In the beginning:
On 24th April, I arrived in Kathmandu after a hectic flight from Dhaka. I stayed at a small hostel in Thamel and purchased some essentials for my trip. The next day, I flew to Lukla, a small town in the Solu-Khumbu region, known for being the starting point for many treks in the Everest region, including the Three Pass trek. The landing at the world’s most dangerous airport was a bit scary, but I was ready to embark on my journey.
The Hiking:
From Lukla, I hiked to Monjo, where I spent the night. The next day, I continued my hike to Namchey Bazar, a popular stop for trekkers on their way to the Everest Base Camp. I met two of my friends here who were already exploring the area and had been to the Gokyo Lakes. We spent two days in Namchey Bazar, relaxing, and acclimatizing before starting our Three Pass trek.
Namchey Bazar is a historic and culturally rich town, with a long-standing history of trade and commerce between the Sherpa people and the Tibetans. The town is also known for its traditional Sherpa culture, including the vibrant and colorful Namchey Bazaar, which is a popular spot for shopping and exploring the local culture.
Namchey Bazar to Panboche to Dingboche
From Namchey Bazar, I continued my journey with my friend toward Panboche, where we stayed at the Everest Summit Lodge. The hike was challenging but the view was magnificent, making it all worth it. We spent the morning exploring the village and visiting the monastery before continuing our journey to Dingboche.
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Dingboche is a small village located at an altitude of 4,360 meters and is known for its spectacular views of the surrounding mountains, including Ama Dablam and Island Peak. The village is also famous for its lodges and tea houses that offer a comfortable stay for trekkers, making it a popular stop on the Three Pass trek. In Dingboche, I attempted to acclimatize by exploring the surrounding areas and sipping on a hot Italian coffee, and savoring an Apple Pie at a local cafe.
Dingboche to Chukhung
The next day, we left Dingboche for Chukhung, which was a challenging hike but the view of the surrounding peaks made it all worth it. Chukhung is a remote village located in the Everest region and is known for its stunning views of the surrounding peaks, including Nuptse and Lhotse. We were lucky to have clear weather and could see all the mountains around us, including the mighty Everest in the distance.
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The following day, we hiked to the Chukhung Ri viewpoint, which offered breathtaking views of the surrounding peaks and valleys. The hike was a mix of tough and easy but the view from the top was simply breathtaking. Chukhung is also known for its historic significance as it was once a popular stop for Tibetan traders traveling to and from the Solu-Khumbu region.
Chukhung to Lobuche via Kongma La Pass
The next day, we continued our journey towards Lobuche via the Kongma La Pass, which was one of the toughest days of my life. The hike was challenging and we even lost our route while crossing the glacier. However, we finally made it to Lobuche and celebrated our accomplishment with hot tea and good company.
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Dzonghla and Pheriche
Although we had originally planned to visit the Everest Base Camp and Kala Patthar, we decided to turn back and visit the Cho La Pass and Gokyo Lake instead. Unfortunately, my friend suffered an injury, and we made the difficult decision to end our journey and return to Namche Bazar. On the way, we stopped in the beautiful village of Pheriche, where we were able to appreciate the magnificent trails and magical clouds passing through the valley.
The Return Namche Bazar and Lukla
We arrived in Namche Bazar and took a well-deserved break, relaxing and playing 8-ball over with cold beer. The next day, we started our return journey to Lukla and took an early morning flight back to Kathmandu.