Plan my trek
Plan my trek
8,848.86 m
5,364 m
1,148 km²
Since 1979
Lukla, about 2,850 m
Oct–Nov, Mar–May
The Everest Region is the high, northern part of Nepal’s Solukhumbu district, the area most people mean when they say “Khumbu”. It runs from the airstrip at Lukla up the Dudh Koshi valley to the foot of Everest, and most of it sits inside Sagarmatha National Park. Sagarmatha is the Nepali name for Everest; Chomolungma is the Sherpa and Tibetan name.
This is Nepal’s most visited trekking area, yet it is also a lived-in homeland. Sherpa villages, monasteries, potato fields and yak pastures line the trails, and the teahouses that trekkers sleep in are mostly family-run. That mix of big mountains and working villages is what sets the Everest Region apart from trekking in, say, the Alps.
The park was established on 19 July 1976, covers 1,148 km² and was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979. A 275 km² buffer zone, declared in 2002, covers the villages around it. Inside the park you will find Everest (8,848.86 m, the height announced jointly by Nepal and China in December 2020) together with Lhotse, Cho Oyu, Nuptse, Ama Dablam and Pumori.
Administratively, almost all of the trekking area falls within Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality, formed in 2017 and headquartered at Chaurikharka near Lukla. The lower, greener part of the district, Solu, with Salleri, Phaplu and Junbesi, has its own character and is covered in our Solukhumbu travel guide.
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Location | Solukhumbu district, Koshi Province, north-east Nepal |
| Protected area | Sagarmatha National Park (1,148 km²) plus 275 km² buffer zone |
| Altitude range on trekking routes | About 2,600 m (Phakding) to 5,364 m (Everest Base Camp) and higher on passes and viewpoints |
| Main gateway | Tenzing-Hillary Airport, Lukla (about 2,850 m) |
| Main trading village | Namche Bazaar (3,440 m) |
| People | Predominantly Sherpa; Tibetan Buddhist culture |
| Foreign visitors to the park | 48,804 in Nepali fiscal year 2080/81 (2023/24), per the park office |
Most Everest Region trekking starts and ends at Lukla and follows the same trail as far as Namche Bazaar. Beyond Namche, the valleys split and you choose between the classic Base Camp route, the Gokyo valley, the high passes or quieter side valleys. Durations below assume a start and finish at Lukla and include acclimatisation days; add flight buffer days on top.
The classic: Lukla to Namche, Tengboche and Dingboche, then up the Khumbu Glacier moraine to Gorak Shep and Base Camp (5,364 m), with an optional dawn climb of Kala Patthar for the best view of Everest itself. Usually 12 days on foot from Lukla. Moderate to hard, mainly because of altitude rather than technical terrain. Our 16-day Everest Base Camp trek follows this route.
Leaves the main trail above Namche and climbs the Dudh Koshi valley to a chain of turquoise glacial lakes beside the Ngozumpa Glacier, the longest glacier in Nepal. Gokyo village sits at about 4,790 m, and the climb of Gokyo Ri (about 5,357 m) gives a panorama of Everest, Lhotse, Makalu and Cho Oyu. Quieter than the Base Camp route; around 10 to 12 days. See our Gokyo Lakes trek guide.
Combines Gokyo with Base Camp by crossing the Cho La pass (about 5,420 m) between the two valleys. It avoids walking the same trail twice but adds a glaciated crossing that can be icy, especially late in autumn. Roughly 15 to 17 days, and best with an experienced guide and suitable footwear, sometimes microspikes.
The big loop: Kongma La (about 5,535 m), Cho La and Renjo La (about 5,360 m), plus Base Camp and Gokyo. It visits nearly every major valley in the Khumbu and is the toughest standard trek in the region, at around 18 to 20 days. Only for fit trekkers who have already been to altitude and are comfortable on steep, loose ground. See our Three Passes trek guide for the route, direction and permits.
A short trek of about a week from Lukla to Namche, the Everest View viewpoint above Syangboche, Khumjung and sometimes Tengboche, staying below 4,000 m. You see Everest, Ama Dablam and Thamserku without going high. A good option for families, limited time or people who want a first taste of trekking.
Heads west from Namche along the old trade route towards the Nangpa La and Tibet, through Thame (about 3,800 m), home village of many famous Sherpa climbers. It can continue over Renjo La to Gokyo. A good choice if you want monasteries and village life with fewer trekkers.
Island Peak (Imja Tse, about 6,189 m) and Lobuche East (about 6,119 m) are the best-known climbing peaks, usually added to a Base Camp itinerary from Chhukung or Lobuche. They need a climbing permit, fixed ropes, crampons and a qualified climbing guide. They are a serious step up from trekking.
Before the Lukla airstrip, expeditions walked in from the south. You can still start from road heads such as Salleri, Phaplu or further north, adding several days of lower-altitude trekking that helps acclimatisation and avoids the flight. Approach routes are summarised under getting there below; Solu treks such as Pikey Peak are part of the lower district rather than the Khumbu.
Everest Base Camp is the destination most visitors to the Everest Region have in mind. The trekkers’ Base Camp sits at about 5,364 m on the rubble-covered Khumbu Glacier, below the Khumbu Icefall. In spring (roughly April and May) it fills with expedition tents; for much of autumn it is mostly empty moraine, prayer flags and a marker stone that trekkers queue to photograph.
It helps to set expectations: you cannot see the summit of Everest from Base Camp itself, because Nuptse and the West Shoulder block it. The famous view comes from Kala Patthar, a brown hill above Gorak Shep; published heights for its summit vary between about 5,545 m and 5,644 m. Most trekkers climb it at dawn or late afternoon for clear skies.
A typical itinerary flies to Lukla, walks two days to Namche Bazaar with a rest day there, continues via Tengboche to Dingboche for a second rest day, then walks via Lobuche to Gorak Shep, visits Base Camp and returns down the valley. On foot that is about 12 days, roughly 130 km return depending on the route and side trips. Our guide on how to plan an Everest Base Camp trek breaks this down day by day.
| Stop | Approx. altitude | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Lukla | 2,850 m | Airstrip, start and finish |
| Phakding | 2,610 m | First night, beside the Dudh Koshi |
| Namche Bazaar | 3,440 m | Acclimatisation day |
| Tengboche | 3,860 m | Monastery; Ama Dablam views |
| Dingboche | 4,410 m | Second acclimatisation day |
| Lobuche | 4,940 m | Climbers’ memorials at Thukla on the way |
| Gorak Shep | 5,160 m | Last teahouses; Kala Patthar above |
| Everest Base Camp | 5,364 m | Day visit; no teahouses |
Altitudes are rounded; different maps and signboards quote figures that vary by tens of metres.
No climbing skills are needed, but the trek is long and the air above 4,000 m has much less oxygen than at sea level. Daily walking is usually five to seven hours with plenty of up and down. Fitness, a slow pace and proper acclimatisation matter more than speed. Read our honest take on Everest Base Camp trek difficulty.
In 2022 Nepali officials announced plans to move the camp lower because the Khumbu Glacier is thinning. As of the government’s five-year Everest clean-up plan released in December 2025, only a feasibility study was planned and no new site had been chosen, so for trekkers nothing has changed yet.
For everything else, from teahouse life to what to pack, see our guides to Everest Base Camp teahouses and the Everest Base Camp packing list.
Villages in the Khumbu are compact clusters of stone houses, teahouses and fields, with monasteries and mani walls between them. Each has a slightly different role on a trek, from supply hub to acclimatisation base to last stop before the glacier.
The gateway, at about 2,850 m, built around Tenzing-Hillary Airport and its short, sloping runway. Most treks begin and end here, so it has the widest choice of lodges, gear shops and cafés. More in our Lukla guide.
Riverside villages on the first day’s walk. Monjo is close to the Sagarmatha National Park entrance at Jorsalle, where permits are checked. Lower, warmer and greener than anywhere higher up.
The Sherpa capital, set in a horseshoe-shaped bowl at 3,440 m. It has banks, bakeries, outdoor shops, a weekly market and the park’s visitor centre, and is where almost everyone spends an acclimatisation day. See our Namche Bazaar guide.
Twin villages above Namche, on a broad terrace below the sacred peak Khumbila. Khumjung has the school founded by Sir Edmund Hillary’s Himalayan Trust in 1961 and a monastery known for its purported yeti scalp. A popular acclimatisation walk from Namche.
A ridge-top monastery village at about 3,860 m, facing Ama Dablam and with Everest visible at the head of the valley. The monastery is the main venue for the Mani Rimdu festival. Our Tengboche guide covers visiting respectfully.
One of the oldest settlements in the Khumbu, with a monastery traditionally regarded as among the region’s earliest. Upper Pangboche is a quieter place to stop than the main trail villages.
A wide, wind-swept village of stone-walled fields at about 4,410 m, at the entrance to the Imja valley. It is the usual second acclimatisation stop, with a climb to Nangkartshang Peak above the village. More in our Dingboche guide.
A small cluster of teahouses at about 4,940 m beside the Khumbu Glacier, reached after the climbers’ memorials at Thukla Pass. Nights are cold and simple. The base for Lobuche East climbs.
The last teahouses before Base Camp, on the edge of a frozen lakebed at about 5,160 m. Most people sleep here once or twice, visit Base Camp and climb Kala Patthar. See our Gorak Shep guide.
A village on the old route to Tibet, with a cliffside monastery and a long climbing heritage. It sits outside the main trekking flow and suits people who want village life rather than viewpoints.
A farming village on a sunny terrace across the valley from Tengboche, home to the Khumbu Climbing Center that trains local climbers. It is linked to the main trail by the high route via Mong La.
A seasonal settlement of lodges beside the third Gokyo lake at about 4,790 m, below Gokyo Ri. The base for the Gokyo valley and for crossing Cho La or Renjo La.
There are three practical ways in: a flight to Lukla, a long road journey to a trailhead below Lukla followed by walking, or a longer trek in from Solu. Most visitors fly, and most itineraries assume they will. Start in Kathmandu, where you collect permits and meet your agency.
Tenzing-Hillary Airport at Lukla has a 527 m runway with a gradient of nearly 12 per cent, used only by small short-take-off aircraft and helicopters. Tara Air, Summit Air and Sita Air run the scheduled flights. Recent operator price lists put the foreigner fare at roughly US$230–240 each way (about £175–180), with a combined checked and hand baggage limit commonly around 15 kg.
Flights leave early in the morning, because wind and cloud usually build by late morning. Weather delays and cancellations are normal, especially in the monsoon and in autumn haze, so build at least one or two spare days into your plans at the end of the trip.
Since 2019, and on and off in most years since 2022, the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal has moved many or all Lukla flights in the busy seasons to Ramechhap Airport at Manthali, to ease congestion at Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan International Airport. Typically this covers much of spring and autumn, but the exact dates are announced season by season. When flights go from Manthali, you face a road transfer of about four to five hours, often leaving Kathmandu around 1–3 am. The flight itself is then shorter, around 20 minutes compared with about 35 minutes from Kathmandu.
Flying out of Kathmandu outside these periods, or switching to a helicopter when flights are cancelled, are options worth discussing with your agency in advance; helicopter seats are significantly more expensive and depend on availability.
A road now runs from Kathmandu via Salleri in Solu and on north towards the Dudh Koshi, with shared jeeps reaching points such as Kharikhola, Bupsa, Thamdanda or Surke, a few hours’ walk below Lukla. The journey is long, usually 10 to 16 hours depending on the drop-off point and road conditions, and the stretch beyond Salleri is rough dirt road prone to landslides in the monsoon. It avoids flight delays and helps with acclimatisation, but add the walking days to your itinerary.
The classic approach used by the 1953 expedition starts much lower and takes about a week to reach Namche via Junbesi and Ringmo. Today most people start at a road head such as Phaplu or Salleri. The route, transport and sights are detailed in our Solukhumbu district guide.
| Option | Time to the trail | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fly Kathmandu–Lukla | About 35 minutes | Fastest | Weather delays; limited seasons |
| Drive to Manthali, fly to Lukla | 4–5 hr drive plus about 20 min flight | Standard in peak seasons | Very early start; still weather dependent |
| Jeep towards Surke or Thamdanda | 10–16 hours plus a few hours’ walk | No flight risk; gentler acclimatisation | Long, rough ride; landslides in monsoon |
| Trek in from Solu | Several extra days | Quiet trails; excellent acclimatisation | Needs much more time |
The Himalayan Trek Packing Checklist
Every item you need for a teahouse trek, plus weight limits and what to rent in Kathmandu. Free and printable.
Foreign trekkers in the Everest Region need two permits. The TIMS card used elsewhere in Nepal is not required here, because the local municipality has replaced it with its own entry permit.
| Permit | Cost for foreigners | Where to get it |
|---|---|---|
| Sagarmatha National Park entry | NPR 3,000 (about £15); VAT treatment varies by source | Nepal Tourism Board, Kathmandu, or the park entrance at Monjo |
| Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality entry | NPR 3,000 (about £15) | Lukla, or on the trail near Monjo |
| TIMS card | Not required in the Khumbu | n/a |
The local fee was raised from NPR 2,000 to NPR 3,000 for most foreign visitors from the 2024/25 fiscal year, according to Himal Press; visitors from SAARC countries and China pay less, and children under 10 are exempt. SAARC nationals also pay a reduced park fee. If you start your trek from the Solu side or visit other valleys, other local fees can apply. Climbing peaks such as Island Peak need separate climbing permits arranged through an agency.
From 1 April 2023 the Nepal Tourism Board required foreign trekkers in national parks and conservation areas to hire a licensed guide through a registered agency. Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality did not adopt the rule and continued to allow independent trekkers who buy its local permit, which led to a public dispute reported by the Kathmandu Post. Recent reports in 2026 indicate independent trekking in the Khumbu is still allowed in practice, but the position depends on two levels of government and can change, so check before you travel.
Whatever the rules, a good licensed guide makes the trek safer at altitude, handles permits and lodges, and puts money into local livelihoods. All our treks are run with licensed Nepali agencies and guides. Our safety tips for trekking in Nepal cover choosing a guide and staying safe on the trail.
The best time to visit the Everest Region is autumn (late September to November) or spring (March to May). Autumn usually brings the clearest skies after the monsoon; spring is a little hazier but warmer, with rhododendrons flowering on the lower trails and expedition season at Base Camp.
| Season | Months | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Autumn | Late Sep–Nov | Peak season. Clear, stable weather and cold nights. Busiest trails and lodges, especially October. |
| Winter | Dec–Feb | Quiet, often clear but very cold, with nights well below freezing high up. Some higher lodges close and high passes may be snowbound. |
| Spring | Mar–May | Second peak season. Warmer days, rhododendrons, climbing expeditions at Base Camp. Afternoon cloud more common. |
| Monsoon | Jun–mid Sep | Rain on the lower trail, cloud over the peaks, leeches below Namche and frequent Lukla flight cancellations. Few trekkers. |
If you want to see a festival, Mani Rimdu at Tengboche Monastery usually falls in October or November; the dates follow the Tibetan lunar calendar and move each year. Our guide to the best time to trek to Everest Base Camp goes month by month.
The cost of an Everest Region trek depends mainly on how you travel to Lukla, how long you stay and whether you use a guide and porter. Fixed costs such as permits and flights are similar for everyone; daily spending rises the higher you go, because almost everything above the road is carried in by porters, mules or helicopters.
| Item | Approximate cost |
|---|---|
| Sagarmatha National Park permit | NPR 3,000 (about £15), plus VAT if charged |
| Khumbu Pasang Lhamu local permit | NPR 3,000 (about £15) |
| Lukla flight (foreigner fare) | About US$230–240 each way (about £175–180) |
| Shared jeep towards Thamdanda | Reported at about NPR 2,500–3,500 per person (£12–18) |
| Teahouse rooms, meals, hot showers, charging and Wi-Fi | Varies by village and season; noticeably more expensive above Namche |
Our Everest Base Camp trek is a 16-day land-only package from £1,295, run with a licensed ground partner in Nepal; check the trip page for exactly what is included. For a full breakdown of guides, porters, food, insurance and tips, see our Everest Base Camp trek cost guide.
Travel insurance that covers trekking to your maximum altitude and helicopter evacuation is essential. Our guide to Everest Base Camp travel insurance explains what to look for.
Altitude is the main risk in the Everest Region. Above about 2,500 m, anyone can develop acute mountain sickness (AMS), regardless of fitness or age, and most of the trek is well above that. Severe forms, high-altitude cerebral or pulmonary oedema (HACE and HAPE), can be fatal if ignored.
Other practical points: treat all drinking water, wash hands often (stomach bugs are common in busy teahouses), and wear sun protection, as UV is intense at altitude. Our detailed guide to altitude sickness on the Everest trek covers prevention and treatment.
The Khumbu is the homeland of the Sherpa people, whose ancestors are generally thought to have migrated from eastern Tibet around five centuries ago. They follow Tibetan Buddhism, largely of the Nyingma tradition, and the landscape is full of its symbols: mani stones carved with prayers, chortens (stupas), prayer wheels and strings of prayer flags on every bridge and pass.
Many families run teahouses or work as guides, porters and climbing staff, but farming and herding remain important. Potatoes, buckwheat and barley grow in walled fields, and yaks and yak-cow crosses (dzo) carry loads on the upper trails. Sherpa climbers such as Tenzing Norgay and record-holder Kami Rita Sherpa are a source of great local pride.
The best-known festival is Mani Rimdu, a cycle of prayer, a sand mandala and masked dances held at Tengboche, usually in October or November, and at other monasteries at different times of year. Lhosar, the Tibetan New Year, falls in February or early March. Dates are set by the lunar calendar, so confirm them before planning a trip around one.
Our guide to culture in Nepal has more on customs and courtesy.
Most trekkers come for the view rather than the summit, but the mountain’s history is woven into the region. The first ascent, by Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary on 29 May 1953, was made from the Nepal side via the Khumbu Icefall and South Col, the same route most expeditions use today. Earlier British attempts, starting with the 1921 reconnaissance expedition, approached from Tibet.
Climbing Everest is a separate undertaking from trekking, costing tens of thousands of pounds. From 1 September 2025 Nepal raised the spring royalty for foreign climbers on the south route from US$11,000 to US$15,000; this does not affect trekkers. For more, read our Mount Everest facts.
A simple order of planning works well: choose your trek and season, book international flights with spare days at the end, then arrange your agency, permits and Lukla flights together, since the agency usually books the domestic flights. Allow at least two nights in Kathmandu, one before and one after the trek, plus one or two buffer days for Lukla weather.
If you are combining the Everest Region with other parts of the country, our Nepal travel guide links all our destination pages and itinerary ideas. When you are ready, our trip planning page explains how to book.
Our in-depth articles on Everest Base Camp, the Khumbu and the climbers who made Everest famous.
Related guides to read next.
Permits, guides, porters and lodges arranged, with expert advice before you go.
It is the Khumbu area of Solukhumbu district in north-east Nepal, around Mount Everest. Most of it lies within Sagarmatha National Park, and it is home to the Sherpa people and the main trails to Everest Base Camp, Gokyo and the high passes.
Broadly, yes. Khumbu is the local name for the high valleys around Everest above Lukla. “Everest Region” is the tourism term and is sometimes used loosely to include the lower Pharak area and even Solu, which make up the rest of Solukhumbu district.
In Solukhumbu district, Koshi Province, in the north-east of the country on the border with Tibet. Lukla, the usual starting point, is about 140 km east of Kathmandu as the crow flies.
Most people fly to Lukla, either from Kathmandu or, in busy seasons, from Ramechhap (Manthali) after a four- to five-hour drive. Alternatives are a long jeep ride to trailheads below Lukla such as Surke or Thamdanda, or trekking in from Salleri or Phaplu in Solu.
Foreigners need a Sagarmatha National Park entry permit (NPR 3,000) and the Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality entry permit (NPR 3,000 from 2024/25). A TIMS card is not needed. Climbing peaks require extra permits.
The Khumbu local government did not adopt the national guide rule introduced in April 2023, and reports in 2026 suggest independent trekkers are still allowed with the local permit. Rules can change, so check before you go. A licensed guide is still strongly recommended for safety at altitude.
Late September to November and March to May. Autumn usually has the clearest views; spring is warmer and coincides with Everest climbing season. Winter is cold but quiet; the June to September monsoon brings cloud, rain and frequent flight cancellations.
About 12 days on foot from Lukla and back, including two acclimatisation days. With travel to and from Kathmandu and spare days for flight delays, most itineraries are 14 to 16 days.
Not the summit. It is hidden behind Nuptse and the West Shoulder. The best close view is from Kala Patthar above Gorak Shep, while good distant views appear from above Namche, Tengboche and Gokyo Ri.
Yes, with the right preparation. The trails are not technical, but altitude is a real risk. Choose an itinerary with acclimatisation days, train beforehand, carry insurance that covers evacuation, and speak to your doctor if you have any health conditions. The shorter Everest View trek is a good first step.
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By Govind Rai · Updated 3 November 2026The tick-box kit list for Everest Base Camp, Annapurna and every teahouse trek in Nepal.
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