Khumbu / Everest Region
The roof of the world — trek among the planet's highest peaks through the homeland of the legendary Sherpa people.
Trails
4
Best Season
October-November, March-May
Best visited in autumn and spring.autumn: best, -15°C to 8°C. The classic Everest trekking season. Unbeatable clarity for mountain views. Tea houses and Lukla flights book out fast. monsoon: avoid, -3°C to 14°C. Clouds engulf the region. Flights to Lukla frequently cancelled. Trails slippery. Not recommended. spring: best, -12°C to 10°C. Climbing season and peak trekking. EBC, Gokyo, Three Passes all accessible. Rhododendrons bloom below Namche. winter: possible, -25°C to 0°C. Extreme cold but spectacular clear skies. Trek to Namche or Tengboche feasible. Above that, only for winter specialists.
Best Time to Visit
Climbing season and peak trekking. EBC, Gokyo, Three Passes all accessible. Rhododendrons bloom below Namche.
How to Get There
Access via flight from Kathmandu to Lukla's Tenzing-Hillary Airport (25 minutes) or multi-day drive via Salleri/Phaplu. Pikey Peak is accessible by road from Kathmandu to Dhap (8-10 hours).
Permit Information
Sagarmatha National Park entry permit (NPR 3,000), Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality fee (NPR 2,000), and TIMS card required.
The Khumbu region in Solukhumbu district is the legendary home of the Sherpa people and the gateway to Mount Everest (8,849m). Lying within Sagarmatha National Park (a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979), the region offers some of the most spectacular high-altitude trekking on Earth.
The classic Everest Base Camp trek is the world's most famous, but the Khumbu offers much more: the Gokyo Lakes trek to sacred turquoise glacial lakes, the demanding Everest Three Passes trek (crossing Kongma La, Cho La, and Renjo La), and the gentler Pikey Peak trek in the lower Solu region. Four of the world's six highest peaks — Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, and Cho Oyu — are visible from viewpoints in the region.
The Sherpa culture is integral to the trekking experience. Ancient monasteries like Tengboche and Pangboche, mani stone walls, and colorful prayer flags line the trails. Namche Bazaar, the Sherpa capital at 3,440m, is a vibrant trading town and acclimatization stop.
The three to know
★ 01Everest Base Camp Trek
The world's most famous trek — a 14-day journey through Sherpa villages and Sagarmatha National Park to the foot of Everest at 5,364m.
★ 02Everest Three Passes Trek
The ultimate Khumbu challenge — three high passes over 5,300m combining Everest Base Camp, Gokyo Lakes, and views of four 8,000m peaks.
★ 03Pikey Peak Trek
Sir Edmund Hillary reportedly called this 'the best Everest viewpoint' — a panorama from Kanchenjunga to Dhaulagiri at a fraction of EBC's altitude and cost.
Full index
- ★Pikey Peak Trek55 km6 days→
- ★Everest Base Camp Trek130 km14 days→
- 02Gokyo Lakes Trek100 km13 days→
- ★Everest Three Passes Trek170 km20 days→