Everest Three Passes Trek Cost: What You Actually Pay
Our 20-day Everest Three Passes Trek costs USD 1,280 per person for groups of 4 to 9, USD 1,360 for 2 to 3 people and USD 1,585 for a solo trekker. The package covers Lukla flights, permits, a licensed guide, porters, teahouse rooms and two nights in a Kathmandu hotel.
You pay separately for food on the trail, tips, personal spending, your Nepal visa and any gear rental. Allow roughly USD 2,000 to 3,000 per person before international flights and insurance. Your real spend depends on your group size, your gear and how much you spend on extras.
- Package price: USD 1,280 (4 to 9), USD 1,360 (2 to 3), USD 1,585 (solo)
- Trip length: 20 days, Kathmandu to Kathmandu, with 17 nights on the trail
- Highest point: Kala Patthar, 5,545m
- Passes: Kongma La, Cho La and Renjo La
- Lukla flights: included, often from Ramechhap in peak season
- Permits: included
- Guide and porter: included, one porter for every two trekkers
- Food on the trail: not included, about USD 25 to 40 a day
- Cash to carry: the equivalent of about USD 600 to 850 in rupees, plus tips
- Typical total: about USD 2,000 to 3,000 before flights and insurance
Last updated: October 2026
In this guide
Package Price
| Group size | Price per person |
|---|---|
| 1 traveller | USD 1,585 |
| 2 to 3 travellers | USD 1,360 |
| 4 to 9 travellers | USD 1,280 |
Friends travelling together get the group rate even if they pay separately. See our Everest Three Passes Trek page for dates, or join one of our fixed departures.
What’s Included and Excluded
Included
- Airport and hotel transfers
- 2 nights in a 3-star hotel in Kathmandu, with breakfast
- 17 nights in teahouses on the trail, twin share
- Lukla flights, including the Ramechhap transfer when flights run from there
- A licensed guide for the whole trek
- Porters, one for every two trekkers, carrying 10kg per trekker
- Trekking permits
- Oximeter and first aid kit
- A MountainKick duffel bag to keep
- Farewell dinner in Kathmandu
Not included
- Meals on the trail
- Lunch and dinner in Kathmandu
- Travel insurance, which is compulsory
- International flights and your Nepal visa
- Personal gear, including traction for icy sections
- Extra nights and meals if flights are delayed
- Showers, WiFi, charging, drinks and laundry
- Tips
Lukla Flights and Ramechhap
Lukla flights are included. In peak season many flights leave from Manthali Airport in Ramechhap instead of Kathmandu. That means a hotel pickup between about 1 and 2:30am and a 4 to 5 hour drive, which is also included.
If weather delays your flight, we rebook it at no charge, but extra nights and meals are at your own cost. Leave at least one spare day before your flight home. The Lukla baggage limit is about 15kg per person in total, so keep your duffel to 10kg and your daypack to 5kg. See our guides to Lukla flights via Ramechhap and Lukla flight delays.
Permits
The Three Passes uses the same permits as the Everest Base Camp trek.
| Permit | Cost (foreign trekkers) |
|---|---|
| Sagarmatha National Park entry | NPR 3,000 |
| Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality entry | NPR 3,000 |
Both permits are included in our package. No separate permit is needed to cross Kongma La, Cho La or Renjo La. See our Nepal trekking permits guide for more.
Food and Daily Spending
Food isn’t included on the trail. Expect about USD 25 to 40 a day, rising as you go higher.
| Item | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Breakfast | USD 6 to 10 |
| Lunch | USD 10 to 15 |
| Dinner | USD 10 to 15 |
| Hot drink | USD 2 to 4 |
| Bottled water above Namche | USD 2 to 4 |
| Hot shower | USD 2 to 5 |
| WiFi | USD 3 to 5 a day |
| Charging | USD 2 to 5 per device |
Over 17 days on the trail, food comes to about USD 425 to 680. With showers, WiFi, charging and snacks, budget about USD 35 to 50 a day. See our Everest Base Camp food prices guide for real menu prices in the Khumbu.
Tips for Your Guide and Porter
Tips aren’t included and are up to you. Most trekkers tip their guide and porter at the end of the trek to thank them for their work. The amount depends on your group size, the length of the trek and the service you get.
As a rough guide, we suggest about 10 to 15% of the trip price, shared between your guide and porter. On this trek that’s roughly USD 130 to 240 per person. If you’re in a group, it’s easiest to pool tips. See our guide to how much to tip guides and porters in Nepal.
Gear and Insurance
Gear. If you don’t own good kit, you can rent a down jacket and sleeping bag in Kathmandu. Ice and snow on Cho La can make microspikes or other traction necessary, so ask your guide what you’ll need for your dates. Budget up to about USD 150 for rentals. See our guide to trekking gear rental in Kathmandu.
Insurance. Travel insurance is compulsory, and you need to buy it before you arrive. It must cover trekking up to at least 6,000m and helicopter evacuation, which can cost USD 3,000 to 6,000. See our guide to travel insurance for trekking in Nepal.
How Much Cash to Carry
Carry the equivalent of about USD 600 to 850 in Nepali rupees for food, drinks and extras on the trail. Keep your tips separate, and allow a little more for delays.
Namche Bazaar has ATMs, but they can run out of cash or stop working. It’s safer to withdraw what you need in Kathmandu. See our guide to money in Nepal for trekkers.
Realistic Total Budget
| Item | Approx. cost per person (USD) |
|---|---|
| MountainKick package | 1,280 to 1,585 |
| Food on the trail (17 days) | 425 to 680 |
| Showers, WiFi, charging and snacks | 100 to 200 |
| Tips for guide and porter | 130 to 240 |
| Nepal visa (30 days) | 50 |
| Gear rental | 0 to 150 |
| Travel insurance | Extra, depends on your policy |
| Typical total before international flights and insurance | about 2,000 to 3,000 |
These are estimates, not a fixed quote. Your total depends on your group size, spending, gear and tips. Keep a little extra for flight delays and surprises.
Three Passes vs EBC Cost
The Three Passes costs more than the Everest Base Camp trek because it’s longer, 20 days instead of 14. The package is USD 1,280 against USD 1,020 for a group of 4 to 9, and you spend about six more days paying for food and extras on the trail.
If the full circuit is more than you need, see our guides to EBC vs Gokyo, the Gokyo trek cost and the Everest Base Camp trek cost. For the route and difficulty, see our Everest Three Passes trek guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does the Everest Three Passes trek cost?
Our package costs USD 1,280 to 1,585 per person, depending on group size. With food, tips and extras, most people spend about USD 2,000 to 3,000 before international flights and insurance.
Are Lukla flights included?
Yes, including the Ramechhap transfer when flights run from there.
How much should I budget for food?
About USD 25 to 40 a day, or USD 35 to 50 with showers, WiFi and charging.
Why does the Three Passes cost more than EBC?
It’s six days longer, so the package costs more and you pay for more days of food and extras on the trail.
Do I need extra permits for the passes?
No. The Three Passes uses the same permits as the EBC trek, and they’re included in our package.
How much cash should I carry?
The equivalent of about USD 600 to 850 in rupees, plus tips. Withdraw it in Kathmandu, as ATMs in Namche aren’t always reliable.
Is a solo Three Passes trek more expensive?
Yes. The solo price is USD 1,585, compared with USD 1,280 per person for a group of 4 to 9.
