Village Walks Above Namche Bazaar

Walks, not tours

The Khumbu has no vehicle tours, so walking is the only way to see its villages. The four walks here are short and suited to guided outings, and they all begin at Namche Bazaar (about 3,440 m) or just above it. Altitude sets the rules for each of them, so the notes on pace at the end apply to every walk.

Walk 1: the lanes of Namche

  • Highlights: terraced lanes, the market area, bakeries and shops, and the monastery area.
  • Best time: Saturday morning, when the weekly market draws traders from Tibet and nearby villages.
  • Length: as long as you like, and a good first outing after arrival.

Walk 2: Khumjung and Khunde

  • Highlights: the stone-walled lanes of Khumjung, a loop that takes in the school and the monastery, and then Khunde.
  • Also here: Khumjung Monastery, where a relic described as a Yeti scalp is kept, and where visitors should be quiet and respectful.
  • Length: commonly combined with the walk to Hotel Everest View.

Walk 3: the ridge to Hotel Everest View

  • Highlights: a ridge walk to Syangboche (about 3,880 m) and a terrace facing Everest, Lhotse and Ama Dablam.
  • Length: roughly 4 to 5 hours when combined with Khumjung.
  • Note: ask whether the hotel is open to visitors before you rely on a stop there.

Walk 4: the Thame valley

  • Highlights: a valley walk on the old trade route from Namche toward Thame.
  • Length: open ended, and you choose where to turn around. You come back on foot, because there is no road.

Pace and altitude for every walk

Walk at a speed that lets you hold a conversation. Drink often, and treat any walk above 3,000 m as part of your acclimatisation. Sleeping height should climb by only about 300 to 500 m per day, with rest days normally at Namche and Dingboche. Stop and descend if a headache worsens, if you feel sick or if your balance goes. Under national rules a licensed guide or porter is expected, and enforcement in the Khumbu is uneven, but a guide makes these walks safer. Never go alone at altitude.

Fees and planning

You will need the municipal permit, about NPR 3,000 for most foreign visitors, and the park entry, roughly NPR 3,000 to 3,400. Confirm both when you arrive. Flights to Lukla can be delayed, so build in 2 or 3 spare days around the dates of your walks. For current official guidance on Nepal, read the UK government travel advice .

Look for guided village walks on GetYourGuide .

Read more: Sightseeing and Attraction tours .