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Sagarmatha National Park - Mt.Everest
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Treks in the Mount Everest region range from fairly
easy, with some steep parts, to longer and more strenuous
ones to Gokyo or Everest Base Camp. Most treks begin
by flying from Kathmandu to the remarkable short hillside
airstrip at Lukla (one end at the mountainside, the
other end at the precipice, but safe and used by many
flights each day, weather permitting). From Lukla,
it’s a day and a half to famous Namche Bazaar.
First, there is a very pleasant walk along the Dudh
Koshi River to the entrance to Sagarmatha (Mother
of the Universe) National Park. Then, it’s steeply
uphill on good steps and smooth slopes. From the steps,
you get your first distant view of Mount Everest.
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| Namche
Bazaar (3446 meters) is a major tourist town, full of
Tibetan and local souvenirs and some tourist nightlife.
On occasion, there are major market days, when traders
from Tibet are present. Places to stay range from basic
to modern to the posh Everest View Hotel, which is further
up the hillside. |
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Namche Bazaar makes a good base
for exploring the region. Westward is the monastery
of Thame (4000 meters) and some fine mountain views. |
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| A few hours’
walk eastward from Namche Bazaar is the famous Tengboche monastery
(3860 meters, now completely rebuilt after the disastrous
1989 fire) with its fine views of Nuptse (7879 meters),Everest
(8850 meters), Lhotse (8501 meters), Ama Dablam (6856 meters),
the holy mountain of the Sherpas, and many other spectacular
peaks. |
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A short downhill walk beyond,
through the rhododendron forest, is the monastery’s convent
at Deboche (3710 meters), where visitors are made welcome
with yak butter tea and may sit for hours listening to the
nun’s prayers, singing and music, photos graciously permitted. |
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We can stay at a Tengboche guesthouse or at the fine,
cozy, two-story stone Ama Dablam
Garden Lodge in Debuche, which has very good food.
Beyond, the trail leads to Pangboche, site of the
region’s oldest monastery, where monks treasure
what is thought to be the scalp of the mysterious
man-like Yeti, the “abominable snowman.”
Afterwards, we can continue to the monastery at Dingboche
and onward to Everest Base Camp (about 5360 meters),
more of historic interest than of special beauty (Everest
is not visible from the camp). On the way, however,
there are fine views of Everest from the top of Kala
Pattar (5545 meters), a trekking peak about two hours’
climb from the
main trail.
Alternatively, one can trek to scenic Gokyo (4750
meters) up the Dudh Koshi river from Namche Bazaar.
The region is famous for its lovely lakes and glaciers.
The return trek can be via Pangboche and Tengboche
for a delightful combination of scenery and culture.
Durations of these treks vary. A typical trek to
Gokyo from Lukla and return to Lukla is 12 days. It
is possible to trek all the way, from the roadhead
to Lukla to Gokyo, 28 days return, or less if you
fly back to Kathmandu from Lukla.
A trek from Lukla to Everest Base Camp and return
takes 12 to 15 days.
A trek flying between Kathmandu and Lukla, visiting
both Thame and Tengboche/Duboche takes ten days or
less.
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