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Nepal

Namche Bazaar

Horseshoe Sherpa town on the Everest trail, with your first views of Everest

TrekMountainsCulture

Best time to visit Namche Bazaar

peak shoulder off-season avoid

  • Go: March to May and October to November
  • Shoulder: February, September and December, quieter, and the weather is less of a sure thing
  • Skip: January and June to August

Planning a specific month? MarchAprilMayOctoberNovember

Namche Bazaar season by season

Winter December to February Shoulder

Clear skies but freezing nights and fewer open lodges; Jan is bitterly cold, while Dec still suits fit trekkers.

Summer March to May Prime time

Second best season: rhododendrons on the trail in Apr, Everest expedition teams passing through and warmer days.

Monsoon June to September Shoulder

Cloud hides the peaks, lower trails are muddy with leeches and Lukla flights are often grounded for days.

Autumn October to November Prime time

Prime season: crystal views of Ama Dablam and Everest, Mani Rimdu at Tengboche and the busy Saturday market.

What Namche Bazaar is actually like

Lodges with hot showers and bakeries, gear shops, Sherpa families and trekkers taking an acclimatisation day.

Things to do in Namche Bazaar

The local places worth your time in and around Namche Bazaar, with how far each sits from the centre. Tap a name to open it in Google Maps.

  • Sherpa Culture Museum

    Museum · in town

    Small museum of Sherpa home life and Everest climbers' portraits, on the ridge above town with Everest views.

  • Hotel Everest View

    Viewpoint · 2 km out

    Hilltop hotel at about 3880 m on the acclimatisation hike, with a terrace view of Everest and Ama Dablam.

  • Khumjung

    Village · 2 km out

    Sherpa village with the Hillary school and a gompa said to keep a yeti scalp, on the acclimatisation loop.

  • Tengboche Monastery

    Monastery · 6 km out

    Biggest gompa in the Khumbu, at about 3870 m facing Ama Dablam; monks chant at dawn and dusk.

  • Thame

    Village · 7 km out

    Quiet valley village west of Namche with an old gompa on the cliff, home of many famous summiteers.

  • Gokyo

    Lake · 17 km out

    Turquoise lake chain below Cho Oyu at about 4790 m, 3 days on foot from Namche, with Gokyo Ri above.

  • Lukla

    Village · 13 km out

    Airstrip town where the trail starts, a long day's walk down valley; flights run in the morning, weather permitting.

Getting to Namche Bazaar

Fly to Lukla from Kathmandu or Ramechhap, then 2 days on foot; Sagarmatha park fee and Khumbu local permit.

Practical ways in: flight

Trip facts

How long to stay
4 days
Budget
Splurge
How busy
Busy at its peak
Solo travel
Easy solo
Altitude
3450 m
Country
Nepal
Coordinates
27.8046, 86.7120

Common questions

When is the best time to visit Namche Bazaar?

March to May and October to November is peak season in Namche Bazaar. February, September and December is shoulder season: thinner crowds, a bit more risk in the weather. Avoid January and June to August. Second best season: rhododendrons on the trail in Apr, Everest expedition teams passing through and warmer days.

How many days do you need in Namche Bazaar?

4 days is the usual stay. Lodges with hot showers and bakeries, gear shops, Sherpa families and trekkers taking an acclimatisation day.

How do you get to Namche Bazaar?

Fly to Lukla from Kathmandu or Ramechhap, then 2 days on foot; Sagarmatha park fee and Khumbu local permit. Practical ways in: flight.

Is Namche Bazaar expensive, and does it get crowded?

Splurge by Indian travel standards, and it runs busy at the busiest time of year. Easy solo.

Is there a festival in Namche Bazaar?

Mani Rimdu at Tengboche (Oct or Nov). Time a trip around it and you see the place at its loudest, but book beds early.

What are the best things to do in Namche Bazaar?

Sherpa Culture Museum, Hotel Everest View, Khumjung, Tengboche Monastery, Thame and Gokyo, and more. Small museum of Sherpa home life and Everest climbers' portraits, on the ridge above town with Everest views.

Nearby, and where to go next

More places to visit in Nepal

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