Namche Bazaar needs no explanation, as it has a generation-old legacy since Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay Sherpa summited Everest in 1963 via this iconic route, which leads to the Thame village of honor.
Previously, we had a look back on the Thame Legendary Trek, but the blog shall unfold the unique and thrilling approach to the highlights of Namche Bazaar (at an altitude of 3440 m). It is magical with its semi-circular-shaped territory, sharing its boundary with Khunde, Khumjung, Thame, and Syangboche village.
The wealthiest Sherpa village, Namche Bazaar, used to be the trade hub of the Everest region. Today, it is famous for its amazing Saturday market and a rich shopping stop for trekking and climbing expeditions in Everest.
A day of excursion and acclimatization in Namche Bazaar is highly recommended to stay safe and motivated on the Everest Three Passes Trek, Pikey Peak climbing, and exploration of the Everest region. Also, it's a popular route with the headquarters of Sagarmatha National Park, check post, and army barracks, which is a strategic stopover place for Everest trekking.
There are several outdoor activities to do here at Namche Bazaar, be it a wildlife excursion, a scenic helicopter flight over Everest, or hiking to the highest hotel nearby, Hotel Everest View (3,880 m). The places worth visiting around Namche Bazaar Trek are,
Khumjung village is situated at an altitude of 3,790 meters above sea level, just below the sacred mountain Khumbu Yui Lha (5,761 m). You can explore the local mountain life and experience the local culture of the Khumjung people on the Everest Trek, who are grateful for the charitable endeavors of mountaineering legend Sir Edmund Hillary.
Khumjung Hillary School is also a prime location that educates Sherpa kids near Namche Bazaar, as established in 1961 by Sir Edmund Hillary. In Khumjung, cultural landmarks like the Sherpa Life Museum are also located, which depicts the history, livelihoods, and generation-old legacy of mountaineering.
The Khumjung Monastery, at 12,400 feet, is a historical monument with a yeti scalp that is around 4 kilometers from Namche Bazaar and takes around 1.5 hours on foot.
Khunde is a neighboring Sherpa village in Namche Bazaar, also known as the ”green valley.” The green roof of the traditional sherpa houses is a charm and if you trek for one hour, you will find the village of Khunde in the northwest direction.
Namche Bazaar is located around 13 kilometers north of its nearby airport, Syangboche, which has no usual passenger flights but is used for occasional cargo flights, choppers, and airstrips.
Namche Bazaar is located around 13 kilometers north of its nearby airport, Syangboche, which has no usual passenger flights but is used for occasional cargo flights, choppers, and airstrips.
However, Lukla is the nearest airport in terms of taking passenger flights, and it also charters helicopters to Namche Bazaar on demand for those seeking an exclusive reach to Namche Bazaar with views of the Himalayas. Manthali Airport in Namche Bazaar is quite popular for helicopter flights.
Take a KitKat break (just joking), and take time to acclimatize in the gateway town to Everest. It is always advisable to munch on healthy snacks, like peanut bars, when you are on a trek to high-altitude regions like Namche Bazaar and Everest Base Camp trek.
But the interesting fact is that Namche Bazaar lies on the lower belt of the Khumbu region, along with other villages like Pengboche and Tengboche.
Quite rhyming but this village is beyond just that; these transition to the close-up views of Everest, located at a distance of 3 to 4 kilometers. These villages are located in a zodiac belt of 3000 to 4000 m above sea level and can be reached with a short ascent.
This is truly a remarkable route for the Everest three passes trek, and Namche Bazaar can be an acclimatization stop where you adapt your body to the Himalayan climate and prepare strategically for scaling up in the altitude with the help of the best trekking guide like Nature Trail.
Sagarmatha National Park Visitor's Center is located on the top of Namche Bazaar, which stores the information of trekkers. You also have to register your information and biometrics and get a trekking permit from the SPVC.
The visitor center has information exhibited about the achievements of legendary mountaineers in the Everest region. It also reflects on the helping hands who contributed to conserving the legacy and Himalayan ecosystem of the Khumbu region.
Namche Bazaar is a popular trading station for agricultural commodities, yak-cheese, and a mountain trade center from the past. The town is a bustling hub for trekkers, as it caters to the needs and trekking gear of climbers as well.
The Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee (SPCC) is a community-based non-governmental organization (NGO) in the local Sherpa town, Namche Bazaar. If you take a short walk from Namche Bazaar, you can reach SPCC, explore its appropriate waste management infrastructure, and learn about the ongoing developmental projects.
It has managed garbage under the Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation ( MoCTCA) and NMA since 1997. It has contracted to inspect the climbing route through Khumbu Glacier (Icefall) each year. Currently, the ongoing "Carry Me Back" (CMB) initiative has been initiated with SPCC to bring all semi-processed recyclable wastes from the climbing route.
Thame-Namche hydropower plant (600 kW) is located near Thame, which shares proximity to the trading capital of the Everest region. Since the plant began in October 1995, it has been ecologically balanced to supply electricity throughout the region. You can briefly hike to this hydropower plant area and explore the local culture.
If you go to the North-Eastern part of the Khumbu Valley, you interact with the myriads of floral and faunal diversity. The Himalayan Monal is found at an altitude of 2100 to 4500 m, and thus, they are seen in Namche Bazaar too. The Tibetan snowcock is quite popular and is seen high in the trek to Everest base camp.
Even in Namche Bazaar, near the National Park area, you can witness rhododendron trees, Himalayan birch, juniper, edelweiss, and gron (usually available in the alpine meadows). In addition, other plants like wild roses, oaks, firs, hemlock, and bamboo are seen in the Everest trekking region. Red pandas, Himalayan thar, snow leopards, and golden eagles are other major wildlife found in this region.
There are several local eateries, like restaurants, coffee shops, bars, and pubs, in Namche Bazaar. The hospitality of Sherpas, plus the Sherpa cuisines like Sherpa stew (Thukpa), momo dumplings, and yak-based products.
Eating in the remote villages is an equally unique experience to have on the Namche Bazaar trekking in Nepal. Nepali Thakali Dal Bhat set, fermented gundruk, and garlic soup, along with bakery items and international cuisines like pasta, pizza, and others, are made on request.
The world's highest Irish pub is situated in Namche Bazaar at an elevation of 3,450 m above sea level. It is a remote bar and even Hotel Everest View is located at 13000 ft, serving delicious cuisine as the highest-placed hotel in Nepal.
Other than that cozy lodge with dining at Namche Terrace, Mountain Lodges of Nepal, and local homestays in the chill winter nights of Namche is beyond ordinary. Do you know the coldest night in Namche Bazaar can drop to -20 °C in January? so stay protected with the necessary trekking and winter gear.
Dumji festival is celebrated to honor the Sherpa culture in Namche Bazaar. It is celebrated around June and July based on the lunar calendar and is one of the festivals with traditional Sherpa dances.
It honors the birth of Guru Rinpoche on a lotus flower and is particularly celebrated with drinking and religious rituals for 4 to 5 days at Namche Bazaar, Tengboche, Thame, and Chiwong Monastery.
Even the Mani Rimdu festival in Thame trekking is a great celebration in the luscious hills and scenery of the Solukhumbu district. People also celebrate Lhosar with great fun here in Namche Bazaar, that too two times a year, one of which signifies a Tibetan New Year.
Namche Bazaar Monastery is quite a popular sightseeing location during your stay in Namche Bazaar. The beautifully crafted Namche Monastery features the Nyingma style of Tibetan Buddhist architecture, holds the religious values and ancestral spirit of the entire Khumbu Sherpa community, and blesses the individual on their trek to Everest.
The specialty of Namche Bazaar is that it has reputed banks, like Siddharta Bank Limited, Rastriya Banjiya Bank, and Kumari Bank Limited in its periphery.
Nature Trail is a reputable trekking company that has operated treks and tours in Nepal for the past decade. No doubt our Namche Bazaar trek package is among the ones that take you to the ancient history, arts, architecture, culture, lifestyle, and mountaineering legacy of those who dare to conquer Everest, the world’s highest peak.
We accept payments internationally and ensure the best trekking experience in Annapurna, Langtang trekking, Manaslu trekking, and all possible trekking trails in Nepal. Do contact us today for your dream treks and Nepal tours.
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