NP · Koshi Province · 27.82°N 86.72°E

namche bazaar

A Sherpa market town above river gorges, with Himalayan walks on the Everest trail.

Best time
March–May brings spring trekking weather and rhododendrons, and October–November usually gives the clearest skies. January–February is very cold, and June–September rain and cloud disrupt trails, views and Lukla flights.
How long
8–10 days from Kathmandu, including walking and flight buffers
Getting there
Fly direct from KL to Kathmandu (about 4.5 hours). In the spring and autumn seasons, Lukla flights leave from Ramechhap, about 5 hours by road from Kathmandu; at other times some fly from Kathmandu itself in about 35 minutes. From Lukla it's two days' walk to Namche. Nepal is 2 hours 15 minutes behind KL.
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NP · Koshi Provincenamche bazaar27.82°N 86.72°Egowherelah.com
Dear group chat,A Sherpa market town above river gorges, with Himalayan walks on the Everest trail.— gowherelahTo: whoever’s drivingNamche BazaarNP, Koshi Province
KLnamche bazaar
≈ 3,171 km from KL, as the crow flies
Namche Bazaar at Night

Photo: Super Trekkers · CC BY-SA 4.0

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Photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each.

Namche is the Sherpa capital of the Khumbu, a horseshoe of lodges, bakeries and gear shops on a steep slope at about 3,440 metres on the Everest trail. Getting here is part of it: a mountain flight to Lukla, then two days on foot over suspension bridges and up a long climb from the river.

Makan

  1. Dal bhatRice, lentils and vegetables, the trekker's staple, refilled until you're full.Map ↗
  2. Sherpa stewShyakpa, a thick soup of hand-torn dough and vegetables.Map ↗
  3. Tibetan breadPuffy fried bread with honey or jam, for a long day's walking.Map ↗

Things to do

  1. Namche BazaarLodges, bakeries and shops on terraced lanes, with a Saturday market when porters bring supplies up the valley.Map ↗
  2. Everest viewpointA short climb above town to the national park headquarters, with first views of Everest and Ama Dablam.Map ↗
  3. Sherpa Culture MuseumA small museum of Sherpa life and Everest climbing history on the hill above town.Map ↗
  4. KhumjungAn acclimatisation walk to a Sherpa village whose monastery keeps a 'yeti scalp'.Map ↗

Good to know

  • Two nights in Namche, with an easy day hiking higher and sleeping back down, is standard before going further.
  • Most trekkers go with a licensed agency and guide, who sort out the Sagarmatha National Park and local permits.
  • Halal meat isn't available on the trail, but vegetarian dal bhat is what most trekkers live on anyway.

Last checked October 2026. Things change, so check opening times, fees and transport before you go.