Monasteries and Sights of the Khumbu
Attraction visits in the Khumbu
Attraction tours in the usual sense, with a coach, a guide and a ticket booth, are not part of the Khumbu. No road enters Sagarmatha National Park, so every sight is reached on foot as part of a trek, and the short list of real attractions is mostly monasteries and villages. This page covers each one and how it fits into a walking route.
Tengboche Monastery
Tengboche Monastery, also called Dawa Choling Gompa, stands at about 3,867 m with Ama Dablam behind it. It lies on the Everest Base Camp route between Namche Bazaar and Dingboche, so most trekkers on that route pass through. Visitors are welcome and can watch prayers, but the times change with the season, so ask at the monastery on arrival. Dress modestly and keep quiet inside. The annual Mani Rimdu festival is held here, around October to November, and its dates change each year.
Khumjung Monastery and the Yeti scalp
A relic described as a Yeti scalp is kept at Khumjung Monastery. It is an object kept inside a working monastery, not a museum with set hours, so treat it as a short stop on a visit to Khumjung village and show respect. Atlas Obscura has a short article on the relic. Khumjung is an easy hike from Namche Bazaar, usually done as an acclimatisation outing.
Namche Bazaar
Namche Bazaar (about 3,440 m) is the main trading village of the region. Its Saturday morning market draws traders from nearby villages, and its shops and bakeries are good for resupplying. A small Sherpa museum above the village is reported, so ask locally about opening times before climbing up.
Helicopter flights
Helicopter flights over the Khumbu exist, and some guests reach Hotel Everest View by helicopter from Kathmandu. Operators and prices vary, so compare several and read what is included. Never accept an evacuation flight without a medical reason.
Looking after yourself at height
Namche sits above 3,000 m and Tengboche is higher still. Take a rest day at Namche before going higher, drink plenty of water, and go down if a headache, nausea or dizziness gets worse. A licensed guide can read the signs, and trekking with one is the safer choice under national rules and in practice.
Costs and entry
The Khumbu Pasang Lhamu municipal permit is about NPR 3,000 for most foreign visitors, and Sagarmatha National Park entry is roughly NPR 3,000 to 3,400. Check both on arrival, since fees are revised from time to time.
Compare helicopter and sightseeing listings on GetYourGuide .
Read more: Sightseeing in the Khumbu and Walking tours .