Planning Khumbu Activities Step by Step
A planning order that works
Trips to the Khumbu region of Sagarmatha National Park go smoothly when decisions are made in a fixed order. Season and flights come first, permits and insurance second, and the choice of sights last, because the sights depend on how many days you can spend at height.
Step 1: pick your months
Spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) are the peak trekking seasons. Those are also the months when most Lukla flights leave from Manthali Airport in Ramechhap district rather than Kathmandu. Mani Rimdu at Tengboche falls around October to November, and the Tenzing Hillary Everest Marathon is held each year on 29 May.
Step 2: the flight and the spare days
Small planes cover the Kathmandu to Lukla leg in about 30 to 40 minutes, weather permitting. From Manthali the transfer from Kathmandu is a pre-dawn drive of roughly 4 to 5 hours. Flights are often delayed or cancelled, so hold 2 or 3 spare days at either end. The UK government notes that internal mountain flights run late often and that no Nepali airline meets international safety standards. Details are on the FCDO Nepal page .
Step 3: permits and cover
Two payments apply. The Khumbu Pasang Lhamu municipal permit costs about NPR 3,000 for most foreign visitors, with children under 10 free, and is sold at Lukla. Park entry is roughly NPR 3,000 to 3,400. Confirm both on arrival, because fees are revised. Under national rules a licensed guide or porter is expected for independent trekkers, and enforcement in Khumbu is uneven, so hire one anyway. Insurance should name trekking at your top altitude and helicopter evacuation.
Step 4: choose what to do
- Teahouse trek to Everest Base Camp (about 5,364 m), commonly 12 to 14 days.
- Dawn climb of Kala Patthar (about 5,644 m) for the sunrise on Everest.
- Namche Bazaar market on Saturday morning, plus its bakeries and shops.
- Tengboche Monastery, with views of Ama Dablam.
- Hotel Everest View terrace at about 3,880 m, subject to it being open.
- Gokyo Ri (about 5,357 m) for four 8,000 m peaks, on its own 11 to 13 day route.
Step 5: protect your acclimatisation
Book rest days at Namche and Dingboche. Above 3,000 m, aim for a gain of 300 to 500 m in sleeping height each day. Headache, nausea, confusion or breathlessness at rest mean you should descend, not wait. Do not trek alone. The Khumbu Icefall is for permitted climbing expeditions only and is never a tourist outing.
Shop for guided trips with Viator search results for Everest region treks .
Read more: Multi-day trips and Sightseeing .