How much does trekking for 17 days in the Himalayas whilst doing the Three Passes in Nepal cost?
I am glad you asked, as in this article I’ve got you covered for all costs I covered whilst trekking, what I think is, one of the best trails anywhere in the world.
What are the Three Passes?
If you’re unfamiliar with the Three Passes. I guess you shouldn’t be because you’re here for what trekking the Three Passes in Nepal cost, but I’ll give you a little summary to get your lips a little wetter at the prospect of trekking in Nepal.
The Three Passes is rightly named after the three high passes it takes you through whilst traveling through the Khumbu region in Nepal.
Known as one of the more challenging treks in Nepal, it’s a great alternative to the more frequently trekked routes such as Everest Base Camp, Gokyo Lakes, and the Annapurna Circuit.
Personally, the Three Passes is the best out of the bunch, as not only do you have three challenging passes to face. You can also take in the commonly visited places in Khumbu. Easy side treks such as Ama Dablam basecamp, Island Peak basecamp, Everest basecamp, Kala Pattar, Gokyo Ri, and Lakes can all be done as side missions in this epic quest in the Khumbu.
The three passes are (Anti-Clockwise):
– Kongma La | 5550m
– Cho La | 5420m
– Renjo La | 5360m
Accommodation: Three Passes in Nepal Cost Breakdown
If you’re new to trekking in Nepal, you might not be familiar with teahouses.
Common along the route. Small guesthouses will offer you a well-deserved rest bite after some miles in the legs, energy exerted, and a hunger for some of the best food I’ve tasted anywhere in the world.
Teahouses are amazing, and unlike any accommodation, I’ve ever stayed in.
Beautiful hosts will let you stay for around £3~ a night, provided you eat your dinner and your breakfast with them.
Some of these rooms will give you the best views of your entire life. To think you’ve paid less than £5 for it. It’s wild!
16 Nights – £52 | 7500NPR
Food: Three Passes in Nepal Cost Breakdown
This will likely be your best expense during the trek. Outside your international flights.
But ensuring you’re eating enough to fuel your trek is an important mission to accomplish. Especially when you’ve got a heavy pack on your back, and you’ve got some miles in the legs.
I didn’t eat meat whilst I was in the mountains. Worried about getting sick, and in fairness, the selection of meat isn’t too great.
Mountain food is amazing though.
Dal Baht is the best thing on the menu if you’re wanting a real feed. Often will come with unlimited re-fills, so get stocked up and get as much in as you can. What is also nice about Dal Baht is that every Teahouse makes it slightly different. Even though it’s the same meal, it can taste and look different. It helps!
Other than Dal Baht, you’ve got momos, stews, bread, omelets, oats, etc.
As expected, the food will get more and more expensive the higher elevations you reach. After all, someone’s got to carry it in for you!
That said, it was all reasonably priced, and always got a lovely cooked meal after a long day in the mountains.
I ate breakfast, lunch, and dinner every single day. This cost includes a snack per day, and at least 1 or 2 black teas to warm the soul.
All food and drink: £304 | 46030NPR
Extras: Three Passes in Nepal Cost Breakdown
There weren’t too many other expenses on the trip, so this isn’t too important.
However, you might have to buy things like wet wipes, new socks, tablets, souvenirs, replace some gear, or anything unexpected.
Wifi is mostly free at the lower altitudes but will carry a 500NPR (~£3) price tag as you progress further up into the mountains.
My extras included WiFi at most places passed Chukung, new socks in Namche, and the world’s most expensive loo roll in Gokyo at over £5.
This stung a little because I’d just watched a Chinese lady use 9539328 napkins to finish the pack just to blow her nose.
Wouldn’t mind but the event I needed it for turned out to be a phantom one anyway!
All Extras: £52 | 7500NPR
Three Passes in Nepal Cost Breakdown
Accommodation: £52 | 7500NPR
Food and Drink: £304 | 46030NPR
All Extras: £52 | 7500NPR
TOTAL: £410 | 61630NPR
This was what I spent on the trail whilst trekking the Three Passes.
An important note is that you need to carry cash for the entirety of the trail. There are some ATMs in Namche Bazaar and Dingboche. But I wouldn’t rely on them and would look to take all budgeted cash out with me when leaving Kathmandu.
Other Costs to Factor Into The Three Passes
First and foremost you’re going to have to get an international flight to Kathmandu, Nepal.
That’ll vary from whichever country you’re flying out of, but I’ve always tried to book 6-8 weeks in advance for the best prices.
Websites I use for booking flights:
Skyscanner
Kayak
Also note that I did this trek completely solo without the aid of a guide, or a porter. Out of choice, but if you want to hire either then be my guest.
You can expect to pay between £15-£20 a day for a guide.
You can expect to pay between £10-£15 a day for a porter.
They will also expect a small tip at the end of the trial, so something to factor in if you want a guide and a porter.
Getting to Lukla
The trail starts in Lukla, well technically Jiri, but if you want to add another 2-3 days to an already 16-20 day trek, then be my guest.
Flying to Lukla is your best bet, and it’s easily done.
Flights in and out of Lukla are notoriously deemed as the scariest flights in the world, but the flight I got wasn’t too bad and it was better than the alternatives:
– Walk for another 5-6 days.
– Get a 12+ jeep through the mountains.
Costs for the Lukla flight will vary. But expect to pay between £80-£130 for a flight in and out of Lukla.
I would book your flight from KTM to Lukla as soon as you know what day you want to start the trek, and then I would leave the return flight for when you’re back in Namche. Someone in a teahouse can book it for you, or you can just rock up to the airport and wave some rupees and they’ll let you on.
Final Cost Breakdown of Three Passes
Accommodation: £52 | 7500NPR
Food and Drink: £304 | 46030NPR
All Extras: £52 | 7500NPR
Lukla Flights: £250 | 37500NPR
Permits: £33 | 5000NPR
TOTAL: £693 | 104,130NPR
As an ending piece, this is the rough cost you can expect when trekking the Three Passes in Nepal.
Hike your own hike, and please don’t expect these to reflect your own trek. How you live and spend your time on the trail might be different from mine.
If you were to hire a guide, and a porter then expects the costs of the total trip to raise by around £450-£550.
As an absolute necessity, you should also have suitable mountain insurance that covers you for peaks above 5000m.
I used SnowCard for my insurance and thankfully didn’t need it.
Want to know what to pack for your Three Passes trek?
Ultimate Nepal Trekking Packing List Guide
Want to know an itinerary for your Three Passes trek?
18 Day Three Passes Nepal Itinerary Guide
Can you trek in Nepal without a Guide?
Guide on whether you can go solo or not
If you’ve any questions about the Three Passes trek, then drop them in the comments below and I’ll be happy to help.
Explore Strong
Walking in from Jiri adds minimum of 6 days, walking out 5 days, not 3. From Phaplu it is 4 days. These include the bus/jeep transportation to the trailhead. Surely it adds days, but those are not wasted, it is a different and fulfilling cultural experience. Not all trekking needs to be done among the high mountains.
Thanks for the information, Petrus. I’ll add it to the post!
You forgot to add cost of the permits.
I realised that once I’d published. Thanks for the feedback, Sultan!
Thank you for taking some time to write…
Reading this giving me an insight of what it would be like if I were to do it…
You’re most welcome, Lynn! If you’ve any questions, come back and I’ll be happy to help where I can!
Thanks so much for all of the info, very generous of you to share it with us. Can I ask what rucksack you USDC please and the weight of your pack minus photography equipment?
Hello Denise. I used the LowePro Powder 500AW backpack, and it’s camera specific pack and not a hiking backpack. Right now I am using a Hyperlite Mountain Gear Southwest and It’s the best pack I own. Weight wise, genuinely no idea – sorry.
Thanks for this Lou. I am looking to do the three passes trek solo in April next year. I have been to Nepal before and done the Annapurna circuit (not with a guide) but aside from that my trekking experience is fairly limited. Would you recommend a guide for this? Or is the trail fairly busy and is there a good chance of meeting people on the way?
Hey Daniel. Three Passes is a great trip, and if I were to do it again I’d try and add on Island Peak (from Chukung) or Lobuche peak to the itinerary. Easy to get a guide, and gear, at the villages. The trail itself will be busy, and I’ve just got back from doing Three Peaks (Mera, Island, and Lobuche) and the teahouses were full of people doing the Three Passes. Enjoy!
Hi Lou, we’re about to start the three passes trek and super interested in doing one of the peaks (Mera / Island) whilst we’re there, so knowing that’s possible without coming back to Kathmandu is amazing news.
I assume we will need to carry extra cash for hiring gear (we will have normal kit for three passes) and guide / cook / porter? If so, could you give any idea of budget? We plan to do this at the end of the three passes so will be well acclimatised and would like to move more quickly than the average group just setting out from Kathmandu. Any advice or help gratefully received.
Dan
Probably looking at around 600-1000USD off of the top of my head. Doubt you’ll be able to do Mera and you’d be better off setting your sights for Lobuche or Island. Probably Lobuche if you’re doing the passes anti-clockwise as you’d have spent some time in the higher regions. Mera is a long way off of the Khumbu, and passing the Amphu Lapsa pass is notoriously difficult and was one of my harder days when I did the Khumbu 3 Peaks (Mera, Island and Lobuche).
Safe trip.
About Mera: Lobuche East climb adds only a few days to a 3 Passes trek, but Mera does not require the 2+ weeks a plain Mera “expedition” would. This is because a well acclimated and trail hardened trekker can get to Mera and back from Lukla in about 9 days straight over Zatrwa La pass. I is also easily possible to summit straight from so called Mera BC without overnighting at the “high camp”. One TripAdvisor forum member had even summeted from Khare in 6 hours and only 2 hours back down, after a long stint in upper Khumbu. I myself summited from Mera La (about same altitude as MBC) in 4 hours only and was down in Thagnak in another 4 hours. I had also come over Amphu Labtsa that time, but the crossing was relatively easy as the north side was glaciated and packed with snow and there was no glacier on the south side. Year 1985.