Sightseeing in Sagarmatha National Park

Sights by height

The sights of Sagarmatha National Park rise with the trail, and the height at which you see them matters as much as what they are. This page orders them from lowest to highest. Nothing here is reached by road, so each stop is a walk from Lukla, and the higher sights ask for more days and more care.

Around 3,400 to 3,900 m: villages, a monastery and a terrace

  • Namche Bazaar (about 3,440 m) has terraced lanes, shops and bakeries, and a weekly market on Saturday morning.
  • Khumjung and Khunde are villages of stone-walled lanes close to Namche. Khumjung Monastery keeps a relic described as a Yeti scalp.
  • Hotel Everest View at Syangboche (about 3,880 m) has a terrace looking toward Everest, Lhotse and Ama Dablam. Check that it is open for visitors before you plan a stop.
  • Tengboche Monastery (Dawa Choling Gompa, about 3,867 m) stands with Ama Dablam behind it. Visitors may watch prayers, and the times vary by season.

These sights sit above 3,000 m, so treat them as part of your acclimatisation, not as a warm-up you can rush.

Around 4,700 to 5,400 m: lakes, glaciers and Base Camp

  • Gokyo (about 4,750 m) is the setting for a chain of lakes that form a protected Ramsar wetland. The lakes are sacred, and the water is near freezing.
  • Gokyo Ri (about 5,357 m) looks over the Ngozumpa Glacier and the lakes to Everest, Lhotse, Makalu and Cho Oyu. All four stand above 8,000 m.
  • Everest Base Camp (about 5,364 m) lies on the Khumbu Glacier. Tents are there in the spring climbing season, and the viewpoint is the draw.

Above 5,600 m: Kala Patthar

Kala Patthar (about 5,644 m) is the viewpoint for the sunrise panorama of Everest, Nuptse and Lhotse. The path is not technical, but the height is considerable. Start in the dark, dress for severe cold and descend when you have taken in the view.

What you cannot visit

The Khumbu Icefall can only be entered by permitted climbing expeditions. It is not a tourist sight at any level.

Altitude and your plan

Sleeping height should rise by only about 300 to 500 m a day once you are above 3,000 m, with rest days usually at Namche and Dingboche. A headache that worsens, vomiting, breathlessness at rest or confusion are signs to go down. Hire a licensed guide, because national rules expect one for independent trekkers and a guide can judge when to stop. Nobody should trek alone at these heights.

Costs and access

The municipal permit is about NPR 3,000 and park entry roughly NPR 3,000 to 3,400, so confirm both on arrival. Kathmandu to Lukla is a flight of about 30 to 40 minutes, and in the busy seasons many flights leave from Manthali after a road transfer of about 4 to 5 hours. Keep 2 or 3 spare days. The Ramsar record for Gokyo describes the wetland.

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