After Dingboche or Pheriche, the trail crosses the meadows of the upper Khumbu valley to Dughla (≈ 4,620 m), at the foot of the Khumbu Glacier's terminal moraine. From there a steep climb of about 200 m, taking roughly an hour, leads to the crest at Thukla Pass, sometimes called Chukpi Lhara. The ridge is covered in cairns, chortens and plaques draped in prayer flags, set against the backdrop of Pumori and the Lingtren peaks.
The memorials remember people who died climbing Everest and other Khumbu mountains. Among the best known are Scott Fischer, the American guide who died in the 1996 disaster, and Babu Chiri Sherpa, who summited Everest ten times and once spent more than 21 hours on the summit. Many smaller stones honour Sherpa climbers and porters whose names are less known abroad but central to Khumbu families.
Most groups stop here for 20–30 minutes to rest after the climb and walk quietly among the memorials. It is a good point to think about the risks of high altitude and why we turn around when someone is unwell. From Thukla Pass the trail continues more gently for about an hour along the valley to Lobuche at 4,940 m. Keep warm here: the ridge is exposed and the wind often rises late morning.
Good for
- Solo
- Groups
- Photographers
- First-timers
Questions travellers ask
Where is the Everest memorial on the EBC trek?
At Thukla Pass, also called Chukpi Lhara, at about 4,830 m between Dughla and Lobuche. It is roughly an hour's steep climb above Dughla on the day you walk from Dingboche or Pheriche to Lobuche. Most groups rest there for 20–30 minutes.
Who is remembered at Thukla Pass?
Dozens of climbers and Sherpas who died on Everest and nearby peaks, including Scott Fischer and Babu Chiri Sherpa. Many memorials are for Sherpa climbers and high-altitude workers. Treat the site with respect, and do not move stones or prayer flags.
Is the climb to Thukla Pass hard?
It is one of the steeper sections of the trek: about 200 m of zigzags in an hour at 4,600–4,830 m. Go slowly, breathe steadily and rest at the top. It comes the day after your Dingboche acclimatisation day, which helps.
