Viewpoints and Monasteries of Khumbu

Sightseeing in Sagarmatha National Park

Sagarmatha National Park, the Khumbu region of Nepal, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to Everest (8,848.86 m). Sightseeing here means mountain viewpoints, monasteries and Sherpa villages, all reached on foot, because no road enters the park. Most sights lie along the Everest Base Camp route or the Gokyo route.

Mountain viewpoints

  • Kala Patthar (about 5,644 m) gives the best-known panorama of Everest, Nuptse and Lhotse at sunrise. It is a non-technical climb, but it is very high and cold.
  • Gokyo Ri (about 5,357 m) looks over the Ngozumpa Glacier and the Gokyo lakes. Four peaks above 8,000 m are in view: Everest, Lhotse, Makalu and Cho Oyu, which stands at 8,188 m.
  • Everest Base Camp (about 5,364 m) sits on the Khumbu Glacier. The tents belong to the spring climbing season, and the draw is the place itself.
  • Hotel Everest View at Syangboche (about 3,880 m) has a terrace facing Everest, Lhotse and Ama Dablam. Confirm that it is open before you go.

Monasteries and villages

Tengboche Monastery (Dawa Choling Gompa) is set against Ama Dablam, and visitors may watch prayers, though times vary with the season. Khumjung and Khunde are villages of stone-walled lanes near Namche Bazaar. Khumjung Monastery also houses a relic described as a Yeti scalp. Namche Bazaar (about 3,440 m) has a weekly Saturday morning market.

How the sights fit together

On the Base Camp route, Namche and Tengboche come first and Kala Patthar last, near Gorak Shep (about 5,164 m). Gokyo Ri belongs to the Gokyo route and cannot be added to a short visit. Neither Base Camp, Kala Patthar nor Gokyo can be reached in a day from Lukla (about 2,840 m). The Khumbu Icefall is only for permitted climbing expeditions and is never a viewing excursion.

Seeing the mountains safely

Altitude illness is a real risk on the way to every high viewpoint. Climb slowly, take rest days at Namche and Dingboche, and keep the gain in sleeping height above 3,000 m to roughly 300 to 500 m a day. Turn around if a headache, vomiting or confusion appears. Go with a licensed guide.

Before you set off

Fly from Kathmandu to Lukla in about 30 to 40 minutes. In peak months many flights leave from Manthali after a road transfer of roughly 4 to 5 hours, so keep 2 or 3 spare days. Expect about NPR 3,000 for the Khumbu Pasang Lhamu municipal permit and roughly NPR 3,000 to 3,400 for park entry. Insurance should cover trekking at height and helicopter evacuation. Atlas Obscura has an article on the Yeti scalp at Khumjung.

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