The Everest Three Passes Trek begins in Kathmandu, the teeming capital of Nepal at 1,400 metres, where ancient Hindu temples and Buddhist stupas crowd alongside trekking outfitters and rooftop restaurants. A company representative meets you at Tribhuvan International Airport and transfers you by private vehicle to your hotel in Thamel — 30 minutes through traffic that operates by its own chaotic logic. After settling in, your trek leader conducts a thorough pre-trek briefing covering the 19-day circuit, the three pass crossings, gear requirements, and emergency protocols.
This briefing is more substantial than the standard EBC introduction. The Three Passes Trek involves three separate high-pass crossings each carrying weather and technical risks, and your guide will discuss acclimatisation strategy, turn-back criteria, and the specific demands of Cho La's fixed-rope section in detail. If you have any pre-existing altitude or medical concerns, raise them now — this is the appropriate moment for honest assessment.
Kathmandu rewards the preparation effort with cultural richness: Boudhanath Stupa, Swayambhunath hilltop temple, and the intricately carved Newari architecture of Durbar Square are all within reach. A final pre-trek meal at a quality Thamel restaurant — order the mixed grill or the Newari set menu — sets the tone for the feast of experiences ahead. Rest early; the Lukla flight departs at dawn.
