Trekking · Nepal
The Great Himalayan Passes of Nepal
Nepal's high trekking passes — Thorong La, Larkya La, Cho La, Renjo La, Kongma La, Ganja La and Lauribina La — ranked and explained.
Nepal's high trekking passes are the dramatic high points of its greatest circuits — windswept saddles above 5,000 metres where prayer flags snap in the wind and entire mountain ranges open up at once. This guide gathers the seven most famous Himalayan passes, from the celebrated Thorong La to remote, semi-technical crossings, with the altitude, difficulty and trek for each.
The short answer
The classic high passes are, by region: Thorong La (around 5,416 m) on the Annapurna Circuit; Larkya La (around 5,106 m) on the Manaslu Circuit; the Everest trio of Cho La (around 5,420 m), Renjo La (around 5,360 m) and Kongma La (around 5,535 m); Ganja La (around 5,130 m) in Langtang; and Lauribina La (around 4,610 m) above the Gosaikunda lakes. Tap any pass below for its full profile.
The Annapurna and Manaslu passes
The single most-crossed high pass in Nepal is Thorong La, the climax of the Annapurna Circuit trek. Its long, gradual western approach makes it the most achievable big pass for fit first-timers. To the east, Larkya La is the wilder, quieter highlight of the Manaslu Circuit trek, crossing beneath Manaslu itself into the Bimthang valley. Both are full-day efforts with very early starts.
The Everest Three Passes
The Khumbu holds three glaciated passes usually linked on the Everest Three Passes trek. Kongma La is the highest at around 5,535 m; Cho La crosses a small glacier between Dzongla and the Gokyo valley; and Renjo La delivers one of the finest Everest panoramas in all of Nepal. You can also tackle Renjo or Cho La singly as part of the Gokyo Lakes trek.
The Langtang and Gosaikunda passes
Closer to Kathmandu, Ganja La is the most serious pass on this list — a semi-technical, glaciated crossing out of the Langtang region that needs a guide and snow gear. Far gentler is Lauribina La, the saddle above the sacred Gosaikunda lakes that links Dhunche to the Helambu valley, and the easiest big pass to reach from the capital.
How to prepare
Every pass here lives at altitude where acclimatisation is the difference between a great day and a dangerous one. Read our altitude sickness in Nepal guide, plan kit and timing with the Nepal trekking guide, and see where each pass fits among the best treks in Nepal before you choose your route.
Our top picks
Frequently asked questions
What is the highest trekking pass in Nepal?+
Among the major teahouse-trekking passes, Thorong La on the Annapurna Circuit is the highest at about 5,416 m, narrowly above Kongma La in the Everest region at around 5,535 m, which is the highest of the Everest Three Passes. Both demand careful acclimatisation.
Which Himalayan pass is best for first-time trekkers?+
Thorong La on the Annapurna Circuit is the most accessible big pass, with a well-developed teahouse trail and a long, gradual approach that builds altitude steadily. Lauribina La on the Gosaikunda route is a shorter, lower alternative closer to Kathmandu.
Do you need technical climbing skills to cross these passes?+
No. All seven passes here are non-technical and crossed on foot, though Cho La, Kongma La and Ganja La involve glacier moraine, boulder fields or steep snow where trekking poles and sometimes microspikes help. Ganja La is the most serious and is treated as a semi-technical crossing.
When is the best season to cross high passes in Nepal?+
October to November offers the most stable weather and the safest pass conditions, with clear skies and firmer trails. April to May is the warmer spring window but carries a higher chance of fresh snow. The passes are often blocked in winter and unsafe in the monsoon.
