Ever wondered what can be the best 10 things you can do at the Everest Region? It’s all common to hear the stories of legendary Sherpa people, those intrepid men and women who’ve exploited Mt Everest since 1920 and have made huge sacrifices to scale the highest landmark this planet has to offer. Scores of people have sacrificed their own lives in their own attempts to summit Mount Everest (8848m). Scaling Mount Everest is no doubt one of the wildest dreams of any adventurers. Aside from Mount Everest, entire Everest Region (also popularly known as Khumbu Region) has also been one of the hotspot trekking destinations since long ago. It has such a beautiful trekking route offering trekkers with breathtaking mountain scenery, unique Sherpa culture, Buddhist monasteries, and museums along the way. All trekking days are filled with walking for the sheer pleasure of it, passing through colorful prayer wheels, crossing swing bridges straight out of an Indiana Jones movie while evenings are rewarded with hot food when you can pour your heart out with like-minded people around the dining-room fire. Traveling to the Everest region is such an intoxicating mix of natural splendors, fascinating culture and for sure a personal sense of achievement. On top of that, experiencing the warm Nepalese hospitality on top of the world makes Everest Region world’s most unforgettable trip ever.
Now, lets explore top 10 things you can do while you are doing trip in Everest Region. Let me tell you beforehand that this list has been prepared as our personal experiences. Much of this list could probably be your favorites as well. So, don’t miss out the following things when you happen to be there 🙂
10. Explore Namche Bazaar
Situated on crescent shaped mountain slopes offering stunning views of the mountains across the valley, Namche Bazaar is known as the gateway to Everest Region. It is the unofficial capital of Khumbu region of Nepal. You need to ascend a grueling 3 to 4 hours climb up from the river to Namche. Also known as Sherpa Kingdom, Namche is the place where you can get the best idea of how Sherpa culture and lifestyle can be studied. To know about the history of Sherpa people and how it has progressed over time, you can take time to visit the famous Sherpa Museum at Namche. Almost all kind of facilities and amenities are available here. You can visit Shopping Malls for purchasing Chinese export quality products. Visit Internet Cafes offering you high speed Internet Connectivity at the highest point of Nepal. If interested, exotic bars are there with the facilities of pool and snooker. Enjoy the stunning surrounding mountain views. Luxurious Star Hotels are available for your food and accommodation. Overall, it feels like Namche is an amazing place like middle of nowhere.
9. Visit Tengboche Monastery
Tengboche Monastery is one of the oldest and largest Tibetan Buddhist Monasteries located at the highest point on Earth. Here’s where the World’s Highest Bakery is situated. Situated atop the hill at the confluence of two rivers: Dudh Koshi and Imja Khola, this monastery is considered one of the important religious Buddhist sites. Tengboche is believed to be a place where Lama Sangwa Dorje had declared some 350 years ago that this will be an important Buddhist Monastery one day. But it is only in 1923 that Tengboche Monastery actually built by the incarnation of Lama Sangwa Dorje. The Monastery itself has such a beautiful ambiance. The Monastery area is surrounded by ancient mani stone walls. The stones are inscribed with the divine Buddhist mantra of “Om Mani Padme Hum”. Catch the view of beautiful prayer flags that keep fluttering all the time with the constant breeze coming off the high peaks. And if you heading to scale some of the world-highest peaks situated at Everest Region, Tengboche Monastery mostly serves you as one of the last stops. Tengboche Monastery–certainly an important site worth peeking on.
8. Explore Chhukung Valley
Here goes a beautiful long valley–Chhukung valley that starts from Imja Tsu (Island Peak). For climbers, it’s like a training center where they can try out small peaks like Peak 38, Chhukung Ri, Amadablam and etc. before trying for other highest peaks. To be more precise, Chhukung is a lodge village serving climbers in the Khumbu Region. The valley offers the panoramic views of Himalayas surrounding you. Just sit in the sun room, sipping tea and basking in the magnificence. Hiking to Chhukung Ri will be another option–so much for your trailblazing aspirations. Chhukung has been recommended by health experts as an important place for acclimatization point of view as well. The valley itself is absolutely stunning.
7. Khumbu Glacier
Ranging from 4900m to 7800m, Khumbu Glacier is the highest glacier in the world. The main glacier is estimated to be 17 kilometers long. The Khumbu glacier plows down off the Lhotse Face between Everest and Nuptse just like a gargantuan bulldozer. The Glacier paves the way to Everest Base Camp and its spectacular icefall is well-known among climbers. It’s unfortunate that Khumbu glacier is constantly shifting, groaning and collapsing. The danger is that if you happened to be there when the icefall shrugs, you can be swallowed by a crevasse. The crevasses can be hundreds of feet deep. Imagine walking on the railroad tracks through a dark mountain, without having an idea when will the track collapse with a bottomless pit below. This is what exactly feels like when you walk on Khumbu Icefall.
6. Climb up to Kalapatthar
Literally ‘Kala Patthar’ means ‘Black Rock’. Kalapatthar is a notable landmark located at the south ridge Pumori at the altitude of 5545m. Kalapatthar is well-known as one of the best viewpoint for Everest. It offers probably the most spectacular close-up views of Mount Everest, the top of the world. All you need to do is to reach at the peak before the dawn so that you can get the phenomenal sunrise view while standing face-to-face with Everest. It is considered an important destination included in most of the treks operated in Everest region like Everest Base Camp Trek and others. The ascent of Kalapatthar begins at Gorakshep. And if you are visiting Everest region for the first time, here’s the fact about Gorakshep: you can use high speed Internet connectivity at Gorakshep these days!
5. Thukla Pass
The Thukla Pass is one of the stunning passes situated in Everest Region. Well known for housing dozens of memorials of all the mountaineers from around the globe who have lost their lives in the attempts to scale Mount Everest. You can observe the monuments of famous climbers like Scott Fisher, Babuchhiri Sherpa, and many others consisting of stacks of stones and prayer flags. The monuments also consists of golden plagues as well. One of the plagues reads “Always Aim High”. As the pass is located at a junction– at the route from Gokyo Ri and Everest Base Camp. You can have awesome views of Kalapatthar, Lobuche East, and other panoramic mountain landscape. You can even witness people climbing peak. Anyway, visiting Thukla Pass is really amazing and moving experience as you can get to observe Mountaineers’ Memorials as well as an opportunity to stand so close to the major peaks of Khumbu Region.
4. Gokyo Lakes
Gokyo Lakes should rank world’s finest trekking destination as it offers the beautiful and tranquil ambiance while presenting the stunning Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse in front of your eyes. With remarkably serene lakes and outstanding views of mountains, a visit to Gokyo Lake is going to be memorable. The series of five tranquil and heavenly beautiful Gokyo lakes are definitely worth hard work. Located atop the Dudh Koshi Valley, Gokyo Lakes offer the seductive option to enjoy the Nepalese Himalayas. For adventure trekkers, trip to Gokyo Lakes is one of the most appealing option. Trekking through Sherpa heartland overlooking the spectacular panorama of Himalayas surrounding you, and absorbing the dazzling beauty of insanely amazing Gokyo Lakes will be a great memory for lifetime.
3. Gokyo Ri
While you make your way up to Gokyo Lakes, Gokyo Ri is another awesome destination worth your sweat. For Everest, Gokyo Ri the best viewpoint, even better than Kalapatthar, as Gokyo Ri offers better close-up views. Located at the end of Gokyo Valley, Gokyo Ri (aka Gokyo Peak), is one of the finest destination for trekkers who can accept challenges of walking extra mile in the Himalayas. Plus, Gokyo Ri the perfect viewpoint for absorbing five 8000 meter peaks including Everest, Kanchenjunga, Lhotse, Makalu, and Cho Oyu. Gokyo Ri consists of few stone houses–the small hamlet, one of the highest settlements in the world.
2. Lukla Airport
Needless to say, Lukla Aiport has a bad reputation. It is often regarded as one of the most dangerous and scariest airports in the world. The airstrip was built in 1965 by Sir Edmund Hillary, and is now one of the busiest airports in Nepal. The airlines operate over 50 flights a day during the peak season. It’s typical location makes it the scariest and the most beautiful airport at the same time. In 2008, it was renamed Tenzing-Hillary Airport to honor those icons who’ve successfully scaled the Everest for the first time. The flight to Lukla is considered one of the most scenic flights in the world. Having said this, we can not ignore the dangers it can invite. To ensure the maximum security, only the most experienced pilots are appointed for Lukla Flight. Although the airport seems to be very chaotic, the best efforts are taken to make it the well-ordered and well-managed airstrips for all passengers.
1. Everest Base Camp
Undoubtedly one of the best trekking routes in the world–Everest Base Camp! Located at the lap of world’s highest peak, EBC trek offers the best experience of being in the Everest Region. The trip intersperses through warm and hospitable Sherpa villages, amazingly rich biodiversity at Sagarmatha National Park, and some of the oldest and important Buddhist monasteries. EBC itself offers you the magnificent views of three grandest peaks on planet earth: Lhotse Shar, Lhotse, and Everest per se. Everest Base Camp Trek is going to be your dream trip, defining your life in an adventurous way.
Final Conclusion
Everest Region offers much more than what’s been explored so far. It has wide range of destinations to offer, to make you feel like heaven. While making this list of top 10 things to do in Everest region, we’ve taken optimum care not to miss out favorites of all. But we are aware that it’s not possible to include others as we are limited to only 10. We could have missed out many of the best destinations you can visit there. Some important mentions could be like Everest Three Passes, Everest Scenic Mountain Flights, Thupten Choling Monastery, villages of Thame and Khumjung, Solu Region, Everest Marathon and many more… Hope you enjoyed reading our list.
Please don’t forget to drop your favorite mentions via comments below. We truly cherish your engagement in our blog!
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