Everything you need to know about the stops / villages during Everest Base Camp trek
LUKLA
Lukla is a small town (more of a village) in
Everest / Khumbu region which is also the first village you will come across,
when you are traveling towards Everest base camp through Lukla airport (also
known as Tenzing Hillary airport). It lies in Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural
Municipality of Solukhumbu district. Lukla means ‘Place with abundant goats and
sheep’, however only few are found in the area nowadays. There are a variety of
shops and lodges in Lukla to cater to the travelers. You can find rooms with a
mere dollar to hundreds of dollars in this town, depending upon your
preference. Good accommodations also means you can enjoy the variety of food
choices in Lukla. As trekkers and climbers start from this place onwards, you
can also find many trekking and mountaineering supplies. Since everything has
to be brought from the cities in flight, things and supplies get a little
expensive in Lukla (and it gets more and expensive as you go higher). Namche
Bazaar is only 14 kms and Kathmandu is 138 kms by flight (367 kms by road) from
here. Lukla has cool summers and cold winters. There is high daytime
temperature variation and temperatures can even reach below freezing in some
summer days. Lukla (2,860 meters) is a beautiful town below the high hills and is
surrounded by dense forests.
PHAKDING
Phakding (2,610 meters) is a moderately big
village in Khumbu region. It lies in Dudh Koshi river valley just north of
Lukla and South of Namche Bazaar. Often, the main stopping point for trekkers
and climbers, Phakding has a huge number of accommodations with various price
ranges. It is only 8 kms from Lukla and 6 kms from Namche Bazaar. While
trekking from Lukla, you will be ascending little but descending for about 250
meters before arriving in Phakding. About 3-5 hours of hike from Lukla, you
will reach Phakding; crossing small villages like Cheplung, Thadokoshi, Ghat
and Chhuthawa. There are also few trekking shops in here including a nice
popular bakery. The village is in fact divided into two by Dudh Koshi River,
connected with a long suspension bridge. Both sides have many lodges to stay
the night. Just above the Phakding (on the North side) is a village called
Rimijung (30 minutes hike from Phakding) with beautiful cultural &
geographical landscapes, few nunnery settlements, an ancient monastery and a nice
viewpoint known as Pangjung hill. If you have an extra day, then you can also
hike to the viewpoint for panoramic mountain views; 4 hours hike from Phakding.
If you’re lucky, you can also witness Himalayan Tahrs in Phakding, roaming on
the hills on the opposite side across the river.
NAMCHE BAZAAR / BAZAR
After leaving Phakding village,
you will pass through Toktok, Benkar, Chumowa, Monjo (Sagarmatha National Park
entrance), Jorsale & 5 large suspension bridges including the famous
Hillary bridge; to arrive in Namche Bazaar. Just 14 kms from Lukla and 6 kms
far from Phakding village, Namche Bazaar is a village or mostly a town situated
at 3 440 meters above the sea level. The main trading center and hub for Khumbu
region, this town is made up of hills and people have settled here building
their houses on both sides and also the center. There are more than 2500 people
living in 400+ households in Namche Bazaar, while the number is increasing
every year. On the west of Namche is Kongde Ri (6,187 meters) and to the east
is Thamserku (6,623 meters). While on the North is Syangboche airport (3,750
meters; a non-operational airport), Khumjung and Khunde village, Khumbila peak
(5,761 meters), etc. Nicknamed as the Sherpa capital, also the home to many
renowned Sherpas, Namche Bazaar is the gateway to the high Khumbu Himalayas.
Very popular as the acclimatizing stop for the trekkers and mountaineers,
Namche Bazaar has a number of lodges (catering to different sorts of visitors),
bakeries, restaurants and cafes, internet cafes, trekking or souvenir shops and
helipads. There are some clothing brand stores, ATMs and also an Irish pub (the
highest Irish pub in the world) down here. On every Saturday mornings, a
vibrant market is held in the center of the village. Little above the village
on the right side, lies the Sagarmatha national park headquarter and next to it
is Sherpa culture museum.
TENGBOCHE / THYANGBOCHE
Lying at the altitude of
3,867 meters, Tengboche village is a beautiful village and also an important
stop for the Everest trekkers. Most famous by the inlying Buddhist monastery,
Tengboche monastery which is the biggest of its type in Khumbu region,
Tengboche offers a panoramic vista of different mountains from all the corners
including Mount Everest, Ama Dablam, Taboche, Nuptse, Lhotse, Thamserku,
Kangtega, Kongde Ri and more. The first summiteers of the Mount Everest,
Tenzing Norgay Sherpa and Edmund Hillary were the inhabitants of this village
at sometimes. The expeditioners and trekkers visit the monastery in Tengboche,
to light the candles and seek the blessings of the Gods for the safe journey
and a good health. Lying on the top of a hill and medieval in appearance, this
village is only 9 kms away, both from Namche Bazaar (to the South) and
Dingboche village (to the North). The trail coming from Namche Bazaar first
crosses Dudh Koshi river in Phungi Thanga and further goes uphill steeply to
get to Tengoboche. You will also pass Kyangjuma and Tashinga village en route
to Tengboche from below. Every year between October and November, interesting Mani
Rimdu festival is held in here; which consists 19 days of meditation, puja
ceremonies, blessing ceremonies and spectacular mask dances. There are no shops
in the village but few (4+) lodges and a bakery right outside of the monastery
gate. The lodges are almost of the same quality but if you hike a bit further
down (15-20 minutes) to Deboche, you can get better accommodations too. Pines,
azaleas and colorful rhododendrons surround the village and the monastery.
DINGBOCHE
Another
popular Sherpa village and a
beautiful stop for trekkers, Dingboche village (4,410 meters) lies in Chukhung
valley. Surrounded by the Himalayan giants from all around, this is a
moderately big village with 20+ lodges offering rooms on different price
categories. Most of the visitors normally spend 2 nights in Dingboche for the
acclimatization purposes. Imja River flows directly east of the village beneath
Mount Ama Dablam and a helipad is there just west of the river. There are
internet cafes and also billiard parlors. A very notable characteristics of
Dingboche is the kilometers of stone walls, built using the stones of different
sizes that cover the entire valley. In the earlier times, these stones were
removed and piled up to plough the soil which eventually lead to the long walls
today. While coming from Tengboche (and crossing Deboche, Pangboche and
Shomare), this is favorably the stop village for trekkers comparing to Pheriche
on the other side over the hill because of this place being sunny and less
affected by the icy winds coming down from valleys above. It’s only 9 kms from
Tengboche and 8 kms far from Lobuche village. While you’re in the village and
when you’re acclimatizing, you don’t want to miss the opportunity to climb
above Dingboche to Nangkartshang peak (5,083 meters). Only a couple of hours
hike from the village, you will get to see many beautiful peaks including mount
Makalu, Island peak and Cho Oyu; no need to mention all other peaks which can
be seen in earlier days too. Another option is to hike to Chukhung village (on
the east of Dingboche) and ultimately to Chukhung Ri (5,546 meters), a rocky
peak like Kala Patthar, yet a bit more difficult to climb than the latter one.
LOBUCHE
Lobuche is a small village very close to
the
Mount Everest which is named after the Lobuche peaks, towering above the
village. It is either second last stop or the last stop for the trekkers
heading towards Everest base camp. Only 5 kms from Gorakshep, 9 kms from
Pheriche, 10 kms from Dingboche and finally 9 kms from Everest Base Camp,
Lobuche village is a beautiful place to spend the night. At an elevation of
4,940 meters, it lies near the foot of the Khumbu glacier. There are around 10
lodges in Lobuche providing basic services and facilities to the visitors.
Therefore, you cannot expect to get better amenities in this place due to the
remoteness of it and the harsh climate. You can marvel at the surrounding
mountain panoramas from the viewpoint above or next to the village. Go for a
little hike above the village and you will be astonished with the views. Or you
can also go towards the Khumbu glacier viewpoint to get better look at the massive
glacier and its surrounding beauty. After passing the Everest Memorial through
Thugla pass, trekkers coming from South reach in Lobuche village. Also from
close to the same village, travelers divert their way towards Dzongla (4,830
meters) for summiting Cho La Pass to enter into Gokyo valley (or vice versa). Totally
dependent upon tourism (no agricultural fields), Lobuche village is also the
important stop for visitors either wishing to climb the nearby peaks or for
those who come down from Kongma La Pass (5,540 meters) via Chukhung.
GORAKSHEP
The last yet the most important village or
settlement in Khumbu region is Gorakshep (5,164 meters). This village sits on
the edge and next to the Khumbu glacier and Changri shar glacier. Being covered
by snow, almost half of the times of the year, this village is not inhabited
year-round. There are only a couple of lodges and all of them are basic. Since
the trekkers are not allowed to stay or camp in Everest base camp, they have to
stay overnight in Gorakshep before going to the base camp or Kala Patthar
(5,644 meters). There’s a helipad and also internet connection in Gorakshep.
Gorakshep means “dead ravens”, because of the complete lack of vegetation in
the area. Hardly few visitors feel comfortable in this village because of the high
altitude it lies in, so you have to be mentally prepared. Just being in the
village, makes you feel like you’re in heaven since you will be totally
surrounded by the huge mountain giants. Mount Everest is not visible from here
so you have to climb either to Kala Patthar or towards Everest Base Camp (5,364
meters) to get a closer look at it. As Everest is not visible from base camp
itself, your better choice is to climb Kala Patthar which is the most famous
vantage point in Nepal. A non-technical peak, a giant dune looming over the
lakebed (as seen from Gorakshep and the surroundings), Kala Patthar is a
difficult one to summit, taking some great efforts and 2-3 hours of strenuous
hike. Either you have to climb in the early morning or in the late afternoon
for stunning sunrise and sunset views. Gorakshep was the original Everest base
camp in the earlier days, which was moved later to this position now, closer to
Mount Everest and below the Khumbu icefall. Gorakshep to Everest base camp (4
kms) is about 2-3 hours of moderate hike through the rocks and moraines.
Getting to the base camp is one of the best feats, you can achieve in your life
since you’ll be standing right beneath the world’s highest,
Mount Everest.PHERICHE
Lying at 4,371 meters above the sea level,
Pheriche village is an important stop for the trekkers and mountaineers in
Khumbu region. Right above the Chola or Tsola river, Pheriche village is
nestled beneath soaring Mount Taboche which is the neighbor of Cholatse. A
close neighbor to Dingboche village over the hills, Pheriche has also a small
rudimentary hospital operated by Himalayan Rescue Association (HRA). Therefore,
it’s a relief and treatment center as well as another evacuation point in Khumbu
region. Before, this village was simply a farming village mainly for growing
potatoes and buckwheat, and raising yaks but due to the village men getting
involved in tourism, it slowly changed to the stopover today. Now, there are a
number of teahouse lodges (15+) with various price ranges to cater to the
visitors. Most of the people stop here after completing Everest base camp trek,
however few people would like to stay here instead of Dingboche after crossing
Pheriche pass (coming from South side). On the North side of the village is the
trail to Thugla and onwards. There is also a field full of cairns on the north
side in the memory of the fallen climbers on the mountains. There is also a
nice bakery and some good restaurants in here. Pheriche is merely 1 km from
Dingboche and about 4 kms from Thugla. While coming from the North side (back
from Everest base camp), from Thugla, you have to take the lower path to
Pheriche instead of upper path towards Dingboche. The Chola river flows into
the Imja river just below Pheriche which further flows into Dudh Koshi river,
right below Pangboche.