The three passes trek is the ultimate Everest circuit, it rises from Lukla to Chhukung, crossing the 5535m Kongma La to Lobuche and Everest Base Camp, continuing over the 5420m Cho La to Gokyo, then crossing the 5345m Renjo La to Thame and Namche Bazaar. Only for the truly adventurous. Plan for about 20 days, the maximum elevation is 5535m, the best season for the trek October–November & March–May. Start/Finish is in Lukla. Permits: TIMS card, Sagarmatha National Park permit that you get both in Lukla/Monjo.
The table below shows my itinerary. This are trekking times only; stops are not included. I was aiming for a slow acclimatization, side trips for that purpose in Namche, Dingboche and Chhukung before doing the first pass. From day 7 to 14 I was always above 4700m and spent another day in Namche to be at the right time in Lukla for my flight back to Kathmandu.
| Day | Section | Hours | height |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lukla to Cheplung | 1:15 | 2850m |
| Cheplung to Phakding | 1:45 | 2640m | |
| Phakding to Benkar | 1:30 | ||
| Benkar to Monjo | 1:00 | ||
| 2 | Monjo to Namche Bazaar | 3:00 | 3450m |
| 3 | Roundtrip Khumjung | 3900m | |
| 4 | Namche Bazaar to Sanasa | 1:00 | |
| Sanasa to Phunki Thenga | 1:30 | ||
| Phunki Thenga to Tengboche | 1:30 | ||
| Tengboche to Deboche | 0:30 | 4000m | |
| 5 | Deboche to Orsho | 0:45 | |
| Orsho to Dingboche | 1:00 | ||
| 6 | Nangkar Tshang | 5083m | |
| 7 | Dingboche to Chhukung | 2:30 | 4750m |
| 8 | Chhukung Ri | 5550m | |
| 9 | Chhukung to Kongma La | 3:30 | 5530m |
| Kongma La to Lobuche | 3:00 | 4910m | |
| 10 | Lobuche to Gorak Shep | 2:30 | 5140m |
| Kala Pattar | 3:00 | 5550m | |
| Gorak Shep to Lobuche | 2:30 | 5140m | |
| 11 | Lobuche to Dzonglha | 3:00 | 4830m |
| 12 | Dzonglha to Cho La | 3:00 | 5420m |
| Cho La to Dragnag | 3:00 | 4790m | |
| 13 | Dragnag to Gokyo | 2:00 | 4790m |
| 14 | Gokyo Ri | 5360m | |
| 15 | Gokyo to Renjo La | 3:00 | 5417m |
| Renjo La to Lumde/Marulung | 3:00 | 4210m | |
| 16 | Lumde/Marulung to Thame | 2:30 | 3820m |
| Thame to Namche Bazaar | 3:00 | 3450m | |
| 17 | Namche Bazaar | 3450m | |
| 18 | Namche Bazaar to Monjo | 3:00 | |
| Monjo to Benkar | 1:00 | ||
| Benkar to Phakding | 1:30 | ||
| 19 | Phakding to Cheplung | 1:15 | |
| Cheplung to Lukla | 1:15 | 2850m |