This is the 2nd part (day 2 to 4) of my epic 19-day trek to Everest Base Camp (EBC) and Gokyo Lake, perched on the Himalayan mountains in Nepal.

After the long trek from Lukla Airport, I arrived in Namche Bazaar. Located at 3,440 meters above sea level, it’s a good place to spend a chill hiking day to acclimatize to the high elevation.

Highlights

Scroll down to see photos from my trip, a trail map, itinerary & more travel tips.

Namche Bazaar

Namche Bazaar is the largest Sherpa town along the EBC trail and the main tourist hub in the Everest region in Nepal. There are a lot of trekking shops, souvenir stalls, restaurants & a few ATMs here. So, you can do your last-minute shopping at Namche before venturing father to more remote villages. On your way down, you can celebrate with a pint of Guinness beer at the highest Irish pub in the world & buy things to bring home like locally-made crafts.

Daytime view of Namche Bazaar

Tenzing Norgay Memorial

First view of Mount Everest view from Tenzing Norgay Memorial. Seen in the photo (right to left): Mount Thamserku (6,608 m), Ama Dablam (6856 m), Lhotse (8,516 m), Everest (8,848 m), Nuptse (7,861 m).

Located on top of a hill near the center of Namche Bazaar, the Tenzing Norgay Memorial offers a sight breathtaking of Mount Everest’s summit.

This site is dedicated to Tenzing Norgay, one of the first two individuals known to reach the summit of Mount Everest, which he accomplished with Edmund Hillary on 29 May 1953.

Tenzing Norgay Memorial (3,552 m) with a view of Mount Thamserku (6,608 m).

Sherpa Culture Museum

Built with traditional Sherpa design and architecture, Sherpa Culture Museum holds Sherpa artifacts and offers a place to learn about the Sherpa way of life in the past.

A gompa (shrine) and prayer wheels at the Sherpa Culture Museum.

Sherpa Culture Museum

Hotel Everest View & Syangboche

At 3,880 meters above sea level the Hotel Everest View, located near Namche Bazaar, was once listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the highest placed hotel in the World.

If not for the cloud cover, this could’ve been a nice view of Mount Everest from the comfort of the restaurant at Hotel Everest View.

Woods near Hotel Everest View, on the way to Khumjung

Enjoying the colors of the autumn season during my trek in October. The best weather for hiking & the busiest months are: March to May and September to November.

Khumjung Village

Khumjung village

Yak dung sun-dried on the stone wall in Khumjung

The Yak dung is gathered once dry and tossed in the burner to heat the tea houses/lodges.

Khumjung Monastery

Yeti skull displayed at Khumjung Monastery

One of the most interesting experiences on the trek is seeing a Yeti Scalp with your own eyes. The Khumjung monastery claims to have a piece of a 300-year-old abominable snowman.

More of Namche Bazaar

EBC Trek Map

Array

EBC Trek Itinerary

See full itinerary & highlights: EBC-Gokyo Circuit Trek (19 days)

Day 3 – Namche Bazaar Acclimatization Day

Distance hiked: 8 km

Starting elevation: 2,860 meters

Highest elevation: 3,880 meters

Hike duration: 8 hours (incl. lunch/rest breaks and a lot of photo stops)

Time
1000 Sherpa Culture Museum (3,524m)
1030 Everest View from Tenzing Norgay Memorial (3,552m)
1300 Everest Sherpa Resort (3,826m)
0200 Hotel Everest View (3,880m)
1550 Khumjung Monastery & Village (3,802m)
1815 Back to Namche Bazaar (3,440m)
Sleep: Pumori Guest House. Highly recommended! Lovely view of Namche Bazaar. Decent WiFi. Great Yak steak.

EBC-Gokyo trek series

Before you go