Types of equipment and packaging required for Everest Three Passes Treks:
The following checklist should help you with your packing. As a general rule, you should always try to keep the weight of your equipment to a minimum. The packed weight of your trek bag while trekking should be no more than 15 KG.
- Clothing and apparel: Hiking boots, Socks, Trekking trousers/pants, Waterproof over trousers/rain pants, Base layer shirts, Casual shirt, and/or T-shirts, Fleece jacket or warm jumper, waterproof jacket, Sun hat, warm hat, Sunglasses, Thermal gloves, Warm and waterproof over gloves or mittens, trekking poles, small towel
- Accessories: Head torch/Headlamp with spare bulb, batteries, cameras, solar-powered battery chargers, power banks, water bottle, sleeping bag, sunglasses.
- Toiletries: Toilet rolls, hand sanitizer, soap, sunscreen lotion, lip balms, or lip moisturizer.
- First-aid: Small, a personal first-aid kit containing Aspirin, first-aid tape, and plasters (Band-Aids), skin-blister repair kit, Antidiarrhoeal pills, Anti-headache pills, cough and/or cold medicine, Anti-altitude sickness pills: Acetazolamide, Stomach antibiotic: Ciprofloxacin, etc. We don't recommend trekkers to use sleeping pills at high altitudes as they act as a respiratory depressant. Water purification tablets or water filters.
- Important Documents: Passport, Travel Permits.
*Note: Walking poles, down jackets, sleeping bags, etc can be rented in Kathmandu, or we can provide you those items at your request.
Altitude Sickness :
Since this trek is a high-altitude trek, it is obvious that the oxygen concentration in the upper region is relatively low. Thus, the low oxygen levels in your blood may sometime make you feel nauseous, dizzy, etc. One may feel tired easily while trekking above 3000 m. Hardness in breathing, early tiredness, etc is normal during the high altitude trekking. However, if the symptom passes beyond tired muscles and lack of breathing, like the feeling of dizziness, severe headache, urge to vomit, nausea, etc, we recommend our fellow trekkers to stop where they are and immediately report the condition to their guide. If trekking solo, immediately descends the effect may get worse and even leads to death above the point. That is why we recommend taking a professional guide with you if you are trekking above 3500 m altitude. And here at Adventure Altitude Treks, we provide extremely professional guides who will help you avoid such sickness and enjoy the greatness of the vast Himalayas.
Signs and Symptoms of Altitude sickness
Altitude sickness is due to a rapid ascent to higher altitudes (4800 to 11,200 ft or more) due to the decreasing amount of oxygen (low PO2) that occurs at high altitudes. There are three main types of altitude sickness, acute (mild) altitude or mountain sickness (AMS), high-altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE), and high-altitude cerebral edema. The cause of altitude sickness is the decreasing amount of oxygen available as altitude increases.
Early Symptoms of altitude sickness include
- severe headache
- fatigue
- insomnia
- feeling of early tiredness
- loss of breathing, etc
Later symptoms include
- rapid shortness of breath
- extreme fatigue
- respiratory failure
- cerebral edema
- coma
- death
The specialty of Three High Passes Trek with Everest Base Camp:
The trek to the Everest region is always special. Imagine being at the bottom of the world's highest Peak, the thrilling adventure, the terrain that varies from green lush forest to rugged, the massive mountain peaks, trekking through Sagarmatha National Park that houses much rare and endangered flora and fauna, the amazing adventure of landing at one of the world's dangerous airport, passing through ancient trade route at 5000 m above altitude. This trek provides an ultimate and lifetime adventure for those who are willing to accept the challenge.
Difficulty grade:
This trail is considered extreme as trekkers have to walk through the rugged terrain at high altitudes for a minimum of 7-8 hours/day. Trekking in the Himalayas is always challenging, but this trail has surpassed all the other trails in terms of difficulty and extremity. Everest three passes trek is suitable for experienced and passionate hikers who can walk at least 7 – 8 hours on rugged mountain terrain. Someday, you might even have to walk for 8 – 9 hours. Waking at an extreme altitude is challenging; however, with excellent health, a positive attitude, and strong determination, you can achieve the trek successfully. We suggest you involve in physical activities like jogging, running, leg exercise, and swimming a few months before the trip. Previous hiking experience would be a great asset without mandatory and technical skills are not required.
Meals and accommodations:
This is a high-altitude tea-house trek. So accommodations will be on tea-house or local lodges. Facilities of electricity, internet, and western-style toilet are available in lower regions of the trek. Accommodations in the upper region use solar power for electricity so you may have to pay a small amount for charging your devices and Internet(if available). Meals will be mostly local dishes including lentils, rice, curry, pickles, etc.
Transportation:
Fly to and from Lukla by Plane.
Best season for Everest Three Pass Trek:
Spring (September-November) and autumn (March-May) are the best time of the year for the Everest Three Passes Trek. The weather during this season is excellent, and so are the views. However, these two being the peak season, the trail is crowded with trekkers and tea houses are busy. If you want a little less crowd and are willing to invest a little more in winter gear, then early winter ( December to early January ) will be best. We highly recommend any trekkers avoid the monsoon and mid-winter season to trek Three Passes Trek. During Monsoon, the trails are wet and dangerous and the views are not guaranteed due to clouds. While in Winter, most of the teahouse is closed and some parts of the main trails are closed too so you might need to take a dangerous detour.
Guides and Porters:
The team of Adventure Altitude Treks and Expedition co. is one of the most experienced, reliable, hospitable, and respected in Nepal. The agency and team members are all affiliated with Trekking Agency's Association of Nepal (TAAN), Nepal Mountaineering Association(NMA), Nepal Tourism Board, Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation of Nepal, Sustainable Tourism Network, and Himalayan Rescue Association. We will provide a professional and experienced English-speaking guide with sound knowledge of place and trek. With an experience of more than 10 years in this field, we can guarantee your satisfaction.
If you need a porter, we will provide you with 1 porter/2 guests. The porter will be carrying 25 kg maximum (12 -13 kg per person). You will need to carry your day pack yourselves to keep your personal belongings like wallet, mobile and accessories, cameras and accessories, water bottle, dry snacks, torch/headlights, and other personal belongings. For us, the safety of our clients and members comes first. And it is our collective responsibility to ensure safety and security for porters, guides, and guests. You can help to bring safety to our team members by taking only those things which are necessary. We will always be thankful for your acknowledgment.
Everest Three High Pass Trek Permit and Rules
For Everest Three High Pass Trek, you will need TIMS (10 US$) and Sagarmatha National Park (30 US$) entrance permit. The local Government charge of 2000 NPR should be paid while entering Pasang Lhamu V.D.C.
The Local Government strictly follows a clean environment policy which requires travelers to use a bin or to carry it with them until an appropriate place is found.
Local restaurant rules and regulations are to be followed.
Everest Three Passes Trek facts :
Headquarters: Namche Bazar
Language: Tibetian, Nepali, and English
Currency: Nepalese Rupees, US dollar, Euro, etc
Timezone: UTC +5:45
Country Code : +977
Drinking age: 18+
Drinking in public: Allowed
Drinking tap water: unsafe
Flushing toilet paper: not allowed
Credit cards: recommended to carry cash but the card is also acceptable in many places
Tips: depends upon you
SOS call: 100
