The highest mountain pass on Nepal's main trekking routes is the Kongma La at about 5,535m (18,159ft), the tallest of the three high passes on the Everest Three Passes trek. A trekking pass is a high gap in a mountain ridge that walkers cross on foot with a guide, with no ropes or technical climbing, although the thin air and fast weather still make it a serious day.
Why high passes are the heart of a Nepal trek
Nepal's classic treks are often shaped around one big pass, the day everything else builds toward. A pass links two valleys that would otherwise take days to travel between. Crossing one is the moment a trek stops being a walk up a river and becomes a real mountain journey: up before dawn, over the top in the cold, and down into a new world on the far side.
The Everest Three Passes trek strings together the three highest passes in the Everest region into one loop. Kongma La, Cho La and Renjo La each clear 5,300m, and the route joins them with the Everest Base Camp trail and the Gokyo lakes. Over in the Annapurna region, the whole Annapurna Circuit aims at a single high point, and on the Manaslu side the Larkya La does the same job. If you want the full Everest Three Passes trek, or a first taste of a big crossing with our guide to crossing Thorong La pass, the passes below are the ones that matter.
Nepal's highest trekking passes, by height
Kongma La is the highest of them all at about 5,535m, and six more major passes follow it down the list. Published heights differ from map to map, so each figure below is the most-cited one, with the common range noted where it is wide.
| Pass | Height (m) | Height (ft) | Route |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kongma La | about 5,535 | 18,159 | Everest Three Passes (highest) |
| Cho La | about 5,420 | 17,782 | Everest, Gokyo to Base Camp |
| Thorong La | about 5,416 | 17,769 | Annapurna Circuit high point |
| Renjo La | about 5,360 | 17,585 | Everest, Gokyo to Thame |
| Kang La (Nar Phu Valley) | about 5,320 | 17,454 | Nar Phu to Annapurna Circuit |
| Larkya La | about 5,106 | 16,752 | Manaslu Circuit high point |
| Laurebina La (Gosaikunda) | about 4,610 | 15,120 | Langtang-Gosaikunda-Helambu |
About 5,535m down to about 4,610m is the spread here, from Kongma La at the top to the Gosaikunda pass at the bottom, a difference of some 925 metres. The heights are given as approximate because a mountain pass has no single fixed number: different surveys and maps mark the crossing point a little differently. That is why Renjo La is quoted anywhere from 5,345m to 5,465m, a spread of 120 metres for one pass.
The three Everest passes: Kongma La, Cho La, Renjo La
Kongma La, at about 5,535m (18,159ft), is the highest of the three Everest passes, with published heights ranging from 5,528m to 5,550m. Because it is the tallest of the loop, most walkers find it the biggest single effort of the whole trek. Tip: as the highest of the three, it is best saved for later in the loop, once your body has more days at altitude behind it.
Cho La, at about 5,420m (17,782ft), links the Gokyo valley with the Everest Base Camp trail, and sources put it anywhere from 5,330m to 5,420m. It is the pass that ties the two most famous corners of the Everest region together, so many people cross it even when they skip the third pass. Tip: watch the morning weather closely, since fresh snow makes this crossing much harder and slower.
Renjo La, at about 5,360m (17,585ft), sits between Gokyo and the village of Thame, with a wide quoted range of 5,345m to 5,465m. Of the three Everest passes it is the lowest, which is why the order from highest to lowest runs Kongma La, then Cho La, then Renjo La. Tip: being the lowest of the three, Renjo La makes a sensible first pass if you are linking them together.
Kongma La, Cho La and Renjo La together form the Everest Three Passes loop, crossed one at a time on a single circuit. You do not have to do all three; many people pick one or two and still call it a big trip. Doing the full set, in either direction, is one of the tougher walking routes in the Everest region.
Thorong La: the high point of the Annapurna Circuit
Thorong La, at about 5,416m (17,769ft), is the single high point of the Annapurna Circuit, and most sources agree on a tight range of 5,414m to 5,416m. Almost everyone who walks the full circuit crosses it in one long day, up before dawn and down the far side by afternoon.
5,416m makes Thorong La the third-highest pass on this list, just below Cho La at about 5,420m. The two are almost the same height, only about 4 metres apart, though they sit in different regions: Cho La in the Everest area and Thorong La on the Annapurna Circuit. For many trekkers Thorong La is the first pass above 5,400m they ever attempt, which is why it draws so much attention. Tip: leave before dawn so you cross before the wind builds, and keep warm layers within reach for the cold at the top.
Kang La, Larkya La and Laurebina La
Kang La, in the Nar Phu Valley of Manang, sits at about 5,320m (17,454ft) and links the Nar Phu valley to the main Annapurna Circuit. Always picture the Nar Phu Valley when you hear this name, because several passes in Nepal are called Kang La and they are easy to mix up. At about 5,320m it is one of the higher crossings on this list, carrying walkers from the remote Nar Phu valley back onto the main Annapurna Circuit. Tip: treat the Nar Phu side as remote country, and cross with a guide who knows the line over the top.
Larkya La, at about 5,106m (16,752ft), is the high point of the Manaslu Circuit. It is lower than the big-name Everest and Annapurna passes here, but the Manaslu route is remote, so the crossing still feels wild and committing. Tip: plan an early start and watch the weather, since help is a long way off on this route.
Laurebina La, the Gosaikunda pass, stands at about 4,610m (15,120ft) on the Langtang-Gosaikunda-Helambu route. At just over 4,600m it is the gentlest crossing on this list, which makes it a good choice for a first high pass. Tip: as the lowest pass here, it is a good place to learn how your body handles a high crossing before trying a 5,400m one.
5,106m and 4,610m, the heights of Larkya La and Laurebina La, show that not every big pass has to top 5,400m. The Larkya La on the Manaslu Circuit and the Laurebina La on the Gosaikunda route are lower than the Everest and Annapurna passes, but they still cross serious high country where weather and altitude matter. A smaller number on the map does not mean an easy day at this height.
These are walks, not climbs, but altitude makes them serious
All seven passes here are crossed on foot by trekkers with a guide, not by roped climbers. You do not need an ice axe or technical climbing skill for any of them in normal trekking conditions. What makes them serious is the height and the weather. A pass can be calm and clear at dawn and shut by snow and wind within a few hours, which is why guides push for an early start and a fast crossing.
5,000m is the rough line where thin air becomes the main challenge on these passes. The walking itself is not hard in good weather, but the height slows everyone down and makes altitude sickness a real risk if you climb too fast. Fresh snow can turn a gentle slope into a slow, route-finding problem, and a whiteout can hide the trail completely. This is why every pass on this list is best done with a guide who knows the ground and the timing.
What crossing a 5,000m pass is actually like
3 or 4 in the morning is when most pass days begin. You eat breakfast by headlamp, step out into the cold and start climbing in the dark, so that you reach the top with plenty of daylight to spare. The early start is not about the sunrise. It is about crossing before the afternoon, when wind and cloud tend to build over the high ground.
At 5,000m, dawn is cold, often well below freezing, and the air holds far less oxygen than you are used to. You walk slowly, breathe hard and stop often, even where the slope does not look steep. Reaching the top of a high pass feels like a real achievement, and most people spend only a few minutes there before the cold pushes them on.
Larkya La and Thorong La, like every pass here, save a long descent for the far side. After the top comes a drop that is often longer and steeper than the climb up, down to the next valley and village. Tired legs and loose ground make the descent its own challenge, and many trekkers find their knees and feet suffer more going down than their lungs did going up. A good pass day is judged by how you feel at the bottom, not only at the top.
How to get ready for a high pass
- Acclimatise slowly: gain height gradually and sleep low before any pass above 5,000m.
- Start early: most guides leave before sunrise so you cross the top before the wind and cloud build.
- Watch the weather: fresh snow can hide the trail and turn a simple pass dangerous.
- Go with a guide: a licensed guide knows the route, the timing and the early signs of altitude sickness.
- Save energy for the descent: the long drop on the far side is often harder on the knees than the climb up.
Common questions about Nepal's high passes
What is the highest pass on a Nepal trek?
The Kongma La, at about 5,535m (18,159ft), is the highest pass on Nepal's main trekking routes and the highest of the three passes on the Everest Three Passes trek. Published heights for it range from 5,528m to 5,550m.
How high is the Thorong La pass?
Thorong La sits at about 5,416m (17,769ft), the high point of the Annapurna Circuit. Most sources give a tight range of 5,414m to 5,416m, and nearly every full-circuit trekker crosses it in one long day.
Which is higher, Kongma La or Cho La?
Kongma La is higher. At about 5,535m it stands above Cho La at about 5,420m and Renjo La at about 5,360m, so the order of the three Everest passes from highest to lowest is Kongma La, Cho La, then Renjo La.
Do you need climbing skills to cross these passes?
No, all seven passes are trekking passes crossed on foot with a guide, with no ropes or technical climbing in normal conditions. The real challenges are the altitude above 5,000m and the fast-changing weather, not the climbing.
Where is the Kang La pass?
The Kang La on this list is in the Nar Phu Valley of Manang, at about 5,320m (17,454ft), linking Nar Phu to the main Annapurna Circuit. Several passes in Nepal share the name Kang La, so it helps to always say "Nar Phu Valley" to be clear.
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