Three treks compared Every multi-day trip in Sagarmatha National Park begins on foot, because there are no roads or vehicles inside the park. The three standard routes differ in length, height and difficulty, so the comparison below is the quickest way to choose. Route Typical length Highest points Suits Everest Base Camp 12 to 14 days Base Camp about 5,364 m, Kala Patthar about 5,644 m Fit first-time high-altitude trekkers with a guide Gokyo Lakes 11 to 13 days Gokyo about 4,750 m, Gokyo Ri about 5,357 m Trekkers wanting lakes and a wide panorama Three Passes roughly 18 to 21 days Kongma La about 5,535 m Experienced, well-acclimatised trekkers with a guide The Base Camp route in outline From Lukla (about 2,840 m) the trail rises through Phakding, Monjo and Namche Bazaar (about 3,440 m), then Tengboche, Dingboche (about 4,410 m), Lobuche (about 4,940 m) and Gorak Shep (about 5,164 m).

Why guided and why short Every tour in the Khumbu is a walking tour, since there is no road and no vehicle in Sagarmatha National Park. The best-suited walks are short, village-based and guided, and they work because a good guide sets a slow pace at height and spots altitude trouble early. This page starts with how to find a guide and then lists four walks. Finding a guide Under national rules, independent trekkers in Nepal’s national parks and protected areas are expected to use a licensed guide or porter, which is the position set out by the UK government.

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.

Know what this trip is The Everest region suits couples who like effort and scenery more than pampering. It is a high mountain valley reached on foot, and there are no spas, pools, boat rides or kayaks. A romantic trip here means sunrise views, a long walk together and a warm lodge in the evening. Choose a plan to match how much altitude you both want. Plan one: a short stay near Namche For a gentle version, fly to Lukla, walk to Namche Bazaar (about 3,440 m) and stay for a few nights, with a rest day at Namche to adjust.

Start with the altitude Taking children to the Everest region means taking them to a place where the lowest village on the main trail, Lukla, is already about 2,840 m. Altitude illness can affect children and adults unpredictably, and a small child may not be able to describe a headache or nausea. Ask a doctor about your own family before you book, and plan the trip around short stays at modest height.

Short answers In most places a day trip leaves a city in the morning and returns at night. The Everest (Khumbu) region does not work that way. There is no road into Sagarmatha National Park, so every walking day starts where the last one ended. These are the questions people ask most, with straight answers. Can I visit Everest Base Camp in a day? No. Everest Base Camp is at about 5,364 m, and the standard trek takes 12 to 14 days from Lukla.

What counts as an attraction here The Everest region offers a handful of attractions rather than a tour circuit. They are monasteries, villages and a few flights, and almost all of them lie along the trekking trails of Sagarmatha National Park. There are no buses, taxis or jeeps in the park, so each stop below is reached by walking from Lukla, or by air. Attraction Where How you reach it Tengboche Monastery (Dawa Choling Gompa) Tengboche, about 3,867 m On foot on the Everest Base Camp trail Khumjung Monastery and its Yeti scalp relic Khumjung village On foot from Namche Bazaar Namche Bazaar heritage sites Namche, about 3,440 m On foot from Lukla Hotel Everest View Syangboche, about 3,880 m On foot above Namche, or by helicopter Khumbu helicopter flights From Kathmandu By air, with operator choice left to you Tengboche Monastery The monastery has Ama Dablam behind it.

From a gentle walk to a high climb The Everest (Khumbu) region of Nepal has no roads and no vehicles, so every activity is a walk of some length. This page sorts them by how much effort and altitude they ask for. The area is Sagarmatha National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979, inside Solukhumbu District and run locally by Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality. Easy: lanes, markets and a terrace Walk the terraced lanes of Namche Bazaar (about 3,440 m).