Sherpani Col Pass Trek - 23 Days

Makalu · 23 Days

Sherpani Col Pass Trek - 23 Days

· Strenuous · Max altitude 6,145m (20,161 ft) at West Col · Max group 2-12 people

Duration

23 Days

Max Altitude

6,145m (20,161 ft)

at West Col

Grade

Strenuous

Lodging

Tented camping (full crew) + Kathmandu hotel

Overview

The Sherpani Col Pass Trek is one of the hardest non-mountaineering routes in Nepal - a 23-day camping traverse that links the Makalu Barun region with the Khumbu via three glaciated passes above 5,800m: Sherpani Col (6,115m), West Col (6,135m) and Amphu Labtsa (5,850m). It is the connector route between Makalu Base Camp and the Everest region, and it crosses two national parks (Makalu Barun and Sagarmatha) plus three of the highest non-permit trekking passes in the country.

This is not a teahouse trek and it is not a casual trek. The three pass crossings require fixed ropes, basic crampons, harnesses, ice axes and prior alpine experience. We treat it as a mini-expedition with a full camping crew, kitchen team, climbing sherpa for rope fixing and pre-stocked high camps. The reward is a once-in-a-lifetime traverse that sees Everest, Makalu and Kanchenjunga from the same week of walking.

Highlights

  • Cross Sherpani Col (6,115m), West Col (6,135m) and Amphu Labtsa (5,850m)
  • Link Makalu Base Camp and the Khumbu in a single trek - one of Nepal's iconic connectors
  • See Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, Kanchenjunga, Jannu, Baruntse, Pumori, Ama Dablam and Thamserku
  • Walk the Barun Glacier and approach the west pillar of Makalu
  • Cross two national parks - Makalu Barun and Sagarmatha
  • Camp at Sherson (4,600m) and the high camps at 5,700m+
  • Descend through the Imja valley past Chhukung and Tyangboche
  • Exit via the classic Khumbu trail through Namche and Lukla
  • Full camping crew, climbing sherpa, ropes and group climbing gear included
  • Both Makalu and Everest region permits arranged in advance

Itinerary

Day 1

Arrive in Kathmandu (1,400m)

🍽 Welcome dinner

Airport pickup, hotel transfer, evening briefing.

Day 2

Kathmandu sightseeing and gear check

🍽 Breakfast

Half-day cultural sightseeing, afternoon gear check and rental fitting.

Day 3

Fly Kathmandu to Tumlingtar (401m), drive to Num (1,500m)

⏱ 40-min flight + jeep 🍽 Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Morning flight east, jeep drive to Num.

Day 4

Num to Seduwa (1,493m)

⏱ 5-6 hours 🍽 Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Trek into the Arun valley.

Day 5

Seduwa to Tashi Gaon (2,200m)

⏱ 5 hours 🍽 Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Through farmland to the Sherpa village.

Day 6

Tashi Gaon to Kahuma Danda (3,500m)

⏱ 6-7 hours 🍽 Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Steep ridge climb through rhododendron forest.

Day 7

Kahuma Danda to Mumbuk (3,400m)

⏱ 5-6 hours 🍽 Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Alpine meadows and minor passes.

Day 8

Mumbuk to Nehe Kharka (3,750m)

⏱ 6 hours 🍽 Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Into the Barun Khola valley.

Day 9

Nehe Kharka to Sherson (4,600m)

⏱ 6-7 hours 🍽 Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Approach the Barun Glacier.

Day 10

Acclimatisation day at Sherson

🍽 Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Rest, short walk on the moraine to a higher point.

Day 11

Sherson to Barun-Che Base Camp (4,800m)

⏱ 5 hours 🍽 Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Glacier and moraine ridge walk to the base camp.

Day 12

Barun-Che to High Camp 1 (5,200m)

⏱ 5 hours 🍽 Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Approach below the Makalu west pillar.

Day 13

Move to High Camp 2 (5,700m)

⏱ 5-6 hours 🍽 Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Glacier valley climb to the pass-side high camp.

Day 14

Rest and rope fixing day at High Camp

🍽 Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Climbing sherpa fixes ropes for the next-day crossing. Rest and gear check.

Day 15

High Camp to Moraine Camp via Sherpani Col (6,115m) and West Col (6,135m)

⏱ 10-12 hours ▲ 6,135m 🍽 Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

The hardest day of the trek. Pre-dawn start, climb to Sherpani Col on fixed ropes, traverse to West Col, abseil descent into the Honku valley to a moraine camp at 5,640m.

Day 16

Moraine Camp to Panch Pokhari (5,480m)

⏱ 6 hours 🍽 Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Walk down the Honku basin to the high lakes camp below Amphu Labtsa.

Day 17

Panch Pokhari to Amphu Labtsa Base Camp

⏱ 5 hours 🍽 Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Move to the base of the third pass and prepare ropes.

Day 18

Cross Amphu Labtsa (5,850m), descend to Chhukung (4,730m)

⏱ 9-10 hours 🍽 Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Climb and abseil the third pass into the Imja valley. Reach the lodge village of Chhukung - first teahouse beds since Tashi Gaon.

Day 19

Chhukung to Tyangboche (3,867m)

⏱ 6 hours 🍽 Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Descend through Pangboche to the monastery at Tyangboche.

Day 20

Tyangboche to Namche Bazaar (3,430m)

⏱ 5 hours 🍽 Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Through pine forest to the Sherpa capital.

Day 21

Namche to Lukla (2,800m)

⏱ 6-7 hours 🍽 Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Final descent on the classic Khumbu trail.

Day 22

Fly Lukla to Kathmandu

⏱ 35-min flight 🍽 Breakfast

Morning mountain flight back to the capital. Free evening.

Day 23

Final departure

🍽 Breakfast

Airport transfer for international flight home.

Ready to walk this?

Enquire now →

What's included

Included

  • Kathmandu-Tumlingtar flight in, Lukla-Kathmandu flight out
  • Private jeep transfers at the Makalu side
  • 3 nights' Kathmandu accommodation (3-star, BB plan)
  • Half-day Kathmandu sightseeing
  • Full camping setup - sleeping tents, kitchen tent, dining tent with table and chairs, toilet tent, shower tent
  • All meals, snacks and hot drinks during the trek
  • Government-licensed English-speaking senior guide
  • Climbing sherpa for rope fixing on the pass days
  • Cook and assistant cooks
  • Sufficient porters for camp gear and personal duffels
  • Crew insurance, food and salaries
  • Group climbing gear (fixed ropes, anchors)
  • Makalu Barun National Park permit
  • Makalu Restricted Area Permit
  • Sagarmatha National Park permit
  • Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality fee
  • HHT company duffel
  • Group first-aid kit, oximeter
  • All applicable government taxes

Not included

  • Nepal entry visa
  • International airfare
  • Travel insurance covering trekking and climbing to 6,500m with helicopter evacuation (mandatory)
  • Personal climbing gear (crampons, harness, ice axe, mountaineering boots) - rental available in Kathmandu
  • Lunches and dinners in Kathmandu
  • Personal trekking equipment
  • Bottled drinks and alcohol
  • Phone and internet
  • Tips for crew and drivers
  • Costs from weather or flight delays

Trek guide

The Three Passes

The route's three high crossings are above the snowline year-round:

  • Sherpani Col (6,115m): The first pass, crossed from the Makalu side after the high camp at 5,700m. Requires fixed-rope ascent and abseil descent.
  • West Col (6,135m): Crossed within hours of Sherpani Col on the same day. The combined Sherpani + West Col day is the trek's hardest.
  • Amphu Labtsa (5,850m): The third and final pass, crossed two days later from Panch Pokhari into the Khumbu's Imja valley.

All three require crampons, harness, ice axe and the willingness to climb and abseil on fixed ropes. The Sherpani-West Col combined day involves up to 1,200m of altitude gain and loss across glaciated terrain.

Two National Parks

The route traverses Makalu Barun National Park (Nepal's least-visited national park with a vertical span from 8,485m to 435m) and Sagarmatha National Park (the Everest region). Two separate permit sets are required.

Climate Zones

  • Days 1-5: Sub-tropical and temperate. Arun valley farmland, rhododendron forest.
  • Days 6-9: Sub-alpine. Mumbuk to Nehe Kharka, Barun Khola valley.
  • Days 10-15: Glacial. Sherson, Barun-Che Base Camp, high camps, pass crossings.
  • Days 16-22: Khumbu descent - Chhukung, Tyangboche, Namche, Lukla.

Acclimatisation

Rest day at Sherson (4,600m), rest day at the Barun-Che high camp (5,700m), and progressive sleeping altitudes from 4,600m to 5,700m before the pass days. The acclimatisation profile is the most demanding component of the trip planning.

Best Season

  • Spring (April-May): Better snow conditions on the passes, longer days
  • Autumn (October-November): Clearer skies, colder, often firmer snow

Outside these windows the passes are routinely impassable. Winter is not feasible.

Fitness and Experience

This is the most demanding trip in our eastern Nepal portfolio. We require prior experience above 5,000m, ideally including some crampon and fixed-rope work (Island Peak, Lobuche or equivalent). 6 months of dedicated cardio, strength and altitude-specific training before departure.

Packing list

Clothing: Down jacket -25C, fleece mid-layer, waterproof shell, insulated trousers for pass days, soft-shell trousers, 3 trekking shirts, 2 trousers, base layers, 8 pairs socks, beanie, balaclava, buff, insulated and liner gloves, summit mitts

Footwear: Plastic or B2/B3 mountaineering boots for pass days, separate trekking boots for the approach and exit, gaiters, camp shoes

Climbing gear: Crampons (12-point), harness, ice axe, locking carabiners, prusik loops - rental available in Kathmandu

Accessories: 45L daypack, 65L porter duffel, -25C sleeping bag, insulated sleeping mat, trekking poles, headlamp + spare batteries, glacier goggles + spare sunglasses, 2L water capacity, water purification, power bank, adapter

Documents: Passport with Nepal visa, insurance certificate, 4 passport photos

Medical: Diamox 250mg, painkillers, antihistamines, antibiotics (per doctor), blister care, SPF 50+ sunscreen, lip balm, rehydration salts

Frequently asked questions

Is this a trek or a climb?
A bit of both. The walking sections are trekking; the three pass days require crampons, harness, ice axe and rope work. We describe it as a non-summit alpine traverse.

What prior experience do I need?
Mandatory: prior 5,000m+ trekking. Strongly recommended: prior crampon and fixed-rope experience (Island Peak, Lobuche or equivalent). We do not accept first-time high-altitude trekkers on this route.

Can I rent climbing gear in Kathmandu?
Yes - crampons, harness, ice axe and mountaineering boots are all available for rent. We help with the fitting.

What's the toughest day?
Day 15 - the Sherpani Col + West Col combined crossing. 10-12 hours on glacier, two passes above 6,100m, fixed-rope climbing and abseil descent.

Why two airports?
Tumlingtar is the closest airport to the Makalu start; Lukla is the closest to the Khumbu finish. Driving between them would add days.

How is the camping?
Full expedition standard. Four-season tents, insulated mats, kitchen, dining tent, toilet and shower tents. Not glamping but comfortable for the conditions.

How cold does it get?
-15 to -25C at the high camps and on pass days. A -25C bag is essential.

What permits are required?
Four: Makalu Restricted Area Permit, Makalu Barun National Park, Sagarmatha National Park, Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality fee. All arranged in Kathmandu.

Can the trek be done in reverse (Lukla to Makalu)?
Technically yes, but the standard direction (Makalu to Khumbu) gives a better acclimatisation profile - sleeping altitudes increase progressively.

What is the maximum group size?
8 - lower than our standard maximum because the pass-day logistics are harder with larger groups.

Still have questions? Talk to a guide →

Why book this with us

Senior local guides. Small groups. Honest pricing.

  • Departures led by a guide who grew up in the region.
  • Max 8 trekkers per group — no convoys.
  • 100% Nepali-owned. Profit stays in the valleys.
  • Free cancellation up to 30 days before departure.
  • Permits, internal flights and TIMS handled by us.
  • 24/7 in-country support during your trek.

From $2900

per person

WhatsApp Enquire