Tashi Lapcha Pass Trek
🏔️ Everest Region

Tashi Lapcha Pass Trek

The route, permits and best season, and the licence-verified guides who walk it.

Tashi Lapcha Pass Trek at a glance

📅 Duration:16-20 Days
🏔️ Max Altitude:5,755 m
🥾 Difficulty:extreme
📝 Permits:Restricted area
🌤️ Best season:Apr–May, Oct–Nov
🧭 Route:Kathmandu (drive to the Rolwaling road head) → Lukla

How the grades compare across routes: Nepal trek difficulty grades explained.

Overview

The Tashi Lapcha Pass Trek links the remote Rolwaling valley, west of the Everest region, with the Khumbu. It follows the Rolwaling Khola past Beding and Na to the glacial lake Tsho Rolpa, then climbs the Trakarding and Drolambao glaciers to the Tashi Lapcha (about 5,755 m) before descending to Thame and Namche Bazaar.

This is not a teahouse trek. Above Na there are no lodges, so nights are spent in tents, and the pass itself involves glacier travel, crevasses and rockfall-prone sections that usually need crampons, ropes and a guide with mountaineering experience. Weather can close the pass for days.

The lower valley is the reward for the effort: Gauri Shankar rises above Simigaon, Beding's monastery sits among stone houses, and Tsho Rolpa spreads below the Trakarding glacier. Because Rolwaling is a restricted area, the trek is arranged through a registered agency, and the crossing usually takes about two weeks with a spare day for weather.

It suits trekkers who have already done high-altitude routes and want a quiet, demanding traverse rather than a well-trodden trail. Expect long, cold days, a careful acclimatisation schedule and a team carrying camping and climbing equipment. Licence-verified guides you contact directly can tell you how they run the crossing and what experience they ask for.

🌟 Trail Highlights

  • Tsho Rolpa, one of Nepal's largest glacial lakes, below the Trakarding glacier
  • The Rolwaling valley villages of Simigaon, Beding and Na
  • Gauri Shankar's twin summits above the lower Rolwaling valley
  • Glacier camps under the Tashi Lapcha before the crossing
  • Crossing the Tashi Lapcha at about 5,755 m from Rolwaling into the Khumbu
  • Descent to Thame and Namche Bazaar at the end

Tashi Lapcha Pass Trek itinerary

1,0002,0003,0004,0005,0006,000m5,250 m1357911131516Day
Overnight altitude by day. Highest overnight stop: 5,250 m (day 9). The trek's high point, 5,755 m, is reached on a day walk or pass and isn't an overnight stop. Every day's altitude is also listed in the itinerary below.
Simigaon · Day 2 · 2,030 m2Beding · Day 4 · 3,690 m4Na · Days 5 and 6 · 4,180 m5Tsho Rolpa · Day 7 · 4,540 m7Tsho Rolpa · 4,540 mThengbo · Day 11 · 4,230 m11Thame · Day 12 · 3,800 m12Namche Bazaar · Day 13 · 3,440 m13Lukla · Day 14 · 2,860 m14
Route map: the trailhead (S) and each overnight stop, numbered by the day you arrive. The highest overnight stop is marked in amber. Hover over a dot for its name and altitude; the itinerary below lists every stop.
  1. Day 1

    Kathmandu to the Rolwaling road head

    1,020 m

    A long drive east via Charikot and Dolakha to the road head below Simigaon, around Sigati or Chhetchhet depending on the season and road.

  2. Day 2

    Road head to Simigaon

    2,030 m · 6–7 hrs

    Climb out of the Tamakoshi gorge on steep stone steps to Simigaon, a Sherpa and Tamang village on a shelf above the river at the mouth of the Rolwaling valley.

  3. Day 3

    Simigaon to Kyalche

    2,800 m · 5–6 hrs

    The trail enters the Rolwaling gorge through forest and crosses side streams below Gauri Shankar. Lodging is sparse, so this is often a camp.

  4. Day 4

    Kyalche to Beding

    3,690 m · 5–6 hrs

    Continue up the valley to Beding, the largest village in Rolwaling, its houses stacked on the hillside below the monastery.

  5. Day 5

    Beding to Na

    4,180 m · 3–4 hrs

    A short climb brings you to Na, a summer settlement where the valley opens into a wide glacial trough. Na is the last place with simple lodges.

  6. Day 6

    Acclimatisation day at Na

    4,180 m · 3–4 hrs

    Walk up towards the Yalung glacier or the moraines above Na and return to sleep lower. Your guide checks equipment for the glacier section.

  7. Day 7

    Na to Tsho Rolpa

    4,540 m · 4–5 hrs

    Follow the moraine to Tsho Rolpa, a large glacial lake held back by the Trakarding glacier. From here on the trek is fully camping.

  8. Day 8

    Tsho Rolpa to the Trakarding glacier

    4,800 m · 5–6 hrs

    Travel along the moraine and onto the Trakarding glacier, picking a route between crevasses and ice towers to a glacier camp.

  9. Day 9

    Trakarding glacier to high camp

    5,250 m · 5–6 hrs

    Climb onto the upper glacier below the pass. This section has rockfall-prone ground and fixed ropes are sometimes used.

  10. Day 10

    Cross the Tashi Lapcha

    8–9 hrs

    An early start for the pass at about 5,755 m, on snow and ice, then a careful descent on the Khumbu side to a camp below Pharchamo.

  11. Day 11

    Descend to Thengbo

    4,230 m · 6–7 hrs

    Leave the glaciers behind and descend into the Bhote Koshi valley to the yak pastures of Thengbo.

  12. Day 12

    Thengbo to Thame

    3,800 m · 5–6 hrs

    An easier day down the valley to Thame and its monastery, back among lodges.

  13. Day 13

    Thame to Namche Bazaar

    3,440 m · 4–5 hrs

    Follow the main trail east to Namche Bazaar, the trading town of the Khumbu.

  14. Day 14

    Namche Bazaar to Lukla

    2,860 m · 6–7 hrs

    Descend to the Dudh Koshi, cross the long suspension bridges and climb to Lukla.

  15. Day 15

    Fly Lukla to Kathmandu

    A morning flight back to Kathmandu, or to Ramechhap in peak season. Flights depend on weather.

  16. Day 16

    Spare day

    A weather day for the pass or the Lukla flight. Treat it as part of the plan, not optional.

This trek climbs above 3,000 m, where the pace of the climb matters. See our guide to altitude sickness on Nepal treks for how to prevent, spot and respond to it.

Best time to trek

The best months for the Tashi Lapcha Pass Trek are Apr–May, Oct–Nov.

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

How does it compare with other routes? See our month-by-month guide to trekking in Nepal.

Permits & costs

Permit & park fees
US$20 + NPR 11,000 per person (≈ US$91 in total)
Area
Restricted: a special permit is required
Guide day rates
$25–$40 per day, set by the guides below
  • Rolwaling restricted-area permit (Dolakha): USD 20 per person per week. The upper Rolwaling valley is a restricted zone, so a registered agency applies on your behalf and a licensed guide is required; solo applicants have been accepted since 22 March 2026.
  • Gaurishankar Conservation Area Permit: NPR 3,000 (about USD 19), for the Rolwaling side up to the pass.
  • Sagarmatha National Park: NPR 3,000 (about USD 19), for the descent through Thengbo and Thame.
  • Khumbu Pasang Lhamu municipality fee: NPR 3,000 (about USD 19) for most foreign nationals, once you are in the Khumbu.
  • TIMS card: NPR 2,000 (about USD 13). The Nepal Tourism Board names both the Rolwaling trek and the Tashi Labtsha Pass crossing in its list of guide-and-TIMS routes.
  • A peak permit is not normally needed just to cross the pass, but ask your agency, since some teams combine it with Pharchamo or Ramdung climbs that do need one.
  • Fees change; confirm current rates before you travel.

Every fee and rule, trek by trek: our guide to Nepal trekking permits. Which routes need a licensed guide: do you need a guide to trek in Nepal? What a day rate covers, tips and flights: how much a trekking guide costs in Nepal.

Getting there & back

The trek starts with a full-day drive from Kathmandu east via Charikot and Dolakha to the road head below Simigaon; road conditions decide how far vehicles get. It ends at Lukla, with a flight to Kathmandu or, in peak season, to Ramechhap (Manthali) followed by a four to five hour drive. Weather often delays Lukla flights, so keep spare days at the end.

📸 Trail Checkpoints & Scenery Gallery

Trail checkpoint scenery 1
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Tashi Lapcha Pass Trek FAQs

Is the Tashi Lapcha Pass a trek or a climb?

It is a glaciated pass, closer to a mountaineering route than a trek. The crossing involves crevassed glacier, rockfall-prone slopes and snow and ice near 5,755 m, so you need crampons, a harness and a guide and crew who carry ropes. It is not suitable as a first high-altitude trip.

What experience do I need?

You should have done at least one long trek above 5,000 m and be comfortable walking roped on a glacier with crampons. Many guides ask for prior glacier experience or a short training session before the crossing.

Where do I sleep?

There are simple lodges and homestays up to Na. From Tsho Rolpa until the descent to Thame the trip is fully camping, with your crew carrying tents, food and fuel. Lodges resume in the Khumbu.

Which permits does the route need?

The Rolwaling side needs the Dolakha restricted-area permit and the Gaurishankar Conservation Area permit; the Khumbu side needs the Sagarmatha National Park permit and the Khumbu Pasang Lhamu municipality fee. A TIMS card and a licensed guide are required, and only a registered agency can obtain the restricted permit.

When can the pass be crossed?

The usual windows are April to May and October to November. Outside them, snow, cold and storms make the pass dangerous or impossible, and even in season a team may wait a day or two for safe conditions.

How do I acclimatise?

The itinerary gains height slowly through the Rolwaling villages and takes a rest day at Na before the glaciers. Sleep altitude stays below about 5,300 m until the crossing, and a fast descent is possible on the Khumbu side once over the pass.

Can I do the route in reverse, from the Khumbu?

Some teams do, starting from Thame, but acclimatisation is harder because you reach the high glacier sooner. Most operators cross from Rolwaling to the Khumbu, as described here.

Guides who lead the Tashi Lapcha Pass Trek

Every one of them is licence-verified by our compliance team. Open a profile to read about them, then send your dates — they reply to you directly with their own price.

Beck Hussain

✓ LICENSED
📜 License ID: 21318No reviews yet
🥾 5 years experience · $35/day

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NepaliEnglish
📜 License ID: 21413No reviews yet
🥾 11 years experience · $30/day

Hello, I am a government-certified trekking and climbing guide with over 10 years of experience leading high-altitude expeditions in Nepal’s top mountain regions, including Khumbu, Annapurna, Makalu Barun, and Manaslu. I specialize in technical high-pass treks and peak ascents up to 6,000 meters, blending strict safety standards with extensive local knowledge to provide seamless and unforgettable alpine adventures.

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More guides working in Everest

These guides haven't listed the Tashi Lapcha Pass Trek specifically, but they work this region — ask them whether they lead it.

Shusil Bom

✓ LICENSED
📜 License ID: 22219No reviews yet
🥾 6 years experience · $35/day

Namaste! I'm a professional trekking guide based in the parts of Nepal. With extensive experience across Nepal's Himalayas, I specialize in leading treks in the Manaslu Circuit, Annapurna Circuit, Everest Base Camp, and Langtang regions. Known for my strong mountain endurance and deep local knowledge. My focus is simple: your safety, your experience, and your connection with the mountains. From arranging permits and logistics to sharing local culture, hidden viewpoints, and tea house stories, I make sure your trek is not just a walk, but a memory for life. Licensed trekking guide | First Aid Trained | Fluent in English, Nepali & Hindi

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Aakash Shah

✓ LICENSED
📜 License ID: 21252No reviews yet
🥾 6 years experience · $35/day

I’m Aakash Shah, a freelance Mountain & Trekking Guide from Nepal, experienced in guiding the Annapurna Circuit, Kanchenjunga, Manaslu, Langtang and other Himalayan trails. I have summited Danga Peak and am passionate about mountain safety, adventure, photography and providing memorable Himalayan experiences.

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Suraj Bhujel

✓ LICENSED
📜 License ID: 19681No reviews yet
🥾 7 years experience · $25/day

I am a passionate and experienced Trekking Guide from Nepal, dedicated to providing safe, enjoyable, and memorable Himalayan trekking experiences. I love exploring Nepal’s beautiful trails, sharing local culture and stories, and helping guests discover the mountains with confidence and comfort. I have good experiences on the following Trekking routes: Langtang Valley Trek 🏔️ Everest Base Camp Trek 🌄 Annapurna Base Camp Trek 🏞️ Manaslu Circuit Trek ⛰️ Annapurna Circuit Trek 🗺️ Customized & Guided Himalayan Treks 🤝 Professional, Friendly & Guest-Focused Service 🛡️ Safety, Local Knowledge & Responsible Trekking

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Aman kasaju

✓ LICENSED
📜 License ID: 15405No reviews yet
🥾 9 years experience · $40/day

Transforming challenging high-altitude treks into deeply enriching and seamless journeys. Over nearly a decade, i have safely navigated diverse groups across the Everest, Annapurna, Manaslu regions, combining an extensive knowledge of mountain geography with rigorous training in wilderness first aid and altitude saftey management.

Guides On
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