Route · Everest & Solukhumbu
Lukla to Namche Bazaar
From Lukla to Namche Bazaar is about 19 km on foot, normally walked over two days with a night in Phakding or Monjo. The trail follows the Dudh Koshi, crosses it several times on suspension bridges, enters Sagarmatha National Park at Monjo and ends with a 600 m climb to Namche.
Day one drops gently from Lukla at about 2,860 m to Phakding at about 2,610 m, through Chheplung and past mani walls and farm terraces. Day two crosses back and forth over the Dudh Koshi on suspension bridges to Monjo, where you show permits at the national park gate, then climbs from the high Hillary bridge to Namche at about 3,440 m. The first view of Everest comes on this climb, weather permitting.
Travellers who want an easier start, or who come from sea level, can split the walk into three short days with nights in Phakding and Monjo. The altitude gain stays small each day, which helps the body settle before the climb to Namche. It also leaves time for side visits such as the Rimishung gompa near Phakding and the old village paths above Monjo.
Worth a stop on the way
- Chheplung
- Phakding
- Benkar
- Monjo (Sagarmatha National Park entry)
- Jorsalle
- Hillary suspension bridge
Local tip
Walk slowly on the climb to Namche, drink plenty of water, and step to the mountain side whenever a yak or dzo caravan passes.
Questions
How long does it take to walk from Lukla to Namche Bazaar?
Most people take two days: about 3–4 hours from Lukla to Phakding, then 5–6 hours from Phakding to Namche, including the steep final climb of roughly 600 m. Fit walkers sometimes do it in one long day, but we do not recommend that, because it gains too much height too fast for the body coming straight from Kathmandu.
Where do I pay the Everest park and municipality fees?
The Khumbu Pasanglhamu Rural Municipality permit, about NPR 2,000 per person, is collected at Lukla or on the trail just beyond, and the Sagarmatha National Park entry fee, about NPR 3,000 for foreigners, at the park gate in Monjo. Carry passport copies and cash in rupees. Fees change, and since April 2023 a licensed guide rule has applied; check current status before you travel.
Is the trail from Lukla to Namche difficult?
The first day is easy, mostly level or downhill. The second day is harder: many ups and downs along the river, then a sustained climb of about 600 m to Namche that takes two to three hours at a steady pace. Nothing is technical. The main challenges are altitude, dust and pack-animal traffic, so walk slowly and stand on the uphill side when animals pass.
Can I see Everest on the way to Namche?
Usually yes, briefly. On the climb above the Hillary bridge there is a viewpoint, often called Top Danda, where Everest's summit shows above the Nuptse–Lhotse ridge on a clear day. It is a distant view, and cloud often hides it after mid-morning. Far better views come from the hill above Namche and from Syangboche the next day.