the beautiful village of Gokyo at the banks of its deep blue, green glacial lake!

Part 3 - Gokyo Ri (5340m) & across Cho La (5420m)

In the third part of this trek, we explore surroundings of the Gokyo Valley. One of the options is to climb Gokyo Ri (5340m) and trek to a series of very important and protected glacial lakes (wetlands). Whatever we decide to do, expect to get one spectacular view after the other. Everest, Cho Oyu, Lhotse, Nuptse you name it, they just cannot be missed. You're in the middle of the Himalayas, the landscapes of rock, glaciers, snow, ice and giant white peaks and even higher mountain passes.

Part 4 - Cho La (5420m), Everest Base Camp (5300m) & Kala Pattar (5600m)

Our next goal is Cho La (5420m). From Gokyo, we slowly trek across the ever changing Ngozumpa glacier to the base of Cho La. After so many days at high altitude, we should be able to climb this pass without any serious difficulties. However, it will still be a challenging climb that we start early to avoid Cho La's infamous stone fall. The climb involves some scrambling now and then at the steeper sections, but finally, another stunning view opens up for you at the pass itself. Well done! We find a way to climb to the Cho La glacier and carefully trek across it's slope to the rocks that lead to the wide valley below, a long way down. Now, we're so close to the Everest Base Camp, we should visit this spiritual place. From Gorak Shep we climb Kala Pattar (5600m) and trek across moraines to the base camp (5300m) before continue our journey. Kala Pattar and Everest Base Camp are spectacular and classic places with a very special atmosphere you will never forget!

Part 5 - Across Kongma La (5535m)

Kongma La (5535m) is our last high goal in this trek. A little below Lobuche we cross another rocky glacier to reach the base of Kongma La and climb to its summit early in the morning. Perhaps you get used to the stunning views, but here's another one, again completely different from the previous passes and summits. The Eastern skyline is dominated with Makalu, Amphu Labtsa, Amadablam and of course many other impressive Himlayan mountains. Below you will see the green alpine areas of Chukung Valley, the gateway to Island Peak and Amphu Labtsa. It's a long decent...

Part 5 - Island Peak Base Camp & Namche Bazar

In the last part of this long trek, we will visit the Imja glacial lake, Island Peak Base Camp or Amphu Labtsa's Northern base camp. This area is so impressive and different from all the other areas in the Solo Khumbu, but that's why this is a great final before we head down to the luxuries of Namche Bazar and Lukla from where we will fly back to hectic Kathmandu.

+ Itinerary & different options

[ Arrival in Kathmandu / free days ]

Khumbu High Passes		Different options
1 - Kathmandu - Briefing 2 - Lukla - Tok Tok 3 - Namche Bazar 4 - Rest & acclimatization 5 - Thame 6 - Marlung 7 - Langden 8 - Renjo Lake 9 - Renjo La - Gokyo 10 - Gokyo 11 - Gokyo	12 - Cho La Base Camp 13 - Cho La - Dzugla 14 - Gorak Shep 15 - Gorak Shep 16 - Kongma La Base Camp 17 - Kongma La - Chukung 18 - Chukung 19 - Dingboche 20 - Namche Bazar 21 - Lukla 22 - Kathmandu	8 days - Namche Bazar Trek 15 days - Everest Base Camp Trek (Classic) Do you prefer a different route or itinerary? Just contact us and we will be more than happy to think with you and organize the tailor made trip you're looking for...

[ End of services / free days / departure / continue travelling ]

+ What's included & excluded in the price?

To make things easy for you, we have put together different service packages that suit most people. However, if you want to make it really special, we also provide full tailor made services. Have a look at the fixed packages first or download a detailed comparison sheet.

» Download Comparison Sheet (pdf)

Full Trekking Service - Pro
The Pro package provides you a full organized trek including all organizational arrangements, a complete professional, experienced staff & crew, all needed equipment, all services and luxuries that makes your entire trek as comfortable as possible. The staff takes care of all tasks and activities, you are not required to help.

Full Trekking Service - Basic
The Basic package provides you a full organized trek including all organizational arrangements, a small professional, experienced staff & crew, essential equipment & services only, without the luxuries of the Pro package. Although professionally organized, this package is much more basic and adventurous, you are required to help with all tasks and activities.

Lodge Service
This package provides you a full organized Lodge trek including all organizational arrangements, a professional, experienced guide and porter service that makes your entire trek as comfortable as possible. You will eat and sleep in cozy lodges on the way where you can easily order your food in yourself, so you will never pay more than you actually need. The food for the guide and porters is included. The porter carries 12kg of luggage, so if you are with 2 persons, you share one porter who carries 24kg for both of you. For the rest, the guide and porter take care of everything for you, just enjoy!

+ How difficult is this trip?

We have rated this Khumbu High Passes trek with C0-D0. This means that it's a intermediate to streneous trip without technical climbing sections. Have a look at a general description of these codes! Below we'll try to describe the specific difficulties of this trip.

[ Note: this trek has been created in a way that everybody with a general health is able to finish the Everest Circuit. A slow and very good acclimatization schedule allows anybody to adapt to the high altitude and to reach daily trekking goals easily. ]

In this trip you start with a spectacular flight to an altitude of 2800m in a small STOL aircraft. You trek across very good trails, though little mountain villages, deep, green valley’s, across suspension bridges and wild rivers up to cold alpine area’s. From Namche Bazar, the main trade center with all tourist facilities, you trek across wide trails to different small settlements in the Renjo Valley, gaining altitude steadily. The crossing and climbs to Renjo La, Gokyo Ri, Cho La, Kala Pattar, Everest Base Camp and Kongma La may be very tiring across unstable moraines where stone fall may occur. The slopes in this trip can be a steep, but there is no technical climbing involved. In this trek you will be staying on a high altitude above 4000m for many days.

In general...
This trek does not require specific experience or skills, although you should feel comfortable walking on steep, rocky, slippery and unstable terrain for at least some parts of the trek.

This trek is open for anybody who is fit. However, if you’re part of a group during demanding activities, you must prepare yourself for working and living in and with a group of people who share the same, common goal! An easy going, flexible attitude is a must.

+ What clothes & equipment do I need?

After booking we will send you a final, detailed clothes & equipment list with all the required clothes and (climbing) equipment that you need for this trip. To get a really good idea what you will get from us, you may download an example equipment list.

» Download an Example Equipment List (pdf)

+ What is the best time to make this trip?

An indication of best seasons to make this trip (stable weather and clear views)

• Spring: March, April, May
• Autumn: October, November, December

Indication of temperatures: (depending on weather conditions)

• Below 5000m varying from: Day time: +10ºC / +30ºC. Night time: -5ºC / +15ºC
• Above 5000m varying from: Day time: -5ºC / +15ºC. Night time: -5ºC / -15ºC

Rain (or snow) may be expected in the lower areas from Lukla to Thyangboche. If you like to try to avoid a late monsoon and possible flight cancellations, you should start this trip from half October. Normally, the weather will be more stable by then. However, mountain storms and fog are unpredictable and can arise quickly, changing trekking & climbing conditions dramatically. Rain, snow and strong winds are always possible.