Lake · 4,750 m
Gokyo Lakes
A chain of glacier-fed lakes beside the Ngozumpa glacier, with views of Everest and Cho Oyu from the hill of Gokyo Ri.
Everest Region (Khumbu)कोङमा ला
Kongma La
The highest of the three passes, between Chhukung and Lobuche, with a crossing of the Khumbu Glacier on the far side.
- Altitude
- 5,535 m
- Best months
- Mar-May, Oct-Nov
- Type
- Mountain pass
- District
- Solukhumbu, Koshi
- Permit
- Permit required
Higher seasonal exposure: altitude (All year), snow (Nov-Apr), seasonal closure (Dec-Feb), cold (Nov-Mar), seasonal closure (Jun-Sep).
Why go
The Kongma La is a high pass at about 5,535 m on the ridge between the Imja valley and the Khumbu valley. Within the Everest region it is the highest of the Three High Passes and, on the anticlockwise route, the first to be crossed, from Chhukung to Lobuche. It is the least used of the three and has no lodges between its two ends.
From Chhukung the trail climbs steep grassy and then rocky slopes to a basin of small lakes below the pass, then up loose rock to the cairns and prayer flags on the top. The descent is steep and loose, and the day ends with a tiring crossing of the rubble-covered Khumbu Glacier, where the route shifts from year to year, before Lobuche. Allow 7-9 hours in total.
History and culture
Kongma means 'snowcock' in Sherpa, a bird of high slopes, and La means pass. The pass lies below Kongma Tse (Mehra Peak) and Pokalde, two trekking peaks climbed from this side. It was traditionally a herders' and hunters' crossing rather than a trade route.
Things to do in Kongma La
Cross from Chhukung to Lobuche
A long, remote day; start at first light, carry water and food, and go with someone who knows the glacier crossing.
Pause at the lakes
The small lakes below the top make a natural rest stop with views back over the Imja valley.
Weather and the best time to visit Kongma La
Weather in Kongma La
Forecast for 5,535 m. Conditions change fast in the mountains.
Weather data: MET Norway, licensed CC BY 4.0. A forecast, not a guarantee.
Best time to visit
Mar-May, Oct-Nov
- Jan
- Feb
- Good month: Mar
- Good month: Apr
- Good month: May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Good month: Oct
- Good month: Nov
- Dec
- Autumn (Sep-Nov)
- October and November usually bring the clearest skies and stable weather, with cold nights well below freezing.
- Winter (Dec-Feb)
- December to February is very cold, with snow possible on the trail; some lodges close and the high passes can be impassable.
- Spring (Mar-May)
- March to May is warmer and busy, with more afternoon cloud; late spring brings expedition traffic towards base camp.
- Monsoon (Jun-Aug)
- June to August brings cloud and rain, poor mountain views and frequent delays on the Lukla flights; few lodges stay fully open.
Where to stay
No overnight stays
There is no accommodation on the pass; sleep at Chhukung before and Lobuche after.
No partner stays are listed here yet. List a property.
Getting there
The Kongma La is crossed on foot between Chhukung and Lobuche, about ten days into a Three High Passes trek from Lukla.
Nearest hub: Lukla (Tenzing-Hillary Airport)
- flightKathmandu or Ramechhap (Manthali) to Lukla, roughly 25-40 minutes, weather permitting; in busy seasons many flights leave from Ramechhap.
- trekChhukung to the pass, about 4-5 hours; pass to Lobuche including the glacier crossing, about 3-4 hours.
Getting to Kongma La, by mode
Nearest hub: Lukla. Times are typical ranges, not schedules, and vary with roadworks, weather and the season.
By airfrom Kathmanduabout 0.4-0.7 hLukla (Tenzing-Hillary)often delayed or cancelled by weather
A 25-40 minute mountain flight to Lukla, weather permitting, then the walk in. In the busy seasons most flights leave from Ramechhap (Manthali) instead of Kathmandu, a 3-4 hour drive east, which means a night-time road transfer. Cancellations for wind and visibility are routine, so spare days belong in the plan.
When to set off: Lukla flights are scheduled at first light, before the south-west wind builds from mid to late morning; Ramechhap departures leave Kathmandu by road around 03:00-04:00
On footfrom Chhukungabout 7-9 h7-9 h Chhukung to Lobuche, roughly 800 m of ascent and 600 m of descent on rough, loose ground, ending across the Khumbu Glacier
A long single push with no shelter between the lodges at Chhukung and Lobuche; parties usually sleep two nights at Chhukung first.
When to set off: cross early: parties leave the lodges around 04:00-05:00 so the snow is still firm and the pass is behind them before the afternoon wind
Where people go next
- Lobucheon foot, about 3-4 hWest side, down across the Khumbu Glacier to Lobuche.
- Chhukungon foot, about 4-5 hEast side, back down to Chhukung.
- Gorak Shepon foot, about 9-12 hLobuche then Gorak Shep, usually split over two days.
Permits and fees
Permit required
This stop is inside Sagarmatha National Park; the park entry permit and the Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality permit apply. Check whether a TIMS card is currently required.
- Sagarmatha National Park entry permit: Issued in Kathmandu or at the park entrance near Monjo; check the latest rules and fees.
- Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality entry permit: Local permit collected in the Lukla area.
- Licensed guide: Since April 2023 foreign trekkers in national parks and conservation areas are generally required to go with a licensed guide; the local municipality in Khumbu has disputed this, so check the current rule.
Verify before travel: permit rules and fees change. Checked 2026-10-06 against Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation.
On the trail
On the Three High Passes trek.
- Previous stop:
- Chhukung
- Next stop:
- Lobuche
- A typical day:
- About 7-9 hours, roughly 800 m of ascent and 600 m of descent on rough, loose ground, ending with a crossing of the Khumbu Glacier.
Risks and conditions
Seasonal risks around Kongma La
What this place is typically exposed to, and when. These are seasonal patterns, not a report on conditions now.
Altitudehigh in a typical yearAll year
At about 5,535 m the Kongma La is the highest of the three Khumbu passes. Acute mountain sickness is common on fast ascents - it affects roughly 40 per cent of people who go up quickly to 3,000 m, and more above that. General information, not medical advice: gain height slowly, keep sleeping-height gains small (about 300 m a day once high), build in rest days, learn the symptoms - headache, nausea, breathlessness, broken sleep - and descend if they get worse. See a doctor before travelling and carry insurance that covers helicopter evacuation.
Snowhigh in a typical yearNov-Apr
The pass holds snow from late autumn into spring and can be impassable for days after a storm; parties set out before dawn to cross while the surface is still frozen, and turn back when the snow is deep.
Seasonal closurehigh in a typical yearDec-Feb
The high passes are rarely crossed in the deep-winter months, when snow blocks the trails above Tengboche and many of the teahouses on either side do not open.
Coldhigh in a typical yearNov-Mar
Nights are far below freezing from November to March at this height, with wind on the open moraine and unheated bedrooms in the teahouses; a winter-rated sleeping bag and down layer are the norm.
Seasonal closurehigh in a typical yearJun-Sep
Lukla flights are the weak link in the monsoon: poor visibility stops operations at the airstrip about half the time in that season and about half of flights are cancelled, and waits of several days happen. Any itinerary built on the flight needs spare days at both ends.
Otherlow in a typical yearJun-Aug
The monsoon brings cloud and rain rather than views, and the stages are wet and misty underfoot, although the upper valleys get less rain than the forest below.
Check current conditions before you travel
Roads, trails, passes and flights change with the weather and with roadworks, and nothing on this page describes conditions today. Before you set off, check the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology for weather and flood warnings, the Nepal Disaster Risk Reduction Portal for incidents, and the local authority, police or your licensed operator for road, trail and flight status.
Practical tips
- This is high altitude: go up slowly, watch for headache, nausea and unusual tiredness, and descend if symptoms get worse. General information, not medical advice.
- Cross only in settled weather; snow can hide the route and the descent is steep and loose.
- Carry enough water and food for the whole day; there are no lodges on the way.
- Trekking poles help on the loose descent; microspikes may be needed after snow.
Questions about Kongma La
How high is the Kongma La?
About 5,535 m, the highest of the three passes.
How long does the Kongma La crossing take?
Usually 7-9 hours from Chhukung to Lobuche, including the Khumbu Glacier crossing.
Can I skip the Kongma La?
Yes. Many trekkers go from Dingboche to Lobuche on the normal trail and cross only the Cho La and Renjo La.
More in Everest Region (Khumbu)
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Nearby
Valley or region
Everest Region (Khumbu)
The Sherpa homeland below Everest, reached on foot from Lukla through stone villages, monasteries and glacial valleys.
Editorial draft: facts are being checked against the sources below. Last checked 2026-10-06. Sources: Kongma La, OpenStreetMap, Everest Base Camp Trek, Wikivoyage