Everest Base Camp and the Everest Three Passes are the two flagship treks of the Khumbu region, and the right choice comes down to how much altitude, difficulty, and time you want. The classic Everest Base Camp Trek reaches 5,364m over 12 to 14 days and is the more accessible of the two. The Everest Three Passes Trek adds the high crossings of Kongma La, Cho La, and Renjo La to a full 18-day circuit, making it the harder, longer, and more rewarding loop. Most first-time Himalayan trekkers should take EBC; those who already have a high-altitude trek behind them and want the complete Khumbu circuit should take the Three Passes.
The Everest Three Passes Trek is a high-altitude loop through the Khumbu that links the Gokyo, Everest Base Camp, and Chhukung valleys by crossing three passes above 5,300m. The standard Everest Base Camp Trek is an out-and-back route up the main Khumbu valley to base camp and the Kala Patthar viewpoint, without the side passes.
Everest Base Camp: the classic route
Everest Base Camp Trek covers about 130km round trip from Lukla and reaches its high point not at base camp but at Kala Patthar, the 5,545m viewpoint above Gorak Shep. The route runs up the main Khumbu valley through Namche Bazaar at 3,440m, Tengboche monastery at 3,867m, and Dingboche at 4,410m, with acclimatisation days built into the standard 12 to 14 day plan. Everest Base Camp itself sits at 5,364m, and most groups touch it then climb Kala Patthar at dawn for the classic Everest view.
The permits for the Khumbu differ from the Annapurna region: you need a Sagarmatha National Park entry permit (NPR 3,000 plus 13% VAT, about NPR 3,390) and the Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality fee (NPR 2,000 at most operators, though a few have quoted NPR 3,000 since a September 2024 increase), and the TIMS card is not used here. A licensed guide is required as of the April 2023 rules, and our Nepal trekking permits guide breaks down every fee. Annapurna Trekking runs the standard EBC route from USD 1,190 per person.
Namche Bazaar at 3,440m is the first major acclimatisation stop on either route and the gateway town of the Khumbu, with a Saturday market, bakeries, and gear shops. The standard EBC plan builds in a rest day at Namche and a second around Dingboche at 4,410m, climbing to nearby viewpoints like Nangkartshang to aid acclimatisation. These built-in rest days are what make the classic route manageable for first-time high-altitude trekkers despite the 5,364m objective.
Most trekkers reach the Khumbu on the short flight from Kathmandu to Lukla at 2,860m, one of the most dramatic airstrips in the world; during the busy spring and autumn seasons that flight often shifts to Manthali (Ramechhap), a few hours' drive east of Kathmandu, to ease congestion at Tribhuvan International. The walk from Lukla to base camp and back is the heart of the trip, passing Sherpa villages, the Tengboche monastery, and the memorial chortens at Thukla that honour climbers lost on Everest. The EBC route is well-supported with teahouses the whole way, so it offers comfort the more remote passes cannot always match.
Everest Three Passes: the high loop
The Three Passes Trek strings together Kongma La at 5,535m, Cho La at 5,420m, and Renjo La at 5,360m into a single 18-day circuit. Kongma La connects Lobuche to Chukhung and is the highest of the three, a long day over boulder fields with some exposure near the summit. Cho La links the Gokyo valley to the main Khumbu valley across a short glaciated section where crampons sometimes help. Renjo La contributes what many trekkers rate as the finest single panorama of the whole trip, looking back at Everest above the Gokyo lakes.
Because the loop bundles three passes above 5,300m with the Gokyo lakes, Gokyo Ri at 5,357m, and the Everest Base Camp section itself, it packs in far more high-altitude terrain than the classic route. Annapurna Trekking runs the Three Passes from USD 1,850 per person, and you can see the full Everest Three Passes Trek itinerary on its page.
The order you cross the three passes matters for acclimatisation and difficulty. Our standard itinerary climbs the Bhote Koshi valley from Namche toward Thame first, crosses Renjo La (5,360m) into Gokyo on day seven, then Cho La (5,420m) into the main Khumbu valley on day ten, visits Everest Base Camp and Kala Patthar, and finishes with Kongma La (5,535m), the highest and last pass, on day fourteen. This sequence spreads the altitude gain out and saves the hardest pass for when the body has had the most time to adapt. A small number of groups reverse the order depending on snow conditions and teahouse space, and the guide makes that call based on the week's forecast.
Weather and snow can close any of the three passes at short notice, especially Cho La with its glacier section. A well-run Three Passes itinerary keeps a contingency day or two so a closed pass does not end the trek, and a guide who knows current conditions can reroute through the standard EBC valley if needed. This flexibility is one reason the loop is best done as an organised trek rather than improvised.
EBC vs Three Passes: the comparison table
| Factor | Everest Base Camp | Three Passes |
|---|---|---|
| Duration | 12–14 days | 18 days |
| Highest point | Kala Patthar 5,545m | Kongma La 5,535m (+ Kala Patthar 5,545m) |
| Number of 5,300m+ passes | 0 | 3 (Kongma La, Cho La, Renjo La) |
| Difficulty | Strenuous | Very strenuous |
| Scenery | Khumbu valley, Everest, Kala Patthar | Khumbu + Gokyo lakes + 3 pass panoramas |
| Technical sections | None | Glacier crossing at Cho La |
| Cost from (per person) | USD 1,190 | USD 1,850 |
| Best for | First Himalayan high trek | Experienced, acclimatised trekkers |
Difficulty and altitude compared
Both treks reach above 5,300m, but the Three Passes spends far more time in thin air and adds technical exposure that EBC never does. Everest Base Camp is strenuous because of altitude and consecutive long days, yet it follows good trails with no glacier travel and well-spaced acclimatisation stops. The Three Passes is very strenuous: each pass is a 5,300m-plus day, Cho La crosses a small glacier where crampons may be needed, and there are fewer easy bail-out points once you commit to the loop.
Altitude sickness is the main risk on either route, and the higher, longer Three Passes demands a stronger acclimatisation base before you start. Whichever you choose, build in the rest days, climb high and sleep low, and read our altitude sickness prevention guide before departure. Trekkers who have already done EBC or a comparable high trek are far better placed to take on the passes safely.
Scenery: what each route gives you
Everest Base Camp delivers the iconic sequence: Namche, Tengboche monastery, the Khumbu icefall, base camp, and the dawn Everest view from Kala Patthar. The Three Passes keeps all of that and adds the turquoise Gokyo lakes, the panorama from Gokyo Ri, and three separate pass-top views that stack Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, and Cho Oyu in different combinations. If maximum and varied mountain scenery is your goal and you have the days and the legs, the loop is unmatched in the Khumbu.
Gokyo Ri at 5,357m is the scenic centrepiece of the loop and arguably a better Everest viewpoint than Kala Patthar, looking across the Ngozumpa glacier, Nepal's longest at 36 kilometres, to four 8,000m peaks at once. The string of six Gokyo lakes below it are among the highest freshwater lakes in the world and turn a deep turquoise in clear autumn light. EBC trekkers never see this side of the Khumbu, which is the single biggest scenic argument for choosing the passes.
Renjo La at 5,360m adds a view many trekkers rate as the finest of the whole circuit, framing Everest perfectly above the Gokyo lakes. The descent from Renjo La toward Thame follows an old Tibetan trade trail through villages far quieter than the main EBC valley. This blend of top-tier scenery and trails with few other trekkers is what sets the Three Passes apart from the busy classic route.
Who should choose which
Choose Everest Base Camp if it is your first Himalayan high trek, you have two weeks, and you want the iconic objective without glacier travel or back-to-back high passes. Choose the Three Passes if you are an experienced, well-acclimatised trekker who can commit the full 18 days and wants the hardest, most scenic Khumbu circuit. If you are deciding between the Everest and Annapurna regions entirely, our Annapurna vs Everest Base Camp comparison weighs the two against each other.
The Three Passes trek costs roughly USD 660 more than EBC and takes four extra days on the ground, and that gap is the practical decider for most trekkers. The loop only makes sense if you can commit the full 18 days and arrive with a solid high-altitude base already built. Trekkers short on either should take the classic EBC route now and save the passes for a return trip, since EBC is the natural training ground for the loop.
Best time to walk either route is the same: spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) give the clearest, most stable weather, while monsoon clouds the views and winter brings deep snow and a real risk of closed passes. Autumn is the most popular season for both treks, so booking early secures teahouse space on the busy main valley. Whichever season you pick, the passes demand more snow tolerance than the classic valley, which stays open more reliably.
Plan your Everest trek
Annapurna Trekking runs both routes as small private groups with TAAN-certified local guides, structured acclimatisation, and transparent all-inclusive pricing from USD 1,190 for EBC and USD 1,850 for the Three Passes. As the dedicated trekking brand of Swotah Travel and Adventure, founded in 2016 in Budhanilkantha, Kathmandu, we match the route to your experience and dates. Compare the full Everest Base Camp Trek and Everest Three Passes Trek pages, then contact our team to plan your 2026 departure.
