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Three Passes Trek, is where the journey to the top of the world really starts. With 360-degree mountain views (mountains as far as the eye can see!), this is the REAL taste of the Himalayas.
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The Three Passes Trek is an all-year excitement to venture, which brings with it a variety of delectable options specific to each season. For instance, the spring will captivate you with mesmerizing views of blooming rhododendrons and swaying woods. The second best season falls between September to November when the rainfalls have just stopped, and mountains are awaiting the season’s snow. Be amused with the unbelievable clear sights of the highest massif of the world. WOW!
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A scenic crossing of Renjo La Pass through the glacier to reach pristine Gokyo Lakes. These lakes are crystal clear lakes where beautiful fairies fly at midnight. Also renowned as the highest freshwater lake system globally, Gokyo Lake is endearing and a must-go place to visit in all seasons. Relish the romantic ambiance as you approach the yogi-still lakes in the core of a cold, frozen desert!
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The Three Passes at no man’s land awaits adventuresome souls to traverse at 5,000 meters. Kongma La (5,540m) is considered the most difficult as it pushes you past your limits - but the sense of achievement afterwards is well worth the effort. After that, Cho La Pass (5,420m) introduces you to four of the six highest peaks in the world- – Mt. Everest (8,848m), Mt. Lhotse (8,516m), Mt. Makalu (8,470m), and Cho Oyu (8,201m) and many other known peaks.
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This trek traverses in a way that can help minimise the risk of altitude-related sickness (ie. Acute Mountain Sickness). Taking the counterclockwise route towards Everest Base Camp compared to the traditional route allows for a more gradual ascent, giving you more time to acclimatize. This diversion is also beneficial as the trek is less crowded, and you get to have more fun in lodges communicating with locals and cherishing solitude in wild views of the Himalayas. From EBC the trail redirects westwards through the always moving glaciers and crosses the famous passes into Gokyo Lakes before descending back to Namche Bazar. Sounds interesting, right?!
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Sagarmatha National Park: A protected area in the Himalayas dominated by snow-capped mountains including Mount Everest (Sagarmatha), and encompasses glaciers, valleys, and trails. It is home to many species of rare animals and birds like the snow leopard, musk deer, and red panda.
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The Solu-Khumbu region is the homeland of the Sherpas, Buddhist people who migrated there from the Tibetan plateau around the 15th century. Get acquainted with the rich culture, tradition and mountaineering history of the guardians of the Himalayas, the Sherpa people.
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Lukla airport, also known as the Tenzing-Hillary Airport, is situated atop a cliff and drops off downwards at the end of the runway and is sure to be the most adventurous flight you’ve ever undertaken in your life.
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Namche Bazaar, also known as the gateway to Mount Everest, is famous for being a trading point and a resting place for trekkers. Visible from this town are the mountains KongdeRi (6,187m) and Thamserku (6,623m). A fascinating Sherpa Museum sits atop Namche Bazaar.
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Get to know more about Buddhism, as you will find many monasteries in the region. One of the most famous being the Tengboche monastery. It is a beautiful Tibetan Buddhist monastery of the Sherpa community, and trekkers often visit to receive blessings for a successful journey from the Buddhist monks who reside there. You can visit the Khumjung monastery to take a look at the alleged Yeti’s scalp!
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The sacred Khumbila mountain (5,761m), roughly translated as "God of Khumbu", is one of the high Himalayan peaks that people are not permitted to climb due to its holy association. However, it can be enjoyed in the backdrop during this trek.
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Kala Patthar, a notable landmark located above Gorakshep, provides spectacular views of Everest, Nuptse, and Changtse as well as glimpses of the northern flank and summit of Lhotse. Kala Patthar (5545m) is considered the highest altitude most will reach without a climbing permit, which must be obtained in Kathmandu, at the Nepal Mountaineering Association.
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The Khumbu Glacier is located between Mount Everest and the Lhotse-Nuptse ridge. With elevations of 4,900 m (16,100 ft) at its terminus to 7,600 m (24,900 ft) at its source, it is the world's highest glacier. The Ngozumpa glacier, sitting below the sixth highest mountain in the world Cho Oyu in Nepal, is considered the longest in the Himalayas, at a length of 36 km (22 mi)!
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If you happen to do this trek in spring, then magnificent rhododendron blossoms await you from the lower stretches between Lukla and Namche. Trust us, it’s worth considering to plan your trek for this time because the experience of trekking through these blossoms is amazing!