Everest
Everest Panorama Homestay Trek
Ten days in the Khumbu without the base-camp queue — Sherpa homestays, Tengboche monastery, and Everest from the ridge at Kongde.
Overview
Everest Base Camp has become busy enough that the experience of walking there is not what it was. This trek goes into the same valley, sees the same mountain, and stops before the crowds — turning around at Tengboche rather than pushing on to Gorak Shep.
The trade-off is real and worth naming: you will not stand at base camp. What you get instead is a quieter route, three nights in Sherpa family homes rather than dormitories, and a maximum altitude of 3,970 m, which puts the trip within reach of a lot of people the full route is not.
The view of Everest from the Tengboche ridge is, by common agreement, better than the view from base camp anyway.
Highlights
- Everest, Lhotse and Ama Dablam from the Tengboche ridge
- Two nights with the same Sherpa family in Khumjung
- Tengboche monastery at morning prayers
- The Namche Saturday market, which is a real market
- Sagarmatha National Park’s pine and juniper forest, thin and beautiful
Community impact
Khumjung and Kunde host on a rotation agreed by the village committee, and the nightly rate is set by them.
Porters on this route are hired through the Khumbu porters’ association, which enforces load limits, insurance and equipment standards.
A contribution per traveller goes to the Khumjung school and the valley’s waste-management scheme, both of which the community runs.
Suitable for
Walkers who want the Khumbu without a two-week commitment or a night above 4,000 m. Reasonable fitness needed; no previous altitude experience required.
Day by day
- 1Day 1
Kathmandu to Lukla, walk to Phakding
The short, famous flight into Lukla, then a gentle three hours downhill along the Dudh Koshi to Phakding. An easy first day by design.
- 3 hours
- 8 km
- 2610 m
- Family lodge, Phakding
- Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
- 2Day 2
Phakding to Namche Bazaar
Into the national park, across the high suspension bridges, and up the long climb to Namche. Everest appears for the first time about two thirds of the way up.
- 6 hours
- 11 km
- 3440 m
- Family lodge, Namche Bazaar
- Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
- 3Day 3
Namche — acclimatisation and the market
A walk up to the Everest View Hotel and back down to sleep low. If it is Saturday, the market is the better use of the morning.
- 3 hours
- 3880 m
- Family lodge, Namche Bazaar
- Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
- 4Day 4
Namche to Khumjung
A short traverse to Khumjung, the largest Sherpa village in the valley, and your first of two nights with the same host family.
- 3 hours
- 5 km
- 3790 m
- Sherpa homestay, Khumjung
- Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
- 5Day 5
Khumjung — school, monastery, and Kunde
A day in the village: the Hillary school, the monastery, and an easy walk over to Kunde and its hospital. No packing required.
- 3 hours
- 3840 m
- Sherpa homestay, Khumjung
- Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
- 6Day 6
Khumjung to Tengboche
Down to the river at Phunki Tenga and a steady climb through juniper to Tengboche, arriving in time for evening prayers at the monastery.
- 5 hours
- 10 km
- 3970 m
- Family lodge, Tengboche
- Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
- 7Day 7
Tengboche to Namche
Morning prayers, then the long, easy walk back down the valley with Ama Dablam behind you the whole way.
- 5 hours
- 10 km
- 3440 m
- Family lodge, Namche Bazaar
- Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
- 8Day 8
Namche to Monjo
Back down the big hill and out of the park boundary to Monjo.
- 4 hours
- 9 km
- 2835 m
- Family lodge, Monjo
- Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
- 9Day 9
Monjo to Lukla
The last walking day, four gentle hours back to Lukla and a genuinely good dinner.
- 4–5 hours
- 13 km
- 2840 m
- Family lodge, Lukla
- Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
- 10Day 10
Fly Lukla to Kathmandu
The morning flight out, weather permitting. We build a buffer day into every Khumbu trip because sometimes it does not.
- 35 minute flight
- 1400 m
- Not included — onward travel from Kathmandu
- Meals: Breakfast
What's included
- All accommodation — homestays, teahouses and one night in Kathmandu
- All meals on trek, plus breakfast in cities
- Licensed English-speaking Nepali guide
- Porter support, one porter per two travellers
- All national park fees, TIMS cards and local permits
- Airport transfers and ground transport on the itinerary
- Drinking-water filtration throughout
- Guide and porter insurance, wages and equipment
What's not included
- International flights to and from Kathmandu
- Nepal entry visa (available on arrival)
- Travel and medical insurance — mandatory, and we check it
- Lunch and dinner while in Kathmandu or Pokhara
- Drinks, snacks and personal expenses
- Tips for your guide and porters
- Emergency evacuation costs, which your insurance must cover
What to pack
On your feet
- Broken-in walking boots with ankle support
- Trail shoes or sandals for the evenings
- Three or four pairs of wool walking socks
- Gaiters (Oct–Nov and Mar–Apr only)
Layers
- Base layer, top and bottom
- Fleece or light down mid-layer
- Waterproof shell jacket
- Sun hat and a warm hat
- Gloves — thin liners are enough below 3,500 m
Kit
- 35–45 litre daypack
- Head torch and spare batteries
- Reusable water bottle, one litre minimum
- Sunglasses rated for altitude
- Sunscreen SPF 50 and lip balm
- Power bank — village electricity is not guaranteed
Documents & health
- Passport with at least six months validity
- Travel insurance covering trekking to your route’s maximum altitude
- Personal first-aid kit and any prescription medication
- Two passport photos for permits
Photographs
Frequently asked questions
Do I need previous trekking experience?
For most of our mid-hill routes, no. If you can walk comfortably for five hours on consecutive days you will be fine. Our guides set a pace that suits the slowest walker, not the fastest, and there is no prize for arriving first.
What happens if the weather turns?
Every itinerary has slack built into it. Your guide can shorten a stage, swap a pass for a valley route or add a rest day without it costing you anything. Safety decisions are the guide’s to make and are never negotiable.
How does the homestay arrangement work?
You stay in a family home with a private or shared room, depending on the village. Meals are cooked by your hosts and eaten together. Families are paid a fixed nightly rate agreed with the community, not a per-head commission.
Is drinking water provided?
Yes. Every trip carries filtration so you refill from a communal source rather than buying bottled water. We do not sell single-use plastic on any route.
What is your cancellation policy?
Full refund up to 45 days before departure, 50% up to 21 days, and no refund inside 21 days — though we will always try to move you to another date instead. Trips cancelled by us are refunded in full.
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